“Oh!” she cried. “There’s Bilby! He was in it!”
“In what?”
“In that boat when we first saw it. When we saw the Chinaman, you know, out on the Canadian side of the river. If there is anything wrong about these men—and the King of the Pipes—Bilby is mixed up with them.”
“I guess you are right, Ruth. Maybe that fellow is into more queer games than just trying to grab your Osage princess.”
“But more than that,” said Ruth much worried now, “he may have so many friends on the Canadian side that he can trace Wonota and her father over there on Grenadier Island.”
“Better warn Mr. Hammond when he comes back from town,” suggested her friend. “That Bilby seems to be universally troublesome. I’ll say he is!”
They kept quiet after that, for the outline of the rocky island, with the blasted beech visible at its summit, came into view. Nothing stirred upon the island, nor was there any other boat in sight.
“Had we better venture ashore?” breathed Ruth, again in doubt.
“Come on. Let’s try it. I’ve got an electric torch in my pocket. We can find our way all over the island with that.”
It was true that the girl of the Red Mill felt some trepidation, but she had confidence in her companion’s muscle and courage if not in his caution. Besides, she was very curious about the queer old man and the doings on his island.