They found the strange lake was quite a large body of water. The lower end of it was so filled with stumps that they did not venture to take the boat in for fear of striking a snag and stoving a hole in the bottom. But, though they covered many miles they did not catch a glimpse of the rare butterfly.
Bob and Ned tried several shots at alligators, of which there were many, but, though Bob was sure, once, that he hit one, the saurian did not give any evidence of it, and sank from sight.
If the scientist did not get the butterfly he wanted, he was successful in capturing a number of other specimens of insects, which seemed to delight him almost as much as if he had the pink and blue beauty.
“Even if I can’t get the five thousand dollars,” he said, “perhaps I can bring back to the museum enough valuable specimens so that I will get the position I want.”
“Oh, we’ll get that butterfly for you,” said Jerry, who was anxious to help the professor.
“Suppose we go back toward the river that connects Lake Okeechobee and Butterfly Lake,” suggested Ned. “That’s where we saw the butterfly that looked like the one you want.”
“A good idea,” replied Mr. Snodgrass. “I’m sure it is to be found in this vicinity, as all the books say it is usually to be seen in company with the butterfly with plain blue wings, and that is the one we chased yesterday.”
Accordingly the _Dartaway_ was swung around, and was soon speeding toward the narrow stretch of water that connected the two lakes. As they entered it the boys noticed that there was a current flowing from Butterfly Lake into Lake Okeechobee.
“I hadn’t noticed that before,” said Jerry. “Butterfly Lake must be one of the feeders of the larger body of water.”
As the _Dartaway_ emerged from the “river” upon the bosom of Lake Okeechobee once more Jerry pointed ahead and cried out:
“A houseboat to judge by the looks of it,” put in Ned.
“I think it’s our old friend the _Wanderer_,” remarked Jerry. “I’ll see if they answer our signal.”
He gave three toots on the compressed air whistle, and a moment later they were replied to from the houseboat, which was about a mile away. Then something like a white handkerchief was waved from the deck.
“They see us!” exclaimed Bob. “Those are the girls.”