“I didn’t say that. I simply said he had gone. He is expected back here at night.”
“That’s all right,” called John, who now entered the room and joined in the conversation. “I’m glad he isn’t here. It will give us a chance to rest up. It’s ten o’clock in the morning now, but I feel as if I was almost ready to crawl back into bed again.”
“We’ll feel all right by night,” said Fred lightly. “I suggest that we sit around the hotel and not try to do anything very strenuous to-day.”
The suggestion was followed by all four boys and save for a walk about the Island they passed the hours reading or writing letters.
Darkness had fallen before Mr. Button was seen by any of the four boys. Approaching him, Fred said, “We have got another letter for you, Mr. Button. It will match the one that came to me that was intended for you.”
Mr. Button glanced keenly at the boy as he spoke and said, “Is the letter intended for me?”
“I think so,” said Fred.
“Where did you get it? Did it come to you through the mail as the other one did?”
“No, sir, we picked it up on the shore of Western Duck Island.”
“You did!” exclaimed Mr. Button more strongly moved by the statement than the boys ever had seen him before. “Where is it?”