ng more could be said. I
saw that both Tom's and my uncle's horses were harnessed, and standing
at the front door of the house. I watched them closely, and presently
they got into their respective vehicles, and drove off.

CHAPTER XII.

IN WHICH ERNEST OBTAINS SOME VALUABLE LETTERS.

"WHAT will they do?" asked Kate, trembling with fear, when I told her my
uncle and Tom had driven off.

"I don't know; that is what I would like to ascertain," I replied,
considering the circumstances which presented themselves. "If they were
going to the same place, they would have taken the same vehicle. It is
about fifteen miles round by the road to Cannondale. I think one of them
must have gone that way. About two miles below, the road lies near the
lake, and I will run down where I can see which of them goes in that
direction."

"I am terribly frightened, Ernest Thornton," said my fair passenger,
after I had headed the Splash in the direction indicated.

"I cannot deny, Kate, that we are both in great danger of being
captured; but I shall do the best I can, and we can only hope that it
will come out right in the end. Tom Thornton will do everything that
mortal man can do to catch us."

"I'm afraid you are doing too much for me, Ernest Thornton. You will get
yourself into trouble," she added, anxiously.

"Don't worry about me, Kate. I think Tom Thornton has a stronger desire
to capture me now than he has you. We are both in the same boat in a
double sense. I will tell you all about it by and by. I must keep my
eyes wide open now. Of course Tom knows you have an uncle in New York."

"I suppose he does."

"Then he will readily understand that you intend to reach him if you
can."

"Mrs. Loraine would think so, I know, for she burned the letter I wrote
to my uncle."

"There goes Tom Thornton's chaise," said I, pointing to the vehicle, as
we reached a part of the lake which commanded a view of the road. "He
has stopped to watch the boat. I know where he is going now, and that's
enough."

"What will you do?" asked Kate, fixing the gaze of her deep-blue eyes
upon me.

"I hardly know. I confess that my plans are not arranged yet, and
everything depends upon circumstances. I am going up to the Institute
now to find Bob Hale, if I can."

"Will that be safe?"

"I think it will. No boat on the lake can catch the Splash in this
breeze; and Bob may be able to help me."

In half an hour we were off the Institute pier; b