from doing such things as he had desired.

"Where did you come from?" demanded George as he stepped in front
of the stranger.

"I jes' started for me summer home," laughed the canal-man. "I
didn't think I would go down before the Fourth of July, but the
sight of you boys made me homesick."

"Where is your island?"

"I can't jes' describe it," said the man, "but if you'll give me
a lift in your boat I'll p'int it out to you when we come to it."

"How did you come down here?" demanded George.

"The same as any gintleman might come. I thought of comin' in me
yacht, but I finally decided I'd take me own car and in that way
I would be indepindent of the whole world. Now, then, boys," he
added, "I'm a bit fearful that I shan't be able to stay with ye
very long. Did any of ye find a document of any value after I
left ye the other day? I was a bit sorry I couldn't stop to shake
hands with ye, but there were several reasons why me and me pals
thought it might be a good thing not to interfere with you when
your friends on that black yacht stopped to say good mornin'."

The four boys looked shyly at one another, every one of them
convinced that the mystery of the presence of the bond which they
had discovered was in part explained.