“Can’t we help him?” panted Ned, knowing as he spoke that they were only vain words.
“No—no—no,” groaned Frank. “And hark! They’re coming after us.”
For there were shouts, and quite close at hand the glow of torches dimly-seen above the trees, while as the boys strained their eyes in the direction, Ned jerked Frank’s arm.
“Hark!” he whispered; “some one’s crawling along the path. Can’t we run?”
“Can’t we fly?” said Frank, bitterly. “It’s all over.”
“Hist! quick!” came from the water; “get in.”
There was the sound of wood brushing against the bushes, and a dark object rose in front of them.
“The boat!” said Frank, excitedly. “Hurrah! In with you, Ned.”
The latter needed no second admonition, but sprang in against the man who was holding on by the boughs, and as the boy stumbled and fell, Frank followed.
It was none too soon, for there was a sharp rustling behind them, something dark sprang right after them, and another black figure, which had struggled through the tunnel-like passage, rose up; but the boat was loosened, their rescuer struck out fiercely, and the man who had tried to leap on board fell back into the water with a splash, and they heard him dragging himself out just as there was a peculiar thud close to where Ned stood.