"And I hope," joined in John, "that we don't have any more of these mysterious events that took us over to Canada and made us afraid there is somebody watching us." "It's only a guilty conscience that is afraid," retorted Fred, "but we'll go to Drummond Island and the sooner we can get started the better it will be. We're late as it is." When the boys departed from the dining-room they stopped together on the piazza to discuss one or two further details in connection with their proposed trip. To their surprise Mr. Ferdinand Button approached the group and said, "Pardon me, but did I understand you to say that you were going to Drummond Island?" "Yes, sir," said Fred promptly. "I chanced to overhear your remarks while I was at breakfast and I thought perhaps you might be willing to give me a lift." "Do you want to go there?" asked John. "Near there," said the stranger quietly. "I find there isn't another motor-boat to be had. I am going to take a skiff and my man and if you can find a place for us on board your motor-boat I shall gladly bear my part of the expense and also appreciate your courtesy very much." "Of course you can come," said Fred quickly. "I shall not trouble you about coming back. I may not be ready to come when you are, or I may want to come before you do. In either event, I want to pay for my share of the _Gadabout_ for the day." "We'll talk about that later," said Fred. "Are you ready to start?" "Yes, my man is at the dock with his skiff." "All right," said Fred. "Go right down there and we'll all be down in a minute." "Well, Captain," said John, when the boys approached the dock and found their boat already at hand. "We're going to take a couple more passengers." "Who are they?" growled the captain. "Why, this man, Mr. Button. He wants us to take him over to Drummond Island. He doesn't know whether he will come back again with us or not." "My guide says he will ride in the skiff," suggested Mr. Button. "That won't be necessary, unless he wants to," said Fred. "That's the way we'll go," said Mr. Button quietly, and at once the five passengers took their places on board the swift, little _Gadabout_. "What's the matter with the captain?" whispered Grant in a low voice to Fred as soon as the motor-boat had put out from the dock. "I don't know. Why?" "Look at him, that's all. He's grouchy or else he's afraid. He looks to me as if he wasn't very enthusiastic over the addition to the list of passengers." "It doesn't make any difference whether he is or not. We chartered the boat and can do what we please with it." Whether or not the captain was suspicious of the newcomer, the boys gave no further attention to him. In a brief time they were drawn to the newcomer, whose knowledge of the region and whose stories of the early days at once appealed strongly to his young listeners.