"Don't be an idiot, Larry," rebuked If Billy Gordon. "Don't you know what that was?"
"Yes. I told you," whispered the red-headed boy.
"Pshaw! It was only a cat bird," scoffed George Baker. "Who's afraid of spooks, anyway? The fact is that those girls have outwitted us three times. We have lost the wager. Now the question is, when did they get away?"
Larry declared that he had never removed his gaze from the anchor light during his whole watch, except when he went to get wood for the campfire.
"There's only one way out of it," decided Billy. "Duck the two of them. We will be certain to get the right party then."
"'Nuff said," nodded George. The boys grabbed the two lads, and, despite their struggles, managed to throw them into the lake, but in doing so, George and Billy found themselves in the water, also.
This little experience put them in a better frame of mind. The lads quickly divested themselves of their wet pajamas and put on their clothes. Breakfast was a hurried meal that morning. After breakfast they sat down to take counsel among themselves while Sam scraped the dishes then threw them in the lake to be washed by the lake itself. They decided that either Larry or Sam must have fallen asleep, and that at a time when the girls had moved from their anchorage.
Both lads protested that nothing of the kind had happened. Sam stuck to his story that the anchor light had faded away and that the "Red Rover" had disappeared all in the same moment.
"What are we going to do about it?" questioned Larry Goheen.
"We are going to take up a collection for that camera, and then we are going to find them," answered Billy.
"We are going to try, you mean," answered George with a mirthless smile. "We have tried before—and failed, and now we are obliged to confess that we are beaten for good and all. However let us reason this thing out. The 'Red Rover' couldn't have disappeared, it could have gone only by being towed away. If a launch had towed it, the noise would have awakened us, even though Larry or Sam had been asleep. If the houseboat was towed by the girls, which it undoubtedly was, it can't be far away. That makes our work easier."
"There is only one flaw in your argument, George," interrupted Billy Gordon. "Granting that they did row away from here, how do you know that at daylight they did not pick up a launch and hike half the length of the lake?"
George shook his head slowly.
"There wouldn't be any fun for them in that. They would want to be on hand, to make faces at us behind our backs."
"You may be right at that." Billy gazed reflectively over the lake. As he gazed his eyes took on an expression of new interest. "What's that out there, fellows?" he demanded.
It was some seconds before they discovered that which had attracted his attention. Then when they did so, they were unable to decide what it was. They were certain that the object had not been there the night before.
"That's right where the 'Red Rover' lay," cried Larry Goheen. "Maybe they have sunk."
The boys with one accord ran for the rowboat. They shoved it off, leaped in and began rowing at top speed toward the object that had attracted their attention. Larry began to grin long before they reached the spot. They finally pulled up alongside the object and stopped.
The boys regarded it solemnly, then looked into each other's eyes. There followed a shout of laughter.
The object that had been discovered by them was a stick, which had been thrust down into the soft bottom in shallow water. A lantern had been tied to the top of the stick. It was this lantern, at the end of a stick, that Larry Goheen had been watching all night, believing it to be the anchor light of the "Red Rover." It was plain that the girls had known that they were to be watched, and that they had taken the easiest possible way to outwit their friends, by placing the anchor light on a stick and leaving it at the anchorage while the "Red Rover" slipped away unobserved under cover of the darkness.
"Stung!" groaned Sam.
"Worse than that," answered George. "There aren't any words in the language to express what we'd like to say. Wait till I get the lantern." The lantern was still burning and the chimney was considerably smoked. George took it aboard and blew out the light. "You didn't see it go out after all, Sam."
"I—I thought I did."
"I wonder when they left?" mused Billy.
"Larry, what have you to say about that?" demanded George Baker.
"Absolutely nothing."
"They went away during your watch."
"You can't blame him," answered Sam. "Anybody would have been fooled under the circumstances."
"Don't try to make lame excuses," jeered Billy. "Be a man and own up. They outwitted you, and that's all there is about it. Now, what are we going to do?"
"Get out the launch and go on a hunt for them," declared George. "Any one got a better plan?"
No one had. They had no plans at all, but were too dazed by this last trick that had been played on them to be able to think at all clearly. They reached the shore and George stepped out. His foot had no more than touched the ground before that same wailing cry rang in their ears again.
"I tell you it's a banshee," cried Larry, his shock of red hair fairly standing on end.
"We will attend to the ghosts after we have found the 'Red Rover'," answered George. His face had paled slightly at the sound, and he admitted to himself that he felt creepy. He was glad that they were going away from their camp for a time. It was evident that whatever the noise might be, it was intended to express disapproval of their presence on the island. George remembered what Harriet Burrell had said about ghosts on the previous evening. He had laughed at it at the time. He did not laugh now. He was thinking and thinking seriously.
