At her home he was met by the girl's mother, who, in answer to his
inquiries for Jenny, said:

"Jane is not here, and I do not see why you have not met her, as she said
she was going to see you as you came from the shops. I am afraid something
has happened to her."

Without further loss of time, Jack started to retrace the way to the
engine shops, though going by a different course from that which he had
come.

He had got about half way there, and was passing near an old ruined mill,
which stood more than half over the river, when he was startled by the
sound of a voice, which was too familiar for him not to recognize.

"Don't you dare come any nearer, Fret Offut! Stand back, or the worst will
be your own!"

It was Jenny speaking, and as Jack dashed down to the side of the old mill
he discovered her at the further extremity of the ruins defiantly facing
young Offut, who was kept from approaching any nearer to her by a club she
held in her hands, uplifted over her head.

Between the two was a gulf of dark waters a dozen feet or more in width,
but spanned by a plank over which the girl had evidently passed in
reaching her place of retreat.

"I'll take up the plank so you can't come back!" declared young Offut.
"You see if you do not answer me in a becoming manner I can--"