“Let him stay there. We won’t bother him unless he makes trouble.”
A slight laugh came from Marsh.
Harry wondered about the last remark. He wondered while he still clung to the roof; he wondered while he was dropping to the ground.
As he started along the path, far behind the others, the import of the words suddenly dawned upon him.
Stokes and Marsh knew that Marquette — or Crawford, as they knew him — was hiding in the motor boat!
The sacks had been left there purposely. They must have detected Marquette during the afternoon. They let him listen in during the evening; they were taking Marquette away from the island. That was their only scheme.
Harry hurried toward the dock. He was unable to prepare a plan. There would be risk in attempting to warn Marquette. It was too late now. Harry realized that as he neared the shore of the lake.
Marsh and Stokes had pushed the boat away from the wharf, and had paddled it a hundred yards. The motor was chugging slowly when Harry arrived.
Sitting near the dock, Harry puzzled over the situation. Gradually, he evolved a theory.
Some one was coming to the island to-night. That could be the only solution; for any activities directed against Professor Whitburn must necessarily take place here.