“Hullo! there’s a boat!” I heard Mr. Norton suddenly cry.
I made a rush for the craft. In an instant he discovered me, and a moment later struck me a blow on the head that laid me senseless on the rocks.
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE CHASE.
I came to my senses with a start. The cooling waters were dashing over my right arm. A wave broke over my face, and I sat up in a dazed fashion.
I was on a rock some distance from Rock Island. How I had come to the spot I did not know, nor did I at that moment give the matter a thought. There was a strange ringing in my ears and an ache in my head.
Slowly I arose and gazed about me. It was early dawn, and I judged it was four o’clock, or a little after.
My first thought was of the man who had deprived me of my senses. I looked towards the island, and then over the expanse of the lake, but Mr. Norton was nowhere to be seen.
The Catch Me, too, had disappeared, and I at once concluded that the three men had taken the craft and made for the mainland.
I upbraided myself for having allowed my guardian to discover me and treat me as he had. Through this the trio had escaped, and there was no telling where they had gone to.