“So you’ve followed me,” he sneered.
“I have. Just you hand over that stuff.”
“Not much! I took some trouble to get it, and I mean to keep it. It isn’t much; but every little counts.”
“I’ll give you just one minute to hand it over,” I went on; and I pointed the gun at his head.
Suddenly he jumped behind the mast, and shoved the boat from the shore. I fired one shot in the air, to scare him,—for it was not in my heart to shoot any one,—and then plunged into the shallow water after him.
But he was beyond me, and the next instant he had his sail up, and was leaving the shore rapidly. He kept well out of range, so I could not have hit him even if I had wanted to do so.
“You’re not smart enough for me!” he called back tauntingly. And in a moment he passed out of sight in the gloom.
I stood still for a while, not knowing what to do next. Following the fellow had been of no avail. He had got away and taken with him all the valuable stuff that was lying around the mill.
There was nothing to do but to return home and make the best of the matter. And this I did, pausing in front of the Hallett homestead and wondering if it would do any good to awaken old Mr. Hallett and ask him for his assistance in going after Carney.