"I cannot deny, Kate, that we are both in great danger of being captured; but I shall do the best I can, and we can only hope that it will come out right in the end. Tom Thornton will do everything that mortal man can do to catch us." "I'm afraid you are doing too much for me, Ernest Thornton. You will get yourself into trouble," she added, anxiously. "Don't worry about me, Kate. I think Tom Thornton has a stronger desire to capture me now than he has you. We are both in the same boat in a double sense. I will tell you all about it by and by. I must keep my eyes wide open now. Of course Tom knows you have an uncle in New York." "I suppose he does." "Then he will readily understand that you intend to reach him if you can." "Mrs. Loraine would think so, I know, for she burned the letter I wrote to my uncle." "There goes Tom Thornton's chaise," said I, pointing to the vehicle, as we reached a part of the lake which commanded a view of the road. "He has stopped to watch the boat. I know where he is going now, and that's enough." "What will you do?" asked Kate, fixing the gaze of her deep-blue eyes upon me. "I hardly know. I confess that my plans are not arranged yet, and everything depends upon circumstances. I am going up to the Institute now to find Bob Hale, if I can." "Will that be safe?" "I think it will. No boat on the lake can catch the Splash in this breeze; and Bob may be able to help me." In half an hour we were off the Institute pier; but the recess was over, and the students were all in the school-room. It was not safe for me to remain long in this vicinity, for my uncle had by this time reached Parkville, and had probably employed some one to pursue me. I wrote a note to Bob with pencil, on a slip of paper I had in my pocket, and running the Splash up to the pier, sent it to the school-room by one of the men who was at work in the garden. My friend appeared immediately. "Come on board, Bob. I have a great deal to say to you, and only a little time to say it in." "But it is school time," replied Bob. "I must not stop here a moment. I am going off, Bob, and may never see you again, at least not for some time." "Why, what's up, Ernest?" he asked, as he stepped on board, his scruples removed by the announcement I had made. "A great deal has happened since we parted last night," I replied, pushing off the Splash from the pier. "How do you do, Miss Loraine?" continued Bob. "I am glad to see you are still safe." "I am very well, thanks to Ernest Thornton," she replied. I headed the boat up the lake towards the cottage again, and proceeded to tell Bob all that had happened since midnight. He listened in amazement to my story. I showed him my father's will, which I had not yet read, and we went through it together. "It is very plain that they mean to cheat you out of the property your father left for you," said he. "That is clear enough. My uncle told me nearly a year ago that my father left nothing for me."