“Yes, she was, but what business have I got making costly presents to a girl that I never saw before last night?  Be sensible, Jack.”

“But I’m sure you are as good as she is, Jack.”

“Maybe, but look at the difference in fortune.  And, as I said before, what business have I making presents, costly or otherwise, to people I have just met?  It would be a piece of impertinence.”

“You must not take me too seriously, Jack,” laughed Dick.

That afternoon the boys went up the river in Jack’s boat, and Jack inserted an advertisement in the News, which appeared the next morning.

The advertisement was simply to the effect that a watch had been found, and could be had upon proving property, and paying for the advertisement, no description being given.

About the middle of the forenoon the next day a crafty-looking man came to the camp, and asked to see Jack.

“Did you find a watch?” he asked when the boy came up.

“Yes,” said Jack simply.

“What sort of watch was it?  Maybe it was mine you found.  I have lost one.”

“What sort did you lose?” asked Jack.  “Describe your watch, and I will tell you if it is the one I found.”

“Well, what sort of watch did you find?” snapped the other.  “If I say it was an open face watch you will say it wasn’t.  Tell me the kind of watch you found, and I’ll tell you if it is mine or not.”

“You may say it was yours in any event,” said Jack quietly.

“Do you mean to say I would lie for the sake of a watch?” the man snapped, flushing deeply, and it was plain to see that this was just what he would do.

“Describe your watch to the doctor,” said Jack.  “He knows what sort of a watch I found, and he will tell you if it is the one you lost.”

“You are a lot of swindlers and don’t mean to give it up,” the man stormed, getting redder in the face, and quite breathless from excitement.  “I’ll see if I am going to be robbed like this.  You will hear from me again, young fellow!”

“He won’t come back,” laughed Percival, who was with Jack at the time.

He was quite correct, for nothing more was seen of the indignant fellow, and the boys made up their minds that he was only a swindler who had imagined that as he had only boys to deal with he would obtain a watch at very little cost.

“I wonder if we will have any more claimants?” said Jack when an hour or more had passed, and no one else had called.

“If you had said more in your advertisement you might,” said Dick.  “But you were very wise not to do so.”

“I always try not to say too much,” said Jack.

CHAPTER VII

MORE MYSTERY ABOUT THE WATCH

Shortly before noon a showily dressed woman came to the camp and asked to see the doctor, saying excitedly: 

“I understand that one of your boys found a watch, Dr. Wise.  May I see it?  I lost mine the other day and—–­”