had all at
once become filled with such unexplained terrors. Feeling his way
cautiously to the river-bank, he reached the little raft without
mishap. It took him some time to get it clear of the boom; but at
length he succeeded, and with a very decided feeling of relief he
pushed off into the current, and proceeded on his journey.

Winn's spirits rose as his clumsy craft moved out from the heavy
shadows of the island, and he began to whistle to convince himself that
he had not been afraid of anything after all. Suddenly he heard low
voices close beside him, a dark object dashed up to his raft, and a
dazzling light was flashed full in his face. The next instant two men
sprang to his side, threw him down, searched him for arms, secured his
knife, which was the only thing resembling a weapon that he possessed,
and forced him into a large skiff containing several other men.

"Close the lantern," ordered one of these in a low but stern voice,
"and pull for that fire on shore. No doubt we'll bag some more of them
there." Then to Winn the man said, "So you thought you could give us
the slip, did you, young fellow? Well, you found us up too early,
didn't you? Now the best thing you can do is to afford us all possible
aid in capturing the rest of your gang. It'll count big in your favor
with the Judge, I can tell you. How many are there on the island?"

"I don't know what you mean--" began Winn, indignantly; but a heavy
hand was instantly clapped over his mouth.

"Shut up!" whispered the man, hoarsely, but with terrible distinctness.
"If you speak another loud word I'll brain you. You'll find out what I
mean when we've landed you safely in Dubuque jail. Now answer me in a
whisper. How many of your pals are on the island?"

"I haven't any pals," replied Winn, putting as much force into his
whisper as he dared, "and there isn't any one on the island. This is
an outrage, and--"

"That will do," answered the man, sternly. "If that's the tone you are
going to take, we don't want to hear any more of it."

Just then the bow of the skiff was run on the bank, and the man,
grasping Winn's arm, stepped ashore, saying, "Now make yourself useful,
young fellow, and lead us to your mint or den or whatever you call it.
If you don't want to I'll find a way to compel you, and if you try any
low-down tricks, I'll make you wish you'd never been born."

"Do you mean the log-hut?" asked Winn.

"Yes, if that's what you call i