The others gazed at him in surprise.

"What do you mean?" asked Jenkins.

"Just what I say. In some manner they succeeded in escaping from the shanty before we arrived. Then they must have made their way back here, and finding the launch, appropriated it for their own use. You must remember that Jones, not we, came here in the _Sybil_. The last the girls saw of us we were in the other launch. It was impossible for them to tell we had recaptured the _Sybil_."

"I believe you are right," said Leonard.

"I'm sure of it," replied d.i.c.k.

"Then what are we to do? We are marooned here for the rest of the night."

"Well," said d.i.c.k, "we might walk down stream. It's possible we may be able to find the other launch, which we abandoned."

"There is no use staying here, that's certain," agreed Leonard. "But the chances are we won't find it."

"There is nothing like trying," said d.i.c.k briefly. "Come on."

He led the way and the others followed.

d.i.c.k's solution of the disappearance had been correct. Left alone in the little shanty early in the evening, the two girls had succeeded in forcing the door. Peering out and seeing Jones and Briggs fast asleep, they had decided to make a break for liberty.

Accordingly they slipped quietly from their prison and were soon lost in the darkness. They made their way to the bank of the creek with little difficulty, and there came upon the _Sybil_, tied up to a tree.

"We are in luck," said Mabel. "But how does it come that the launch is here. This looks like the place we landed, and I saw Briggs start the boat down stream."

"Then it can't be the place we landed," returned Shirley. "We must be further down stream than we thought."

"But some one has tied the boat up," protested Shirley. "Who do you suppose it was?"

"I haven't any idea; and I don't see that it makes any difference. We'll get aboard and start upstream immediately. Our absence is likely to be discovered, and unless we hurry, we may be recaptured."

"Let's hurry then," said Mabel.

She untied the launch while Shirley stepped aboard and started the engine. Then giving the boat a shove, Mabel leaped aboard.

The engine sputtered once or twice, and then began to whirr regularly.

The launch moved away from the sh.o.r.e.

Under Shirley's firm hand, it came about in a wide circle and started upstream. Five minutes later they were rounding a curve that hid the starting point.

As the boat went round the bend, Mabel looking back, thought she made out several figures standing upon the bank. She told her discovery to Shirley.

"I guess Jones has discovered that we have escaped," said Shirley.

"However, we are safe enough now."

She increased the speed of the little craft, and it rushed on through the dark and murky water, both girls keeping a keen lookout ahead.

Neither had any idea how far they were from Paris, for their course had been changed so often.

"We'll just have to keep going until we get there," said Shirley.

"I expect your father will be terribly worried," said Mabel.

"I know he will," was the reply. "Poor Dad, he will think I have fallen into the hands of the conspirators. He probably has the whole town out looking for us."

"What do you suppose has happened to Leonard, d.i.c.k and the others?"

"I don't know. They have probably gone further down stream. It isn't likely that they noticed the _Sybil_ so close to sh.o.r.e."

For hours, it seemed to the two girls, they continued their journey, and at last the first faint signs of dawn appeared in the east.

"I am glad day is coming," said Mabel. "We can see where we are going."

At that moment there came a faint sputtering from the engine, and then it came to a dead stop.

"What's the matter?" asked Mabel anxiously.

Shirley made a hasty examination.

"Fuel supply exhausted," she said. "No more gasoline."

"My gracious!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Mabel, in dismay. "What shall we do?"

"We'll have to wait until it's a little lighter," replied her friend, "and then we'll see if we can't paddle ash.o.r.e. There is no telling how far we may be from town, but I reckon we shall have to walk it."

"I suppose there is no help for it," said Mabel. "However, we are out of danger."

The boat stood still in the middle of the stream for perhaps half an hour, and then both became conscious of a faint chugging far down the stream. "Some one coming," said Mabel, "maybe they will give us a lift."

"Perhaps it is Jones," said Shirley uneasily.

"Dear me! I hope not!" sighed Mabel.

"So do I. We have had enough trouble for one day."

They continued to gaze down stream.

A few minutes later a second launch came into view around the bend in the creek. The girls were able to make out several figures. It was apparent, also, that the men in the boat had seen them.

One stood up, and a faint hail came across the water.

"It must be Jones," said Mabel. "And he has seen us, too. What shall we do?"

"We'll try and get ash.o.r.e," said Shirley quietly.

In the far end of the boat she had seen a pair of oars. She got these out hurriedly, and set to work with a will. The _Sybil_ moved sh.o.r.eward, slowly at first, and then more swiftly as Shirley settled herself to her task.

Both girls kept close watch on their pursuers. They could not make out the faces of its occupants-it was still too dark-nor did they recognize the voices that hailed them frequently. It was plain, however, that the pursuing launch was gaining.