CHAPTER XXIX
NODDY'S DANGER
They were all on board a few minutes later. Mr. Seabury did his bestto hug his three daughters at once and shake hands with Ned and Jerry.As for the talk--well, it would have taken half a dozen phonographs ofextra power to register all that was said in a short time.
"There isn't so much to tell," said Mr. Seabury. "When you girls wentout in the boat, leaving the _Wanderer_ about where she is moored nowI was dozing on deck. Pretty soon Ponto called my attention to a swarmof butterflies some distance away. I had in mind the professor and hissearch and I thought I might find just what he wanted.
"We went after them, but they gave us quite a chase, and when wethought we had them the whole lot flew inland and we lost sight ofthem. Then, when we came back where we had been moored, near thepassage, we found it was gone. I was never so surprised in my life andI thought I had made a mistake. I didn't know what to do and Ponto wasso frightened he was of no service. Then my old rheumatic trouble cameback with a rush and I had to take to bed. But when the storm ceasedI got better. I found the boat had dragged her anchor, so I had Pontostart the motor this morning and put us back as near as possible towhere the passage had been. To my surprise it was open again. That'sall there is to it. I don't care what happened as long as I have yougirls back."
"Nor we as long as we have you," said Olivia, with another hugging inwhich her sisters joined her.
The boys and Mr. Seabury discussed what had happened and came to theconclusion that all around the two lakes, as well as in them, mustbe large masses of floating vegetation in the form of islands whichdrifted here and there. The falling of Butterfly Lake would haveaffected Lake Okeechobee by drawing water from it through the secondpassage had not the small island acted as a dam. When the passage wasopened by the hurricane blowing the island out of the way, there wouldhave been a strong current from Lake Okeechobee into the other body ofwater but for the fact that the smaller lake suddenly ceased falling.
The boys learned later, from Chief Ottiby, that Butterfly Lake was astrange one and frequently fell as the water flowed off through someunknown opening. Then it would as suddenly cease, and regain its formerlevel. This was now taking place, and the water was again rising.
"Well, you boys certainly have had some queer experiences since cominghere," remarked Mr. Seabury when all that had happened in the last fewdays had been told. "I have been wondering what you came to Floridafor."
"We came for several reasons," said Jerry. "The professor wanted toget his rare butterfly, but he hasn't got it yet. We boys wanted someadventures and we also had a message to deliver to an acquaintance."
"Yes, and we forgot to deliver it," put in Ned.
"We will later, however," resumed Jerry. "Also I was going to look upsome land my mother owns somewhere down here."
"Where is it?"
"I don't know exactly, but I suppose the deed tells." Later the widow'sson showed Mr. Seabury the document.
"So your mother thinks this land is valueless, eh?" asked the owner ofthe _Wanderer_.
"She always said she wished she had back the money she paid for it."
"Well, she's likely to get it," went on Mr. Seabury.
"Where is it?"
"Just outside of Kissimmee City. I happen to own a hotel there andthis land is next to it. For several years I have tried to get incommunication with the owner but was not successful. Now I do so byaccident."
"Why did you want to find the owner?"
"Because I want to buy the land. I intend to build an addition to myhotel, as the place where it is located has become quite a summercolony. I will give your mother a good price for the lot. Do you thinkshe will sell it?"
"I'm sure she will. In fact I think I'm safe in offering it to you at afair price. I don't know what it is worth, but I'm willing to leave itto you."
"No, I don't do business that way. When you get to Kissimmee City,you can telegraph your mother about the land. You can have it valuedby some real estate dealer, and I'll pay you whatever he says it isworth. Is that satisfactory?" And Jerry said it was.
"We mustn't forget Bob!" exclaimed Ned, after this business wasconcluded. "The professor wants to know what kinds of medicine youhave, Mr. Seabury. Bob has a bad fever."
"I have several kinds. I'll take some of them with me and go to yourcamp."
In a short time Mr. Seabury, with Ned and Jerry, was in the motor boatspeeding toward the camp. The three girls were left on the _Wanderer_.
The professor was glad to see Mr. Seabury, and the two men discussedBob's case. The youth was still in the stupor of the high fever, andMr. Seabury looked grave as he examined him. However, he administeredsome strong medicine.
Whether the fever had run its course, or whether the medicine Mr.Seabury gave him was responsible, was not determined, but it wascertain by evening Bob was much better. He continued to improve, andby the next day the fever had entirely left him. Yet he was far fromstrong.
As the climate of Lake Okeechobee was not doing Mr. Seabury any good hedetermined to proceed back north. He left a supply of medicines for Boband, expressing the hope that the professor would be successful in hissearch for the rare butterfly, prepared to start the _Wanderer_ on herhomeward trip. He agreed to meet Jerry in Kissimmee City in three weeksand complete the land sale in case Mrs. Hopkins agreed to it.
There was a little feeling of sadness when the three boys bade thethree girls good-bye, for they had grown to be very good friends. Theyexpressed the hope that they would meet again soon, and then, withthree toots of her whistle, which were answered from the motor boat,the _Wanderer_ puffed up Lake Okeechobee.
The boys and the professor decided to remain in camp another week toallow Bob to recover fully. At the end of that time they started backup north, following the shores of Lake Okeechobee, for Mr. Snodgrasswas anxious about getting the rare butterfly. Chief Ottiby and his sonremained on the other lake, as they wanted to do some fishing.
The _Dartaway_ was not sent along at a very fast speed, as theprofessor wanted time to scan the shores in his search for insects. Hebegan to fear he must return north without the butterfly which meant somuch to him, and the boys, appreciating his feelings, redoubled theirwatchfulness in the hope of discovering the creature.
"This looks like a good place for butterflies," said Mr. Snodgrass oneafternoon, pointing to a little cove which was bordered with woodlandon the edge of a swamp. "Suppose we camp here for a few days?"
The boys were willing, and the boat was headed toward shore. There wasa long strip of firm land before the swamp was reached and on this thetent was erected. Then, while the professor, with long rubber bootson, went into the morass to look for the butterfly the boys walked inanother direction.
They had not gone very far when Jerry, who was in the lead, called out:
"Somebody else is camping here."
"Why?" asked Bob, who had fully recovered from his illness.
"There's a tent."
"Can't be much of a party in that," observed Ned. "It's only about bigenough for one."
"Yes, and I guess there's the 'one,'" observed Bob, pointing to where asolitary figure stood on a little hummock near the edge of the swamp.Jerry took one look at the figure and uttered an exclamation.
"Boys! If that isn't Noddy Nixon I'm a Dutchman!"
"Noddy Nixon?" repeated Bob.
"It sure is," added Ned. "But look there! An alligator is right behindhim!"
"And he doesn't see it!" cried Jerry.
It was true enough. Noddy was standing with his back to the saurian. Heseemed to be gazing off into the swamp as if looking for some one.
"Hurry up and put a bullet into it!" yelled Bob, for Jerry had broughthis gun along.
"We haven't time! Let's yell to Noddy to jump out of the way of itstail!" suggested Ned. "Now all together!"
They united their voices in a shout of warning but Noddy never turned.
"He must be deaf!" exclaimed Jerry. "I'll have to try a
shot, but it'spretty long."
There was nothing else to do. He raised the rifle and fired. Thealligator gave a spring into the air and Noddy wheeled around.
"He heard that!" cried Ned, springing forward. The alligator wasevidently mortally wounded. Noddy gave one look at the leaping,writhing saurian almost at his feet. Then he looked at the three chumswho were running toward him. An instant later he had disappeared intothe swamp-forest.
NODDY GAVE ONE LOOK AT THE WRITHING SAURIAN]