We waited in tense silence, and then cautiously looked out of the mouth of the cave. No one seemed to be about.
"Come—let's make a dash for it," urged Elaine.
We ran out and hurried on down the ravine, apparently not followed.
Back among the trees, however, the man had picked up a rifle which he had hidden. While he was binding up his hand with a handkerchief, he saw us. Painfully he tried to aim his gun. But it was too heavy for his weakened arm and the pain was too great. He had to lower it. With a muttered imprecation, he followed us at a distance.
Evidently, to us, we had eluded the pursuers, for no one seemed now to be following, at least as far as we could determine. We kept on, however, until we came to the water's edge. There, down the bay, we could see Professor Arnold's yacht.
"Let us see Professor Arnold, anyhow," said Elaine, leading the way along the shore.
We came at last, without being molested, to a little dock. A sailor was standing beside it and moored to it was a swift motor-boat. Out at anchor was the yacht.
"You are Professor Arnold's man?" asked Elaine.
"Yes'm," he replied, remembering her.
"Is the Professor out on his boat?" we asked.