human
I noticed you down on your hands and knees, Ethan, over where we thought we saw that moving figure of a man last night, Phil went on to say, changing the subject hastily, partly from the same reason that influenced Lub to cough and gasp;
gpt
Well, first of all, we weren't mistaken, you want to know, boys,
human
Then it was a sure-enough man?
gpt
That's what it was, Ethan assured him.
human
I found his trail as easy as turning over my hand. Even followed it some ways off, but lost the same among the rocks. When we saw him turn away he didn't come back again, but kept straight on.
gpt
He must have been watching us through one of the windows?
human
If he was, he made up his mind we were too many for him to tackle, and that he had better clear out for good,
gpt
Do you think he could have been the same party who was in our cabin before we came along, Phil?
human
It looks that way, the other told him.
gpt
If this man had just been a stranger, up here to try the fishing, or something like that, he would have knocked on the door, and tried to make our acquaintance. As it was, he watched us, and then cleared out.
human
Let's hope he won't think to come back again,
gpt
Better hurry and get that strainer fixed on the top of our chimney, Lub, advised Ethan, a little maliciously;
human
Oh! leave that to me, the other assured him;
gpt
I haven't quite figured it out in my mind just how I'll fix it, but after lunch I'll get busy. And believe me, when the Fenwick screen is applied, not even a 'possum or a squirrel can invade our cabin home. It'll be impervious to man or beast.
human
Better get out a patent right away on the thing then, Lub, he was advised by the scoffing Ethan,
gpt
Where's X-Ray?
human
You see I was so busy reading the signs of that trail I never once thought a thing about any one else. Lub, you must have seen where he went, didn't you?
gpt
Last I saw of him he was down on the lake shore, replied the other.
human
He had his fishing rod along, and I understood him to say he meant to look for some grasshoppers or crickets or something for bait, because he felt trout hungry.
gpt
X-Ray has a weakness for fish, you know, Ethan declared.
human
He said he'd be the boss fisherman of the bunch while we were up here, and even dared me to take him up, the one to win who could show the greatest number, biggest variety, and the heaviest fish of all that were taken. I think I'll go him, if I can find time to bother.
gpt
And I'll encourage you both to the limit, chuckled Lub;
human
We won't forget that, Lub, Ethan told him;
gpt
I thought I heard some one call out then,
human
Must have been a crow cawing, or a gray squirrel barking,
gpt
I reckon I was mistaken about it, admitted Lub, finally;
human
No danger of him not letting off a whoop if he ran up against anything like a rough deal,
gpt
Still, no harm done if we stepped down to the edge of the water, and took a little look around, suggested Phil.
human
We've none of us paid any attention to the lake so far, only to take that early morning dip in the same. It seems to be about a quarter of a mile across to the further shore, and with lots of bays and nooks, as well as points of land jutting out like fingers. I'd think it was a splendid piece of water for trout; and I'm glad I own some land fronting on Lake Surprise.