The way they now wished to take lay, not in the direction in which the ox-cart had gone, but over the hills directly across the lake.

The scow belonging to this clearing, on which they had counted, was called into requisition.
The day was still calm; Bates had no objection to take them across.

At any other time he would have had some one to leave in charge of the place, but especially as he would be in sight of the house all the time, he made no difficulty of leaving as it was.

He could produce four oars, such as they were, and the way across was traversed rapidly.
"And there ain't really a female belonging to the place, except the old lady," said the dentist, addressing the assembled party upon the scow.
"It was all a tale, and--my eye;--he took me in completely." Probably he did not give entire credence to his own words, and wished to provoke the others to question Bates further; but they were not now in the same idle mood that had enthralled them when, in the morning, they had listened to him indulgently.

Their loins were girded; they were intent upon what they were doing and what they were going to do.