The distance to the island was fully a hundred feet. During the time I had been lying upon the rocks the lake had been growing rougher, and it was with great difficulty that I made my way to the shore, and even then the wading covered me pretty well with water.
Once on the island again, I sat down on a fallen tree to review the situation. Both the boat and the robbers were gone. What was to be done next?
I wondered if Ford had got back from Bayport or the Bend, and I was just on the point of going on a tour to find out, when there was a noise behind me, and the mill-hand appeared.
“So I have found you at last!” he exclaimed, as he rushed up. “Where have you been? and what has become of the men?”
“The men have gone, and I don’t know where,” I replied. “It’s a long story. Did you bring any one with you?”
“Yes; here is Pointer, and Captain Harley from Bayport.”
“I’ve found him!” he called.
And the next instant the Bend constable and the Bayport captain of police appeared upon the scene.
I told my story in all its details. It was listened to with close attention, and all joined in asking me a great number of questions.