"Well, begobs!" exclaimed Barney Mulloy; "this is phwat Oi call a ragion av wonders. It's ivery doay and almost ivery hour something happens to astonish ye."
Gage was made secure, so he could not get away when he recovered from the swoon into which he seemed to have fallen.
A short time after, Socato was seen returning, but he was alone in his canoe.
"He has not found my father—my poor father!" cried Elsie, in distress. "Those terrible men will kill my father!"
"Wait!" advised Frank. "Let's hear what he has to say. I have great confidence in Socato."
"The bad white men leave their captive alone," said Socato, "and I should have set him free, but the great white phantom came, and then the white captive disappeared."
"What's that?" cried Frank, in astonishment. "Make it plain, Socato. Whom do you mean by the great white phantom?"
"The one who owns the canoe that goes alone—the one who built this house and lives here sometimes. Every one fears him. My people say he is a phantom, for he can appear and disappear as he likes, and he commands the powers of light and darkness. Socato knew that the bad white man had hired a hunting party of my people to come here and appear before the house to frighten you, but he knew you would not be frightened, and the bad men could not get my people to aid them in a fight. Socato also knew that the great white phantom sent his canoe to scare my people away, but he does not know what the great white phantom has done with the man who was a prisoner."
"Well, it is possible the great white phantom will explain a few things we do not understand," said Frank, "for here he comes in his canoe."
"And father—my father is with him in the canoe!" screamed Elsie Bellwood, in delight.