Part 24 (1/2)

As they were talking to Hoki, Bert came out of a nearby room, rubbing his eyes, and a moment later Fleet and Pod came downstairs, feeling fine after a morning plunge in the tub.

Hoki bustled back and forth between the kitchen and the diningroom, and soon announced breakfast.

”But we're to wait for Mr. Lawrence, of course,” said Chot.

”No wait,” said Hoki, gravely. ”It gives me greatest pleasure to accept you as masters of lodge. My master, he not here-he go away in the night!”

CHAPTER XVII-MYSTERY

”Mr. Lawrence has left the island!” Chot exclaimed, and again Hoki nodded.

”He said tell young gentlemens take much possession, and he will either return or come back before long,” said the j.a.p, gravely.

In spite of the fact that they were surprised at the sudden turn of events, the boys were forced to laugh at Hoki's quaint methods of speech.

”I understood he was not to go away until to-day,” said Chot.

Hoki shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

”I hesitate to express myself,” he said; ”at same time, must have been to-day when he left, sirs, for clock had some time past chimed midnight.”

”That's so,” said Tom. ”It must have been three o'clock at least when we were up the last time. Er-Hoki, did your master leave in a motor-boat?”

”I am pleased to explain to you that he did,” was the j.a.p's reply.

”I heard that boat,” said Fleet. ”The chug-chug of the engine woke me up. I don't know what time it was but it must have been getting on toward morning.”

Then Fleet caught a significant look from Chot, and said no more.

Breakfast was eaten in silence, save for desultory comment on what they were going to do during the day. There was plenty of fis.h.i.+ng tackle in the lodge, they knew, and Fleet and Pod decided that they would try and land some of the denizens of the St. Lawrence.

”Hoki, can you go fis.h.i.+ng with us?” Fleet asked, as the j.a.p come into the diningroom again, bearing a large platter of pan-cakes.

”I will take pleasure in accepting of kind request,” said he. ”I be fine fisherman-sometimes,” and he grinned broadly.

Tom and Chot decided to paddle around the island in their canoes, while Bert elected to stay at the lodge and read, as Mr. Lawrence's library held forth great temptations.

”I've had enough paddling for sometime,” he said, ”and I'm going to take it easy for a day or so.”

That is the way matters were arranged for the day's pleasure, and about nine o'clock, Pod and Fleet, having selected what tackle they needed from Mr. Lawrence's plunder room, went off to the other end of the little island, about a hundred yards distant from the lodge. Hoki went with them.

Chot and Tom got into their canoes and paddled along the sh.o.r.e in the shade of the trees, taking care to keep within easy distance of the lodge.

The last the boys saw of Bert he was stretched out in a hammock on the shady side of the verandah, with one of Victor Hugo's volumes in his hand.

Finally, having paddled around to the end of the island, and teased Fleet and Pod because, as yet, no fish had taken their hooks, Chot and Tom decided to cross the intervening s.p.a.ce of a quarter of a mile to another island, which looked cool and inviting with its ma.s.sive shade trees and short, green gra.s.s.

As they went they glanced up at the lodge and saw Bert still in the hammock; but one hand was extended over the side now, and in this he held the book.