r had escaped.

At this the Sheriff's face clouded angrily. "We'll find him if he is
still on the island!" he exclaimed. "If he has left it we'll follow
him; and, at any rate, Mr. Brackett, I must now insist upon your coming
to Dubuque, where you will be granted every opportunity for proving
what you please. In the mean time, you and I will await here the
result of the search for the escaped prisoner that my men will at once
proceed to make."

To this Billy Brackett returned no answer, but stood silently
considering how he should avoid the vexatious delay that now appeared
inevitable. While he was thus cudgelling his brains, one of the
searching party returned to report that the skiff in which they had
come up the river was missing.

The Sheriff became furious. "I don't believe it!" he cried. "Here,
you! Stop and guard this prisoner, while I go and take charge of the
search myself."

As Mr. Riley departed, the new guard entered the hut, leaned his rifle
against the wall, and took a seat near the door.

Then Billy Brackett stooped and whispered to his ever-faithful comrade,
"Watch him, Bim!" and the dog answered with a low growl that spoke
volumes. Turning to the guard the young engineer said, "My friend, if
you make the slightest motion or shout for help, that bull-dog will fly
at your throat. I am going to leave you alone with him for a minute,
and as you value your life, I beg of you to keep perfectly quiet until
you hear from me." With this the prisoner leaped lightly from the
window and disappeared.

[Illustration: "'Watch him, Bim!'"]

For two minutes the guard sat as motionless as though carved from
stone, his fascinated gaze fixed on the gleaming teeth and bloodshot
eyes of the bull-dog that stood rigidly before him. Then a shrill
whistle rang out on the still air, and at its sound the dog, dashing
past him, disappeared like a flash. In another minute Billy Brackett's
lusty strokes were sending his own skiff dancing out towards the middle
of the main channel, while Bim, thumping with his tail in appreciation
of his master's praises, occupied the stern seat as calmly as though
with him such events as those just recorded were of every-day
occurrence.

CHAPTER XIII.

WINN'S LONELY CRUISE.

During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered
it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff,
he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and refl