“You will take him down to Burlington with you when you go.”
Doubtless this answer perplexed the engineer; but the yacht passed out of hailing-distance, and no explanation was practicable. After going around the bend of the river, the Goldwing could lay her course for the lake, close-hauled.
“The engineer has left the boat again,” said Mr. Millweed, just before the yacht reached the bend. “Where do you suppose he is going now?”
“He is going to find Lingerwell, and tell him that you have gone down the river. But he may not find him for two hours. Of course he is moving about looking for you. Very likely he will go to my uncle’s house to inquire for me, though he will not be any the wiser for his visit. But I feel as though it was about supper-time,” continued Dory, as he consulted the watch his uncle had given him on his last birthday. “It is quarter-past six.”
“I have the same sort of a feeling; for I had no dinner to-day, and took my breakfast at six this morning,” added Mr. Millweed.
“Why didn’t you say so before? You might have been working your jaws from the time we
left the shore-road,” said Dory, as he handed the lunch-basket to his passenger. “Help yourself, and I will feed as the helm gives me time.”
Mr. Millweed showed that he had an appetite by the time the Goldwing reached the lake. As the sun went down, the wind died out, though not till the schooner had passed Split Rock.
“I am afraid we shall not get to Burlington to-night; for we can’t go without wind,” said Dory, when the breeze had nearly deserted them.
“Then I am sure to be caught,” added the passenger.