he boys?" murmured Belle. "I

same moment. No, Belle, I have no such fear. But I am going right out to investigate. I know Jack would never stay away if he could get here, especially when he knew this would be your first e

ra, but then they were not used to brothers, and did not realize how many things may

mamma and Bess to conquer my nervousness and not make folks miserable, bu

comes from what Jack calls the 'sympathy bug.' You worry about people before you know they are in trouble. I feel cer

ed the nervous girl, her tone showing

ra, as they walked along. "You kno

ess. "Mother says Belle would be just as

d such a candid way of acknowledging her own goo

mean. I simply mean t

ks glow at least

as they stepped on the boardwalk that led to the boat landing. "Why, I didn't suppos

it above his head, then lowered it, and it was plain

her nerves as she saw that something must be w

after?" asked

ts for bait," Cora answered evasively. "Y

have been the one to ask questions. What if anything ha

Cora asked of the man with the lantern. "They se

in that tantalizing way country f

d two of his friend

la

d?" interru

them they were going a

and," s

there after dark who wasn't ready to die of fright, 'ceptin' Jim Peters. And the old boy hisse

heard of any accid

s myself. They was in a

swered Co

had sawed 'em, and he said-but t

anded Cora, as Bess and Belle st

at the far dock, and had gone on th

their bathing suit

bin'. But-say miss. There's this about Jim. He don't ever take the trouble to make

his man live?

stays at the shanty, when he ain't on the water. But he

went on Cora, determined to find out something of the man, for she ha

uch less at night. But I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll jest take a look around my

must hurry to trace the boys. I suppos

t Tom Hannon hates to think." Ben raised the lantern above his head and then, as if satisfied that

"it is almost eight O'clo

t all this man knew. Now I am satisfied

eeling in spite of her outward calm. The ma

ve been drowned. They were all expert swimmers. Nor would they go to any merry-go-'ro

now," said Ben. "Jus

pump

lked with his head down although his shoulders were straight and broad as those of any well trained athlete. The

alled to the dock hand j

ch about them tides, as I've lived at this hole most all my born days. B

ters looked from under his big

s of the old lady's.

understandingly as he made

u goin' now?

ke," repli

occurred to him, "where did you say them young f

ailing behind his rowboat. He stepped into the lantern's light, and both Bess a

led the man in answe

. You said they went to the

ed the man s

d Cora, unable to res

ed into his rowboat and before anyone could q

prised," said Ben apologetically. "Say, that fellow know

y. "We could overtake him in that before

earby rowboat, where, evidently, some boys were having some sort of a harmless game, Dan appeared. He was a tall youth, the sort that seems to g

ora. "It's the new boat you must

e lad, and then he was off, his bare feet making no sound.

ed Cora, and

at," said Ben with somethi

ose sight of that m

when he has been out some," affirmed Ben. "Now suppose you girls

handkerchief, and upon the board, C

wn," said Cora. "It isn't locked, bu

ock rat he's a canal mule. There! Ain't that him? Yep, there

ulled the motor boat by the bow rope. The girls were quick to fol

port, starboard and aft-lights

is here lake. Besides," and he touched the engine almost fondly, "the

howing how readily the gas could be turned on an

as the "chugchug" answered th

htful evening and, but for the urgency of their quest, the first nig

asked Belle, loud en

ight. Do you suppose that i

a moonlight night when the water's clear. Of course th

ou going?" she q

ourse. We'll just pick his trail," said Ben. "Now t

a few minutes later he turned o

ttle to give him a cha

et too close-it mig

e story, that they should be following a strange fisherman to a wild is

courage-it was so slight a hope that this ma

aimed Ben. "He's talkin

," exclaimed Cora. "Oh, I

w?" asked Belle, h

a, "for if they were in distress he

ices of the boys, in angry protest, could be heard, as they argued with some one, who