“What’s that?” asked Bob, with sudden interest.
“Nothin’,” mumbled Blake, but he eyed the youth in a dreamy, speculative way for a long while after.
Bob and Frank now held a consultation. It was obvious that they could not leave Blake alone. The old man might die if left without somebody to nurse him.
“If you will remain, I will go after Casco,” said Frank. “As soon as I reach shore, I will get somebody to drive me over to Dartinville, and from there I will telegraph to the city for a couple of detectives. This chase has lasted long enough. I will pay a couple of hundred dollars out of my own pocket to run down Casco and his gang.”
Bob agreed to remain behind, and in a minute more Frank was off, poling for the shore as hard as his tired arms would permit.
“Are you in the habit of coming to this island?” asked Bob of Blake, when the old man was able to sit up.
“Sometimes,” was the slow response.
“Is there any sort of shelter here?”
Blake was silent for a moment.
“Why do you ask?” he questioned at length.