Just then it occurred to me that if I went off with Kate, I should leave Bob a legacy of trouble and confusion. When I disappeared, Tom would go to my friend, and harass him, perhaps cause his arrest. I was not willing to allow this if it could possibly be avoided. It would be better and fairer for me to settle all this business with Tom before I left. He still stood on the shore with his father, and I supposed he was watching to see where I went, hoping that my movements would give him a clew to the hiding-place of Kate. I put the Splash about, and headed her towards the cottage. "Kate," I called to her, "you may come out now, if you like." "Is it safe to do so? If it isn't, I had just as lief stay in here," she replied. "Perhaps you will think I am crazy, Kate; but I wish to have Tom Thornton see you;" and I proceeded to explain the difficulty under which poor Bob would labor after our departure. "I shall do just what you tell me, Ernest Thornton, if it is to jump overboard" replied she, coming out of the cabin, and taking a seat on the weather side of the boat. With the wind nearly aft, the Splash dashed forward on her course. I ran her up within twenty yards of the shore, where Tom and my uncle stood, and then threw her up into the wind. "Mr. Tom Thornton," I shouted, "I want you to understand that Miss Loraine has been on board of my boat all night." It must have been a great satisfaction to him to know that he had been within a stone's throw of her ever since his arrival at the cottage. "Bring her ashore, you villain!" cried he, stamping his feet with rage and vexation. "You smashed my skiff so that I can't land here," I replied. "Ernest, will you hear me?" called uncle Amos, as the Splash filled away again. "I came up here to let you know that Bob Hale hasn't anything to do with this business," I shouted. The boat was receding from the shore, and nothing more could be said. I saw that both Tom's and my uncle's horses were harnessed, and standing at the front door of the house. I watched them closely, and presently they got into their respective vehicles, and drove off. CHAPTER XII. IN WHICH ERNEST OBTAINS SOME VALUABLE LETTERS. "WHAT will they do?" asked Kate, trembling with fear, when I told her my uncle and Tom had driven off. "I don't know; that is what I would like to ascertain," I replied, considering the circumstances which presented themselves. "If they were going to the same place, they would have taken the same vehicle. It is about fifteen miles round by the road to Cannondale. I think one of them must have gone that way. About two miles below, the road lies near the lake, and I will run down where I can see which of them goes in that direction." "I am terribly frightened, Ernest Thornton," said my fair passenger, after I had headed the Splash in the direction indicated.