"I think Dory will be prudent, and will take care of himself, though he may get into trouble. I shall send no students to assist him," replied the principal decidedly. "The boys will not be called upon to chase such desperadoes as professional burglars must be. But you may take a crew, and go in one of the four-oar boats in search of Randolph. Tell him to come ashore."
Oscar departed on his mission, disappointed that he had not been detailed to re-enforce Dory, and assist in the search.
"I am ready to do any thing that I can," added Mr. Jepson; and Mr. Brookbine said the same.
"The burglars have simplified the matter to some extent for us," said the principal, as he seated himself in his arm-chair, as though he did not intend to fret himself at all about the robbery. "The wind is blowing a fierce gale on the lake; and I should not send out a boat on such a night as this manned by the students, or by any one, unless it was to save life. The rascals cannot escape by water. The stormy lake shuts them in on that side."
"I don't think I ever knew it to blow so hard as it does to-night," added Mr. Jepson.
"If Dory and Randolph come back all right, I shall be perfectly satisfied, even if the robbers escape with their plunder. All we have to do is to hem in the land-side of the region about the school, and the constables then may hunt the burglars at their leisure," continued the principal. "Now, if you are willing to do so, I should like to have you go in search of Dory.
"He must have followed the cart-path through the quarries, and crossed the bridge. I don't ask you to quarrel with the burglars, if you find them, but simply to send Dory back," said the principal, after a short period of silence. "Collins!"
"Here, sir," replied the gardener.
"Have Dick harnessed to the buggy, and Kate to the buckboard."
The machinist and the carpenter prepared for the duty assigned to them. The former put his revolver in his pocket, while the latter took his rifle. Mr. Brookbine was given to deer-hunting, and knew all about the Adirondack region, on the other side of the lake. But it was daylight when they started; and they were too late to find Dory in the road, where he had remained so long.