“We’ve passed them; there’s no doubt of that,” he said, peering into the dark.

“Maybe they’re just out for fun and have turned back,” suggested Sylvia.

“I wish I could think so.  More likely they’re trying to throw us off.  Let’s check up for a moment and see if we hear them again.”

He kept the canoe moving slowly while they listened for some sign of the lost quarry.  Then suddenly they heard a paddle stroke behind them, and an instant later a canoe’s bow brushed their craft as lightly as a hand passing across paper.  Dan threw himself forward and grasped the sides firmly; there was a splashing and wobbling as he arrested the flight.  A canoe is at once the most docile and the most intractable of argosies.  Sylvia churned the water with her paddle, seeking to crowd the rocking canoes closer together, while Marian endeavored to drive them apart.

“Allen!” panted Dan, prone on the bottom of his canoe and gripping the thwarts of the rebellious craft beside him, “this must end here.”

“Let us go!” cried Allen stridently.  “This is none of your business.  Let us go, I say.”

Finding it impossible to free her canoe, Marian threw down her paddle angrily.  They were all breathless; Dan waited till the canoes rode together quietly.  Sylvia had brought an electric lamp which Dan now flashed the length of the captive canoe.  It searched the anxious, angry faces of the runaways, and disclosed two suit cases that told their own story.

“I told you to keep away from here, Allen.  You can’t do this.  It won’t do,” said Dan, snapping off the light; “you’re going home with us, Marian.”

“I won’t go back; you haven’t any right to stop me!”

“You haven’t any right to run away in this fashion,” said Sylvia, speaking for the first time.  “You would cause endless trouble.  It’s not the way to do it.”

“But it’s the only way out,” stormed Allen.  “There’s no other way.  Dan told me himself I couldn’t speak to Mr. Bassett, and this is the only thing we could do.”

“Will you kindly tell me just what you intended doing?” asked Dan, still gripping the canoe.

“I’d spoken to the minister here in the village.  Marian was going to spend the night at his house and we were to be married in the morning as soon as I could get a license.”

“You can’t get a marriage license in Waupegan; your minister ought to know that.”

“No; but we could have driven over early to the county seat and got it; I tell you I had it all fixed.  You let go of that canoe!”

“Stand by, Sylvia,” said Dan with determination.

He steadied himself a moment, stepped into Marian’s canoe, and caught up her paddle.

“Wait here, Sylvia.  I’m going to land Allen over there at that dock with the two white lights, and I’ll come back with Marian and we’ll take her home.  Flash the light occasionally so I shan’t lose you.”