“You’ll go back to that,” she said after a time.
“When studies and football are things of the past. I hope so.”
“But you’ll learn to love my island just a little, won’t you? And you will come back here when summer has come and the loons are nesting in Tobin’s Harbor?” There was pleading in her voice. She loved Isle Royale. How could others fail to love it?
“I feel,” said Red with a curious smile, “I sort of feel that I will come, too.
“But look!” He sprang to his feet. “The clouds are here. The moon has vanished. Time to be going!”
He did not now say: “Where shall we go?” He knew they were to row up the bay half a mile, then climb over a ridge to her family’s summer home. He was more than eager to reach that home. Curiosity regarding that home entered into that desire. But more than that was the feeling that there she would know of many places of hiding. And hide they must until they could leave the island.
“I’ll bring the boat around.” He vanished into the outer darkness.
Closing the door softly behind her, Berley Todd stepped out upon the short platform which served both as doorstep and dock. What emotion surged through her being as she stood alone there in the dark? Only she could answer that.
Soon came the low dip-dip of oars, and they were away.
“We’d better cross straight over,” she said in a low tone. “Then we can follow the shore. We’ll come at last to a small landing. Better try to keep in the shadows if the moon comes out.”