The Canadians were surprised to see Josiah Crabtree returning with two strangers, and Mrs. Stanhope uttered a shriek when confronted by the Baxters.
"I must be dreaming," she murmured, when she had recovered sufficiently to speak. "How came you here?"
"We are not answering questions just now, madam," said Arnold Baxter. "We wish to patch up this boat if we can, and at once," and he called the Canadians to him.
As can be imagined, the sailors were dumfounded, especially when told that the Rover boys would not be back, at least for the present. They shook their heads.
"Ze ship cannot be patched up," said Peglace. "Ze whole bottom ees ready to fall out."
Arnold Baxter would not believe him, and armed with lanterns he and Dan went below to make an examination.
"What does this mean?" demanded Mrs. Stanhope of Crabtree, when they were left alone. "What have you done with the Rover boys?"
"Do not worry about them, my dear," said the former teacher soothingly.
"All will come right in the end."
Then he began to look at her steadily, in an endeavor to bring her once more under his hypnotic influence. But, without waiting, she ran off and refused to confront him again.
"Follow me and I will leap into the lake," she cried, and fearful she would commit suicide, he let her alone.