"He wants to get away from those who are after him," observed Grace. "I wonder if he is a desperate criminal?"
"He didn't look at all like a criminal," spoke Amy. "I think he had a nice face."
"He wasn't bad looking," admitted Betty. "Poor fellow, he was very nervous, though."
"And no wonder—meeting four girls at once!" laughed Mollie.
"What shall we do if we meet those men who are after him?" asked Grace. "I shall be so frightened!"
"We won't meet them!" declared Betty. "If we do we need not speak to them. But if they insist we can say truthfully that we don't know who that young fellow was, nor where he went."
"He's out of sight now, at all events," spoke Amy. "I wonder whom he is going to get help for? I wish he had told us more."
"I don't," answered Betty, promptly. "The less we know the less we can tell if any men question us. Now let's get aboard and get back. No more manatees for me!"
The Gem was none the worse for her queer tow, and soon, with the girls aboard, was dropping down stream again. The strange youth was not in sight, even when the turn of the river was made, but he may have poled off into one of the many little bayous, or tributary streams, that joined the main one.
"I'm glad he's out of sight," murmured Grace. "If those men should come after him——"