The four boys glanced blankly at one another and for a brief time no one spoke. It was later when they learned that the signal which they had observed was to mean much, both in excitement and adventure, for all four of the boys on board the _Gadabout_. CHAPTER II THE LANDING ON THE CANADIAN SHORE As the course of the _Gadabout_ was sharply changed in response to the call of the captain, the attention of the four boys was quickly drawn in another direction. Not one of them was aware of anything unusual in what really was a signal on the shore of the Canadian island. In a brief time the party was once more in American waters and as it was still early in the morning, preparations were soon made for the sport of the day. The _Gadabout_ was anchored in a little cove and the mate, with Fred and John, as the members of his party, took one of the skiffs, while Grant and George together with the captain departed in the other. It was agreed that they should meet at a certain place for luncheon and the rivalry was keen as to which boat should have the bigger catch of fish. "Look out for us!" called Fred as his boat drew away from that in which his companions were being carried. "Look out for us! If you hear a whistle you'll know we will need help." "To catch your fish?" laughed Grant. "No, to bring them in. We'll have a boat-load, anyway." In high spirits the boys soon were ready for the sport of the day, and it was not long before neither boat was within sight of the other. When the noon hour arrived, still excited and hungry, the two boats were landed at the place agreed upon and the captain at once displayed his skill as a cook. "Isn't it wonderful!" said George, not long after they were seated about the folding table which the captain had brought in the _Gadabout_. "Isn't it wonderful the amount of food a fellow can put himself outside of?" "It is that," mumbled John, who was as busy as any of his comrades. "It pays for it all, now." "Of course it pays," laughed Fred. "That's what we're here for. Honest, Grant, who caught that big pickerel?" "I did," responded Grant proudly. "I cannot tell a lie, I caught it with my little hook and line." "I'll ask the captain about that later. I saw some other boats up there where you were and I am going to ask them how much they charged for the fish they sold you." "They didn't sell us any fish!" retorted George indignantly. "Another boy that cannot tell a lie. No wonder they call you the papa of your country. What do we do this afternoon?" "I'm going to take you to another place," explained the captain, who throughout the meal had been busied in attending to the numerous wants of the boys. "Shall we get more fish than we did this morning?" "That depends," said the captain solemnly. "Some people do and some don't. It mostly depends on whether they are any good with the rod." "Don't you think we're good?" demanded Fred.