Tom had certainly been severely hurt. There was a swelling on the
back of his head almost as large as a hen's egg.

"You've lost the watch, Luke," said Frank Acken. "Randolph has got
in first."

"Yes, I supposed he would," answered Luke, quietly.

"And there is Linton Tomkins coming to meet us on Randolph's skates."

"Randolph is sitting down on a log taking it easy. What is your
loss, Luke, is his gain."

"Yes."

"I think he might have come back to inquire after you, Tom, as you
are a friend of his."

Tom looked resentfully at Randolph, and marked his complacent look,
and it occurred to him also that the friend he had risked so much
to serve was very ungrateful. But he hoped now, at any rate, to get
the watch, and thought it prudent to say nothing.

The boys had now reached the shore.

"Hope you're not much hurt, Tom?" said Randolph, in a tone of
mild interest.

"I don't know but my skull is fractured," responded Tom, bitterly.