"Fred, is that you?" called George anxiously. Instantly the trio stopped and in amazement stared in the direction from which the unexpected hail had come. "Is that you, Fred? Is that you, Jack?" George called again, this time speaking a little more loudly. "Yes," replied John. "Who is it calling us?" "You have been gone so long you don't recognize your own friend," called back George. "What are you doing here?" "That's the same question we might ask you," retorted Fred. "We didn't expect to find you here." "Neither did we expect to find you," said George. "We're mighty glad we have though, for we have been looking for you a long time." "The trouble is you didn't look in the right place," laughed Fred, who was delighted to be with his friends once more. "You don't need to tell us that," retorted Grant. "We have had troubles enough of our own without having you twit us about them. We looked all around Western Duck Island and up and down the shore but couldn't find any trace of you. Now tell us where you have been and what you have been doing." All six were now returning to the shore together, the strange companion of Fred and John walking in advance of the boys. Several times George nudged Fred as he pointed toward the ungainly figure which was somewhat dim in the obscure light. The peculiar gait, the strange swinging motion of the shoulders were not to be forgotten when once they had been seen. Rufus, however, had not spoken since the meeting of the boys and because of that fact there were still further revelations to be made that were to startle the newcomers. "How did you get here, Fred?" demanded George unable longer to restrain his curiosity when the boys were within a few yards of the shore. "We came in a motor-boat." "From where?" "Sault St. Marie." "Be honest, Fred. This is no time for joking. Where did you come from?" "I'm not joking and I'm telling you the truth. We started from Sault St. Marie." "How long have you been here?" "About two hours." "Why did you come to Cockburn Island?" "Because our skipper said he had to come here before he could take us to Mackinac." "What did he want to come here for?" "Don't talk any more now," said Fred. "Wait until we get back and we'll tell you all about it and there are some things worth hearing, too." When the boys and the strange skipper returned to the shore and it was discovered that there were two motor-boats there, John quickly said to Rufus, "Our friends are going back to Mackinac and we can go with them so you won't have to go out of your course. You can go right back to Sault St. Marie." "How about them ten dollars?" demanded Rufus, speaking in his shrillest tones. "I don't intend to let go of you until I see the color of them dollars." "Have you got any money with you?" demanded Fred, turning quickly to George and Grant. "How much do you want?" inquired George. "Ten dollars. That's what we agreed to pay our skipper."