At the gate, with no backward glance from even Tim in the hope of one last fleeting glimpse of Gladys Ermintrude, the boys turned to the right and walked briskly away. They believed that the returning Mr. Liscomb would approach from the other direction, and neither Pud nor Tim was anxious to meet him. It might be, as Mrs. Liscomb had suggested, that he would thank them, but, recalling the events of the past eighteen hours, they had their doubts! They didn’t say much as they made their way as inconspicuously as possible back to the boat. Once Tim remarked in the tone of one who at last finds the solution to a puzzling problem: ‘Remember when she said her uncle’s brother wasn’t her uncle? Well, he wasn’t. He was her father.’ ‘About the only time she told the truth,’ grunted Pud. A little later Pud asked unkindly: ‘What are you aiming to do with your share of the reward, Tim? Let’s see; a third of ten thousand dollars――’ ‘Aw, shut up,’ muttered Tim. They found Harmon asleep on the after seat, one bare black leg crooked over the gunwale. When awakened, he accepted the announcement that there was to be no reward coming his way with admirable philosophy. ‘Reckon we’s goin’ have plenty money when we sack a town, ain’ we, Mister Pud? Where-at’s ’at town?’ As much as they desired to cast off and put space between them and the grateful Mr. Liscomb, they were obliged to transact certain business before doing so. Oil was needed, for one thing, and food for another. They had spoken carelessly before starting the trip of eating a great deal of fish, and in consequence they had not stocked heavily with meat. Now, save for a small residue of bacon and a single can of baked beans, the larder was bare of what might be termed the foundations of a meal. It was decided to replenish here and now, since, whether they went farther upstream or returned down it, there was no other town of size for many miles. Pud got his oil and then carelessly suggested to Tim that the latter could do the shopping if he liked. Tim showed no gratitude for the favor. They debated sending Harmon to the stores, but in the end they concluded to go together. After all, Mr. Liscomb would be quite as likely to find them at the landing as in the town, and if they had to listen to his expressions of gratitude, perhaps it would be better to do so where there was plenty of room in case Gladys Ermintrude’s father became too earnest.