“Well, I didn’t,” said John. “The captain was in such a hurry when he started that I didn’t believe he would come back. I don’t half believe we will ever see him again anyway. I tell you there’s something wrong here.”
Fred’s expression was serious as without making any reply he looked out over the waters of the lake.
The darkness deepened and night would soon be at hand. “There’s nothing for it,” said Fred at last, “except to go back to the house.”
“I don’t know what good that will do,” said John, “but I’m ready to go if you want to. This is the strangest thing I have ever been mixed up in in my life. For my part I wish I was out of it.”
“Don’t cry, John,” said Fred, striving to speak cheerfully.
“I’m not crying,” retorted John, “but I don’t like the look of the whole thing. I tell you there’s something serious in it.”
Fred said no more and in a brief time the boys were standing once more at the kitchen door.
Again the little Japanese, who had the faculty of apparently being in different places at the same time, faced them as they entered. This time he did not greet their coming with his usual loud laughter, but as he made no protest the boys entered and Fred said to him, “Did you get some supper for us?”
Either the Japanese did not understand, or he continued his pretense, for he shook his head, though his expression was not unfriendly.
Both boys had suspected when they returned that the Japanese was about to bar their entrance. Either they were mistaken, or he had changed his plan for now he busied himself in his duties about the kitchen, apparently ignoring the presence of the two uninvited guests.