on hand."

"Tish!" Aggie wailed. "You'll drown yourself or something."

"Don't be a fool!" Tish snapped. "There's a portage, but you and Lizzie
can carry the canoe across on your heads. I've seen pictures of it. It's
easy. And keep your eyes open for a wireless outfit. There's one about,
that's sure!"

"Lots of good it will do to keep our eyes open," I said with some
bitterness, "with our heads inside the canoe!"

We finally started and Hutchins went with us. It was Hutchins, too, who
voiced the way we all felt when we had crossed the river and were
preparing for what she called the portage.

"She wants to get us out of the way, Miss Lizzie," she said. "Can you
imagine what mischief she's up to?"

"That is not a polite way to speak of Miss Tish, Hutchins," I said
coldly. Nevertheless, my heart sank.

Hutchins and I carried the canoe. It was a hot day and there was no
path. Aggie, who likes a cup of hot tea at five o'clock, had brought
along a bottle filled with tea, and a small basket containing sugar and
cups.

Personally I never had less curiosity about a lake. As a matter of fact
I wished there was no lake. Twice--being obliged, as it were, to walk
blindly and the canoe being excessively heavy--I, who led the way, ran
the front end of the thing against the trunk of a tree, and both
Hutchins and I sat down violently, under the canoe as a result of the
impact.

To add to the discomfort of the situation Aggie declared that we were
being followed by a bear, and at the same instant stepped into a swamp
up to her knees. She became calm at once, with the calmness of despair.

"Go and leave me, Lizzie!" she said. "He is just behind those bushes. I
may sink before he gets me--that's one comfort."

Hutchins found a log and, standing on it, tried to pull her up; but she
seemed firmly fastened. Aggie went quite white; and, almost beside
myself, I poured her a cup of hot tea, which she drank. I remember she
murmured Mr. Wiggins's name, and immediately after she yelled that the
bear was coming.

It was, however, the detective who emerged from the bushes. He got Aggie
out with one good heave, leaving both her shoes gone forever; and while
she collapsed, whimpering, he folded his arms and stared at all of us
angrily.

"What sort of damnable idiocy is this?" he demanded in a most unpleasant
tone.

Aggie revived and sat upright.

"That's our affair, isn't it?" said Hutchins curtly.

"Not by a blamed sight!" was h