"Here, stop! stop!" shouted Rob, "you'll be in the lake in a minute!"
But the warning came too late. Tubby's heavy weight could not be checked so easily. Faster he went, and faster, striving in vain to stop himself.
"He's gone!" yelled Merritt the next instant, as a splash announced that Tubby had plunged into the lake water.
In a flash the fat boy was on the surface. But he was "dead game," and while his comrades shouted with laughter he swam about, puffing like a big porpoise.
"Come on in, the water's fine," he exclaimed.
"Even with your uniform on?" jeered Hiram.
The fat boy had perceived a queer-looking head suddenly obtrude from the water close to him. It was evident that he was not the only one to enjoy an evening swim that day. A big water snake was sharing his involuntary bath with him.
Tubby struck out with might and main for shore, and presently reached it, dripping profusely. The major, when he heard of the occurrence, ordered a change of clothes. When this had been made, Andy's bugle sounded the quick lively notes of the mess call, and the Boy Scouts and their elders gathered round the table which the boys' deft hands had composed of flat slabs of birch bark supported on trestles of green wood. They sat on camp stools which they carried with them. How heartily they ate! They had the appetites that are born of woods and open places.
"Mah goodness, dose boys mus' have stumicks lak der olyphogenius mammaothstikuscudsses!" exclaimed Jumbo as he hurried to and from his cooking fire in response to constant demands for "more."
Supper concluded, the talk naturally fell to the object of their expedition. The chart or map of the treasure-trove's location was brought out and pored over in the firelight, for the nights were quite sharp, and a big fire had been lighted.
"How soon do you think we will be within striking distance of the place?" inquired Rob.
"Within two or three days, I should estimate," replied the former officer, "but of course we may be delayed. For instance, we have a portage ahead of us."
"A portage. That means a point of land round which it would not be practicable to canoe. At such a place we shall have to take the canoes out of the water and carry them over the projection of land to the next lake."