Elsie's arms tightened about her friend, and she trembled all over with the thought of such a thing.
"Like a flash I understood what he meant to do," continued the dark-haired girl. "I twisted about so that the full force of his thrust was lost; but in doing so I lost my balance. I thought it was all over, and I uttered a cry. At the same time, even as I was falling, I sought to drop on the rock. I succeeded in doing so, and there I lay, with my feet in the water. I could feel the water dragging at them! I felt myself slipping, slipping, slipping!"
She choked and covered her face with her hands.
Some of the others now approached and were startled to learn what had taken place.
The moment he heard about it a most astounding change came over Bruce Browning. The big fellow had been loitering along, apparently so weary that only by the greatest effort could he drag his feet; but in a twinkling he awoke to astonishing animation, asked which way Merry had gone, and a second later bounded away, covering the ground in mighty leaps.
Starbright and Morgan followed. Rattleton remained with Hodge to look after the girls.
There were other visitors on the islands. Soon the boys learned that the strange white-haired man in black had fled across the bridges to Goat Island, followed a few moments later by a young man.
When Goat Island was reached another man informed them that he had seen the old man in black leap into a waiting carriage, upon which the driver whipped his horses and sent them off at a great pace.
Merriwell had reached the spot a few moments later and had rushed across through the woods in an effort to head off the fugitive.
While Browning was making inquiries he was overtaken by Starbright and Morgan.