Starting off at a pace that kept the four youths on a run to keep up with him, the colonel led the way back to the house. Just before coming to it he stopped.
"Take that path to the left, it leads down to the landing," he directed. "Get the boat you will find there ready, and I will be with you in a minute."
"Are you going with us?" asked Rand.
"Do you think I am going to be left out of this?" returned the colonel. "Not for a minute!"
Following the colonel's directions, the boys went down to the landing where they found the Scout, a 25-foot cat-boat, moored. Jumping on board they made ready to cast her loose, took the stops off the sail and had it partly hoisted when the colonel came along bringing with him a gun.
"Are you going to shoot them?" asked Pepper.
"I hope not," replied the colonel, "but it is just as well to be prepared for all emergencies. You are first-rate sailors," he added, stepping on board. "Cast her off and up with the sail."
"How is that?" called Rand.
"A little more on the peak; that's it, now pull it home and make fast."
During this time the boat had drifted away from the landing and now, as the wind filled the sail she glided out into the river, running free.