Often Briant had thought of exploring the district on the east of Family Lake. Donagan, Baxter, and Wilcox would have been only too glad to go with him. But to run the risk of falling into Walston' s power, and thereby discover to him how little formidable were the adversaries with whom he had to do, would have had the most serious consequences. And so Gordon, whose advice was always listened to, persuaded Briant not to venture into Beech Forest.
Kate then made a proposition, which would avoid this danger of discovery. One evening, when all the boys were united in the hall, she asked Briant if he would allow her to leave them in the morning.
"Leave us, Kate!" said Briant.
"Yes! You cannot remain much longer in this uncertainty as to whether Walston is still on the island, and I volunteer to go to the place where the storm left me, and find out if the boat is still there. If it is there, Walston has not gone away; if it is not there you need have no further fear of him."
"That," said Donagan, "is what Briant and Baxter and Wilcox and I proposed to do ourselves."
"True, Mr. Donagan," said Kate. "But what is dangerous for you has no danger for me."
"But Kate," said Gordon, "if you fall into Walston's hands—"
"Well," interrupted Kate, "I shall be where I was before I ran away. That is all!"
"And if this rascal makes away with you, as he very likely will?" asked Briant.
"I escaped before, and why should I not escape again, particularly as I now know the road to French Den ? And if I could get away with Mr. Evans — after telling him all about you — think what a help he would be to you!"
"If Evans had a chance of escape," said Donagan, "would he not have gone already? Is there not every reason for his trying to save himself?"
"Donagan is right," said Gordon. "Evans knows
