ogether in vain.

"Maybe," he said dubiously, on hearing of the missing boat--"Maybe the
child has gone on the Fjord--'tis often her custom,--but, then, where is
Britta? Besides, they must have expected us--they would have prepared
supper--they would have been watching for our return. No, no! there is
something wrong about this--'tis altogether unusual."

And he looked about him in a bewildered way, while Sir Philip, noting
his uneasiness, grew more and more uneasy himself.

"Let me go and search for them, sir," he said, eagerly. "They may be in
the woods, or up towards the orchard."

Gueldmar shook his head and drew his fuzzy white brows together in
puzzled meditation--suddenly he started and struck his staff forcibly on
the ground.

"I have it!" he exclaimed. "That old hag Lovisa is at the bottom of
this!"

"By Jove!" cried Errington. "I believe you're right! What shall we do?"

At that moment, Lorimer, Duprez, and Macfarlane came on the scene,
thinking they had kept aloft long enough,--and the strange disappearance
of the two girls was rapidly explained to them. They listened astonished
and almost incredulous, but agreed with the _bonde_ as to Lovisa's
probable share in the matter.

"Look here!" said Lorimer excitedly. "I'm not in the least tired,--show
me the way to Talvig, where that old screech-owl lives, and I'll go
there straight as a gun! Shouldn't wonder if she has not forced away her
grandchild, in which case Miss Thelma may have gone after her."

"I'll come with you!" said Errington. "Let's lose no time about it."

But Gueldmar shook his head. "'Tis a long way, my lads,--and you do not
know the road. No--'twill be better we should take the boat and pull
over to Bosekop; there we can get a carriole to take two of us at least
to Talvig--"

He stopped, interrupted by Macfarlane, who looked particularly shrewd.

"I should certainly advise ye to try Bosekop first," he remarked
cautiously. "Mr. Dyceworthy might be able to provide ye with valuable
information."

"Dyceworthy!" roared the _bonde_, becoming inflammable at once. "He
knows little of me or mine, thank the gods! and I would not by choice
step within a mile of his dwelling. What makes you think of him, sir?"

Lorimer laid a hand soothingly on his arm.

"Now, my dear Mr. Gueldmar, don't get excited! Mac is right. I dare say
Dyceworthy knows as much in his way as the ancient Lovisa. At any rate,
it isn't his fault if he does not. Because yo