"Not a thing."

"Do you suppose he left the boat here?"

The boatman shook his head slowly.

"I wish I could say yes, Mrs. Nelson," he said. "But I don't think so. It's
all wet around here, and there would be no sense in it when there are so
many dry landing places nearby. Most likely he landed somewhere else and
the boat drifted away from him."

The widow gave a start.

"Oh, might they not have landed on one of the islands and the sloop got
away from them?" she cried.

"By creation! that may be it!" ejaculated Bill Franchard. "I never thought
of it before."

"I wish we could find out. I'm greatly worried. Something tells me that
Ralph is not safe--that something has happened to him."

"I'll tell you what I'll do, Mrs. Nelson. I'll take the _Ariel_ and sail up
to the islands and take a look around."

"Will you go this afternoon?"

"If you wish it, yes."

"I do, very much."

"Then I won't waste another minute. Maybe you would like to go along?"

"I would," returned Mrs. Nelson, impelled by a fear she could not banish.

Franchard lost no time in towing the sloop back to the boat-house. Ten
minutes later he and the widow were sailing up the lake as fast as the wind
would carry them.

It was well on toward evening when the islands were reached.

"I'll give them a call if they are anywhere about," said Franchard, and he
yelled many times at the top of his lungs.

No reply came back, and after sailing around for some time they came to
anchor beside Three Top Island.

"If they landed anywhere, they landed here," said the boatman. "So as long
as we are in the vicinity we may as well take a look around."

As luck would have it they had reached shore close to the bottom of the
cliff. As they leaped on the rocks, Mrs. Nelson gave a start.

"What is it?" cried her companion, quickly.

"Oh, Mr. Franchard, look!" screamed the poor woman. "It is Ralph's fishing
towel, and it has blood upon it!"

And as she spoke, she held up the object.

"You are sure it is his?"

"I am positive. Oh, I am sure something dreadful has happened."

"Perhaps not, Mrs. Nelson. Let us hope for the best, and search further."

Mrs. Nelson heaved a long sigh. Her heart was heavy within her breast.

The two searched around until nightfall, but nothing more was found.

At last they returned to Glen Arbor, and after another inquiry there for
Ralph, the poor widow made her way back slowly to her home.

She was all but prostrated