"Let's go find them."
Again they started in the direction of the river, not in a mad rush this time, but slowly and carefully picking their way. They skulked along in the shadow of the factory walls, ready for any emergency that might arise. They kept close together and if the truth were known both boys would have been very glad to have had an armed companion with them.
They had covered perhaps a hundred and fifty feet or so, and ahead of them could just make out the dark bank of the river. Suddenly they saw a man appear around the corner of the building, running toward them. Bob and Hugh crouched against the brick wall and waited for him to come near. All at once Bob recognized the stranger and started forward.
"Karl," he cried.
The man halted.
"Where are you going?" asked Bob. "Where are father and the others?"
"Down by the river," replied Karl and once more broke into a run. A moment later he was lost to sight in the darkness.
"Seems to me he's in an awful hurry," remarked Hugh.
"Father had probably sent him on an errand," said Bob. "Let's hurry and see if we can't find father and Sergeant Riley."
"Who do you think shot Lena?" asked Hugh.