ctions, Peveril ran to the farther
of two ropes holding the raft and unfastened it. While he did this the
old man stood without remonstrance, but with a cynical smile on his
thin lips.

Finding himself uninterrupted, Peveril fancied that no resistance was
to be offered, after all, and, with the carelessness of confidence,
stooped to cast off the remaining line. The next instant a nervous
shove from behind sent him headforemost into the lake. Just then there
came a rush of feet, and as Peveril, half-choked by his sudden bath in
the icy water, rose to the surface and attempted to regain the bank he
was seized by half a dozen pair of brawny hands belonging to as many
wild-looking men who had been summoned from beyond the ridge.

In another minute the young wrecker was lying in the bottom of his own
skiff, and it was being towed out to sea by a second boat manned by
two lusty foreigners. In its stern-sheets sat the old man holding a
cocked revolver, from which he threatened to put a bullet through
Peveril's head if he lifted it above the gunwale.

Under the circumstances the latter, though raging at his sudden
discomfiture, deemed it best to lie still and await, with what
patience he might, the result of his misadventure.

So he was towed for a long distance, and when his skiff finally seemed
to have lost motion and be drifting, he ventured to lift his head.
Before he could see over the side there came the sharp report of a
pistol, a bullet whistled close above him, and he was ordered to
remain quiet until he received permission to sit up.

Peveril obeyed, and for nearly half an hour longer lay motionless.
Then his craft struck bottom, and he sprang up in alarm. He was alone,
and his skiff was bumping against a black ledge that he recognized as
the one lying at the foot of the mysterious cliff. Not a boat was to
be seen, but on the rocks close at hand lay the oars that had been
taken from his skiff when he was thrown into it. They were not lying
together, but at some distance apart, as though flung there, but
whether from a boat or from some other direction he could not tell. At
any rate, he was thankful to have them, and at once began to plan how
he should use them in connection with his regained liberty.

At first his indignation at his recent treatment suggested that he row
back and attempt, at least, to recover his men; but a moment's
reflection showed the folly of such a scheme. Not only would he again
be confro