The table was spread and waiting, and Mr.
Rushton had once or twice glanced impatiently at his watch.

"What on earth is keeping those boys?" he exclaimed. "Oh, here they are
now. But who's that with them? Why, it's Aaron! Great Scott! What's the
matter?" he cried, as he sprang up excitedly.

Mrs. Rushton uttered a little shriek as her eyes fell on the three
figures entering the gateway.

CHAPTER V

UNCLE AARON RAGES

It was no wonder that both were startled, for the little group coming up
the walk showed that something far out of the ordinary had happened.

It was a surprise in the first place to see Aaron Rushton at all, as,
contrary to his usual custom when he paid a visit to Oldtown, he had not
notified them that they might expect him.

But to see him in such a plight as this was altogether beyond their
experience. He was prim and precise in every detail of his clothes, and
his sense of personal dignity was very strong. Neatness was a passion
with him, and, in his regulated bachelor existence, this had grown upon
him with the years.

But now, as he walked between the two boys, he presented an appearance
that was almost grotesque. He was without his hat, which had floated
down the stream and had not been recovered. His hair was plastered down
on both cadaverous cheeks, his shirtfront was a mass of pulp, and his
wet clothes clinging closely to him brought into full relief every bony
angle of his figure. One leg of his trousers was torn from the knee to
the ankle. His feet sloshed in his shoes with every step, and a wet
trail marked his progress from the gate to the porch.

On each side of him walked one of the boys, Fred staggering under the
weight of a big suit case, while Teddy carried nothing but a guilty
conscience. But probably his burden was the heavier of the two, and he
would gladly have changed loads with his brother.

Under other circumstances, the pair on the veranda would have been
unable to restrain their laughter. But Aaron was not a man to take a
joke, and, besides, they did not know as yet but that he had received
some hurt more serious than a wetting.

They hurried down the steps to meet him.

"Why, Aaron, what on earth has happened?" asked Mr. Rushton, as he
grasped the clammy hand of his brother.

"Can't you see?" snarled Aaron ungraciously. "I've been in the river.
It's a wonder I'm here to tell you that much."

"In the river!" gasped Mrs. Rushton. "How did you get there?"