t now there's a
fearful undertow. I couldn't swim against it myself, let alone a boy."

"If anything has happened to him it's his uncle's fault," said Herbert.

"John Trafton will have to answer for it," said the fisherman sternly.
"There ain't one of us that don't love Bob. He's a downright good boy,
Bob Coverdale is, and a smart boy, too."

"If he's lost I will never have anything more to do with George
Randolph. I will ask mother to pack him back to Boston to-morrow."

"George ain't a mite like you," said Ben Bence.

"I hope not," returned Herbert hastily. "He's one of the meanest boys I
ever met. He might just as well have taken poor Bob off the island this
afternoon, if he hadn't been so spiteful and ugly."

"It would serve him right to leave him there a while himself," suggested
Bence.

"I agree with you."

There was another pause. Each was troubled by anxious thoughts about the
missing boy.

When they reached the shore Herbert said:

"I'm going to Mr. Trafton's to see if Bob has got home."

"I'll go with you," said the fisherman briefly.

They reached the humble cabin of the Traftons and knocked at the door.

Mrs. Trafton opened it.

"Good evening, Mr. Bence," she said. "I believe this young gentleman is
Master Herbert Irving? I have often heard Robert speak of him."

"Is Robert at home?" asked Herbert eagerly.

"No, he has been away all day," answered his aunt.

"Do you know where he is?" inquired Ben Bence soberly.

"Mr. Trafton wouldn't tell me. He said he had sent him away on some
errand, but I don't see where he could have gone, to stay so long."

It was clear Mrs. Trafton knew nothing of the trick which had been
played upon her nephew.

"Tell her, Mr. Bence," said Herbert, turning to his companion.

"Has anything happened to Robert?" asked Mrs. Trafton, turning pale.

They told her how her husband had conveyed Robert to Egg Island and then
treacherously left him there, to get off as he might.

"Was there any difficulty between Bob and his uncle?" asked Ben Bence.

"Yes; the boy had a little money which had been given him and my husband
ordered him to give it up to him. He'd have done it, if he hadn't wanted
to spend it for me. He was always a considerate boy, and I don't know
what I should have done without him. Mr. Bence, I know it's a good deal
to ask, but I can't bear to think of Robert staying on the island all
night. Would you mind rowing over and bringing him back?"

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