"I guess we can make that up between us," said Grant, and in a brief time the money was produced and the brilliant-hued Rufus was paid. With evident satisfaction, he said, "I don't know, boys, but I shall stay over here to Cockburn Island for three or four days. If you show up again in these parts you might let me know and maybe I can do somethin' more for you." "Thank you," laughed Fred. "You certainly have helped us out of our troubles." "Did he help you out of your clothes, too?" demanded Grant, who now had become aware for the first time of the strange garb in which both his friends were clad. "No, we picked them up on the lake-boat." "On the what?" "On the steamer. We weren't proud. We didn't want the crew to think that we felt above them so we put on the suits that they provided us with." "They certainly picked out choice ones," laughed George, as he grasped the sleeve of Fred's coat. "When are you going to start for Mackinac?" "What's become of our friend whose house is on the island here?" inquired Grant in a low voice. So interested had they all been in the recent experiences that the passenger they had brought with them had been forgotten. When the boys looked quickly about them they were aware that the man had disappeared. However, as he had landed and their duty was done they were all ready now for the return to Mackinac Island, where they could not expect to arrive before two or three o'clock the following morning. The ungainly Rufus was again thanked for his aid and then the four boys speedily took their places on board the little motor-boat in which the searching party had set forth early that morning. After the boat had left the shores of Cockburn Island behind them, so eager were George and Grant to learn what had befallen their friends that they insisted that the entire story should be told them. And what a strange story it was. Fred or John, alternately breaking in upon each other, each insisting upon describing the perilous adventures through which they had passed, finally related the story of their rescue and the strange manner in which they had been taken to Sault St. Marie. Stranger still was the story they had to tell of their return and the reason why they had been found on Cockburn Island. "But that isn't the strangest part of all," explained Fred when the first of their story had been told. "We have something else worth telling and when you hear it you'll both sit up and listen to it." "What is it?" inquired George. "This man Rufus who took us in his motor-boat over to Cockburn Island is a queer Dick." "I'm surprised to hear you say that," laughed George. "His clothes and his voice, to say nothing of his hair and his long legs, are a small part when you stop to think of some other things," said John. "What other things?"