“You must let me go along, Teddy.”
“Of course, wouldn’t think of trying it alone. If the boy was in serious trouble, of any kind, mind you, it would be as well to have both of us there.”
That was a long hour.
When it finally ended, both boys were ready and eager to start out. The tent was securely fastened up, so that if it rained no damage might come to their things. Teddy even hid away a lot of stuff in a hollow tree, so that in case thieves came they might not quite clean out the provision department. He also secreted the paddles, and thus in a measure guarded against having the canoes, now placed ashore in the bushes, from being carried away.
“What if he should drop in after we’re gone?” remarked Dolph, shouldering his gun.
“I’ve thought of that,” replied Teddy.
“And prepared for it too, I wager, for I saw you writing a note,” Dolph went on to say.
“Yes, which I’ll leave fastened in this stick standing up, one end of which I’ve split with my knife. He’ll be sure to see it the first thing,” Teddy remarked.
“What did you say?” asked his chum and camp mate.
“That we were anxious about him, and had started out on his trail. If he came in while we were gone he was to stay in camp and wait for us. Could you add anything to that, Dolph?”