take
him as a passenger."

"George Randolph, do you want to know my opinion of you?" asked Herbert
hotly.

"What do you mean?" stammered George.

"I mean this, that I am ashamed of you. You are the most contemptibly
mean fellow I ever met, and I am heartily sorry there is any
relationship between us."

"I consider that an insult!" exclaimed George, pale with anger.

"I am glad you do. I mean it as such. Just tell my mother I won't be
back till late in the evening."

"Where are you going?"

"I am going to get a boat and row to Egg Island for Bob Coverdale," and
Herbert dashed up the street in the direction of the beach.

"He must be crazy!" muttered George, looking after his cousin.

Herbert Irving reached the beach and sought out Ben Bence.

"Mr. Bence," he said, "I want to go to Egg Island. If you can spare the
time, come with me and I'll pay you for your time."

"What are you going for, Master Herbert?"

Upon this Herbert explained the object of his trip.

"Now, will you go?" he asked.

"Yes," answered the fisherman heartily, "I'll go and won't charge you a
cent for the boat or my time. Bob Coverdale's a favorite of mine, and
I'm sorry his uncle treats him so badly."

Strong, sturdy strokes soon brought them to the island.

"Bob! Where are you. Bob?" called Herbert.

There was no answer. The island was so small that he would have been
seen if he had been there.

"He must have got off," said Herbert. "George said he was building a
raft."

"Then I mistrust something's happened to the poor boy," said Bence
gravely. "He couldn't build a raft here that would hold together till he
reached the mainland."

Herbert turned pale.

"I hope it isn't so bad as that," he said. "Let us row back as quick as
we can!"

CHAPTER XII

A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE

As they were rowing back they scanned the sea in every direction, but
nowhere did they discover any signs of Robert or his raft.

"Perhaps," suggested Herbert, breaking a long silence, "Bob is already
at home."

He looked inquiringly in the face of his companion to see what he
thought of the chances.

"Mayhap he is," said Ben Bence slowly, "but I mistrust he found it too
rough for the raft."

"In that case----" said Herbert anxiously and stopped without answering
the question.

"In that case the poor boy's at the bottom of the sea, it's likely."

"He could swim, Mr. Bence."

"Yes, but the tide would be too strong for him. Just abou