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up the river； an' I'm goin' after
him if I has to go alone。''
‘‘But you won't go alone； while I'm alive；''
insisted Leander； intensely excited。
‘‘An' I'm goin'； too； even if I never
come back；'' added Dink； taking it for
granted that he was needed。
‘‘And you must take me；'' said Gilbert
imploringly。
The four boys grasped one another's
hands； and Sandy declared in a solemn
tone：
‘‘We'll stick together to the bitter end。''
‘‘What's your plan？'' asked Leander；
with great interest。
‘‘Without breathin' a word to a soul；
to…night about nine o'clock we wants
to leave the boat…house； you an' Dink
in one skiff； an' me an' Gil in t'other；
an' sneak up the river； an' try so nobody
won't see us。 When we gits to the upper
bridge； paddle in as close to the Causeway
on the right； as we kin； huggin'
the marsh all the way。 Jest before we
git to Beaver Dam； there's a deep gut
that runs 'longside of it fer a hundred
yards or more。 Foller me in there；
Leander； an' stay hid till I sez move。
Don't speak a word； from the time we
push off till I sez so。 Beaver Dam is
the lonesomest creek in the world； an'
mebbe Gil's little sister is kept in one of
them ol' shacks what muskrat hunters
live in； in the spring an' summer。 If
them galoots is in there； they're mighty
apt ter come out late at night； when they
don't expec' nobody's roun'。 Of course；
nacherelly they have some plan about
gettin' paid fer little Lily； an' they ain't
a…goin' to stay in hidin' without tryin'
to find out the lay er the land； an' jest
how hot the police is on their trail。 My
idee is to go an' lay in ambush fer 'em
all night。 If they don't come out； we'll
explore in the mornin'； an' if we don't
find 'em hidin' roun' Beaver Dam； then
we'll lay low all day； an' push up the river
to…morrow night。 But somehow； I think
that's the place they would pick out to
hide in。 'Tain't one person out er a
million that would know how to git
through Beaver Dam without gittin' lost；
an' I'm a recollectin' I took Tom Foley
through there onct an' that's why I'm
goin' there to…night。 I knows it so well；
I could go through with my eyes shet。
‘‘Each of us wants his pistol loaded
fer keeps； a knife； an' about three yards
er rope he can tie round his waist。 Let's
have a bite o' supper right here in my
house； an' then we'll start fer the river；
but each feller goin' alone； an' in a different
way。 Now； remember； no talkin'
to nobody； an' let's all say honor bright；
an' cross our hearts three times ag'in。''
Sandy was the first to arrive at the
boat…house。 Securing the paddles； he put
them into the skiffs and watched for his
companions。 He had not long to wait。
Gilbert came in a few moments； then
Leander； and shortly afterward； Dink。
Not a word was spoken。 Sandy motioned
Gilbert to sit in the center seat of the
Dolly； while he took his accustomed
place at the stern。 Noiselessly they
pushed into the stream； followed by
Leander and Dink。
The tide was going out； and had；
perhaps； two hours to ebb。 The boys
hugged the channel bank on the right；
passed under the bridge unnoticed； and
kept on their silent and anxious way；
mile after mile。 Finally； Sandy steered
into a creek and glided softly against the
mud bank； holding his skiff firmly by driving
a paddle into the soft soil。 Leander
and Dink followed suit。 That they might
be screened from any one coming out of
Beaver Dam； which was separated by
a narrow strip of marsh…land； they lay
flat on the bottom of their boats。
The night was not especially dark； for
the moon was looking through a mist
of hazy clouds。 It was bitingly cold；
and though the boys became numb from
the many minutes of inactivity； not
one of them moved。 For fully an hour
they had remained motionless； when
faintly over the water was heard the
splash； splash； splash； of paddles； far away。
The searching party were all alert in
an instant； and with raised heads； peered
cautiously over the top of the marsh
line in the direction of the sounds。 Hardly
a minute had passed； when out of the
shadows that hid the entrance to Beaver
Dam； there came slowly a skiff into the
clear water。 It approached to within
fifteen feet of the hidden boys； when they
recognized a voice； distinctly saying：
‘‘I hope that guy Franklin's ben up
