place betwixt here and the town where we
can git enough to stay the pangs of starvation till we raich Wiscasset."

"We shall pass several landings, and there are farmhouses along shore
where I'm sure the folks will be glad to accommodate us."

The others were not much impressed with Mike's plan, but since there was
plenty of time at their command, they fell in with it. Alvin suggested
that all should keep a lookout for an inviting dwelling, when, if a good
landing could be made, they would stop and investigate.

Chester offered to relieve his chum at the wheel, and Alvin was quite
willing to exchange places with him. The occurrences of the last hour or
more, together with what was said by Detective Calvert, had increased the
confidence of the youths in him. True, they could not understand the full
object of this cruise up the river, after gaining sight of the launch and
the occupants for whom he had been searching. They were content to await
explanation on that point, but Alvin determined that one or two things
which puzzled him and Chester should be cleared up.

"Accepting what you said last night at my home, Mr. Calvert, I must say
for myself and friend that we do not understand some of your actions.
Perhaps you won't mind explaining them."

"I shall be glad to do so, if it is prudent at this time."

"You will pardon me for saying that in our opinion you acted foolishly
when you followed us off the steamer the other day at Sawyer Island,
pretended you had made a mistake in landing there, and then dogged us to
that little inlet. We saw you several times, but you either wished or
pretended you wished to keep out of our sight, as, for instance, after
crossing that long bridge from Hodgdon to Barter Island. You followed us,
but when we stopped at the side of the road to wait for you, you slipped
among the trees and made a circuit round the spot. Why did you do that?"

The detective smiled, and smoked a minute or two before replying.

"Perhaps it was undignified, though a man in my profession has to do a
good many things in which he casts dignity to the winds. The truth is, I
formed the intention of getting off at Sawyer as soon as I heard your
friend Mr. Richards say he thought he had caught sight of your launch in
that cove. I was trying to get track of the same parties, but prudence
whispered to me that the time had not yet come in which you and I should
hitch up together. I suspected it might soon be advisable,