"Yes, too much, sometimes," said Mrs. Bouncer, with a sigh, as she looked at her son and his chums. "I never know what they'll be up to next. That's one reason I rather dreaded coming here. I didn't so much mind it at home, for though they were out on Rainbow Lake much of the time, there was a limit to that water. But here, so near the big ocean,—I don't know. I'm always afraid they'll be carried out to sea!" and she shivered slightly, as if from some unknown fear.
"Carried out to sea!" exclaimed Bob. How could we be? We never go as far as the inlet."
"And I hope you never will!" exclaimed his mother.
The boys told more in detail of their doings at the lighthouse and then were sent off to bed, for the hour was growing late. They only made a mention of the strange man with the lantern, whom they had passed in the darkness, and they did not tell of their intention to get on his trail, and try to find out who he was and what he was after. They thought that, had they spoken of him, permission to seek after his secret might not be given.
"Well, what's on the program this morning?" asked Bob, after breakfast one day.
"Me for a swim, as soon as it gets a little warmer," decided Frank, for the morning was a bit chilly.
"I'm with you!" agreed Bob.
"Can't you boys get a few crabs first?" asked Mrs. Bouncer. "I'd like some to make a salad. The tide is right now; isn't it?"
"Yes, it's coming in, and they always bite best on the incoming tide," replied Bob, who had learned that from an old fisherman. "What do you say, fellows; shall we go crabbing?"
"Sure," agreed his chums. "We can swim later."
Accordingly with crab nets, pieces of meat tied on strings for
