camp as fast as possible. I'll take the oars," said
the Governor. "You and Leary follow in my canoe."

The Governor sent the boat swiftly toward the camp with Archie and Leary
close behind. Ruth, protesting that she was only chilled by her ducking,
vigorously manipulated the arms of her prostrate companion. When she
hailed the shore a lantern flashed in answer and the camp doctor and
Isabel's mother met them at the landing. They had heard the crash of the
collision and the reassuring cries that had announced the rescue.

"Lungs all clear; a case of exhaustion or shock," announced the doctor
crisply, and Archie formed a high opinion of her as a capable person
whom he should always remember gratefully.

Ruth declared that she was able to walk but Isabel became the object of
their immediate concern. She lay in the boat muttering incoherently.
Archie gathered her up in his arms and bore her to the hospital tent
where a nurse awaited them.

"You gentlemen must go at once to the bath house on the shore," ordered
the doctor with a brisk professional air. "Take one of these lanterns,
and strip and rub yourselves dry. Hot coffee will be sent you shortly.
As there isn't a man on the place we can't offer you dry clothing, but
if you need medical attention let me know."

The tent flap fell.

"We're lucky devils," said the Governor, as they wrung the water from
their clothes in the bath house. "If we hadn't been just where we were
those girls would have drowned. In their skirts they couldn't have made
the shore. Lucky I say!"

"We have some unfinished business," remarked Archie. "We're going to
take up this little matter with Mr. Carey before I sleep again."

"Patience!" cried the Governor, now in high spirits though his teeth
chattered. "It was his inning; he kept them from reaching Huddleston,
but we don't want to waste our chance of scoring when we go to bat.
Patience; and then more patience!"

"You don't mean to say that you're not going to notify the authorities
now?" demanded Archie. "It would give me the greatest satisfaction to
send him over the road for attempted murder."

"We could do that beyond question; but I've already told you, my dear
boy, that we are going to be the sole judge of the law and the evidence
in these matters. I mean to end my career as the prince of villains with
a flourish. There shall be no loose ends. My time is short. Before the
week is out I've got to tie all pending matters up in neat p