"Oh, no, we were living at a place called Bartonville, about twenty
miles to the north of here. My father used to be cashier of the
Bartonville Lumber Company."

"I once heard of a man disappearing and coming home fifteen years
later," said Shep. "But he simply ran away because he had some
trouble with his wife."

"I heard of a case like that," put in Whopper, with a grin on his
face. "That man wanted his wife to make him some gooseberry pie and
she wouldn't do it. When he came back he asked her, 'Maria, will
you make the gooseberry pie now?' and she answered, 'no.' 'All
right,' said he, 'I'll go away again,' and he did."

"That's a whopper all right enough!" cried Snap. "It's about time
you turned up. You have been very quiet lately."

"I never tell anything but the strict truth," said Whopper, meekly.

When it came time to retire, Snap asked the others if they should
post a guard.

"Oh, I think we are safe enough without one," answered the doctor's
son, who was fagged out. "Let's chance it."

"Most of our outfit is on the boat," said Whopper. "I don't believe
anybody will carry it off."

"Let us fix the fire so it will burn the most of the night," said