"He asked me to thank all you fellows for the aid you gave in trying to hold the man," said Rob when he rejoined his comrades, "he added that it would not be forgotten."
Nor was it, for it may be said here, that a few days later a fine launch, named _Eagle_, was delivered at Hampton harbor with a card from the major, begging the Eagle Patrol to accept it as their official craft. But we are anticipating a little.
As Rob walked away with Merritt, Tubby and Hiram, the lanky youth spoke up:
"It beats creation what there could have been in that wallet to upset him so," he commented; "he doesn't look like a man who's easily excited, either."
"Well, whatever it was," rejoined Rob, "we are likely to learn this evening. I rather think the major has some work on hand for us."
"Hooray! some action at last," cried Merritt enthusiastically.
"Haven't had enough to-day, eh?" inquired Tubby sarcastically. "I should think that seeing a runaway auto stopped, being knocked down and plunged into a mystery, would----"
"Never mind him, Merritt; the heat's sent the fat to his head," laughed Rob.
"I was going to say," he continued, "that Major Dangerfield has invited us to the house this evening to hear something interesting."
"Yes. I rather think then we shall learn some more about that wallet."
Soon after, the boys, following some talk concerning patrol matters, separated. Each went to his home to await, with what patience he might, the coming of evening, when it appeared likely that some light would be shed on what, to them, seemed an interesting puzzle. Rob, on his return home, found that the major had motored on to his friend's with his daughter, but he had promised to return in time to keep his appointment.
"Well," began the major, "I suppose you are all naturally curious concerning that wallet of mine."
They were gathered in the library of Mr. Blake's home. The banker was seated in his own pet chair, while the major stood with his back to a bookcase, a group of eager-eyed Boy Scouts surrounding him.
"In the first place," continued the major, "I think you would better all sit down. The story is a somewhat lengthy one."
"I shall have to take you back more than a century," he said, "to the days when the first settlers located adjacent to the south banks of Lake Champlain. Among the colonists were my ancestors, Chisholm Dangerfield and his family. Chisholm Dangerfield was the eldest son of the Dangerfield family, of Chester, England. He had been left an ample fortune, but having squandered it, decided, like many others in a similar case, to emigrate to the new country.