“Seems like a mighty lonely place right here,” Will had remarked, after supper was over, and they sat around on deck, Jerry busy with his fish lines; Bluff stretched on a blanket he had brought out; and Frank rubbing up his recollection of the events of the last two days, since he had fallen behind in his writing of the daily log, and meant to catch up when they lighted the big lamp, going in to sit around the table. “Well, that’s not a fault, as I can see,” Bluff declared; “now, last night you complained of too much company around, when that boatload of toughs from the city rowed past, looking for our hidden houseboat. Better be by ourselves, even if the wolves do howl, and the panthers scream.” “Oh! say, you don’t think for a minute now that there are any of those fierce creatures around us right now?” Will faltered. “He’s just trying to see how big a yarn he can work off on me; isn’t he, Frank?” “Just what he is,” laughed the other; “because I don’t fancy that there is a wolf or a panther within fifty miles of this place. So make your mind easy, Will; and if you choose to take a turn up and down the deck before going to bed, you can do it without dreaming any wild animal could drop from the branches of that tree above us.” “Listen to Jerry grunting there,” remarked Will, disdainfully, “just like he expects me to believe that sort of thing could be a panther! Don’t forget that I’ve heard a panther before this, and he doesn’t squeal like a hog caught under the fence.” “But it wasn’t me at all!” declared Jerry, looking up from working his line. “And as sure as anything, it did come from the shore somewhere above!” Bluff said, as he scrambled to a sitting position. “Listen, everybody!” remarked Frank, in a quiet voice. They could plainly hear the swish of bushes giving way before some advancing body. “Whatever it is, that light Jerry is using, to fix his bait on properly, has told of our being here,” Frank went on to say. “Shall I puff her out, then?” asked Jerry. “No use now, because the mischief’s done,” Frank continued. “There goes Bluff inside the cabin,” Will spoke up; “and I just wager he’s after his gun. Well, I’m glad of it; for Frank might be mistaken about the panther part of the business.” “Listen again!” Frank ordered, and every one fell silent. The rustling among the bushes increased until it seemed to be almost above them, after which it stopped. “Ahoy! aboard the boat! Don’t shoot at me; I’m a friend, and in a bad fix!” came a voice. The boys looked at each other blankly. Every one of them possessed a sympathetic heart, and the very thought of a fellow human in trouble appealed to them. “Frank, are you going to invite him aboard?” whispered Will. “Don’t forget what Uncle Felix wrote about having strangers stay on the houseboat,” Jerry went on to add; not because he felt any fear, but because of that hidden treasure which he fully believed lay somewhere aboard.