your house," answered Phil.
"We wished to ask you for help."

A dreary laugh answered the girls. "You must be joking," the voice
said. "But if you are human, you will help me get out of this hole. I
have been imprisoned for I don't know how long. Oh, it is a long story.
Once I am out, I can explain everything to you. I promise not to harm
you."

"Why do you wish to get out?" demanded Madge, trying to gain time until
she could master her amazement.

The voice inside laughed less hoarsely. "Oh, I want to get out to
breathe, to get away from this beastly hole and to attend to my own
affairs. I could go on giving you reasons all night. But please hurry.
Batter down the door! I don't see how the house has ever happened to be
left unguarded so long. You are young boys, I suppose. Your voices
sound like it. If you'll let me out, I'll do anything in the world for
you," continued the prisoner, "only, make haste!"

"What shall we do?" whispered Phil.

"I don't know," returned Madge. "I am afraid there is a crazy person
shut up in this house. Perhaps the men you saw were his keepers."

"But he talks as though he were sane," argued Phil.

"Crazy people often do," retorted Madge. "I've read _that_!"

"Madge, let's open the door," entreated Phil. "The voice doesn't sound
as if the man were crazy. Think how dreadful if some one is really shut
up here on this deserted island against his will!"

Madge hesitated. "It will be dreadfully foolish of us, Phil, to open
the door. There is no telling what trouble we may bring on ourselves."

"For the love of Heaven, please open the door. I swear to you that
there is no reason in the world why I should be kept imprisoned here.
If you will only help me to get away, I can prove it to you." This time
the voice pleaded desperately.

Phil seized the ax. "We can run for our lives once the door is open. I
believe we have been sent to save this person."

"All right, Phil. I won't turn coward unless you do." Madge picked up a
sharp stick to pry under the door.

Phil had struck her first blow when Madge, whose ears were open to
every sound, cried sharply: "Stop! There is some one coming. Do let's
run!"

Phil dropped her axe as softly as possible. Then she and Madge took to
their heels. They ran through the thicket of trees, back behind a dense
growth of underbrush. They had never run so fleetly or so silently
before. A single glance had revealed the figures of two men approaching
the pr