From the deepest depths of despondency, if not despair, the young engineers had been raised to the highest pinnacle of hope and joy when the Woodville was discovered on the other side of the lake. She had drifted in behind a point of land, and could not be seen from the ferry. They had gone out to the place where she had been anchored, near the Goblins; and while they were gazing down into the deep water in search of her, Ethan happened to raise his eyes and saw her on the other side of the lake. What a thrill went through his heart as he recognized her! And what a thrill he communicated to Lawry when he pointed her out to him!
"Why, the casks are all gone!" exclaimed Ethan.
"All gone!" replied Lawry.
"She must be aground," added Ethan; "but she sets out of water a great deal farther than when we left her."
"We shall soon find out what the matter is," continued Lawry. "She is safe, and on the top of the water; that's enough for me at the present time."
"What does this mean?" he exclaimed.
"I don't know. The water couldn't have run out of her without some help," replied Ethan.
"I don't understand it," added Lawry. "The casks are all gone, and the steamer has been pumped out. Somebody must have done this work."
"That's true," said Ethan. "Somebody has certainly been here."
"There's no doubt of that; but I can't see, for the life of me, what they wanted to set her adrift for."