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consolation。''
‘‘I think it's better that the boys stop searching；'' said the father。 ‘‘They
might get themselves into trouble； it's too dangerous。''
‘‘I don't believe you could stop those boys from hunting for Lillian； if
they had to go into the very jaws of death；'' interposed the grandmother。
‘‘Oh； well；'' spoke the father； ‘‘they must not wear themselves out； and
to… morrow； I will tell Gilbert and Sandy to leave the investigation to the
police。''
‘‘They'll never do it；'' objected the grandmother； ‘‘they love Lillian too
much。 You mark my words。''
At this very moment； Sandy； Leander； Gilbert and Dink were together；
in Sandy's little garret room。 Sandy closed the door carefully； locked it；
and called his companions about him in the middle of the room。
‘‘Boys；'' he whispered； ‘‘afore I sez anythin'； I wants yer to gimme yer
word； honor bright； an' cross yer heart three times； that yer won't spout a
syllable of what I tells yer to a soul。''
All were agreed； and the boy began：
‘‘Now； it's this 'ere way。 My boat wuz stolen an' left； right below the
upper bridge； an' I foun' footprints an' this 'ere piece of ribbon； which Gil
knows b'longed to his sister； for she wore it round her hair。 Willie Bagner's
skiff's bin stolen； an' I believe the party that took it hez got little Lily；
because I foun' the hoop I give her； an' this envellup in the same place； an'
it seems to me the galoot whose name's on it is hid somewhere up the river；
an' I'm goin' after him if I has to go alone。''
‘‘But you won't go alone； while I'm alive；'' insisted Leander； intensely
excited。
‘‘An' I'm goin'； too； even if I never come back；'' added Dink； taking it
for granted that he was needed。
‘‘And you must take me；'' said Gilbert imploringly。
The four boys grasped one another's hands； and Sandy declared in a
solemn tone：
‘‘We'll stick together to the bitter end。''
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‘‘What's your plan？'' asked Leander； with great interest。
‘‘Without breathin' a word to a soul； to…night about nine o'clock we
wants to leave the boat…house； you an' Dink in one skiff； an' me an' Gil in
t'other； an' sneak up the river； an' try so nobody won't see us。 When we gits
to the upper bridge； paddle in as close to the Causeway on the right； as we
kin； huggin' the marsh all the way。 Jest before we git to Beaver Dam；
there's a deep gut that runs 'longside of it fer a hundred yards or more。
Foller me in there； Leander； an' stay hid till I sez move。 Don't speak a
word； from the time we push off till I sez so。 Beaver Dam is the
lonesomest creek in the world； an' mebbe Gil's little sister is kept in one of
them ol' shacks what muskrat hunters live in； in the spring an' summer。 If
them galoots is in there； they're mighty apt ter come out late at night； when
they don't expec' nobody's roun'。 Of course； nacherelly they have some
plan about gettin' paid fer little Lily； an' they ain't a…goin' to stay in hidin'
without tryin' to find out the lay er the land； an' jest how hot the police is
on their trail。 My idee is to go an' lay in ambush fer 'em all night。 If they
don't come out； we'll explore in the mornin'； an' if we don't find 'em hidin'
roun' Beaver Dam； then we'll lay low all day； an' push up the river to…
morrow night。 But somehow； I think that's the place they would pick out to
hide in。 'Tain't one person out er a million that would know how to git
through Beaver Dam without gittin' lost； an' I'm a recollectin' I took Tom
Foley through there onct an' that's why I'm goin' there to…night。 I knows it
so well； I could go through with my eyes shet。
‘‘Each of us wants his pistol loaded fer keeps； a knife； an' about three
yards er rope he can tie round his waist。 Let's have a bite o' supper right
here in my house； an' then we'll start fer the river； but each feller goin'
alone； an' in a different way。 Now； remember； no talkin' to nobody； an' let's
all say honor bright； an' cross our hearts three times ag'in。''
Sandy was the first to arrive at the boat…house。 Securing the paddles；
he put them into the skiffs and watched for his companions。 He had not
long to wait。 Gilbert came in a few moments； then Leander； and shortly
afterward； Dink。 Not a word was spoken。 Sandy motioned Gilbert to sit in
the center seat of the Dolly； while he took his accustomed place at the
stern。 Noiselessly they pushed into the stream； followed by Leander and
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The Fifth String
Dink。
The tide was going out； and had； perhaps； two hours to ebb。 The boys
hugged the channel bank on the right； passed under the bridge unnoticed；
and kept on their silent and anxious way； mile after mile。 Finally； Sandy
steered into a creek and glided softly against the mud bank； holding his
skiff firmly by driving a paddle into the soft soil。 Leander and Dink
followed suit。 That they might be screened from any one coming out of
Beaver Dam； which was separated by a narrow strip of marsh…land； they
lay flat on the bottom of their boats。
The night was not especially dark； for the moon was looking through a
mist of hazy clouds。 It was bitingly cold； and though the boys became
numb from the many minutes of inactivity； not one of them moved。 For
fully an hour they had remained motionless； when faintly over the water
was heard the splash； splash； splash； of paddles； far away。
The searching party were all alert in an instant； and with raised heads；
peered cautiously over the top of the marsh line in the direction of the
sounds。 Hardly a minute had passed； when out of the shadows that hid the
entrance to Beaver Dam； there came slowly a skiff into the clear water。 It
approached to within fifteen feet of the hidden boys； when they recognized
a voice； distinctly saying：
‘‘I hope that guy Franklin's ben up to the landin' an' left the note where
I tol' him to； an' don't try no shenanigan。''
‘‘He ain't goin' to try no flapdoodles with us；'' was the quick answer。
‘‘Well； if he knows when he's well off；'' the first voice resumed； ‘‘he'll
come round with the rhino mighty quick； an' give us no more trouble。''
‘‘I kin see us livin' like gent'men； a'ready。''
‘‘Gent'men born an''' the other began； but the last of his