AT LARGE

What was the girl doing out there in mid-lake in the company of her
enemy? Orme had seen her enter the house of her friends in Evanston; had
bidden her good-night with the understanding that she was to make no
further move in the game before the coming morning. She must have left
the house soon after he walked away.

Had she known all the time where the Japanese was? Had she hunted him out
to make terms with him? If that were the case, her action indicated a new
and unsuspected distrust of Orme himself. Her failure to call for help
when Orme and Porter came up in their launch seemed to show that her
presence in the other boat was voluntary. And yet Orme could not believe
that there was not some simple explanation which she would welcome the
first chance to make. He could not doubt her.

The immediate thing to do, however, was to find out just what she
desired. Suppressing his excitement, he called out:

"Girl!"

At the same time he turned the lantern so that his own face was
illuminated.

"Mr. Orme!" she cried, rising from her seat. "You here?"

"At your service."

He smiled, and turned his eyes for an instant on her companion. The face
of the Japanese was a study. His eyes were narrowed to thin slits, and
his mouth was formed into a meaningless grin.

Orme spoke to the Japanese in French. "Maku has confessed," he said. "He
is under arrest."

The face of the Japanese did not change.

"Do you understand?" asked Orme, still in French.

There was no answer, and Orme turned to the Girl and said, in French.

"I don't think he understands this language."

"Apparently not," she replied, in the same tongue.

"Tell me," he went on, "are you there of your own will?"

"No."

"Has he the papers?"

"I think so. I don't know."

"See if you can manage to get past him, and I will help you into our
boat."

"I'll try." She nodded, with a brave effort to show reassurance.

Orme frowned at the Japanese. "What are you doing with this young lady?"
he demanded.

"No understand."

"Yes, you do understand. You understood well enough when you robbed me
this evening."

"No understand," the Japanese repeated.

The girl, meantime, had moved slowly from her position. The two boats
were close together. Suddenly, after a swift glance from Orme, the girl
stepped to the gunwale and leaped across the gap. Orme reached forward
and caught her, drawing her for a brief instant close into his arms
before she foun