his confidence. "And we didn't tell; did we, girls."

"No!" came in a chorus. In spite of the rather unprepossessing
appearance of the youth the girls were glad to see him.

"Now will you help us again?" asked Mollie. "We've had a dreadful time,
and we need help. You won't go away; will you?"

"N--no!" was the hesitating answer. "I came to look for you, but I
wasn't sure--you see I have to be so careful."

"Gracious, I wonder if he thinks we wanted to capture him?" thought
Grace, feeling about amid the cushions for some chocolates. That was a
sure sign Grace had recovered her equanimity.

"You came to look for us?" echoed Betty, wonderingly.

"Yes, miss," was the answer. "He sent me to find you."

"He? Who do you mean?" Betty questioned anxiously.

"Tom--Tom Osborne. He told me to come here and tell you he couldn't
come."

"Couldn't come--why?" Betty's voice had a note of fear in it now.

"'Cause they've caught him. He's cotched, Miss."

"Caught? By whom?" It was Mollie who questioned now.

Before answering The Loon, which name seemed to fit the poor creature
well, glided forward, glancing back nervously over his shoulder now and
then, as though he feared pursuit.

"Oh dear!" murmured Grace. "I don't like this. It's worse than the ghost
of the island."

"Be quiet," urged Betty. "It may be all right yet. I'm going to light
more lamps."

Thus far she had only set aglow one in the after cockpit, and the red
and green side lights, together with the one on the small signal mast.
Now she flooded the cabin with radiance, for it was getting more and
more gloomy in the forest clearing.

"Won't you come aboard?" urged Betty kindly. "We will do all we can for
Tom Osborne if he is in trouble. We can't understand why he deserted us.
We have been in much distress, we got lost and had to come back. Come
aboard and tell us all about it so we will know what to do. Perhaps you
are hungry. We left food there," and she indicated it. "Bring it here,
and then perhaps you can take us back to the bungalow. The men there
will organize a searching party if need be. But tell us who has caught
Tom."

The Loon did not answer for a minute. He looked to where Betty pointed,
saw the packet of food and went toward it eagerly. Then he brought it to
the moored boat.

"I am hungry," he said simply.

"Then eat first, and talk later," urged Mollie. "I know what it is to be
hungry."

"I'll admit I'm hungry now," said Grace. "We le