in about two hours," answered the
master.

"Where's Ole?" demanded the coxswain, much excited.

"What does it mean?" said Clyde.

"I don't know. Where's Ole?"

The waif evidently considered discretion the better part of valor, for
he could not be found; and the coxswain and those in his confidence
realized that they had been "sold" in their own coin.

CHAPTER XII.

THE BOATSWAIN AND THE BRITON.

"Where's Ole? I don't understand it," repeated Sanford, after he had
made another ineffectual search for the missing waif.

"We have been sold, instead of selling those fellows," added
Stockwell.

"That's so; and I should rather like to know how it was done. Ole has
sold us out."

"Is this your Rjukanfos?" demanded Clyde Blacklock, who had been
looking for some one upon whom to pour out his wrath.

"Not exactly," answered Sanford, indifferently, for he did not
particularly enjoy the airs of the Briton.

"But what do you mean by bringing me here?" added Clyde.

"I didn't bring you here. You came of your own free will and accord."

"No, I didn't; you said we were going to the waterfall."

"We thought so ourselves; but we have been deceived. Ole has sold out
and made fools of us. You are no worse off than the rest of us."

"To whom did he sell out?" asked Clyde, appeased when he learned that
he was not the only sufferer.

"I don't know. I don't understand it at all. We have been cheated out
of the Rjukanfos, and brought to Christiania."

"Well, what are you going to do about it?" inquired Stockwell.

"We can't do anything about it. I suppose we shall be on board of the
ship in an hour or two, telling the principal how hard we tried to be
here before."

"But I'm not going back to Christiania," protested Clyde.

"I don't see how you can help yourself. This boat don't stop again
till she arrives there."

"I will not go to the ship again, at any rate," added Clyde.

"Do as you like about that; it isn't our business."

Clyde was much disturbed by the situation. As he always regarded
himself as the central figure of the group, he began to suspect that
the apparent miscarriage of the plan was a trick to lure him back to
the ship; but Sanford seemed to be honest, and to be entirely
discomfited by the discovery. Burchmore and Churchill were highly
elated at the success attending their scheme, which had, indeed,
exceeded their expectations; but they were as much mystified by the
disappearance of Ole a