Yet the pursuit had not reached its finish. The fugitive suddenly dived through a fringe of bushes, going out of sight.
Mr. Farnum reached the spot, then halted, looking undecided, almost bewildered.
There was now no sound to guide the pursuer.
"Confound him, if he has gotten away," muttered the boatbuilder, impatiently, to himself. Yet he did not dare risk running forward in any direction, for fear of getting further from his quarry.
Don Melville halted, too, chuckling softly to himself.
"Oh, you!" snorted Farnum, glancing backward over his shoulder in high disgust.
Don chuckled again.
Just then the sound of stealthily moving feet came to the boatbuilder's ears. Don, in his glee, had lost the chance to make so much noise with his own feet that the other boy could steal softly away undetected.
Without a word, now, the boatbuilder sprang forward. As he advanced, he heard the running of the uniformed boy plainly enough, and, a moment later, came in sight.
Now, Jacob Farnum, though not much given to making empty threats, decided to try the effect of a ruse.