Part 20 (1/2)

CHAPTER XXI

OFF ON A SEA TRAIL

As minutes and then hours elapsed and Rob did not return, Merritt became first anxious, and then seriously alar nature, and had a keen fear that itreckless

It was alth deterreaves By the ti, and in the caing out cheerily The first of the Scouts to note Merritt's return was Donald Grant

He ca toward him, and then stopped short as he noted the other's drawn, tired face

”Why, what in the world's the asped out

”You look as if you'd been drawn through a knothole Where's Rob? Where have you been all night?”

”I'll explain that later,” said Merritt wearily; ”just now I've got to find Ensign Hargreaves Rob's either been kidnapped or lost”

He hastened on, leaving the other lad rooted to the spot with ah already to realize that the other was not the sort of lad to overrate a situation If Merritt was as scared and weary as he looked, so serious indeed must have taken place

In the reaves' tent Hastily arousing him, he hurriedly explained the whole matter The officer was out of his cot in an instant

”You had no business to go off alone like that without notifying me,”

he exclaimed rather sharply ”Don't you know that the first duty of a soldier, a sailor or a scout is to obey orders?”

Merritt criht

”We thought ere doing a good thing,” he said, ”but I kno that we did wrong in not notifying you”

The ensign's hand fell on the lad's shoulder Then kindly enough he said:

”Well, acknowledging that you did wrong is a , my boy, and we'll say noand we'll set about searching for him at once There's little doubt in nals flying”

”But how could he get there unless he had an airshi+p?” inquired Merritt

”Hasn't it occurred to you that he ht have hidden in the boat while the men were out of it?”

”Gracious! In that case he may be their prisoner by this time!”

”I aet after the rascals at once”

By the tin was dressed, Mr Barr was also attired, and the two ian a discussion of plans for the rescue of Rob But first the ensign wanted to know about Barton