at wouldn't be such a great job," Lub hastened to say, before
any one else could talk; "and I volunteer to be one of the party right
now."

"But you'd get all wet, Lub, you know," expostulated Ethan.

"What of that?" came the indignant response; "am I made of salt, or
sugar? Haven't I been soaked before? If I could stand jumping into the
lake with my clothes on, when the hornets tackled me, I ought to be able
to take a little sprinkling, hadn't I?"

"We'll all go, so as to spread out considerable," suggested X-Ray Tyson,
who, truth to tell, was a little afraid of being left to look after
things at the lodge. "I'm needed because I've got the sharpest eyes;
Ethan might have a chance to bring some of his woodcraft into play; Phil
is the one to run things; and Lub, well, he spoke first, and ought to
have a show."

"Knowing what we'll be up against," said Phil, "we can arrange
accordingly, so when we get back we'll have something dry to put on.
Before we start we'll get Mr.--Mr. Newton out, and fixed before the
fire, so he can feed it as often as he pleases."

The man had flushed when Phil purposely hesitated about calling the name
that had been given in that message.

"Call me Alwyn Merriwell from now on," he hastily told them. "That is my
real name. The time has passed for all deceit and assumed names. I have
made up my mind to do what is right for--for the other party, no matter
what pain and suffering it brings to me."

A short time later the boys began to prepare to start out. Phil saw that
their injured guest was really working himself up into a fever over the
anxiety he was enduring. His thoughts during the night had had a strong
effect upon him. He may even have dreamed something dreadful had really
happened, and it haunted him.

Acting on Phil's advice the others dressed lightly. This would allow of
leaving certain parts of their clothing behind, to be resumed on their
return.

"We will be moving all the time, and can keep warm enough, even while
wet to the skin," he told them, as they started forth, after saying
good-by to Mazie, who was content to sit alongside her "daddy," holding
his hand, and prattling constantly as was her pretty way.

Phil had managed to cover his little camera, so that he could take it
along.

"Like as not we'll run across some effects of the hurricane that we'd
like to remember," he explained, when X-Ray looked questioningly at the
camera. "There must be places where trees hav