where would we be at for supper
tonight, I'd like to know. I'm a great hand for preparedness, you must
know, fellows; and here's a fair taste all around, no matter what
happens to the roast fish."

"But isn't it time we began to get busy eating," sighed Toby, looking so
woe-begone that Steve, under the impression he must be almost starved,
thrust a lot of soda crackers and a piece of cheese into his hand,
saying sympathetically:

"There, that will take some of the gnawing away, Toby, and keep you up
another half hour. I know how you feel, because haven't I been there
myself many a time? I mean to take a look-in at my dandy oven soon, and
if everything is lovely we can start business at the old stand right
away."

Poor anxious Toby, how he did suffer. Evidently he had not been able
wholly to clutch the truth, strive as he might; and the solution of the
mystery seemed to be dangling there just beyond his reach, as though to
tantalize him. Jack himself wished the time would hurry and come so that
he might keep his word and "lift the lid," in the way of explanations.

When Steve went to take a look at the oven Toby insisted on accompanying
him; and when the _chef_ declared that the fish was done to a turn
Toby beamed with positive delight, as though the long agonizing period
of his waiting was now surely drawing near an end.

The big fish was simply elegant. The boys used up all the available
adjectives at their command in order to do the subject ample justice.
Never had a fish been better baked. Steve looked as proud as any peacock
that strutted along a wall in self-admiration. He even promised to
repeat the prize supper, if only Toby could duplicate Jack's catch.

Again and again they all passed in for more until not only the big fish
was utterly gone but serious inroads had been made by them in the other
mess.

"You see, I gauged our appetites fairly well after all," Steve was
saying, as if to clear himself of any reproach along the lines of
greediness.

At length they one and all declared they were through, whereupon Toby
sat up eagerly, and turned an appealing face toward Jack.

"The time has come for you to keep your promise, Jack," he went on to
say, considerably to the amazement of Steve. "So please start in and
tell us who that man is we saw digging today; what he's after up here in
the Pontico Hills; and just who the rich old lady in Chester may be who
put up the cash to finance this expedition. The who