No further cries were heard that morning. The boys put out their campfire and set the camp to rights, Billy in the meantime being engaged in cleaning and oiling his motor preparatory to the morning run around the island and along the shore of the mainland.
It was not exactly a joyous party that set out in the launch half an hour later. They were chagrined at losing the contest and disgusted that they should have fallen such easy victims to the ingenious schemes of the girls.
"Do you know, I have been thinking," spoke up Larry after they had started.
"That's something new," jeered Sam.
"I have been wondering if all the strange things that have occurred to the girls haven't been part of a plan to keep us stirred up."
"Larry, I'm ashamed of you," exclaimed George indignantly. "Those girls may be full of mischief, but they don't tell lies. They told us the truth, about their mysterious enemy, and I don't want to hear any boy intimate that they haven't. He and I will have a falling out right on the spot, if he does."
"I apologize. I—I guess I didn't mean it that way," stammered Larry.
"They are too clever for us, that's all there is to it," added George. "Run into that cove, please, Billy. There is something that looks like a red boat in there."
The something proved to be a small boathouse painted red. It did resemble the "Red Rover" somewhat. They headed out of the cove, saying little, but keeping up a lively thinking. The launch was run up the shore of the mainland for several miles.
"Shall I turn back?" asked Billy.
"You might as well," nodded George. "I would suggest that we circle the island once more. Shut down as low as you can. We must keep a sharp lookout. There may be some way of getting a boat out of sight. I am positive that they are about here somewhere."
The encircling of the island was attended with no better results. Not a trace of either Meadow-Brook Girls or "Red Rover" was discovered. Disgusted and disappointed the boys headed the launch toward home.
"I'll tell you what we will do," declared George as they were landing. "We will spread out and search the island. I can't get the idea out of my mind that they are not far away."
"But what would they do with their boat? It isn't anywhere in the lake about here, and surely they couldn't drag it ashore," objected Billy.
"I don't know. I am beginning to think those girls can do almost anything they set out to do. They are a clever lot. I never knew them to start anything yet that they didn't go through with, usually ending up by giving us the worst of it."
Sam hopped ashore first and ran up to the tent. He peered in, then uttered a yell.
"Somebody's been here," he cried. "Wow!"
The boys hurried up to the tent. The interior was in confusion. The contents of the tent had been piled in a great heap in the middle of the floor. A suit of khaki had been draped over sticks and leaned against the side of the tent, looking like a live man at first glance. Outside an oven had been constructed of rocks, and a fire put under it. On a flat stone the coffee pot stood ready. The table had been set, the potatoes pared and sliced ready for frying, in fact everything was ready for the noon meal with the exception of the cooking.
The boys looked at each other then burst out laughing.
"We've had company," grinned George.
"I wish they would come every day," added Larry. "They have sense whoever they are, even if they turn our tent topsy-turvy. But wait. We've got those girls now. We know they are somewhere about, and we'll find them if it takes all day and all night to do it."
"Hello! What's this?"
Larry, stooping over, picked up a piece of filmy linen.
"A handkerchief, isn't it?" asked Sam.
"Let me see that, please," demanded George Baker. Larry handed it to him. "It's a girl's handkerchief, boys. And here are two initials in one corner. Hello! 'H.B.' What does that stand for?"
"It stands for 'Have Been'," declared Larry. "Meaning that they have been here. But they needn't have told us. We know that."
"Yes; they've been here," replied George promptly. "Those initials stand for 'Harriet Burrell.' They mean that the Meadow-Brook Girls have been here and turned our tent upside down. But they made amends by getting our noon meal started. I suppose we had better forgive them. What do you say, fellows?"
"Of course," nodded Billy. The others agreed.
"Miss Burrell, having no card, left her handkerchief. But fellows, while we are fussing around here, they may be getting away again. This may be another of their tricks," declared George. "I would suggest, Billy, that you eat your luncheon at once, then run out the launch and keep sailing around to head them off in case they are running away."
To this proposition, Billy demurred. He did not fancy going away by himself.
"I'll tell you what I'll do," he proposed. "I'll eat luncheon with you first. They can't get far away before I get out, and even if they did I should overhaul them. You know that old scow can be seen for miles."
"I notice we weren't able to see it a few rods from us," observed George dryly. "All right. Start the potatoes to frying. Did they hide the ham?"
"They didn't find it. It's in the spring back there," answered Sam. "I looked."
The luncheon was prepared in a hurry and the boys ate ravenously. The excitement of the morning had not interfered with their appetites.
