Would he ever again have so good a chance of recovering his father's property?
Besides, what a fine thing it would be for him to recapture the raft alone, without the aid of Billy Bracket! or any one else.

This latter thought decided the boy, and caused him to hastily retrace his steps.
Never had Winn been so excited! As he sprang aboard the raft and tried to cast off its fastenings he momentarily expected to hear a shout from the bank or a gruff demand from the interior of the "shanty" as to what he was about.

Perhaps the summons would take the form of a pistol-shot, for men who would steal a raft and destroy a thousand dollars' worth of wheat would not be likely to hesitate at anything.
At this last thought Winn seemed to feel the deadly sting of a bullet, and in his nervousness only made more intricate the knot he was trying to untie.

At length he whipped out his jack-knife and cut the rope.
Now to head the raft out into the stream.

He picked up a long set-pole, thrust one end into the bank, braced himself, and began to push.