where we are?"

"Our home is off to the north about three miles. We are almost opposite
Crow's Cliff--the wildest part of the country. There are no houses along
this part of the river. All of the summer houses are farther up or on
the other side. It is too hilly here. There is a railroad off there
about six miles. There isn't a boathouse or fisherman's hut nearer than
two miles. Mr. Bracken keeps his boat at the point--two miles south, at
least."

"Yes; that's where we were to have gone--by boat. Hang it all! Why did
we ever leave the boat? You can never scramble through all this brush to
Bracken's place; it's all I can do. Look at my arms! They are scratched
to--"

"Oh, dear! It's dreadful, Jack. You poor fellow, let me--"

"We haven't time, dearest. By thunder, I wouldn't have those Rubes head
us off now for the whole county. The jays! How could they have found us
out?"

"Some one must have told."

"But no one knew except the Brackens, you and I." "I'll wager my head
Bracken is saying hard things for fair down the river there."

"He--he--doesn't swear, Jack," she panted.

[Illustration: "'Safe for a minute or two at least,' he whispered"]