Cordially thanking their host for his kindness in receiving them into his house and providing for their wants, they soon departed, following the mate as he led the way to one of the higher bluffs along the shore. "I don't know that man's name yet," said John to Fred. "That's so," acknowledged Fred. "We don't know who he is, do we? Well, it's as broad as it is long, for he doesn't know our names either." "Probably we never shall see him again anyway, so it won't make any difference, but I should like to know more about him." "He seems to have been in several parts of the world, doesn't he, Jack!" "He surely does. I don't wonder that he can't tell what nationality he is." "Look out on the lake," suggested Fred. "It's as calm as a mill pond." "Yes," acknowledged John. "It's so smooth that if one didn't know, he wouldn't believe it possible for it to stir up such a gale as we saw there a couple of hours ago." "Well, there's one comfort," said Fred. "If it doesn't take very long for a squall to come, it doesn't take very long for it to go either. So we're just about as well off as when we started." "Except our fish," suggested John. "Well, we're carrying back some fish, though they don't show. I don't think I ever ate so much fish in my life as I did this noon. I think the pickerel will hold a revolutionary congress--" "Look yonder!" interrupted John quickly. "Isn't that the _Gadabout_?" Fred instantly looked in the direction indicated by his companion and far away saw the faint outline of a small boat which plainly was headed in the direction of the bluff. "Yes," he said after a brief silence. "I believe that's the _Gadabout_." "Probably they are out looking for us. I hope the boys won't be worried." "You needn't be afraid of Papa Sanders being worried," laughed Fred. "As long as he and Grant are in some dry place and don't have to think of any work they won't trouble their heads about us, you may be sure about that." "They ought to be ashamed of themselves if they are not," replied John half angrily. "But they certainly are coming this way," he added a moment later. "Yes, and they see us, too," said Fred quickly, as he pointed to the mate, who, in advance of them, had arrived at the bluff and was waving a signal. This signal consisted of a large piece of cloth that had at one time been white, attached to a long pole. The sailor was waving this back and forth in such a peculiar manner that the attention of the boys at once was drawn to his actions. "What's he trying to do?" whispered John to Fred. "Trying to signal the _Gadabout_." "Yes, but what's he doing it in that way for?" "Well, I don't know, Jack. You're always suspicious of somebody. Probably the captain doesn't know that he is doing anything out of the ordinary." Whatever the explanation may have been, in a brief time the _Gadabout_ was seen approaching the bluff on which the sailor and the two boys now were standing.