"All right, we'll be up some time," answered Phil. "And don't forget, Mr. Porter, that some day you're to show me how to catch a fish," called out the young actress. "All right, I won't forget," answered Dave; and then the three boys pushed the rowboat away from the dock, and started upon the return to Bear Camp. "She's a mighty pleasant girl, that's sure," remarked Phil, as he took it easy on the stern seat, while Dave and Roger plied the oars. "I think Dave has made a hit with her," responded Roger, with a sly wink at the shipowner's son. "If you don't look out I'll make a hit with somebody in this boat," declared Dave, his face flushing. "You attend to your rowing or we won't get back in time for dinner." "I thought you said that fellow, Ward Porton, was going to join the company up here," remarked Phil, by way of changing the subject. "All I know about it is what Mr. Appleby told me," returned Dave. "I'd like first-rate to see him again and ask him some more about Link Merwell." "Do you think Link will come up here?" asked Roger. "I don't know what to think. He is likely to do almost anything. But I doubt whether he will want to place himself in any position where we can get hold of him." "What a fool Link has been," was Phil's comment. When the rowboat returned to the dock at the camp, the boys found only Laura and Belle on the veranda of one of the bungalows. "Where's Jessie?" asked Dave. "She has a headache and is lying down," answered Laura, and looked at her brother closely. "That's too bad," he answered. "Can't you do anything for it?" "She wanted to be left alone, Dave." "I wonder if I can't do something?" "I don't think so." Roger and Phil sat down on the veranda, and were soon joined by Luke and Shadow. "Where is Ben?" questioned Roger. "He went to Carpen Falls with his father and Mr. Porter for the mail," answered Mrs. Basswood, who had joined the group. "I hope I get a letter from daddy," cried Belle. "Why, just think! I haven't had a letter for three days," she pouted. "I'd like a letter, too," put in Phil. "I haven't had a word from home since I left," and his face clouded, as he remembered his father's troubles over the land question. Dave had been seated on the end of the piazza, but now he arose and walked over to the other bungalow. Here he met Mrs. Wadsworth just coming from Jessie's room. "It's only a slight headache, Dave," said the lady, in answer to his question. "I think Jessie will be all right in the morning. She thought she had better stay where she is this evening." "I wish I could help her, Mrs. Wadsworth," returned the youth, quickly. "Isn't there something I can do?" "Nothing that I know of," was the reply, and then Mrs. Wadsworth walked out of the bungalow to join her husband, who was smoking a cigar in a little pavilion that overlooked the lake. Dave took a turn or two across the living-room. He was very much disturbed in mind, and felt that he ought to do something.