"Now, Billy, if you see anything, blow your motor horn and keep it going until we hear it. Some of us will hear you. I propose that we spread out so as to cover the island, but still keeping within yelling distance of each other. We know now that the girls are on this island."
"Well find them." Billy walked slowly down to his launch, got in, and reversing the engine, backed out, waving an indolent hand at his companions.
Suddenly a weird scream rang out on the still air.
"Run for it, boys. That way," cried George, pointing excitedly.
"No! It's the other way," shouted Sam.
"You're both wrong. It's toward the other side of the island," declared Larry.
"Now look here, fellows. We are all of us wrong. If we are going to accomplish anything we must stop fooling and go at this business scientifically. I will take this side of the island. Sam, you and two of the fellows take the middle, and Larry the other side, keeping within sight of the shore. We will search every inch of it, though I don't believe we can finish the job before night."
"We had better take our lanterns with us, or we shall break our precious necks," suggested Sam.
"Yes. We will do that. Larry, when you catch sight of Billy on the other side, beckon him in and tell him we may not be back until late this evening, and for him to keep circling the island until he finds us back in camp again. Better take some grub along. We can stand it to eat a cold supper for once. We will have a warm one when we get back."
After having made their preparations the boys started out, all the others waiting until Larry got a good start, Sam's party starting next, George Baker leaving the camp last. In that way they planned to keep pretty nearly abreast.
About this time Crazy Jane McCarthy, face flushed, hair down, her skirt torn in several places, might have been seen fleeing along the shore of the island, running away from the Tramp Club's camp and toward their own secret nook, where the "Red Rover" was lying calmly at anchor in the half cave that had furnished a hiding place for the girls before.
She came tearing through the bushes nearly falling into the lower end of the stream.
"They're coming!" she shouted. "Get to cover!"
"Sh-h-h!" warned Hazel, who sat awaiting Jane, in the rowboat. "I hear a motor boat outside. I think it is the boys' boat."
"I tell you they are on their way to search the island," answered Jane.
"All of them?"
"All but Billy Gordon. He has gone off in the launch to keep an eye on the shore."
"Then that is his boat out there. Get in here. I am worried that Harriet is still out."
Just then a soft "hoo-e-e-e" from the bushes on the opposite side of the stream, told them that Harriet Burrell had returned. She had been out on a scouting expedition. Hazel rowed over to the other side of the creek. Harriet jumped aboard. Jane, in excited whispers, told her that the boys were coming and that Billy was out in the launch.
"I know. I saw him just a few moments ago. What are their plans?"
Crazy Jane explained what she had been able to hear when she was observing the Tramp Club's camp. She had seen Larry pick up Harriet's handkerchief, though she was not aware that it was Harriet's.
"That is where I lost it, is it?" laughed Harriet. "It is all right. That will encourage them. If they go on beyond here they will find other evidences that will lead them still further on. You see I wanted to get them as far away from home as possible so as to keep them out after dark."
Hazel manipulated the rowboat until they were in the deep shadows of the rocks, after which they climbed aboard the "Red Rover." Harriet explained her plans to her companions and directed them to keep as quiet as possible in case any of the searchers should come that way. The girls had pulled the houseboat into the secret retreat on the previous night. They had kept a watchful eye on the boys all the morning, to see what they were planning to do, and Jane had given the lads the creeps by uttering wild, weird cries in the depths of the forest.
Harriet and Jane cooked themselves something to eat. They had been out for a long time and were hungry. Their companions and guardian were sitting about chatting with them. Miss Elting was of the opinion that they were much better off in their hiding place than at an anchorage out in the lake, always provided that their enemy did not find them out. Harriet agreed with her, but thought they would be in a serious situation if their unknown enemy were to find them. He had shown evidences of keenness that made the finding of the "Red Rover" appear to be a simple task for him. That he would annoy them further, the girls were positive; that he already had located them was more than possible.
Splash!
Their conversation was suddenly checked. A stone had dropped but a few feet from the rear end of the "Red Rover," falling into the creek. Harriet laid a finger on her lips. Tommy had started to speak, but checked herself in time. Harriet and Jane crept to the door of the houseboat and peered out. As they did so a second splash startled them. This time they saw the stone. It was a good-sized rock. It fell some feet below the rear end of the "Red Rover." Some one was sounding the thick growth there. Who it was, they discovered a moment later.
"There's water down there, but it's shallow. I can tell by the splash," announced a voice above them.
"It's George," whispered Jane.
"I'll take a look along the shore on my way back. There may be an inlet that we haven't seen," continued George Baker, talking to himself.
Jane gripped an arm of her companion.
"If he does, we shall be discovered," she whispered.
