"They have just dropped another into the water, and they are holding them with lines," added Mr. Jepson. "What are they going to do with them?" "They are going to use them as rafts, and they are going ashore to look for their missing chief. They won't find him," replied Dory, laughing. "But they will find us," suggested the instructor. "I don't believe they will; for as soon as they are fairly on the shore, we will make our next move. There they go! Two of them are going to leave the schooner; and, according to my reckoning, there will be but two left on board of her." They watched the movements of the two men as they embarked on their floats. The heavy sea had subsided to a great degree, but it was still rough. One of the rafts soon tipped its man off, and he continued his voyage by simply clinging to it. The other was soon compelled to resort to the same expedient. CHAPTER XIII. THE ARRIVAL OF MICHAEL ANGELO SPICKLES. The bell on the dormitory was rung at the regular hour, and every thing went on as usual at the school. Captain Gildrock had started out all the officers in Genverres to hunt down the burglars. The engineer and the carpenter had the start of them, but at breakfast-time nothing had been heard from them. It was Saturday, and the regular sessions of the school were suspended on that day; but the order had been given for all the students to assemble in the schoolroom at eight o'clock. The excitement had almost entirely subsided, and the only thing that disturbed the principal was the continued absence of Dory. But Mr. Jepson and Mr. Brookbine had gone in search of him, and it did not appear that any thing else could be done. Mrs. Dornwood and Marian were very anxious about him; and as soon as it appeared that the storm had subsided, the captain promised to send out all the steamers and sailing-craft to explore the lake and the eastern shore. At the appointed hour all the students were in their places, some of them expecting to hear the principal speak of the burglary, though the old scholars were not of this number. If there was any exciting topic not connected with the school current on the premises, Captain Gildrock usually ignored it. He made the work of the school the main topic, and never put the routine aside unless for sufficient reasons. "As the season opens, we are to make the sailing of boats the principal object of study and practice," the principal began, much to the disappointment of many of the students, who wanted to know what he thought about the burglary. "This matter has always been attended to more or less, though we have never given it special attention till this season.