More time had elapsed than Bert had thought, but he was thankful for the approach of darkness; being now only feverishly anxious to have the whole thing over with as quickly as possible.
He could see nothing of Tom Chill, so he slipped cautiously down along the river until he was near the place where he had had his perilous adventure that morning. There he crouched down to watch, and await the coming of nightfall.
He could not see Lucy from where he was, but he felt sure that he could see any one who happened around in her direction, so if she needed protection he could get there. And that was as close to her as he wanted to be.
The tedious period of waiting passed at last, and he went back up the river to where he had left Lucy. The girl was still there, and she came toward him eagerly
