and down his
narrow prison with restless impatience.

"Oh! If I ever get out of this scrape!" he cried.

Less than an hour afterwards, when Mary Darrell again entered the
cavern, but this time in company with her father, to whom she had
confided the whole story, Peveril had disappeared. There was no boat
to be seen, and they were confident that none had been on the coast
that day. The derrick, with its tackle, was just as Mary had left it,
yet neither in the cavern nor on the ledge was a trace of the young
man to be seen.

CHAPTER XXI

MIKE CONNELL TO THE RESCUE

On the very day that the White Pine logging expedition had been so
completely disbanded, the tug _Broncho_ had been sent up the coast in
a hurry after a supply of timber. She reached Laughing Fish Cove in
the evening after Peveril's departure from his camp, and spent the
night there awaiting him. Her captain was greatly perplexed by the
failure of any of the party to put in an appearance, and the more so
when he learned from the fishermen that Peveril had returned alone
only to depart again on foot soon afterwards.

By morning he dared not wait longer, for his instructions were to
start back immediately with such logs as had been collected. He also
imagined that, having picked up all the timber they could find, and
becoming tired of waiting for him, the wreckers might have set out for
Red Jacket on foot. So, taking in tow the raft that he found in the
cove, he started down the coast, arriving at his destination that same
evening.

Mike Connell, who had been anxiously awaiting Peveril's coming, was at
the landing to meet his friend, and was much disappointed at his
non-appearance. After gaining all the news concerning the missing
party that Captain Spillins could give him, he hastened back to Red
Jacket, and went at once to the Trefethen cottage with a faint hope
that Peveril might be there.

The inmates of the little house had also pleasantly anticipated the
return of the young man in whom they were so interested, and had made
such simple preparations as came within their means for welcoming him.
Now their disappointment at Connell's report was mingled with a
certain anxiety that increased as they discussed the situation.

"I'm feared lad's got into some trouble along of they furriners,"
reflected Mark Trefethen, as he puffed thoughtfully at his short pipe.
"Not but he'll find way outen it, though, for he's finely strong and
handy wi' his