e alarm had been given, or that poor Jack was conscious, I am
afraid Danby would have had very little chance of his life."

"It makes me sick to think of what they might have done. That was what
I was thinking of all along as I rode for the lock."

"You made good time getting there, Dick."

"I felt as if I had to! I was helpless as long as they were out on the
lake, where it was broad. Even a boat would have been useless. If
they had seen a boat making for them, they would have known at once
that they were in danger, and would have either gotten rid of Jack or
made a desperate stand, with a good chance of beating off any attack.
The lock was the only place to reach them--and that meant fast moving,
or I would have been too late."

"Well, what I meant to say was that we ought, if it is at all possible,
to take steps to see that Jack does not again expose himself to any
such risk. He is too valuable a Scout to have him take chances that
are not necessary."

"Especially since he doesn't seem to know what fear is. He never stops
to think of the effect of anything he does upon himself. He goes ahead
and trusts to luck, if he thinks that it is his duty to do anything, if
there seems to be danger. So, when there is no need of his being in
peril, it is only right to do all we can to guard him."

"Tom Binns and Pete Stubbs are devoted to him, aren't they, Dick?"

"I think either one of them would go through fire or water for him if
there was need."

"Well, then, suppose you get hold of them quietly, without letting Jack
learn anything about what you are planning, and have them keep a close
watch on his movements. They can do it without arousing his suspicion,
and, if he seems likely to do anything that would give these fellows a
chance to get at him, we will interfere, if possible, and spoil their
little plan."

"That's the idea, sir! Those two boys will be trustworthy, and they've
got a lot of good horse sense, too."

"This may prove a very important commission for the two of them, though
I hope, of course, that we are afraid of a shadow, and that Jack has
nothing more to fear from these men."

Tom Binns and Pete Stubbs were delighted when Dick Crawford told them
what he wanted them to do.

"Gee, Dick," said Pete, "that makes us like a couple of sure enough
detectives, don't it?"

"Yes--except that you're supposed to prevent anything crooked from
being done, and not simply to find out how it was done a