rom danger with their new friend.

There was but one thing to do. She must return to Phyllis and Mollie,
and they must make up their minds to remain in their hiding place for a
little while longer. Madge hated to go back to the cave. She would
have liked to linger in the woods, hiding behind the trees until they
were able to leave the island. But she knew it would not be fair to
Phyllis and Mollie to leave them any longer in suspense. They would
think something had happened to her unless she returned to them at
once. The knowledge that she had not been seen made her feel more
cheerful. She was sure that she would yet outwit the brutal sailor,
Mike Muldoon, and carry Mollie safe to the shelter of their houseboat,
where Miss Jenny Ann, or perhaps Mrs. Curtis, would tell them how they
could continue to take care of the poor girl.

Unfortunately, Madge's gown was of some soft, white material and
altogether too conspicuous. She could be easily seen for some distance
as she ran along the shore, and in her anxiety to return to her friends
as soon as possible she did not look about her as carefully as she
should have done. Therefore she missed seeing the cruel face that
stared malignantly forth from the opening in the tent where Phil had
her first talk with Mollie. The man's whole body was carefully
concealed, and as Madge flitted by the tent his head disappeared from
sight.

The man in the tent had caught sight of Madge's white gown the moment
she stepped forth from the shelter of the woods. He had at once
understood the situation, but he did not stir until she started to
return to the cave. He knew that Madge had come down to see if she
could get the boat off the beach and into the water. It was evident
that the other girls must be hidden somewhere in the forest. There was
nothing to be gained by capturing Madge alone; he must wait until she
went back to her friends, then he could find out where Mollie was
concealed.

The boat on the shore and the disappearance of the two girls who had
visited him that morning told the whole story. Why had the two young
women concealed themselves unless they meant to guard the fugitive
Mollie?

When Madge started back through the woods the man followed her at a
safe distance. He did not wish her to know that he was following her,
for fear she would lead him off the trail, but he kept near enough to
know exactly where she was going.

She arrived, as she believed undisco