Page:Boys of Columbia High on the River.djvu/214

 CHAPTER XXII

LANKY LIFTS THE VEIL OF MYSTERY

", there, Lanky!"

The boy at the wheel of the racing launch looked quickly toward the head of the island. He must have seen and recognized the group, for he waved his hand.

"Come ashore! We want you to give us a tow home!" called Frank, making a trumpet of his cupped hands.

Another wave told that Lanky understood. Immediately the course of the Red Fox was changed, so that she began to circle around.

"What ails the fellow? Looks as if he'd been up against trouble!" said Paul.

"That's certainly a fact, for his face is smeared with patches of blood. I wonder"

"What?" demanded Paul, as his friend and chum stopped short.

"If he did it," remarked Frank, with a peculiar smile. Rh