Godfrey was sure of it, for he had heard him whistle as nobody in the world except Don Gordon could whistle.

As soon as Clarence recovered from his amazement and terror, he mounted Don's pony and set out for the potato-cellar to see for himself.

When he reached it, he found that the prisoner had already been liberated by somebody (it was Bert, who was guided to his place of confinement by Don's loud and continued whistling) and was no doubt on the way home by that time.

What was Clarence to do?
Of course he could not go back to the plantation and face his relatives after what he had done, and there was no other house in the settlement open to him.

Just then he heard the whistle of a steamer coming up the river, and that settled the matter for him.