oat-hook. I have been in a worse fight
than that."

"You have!"

"Yes; I have been where the bullets flew thick and fast."

"You!"

"I was in a battle with the Indians; and I once had the happiness to
rescue a young lady from the savages; so I think this is a very mild
kind of fighting."

"What a hero you have been!"

"Not much of a hero; but I don't like to see anything go wrong with a
young lady. I never saw a young lady till I was twelve years old, and I
find myself very kindly disposed towards all of them--strange as it may
seem."

Miss Collingsby tried to smile, but she did not feel able to do so.

CHAPTER XX.

IN WHICH PHIL SAILS THE MARIAN ACROSS LAKE MICHIGAN.

"Where are you going now, Philip?" asked Miss Collingsby.

"I am obliged to chase Mr. Whippleton. I told you what he had been
doing. He has swindled your father out of a large sum of money, and he
has also robbed me of a valuable package, which was put in my care for
safe keeping. I must catch him if I follow him all night."

"You are very faithful to my father's interests. I didn't think Mr.
Whippleton was such a bad man."

"Your father did not think so, either," I continued; and I explained to
her in full the financial operations of the junior partner.

"Do you expect to catch him, Philip?"

"I mean to do so."

"What can you do with him? He is a man, and you are but a boy--excuse
me, a young man."

"I don't object to being called a boy, for I am one; but I think I am a
match for Mr. Whippleton, physically."

"I think you are, after your battle with Mr. Waterford, who is larger
than Mr. Whippleton. But what am I to do?"

"I don't know. I must not lose sight of the Florina."

"I don't want to stay all night in this boat," said she, timidly.

"If I run over to the city and land you, I may as well give up all
thought of ever seeing Mr. Whippleton again," I replied, annoyed at the
situation.

"My mother will be very anxious about me."

"I know she will; but what can I do?"

"I really don't know."

"If Mr. Whippleton leads me any where near a railroad station, I will
see that you are put in the way of returning to your home. I am sure if
your father was here, he would insist upon my chasing the villain. If
he escapes me, your father will lose a large sum of money--not less
than forty thousand dollars, and perhaps more."

"How terrible! You must do as you think best, Philip, without regard to
me. I don't like to stay