"What's coming off now?" whispered Jule. "Anyway, this fellow has more manners than our other night visitors."
Clay stepped to the door, searchlight in hand, and turned a circle of flame on the face of the newcomer. Then he dropped the electric and sprang forward. The boys were getting ready with their automatics when they heard his voice speaking in great excitement.
"Captain Joe!" he cried. "Captain Joe! Where the dickens did you come from? What are you doing at Ogdensburg?"
"I might ask the same question of you," replied the hearty old ex-captain. "To tell you the truth, lad," he went on, "I've been so lonesome ever since you boys left the South Branch that I've done quite a lot of traveling, for an old man. Several times I've been almost up with you but you always got away."
"You never came all the way up here to visit us?" asked Case.
"To be honest about it, boys," the ex-captain replied, "I just did that very thing. I've got a friend who is captain of the Rutland boat which arrived this evening, and I came on with him. Mighty fine trip we had, too. And how are you all, and where is Alex and my namesake?"
"You wouldn't know Captain Joe," laughed Clay. "He's got to be the biggest, fiercest, wisest, pluckiest bulldog in the world."
"And Teddy bear! You remember him of course," Jule put in. "He ate up two pirates down the river, body and bones, and is so fat that we have to help him out of bed. Great bear, that!"
"Boys, boys," warned Captain Joe. "Don't exaggerate. I've always told you not to exaggerate. Do you think Captain Joe will know me?"
"Of course he will," said Case. "Captain Joe never forgets a friend."
"And now that you are here," Clay put in, "you are going to remain with us while we go back down the St. Lawrence to St. Luce and return here. Then we'll either ship the boat to Chicago or take her slowly up the lakes. Won't that be a fine old trip?"
"It listens pretty good to me," Captain Joe answered. "To be honest with you, boys," he continued, "I've been wanting a trip on the _Rambler_, but I never felt like getting away until now."
"You sailed on the St. Lawrence once a good many years ago, didn't you, Captain Joe?" asked Jule.
"Did I?" asked Captain Joe extending his stubby forefinger by way of emphasis. "Did I sail on the St. Lawrence river? Boys, I know every inch of it, up one side and down the other and through the middle."