mbled over some tree-roots and went down in a hole and hurt my
ankle. When I got up I couldn't see the others, and I must have lost
my way. Then it began to rain and get dark, and I didn't know which
way to turn. I yelled dozens of times, but I didn't hear any answer. I
tried to locate the cabin, but I must have been completely turned
around, for I came out on the shore. Then the flood came along, and
before I knew it I was floating down the river. I hit a tree and clung
to that, and we drifted a mile or more before the tree got stuck on a
sandbar. I stayed there, in the rain and darkness, until morning and
then waded and swam ashore. I was so tired out I had to rest for
awhile, and then I came up here, to try to find out something about
our crowd. I was thinking of getting over to the island again when I
saw you on the top of the hill. Of course, I thought Dave was
Jerry."

"We were scared to death, thinking you had been drowned," said Ben.

"Well, I came pretty close to it," was the serious reply. "No more
such flood for me!"

All turned towards the cabin where four of the party had spent the
night, and there Jerry was called on to prepare the best meal their
limited stores afforded. On the river-bank they had picked up some
fish cast up by the flood, and these were broiled, making a welcome
addition to the meal.

While the meal was being prepared, and after it had been eaten, Dave
had a serious talk with Phil and the others, and all realized the
folly they had committed in running away from Oak Hall. Phil in
particular, was much disturbed and said he had been thinking of coming
back.

"But we saw that article in the newspaper, and it scared us," went on
the shipowner's son. "Of course, it didn't mention any names, but we
knew it was meant for us. I know now, just as well as the others, that
it was a mistake to run away."

"Then, you'll go back with me?" questioned Dave, eagerly.

"Yes."

"And you'll go back, too, Ben and Buster?"

"Yes."

"I am mighty glad to hear it--and I feel that this thing will come
out all right in the end," returned Dave.

"By the way, there is one thing I haven't told you, Dave," said
Buster, a minute later. "The general excitement drove it clean out of
my head. We know who it was that spoiled the feast Phil got up for the
crowd."

"You do?" asked our hero, with interest.

"Yes. It was Nat Poole. He went to Rockville and sent those telephone
messages to Jason Sparr and that