When I reached the pier at the Bend I found Tom Darrow at his accustomed place, disposing of a big mess of fish he had caught during the morning. I told him of what had happened at the island, and he agreed to go with me without delay. “Never mind taking anybody else,” he said. “I know Andy Carney. He is a rough customer, but a regular coward at heart. When he sees that we mean business he’ll cave right in.” “I trust it is as you say, Tom,” I replied. “He was pretty ugly this noon.” “We’ll manage him, never fear.” “If we get the sloop, I wish you would take charge of her for me,” I continued. “I don’t care to take her down to the mill-landing.” “I will, Rube.” Tom jumped aboard, and we were off and up the lake. It was now getting well on in the afternoon, and by the time we approached the island the sun was setting. “We’ll have to be careful,” I said; “Carney may be on the lookout for us.” “He wouldn’t dare to fire at us,” laughed Darrow. But I shook my head. Carney was a desperate character, and I would have felt safer had I had a gun on board, which, unfortunately, was not the case. At length we rounded the south shore of Rock Island, and stood up for the north end. As we did so Darrow drew attention to another craft directly ahead. “There’s a boat I’ve seen a number of times in the past few days,” he said. “If I ain’t mistaken it’s the same I saw towing that raft behind it――the raft that I guess was the Catch Me on her side.” I looked, and was sure I had seen the boat before. Then we ran closer to her, and just as we passed around a bend I caught sight of the boat’s side, and recognized her as the same craft the two strangers had used on their visit to the mill. CHAPTER IX. THE TWO STRANGERS. The discovery I made was totally unexpected, and for the moment I did not know what to make of it. Darrow noticed my peculiar look, and asked what was up. “That’s just what I would like to know, Tom,” I replied. “Let us run in here out of sight. I want to tell you something.” I pointed to a cove close at hand, and the old fisherman turned and we swept behind the bushes. “You are sure that is the same boat you saw towing the sloop?” I questioned eagerly. “Guess I am. My eyes don’t deceive me very often, though they are getting old.” “Is the boat a strange one around the Bend?” “Yes; but it belongs on the lake.” “Is it Carney’s?” “Maybe it is. But did you see it around the island when you were here before?” “No; it was over at the mill.” And I told him what I knew of the boat and the two men who had sailed her. “Well, that’s strange,” he said. “Most likely the two chaps are on board now.” “If so, what are they doing here?” I demanded. “That’s to be found out,” returned Darrow slowly. “It’s more than likely they ain’t up to no good――with all due respect to your uncle,” he added hastily.