Before the party fell to work, the driver walked to the edge of the lake and tied his white handkerchief to the limb of a tree, which projected over the water. There was enough breeze to make it flutter, and the background of emerald brought it out with vivid distinctness. It was the signal to the that the chuck , as they called it, had arrived, and the two canoes were to be sent across the lake for the supplies. Since it was expected at a certain time, our friends were on the watch for it. Within ten minutes after the piece of was fastened in place, the large canoes, each containing two persons, one of whom was Master Hall, were seen heading for the spot where the provisions were awaiting them. It does not take a man and four lusty boys long to prepare a wagon load of such freight for shipment by water, and the was ready a good while before the arrival of the craft.  
The driver, who announced that he was “Jake,” sat on one of the boxes, lighted a corncob pipe and talked with the lads. Although he was rough of speech and at times inclined to profanity, the young men treated him with respect, and by their unvarying courtesy won his good will. He asked many questions and told them a good deal about himself; in short, they became quite chummy.
 
The two canoes had passed most of the distance when Jake asked:
 
“Have you seen anything of Asa and Bige Carter?”
 
“Who are they?” asked Alvin in turn, although he had heard the names before.
 
“I thought everybody knowed Asa and Bige; they’re twin brothers, and two of the darndest chaps that ever lived.”
 
This description, so far as it went, was not enlightening. Chester said:
 
“Those must have been the two men that called on Uncle this morning and went off with him in their canoe. So far as we could see they look exactly alike.”
 
“That’s them,” replied Jake with a nod of his head. “Did the three come this way in their canoe?”
 
“They seemed to be heading for this place.”
 
“That settles it; they was Asa and Bige. I expected them to meet me here,” and Jake peered around in the wood, but without seeing anything of his friends.
 
“What might ye maan by spaking of them as two of the darndest chaps that ever lived?” asked Mike, who, as did his companions, hoped they had struck a lead that might yield them something worth while.
 
“Why, they’re just like a couple of Irishmen.”
 
“Arrah now, but what model gintlemen they must be! It will be an honor for us to make their acquaintance.”
 
Jake’s reply to this was to snatch off his straw hat, throw back his head and roar with laughter. to probe farther, Alvin asked:
 
“What is there about the twin brothers?”
 
“Now, you jist wait till you meet ’em 176and you’ll find out. I’ll only warn you to keep your eyes wide open, or they’ll close ’em for you. Wal, the folks have about arriv.”
 
All rose to their feet and greeted their friends who were now within a short distance. The water was so deep that the light craft were able to lie broadside against the bank. It required skill and hard to get a portion of the freight aboard, but in due time it was .
 
“We are pretty heavily loaded,” remarked Scout Master Hall, “but the lake is smooth and we can easily make two or three trips. We can divide you four between us.”
 
“It’s blamed risky,” commented Jake, “but I guess it can be did if you’re all keerful.”
 
Mr. Hall insisted that he and his three companions should change places with the others, but this arrangement would have defeated the scheme Alvin and his chums had in mind. Without revealing their object, they begged off and secured a compromise by which Hoke Butler was to return in one of the canoes, while the trio would walk home. In truth, Hoke was so tired from his long tramp that he was pleased by the plan.
 
“But I won’t go, Mike, if you’re going to feel bad about it,” he remarked before sitting down in the boat that was about to shove off.
 
“Av coorse me heart is nearly broke,” said Mike, “but it’s yer own comfort I’m thinking of, as Larry McWhymper said whin he put a brick in the bag for the cat he was drowning to set on and pass away comfortable. But I’m cheered by the hope of maating ye at supper time. Good luck to ye!”
 
The two craft, sunk almost to their gunwales, moved slowly across the mirror-like lake, reaching their destination without , and returning for the last loads.
 
Jake looked at the three youths.
 
“You’ve got a mighty hard tramp afore you; if there was a road I’d take you home in my wagon.”
 
“We don’t mind it,” was the cheery reply of Alvin.
 
“Besides, if we feel like resting our legs and using our arms, we can borrow Dr. Spellman’s boat; his home isn’t far off. Do you go back at once?”
 
“I’ve a great mind to; it would serve Asa and Bige right if I did, but I’ll hang round a half hour or so and not a blamed bit longer, for I must git home afore dark.”
 
“Then we shall bid you good bye,” said Alvin shaking hands with the countryman, as did the others, all expressing the hope of soon meeting him again. Since it was he who regularly brought the supplies to this point, there seemed to be no reason why the wish should not be gratified. Jake refilled and relighted his pipe, sitting on a fallen tree and showing by his vigorous that he was not in the most patient of moods.
 
The three boys did not speak until sure they were beyond sight of Jake. Then they halted.
 
“Do you think he suspects anything?” asked Alvin, unconsciously lowering his voice.
 
“Why should he?” asked Chester.
 
“He suspicts we’re thramping for home,” remarked Mike, “which the same is what we wish him to belave.”179
 
It will be understood that our young friends were to learn all that was possible about the mystery that had them for the past day or two. Beyond a doubt the twin brothers were connected with it, and since Jake was awaiting their coming, it looked as if the boys had a fair chance of learning something.
 
They separated, and each began an approach to t............