NODDY’S DANGER
They were all on board a few minutes later. Mr. Seabury did his best
to 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 of
extra power to register all that was said in a short time.
“There isn’t so much to tell,” said Mr. Seabury. “When you girls went
out in the boat, leaving the _Wanderer_ about where she is moored now
I was dozing on deck. Pretty soon Ponto called my attention to a swarm
of butterflies some distance away. I had in mind the professor and his
search and I thought I might find just what he wanted.
“We went after them, but they gave us quite a chase, and when we
thought we had them the whole lot flew inland and we lost sight of
them. Then, when we came back where we had been moored, near the
passage, we found it was gone. I was never so surprised in my life and
I thought I had made a mistake. I didn’t know what to do and Ponto was
so frightened he was of no service. Then my old rheumatic trouble came
back with a rush and I had to take to bed. But when the storm ceased
I got better. I found the boat had dragged her anchor, so I had Ponto
start the motor this morning and put us back as near as possible to
where the passage had been. To my surprise it was open again. That’s
all there is to it. I don’t care what happened as long as I have you
girls back.”
“Nor we as long as we have you,” said Olivia, with another hugging in
which her sisters joined her.
The boys and Mr. Seabury discussed what had happened and came to the
conclusion that all around the two lakes, as well as in them, must
be large masses of floating vegetation in the form of islands which
drifted here and there. The falling of Butterfly Lake would have
affected Lake Okeechobee by drawing water from it through the second
passage had not the small island acted as a dam. When the passage was
opened by the hurricane blowing the island out of the way, there would
have been a strong current from Lake Okeechobee into the other body of
water but for the fact that the smaller lake suddenly ceased falling.
The boys learned later, from Chief Ottiby, that Butterfly Lake was a
strange one and frequently fell as the water flowed off through some
unknown opening. Then it would as suddenly cease, and regain its former
level. This was now taking place, and the water was again rising.
“Well, you boys certainly have had some queer experiences since coming
here,” remarked Mr. Seabury when all that had happened in the last few
days had been told. “I have been wondering what you came to Florida
for.”
“We came for several reasons,” said Jerry. “The professor wanted to
get his rare butterfly, but he hasn’t got it yet. We boys wanted some
adventures 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 up
some land my mother owns somewhere down here.”
“Where is it?”
“I don’t know exactly, but I suppose the deed tells.” Later the widow’s
son showed Mr. Seabury the document.
“So your mother thinks this land is valueless, eh?” asked the owner of
the _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 and
this land is next to it. For several years I have tried to get in
communication with the owner but was not successful. Now I do so by
accident.”
“Why did you want to find the owner?”
“Because I want to buy the land. I intend to build an addition to my
hotel, as the place where it is located has become quite a summer
colony. I will give your mother a good price for the lot. Do you think
she will sell it?”
“I’m sure she will. In fact I think I’m safe in offering it to you at a
fair price. I don’t know what it is worth, but I’m willing to leave it
to 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 valued
by some real estate dealer, and I’ll pay you whatever he says it is
worth. Is that satisfactory?” And Jerry said it was.
“We mustn’t forget Bob!” exclaimed Ned, after this business was
concluded. “The professor wants to know what kinds of medicine you
have, Mr. Seabury. Bob has a bad fever.”
“I have several kinds. I’ll take some of them with me and go to your
camp.”
In a short time Mr. Seabury, with Ned and Jerry, was in the motor boat
speeding toward the camp. The three girls were left on the _Wanderer_.
The professor was glad to see Mr. Seabury, and the two men discussed
Bob’s case. The youth was still in the stupor of the high fever, and
Mr. Seabury looked grave as he examined him. However, he administered
some strong medicine.
Whether the fever had run its course, or whether the medicine Mr.
Seabury gave him was responsible, was not determined, but it was
certain by evening Bob was much better. He continued to improve, and
by the next day the fever had entirely left him. Yet he was far from
strong.
As the climate of Lake Okeechobee was not doing Mr. Seabury any good he
determined to proceed back north. He left a supply of medicines for Bob
and, expressing the hope that the professor would be successful in his
search for the rare butterfly, prepared to start the _Wanderer_ on her
homeward trip. He agreed to meet Jerry in Kissimmee City in three weeks
and complete the land sale in case Mrs. Hopkins agreed to it.
There was a little feeling of sadness when the three boys bade the
three girls good-bye, for they had grown to be very good friends. They
expressed the hope that they would meet again soon, and then, with
three 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 to
allow Bob to recover fully. At the end of that time they started back
up north, following the shores of Lake Okeechobee, for Mr. Snodgrass
was anxious about getting the rare butterfly. Chief Ottiby and his son
remained on the other lake, as they wanted to do some fishing.
The _Dartaway_ was not sent along at a very fast speed, as the
professor wanted time to scan the shores in his search for insects. He
began to fear he must return north without the butterfly which meant so
much to him, and the boys, appreciating his feelings, redoubled their
watchfulness in the hope of discovering the creature.
“This looks like a good place for butterflies,” said Mr. Snodgrass one
afternoon, pointing to a little cove which was bordered with woodland
on 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 was
a long strip of firm land before the swamp was reached and on this the
tent was erected. Then, while the professor, with long rubber boots
on, went into the morass to look for the butterfly the boys walked in
another 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 big
enough for one.”
“Yes, and I guess there’s the ‘one,’” observed Bob, pointing to where a
solitary 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 behind
him!”
“And he doesn’t see it!” cried Jerry.
It was true enough. Noddy was standing with his back to the saurian. He
seemed 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 brought
his gun along.
“We haven’t time! Let’s yell to Noddy to jump out of the way of its
tail!” 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’s
pretty long.”
There was nothing else to do. He raised the rifle and fired. The
alligator gave a spring into the air and Noddy wheeled around.
“He heard that!” cried Ned, springing forward. The alligator was
evidently mortally wounded. Noddy gave one look at the leaping,
writhing saurian almost at his feet. Then he looked at the three chums
who were running toward him. An instant later he had disappeared into
the swamp-forest.
[Illustration: NODDY GAVE ONE LOOK AT THE WRITHING SAURIAN]