though as yet they hardly realized its full significance. They purposely
refrained from talking about it, though each knew in his own heart how
wildly improbable was the hope that Nugget was still alive.

The hours of that dark, dismal night wore slowly on. There was plenty to
eat in the canoes, but no one was hungry now. A lantern was kept burning
at the upper point of the island, and from time to time one of the boys
went down to the shore and shouted till the echo rang far among the
hills. They must have known that it was but a hollow mockery, and yet
there was a scrap of consolation even in pretending that hope was not
entirely gone.

Ned insisted that his companions should lie down and sleep. This seemed
impossible at first, but after a while drowsiness and fatigue asserted
their sway. Randy went down to the canoes and returned with three
blankets. He and Clay wrapped themselves up, and chose a soft spot among
the bushes. In five minutes they were sleeping soundly.

Ned remained where he was for a long while, keeping solitary vigil over
his companions. Then he began to pace up and down the island, and
finally he pulled the blanket about his shoulders and sat down on the
upper end of the bar with his back against the side of the canoe.

It was his intention to remain awake, but unconsciously his eyelids
drooped, and after a feeble struggle or two he sank into a deep slumber.

He knew nothing more until he woke in the gray dawn of the morning. For
a few seconds his surroundings seemed familiar. Then the bitter truth
flashed into his mind, and he rose with an aching heart. He was stiff
and shivering, and the cool breeze that blew down the creek, scattering
the light, vapory mists over the surface of the water, made him keenly
conscious of the pangs of hunger.

He went up in the bushes and wakened Clay and Randy. They followed him
stiffly down to the shore, and after dipping their feet in the cool,
rippling water, all sat down on the grass and ate a few crackers. Ned
offered to build a fire and make some hot coffee, but the others
protested that they did not care for it.

The sun was just peeping above the horizon when the boys pushed their
canoes into the water and embarked on the dreaded journey up the creek.
Both shores were thickly timbered, and to make the search more thorough
Ned kept close to the right bank, while Clay and Randy followed the
left.

They paddled with leisurely strokes, maintaining a shar