Back River exposed
to any injury which these criminals might choose to inflict by way of
revenge. He proposed that the mother and daughter, after refastening the
window and locking up, should retire to their beds, while the boys
returned to the launch to make sure no harm befell it.

This course was only the commonest prudence, but the hostess and her
daughter were clearly so nervous over being left alone for the remainder
of the night that Alvin regretted his proposal. Nora especially did not
try to hide her distress.

"Never mind," Alvin made haste to say, "we will wait till morning. You
have been so kind that we cannot willingly cause you a moment's pain."

"May I make a suggistion?" asked Mike, speaking so seriously that all
knew he was about to say something worth while.

"I know he's going to tell us the right thing," said Nora.

"How could I do itherwise wid yer bright eyes cheering me?" he asked,
with his expansive grin. "The same is this: Do ye two spalpeens go down
to the launch and stay there till morning while I remain behind wid the
misthress and sweet Nora, and keep off the burglars wid that same gun
that sarved me so well."

Only Alvin and Chester knew the chivalry of this proposal. Mike regretted
keenly the separation from them, even though it promised to be for only a
few hours.

"That is asking too much," said the widow, though her countenance
brightened with pleasure.

"How can the same be asking too much whin ye haven't asked it?"

Nora clapped her hands.

"I can't hilp it if she looks upon mesilf as worth the two of ye," said
Mike, with an assumption of dignity that deceived no one.

"It is good on your part, Mike," said Alvin. "I feel as if we ought to
give attention to the boat, and you may as well stay here. We'll wait for
you in the morning."

"Don't feel obleeged to do the same. Something may turn up that may cause
ye to hurry off. If it be so, don't tarry a minute for me."

"Possibly you may prove right, but we shall hate to leave you behind."

"Ye may do so foriver, so long as I have such quarters as these."

With this understanding, the friends parted, no one dreaming of what was
to befall them before all met again.

CHAPTER XXII

A STARTLING DISCOVERY

Nothing was more natural than that Alvin Landon and Chester Haynes should
be concerned for the safety of the motor launch _Deerfoot_. It had been
stolen from them once in simple wantonness by two young men who ha