We saw an immediate change in Tish from that moment. The very next
morning we put on our bathing suits and, armed with soap and sponges,
drove the car into the lake for a washing. Unluckily a wasp stung
Tish on the bare knee as we advanced and she stepped on the gas with
great violence, sending us out a considerable distance, and, indeed,
rendering it necessary to crawl out and hold to the top to avoid
drowning.
Here we were marooned for some time, until Hannah spied us and rowed
out to us. It was finally necessary to secure three horses and a long
rope to retrieve the car, and it was some days in drying out.
But aside from these minor matters, things went very well. Mr.
Ostermaier, who was not to search, took charge of the hunt from our end
and reported numerous entrants from among the summer colony, and to
each entrant the following was issued:
1. The cars of the treasure hunters will meet at the Rectory on
Saturday evening at eight o’clock.
2. Each hunter will receive a password or sentence, and a sealed
envelope containing the first clew.
3. This clew found, another password and fresh sealed envelope will be
discovered. And so on.