"Good morning, Hoki," said Chot. "That coffee smells mighty fine."
"Glad you like," was the Jap's response. "I take pleasure in making the service for you, sirs."
"He means it's a pleasure to serve us," said Chot, as a look of perplexity stole over Tom's face.
As they were talking to Hoki, Bert came out of a nearby room, rubbing his eyes, and a moment later Fleet and Pod came downstairs, feeling fine after a morning plunge in the tub.
Hoki bustled back and forth between the kitchen and the diningroom, and soon announced breakfast.
"But we're to wait for Mr. Lawrence, of course," said Chot.
"No wait," said Hoki, gravely. "It gives me greatest pleasure to accept you as masters of lodge. My master, he not here--he go away in the night!"
"Mr. Lawrence has left the island!" Chot exclaimed, and again Hoki nodded.
"He said tell young gentlemens take much possession, and he will either return or come back before long," said the Jap, gravely.
In spite of the fact that they were surprised at the sudden turn of events, the boys were forced to laugh at Hoki's quaint methods of speech.
"I understood he was not to go away until to-day," said Chot.
"I hesitate to express myself," he said; "at same time, must have been to-day when he left, sirs, for clock had some time past chimed midnight."
"That's so," said Tom. "It must have been three o'clock at least when we were up the last time. Er--Hoki, did your master leave in a motor-boat?"
"I am pleased to explain to you that he did," was the Jap's reply.
"I heard that boat," said Fleet. "The chug-chug of the engine woke me up. I don't know what time it was but it must have been getting on toward morning."
Then Fleet caught a significant look from Chot, and said no more.
Breakfast was eaten in silence, save for desultory comment on what they were going to do during the day. There was plenty of fishing tackle in the lodge, they knew, and Fleet and Pod decided that they would try and land some of the denizens of the St. Lawrence.
"Hoki, can you go fishing with us?" Fleet asked, as the Jap come into the diningroom again, bearing a large platter of pan-cakes.
"I will take pleasure in accepting of kind request," said he. "I be fine fisherman--sometimes," and he grinned broadly.