eadfully." Madge took
the note from her chaperon's limp hand. Then she dropped down on the
ground.

"Jimmy Lawton!" she muttered in confusion. "Is it the same young man we
met at Fortress Monroe? He simply can't be imprisoned on this
ridiculous out-of-the-world island with us!"

The three dazed women said nothing more for a few seconds. They gazed
stupidly ahead of them.

"What ought we to do?" asked Phil finally.

"Get Lieutenant Lawton out," answered Madge promptly.

"But, children, we shall be murdered if we make the attempt," faltered
Miss Jones.

"Not if we can manage to get Lieutenant Lawton out of that place before
his jailers return," declared Madge calmly.

Miss Jenny Ann Jones felt the situation slipping out of her fingers.
She was ardently anxious to help Jimmy Lawton, if it were possible to
aid him without bringing trouble on her girls. She felt suddenly drawn
toward Jimmy. Here was a friend on the deserted island. She felt a
curious intimacy and sympathy for him. She knew the young officer would
help them to make their escape if only he were free.

"How can we ever get into that house?" questioned Phil. "The front and
back doors are strengthened with heavy beams. We can't beat them down."

Madge shook her head. "Even if we make our way through one of those
doors, we would still not have found the prisoner. He must be locked in
an inside room."

The three young women sat in gloomy silence.

The gypsy woman peered out of her tent. The intruders seemed to be in
no mischief. She could safely leave her master to attend to them. Jeff,
the deaf and dumb boy, had taken up his position as guard outside the
front door of the house. He gave the impression of a sentry who had
never left his post.

Could any situation be more hopelessly difficult? Phyllis, Madge and
Miss Jenny Ann were within a few yards of their friend, whom they had
every disposition in the world to help out of his prison house. But how
were three girls, without a single tool of any kind, to break open a
house that had been strongly fortified with heavy beams to resist any
attack from the inside or outside.

"Phil," breathed Madge at last, "I believe I have thought of a scheme
to rescue Jimmy Lawton. You and Miss Jenny Ann may think it a perfectly
mad one. It is pretty daring, and Lieutenant Lawton will run the risk
of losing his life. But if he has the courage----"

"Lieutenant Lawton is a sailor. I don't believe he will be afraid o