dle, Tish said, but she felt
more secure. If she struck a rock and upset, at least she would not
drown; and we could start after her at dawn with the Mebbe.

"I'll be somewhere down the river," she said, "and safe enough, most
likely, unless there are falls."

Hutchins watched in a puzzled way, for Tish did not leave until dusk.

"You'd better let me follow you with the launch, Miss Tish," she said.
"Just remember that if the canoe sinks you're tied to it."

"I'm on serious business to-night, Hutchins," Tish said ominously. "You
are young, and I refuse to trouble your young mind; but your ears are
sharp. If you hear any shooting, get the boat and follow me."

The mention of shooting made me very nervous. We watched Tish as long as
we could see her; then we returned to the tent, and Aggie and I
crocheted by the hanging lantern. Two hours went by. At eleven o'clock
Tish had not returned and Hutchins was in the motor boat, getting it
ready to start.

"I like courage, Miss Lizzie," she said to me; "but this thing of
elderly women, with some sort of bug, starting out at night in canoes is
too strong for me. Either she's going to stay in at night or I'm going
home."

"Elderly nothing!" I said, with some spirit. "She is in the prime of
life. Please remember, Hutchins, that you are speaking of your employer.
Miss Tish has no bug, as you call it."

"Oh, she's rational enough," Hutchins retorted: "but she is a woman of
one idea and that sort of person is dangerous."

I was breathless at her audacity.

"Come now, Miss Lizzie," she said, "how can I help when I don't know
what is being done? I've done my best up here to keep you comfortable
and restrain Miss Tish's recklessness; but I ought to know something."

She was right; and, Tish or no Tish, then and there I told her. She was
more than astonished. She sat in the motor boat, with a lantern at her
feet, and listened.

"I see," she said slowly. "So the--so Mr. McDonald is a spy and has sent
for dynamite to destroy the railroad! And--and the red-haired man is a
detective! How do you know he is a detective?"

I told her then about the note we had picked up from beside her in the
train, and because she was so much interested she really seemed quite
thrilled. I brought the cipher grocery list and the other note down to
her.

"It's quite convincing, isn't it?" she said. "And--and exciting! I don't
know when I've been so excited."

She really was. Her cheeks were flu