"Never mind. We will have scared them off long before then. He will strike the trail I left for them, before long, if he keeps straight on. That will mean that he will go right on and that he will call to the others to join him when it begins to get dark. You know the island begins to narrow a short distance beyond here. Won't it be funny to see them following that trail? And what a surprise they will get before they have finished with this day's work." Harriet chuckled. She had been whispering. She paused suddenly as a pebble rattled down within a foot of the stern of the "Red Rover."
"They're getting rather close," whispered Jane.
"Captain Baker kicked that pebble down. He is going away. Do you hear him?" George was whistling to himself as he tramped away toward the other end of the island. They heard him call to his companions shortly after that and shout some directions to them. Then nothing more was heard from the boys for the rest of the afternoon.
The girls discussed the situation with Miss Elting. The guardian decided that all the girls save one should remain on board the scow. One, she agreed, might go out to reconnoitre. If the boys returned before dark it would be well to know about it. Their further plans depended upon the immediate actions of the Tramp Club. Harriet was the one who was chosen to keep watch of their rivals.
She began at once to make her preparations, tying her hair in a tight knot on top of her head and drawing a waterproof bathing cap over all.
"I am going to protect my hair," she smiled in answer to the unspoken question in the eyes of her companion. "Those bushes pull out a few strands every time I go scouting among them. I'll imitate the sound that a crow makes if I see them coming back," she added. "No one must go out in the meantime. All we can do is to keep quiet and wait. We've already won the camera. We will have our fun when night comes, however, and if we don't give those boys the fright of their lives I shall be keenly disappointed."
"Which way shall you come back?" asked Jane.
"The way we came in. Don't have the boat wait for me down there. If I have to come back in a hurry I will wade. Meadow-Brook Girls aren't afraid of the water, you know."
"We know," answered Miss Elting, smiling, "but be careful that you don't fall and hurt yourself. Good-bye. I will have the sheets and other things ready by the time you return. We have the poles here. I do hope we get an opportunity to use the stuff now that we have been at so much pains to get it ready. You see, I am just as anxious to play this trick as the rest of you girls."
Harriet laughed merrily at the prospect of the coming fun, then stepped out into the rowboat that Hazel had pulled close to the stern of the houseboat. A few moments later Hazel left her companion on the west bank at the lower end of the little stream. Harriet slipped away through the bushes almost noiselessly. If everything worked smoothly the Tramp Club were to receive an overwhelming surprise.
Two hours later the Meadow-Brook Girls were startled to hear a voice directly over their heads call:
"Girls, girls."
"Who is it?" asked Miss Elting cautiously.
"It's I. I'm up here, right where we heard George Baker talking this morning."
"You nearly thcared me to death!" gasped Tommy.
"Speak more quietly, please," warned Harriet. "Jane, I wish you would come up here. No; I'm not going to take you far. I want you within reach of the boat."
"Do you see anything of the boys, Harriet?" asked Miss Elting.
"No, but I hear them occasionally. They are quite a distance ahead, traveling fast, and ought to be back long before dark."
Jane lost no time in hurrying to the lower end of the creek in order to join her friend. Harriet lay on the rocks, at a point where she could not see the water, and there Jane joined her.
"What I want you to do," Harriet explained in whispers, at the same time on the alert for sound or sign of the boys, "is to stay here, or not far from here, so that you can warn the girls in case I signal by making a cawing noise like a crow. I don't want the girls to make too much noise, for it would spoil our fun if the boys should discover our hiding place."
"But how am I going to get back if I have to do so in a hurry?"
"Can you go down a rope?"
"Show me the rope that I can't go down," boasted Jane.
"How about this one?" smiled Harriet, producing a coil of quarter inch manila rope.
"Well, it's small, but I'll try it. Where do you wish me to climb?"
"I'll show you. Take hold of my feet and don't you dare let go. I surely shall break my neck if you do." Harriet crawled over the edge, Jane grasping her by the ankles to prevent her from falling. Then Harriet tied one end of the rope to a root of a tree that stood on the brink. "Look out below!" she warned, at the same time dropping the coil through the foliage and shaking the rope until the coil finally dropped into the stream. "Please draw the rope up to the boat," she called. "That's it. Now pull me back, Jane."
Jane McCarthy did so with some assistance from Harriet, who clawed at the roots of the tree and pushed with her hands until she finally got to the top once more. Reaching there she got up and surveyed the work with approval.
"Can you see the rope, Jane?"
Miss McCarthy shook her head.
"If you have to go down it be careful that you don't fall before you get to the rope. Now do you understand?"
"Do I? This is going to be great fun. Won't the boys be surprised when we play our great trick on them?"
"Provided they do not surprise us first," answered Harriet.
"Where are you going?"
