"Oh, dear, what shall we do?" wailed Zu-zu, beginning to be dismal from the mist and the shadows, and the suspicion that everybody but them was going to supper.
"We'll yell like everything, and attract some one's attention on the other side," proposed Ned.
"I'd swim and get a boat, if the water wasn't so cold," said Tom.
"Don't try, Tom. You'd get a cramp," begged Zu-zu.
The boys shouted, and Zu-zu screamed, and all waved their handkerchiefs, while Bob raised his head in astonishment. Presently Tom panted:
"Somebody's putting out in a boat, all right enough. Keep it up."
From the mainland opposite, where lights were beginning to twinkle, a boat, barely seen against the dark shore-line, was starting out into the slough. They heard the rattle of the oars dropping into the oar-locks.
And they did, until it was plain that the boat was making for them.
"It's the _Black Swan_!" whispered Zu-zu, excitedly, as the craft neared.
"But it is, it is!" insisted Zu-zu. "I know it is!"
And as it glided up through the muddy shallows at their feet they saw that the _Black Swan_ it was. The rower stood up, and turned to face them. He was Big Mike!
"Want to go across?" asked Big Mike, with a grin.
"Yes--that is, we've lost our boat," stammered Ned, awkwardly.
"Get in; I'll take you," offered the South Beauforter.
Zu-zu was too flabber-gasted by the sudden presence of this arch ogre to say a word.
They marched in. Bob followed, with a dash to get past his enemy in safety.
"Was it you folks that took this boat? I found her up Catfish a little ways," queried Big Mike, pushing off.
"Well--yes. You see, it was unlocked, and we didn't know it belonged to anybody especial, and we wanted to get across," explained Ned.
"It didn't make no difference," said Big Mike. "If I'd knowed who had it I wouldn't have cared. Only, I thought some of them Dutch on the island had got it. They're all the time doin' that."
"Naw; she rows easy after she gets started," grunted Big Mike.
"It's an awful nice boat. Did you name it?" piped Zu-zu, timidly, hoping to please their dreadful host. Who knows--he might be planning to dump them in the slough, and drown them!
Big Mike wriggled uneasily, evidently flattered.
"Naw; she was named before I got her," he answered. "She ain't very pretty, but she's good enough for 'round here."