show signs of
uneasiness, and intimate a desire to be let out.

Again the door was opened for him, and again he rushed out into the
darkness. This time retreating footsteps and the rustling of bushes on
the bank were distinctly heard. With a low growl Bim sprang ashore and
disappeared. The next instant the boys saw a flash of lantern-light a
few rods below the raft, heard a smothered yelp, the sounds of a
confused struggle, and a moment later a loud splash in the water. Then
all was again buried in darkness and silence.

"Something has happened to Bim!" exclaimed Winn, in a low but excited
tone, "and I am going to find out what it is." With this the boy
leaped ashore, and hurried in the direction from which the sounds had
come.

"It's a mighty foolish thing to do, but you sha'n't go alone," said
Glen Elting, quietly, as he started after Winn, adding, as he left the
raft, "You stay behind and stand guard, Binney."

The boy, thus suddenly left alone, stood guard for about fifteen
seconds, when all at once two dark figures sprang aboard the raft from
the bank, and he had barely time to utter a single cry of warning
before he was engaged in a furious struggle with one of them, who had
seized him from behind.

"Drop him overboard!"

Although the command was given in a low tone, Binney heard and
understood it. Then the strong arms in which he was struggling lifted
him as they would a child, and bore him towards the edge of the raft.

[Illustration: "The strong arms lifted him as they would a child."]

CHAPTER XXXIII.

WHERE IS BIM?

Billy Brackett was in a particularly contented frame of mind, and
whistled softly to himself as he tramped through the muddy streets of
one of the muddiest cities in the United States, towards the telegraph
office. He was well satisfied with the results of his expedition thus
far, and with its prospects of a successful termination. He did not
notice the curious looks with which several persons regarded him as the
bright light from a store window fell on his face, nor would he have
cared if he had. His conscience was clear, and he had nothing to fear
from observation, curious or otherwise.

As he entered the telegraph office, the operator glanced up with a nod
of recognition. A few seconds later, having finished sending the
despatch with which he had been busy, he turned his key over to an
assistant and said,

"Will you step this way a moment, sir? I wish to speak