The Japanese seldom spoke, but in a brief time he handed each of the boys two sandwiches, which they eagerly took and quickly ate. "How much do we owe you?" asked John. Again laughing loudly the Japanese shook his head and it was manifest that they would be unable to pay for the slight repast they had received. "When did you come from Cockburn Island?" inquired Fred. The question was not answered and John quickly broke in, "When are you going back? That's a good deal more to the purpose. Do you suppose your boss would be willing to take us over to Mackinac?" The Japanese laughed, but still did not answer. "We'll pay him well for it," said John. "How far is this place from Mackinac anyway?" "'Bout forty mile," answered the Japanese. "Whew!" said Fred. "We're a good ways out of our course, aren't we?" CHAPTER XIV ANOTHER MYSTERIOUS LETTER "I don't care much how far we are away if we can only get back," said John thoughtfully. It was apparent, however, that extended conversation with the little Japanese would be impossible. He had made no inquiries as to why the boys were on the island and except for his first expression of surprise when he had heard their hail, he did not give any sign of special interest either in them or in their doings. "We stove a hole in the bottom of our skiff," explained John. "Have you got a piece of tin and some tacks or something we can mend it with?" "You no feex it?" inquired the Japanese. "We haven't anything to fix it with," explained John. "I go see," volunteered the little man. In accordance with his suggestion the boys speedily rowed ashore, the little Japanese accompanying them, and led the way to the cove where their skiff was resting on the beach. The Japanese made a careful investigation of the injury to the skiff and then said, after he had once more laughed loudly, "I feex her." Quickly turning he ran back to the skiff and returned to the motor-boat. Only a few minutes elapsed before once more he came back and the very implements John had sought with which to repair the boat were now in his hands. Deftly he drove caulking into the seams and the cracks and then taking a piece of tin tacked it on the bottom of the skiff over the spot where the break had occurred. Then once more he used the caulking, driving it in all about the place where the skiff had been struck. "He no sink now," said the Japanese, at last standing back and with pride viewing his workmanship. "He no sink now. She just as good as new." Declining the offer of the boys to pay him for his labor the Japanese seated himself upon a rock and looked steadily at them. "What for have you come here?" he inquired.