, where'd we be
about the boat question? But I wanted to find out why a rabbit makes two
marks with its front paws and only one with the hind legs; and so I
looked around to see if there wasn't a track where we saw that bunny
scoot away yesterday when we got here. I didn't find the tracks, but I
did run across a boat!"

"It was all right, Bumpus," said Thad; "and I'm going to congratulate
you on it. A scout can be a bit curious, and keep on the right side,
too. But Allan, there's no need of our taking that long swim, now."

"And no need of both of us being away at the same time," remarked the
other, who did not feel easy about leaving such careless fellows as
Bumpus and Giraffe behind, since there could be no telling what trouble
might not follow. "Suppose you draft Bob White to do the paddling, Thad;
he just dotes on that sort of thing, you know."

The eyes of the Southern boy gleamed with delight.

"I surely do the same, suh; and if so be you think to take me along on
the exploring expedition I'll be proud to accompany you. Depend on me to
do the work, and glad of the chance. I just love to be in a boat, any
kind of boat from a dugout to a cedar canoe. And this paddle isn't so
bad, even if home-made."

Thad bent down to examine closer. Then he turned to give Allan a little
nod that brought the other quickly to his side. The two leaned over
where they could exchange a few words without the others hearing what
was said.

"Did you notice that the boat was turned upside-down when found?" asked
Thad, first of all.

"Yes, that was done to keep the rain from filling it, I reckoned,"
replied the Maine boy. "They do that up my way too; because you see, if
water stays very long in a boat it rots it. No matter what it's built
of, canvas, cedar, or birch bark, water in a boat is a bad thing."

"Some of the boys think this boat has been lying here since the game
keepers left this part of the country; which, as I understand it, must
have been quite a few months ago?" Thad went on to say.

"Yes, that's what I heard them saying," returned the other.

"And what do you think?" asked the scout-master.

Allan knew that he was on trial. He also understood that there must be
something suspicious about the boat to make Thad speak in this way. So
he instantly scanned it, foot by foot, from one end to the other; after
which his eyes sought the paddle which Giraffe was still handling.

Then he smiled.

"I'm on to what you mean,