“That is unless those fellows did something wrong to the motor, and it balked on them,” added Tom’s roommate. “That’s a slim chance,” declared our hero. “Of course the _Tag_ may kick up a fuss when she finds her rightful owner isn’t in her, but we can’t count on it. There’s one thing, though, in our favor.” “What’s that?” asked Dick. “There isn’t much gasolene in the tank,” said Tom. “I only had enough in to about carry us back to camp, and it won’t run those fellows very far. Then they’ll be stuck if they’re out in the lake.” “They may find our camp and get more,” suggested Bert. “I don’t think so. They wouldn’t be likely to head for our camp in the first place,” reasoned Tom. “They’d go off in some other direction, and by the time they’ve traveled a few miles they won’t have gas enough to fetch up at our place. No, I think we’re safe enough on that score.” “But what can we do?” asked Dick. “We’ve got to do something.” “Of course,” assented Tom. “Let’s walk down to the lake, and see if we can get a sight of ’em. They may be stuck first shot, but I doubt it. Sam knows something about motorboats.” “Ugh!” groaned Jack, at the prospect of a long tramp. “I wish we had an airship.” But it was vain wishing, and there was nothing to do but to walk. Off they started, along the river bank, wondering what they would do that night if they did not get their boat. It would not be long before darkness fell, and with a prospect of no supper, and a night in the woods, it was enough to make anyone gloomy. Fortunately they were all sturdy lads, with high spirits, and they did not easily give way to despair. It was a time, however, to severely try them. “Seems to me someone must have moved the lake,” declared Jack, after an hour’s tramp. “Why so?” asked Tom, with a laugh. “Because it’s a good deal farther off than it was when we came up.” “It only seems so,” said Dick. “We’ll soon be there.” They reached the place where the river flowed into the lake about half an hour later, and their anxious gaze sought the broad expanse for a glimpse of the missing boat. “Not in sight,” murmured Tom, shading his eyes with his hand, for the rays of the setting sun struck across the surface. “Not a trace of her!” “Let’s walk along the shore aways,” proposed Bert. “We may see them then.” “Oh, dear me!” exclaimed Jack. “I don’t believe I can go a step farther--not without a rest, anyhow.” “Then rest,” said Tom. “I’ll tell you what we’ll do. You stay here, and we’ll go along the shore for a mile or so. If we don’t see ’em, then we’ll come back.” “You may miss me,” suggested his chum. “We can’t. We’ve got to follow the lake shore, and we can’t get beyond the river, anyhow.” “I’ll stay with him,” volunteered Dick. “You and Bert go, Tom.”