Pud figured that they’d have to do about nineteen miles before they reached Livermore again. It was twenty minutes to twelve when they cast off at Corbin, and if they averaged five miles an hour they should reach Livermore by four. They debated the question of making a return visit to Aunt Sabrina. Tim was in favor of it, but Pud, despite the fact that Aunt Sabrina was doubtless grateful to them, displayed no enthusiasm. Besides, there was Harmon. Aunt Sabrina would undoubtedly view Harmon askance. She was, as Pud recalled, convinced that negroes were invariably thieves. She might allow him to sleep in the stable, but even that was uncertain. On the whole, Pud decided, it would be better to camp somewhere below the town and not bother Aunt Sabrina. Tim accepted the verdict with a sigh. Probably now he never would taste that lady’s cocoanut cake! Various well-remembered landmarks met their gaze as the launch chugged down the Fox, but it seemed a week rather than three days since they had last viewed them. Tim found the branch up which they had fled from the kidnapers and pointed it out, getting a disgusted ‘Humph!’ from Pud. It was mid-afternoon when, having lunched to repletion, Pud’s still rather torpid gaze lighted on something ahead and to the right that had a strangely familiar look. Then he remembered. They were back at the clearing where they had rescued Gladys Ermintrude, and there, just as they had last seen it, was the faded green shanty-boat, with, as Pud uneasily discovered the next moment, smoke issuing from the stovepipe in its roof. The river was wide enough to let them pass well distant, and Pud instantly swung the launch’s bow toward the farther side. The tumble-down wharf, farther along, peered around the corner of the shanty-boat and Pud set his gaze on it and wished it were already abeam. Tim, too, had now recognized the scene and drew Pud’s attention. ‘_S-sh!_’ Pud whispered, motioning for silence. ‘They’re in there!’ ‘Oh!’ Then a spot of color appeared on the shanty-boat’s narrow deck, a hand waved, and a friendly ‘Oo-hoo!’ came to them. ‘It’s Gladys Ermintrude,’ said Tim eagerly. ‘Well, what if it is?’ inquired Pud coldly, refraining from joining the other in signals of response. ‘Oo-hoo! Come on over!’ called Gladys Ermintrude. Pud scowled. If only she had stayed inside a minute or two longer! Tim said, ‘Let’s see what she wants, Pud.’ Pud hesitated, muttered, and swung the launch across the stream. ‘All right,’ he said as they neared the shanty-boat and Gladys Ermintrude, ‘only don’t blame me if――if something happens!’ ‘Hello,’ said Gladys Ermintrude gayly as they came close. ‘Hello,’ replied Tim. ‘Hello,’ echoed Harmon from the stern.