s," cried Laura.

When the boat at length drew near to shore and a plank was thrown out,
they went on deck and gazed around.

In front and on each side as far as they could see, a steep, scrubby
bank reached up to the railway tracks which swept along the foot of the
hills. A small wooden tower stood near the tracks a short distance
away. The rain had ceased as suddenly as it had come and the sunlight
lay on river and land.

"The train must be late," remarked the clerk. A muffled rumble was
heard--"Hark, there it is now!"

But it turned out to be a freight, which drew its long length past,
like a many-jointed snake.

Time passed slowly to the impatient girls. The young man ran up to the
tower to make inquiries.

"The operator says our train may be hour late," he reported.

He felt very sorry for their dilemma, but he knew it would be useless
to ask the man in charge to make a special trip to let them off.

Laura and Alene glanced at each other.

"If he says one hour, it may be more and then it will take quite a time
to get back," murmured the former.

"Couldn't we walk to some bridge and cross over?"

"I don't know the way, and I never heard of any bridge nearer than
Westville, three miles above. Let's take a walk, it'll help pass the
time," proposed Laura.

They crossed the plank and wandered arm in arm along the shore.

"I suppose they'll soon have the bellman out ringing for us! To think
the dire fate I've often predicted for Nettie when she tarries on the
way from school should happen to myself instead!"

"Hello, there!"

Across the water came this welcome hail. A skiff manned by a boy came
in sight rounding the bend of the river.

The girls paused and waved their handkerchiefs.

"Is he calling to us? I wonder who it can be!"

"Why, it's Mark Griffin!" cried Alene, with a gulp of delight.

They stood watching the movements of the skiff, fearing it would turn
in some other direction and leave them in their plight.

"Maybe he's going on down the river," wailed Laura.

Alene waved her handkerchief more energetically.

"He wouldn't do that!"

"But he doesn't know we're abducted and cast away on this unfriendly
coast," rejoined Laura, whose courage increased with the nearer
approach of the boat.

It was evident the rower had no intention of turning aside; he aimed in
their direction with even and rapid strokes of the oars which soon
covered the expanse of water between.

"I noticed