“Easier said than done,” said Yates. “Building a raft is all well enough in a story-book, but that is as far as it goes. That boy must have a boat somewhere. I move we separate and hunt her up.” This was finally agreed to, and the party of three broke up. Mr. Norton started around the west shore, and I followed him. Upon the water it was quite bright, and I had no doubt but that sooner or later one of the party would see the Catch Me and notify the others. My one hope was that Ford might return before the discovery occurred. If he did not, how was the band of robbers to be traced afterwards? Suddenly an idea struck me, and I upbraided myself for not having thought of it before. It was to wade out to my craft, board her, and sail out and stand guard around the island until the arrival of the police. I resolved to act upon the inspiration at once. Pulling off my shoes and stockings, I fastened them securely around my neck, and made for the shallow offing where the Catch Me lay. “Hullo! there’s a boat!” I heard Mr. Norton suddenly cry. I made a rush for the craft. In an instant he discovered me, and a moment later struck me a blow on the head that laid me senseless on the rocks. CHAPTER XXVI. THE CHASE. I came to my senses with a start. The cooling waters were dashing over my right arm. A wave broke over my face, and I sat up in a dazed fashion. I was on a rock some distance from Rock Island. How I had come to the spot I did not know, nor did I at that moment give the matter a thought. There was a strange ringing in my ears and an ache in my head. Slowly I arose and gazed about me. It was early dawn, and I judged it was four o’clock, or a little after. My first thought was of the man who had deprived me of my senses. I looked towards the island, and then over the expanse of the lake, but Mr. Norton was nowhere to be seen. The Catch Me, too, had disappeared, and I at once concluded that the three men had taken the craft and made for the mainland. I upbraided myself for having allowed my guardian to discover me and treat me as he had. Through this the trio had escaped, and there was no telling where they had gone to. The distance to the island was fully a hundred feet. During the time I had been lying upon the rocks the lake had been growing rougher, and it was with great difficulty that I made my way to the shore, and even then the wading covered me pretty well with water. Once on the island again, I sat down on a fallen tree to review the situation. Both the boat and the robbers were gone. What was to be done next? I wondered if Ford had got back from Bayport or the Bend, and I was just on the point of going on a tour to find out, when there was a noise behind me, and the mill-hand appeared. “So I have found you at last!” he exclaimed, as he rushed up. “Where have you been? and what has become of the men?”