"To follow George Baker's trail for a time. I can't tell beyond that what I shall do. It will depend upon circumstances. Remember the signal. I'm off now."
Jane watched Harriet slip away. There was undisguised admiration in the eyes of Jane McCarthy. Not a sound could she hear from her companion, so silently did the latter move away. After Harriet had gone, Jane called down to her friends that she was going to move from the spot and that they should keep quiet.
The hours passed slowly for Jane. She was too active to care to sit down calmly and wait when there were things to be done, so Jane decided that she too would explore a little on her own account. She started slowly, edging down nearer to the shore, thus taking a different course from that followed by her companion, toward the upper end of the island.
Jane had been gone about an hour when she heard voices directly ahead of her. She glanced about in quest of a safe hiding place. Not knowing exactly the direction that was being followed by those whose voices she had heard, she decided to run toward home. A shout from behind her at that juncture told her that at least one of the party had gotten between her and the hiding place of the "Red Rover."
Without an instant's hesitation Crazy Jane ran to a low, bushy tree and climbed up in its foliage with almost the quickness of a cat. Her clothes suffered, but she did not care. Her sole desire now was to get out of sight as quickly as possible. She would never forgive herself if she were to be the means of their being discovered. As yet she had heard no warning cry from Harriet Burrell.
Jane had hardly secreted herself in the foliage of the tree when another hail sounded between her tree and home.
"Is that you, boys?" It was the voice of George Baker.
"Yes," answered Sam. "What's up?"
George made his way toward them. Jane could hear him forcing his way through the bushes.
The two parties met in an open space a short distance from the tree that held Jane. She was straining every muscle to get a glimpse of them.
"Some one has been along here since I passed," declared George. "I found a footprint in the moss over there, and it was a woman's."
"So did we find the same thing," answered Larry. "There's something queer about this whole island. I feel spooky all the time. Did you hear any one?"
"No."
"Well, I did. Some one threw a stone at me. It dropped right at my feet."
Jane giggled softly. Harriet had been playing tricks on them. She wondered where Harriet was. Jane would have given the signal, but dared not do so. In the first place she was not sure that she could imitate a crow so as to deceive a person, and in the second place the boys were too close to her to run any chances.
"They are here, all right, boys," cried George. "I was certain of it all the time."
"It may be spooks," answered Larry Goheen.
"Well, just let them come out. I guess we can take care of any spooks that we shall find on this island. But we must get busy again. It will soon be dark. Spread out, fellows. I'll tell you what we'll do. Taking that tree there for a centre"—waving toward the tree occupied by Crazy Jane McCarthy—"we will circle about, making the circle larger each time we start out."
"Wait. I'll climb the tree and take a look around," interjected Sam. He started for the tree. His hands had grasped it ere Jane realized that hers was the tree meant. For once in her life Crazy Jane McCarthy was at a loss to proceed. She did not know what to do. But George unknowingly came to her rescue.
"Never mind the tree. It's too low. You can't get high enough to look over the tops of the bushes. You come along as I suggested."
"How ever am I going to get out of this?" muttered Jane. "Won't Harriet be cross when she finds I've quit my post and gone out on my own responsibility?" Her further reflections were interrupted by a loud "caw, caw, caw!"
"What's that?" cried Larry in alarm.
"It's a crow, you tenderfoot," jeered George. "Didn't you ever hear one before?"
"Harriet!" exclaimed Jane under her breath. "She has discovered where the boys are. She's giving me warning and I dare not answer her. What shall I do?"
"Yes, I have heard crows, but I never heard a crow with a voice like that," answered Larry. "I'll bet it's no more crow than I am."
Once more the crow cawed. This time the bird's voice sounded much farther away. Jane reasoned it out when she said to herself that Harriet had probably turned her head away or else had cawed in a lower tone to deceive the boys, who were now moving rapidly away, making as many circles as there were boys in the party.
Jane dared not get down from the tree, but she began moving about, seeking a better position from which she might look the ground over. If the boys got far enough away she might try to run, but then there was the probability of meeting their rivals, no matter which way she sought to escape.
Jane Dared Not Get Down From the Tree.Jane Dared Not Get Down From the Tree.
Jane Dared Not Get Down From the Tree.Jane Dared Not Get Down From the Tree.
The crow cawed again.
"I tell you that isn't a crow," shouted Larry.
"Go on, go on!" called George.
Jane listening intently, concentrating her attention on what was being said, rather than what she was doing, lost her footing. She grasped frantically for a limb and caught one. But the limb did not hold. It snapped and came away in her hand.
Crash! She landed on a bunch of small limbs and branches. She went right on through them, tearing off leaves with frantic hands in her efforts to get hold of something that would stop her progress. The foliage checked her fall a little, but not sufficiently to prevent her falling the rest of the way.
