"H'm! I don't know where he will go now!" he muttered in disappointment,
hurrying after the fugitive.

He was not far behind as it was, and as he entered the creek, having
put on extra speed, he saw the man only a short distance ahead.

Not far away there was a turn in the creek, and the runaway presently
disappeared around it, Jack following and gaining ground.

In a short time he came in sight not of the man, but of his boat, tied
up at the bank, the man having disappeared.

"Well, I have my boat at any rate," laughed Jack rather ruefully, "and
that is something I suppose. I wanted the man, but I shall have to
be satisfied with what I can get."

He got into his own boat, and towed the other out of the creek and
down the river, disappointed, of course, but, on the whole, glad that
it was no worse, and that he had not lost his boat.

He met Percival and some of the boys on his way back, the boys
questioning him excitedly as they came up.

"Did you get him, Jack?"

"You have got your own boat back anyhow. Did you catch him?"

"How did he get away, Jack?" asked Percival. "Did he put up a fight?"