"Did you find him?" asked Jack eagerly.

"No. He's not there now."

"Well, never mind. We won't bother about him. Come on to the house. My,
but I'm glad to see you again! And so will the others be."

In his enthusiasm at seeing his chum again Jack wanted to hug him. He
approached Mark, but the latter cried out:

"Look out! Don't come too close!"

"Why not? Have you caught some disease?"

"No, but you might hurt my broken arm!"

"Oh, is it broken? That's tough luck. Did you fall?"

"Yes--in the old house. I fell down stairs."

"And your head is all bandaged up, too," went on Jack, trying to peer
into his friend's face through the roll of bandages.

"Look out! Don't come too near!" again warned the other. "You might
jostle against me, and knock off some of the bandages."

"Did you lose some of your teeth, the reason your voice sounds so
funny?" asked Jack.