Then it was that a desire to capture Gage and a wild longing to give the fellow a paralyzing surprise seized upon Frank.
"Socato," he whispered, "I am going to trust you to take that girl to the hut where my friends are to be found. Remember that you shall be well paid; I give you my word of honor as to that. See that no harm comes to her."
"All right," returned the Indian. "What white boy mean to do?"
"Have a little racket on my own hook," was the reply. "If I lose my bearings and can't find the hut, I will fire five shots into the air from my revolver. Have one of my friends answer in a similar manner."
"Give me that coat. All right. Now skip with the girl."
Frank took the coat; stepped into the boat, watched till Gage was approaching, and then muffled his head, sitting in the place where Elsie had been left.
In the meantime, the Seminole was bearing the girl swiftly and silently away.
Thus it came about that Gage made love to Frank Merriwell, instead of the fair captive he believed was muffled by the coat.
When Gage plunged into the water, the small boat rocked and came near upsetting, but did not go over.