into the lake with a
single stroke of the paddle, after which he glided up the lake, keeping
close in shore under the partial protection of the foliage. Fortunately
Jane had thrown herself down again immediately on seeing him, else he
might have caught sight of her. That he was a man experienced in the
woods, as well as on the water, was plain to be seen. She watched him
out of sight, then hurried back to the spot where she had met with
disaster and gave the crow signal. It was not much of a success. She
repeated it and did better. Jane called several times. Then she jumped
clear off the ground at the sound of a voice behind her.

"Jane McCarthy! What are you doing here?"

"Harriet!"

"Yes, it's I. But what on earth have you been doing?"

"Di--did you see the man?" gasped Jane.

"Wait a moment. I don't understand you. What is it about a man?"

"I--I was in the tree there when the boys came back. I heard them coming
and climbed the tree to hide."

"I was doing the same thing."

"I--I fell out of the tree--"

"Gracious! They didn't discover you, did they? I heard them shouting and
running, and wondered what they had discovered."

"No. I dived into those bushes and lay down. Just then a man appeared.
He looked to me like an Indian. He is a dangerous man, Harriet. When the
boys came up and found him standing here you ought to have seen the
expressions on their faces. Oh, it was funny."

"Which way did he go?" questioned Harriet eagerly. She was not laughing
now. Another idea had occurred to her.

"Down to the lake. I followed him and saw him get into his canoe and
paddle away."

"A canoe, did you say?"

"Yes. It was an old thing, but, my goodness, how it could go! And the
man paddled without making a sound. I never saw any one handle a canoe
like that."

Harriet gazed at her companion, the lines of her face contracting.

"Jane," she said, "I saw that man myself. It was the night I rowed out
to see who was making camp near us. He shot out ahead of me in his canoe
and disappeared. I must have disturbed him."

"But who--what?" gasped Jane.

"I believe he is the man who has been following us and trying to drive
us away. I can't think of any other reason for his acting as he has. He
undoubtedly knows that we are somewhere about, and has been looking for
us just as the boys themselves have been doing."

"Good gracious," muttered Crazy Jane. "I'm sorry I didn't stay on the
boat."

"And I am glad you did