Piper held up his hand. “Don’t convict yourself by unnecessary protestations. Even now I am loath to believe that a comrade could be so perfidious. The sadness which the bare suspicion brings to me adds to my longings to be alone. Perhaps the solitudes will cleanse my heart of resentment. Farewell until I return.” “But when do you expect to return?” asked Stone, as Piper started away. “That I can’t tell; it may be hours before you again look upon my countenance. However long the time is, I bid you not to worry. I shall return in due course, even though, ere my return, the sun may linger low in the western sky.” Then, with the stealthy step of a trapper, he slipped into the woods and was gone. “He’s on to you, Craney,” laughed Springer. “You bub-better watch out.” “Oh, Sleuth’s harmless,” laughed Sile; “and, anyhaow, I can’t help thinkin’ it’s more than a desire for solitude that’s sent him pikin’ off into the woods all by his lonesome.” Whatever the reason for Piper’s action, and despite the fact that he had told them hours might pass before his return, they finally began to wonder over the matter, with the afternoon on the wane and no sign of their absent companion. They had occupied themselves in various ways, but at last whatever task or game they took up was broken and interrupted by frequent pauses to look for Piper and to seek one another’s opinions concerning this “new freak” of his. “Perhaps,” suggested Grant, as at last they lounged before the tent, “he has gone alone to solve the mystery of Spirit Island.” Springer immediately scoffed at this. “Dud-don’t you believe anything of the sort. There isn’t money enough to hire him to go on to that island alone.” “Besides,” said Crane, “haow could he get there? He didn’t take the canoe.” “He must be hungry,” said Stone. “He hasn’t had any dinner.” Five minutes later some distance away on the lake they perceived a small white rowboat that seemed to be heading for their camp. In the boat a single person plied the oars industriously. “We’re going to have a visitor” said Stone. “Wonder who it is?” “Cuc-can’t be Mr. Granger,” was Springer’s immediate decision. “He came in a canoe t’other time.” “It doesn’t look like Granger,” said Grant, stepping out from the trees and shading his eyes with his hand. “Great Caesar! fellows, I believe it’s Piper!” “Piper! No, no; you must be mistaken.” But, as they watched the boat draw nearer and were able to get a better view of its occupant, they were compelled to acknowledge that he looked like Sleuth. And Sleuth it was who came rowing serenely into the cove and beached the boat. “Ho, comrades!” he hailed, stepping out. “I have returned. I am with you once again.” They surrounded him. “Where have you been?” “What kept you so long?” “Wh-where did you get that boat?” “What sort of a rinktum be yeou cuttin’ up naow?”