"You girls had better go back," he said, "Ed and I will stay here to help Laurel."
"Oh, no, I must stay too. Perhaps in the morning we can take him away," insisted Cora.
Bess and Belle clung together. They had a fear of "the wild man"
and it had not yet been dispelled. Hazel tried to induce Laurel to go back to camp and allow her and Cora to care for the father, but of course such an appeal was useless. Laurel would not think of leaving the sick man. It was finally arranged that Cora and Jack should remain, and then reluctantly the others started off with the promise of returning very early the next morning.
"I have some things to eat," Laurel told them. "I thought poor father would like a change, and I got them when I was at the Point."
"Oh, you save them," Jack said. "We had a good supper, and will make out all right until morning. But now tell me where I can get you fresh water."
Cora knew, and she took the extra lantern and started off with her brother. They talked of many things as they stumbled on through the woods.
"There"s the spring. Look out! Don"t fall in. My isn"t that water clear even in the lantern light!" exclaimed Cora suddenly.
Jack filled the pail easily and then they turned back.
"But Jack," Cora began again, "you know there is some mystery about Mr. Starr. That must be his name, for Laurel signed hers so in the note she left."
"Whatever the mystery is, I feet certain it is nothing disgraceful,"
Jack a.s.sured her. "Very likely it was some plot to injure them, concocted by that fellow Jones."
The unfailing reason of this astonished Cora. How could Jack have guessed so near the facts?
"At any rate I think the poor man will be able to be moved in the morning," she finished, as they made their way up the hill. "It will be a wonderful thing if, after all, it comes out all right; that he is a free man, and that his slight injury may restore his scattered faculties."
"Let us hope so," said Jack fervently.
Cora wanted to tell him about the letter from Jones otherwise Brentano, but there was not time to do so before they reached the hut, so she reasoned it would be best to postpone it.
Laurel was sitting, holding her father"s injured head when they entered the hut. He was awake now, and looking with such great, hungry eyes into his daughter"s face.
"Now we have fresh water, father," she said. "Do you know my friends?"
"The girl, yes," he said "feebly. "But the boy?"
"Her brother," said Laurel quickly, delight showing in her voice.
"Isn"t it good to have friends, father?"
"Good, very good," he said. Then he dosed his eyes again, and neither Cora nor Jack ventured to speak.
"It does not seem possible that he can talk so rationally," Laurel whispered. "Oh, I have now such hopes that he will get well."
"Of course he will," Jack a.s.sured her. "But you girls had better get some rest. I will sit up and watch."
Cora added her entreaties to those of her brother, and Laurel finally agreed to throw herself down on the straw bed in the far corner of the hut. Cora found room at the other end of the same bed, and presently their young natures gave in to the urgent demands of rest. Jack sat alone watching the white faced man who tossed and turned, muttering incoherent words.
"I did not do it," he would say. "I never saw the note."
"There, you want a drink," said Jack kindly, pressing the tin cup to the trembling lips.
"But Breslin knows! Oh, if I could only find Breslin!"
"Breslin," Jack repeated, astonished.
"Yes, Brendon Breslin. He knows!"
"Brendon Breslin!" Jack said again. This was the name of the wealthy man for whom Paul Hastings ran the fast steam launch.
"Oh, my head!" moaned the man, closing his eyes in pain.
Jack realized that this remark about the millionaire might mean a sudden return of memory, and he resolved to test it further, even at the risk of giving the aching head more pain. For if the memory lapsed again it might never be awakened.
"What does Breslin know?" he asked, leaning very dose to the sick man.
To his surprise the hermit sat bolt upright. "He knows that I never forged the note. It was that sneaking office boy."
That was the story! This man had been made to believe he had forged a note. His exile on the island was because of the supposed crime!
"Of course he knows," Jack soothed. "And to-morrow he will come to see you."
But the sick man was either unconscious, or sleeping. He did not reply.
CHAPTER XXIV
THE UNEXPECTED
"I heard a boat," Cora whispered to Jack, as on the following morning, he rubbed his eyes endeavoring to put sight into them.
"Well, what of it?" he asked.
"It seemed to stop at this landing," replied the sister.
"The girls most likely," and he got to his feet. "How is the old gentleman?"
"Much stronger, and his mind, Laurel thinks, is clearing."
"I think so too. It is an outrage that he has been allowed to suffer here without help. That scoundrel Jones must have fixed this up."
"Did you sleep any, Jack dear?" Cora asked. "I"m afraid you had a lonely vigil."
"Oh, I got a wink or two, and my patient was no trouble. Is that Laurel talking to him?"
"Yes, she seems overjoyed that he can talk rationally to her. But listen Jack! There are voices."
Brother and sister hurried to the door. Strangers were approaching--two men.