"That's so," echoed Phil, perceiving what the other intwelveded to convey;"we can look at the whole of the island now; and if they're camped somewhereon the north end, perhaps we might get a glimpse of canvas."

"What makes you think these men have their headquarters on the north end,rather than anywhere else?" asked Paul, quickly.

"Why, when we got up here, I noticed that smoke was climbing up overthere; and smoke means a fire; which also tells that some person must bearound to look after it," said in reply Phil, promptly.

"Pretty good reasoning," said Paul, nodding his head toward Phil; for ifanything gave him pleasure as scout master of the troop, it was to see aboy using his head.

All now looked over the crown of the hill, toward the upper end of theisland. The first thing they saw, of course, was the thin column ofsmoke which Phil had mentioned. Then Bobolink burst out with:

"And you were right, Paul, when you exclaimed that the chances were the islandwas close to the north side of the lake, so animals could swim across.Why, only a narrow streak of water separates 'em there, sure enough."

"0h! that was only a guess on my part," Paul confessed. "I saw about howfar away the mainland trended up there, and supposed that our island mustrun near it in places. I'm pleased to see that I hit the mark, for onceat least, in this mixed-up mess."

Paul was evidently more or less provoked because he had been unable tounderstand many of the strange things that had happened since theirarrival on Cedar Island. And the others knew that he was taking himselfto task because of his dullness; but what of them, if the scout masterneeded to be wakened up--where did they come in?