Alfred ran down to the beach; the punt was gone from the shore, and after looking for some time to leeward, which was to the eastward, in the direction of the rapids, Alfred thought that he perceived something like a boat at a distance of three or four miles; but the water of the lake was much raffled by the strong wind, and it was not easy to distinguish. Alfred hastened back, and said to Emma, "I really am afraid that John is adrift. I think I see the boat, but am not sure. Emma, go in quietly and bring out my telescope, which is over my bed-place. Do not let them see you, or they will be asking questions, and your aunt may be alarmed." Emma went to the house, and soon returned with the telescope. Alfred and Malachi then went down to the beach, and the former distinctly made out that what he had seen was the punt adrift, with John in it. "Now, what is to be done?" said Alfred. "I must take a horse and ride off to the fort, for if they do not see him before he passes he may not be picked up." "If he once gets into the rapids, sir," said Malachi, "he will be in great danger, for he may be borne down upon one of the rocks and upset in a minute." "Yes, but he is some way from them yet," replied Alfred. "Very true, sir; but with this strong wind right down to them, and helping the current, he will soon be there. There is no time to be lost." "No; but I'll go in to dinner, and as soon as I have taken a mouthful, just to avoid creating any alarm, I will slip out, and ride to the fort as fast as I can." "Just so; you will be there in good time, for he is now three miles above the fort; indeed, he cannot well pass it without their seeing him." "Yes he can, now that the water is so rough," replied Alfred; "recollect that they are soldiers in the fort, and not sailors, who are accustomed to look on the water. A piece of drift timber and a punt is much the same to their eyes. Come, let us go in to dinner." "Yes, sir, I'll follow you," replied Malachi; "but, before I come in I'll catch the horse and saddle him for you. You can tell Miss Emma to hold her tongue about it." Alfred rejoined Emma, whom he cautioned, and then they went in to their dinner. "Where's John?" said Mr Campbell; "he promised me some lake-fish for dinner, and has never brought them in; so you will not have such good fare as I expected." "And where's Malachi?" said Alfred. "I daresay he and John are out together somewhere," observed Henry, who, with Martin, had come in before Alfred. "Well he will lose his dinner," said Mrs Campbell. "That's what I cannot afford to do, mother," said Alfred; "I am very hungry, and I have not more than five minutes to spare, for that seed must be put in to-night." "I thought Malachi was with you, Alfred," said Mr Campbell. "So he was, father," replied Alfred, "but he left me. Now, mother, please to give me my dinner."