The appearance of Merrick had put a damper on the breaking up of the party, and the Rovers were rather silent as they went back to the school. It was too late to speak to Captain Putnam that night, but Dick was up early and saw the master of the Hall before breakfast.
"I trust you had a good time last night," said Captain Putnam, smiling.
"We did have, sir," said Dick. "But our party broke up in a way we didn't anticipate," and then he told of what had occurred.
The captain had heard of the missing traction company bonds, and he readily allowed Dick to go back to the cottage, using a horse and buggy for that purpose. Sam and Tom wanted to go, too, but to this Captain Putnam demurred.
"I think one is enough, especially as Mr. Laning is there, too," he said.
With a good horse and a light buggy, it did not take long for the eldest Rover boy to reach the Stanhope cottage. The family had just had breakfast and were surprised to see him so early.
"Didn't you have anything to eat?" questioned Dora. "If you didn't, come right in, and I'll make you an omelet and some coffee."
"No, thank you, Dora," he whispered. "I'll have to wait for that until we're keeping house together. Then----"
"Oh, Dick!" she cried and blushed like a rose.
"I had breakfast while driving over,--an orange and some sandwiches," went on the youth. "Mrs. Green got them ready for me. Is there anything new?"
"No. Uncle John is waiting for you. He is in the woodshed, trying on some old rubber boots. He says one ought to have rubber boots to go into the swamp with."
Dick hurried to the woodshed and there found that Mr. Laning had unearthed two pairs of boots, and he donned one pair while the farmer put on the other. A little later both got in the buggy and drove up the road they had traveled the night previous. Then they tied the horse to a tree, and followed the path leading to the edge of the swamp.
"Hullo, the hat is gone!" exclaimed Dick, as he came close to the black pool.
"Maybe it dropped to the ground," suggested John Laning.
Both looked around, but could see nothing of the missing head covering. Then Dick caught sight of a slip of paper pinned to the tree.
"Here is a message of some kind," he said, and read it. The message ran as follows: