“I think it is about time for us to be getting worried about ourselves,” said George at last, when the first faint streaks of the dawn were seen in the eastern sky. “Fred and John at least can be moving while we are here as helpless as a rat in a trap.”
“What do you make of him?” inquired Grant in a whisper, nodding toward Mr. Button as he spoke.
He was still seated near the wheel and had given but slight attention to his companions. Evidently he was anxious concerning something, though what it was that disturbed him was still not clear to his two young companions.
“What do you think, Mr. Button?” called George. “What’s become of the boys?”
“Huh! What’s that you say?” inquired Mr. Button, sitting quickly erect.
“What do you think has become of Jack and Fred?”
“I don’t know,” replied Mr. Button vaguely. “Where did they go?”
“Why, they left in the skiff,” explained Grant. “They have been gone three or four hours anyway.”
“Why don’t they come back?” inquired Mr. Button.
“That’s what we want to know. We’re afraid they are lost.”