"Not much, Fred! We'll go back."
They were just turning when they heard a shout from up the lake, and looking in that direction saw Joel Runnell approaching in a cat-boat. The old hunter had been out fishing and had quite a mess of the finny tribe in the bottom of his craft.
"Hullo, there, wot ye doin' on a raft?" he sang out.
"Come and take us on board!" ejaculated Joe. "Hurry up!"
Hearing this, the old hunter lost no time in turning in their direction, and in a few minutes more they were safe on the cat-boat.
"I'm awfully glad that you came along," said Joe. "Take us to the mainland just as quickly as you can, will you?"
"To be sure, if ye want it, Joe. But what's up?"
"We have been kidnapped," was the answer, and while the cat-boat moved for the mainshore both Joe and Fred told their story.
"It must have been Marcy and Si Voup," declared Joel Runnell. "I saw them coming from the island early this morning. Just as I was starting out to fish. The third fellow was a stranger to me. He had light, yellowish hair."
"It must have been Ike Boardman!" cried Fred. "His hair is just that unusual color."