“Then when we get near the northern end of the lake perhaps you’ll think it best to make a landing somewhere, and prowl around on foot, finding out what we can,” Andy, continued eagerly; for he had become much worked up by this time, and was hoping that fortune would be as kind to them as on a previous occasion, which all Bloomsbury remembered very well.

“If we can only find a decent opening where we could make a get-away again, that is the only thing that bothers me,” Frank replied.

“Now, I remember noticing a field near what seemed to be a lonely farmhouse; in fact there were a number of open places there, and they seemed to have Canada thistles growing in clumps, all a-bloom, as if the farmer had given up cultivating, and let things just go to rack and ruin.  I was never up there myself, but from what I’ve heard my father say, I rather think that must be the Hoskins place.  They say he consulted some fortune teller a couple of years ago, who told him he would some day discover a gold mine on his property that would make him a millionaire; and ever since the farmer has spent about all his time digging here and there, but up to now without any success at all.”

“Why, yes, I remember hearing a lot about the queer old farmer myself,” Frank went on to say.  “He’s got a wife, and a half-grown daughter named Sallie.  I met her at a country dance last winter, and she’s a pretty nice sort of a girl.  Now, we’ve been on the move a good while, Andy, and perhaps we might manage to make the Hoskins farm around the dinner hour.”

“A bully good idea, too, Frank, and don’t you forget it!” cried the other, with considerable show of enthusiasm.  “Now, I just bolted what little breakfast I got this morning, and already I feel hungry enough to eat nearly anything.  And speaking generally, these country people do set a great table; though I don’t know how it will be with the Hoskins, because, if they’ve been neglecting their farm to chase around after rainbows, they probably won’t be any too flush with supplies.  But any port in a storm, and I guess we’ll be able to get filled up; if only we can make a landing, and find the farm.”

“As I figure it out, Hoskins’ place wouldn’t be over a mile or so directly above Norton’s Point, Andy,” the pilot of the expedition continued, thoughtfully.

“Yes,” Andy said, encouragingly.

“And perhaps, now, we might happen to run on some sort of a little clue there.  For instance, one of those yeggmen may have wandered around, and bought some eggs or milk from the farmer’s folks; because, if they’ve been camping out in the woods, they’ve had to eat all the while, you know.”

“A good idea, Frank; and we’ll ask, if we’re lucky enough to happen around the lonely farm about meal time.”

“I’m going to make it a point to be there, and as we’ve got some time to kill meanwhile, let’s hop over to that nice landingplace at the foot of old Thunder top, and overhaul the machine again.  There are a few things I’d like to tinker with, because I’m not quite pleased with the way they work; and you know, Andy, I’m a regular crank about having a motor run like a watch.”