to the landin' an' left the note where I
tol' him to； an' don't try no shenanigan。''
‘‘He ain't goin' to try no flapdoodles
with us；'' was the quick answer。
‘‘Well； if he knows when he's well off；''
the first voice resumed； ‘‘he'll come
round with the rhino mighty quick； an'
give us no more trouble。''
‘‘I kin see us livin' like gent'men； a'ready。''
‘‘Gent'men born an''' the other began；
but the last of his sentence was lost as
the boat turned up the river； and the
cadence of the paddles died in the distance。
Sandy waited until the rascals had
disappeared around the bend； then shoving
his skiff quickly alongside Leander's；
he whispered into the latter's ear：
‘‘Me an' Gil is goin' in to Beaver Dam。
Yer knows them two fellers； an' so do I。
One of 'em is the feller what whacked me；
an' the t'other is that bum Hildey。 If
they gits here afore I come back； you an'
Dink'll have to do somethin' desp'ret。''
‘‘All right；'' said Leander； clutching
his pistol； ‘‘you can trust me。''
Sandy rounded the point that divided
the two creeks； and in a short time had
paddled past the trees and vines that
hung over and partly covered the entrance
to Beaver Dam。 The boat was managed
with consummate skill； now left； now
right； through the sinuous waterway；
and the two boys had gone fully half
a mile； when； without warning； they
were rudely jolted as the skiff grated
harshly on a bar。 Ordinarily； such an
incident would have been without effect
upon them； but now their nerves were
so highly strung； that the noise of the
boat rubbing against the gravel seemed
as loud as the report of a cannon。
Using all possible force； Sandy and
Gilbert succeeded in shoving their craft
back into the water。 Then they pressed
forward into the shadow of an embankment
on the left； and not a moment too
soon did they reach Gover； for the door
of a hut was thrown open； and the voice
of Tom Foley was heard； asking：
‘‘Is that you； dad？''
An instant later Foley was seen standing
in the dim light of the doorway； shading his
eyes and peering into the darkness。
‘‘I say； dad； is that you？'' came again。
‘‘I'll be doggoned if I didn't think I heerd
somebody comin'。 I guess 'tain't
nuthin'；''looking anxiously to the right
and left。 ‘‘I cert'nly does git scared out
er my boots aroun' here； though； when
I'm left alone。 I'm goin' to wake up the
brat an' make her keep me comp'ny；''
and the door closed with a bang。
He had hardly gone inside when the
piteous cry of a child was heard； ‘‘Please
don't beat me； Tom。''
‘‘I ain't beatin' yer； go ahead； dance fer me。''
Sandy and Gilbert were fairly crazed；
and in their anger rushed up toward the hut。
Again came the cry； ‘‘Please don't hit me； Tom。''
‘‘Dance； I say；''and the sharp swish
of a whip was heard。
It took but a second for Sandy to
bound into the room。 Surprised and
terrified； Foley made a dart for the door；
but was met by Gilbert； who； pistol in
hand； held him stock still。 In desperation
Foley reached for a club and ran
back of the frightened child in the hope
that she might serve as guard against
his assailant。 Like a flash； Sandy followed；
and knocked the cowardly brute
senseless with the barrel of his pistol。
Gilbert ran to his sister； and； taking her
up； showered loving kisses upon her。
With her arms clasped about his neck and
her head nestling on his shoulder； she cried：
‘‘Oh； Gil； I'm so glad you've come。 I've
been waiting all this time for you。 I knew
Sandy would come； because he ain't afraid
of robbers； or anybody else； even if he had
his hands tied behind him。 I've been
praying for you every minute； and here
you are。'' Again Gilbert pressed his sister
to his heart； and kissed her。
Young Foley was still lying unconscious；
as the result of the blow he had received；
and Sandy was clutching him tightly
by the throat。
‘‘Take yer sister； little codger；'' said
Sandy； ‘‘wrap her up； git in the skiff；
an' I'll be with yer as soon as I tie
this chuckle…headed idiot fast and tight。''
Gilbert left the hut with Lillian； while
the other boy remained long enough to
loosen the rope around his waist； and
bind the young ruffian securely。 Then
he placed him in a corner of the room。
Locking the door behind him； Sandy
joined Gilbert in the skiff； and together
they paddled furiously out of the creek
into the river。
The moon was u