The only thing that marred his happiness that morning was the fact that there was no breeze and consequently the flag hung straight downward and failed to flaunt its message to the eyes of the inhabitants of Bear Island. Sunday passed very slowly for the Four. In the forenoon they wrote their regular weekly letters home and had their “soak.” At noon they ate a great deal of dinner. In the afternoon they secured the motor-dory and with three others went for a trip around the lake. But for the most part their thoughts were set on the morrow. In the middle of the night Nelson awoke in a most unhappy frame of mind. He had dreamed that it was raining so hard that the dormitory was afloat and Dr. Smith was dealing out rowboats so that they could get to breakfast. But one glance through the open window at the foot of the bunk brought relief. The night was still and cool and through the silent leaves the white stars were twinkling merrily. CHAPTER XVII WITNESSES THE DEPARTURE OF THE FOUR ON A CANOE TRIP AND BRINGS THEM INTO CAMP FOR THE NIGHT Half the inhabitants of the camp saw them off and, being envious, professed to be glad they were not going themselves. “Look out for bears, Tommy,” counseled Joe Carter. “You’d make a nice fat breakfast for them.” Joe had very willingly contributed his canoe to the expedition, but he would have liked mightily to go along. Finally the last of the things were stowed away in the two canoes and the paddles were dipped. “Be very careful,” said Mr. Clinton, “and take good care of yourselves. Good-by.” “Good-by!” yelled the crowd on the landing, and---- “Good-by, sir,” called the Four. “Good-by, fellows!” In the excitement of the moment the “Babe” fell off the pier, and during the subsequent hilarity the two canoes sped out into the lake. In one sat Nelson and Dan, in the other Bob and Tom. They were to change about when they reached Northwest Bay. As they swung around the corner of Bear Island a number of the Wickasaw fellows were on the pier. From the flagpole hung the objectionable white banner. “Take it down,” shouted Dan. “It’s out of date!” “Come and get it,” answered one of the assembly. “Oh, we haven’t got time,” said Nelson. “One’s enough for us,” added Tom.