But before they had traversed half the distance a woman came rushing wildly toward them, shrieking for help.
“Who? where? what?” they asked.
“Mr. Himes—my husband!” she panted. “Oh, make haste! they’re killing him!”
“Show us the way,” said Dr. Jasper; “lead on, and we’ll follow.”
She turned and retraced her steps, almost flying over the ground, so that they had some difficulty in keeping up with her.
Day was faintly dawning in the east, and as they neared the spot they could see the outlines of the raft where it lay on the water, then several dark figures leap ashore from it and fled swiftly in a direction opposite to that from which they were approaching.
One of the young men sent a shot after them, but without effect, the light being insufficient for certain aim. All was darkness and silence on the raft.
“Oh, we’re too late! they’ve killed him!” exclaimed Belinda, with a hysterical sob.
“Perhaps not,” said the doctor, stepping cautiously aboard, the others following. “Can you get a light?”
“There was a candle and matches on a shelf in the cabin there, close to the door,” she answered, in a shaking voice. “Get them yourselves; I can’t go in there to look at—”