I hoisted the sails at once, and stood out for the opposite shore. On the way we had quite a talk; and when Mr. Markham fairly wrung the information from me that business was poor at the mill, and that money was tight, he got out two twenty dollar bills, and insisted on my taking them “on account,” as he put it. “You are too generous,” I said, as he thrust the bills into my pocket. “It is only a part of what I intended to give you from the start. I shall never forget what you have done for me.” We parted at the Bayport pier, and then I steered for the mouth of the Torrent Bend River. As I skimmed over the surface of the lake I reviewed my situation in all its details. I resolved that as soon as the mystery of the diamond robbery was cleared up, to put my father’s matters in Squire Slocum’s hands for final settlement; then if I was allowed to run the mill I would do so, and hire Ford as a regular man to help me. During the days that grinding was slack I could go fishing in the boat, or, better yet, hire out the craft to such parties at the Bayport hotels as wished to charter her. I knew there was money in doing this, and money was what I was after. It was dark when I ran up to the mill landing. Not a light was to be seen about the place. I fastened the Catch Me by means of a chain with a lock and key――a thing that gave me much satisfaction, as I thought it would now be no easy matter to run off with my property. I approached the mill silently, and pushed open the door of the grinding-room. As I did so I fancied I heard the faint murmur of voices. I stopped short and listened. I had not been mistaken; and I judged the sounds came from the room under the living apartments. For a second I knew not what to do; then I tiptoed my way across the floor to one of the bedrooms, and carefully raised up one of the boards that I knew was loose. The rays of a small lantern met my eyes; and by the light I saw that two men were in the room. One was the man called Yates, and the other was Mr. Enos Norton. My surprise at seeing the latter was intense. With all the others at the Bend, I had felt sure my guardian had made his way to Hillsburg to take the midnight train. “It was a risky thing to come back here,” I heard Yates say. “I don’t think so,” replied Mr. Norton. “No one would think I would dare to come back; and I left the impression behind that I had gone towards Hillsburg.” “Well, it won’t do to stay here long.” “I know that. That’s the reason I say let us settle up at once, and clear out. This haul hasn’t been half what I thought it would be, and I want the matter ended.” “It’s a pity you broke jail,” went on Yates, with a sniff. “That was a give-away.” “I know it; but things were getting too hot. That boy is smarter than he looks.” “Pshaw! You are losing all nerve. Hist! here comes some one.”