es, reproachfully. "I expected you an hour
earlier. But then better late than, never! Ah, I see both of them are
with you! Silas Weeks will be very glad to see you two, I have no
doubt!"

He spoke then to Bessie and Zara, who, terrified by his sodden
appearance, were staring at him.

"Mr. Trenwith!" said Eleanor, sharply. "You know who this man is, do you
not? And what our feelings are concerning him? Are you going to let him
stay here?"

"He has no choice, Miss Mercer. Better not ask him too many questions
about how you happened to break down right off my island; he would have
a hard time convincing you with any story he told. Eh, Trenwith?"

"Shut up!" growled Trenwith. "What does all this nonsense mean? Get off
my boat!"

"Oh, are you trying to make them believe you didn't know about this? I
beg your pardon, Trenwith, I really do! Of course, Miss Mercer, he knows
as well as I do that I am within my rights. You are now in a state where
certain court orders applying to Bessie King and her little friend Zara
ate valid--and, knowing that these two girls, who have run away from the
courts of this state, are here, I have taken steps to see that they are
taken into court. I am a law abiding citizen--I do not like to see the
law insulted."

Eleanor was dazed by the suddenness of the blow. To her it seemed an
accident; she could not believe that Trenwith could be guilty of such
treachery as Holmes was charging. But in a moment her faith in him was
shattered.

"I'd like to help out your pose, Trenwith," Holmes said to him. "But I
need you, so you'll have to come off your perch. You'll have to come
ashore with the others, in case you should change your mind. I only want
two of these girls, but the others will have to come, too, of course,
because if they got away they might make trouble. You shall be perfectly
comfortable, Miss Mercer, however."

The look in Trenwith's eyes, and the sheepish, hangdog expression of his
whole face made Eleanor gasp. So he had betrayed them! After all,
despite his fine talk, he had been tempted by the money that Holmes
seemed prepared to spend so lavishly! And he had led Bessie and Zara
right into a trap--a merciless trap, as she knew, from which escape
would be most difficult, if not utterly impossible.

And in a moment the lingering remnants of her faith were shattered. For
Holmes called out, in a loud tone, at Bates:

"Bates!" he cried. "Come aboard and start that engine! Then you