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two hours ago； following a gang of ducks that uses right over there above
Mayhew's Meadows。 And the way Buck's been shooting for the last hour；
he must be having a time and no mistake。''
‘‘Well； so long；'' called Sandy。 ‘‘I guess I'll go up the river a little
further and have a look。'' And once more he took up his paddles。 As he
came abreast of the Meadows he saw Buck Wesley coming out of the
creek in his gunning skiff。
‘‘Is that you； Sandy？'' shouted the gunner。
‘‘That's me；'' was the boy's answer。
‘‘Come over here； I want to talk to you；'' requested Buck。
When Sandy got alongside the hunter's boat； he asked：
‘‘Well； Buck； what's the trouble？''
‘‘No trouble； Sandy； but when I come up the river this mornin'I ain't
been up for three weeks； it's been such pore weather for ducksI seen a
bunch of widgeon go down right over here； an' as I skims up by the collard
patch t'other side of the bridge； I noticed a boat lyin' in the mud； and when
I gits near to her； I knows by the cut of her jib that she's yer Lillian。''
‘‘My Lillian？ Wher'd yer say yer seen her？'' asked Sandy excitedly。
‘‘Why； by the collard patch； not fifty yards from the Causeway。 She
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looked like she'd drifted on the marsh。 I calc'lated when I got through
shootin' that I'd pick her up an' take her down to yer landin'。 The oars wuz
in； an' I guess she must 'a' strayed from the shore； through somebody
fergettin' to tie her up。''
‘‘I'm much 'bliged； Buck；'' thanked Sandy； ‘‘but yer needn't bother。 I'll
bring her down； an' the next galoot that takes her an' lets her git away from
him； is goin' to hear from me。''
Sandy retraced the course he had come； and after turning on the other
side of the bridge； had no trouble in finding his boat。 She was lying on a
sand…bar； but he soon succeeded in floating her and bringing her ashore。
Safely securing the skiff and the boat； he began another search along
the beach； and almost immediately was rewarded by finding a knot of blue
ribbon； such as he had often seen Lillian wear in her hair。 Farther along； he
discovered tracks in the sand。 These he followed； Indian fashion； up the
embankment； lost trace of them for a moment on the hardened surface of
the carriage way； but speedily picked them up again in the soft soil that ran
downward on the other side。
Then； it was easy to pursue them along a pathway that led to a
graveled beach where a dozen or more skiffs had been drawn up and tied
to stakes for the winter。 From here on； all further traces were obliterated。
Thoroughly familiar with all the river craft belonging there； even to
the individual ownership； Sandy noticed at once that one of the boats was
missing； and that its painter had only recently been cut。
‘‘Why； it's Willie Bagner's boat they've got；'' he said to himself as he
recognized which boat was missing； ‘‘an' I'll bet my life the scalawags are
hidin' somewhere up the river。''
Hurrying back； he rowed to the landing and started in haste for his
home； with a plan of rescue fully developed in his mind。 He sought out
Leander； Dink and Gilbert； and asked them to call at his house without
delay。
While Sandy's investigation had convinced him that Lillian was stolen；
Colonel Franklin had been made to realize the same terrible fact in another
and more brutal way。 When he reached his office on the same afternoon；
he found on his desk a letter that read as follows：
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The Fifth String
dere surif U meen bizness i can put U on to whar your dorter is but
its goin to kost U sum muney if U evr want to see her agin theres a big
gang got her hid where U woodnt find hur in a 100 yerze but if U will
plank down 10000 dolers sheze yourze if U dont you'll nevr see hur no
moar if sheze wurth thet much to U U can git her by not blabin to nobudy
that yer got this leter an plankin down the rino taint no use fer U to try
an git the police on our trax fer one uv the gang is alwayz with the kid an
we have sworn to kill her if enny of us is jugged if U meen bizness an
will leeve a noat under the big stone in front of the ded tree by oyster shell
landin up the river we will git it an rite U where to meet us to bring the
muney and git the child member we dont stand fer no trechery an if U
squeel we ll no it and we ll take it out on the kid mums the word if yer
want ter see the kid again c o d and fare deelin is our moto a word to the
wize is sufishent
yourze trooley a frend
The Colonel was completely unnerved by the horrible knowledge that
his little daughter was in the hands of desperate criminals。 Without delay
he wrote a note offering to pay the money demanded； agreeing to deliver it
at any spot they might name； and vowing to share his secret with no one。
Sealing the missive； he placed it carefully in his pocket； and drove out
along the river turnpike to a point about a quarter of a mile from the place
designated by the anonymous writer。 Tying his horse to a tree； he walked
through the woods； and hid the note under the stone mentioned in the letter。
It was after nightfall when he reached home； where he was met with the
heartrending and oft…repeated question；
‘‘Have you heard anything from Lily？''
Fearing to betray himself； even to his family； and thus perhaps
endanger the life of his child； he was compelled to answer； ‘‘No； not a
thing。'' With a heavy heart； he passed into his study。 Supper was
announced shortly after… ward； and as the family gathered about the table；
the father noticed that his son was not present。
‘‘Where is Gilbert？'' he inquired nervously。
‘‘Sandy was here and asked Gilbert to come over and spend the night
with him；'' answered Mrs。 Franklin。 ‘‘I hadn't the heart to refuse him； for I
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don't believe any one has worked harder to find our lost darling than
Sandy； and he seems to be the only one that can give Gilbert any
consolation。''
‘‘I think it's better that the boys stop searching；'' said the father。 ‘‘They
might get themselves into trouble； it's too dangerous。''
‘‘I don't believe you could stop those boys from hunting for Lillian； if
they had to go into the very jaws of death；'' interposed the grandmother。
‘‘Oh； well；'' spoke the father； ‘‘they must not wear themselves out； and
to… morrow； I will tell Gilbert and Sandy to leave the investigation to the
police。''
‘‘They'll never do it；'' objected the grandmother； ‘‘they love Lillian too
much。 You mark my words。''
At this very moment； Sandy； Leander； Gilbert and Dink were together；
in Sandy's little garret room。 Sandy closed the door carefully； locked it；
and called his companions about him in the middle of the room。
‘‘Boys；'' he whispered； ‘‘afore I sez anythin'； I wants yer to gimme yer
word； honor bright； an' cross yer heart three times； that yer won't spout a
syllable of what I tells yer to a soul。''
All were agreed； and the boy began：
‘‘Now； it's this 'ere way。 My boat wuz stolen an' left； right below the
upper bridge； an' I foun' footprints an' this 'ere piece of ribbon； which Gil
knows b'longed to his sister； for she wore it round her hair。 Willie Bagner's
skiff's bin stolen； an' I believe the party that took it hez got little Lily；
because I foun' the hoop I give her； an' this envellup in the same place； an'
it seems to me the galoot whose name's on it is hid somewhere up the river；
an' I'm goin' after him if I has to go alone。''
‘‘But you won't go alone； while I'm alive；'' insisted Leander； intensely
excited。
‘‘An' I'm goin'； too； even if I never come back；'' added Dink； taking it
for granted that he was needed。
‘‘And you must take me；'' said Gilbert imploringly。
The four boys grasped one another's hands； and Sandy declared in a
solemn tone：
‘‘We'll stick together to the bitter end。''
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