A yell from Larry Goheen, an answering shout from George, and another from Sam, told that the boys had heard the fall. They began running toward the tree, with shouts of triumph.
"We've got somebody," yelled George. "Look sharp, fellows."
"I'm on the job," howled Sam.
"Get clubs. It may be a spook," howled Larry.
The Tramp Club surrounded the tree, keeping their formation as well as possible, not forgetting that their prey might slip away from them did they not guard all sides. As yet they did not now who or what that prey was. A moment later they halted with exclamations of surprise.
Directly beneath the tree in which Jane McCarthy had been hiding stood a man. He was dark and swarthy, with high cheek bones and jet black hair. He was an Indian half-breed. The fellow stood scowling, regarding the boys with angry eyes. Broken limbs and scattered leaves showed where Jane McCarthy had fallen from the tree, and broken bushes also showed where she had floundered after reaching the ground.
The Tramp Club gazed at the scowling face of the half-breed in speechless amazement.
"Who you?" growled the strange man.
"We—we—" began Larry.
"I beg your pardon, sir. You aren't the person we were seeking," apologized George Baker.
"Who you look for?"
"Oh, a friend of ours. I am sorry if I disturbed you. Were you up in that tree?" demanded George, a sudden thought occurring to him. He wondered if this questionable-looking half-breed had been up there while they were holding their conference a short time before that.
The fellow made no reply. He stood regarding them with inquiring, suspicious eyes until the boys grew restless under his scrutiny.
"Well, you needn't look at us that way," declared George, flushing under the steady, disconcerting gaze of the stranger. "We don't know you and you don't know us, and I guess you don't own the island. Come on, fellows."
The boys started away, trudging thoughtfully towards home. As for Jane McCarthy, the instant she reached the ground, she had scrambled to her feet and darted into the bushes, where she threw herself on the ground, breathing heavily, waiting for what might come. What did come amazed her. She saw the man dash up and glance hurriedly about him. It was evident that her fall had attracted his attention, and that he had run to the tree, hoping to catch some one. Gazing at him through the bushes, the girl decided that he must be an Indian. She gazed at him long and earnestly, forgetting for the moment her own precarious position.
Then the boys came. The half-breed stood scowling after them as they hurried away. At this juncture the "caw" of a crow was heard again. He started slightly, bent his head and listened, but there was no repetition of the signal, for which Crazy Jane McCarthy was devoutly thankful. It was plain that he knew it was not a crow, that he understood it to be a signal of some sort.
The half-breed suddenly turned, starting toward the shore of the lake at a brisk pace, worming his way through the bushes with almost no disturbance at all, even at the swift pace he was keeping up.
Jane had lost her fear now. The boys had gone on out of sight and sound and the intruder was hurrying toward the lake. The girl, however, did not dare to run. She feared to meet the Indian, so she crept along cautiously. It was but a short distance to the shore of the lake. She reached there after having followed the Indian's trail. Jane was just in time to see the fellow launching a canoe. It was a dark green boat, showing long and hard usage.
The fellow leaped in and sent the boat well out 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 not. You surely have discovered something. Would you know the man if you were to see him again?"
"Yes."
"Then we will see if we can't discover him again. I believe we are getting near to a solution of the enemy that has been following us. Either we must settle him or he will do us some injury. I am glad the boys saw him, too. I am going to suggest to Miss Elting that we go back to our old anchorage to-morrow. To-day we have other plans on hand. And that reminds me. It is getting dark and it is time we were getting back to the boat. We will go down the rope when we reach there. Come."
The two girls hurried along, keeping a sharp lookout, not knowing but that the boys might be lying in wait for them. They reached the rocks above the houseboat. All was quiet below. Jane went down the rope first, landing in the creek. Harriet did the same, and none of their companions discovered either of them until Jane had climbed aboard the boat and appeared dripping before them.
"Here we are, girls," laughed Jane.
"Did you discover anything?" asked Miss Elting eagerly.
"We did."
"Tell us what happened," urged the guardian.
"The boys found the false trail we made, as well as the one we did not wish them to find. They nearly discovered Jane, too. She sat in a tree while they made their plans nearby. Then Jane fell out of the tree."
The girls shouted.
"And what do you think?" continued Harriet. "The boys were only a short distance away. They hurried to the scene, and when they got there they found—"
"Jane," finished Tommy.
"No. A man. A half-breed from what Jane says. He went away in a canoe. He did not see her."
Miss Elting regarded Harriet reflectively.
"Yes, I think it was the same one," said Harriet in answer to the guardian's unspoken question. "It is evident that our presence here is suspected by others than the Tramps. I would suggest that we carry out our plans to-night, then move away from here to-morrow."
