Nevertheless, he was not feeling very happy himself over the thought that Ruth and Chess Copley were out on the river together.
“Looks mighty fishy,” muttered Tom Cameron. “I could punch ’Lasses’ head, the way I feel.”
These thoughts seemed to take Tom’s appetite away. To his sister’s surprise, he returned in a very few minutes to the front porch of the bungalow.
“I told you that you had boa-constrictor habits,” she gasped. “Why, Tom Cameron! you must have swallowed your supper whole.”
“I didn’t swallow as much as I expected,” returned the young man, smiling. But he grew serious again. “How long was Chess going to stay out in his boat?” he asked.
“You don’t suppose that I saw him go?” asked Helen, with surprise.
“Do you know that it is after eleven o’clock?” said her brother. “If they went no further than that crazy man’s island, what do you suppose is keeping them?”
“Mercy’s sake! is that the time, Tommy-boy? Why, the crazy man himself must be keeping them! Do you suppose the King of the Pipes has captured Ruth and Chess?”
“Don’t try to be funny,” advised Tom. “It may be no laughing matter.”
“Well, I like that!”