They embarked, and were on the beach in a minute more. They hauled the tender to a safe place, and then walked along the beach towards the place where Mack and Chuck had disappeared in the woods. But they had proceeded only a short distance before Dory discovered a small steamer buffeting the sea beyond Bluff Point. But she leaped the waves, and seemed to be making good weather in spite of the roughness of the water. Both of them were satisfied that the steamer was the Marian. CHAPTER XX. MORE MEMBERS OF THE NAUTIFELERS CLUB. "That's the Marian, without a doubt," said Mr. Jepson. "She is going down the lake." "She is not headed for Split Rock Point, as she would be if she were going down the lake," added Dory, after they had watched the steamer for some time. "There! She is changing her course now, and she is headed directly for Camp-Meeting Point. It looks as though she intended to take a hand in this business." But they continued on their way, and Dory hoped to come across the two robbers before the steamer had time to interfere in the business. Before they reached the place where Mack and Chuck had taken to the woods, the Marian was off the end of the peninsula. She did not run for the La Motte, as Dory supposed she would, and kept off so as to pass the point. Then she disappeared behind the high land. "She is not going to meddle with the schooner," said Dory. "I don't understand her movements at all." "I am sure I don't," added the machinist. "No matter; and I am glad she has given the schooner a wide berth." They struck into the woods, and walked a long distance without seeing the two robbers of whom they were in pursuit. Dory had become so desperate that he shouted several times, using the names of both Mack and Chuck; but he obtained no response to his calls. "They can't be about here, or they would answer me when I call them by name," said he, very much puzzled at the situation. "They must have gone some other way," suggested Mr. Jepson. "At any rate, they are not here, and we had better return to the schooner." They retraced their steps till they came to the narrow part of the peninsula, and there was a cart-path to the end of it. [Illustration: "I TELL YOU WE CAN'T GET THE VESSEL OUT OF THIS PLACE."] "They must have taken this road," said Mr. Jepson. "We had better follow this road a while before we give up the search." "I don't see what they could be doing down there. But we will look over this region a little, and we can strike through to the beach when we like," replied Dory. When they had gone a few rods, they came to a sandy place in the cart-path, and Dory brought his Indian craft to bear upon it. He found the footprints of two persons in the wet soil, both of them headed towards the outer extremity of the point.