During the afternoon, Bob Somers and his companions strolled around town. They paid the "Nimrod" a visit, in the expectation of seeing the Trailers, but, of course, the latter failed to put in appearance. The evening was spent at a small theatre.  
The Ramblers had scarcely finished breakfast on the following morning, when a tall, slightly built gentleman walked briskly up to the Badger¹ State Hotel. He was neatly² attired³ in black, and had a generally prosperous appearance.
 
"Mr. Wingate!" exclaimed Bob, in surprise.
 
"I'm glad to see you, Robert," said Mr. Parsons Wingate, holding out his hand, and nodding to the others. "No doubt my visit is unexpected," he continued, with a smile, as he accepted the proffered⁵ chair.
 
"It seems that both the Rambler and Nimrod Clubs have been experiencing some lively times," he went on. "I'm sure you will understand how much I sympathize with you in the loss of your boat. It must have been a dreadful shock."
 
The Ramblers were intensely curious to know what object could have brought Mr. Parsons Wingate not only to town, but to see them.
 
"I don't suppose you have heard the news?" inquired their visitor, in his suave⁶, pleasant voice.
 
"What news?" asked Bob.
 
"Ah, I thought not. You don't know where Nat and his friends passed the night?"
 
"No, sir."
 
"In the police station."
 
"In the police station?" echoed the astonished Ramblers, almost in one breath.
 
"Exactly."
 
Mr. Parsons Wingate even smiled at their surprise.
 
"Imagine my astonishment⁷, last evening, when I received a telegram from my poor Nat, telling me of their plight⁸."
 
"But why were they arrested?" broke in Sam Randall, unable to restrain his curiosity longer.
 
"If I should say that the police actually tried to make it appear that Nat knew something about the destruction of your motor boat, what would you think?"
 
"By George!" exclaimed Bob, in amazement⁹. "Surely, Mr. Wingate, they were not arrested for that?"
 
"Not altogether. An ignorant boatman got in their way, somewhere, then, stupidly, had to fall overboard. The fellow makes a ridiculous claim, but, of course, a few dollars will settle that."
 
"I told the officer at the police station, yesterday, that Nat couldn't possibly know anything about the blowing up of the 'Rambler.'"
 
"Sure you did," chimed in Sam.
 
"There is no reason why Nat and his friends should not be discharged from custody¹⁰ at once," went on Mr. Wingate; "but, to clear away every shadow of doubt from the minds of these blundering police, I should be glad to have you go with me to the police station."
 
"Of course we will," chorused the Ramblers.
 
"And now," continued Mr. Wingate, with a smile, "I'm glad to hear that you have accepted Nat's offer. A couple of weeks' fun with the boys, will, I hope, make you partially¹¹ forget your loss. You have agreed to join Nat, haven't you?"
 
"No, sir, we are going to visit my father's land."
 
"Your father's land?" questioned Mr. Wingate. "Your trip was undertaken with that object in view?"
 
"Yes, sir."
 
"Well, a few weeks with Nat, before you start out, won't come amiss. A lot of lively youngsters ought to have a fine time together. In my boyhood days we never dreamed of the privileges that the youth of the twentieth century would enjoy. Motor boats, motor cycles, and a lot of other things. You are living in a great era, boys, and should appreciate it."
 
"It's too bad about Nat," ventured Tom Clifton.
 
"'All's well that ends well.' I hope that we shall dine together this evening."
 
Mr. Parsons Wingate smiled affably, and looked from one to the other. Then he added: "I mean, of course, that the Ramblers and Nimrods, alike, are to be my guests.
 
"Very good!" he exclaimed, when all had politely accepted. "Now, if I can trouble you, we will go to the station."
 
The Ramblers, with Bob and Mr. Parsons Wingate leading the way, were soon walking briskly toward the police station. When they arrived, which was shortly before ten o'clock, they found the towheaded young man conversing¹² with an elderly gentleman and two others.
 
"That's the one," whispered Dave.
 
Nat's uncle walked toward the group and bowed politely. "My name is Parsons Wingate," he began; "very sorry that you should have any misunderstanding with my nephew. Of course, if you suffered any loss, I am willing to make a reasonable settlement."
 
Mr. Wingate's respectable appearance and pleasant manner seemed to make a favorable impression, but the young man, who evidently considered that he had been intentionally¹³ upset, was not disposed to let the matter drop. He introduced himself as Douglass Brown.
 
"I can tell you that the whole crowd acted in a most outrageous¹⁴ manner," he declared; "I have witnesses to prove it. Really, it was frightfully mortifying¹⁵."
 
"Boys will be boys," observed Mr. Wingate, pleasantly. "Ah, here they come now."
 
The Nimrods, looking none the worse for their experience, trooped into the room. Backed by Mr. Wingate, they seemed to feel entirely¹⁶ easy in mind.
 
"Hello, Somers, hello!" said Nat, with a grin.
 
"My nephew," began Mr. Wingate, pompously¹⁷; "this gentleman whom you unintentionally upset is Mr. Douglass Brown."
 
"How are you, Douglass?" said Nat, with his usual familiarity. "You made a big mistake in having us all run in. That little affair was all an accident."
 
"Of course it was," put in John Hackett; "if Nat's foot hadn't slipped, Mr. Brown, you wouldn't have hit the river with such a splash. Hope you didn't swallow much of it."
 
"We didn't do it on purpose, that's sure," chimed in Kirk Talbot.
 
"Of course not," laughed the gentleman from Kingswood. "You can see yourself, Mr. Brown, that the whole affair was brought about by a too sudden starting of the boat. My nephew explained to me this morning how it happened."
 
"Was the boat pointed¹⁸ toward you when we started?" interrupted Nat.
 
Mr. Brown was obliged to admit that it was not.
 
"And you, Kirk, don't you think you started the boat off in a little more lively fashion than usual?"
 
"Yes, sir," returned Talbot, glibly¹⁹.
 
"Therefore my neph............