as a lively possibility that she might fail to take the tide into
consideration.

At last Madge decided to end the suspense.

She knew their skiff would float from the shore of Fisherman's Island
several hours before full tide. They had tried to make their escape at
the moment when the tide was almost at its lowest ebb. The tide had
been high that morning. It was nearly two o'clock in the afternoon
when they had attempted to leave the island. She now believed it to be
almost five o'clock. At least, it was time to reconnoitre. She put
her ear close to the ground. She could hear no sound of any one
approaching.

"Phil," she whispered, "will you and Mollie please wait here for me. I
am going down to the water to see if it is possible to get the boat
off. It must be very late. Remember, high tide is at eight o'clock
to-night. We ought to be able to pull away from here between five and
six o'clock. When I come back to tell you how things are we can make a
run for it to the beach, and perhaps get a fair start before we are
seen."

"Let me go with you," insisted Phil, as anxious as her chum to get out
of their close quarters.

"I don't think we ought to leave Mollie alone," demurred Madge. "But,
if you think best, you may go and I will stay here."

Mollie's terror at Phyllis's suggestion of deserting her was too much
for tender-hearted Phil. "No, I won't leave you," she said gently,
taking Mollie's hand in hers. "You had better run along, Madge. I'll
stay here. But, for goodness' sake, do be careful. If anything
happens to you, Mollie and I will starve in this cave like Babes in the
Woods, if you don't come back to find us."

Madge crawled cautiously out of the hole. Her muscles were so stiff
that she rose to her feet with difficulty. But she soon started off
through the narrow path between the trees, making as little noise as
she possibly could. Her way through the grove of trees covered the
greater part of the distance to the shore. But there was still a
stretch of open beach, where she feared she would be discovered. When
she came to the shelter of the last tree she stopped and peered
cautiously up and down the line of the shore. As far as she could see
the beach was empty. And, surely enough, the tide was coming in. Tiny
waves touched the prow of the "Water Witch." It was true the water was
not yet deep enough to float their boat, but in less than an hour they
might be able to row away f