"It's too bad," declared Olivia. "But never mind. We have a couple of
rowboats, and maybe you can hire a little sailing skiff."

"It wouldn't be the Dartaway," answered Bob, with a sigh. "That boat
had the nicest little kitchen in it--"

"So, that's all you cared about her for-- the kitchen-- where you
could cook something to eat!" exclaimed Jerry. "Chunky, I'm ashamed of
you; that's what I am!"

"Well, I-- er-- I--" began Bob. "Oh, come on," he continued, and led
the way down to the beach, where there were some bathing pavilions and
several houses. The professor was walking along behind, in the vain
hope of yet discovering a horned toad, perhaps on its way to get a dip
in the surf or drink some salt water.

"I think you'll like some chocolate," said Nellie, as the boys were in
front of a little refreshment booth. "It is made by a Mexican--"

She stopped, for she saw that the boys were not listening to her.
Their attention was drawn to a man who was just coming from the place
they were going in. The boys could not help staring at him, for he was
the man who had acted so strangely in the freight depot at Cresville.

CHAPTER XIII

A QUEER STORY

FOR several seconds the boys and the man stared at one another. The