"Yes, I know the way. I could go there blindfolded," answered Harriet, in reply to a question from Miss Elting.
The hour was nine o'clock in the evening. The night was very dark, though the stars were shining. It had been decided that Margery and Tommy should remain on board the "Red Rover," putting out all lights and locking the doors, though no anxiety was felt about them, as there was scarcely a chance that their presence would be discovered, provided the girls remained quiet.
The paraphernalia for the evening's enterprise was carefully loaded into the rowboat; then, with final admonitions to Tommy and Margery to keep silent and not be afraid, the party set out in the rowboat for the entrance of the creek. They paused there long enough to make certain that no one was about, after which they rowed along the shore a short distance and made a landing at a point where the ground was fairly level.
"Now be very quiet," whispered Harriet. "Remember the signal to return to the boat is one long caw. Two caws in quick succession mean 'hurry.'"
"We shan't be far apart, shall we?" questioned Hazel, somewhat apprehensively.
"No. Within speaking distance," replied Miss Elting. "Leave it to Harriet and Jane to make the first advance. We will follow when the time is right. It is fortunate that we left Tommy and Margery at home. Are you ready, Harriet?"
It was a silent party of four shadowy figures that made its way cautiously along the shore of the island for some little distance. The party then turned sharply to the right and disappeared among the bushes that marked a slight rise of ground. Reaching this rise they turned to the left and once more proceeded straight ahead.
The lights of a campfire were soon distinguishable between the trees. The party was nearing the camp of the Tramp Club. The time to prepare for their final triumph was at hand.
"Now, Harriet," urged Miss Elting in a half whisper.
"Yes. I will go around to the other side of the camp. That will be the most difficult position to get away from, so I am choosing it for myself. Jane, you will remain here, while Miss Elting and Hazel will take a position halfway between us. You see that will enable us practically to surround the camp. After you hear me, wait a moment, then give them a thriller."
Harriet, accompanied by the guardian and Hazel, stepped promptly away. After going on for some distance, the girl directed Miss Elting and Hazel to stop and remain where they were, except that they were to separate, yet keep within easy call of each other. This detail arranged, Harriet went on.
According to previous arrangement, Jane, Miss Elting and Hazel gradually crept nearer to the camp, continuing until they could make out the figures of the boys quite plainly. The latter were sitting about the campfire. Their attitude was one of dejection. They had been outwitted and they knew it.
"If we don't find those girls to-night, then to-morrow morning we'll get out of here," announced George. "They know that they have won and we'll let them come and tell us so rather than hunt all summer for them."
"What about that half-breed?" asked Sam. "I think we'd better find out who he is. I didn't like the looks of that fellow a little bit."
"Neither did I," agreed George. "Queer we never saw him around here before."
"You must remember this is a large lake," Billy informed them. "He probably is a fisherman who hangs out on the island, and who resented our encroaching upon his preserves. I think I saw the same fellow once in a canoe, but he was so far away that I don't think I would know him were we to meet face to face."
"There are too many mysterious things on this island," averred Larry Goheen, with emphasis. "I, for one, shall be glad to get away from it. I know there are spooks here."
"Spooks!" jeered George. "Who's afraid of spooks? Who—" George's voice trailed off almost into a whisper. "I heard something," he exclaimed.
"So did I," added Larry, nodding.
A laugh, a distinctly human laugh, shrill and mocking, was wafted to them. The boys gazed questioningly at each other. Larry glanced about apprehensively. Then out of the night came the most weird, most demoniacal laugh any member of the Tramp Club ever had heard.
The boys sprang to their feet.
Other laughs, accompanied by shrieks, followed each other in quick succession. The laughs seemed to come from all quarters. It was difficult to say from just what particular point any one of them did come.
"Spooks!" yelled Larry Goheen, bolting toward the lake. Billy caught and jerked him back.
"No, you don't," growled Billy. "We stand together."
"I don't want to stay here," chattered Larry. "I never try to fool people with fake courage when I know that running is my one best course to pursue."
"Is there a lunatic asylum in this part of the country?" asked Baker. "Can it be possible that any of the inmates have escaped."
Billy Gordon shook his head. "Nothing as easy as that," he sighed.
"Great Scott! There it goes again!" breathed Larry. "It's down that way, too," pointing in the direction taken by Harriet Burrell.
It was a long, weird wail, well calculated to freeze the marrow in one's bones.
"Come on, fellows!" cried George, with a fine showing of resolution. "We'll lay that ghost!"
George was the only one of the boys who thought to snatch up a club as he ran. But now the unearthly sounds came from the rear, instead of ahead of them. The boys wheeled abruptly, only to hear right in front of them a dismaying chorus of ghostly noises.
