Whoever the man was, he got ashore." "That's my belief," agreed Reade.
"Where's that brush arrangement ?" asked Dan suddenly.

"That frame all trimmed with green boughs." Nor was this to be seen, either, though an object of that size would have been visible at any point on the water within half a mile.
"The man got ashore, all right, and he took care of the bush-trimmed frame as well," was Prescott's conclusion.

"Whoever the man was, whatever happened, I don't believe that anything tragic happened in the water.

For that matter, fellows, isn't it possible that, in the gathering gloom, and with the sky somewhat overcast, you were deceived about the ghastly, haunted look in that face?
Isn't it likely that the look you thought you saw in the man's face was merely an effect of the unusual light of late yesterday afternoon ?" Tom shook his head emphatically.
"Why don't you ask us," demanded Dan ironically, "if it weren't just imagination on our part that we saw the face at all ?" "I don't doubt your having seen the face," Dick replied.

"That wasn't anything that the light supplied." "Then where is the man ?" quizzed Dalzell.
"Safe on shore somewhere, beyond a doubt," Dick answered "Then the chase takes us ashore, doesn't it ?" asked Dan.
"Yes; if we're going to follow up the matter any further," Dick replied.
"We ought to follow it up," Reade insisted.
"Why ?" asked Prescott.
"For one thing," smiled Tom, "it will give us something interesting to do." "Should we find our interest in meddling with other folks' business ?" wondered their leader.
"We've a right to, when those people come around and spoil our night's rest for us," Tom retorted.
"It was a bit like a challenge, wasn't it ?" Dick laughed.
"Besides," Dan urged, "we certainly saw enough yesterday afternoon to show us that there is something tragic in the air around this sleepy old lake.