It was fully fifteen minutes before the man returned to the waiting
lad, and he not only looked heated but anxious.
"I can't think what has become of those fellows!" he exclaimed,
breathlessly, as he wiped the moisture from his forehead with a cambric
handkerchief. "I've been clear to camp without finding a trace of
either of them. Now there is only one thing left for us to do in order
to get them here quickly. You and I must start around the island in
opposite directions, because if we went together we might follow them
round and round like a kitten chasing its tail. If you meet them,
bring them back here, and I will do the same. If you don't meet them,
keep on until you are half-way down the other side of the island, or
exactly opposite this point; then strike directly into the timber, and
so make a short-cut back here. In that way you will reach this place
again as soon as I, for the island isn't more than three hundred yards
wide just here. Be spry, now, and remember that the safety of your
raft depends largely upon the promptness with which we get those other
fellows here."
With this Mr. Gilder began to walk rapidly down the shore in the
direction he had chosen. Carried away by the man's impetuosity, Winn
did not hesitate to obey his instructions, but started at once in the
opposite direction.
Pages:
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67