Jack led Madge a short distance down the shore. After surveying thelocality intently to be certain of his bearings, the ranger parted thethick growth of bush which fringed the water, and they plunged into theforest. At first they followed a thinly worn path, but presently thornyvines and underbrush impeded their progress. It was unpleasantly warm;mosquitoes and insects were a torment.
Once Jack slackened his pace and looked back at his companion but Madgeurged him on. She knew that everything depended upon speed. Rather thanhold Jack back she would drop by the wayside.
She managed to keep up with him, never uttering a word of complaint, butwhen at last they came within sight of Rice Lake she felt that she couldnot have continued a hundred yards farther. Emerging from the forest theypaused to survey the lake. There was no sign of a canoe or a boat.
"Do you think we're too late?" Madge asked.
"Hard to tell," Jack returned briefly.
They hurriedly made their way along the muddy shore toward the pointwhich marked the end of the portage Clyde Wendell must have taken. Jackstudied the soft ground along the shore but the only footsteps visiblehad been made many days before. They walked a few steps down the portageand paused to listen. Only the wild cry of a bird greeted their ears. Nobroken twigs or bushes disclosed that anyone had passed along the trailthat day.
"Either we're here ahead of him, or he didn't come this way," the rangersaid in a low tone.
Madge sank down on an old log to rest. The ranger stood beside herstaring meditatively down the trail. Suddenly he straightened, and Madge,hearing the same sound, looked quickly up. She stifled the exclamationupon her lips.
She could plainly hear the crackle of twigs underfoot. Someone was comingdown the trail! Madge quietly arose and looked questioningly at theranger. His expression had not changed.
Then through the trees they glimpsed Clyde Wendell. He was staggeringunder the burden of his canoe, and with head bent low could not see thetwo who awaited him in the clearing.
"Hello," Jack said challengingly. "We've been waiting for you."
With an exclamation of startled dismay, the chemist straightened andallowed the canoe to slide to the ground. He faced the two defiantly.
"Well, what do you want? I'm on my way to Bryson."
"So I observe," Jack commented dryly. "What are you doing with thecanoe?"
"I only borrowed it. I'd have sent it back when I got to Bryson."
"It isn't considered wise to borrow government canoes. But we'll let thatpass for the time being. Hand over the book!"
"What book?" Wendell countered.
"The one I see sticking out of your hip pocket."
The chemist's hand went involuntarily to his pocket but he faced Jackwith blazing eyes.
"I'll not hand over what belongs to me."
"It's Anne's book!" Madge cried for she had seen the cover. "ClydeWendell, you did steal it!"
The chemist half turned as though to make a dash back over the trail hehad just come, but the ranger caught him firmly by the shoulder andwheeled him about.
"Oh, no you don't! Hand it over or I'll take it by force."
Wendell looked searchingly at the ranger. "See here," he said in aconciliatory tone. "I'll pay for the book and the canoe too. I meant noharm. I only want to catch my train at Bryson. You see, I picked up thebook by accident--"
"You'll catch no train today," Jack interrupted bluntly. "You're goingback to Loon Lake. Incidentally, there's a matter of a board bill tosettle. Now hand over the book!"
Reluctantly, the chemist relinquished it. Jack passed it on to Madge whohastily examined it to see that no pages were missing.
"You knew it contained the formula," she accused.
"That's the wildest accusation yet!" the chemist laughed derisively. "Youand that Fairaday girl have built up a pretty story which you've kiddedyourselves into believing is true. Fairaday never owned a formula. It wasan obsession."
"Move along!" Jack ordered. "Walk ahead of me and don't try any tricks."
Madge followed close behind. She was highly elated at having regainedpossession of "Kim." Yet what if Anne should fail to bring out the secretwriting? Clyde seemed so confident they would not succeed.
"We'll find some way to reveal the writing!" she resolved. "At any rate,I'll not worry until after we've made another laboratory test."