"But what if--why, pshaw, it could easy have worked loose and
floated away. I don't see what there is to be so worked up about."

"But, Dave, don't you see----" Jerry was trembling with excitement.
"Suppose Tod _had_ stayed in the boat, and he came to, and he didn't
have any oars. First off he'd try to bale her out, wouldn't he? He'd
bale out just enough so she'd ride easy, and then he'd try to get to
shore. Maybe he landed on Lost Island. Suppose he did, and suppose
that ruffian we saw didn't want him to get off again. What else
would the man do but cut loose the boat when we came along!"

"Jerry, don't you think we'd better be getting on home?"

"What's the matter with you, Dave?"

"Why, nothing, Jerry----"

"Then what you talking about going on home when I'm running down a
clew like that?"

"It's almost morning, Jerry, and you've had a hard day and been up
all night--and the lonesome chase through the dark----"

"Now look here, Davie! If you think I'm getting soft in the head,
just forget it. I never was more in earnest in my life. Don't you
understand? I think Tod's alive--_back there on Lost Island!_"

"But we don't know he was in the boat----"

"Look here, Dave, if you were falling, what'd be the first thing