Jenny Ann were wholly unaware that
Phil had had anything to do with the deaf and dumb boy's peculiar
actions.

But Phil could stand it no longer. Suddenly she broke out: "Miss Jenny
Ann, Madge! I have a confession to make to you!"

Phil's face was red with embarrassment. "I gave Jeff a paper and pencil
to take to the man inside that house," she went on bravely. "I suppose
I ought not to have done it."

Miss Jenny Ann looked worried. "I am sorry, Phil," she answered
quietly.

Of course, Phil was more unhappy at her chaperon's quiet speech than
she would have been if Miss Jones had scolded her. Not once before, in
their two houseboat holidays, had Phil given their teacher and friend
any kind of trouble. It had been a point of honor with Phil to help
Miss Jenny Ann all she could. Now she had truly fallen from grace.

But Madge and Miss Jenny Ann were so interested in watching the boy on
the roof that they said nothing more. Jeff had slid down the roof, and
had twined his legs around the small brick chimney. He looked like a
monkey as he sat there staring out across the landscape, to see if by
any chance the men he feared could be returning. At last he rose to his
feet, leaned against the brick chimney and dropped the tail of his kite
straight down it. It had occurred to the boy that this chimney
connected with the prisoner's room, and that the kite string would
carry the paper and pencil down to him.

CHAPTER XIX

THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENS

The girls and their chaperon continued their staring. Jeff calmly
waited on the roof, with his kite held in his hand.

"I don't suppose there is any danger if the man inside the house simply
writes to tell us why he is imprisoned there," protested Madge, trying
to help the situation for her chum.

"I hope not," faltered Miss Jenny Ann, "but you know it is very
unfortunate for us to make enemies of the men whom we intend to ask to
help us by interfering with their prisoner. What possible business
have we with the misfortunes of this total stranger?"

"I know, Miss Jenny Ann," agreed Phil, "but if the man tells us who he
is, and why he is imprisoned in this place, we can tell his friends of
his sad fate after we get away from the island."

Jeff was seen drawing up the tail of his kite with excited jerks. He
slid off the roof and came hurrying toward the three women. He motioned
to Phil to come away with him to receive the message he had for her.
But Phil pointed to th