abin there, too. It belongs to the Hamptons. John an' his mother
often go out there to look after a coal mine Mr. Hampton found. Ye've
heard of it, haven't ye?"

"Sure. I guess everybody knows about it. I understand it's good coal,
too."

"Y' bet it, an' Mr. Hampton spent every cent he had in buyin' the land
before he let on he had found the coal. John an' his mother hope to
make a lot of money out of it. I know the place well."

"But what has this to do with Donaster?" Grimsby asked. "Keep to your
story, Eben."

"I'm comin' to that if ye give me time. Now, s'pose we make Donaster
think that Miss Randall is hidin' out there on that island with the
Hamptons. Let's send fer him, take him there, give him the slip, an'
do a few other things to scare him. I'd like to hear him yell fer a
while. He can't git off the island till we go fer him. Oh, it'd be
great fun."

"It certainly would," Grimsby replied. "But you'll have to do it,
Eben. When could you go?"

"To-morrow, I guess. I'm goin' to stay home this trip, an' let dad
take the boat to the quarry. You git Donaster, an' I'll take him out.
But you'll have to come along, too, Gabe. I won't go without you. I
might want help."

After some hesitation, Grimsby decided to go. He did not fancy the
jaunt, but he favoured the idea, and if Eben would not go without him,
there was nothing else for him to do but to go along. He could phone
for Donaster in the morning, and he knew that the fellow would come at
once.

This was what Grimsby told Eben, and he smiled to himself as he glanced
at the unsuspecting lad at the wheel. He was playing into his hands,
and he felt perfectly sure of him now. His next move was with Miss
Randall and John Hampton. He was silent a long time as the boat glided
on her way. Eben thought he was half asleep, but in reality he was
very much awake, revolving in his mind a scheme which had been
suggested by the mention of the coal mine near Island Lake. The more
he thought it over, the more pleased he became, and by the time they
came in sight of his house, he had the plan pretty well worked out.

"Guess you'd better let me off at my own shore," he remarked.

"Why, I thought ye was goin' home with me," Eben replied.

"I did intend to. But I'd like to visit my own family first. I
haven't seen them for several days. I'll be on hand with Donaster
to-morrow, so you be all ready."

In less than a half hour Eben rounded up t