Dave.
"But how does that affect the title to the land?" questioned Shadow Hamilton.
"Easily enough," was the reply of the shipowner's son. "My uncle held a one-quarter interest in the tract. In order to give a clear title to the railroad company it would be necessary for Uncle Lester to sign the deed. The railroad company – nor any one else for that matter – won't buy the land without a clear title."
"I don't wonder that your father is worried," said Dave, sympathetically. "I suppose he feels just as bad over the continued absence of your uncle as he does over the fact that he can't sell the land and make a profit on it."
"That's just it, Dave," answered Phil. "We'd give a good deal to know what has become of Uncle Lester."
"I suppose he doesn't dare come back for fear of being arrested," was Shadow's comment. "Even if he is innocent they may be able to convict him."
"Oh, I forgot to tell you about that," burst out Phil. "Less than four months after my uncle disappeared, some men were arrested in Springfield, for a theft committed at one of the banks there. During the trial it came out that one of these criminals had been in our town during the time when the funds disappeared from our trust company. This rascal's movements were traced by the authorities, and then he was given what they call 'the third degree.' At that examination he broke down, and admitted that he had taken the funds which my Uncle Lester was supposed to have stolen. The affair created a great stir, and those who had proceeded against my uncle made all sorts of apologies to my father. They also did their best to locate Uncle Lester."
"And didn't they hear anything at all?" asked Ben.
"Not a word. We got what we thought were clues, but every one of them proved false."
"Maybe he is dead."
"That may be. But if we can't prove it, it leaves the matter of the land just as unsettled as before."
"If your uncle is alive he must remember about the land, and must know that the matter will give your father a lot of trouble," suggested Roger.
"That is true, Roger. But when a man is accused of a grave crime like that, he isn't apt to think about other things."
"You say he is older than your father?" queried Dave.
"Oh, yes, a good deal older – ten or twelve years, at least. If he is still alive he must be well advanced in years."
"What does your father propose to do about the land?" questioned Ben, after a pause in the conversation.
"He doesn't know what to do. He's at a complete standstill."
"Won't the railroad company lease the land?" questioned Dave.
"No. They told dad that they wanted to buy and build. They prefer his land to any other in East Haven, but at the same time, if they can't get his property, they are going to look elsewhere."
"Twenty or thirty thousand dollars is a heap of money to let slip through one's fingers," was Shadow's comment. "It's a shame you can't find out where your uncle is, or what has become of him."
"Why not advertise again?" suggested Dave. "If your uncle is still alive he must read some newspapers, and he might possibly see the notice."
"Father thinks something of doing that, Dave, but it looks like rather a hopeless case," returned Phil Lawrence. He arose from the camp-chair on which he had been sitting, and stretched himself. "But come on, fellows," he continued. "There is no use of your worrying over our troubles. We came on this little trip to enjoy ourselves, and I want all of you to have the best time possible."
"And we certainly have had a good time!" cried Dave. "Just as good a time as we had out in Yellowstone Park."
"That is, Dave, considering the girls are not along," remarked Ben, with a wink at the others.
"Well, of course that makes some difference, Ben," returned Dave, his face flushing a trifle.
"Sure it does! A whole lot of difference!" declared Roger. "Just the same, we are having a dandy time, Phil," he added hastily. "The first outing of the Oak Hall Club is a big success."
"It sure is!" broke in Shadow Hamilton. "Only I did hope we'd see a whale or some sharks or something like that," he added, regretfully.
"I suppose if you saw a shark, Shadow, you'd jump right overboard to interview him, wouldn't you?" queried Ben, and gave a snicker.
"Say, speaking of sharks puts me in mind of a story!" cried Shadow. "Once there was a sailor who had traveled all around the world. He met a lady in Boston who wanted him to tell her a shark story. Says the sailor: 'Madam, I've seen sharks in the Atlantic an' the Pacific an' the Indian Oceans, but all of them sharks wasn't a patch to the shark I once met on land.' 'On land!' cried the lady from Boston. 'Do you mean to say that you met a shark on land?' 'I did, Madam,' answered the sailor. 'I met a shark right in New York, and he did me out of every copper I had in my pockets. He was a hotel-keeper who played cards.'" And at this little yarn there was a general smile.
"Pretty good for a fish story," was Roger's comment. "Just the same, I don't want to fall in with any sharks whether on land or at sea."
"Before we land to-night, I want to settle about this outing we expect to take at Mirror Lake," said Dave. "If you fellows are going along, we'll have to make the necessary arrangements."
"Well, you can count on me, Dave," returned Roger, promptly. "I told you at the start that I'd be glad to go with you."
"And so will I be glad to go," added Phil.
"I've got to find out what my folks want me to do first," said Shadow. He looked curiously at Dave, who was gazing far out to sea. "What are you looking at, Dave?" he asked.
"I'm watching that smoke out there," was the answer.
"That's only the smoke from some incoming steamer," returned Ben. "I noticed that a few minutes ago."
"Maybe it is from a steamer," returned Dave, "but I don't think it is coming from any funnel."
"What do you think it is – a fire?" cried Phil. And at these words all the boys on the deck rushed to the rail.
"It looks that way to me. Let us get the glasses and find out."
"I'll get them!" cried Roger; and lost no time in disappearing into the cabin.
A minute later he reappeared with a pair of powerful marine glasses which he handed to Phil. The glasses were quickly adjusted, and the shipowner's son took a hasty look seaward.
"It's a small steamer, all right," he announced. "Just as sure as you're born, there's a fire on board."
"Fire!" repeated Roger.
"If she's on fire we ought to go to the rescue!" exclaimed Dave.
CHAPTER II
SOMETHING ABOUT THE PAST
"What's this I hear about fire?"
The question came from a burly, pleasant-faced man, who had just appeared on deck, close to the boys. It was Mr. Lawrence, the owner of the steamer.
"Why, Dad, there's a steamer out there, and we think she's on fire," answered Phil,
