afe!"

"What do you mean? What have you heard?" they asked quickly.

"Read this!" answered Herbert, giving Mrs. Trafton the scrap of paper.

"Who brought it?" she asked, bewildered.

"A dog."

Ben Bence quickly asked:

"What do you mean?"

"I know nothing more than that a large black dog came to the door with
this in his mouth, which he dropped at my feet."

"That is very strange," said Bence.

He opened the door and looked out, but no dog was to be seen.

"Do you believe this? Can it be true?" asked Mrs. Trafton.

"I believe it is true, though I can't explain it," answered Ben. "Some
dogs are wonderfully trained. I don't know whom this dog belongs to, but
whoever it is he doubtless has Robert under his care. Let us be thankful
that he has been saved."

"But why don't he come home?" asked Mrs. Trafton. "Where can he be?"

"He was probably rescued in an exhausted condition. Cheer up, Mrs.
Trafton. You will no doubt see your boy to-morrow."

"I feel like giving three cheers, Mr. Bence," said Herbert.

"Then give 'em, boy, and I'll help you!" said old Ben.

The three cheers were given with a will, and Herbert went home, his
heart much lighter than it had been ten minutes before.

CHAPTER XIII

THE CRUISE OF THE RAFT

It is time we carried the reader back to the time when Robert, after
launching his rude raft, set out from the island of his captivity.

Notwithstanding his rather critical situation, he was in excellent
spirits. The treasure which he had unearthed from the wreck very much
elated him. It meant comfort and independence for a time at least, and
in his new joy he was even ready to forgive his uncle for leaving him on
the island and Randolph for not taking him off.

"I've heard of things turning out for the best," was the thought that
passed through his mind, "but I never understood it so well before."

Robert possessed a large measure of courage and he had been used to the
sea from the age of six, or as far back as he could remember, but when
he had rounded the Island and paddled a few rods out to sea he began to
feel serious.

There was a strong wind blowing, and this had roughened the sea and made
it difficult for him to guide his extemporized raft in the direction he
desired.

Had it been his uncle's fishing boat and had he but possessed a good
pair of stout oars, he would have experienced no particular difficulty.

He would perhaps have found it rather hard pulling, but he