"Let's go!" urged Larry. "It's surely a lot of banshees!"
"Great Scott! Look!" quivered Sam, pointing with trembling finger.
In the faint light the boys made out a white figure that might have been anywhere from seven to ten feet in height. The boys were too scared to judge of length. The awful thing raised its draped arms, a frightful scream sounding on the air.
At that Billy lost his grip on Larry's arm. Goheen made no apologies, but made a straight, swift dash for camp.
The other boys hesitated for a few brief seconds; then they, too, headed for camp. They were not exactly running. They were leaping like as many frightened rabbits, fleeing from a rabbit hound. In their haste they lost their way and were proceeding directly toward the spot where Jane McCarthy was standing.
Jane finally heard them coming. She was filled with glee. She had feared that she was not to have an opportunity to play an important part in this ghost party. Making a noise like a ghost did not wholly satisfy Crazy Jane McCarthy. What she wanted was something more exciting. Her opportunity came very quickly. The boys were nearly up to her, ere she realized that they were so close.
A wild wail halted them.
"Come on, you fellows!" yelled George to his faltering companions.
"There it is!" howled Sam.
He had espied another figure that looked exactly like the first ghost. George discovered it at about the same time. George made a brave rush toward the figure, yelling to frighten it. But Crazy Jane was not easily frightened. She advanced slowly, waving the long, draped arms, and moaning. All at once something came down on the head of George Baker, just as he had raised his club to hurl it at the ghost. The something was a long tough stick in the hand of Jane McCarthy.
George uttered a howl and sprang back. The ghost advanced on him. Billy got a light tap, then Sam yelled as something damp brushed his cheek. He did not know that it was the leaf of a bush. He thought it the cold, clammy hand of the ghost.
The boys having gotten more than they had looked for, began to retreat. Sam was the first after Larry to run. He did so with all speed, followed closely by George and Billy. They were confused. They did not know just where the camp was located. Glancing over their shoulders they saw that the ghost was pursuing them. The boys began to shout anew, and to run even at greater speed.
"There's some more of them," howled Sam.
"Yeow!" yelled George. He sprang to the left, in which direction he believed the camp lay, then he halted. Another ghost was confronting him. George hesitated. The ghost uttered a moan. The brave George Baker, captain of the Tramp Club, took to his heels. The others did the same, except that each took a different direction. Wherever they ran they were followed by moans and screams, principally from the lips of Crazy Jane McCarthy.
It seemed to their excited imaginations that the woods were full of ghosts of giant stature, with voices capable of making one's hair stand on end. The worst of it was that the ghosts persisted in pursuing them. They chased the brave Tramp Club right into camp, where the lads arrived one by one. Instead of stopping the boys bolted for the launch, in which the frightened Larry Goheen already had sought safety.
"Cast off," yelled George, the last to leap into the boat.
The launch was shoved from the shore and allowed to drift while the boys sat shivering, listening to the wails from the forest.
"Good-bye," answered Sam.
"Fellows, we are all cowards," declared George, beginning to get control of himself. "We should have staid and knocked them out."
"I'll go back, if you say so," answered Billy promptly.
"No. I've got enough of this place. To-morrow morning we break camp and go back to the other camping place. No more ghost parties for mine."
"As long as we have decided to move why not go now," suggested Larry.
The boys discussed the matter briefly, then decided that they would. Sam was put on guard to watch for the return of the ghosts while the others hurriedly broke camp. But there were no more ghostly moans nor ghostly intruders that night.
The ghosts in the persons of the Meadow-Brook Girls were on their way to their rowboat. Beaching it they sat down and laughed until their eyes were wet with tears.
"It was a mean trick to play on them," gasped Miss Elting. "But I think we have more than won our wager. It is a wonder that they didn't suspect us."
"There goes a boat!" cried Jane. "It's a launch."
"It is the boys. We have frightened them off," answered Miss Elting.
The girls rowed quickly home, but ere they had reached the entrance to the secret creek they were startled by the sound of a shrill scream. They recognized the voice as Tommy's and began to shout, and to row with all their might. A moment later, just as they were about to turn into the opening with their boat, a canoe shot out and darted across their bows, disappearing in the darkness.
"A man, a man!" yelled Tommy as Harriet shouted to know if the two girls were all right. Tommy threw open the door and in her excitement walked off the after deck of the "Red Rover" and fell forward into the stream.
"Jane, do you recognize that man?" cried Harriet excitedly.
"Yes," exclaimed Jane, "he's the man I saw this afternoon, and he's our mysterious enemy too, or my name's not Jane McCarthy."