Finding it impossible to free her canoe, Marian threw down her paddle angrily. They were all breathless; Dan waited till the canoes rode together quietly. Sylvia had brought an electric lamp which Dan now flashed the length of the captive canoe. It searched the anxious, angry faces of the runaways, and disclosed two suit cases that told their own story. "I told you to keep away from here, Allen. You can't do this. It won't do," said Dan, snapping off the light; "you're going home with us, Marian." "I won't go back; you haven't any right to stop me!" "You haven't any right to run away in this fashion," said Sylvia, speaking for the first time. "You would cause endless trouble. It's not the way to do it." "But it's the only way out," stormed Allen. "There's no other way. Dan told me himself I couldn't speak to Mr. Bassett, and this is the only thing we could do." "Will you kindly tell me just what you intended doing?" asked Dan, still gripping the canoe. "I'd spoken to the minister here in the village. Marian was going to spend the night at his house and we were to be married in the morning as soon as I could get a license." "You can't get a marriage license in Waupegan; your minister ought to know that." "No; but we could have driven over early to the county seat and got it; I tell you I had it all fixed. You let go of that canoe!" "Stand by, Sylvia," said Dan with determination. He steadied himself a moment, stepped into Marian's canoe, and caught up her paddle. "Wait here, Sylvia. I'm going to land Allen over there at that dock with the two white lights, and I'll come back with Marian and we'll take her home. Flash the light occasionally so I shan't lose you." A few minutes later when Allen, sulky and breathing dire threats, had been dropped ashore, Harwood paddled Marian home, Sylvia trailing behind. It was near midnight when Sylvia, having hidden Marian's suit case in Mrs. Owen's boathouse, watched the tearful and wrathful Juliet steal back into her father's house. Allen lodged at the inn with Dan that night and, duly urged not to make a fool of himself again, went home by the morning train. CHAPTER XXX THE KING HATH SUMMONED HIS PARLIAMENT