ng the side
of the long shed he thrust and thrust with so much effect that he sent
the light gig well out into the stream and half-across the river. Then
seizing an oar, as the dog was now down on the bank, snapping and
barking more furiously than ever, he got it over into the water, and
after a great deal of paddling, and confused counter-action of his
efforts, forced the boat onward and along, till it touched the shore
where Bob was waiting with the box.

"No, no, don't come out," he whispered. "Here, help me get these in."

Dexter crept to the stern of the boat, and in his effort to embark the
box nearly fell overboard, but the treasure was safe. Then Bob handed
in a basket, and a bundle of sticks, evidently his rod, and leaping in
directly after, gave the boat sufficient impetus to send it well out
into the stream, down which it began to glide.

"Ah, bark away, old un," said Bob contemptuously, as the sound of the
dog's alarm notes grew more distant, and then more distant still, for
they were going round a curve, and the garden side of the river was
thick with trees.

"Is that Danby's dog!" whispered Bob.

"I don't know," said Dexter, with his teeth chattering from cold and
excitement.

"Why! you're a-cold," said Bob coolly. "Here, I'll send her along. You
look sharp and dress. I say, where's your bundle of things?"

"Do you mean my clothes?"

"No! Your bundle."

"I didn't bring anything," said Dexter, hurriedly slipping on his shirt.

"Well, you are a chap!" said Bob sourly, but Dexter hardly heard him,
for he was trying to get his wet body covered from the chill night air;
and he could think of nothing but the fact that he had taken a very
desperate step, and the boat was bearing them rapidly away from what
seemed now to have been a very happy home--further out, further away
from the doctor and from Helen, downward toward the sea, and over that
there was a great black cloud, beyond which, according to Bob Dimsted,
there were bright and glorious lands.

At that moment, chill with the cold and damp, Dexter would have given
anything to have been back in his old room, but it was too late, the
boat was gliding on, and Bob had now got out the sculls. The town
lights were receding, and they were going onward toward that dark cloud
which Dexter seemed to see more dimly now, for there was a dumb
depressing sensation of despair upon him, and he turned his eyes toward
the river-bank, asking himself if h