his lips, moving his hand curiously in the
air. Then the girls understood. The gypsy boy was deaf and dumb.

It was vexatious to have struggled across the whole island, to have
been nearly trampled to death by a drove of wild horses, only to
discover a crazy person shut up in an old house, a deaf and dumb boy
and a stupid old woman keeping guard.

Madge's sense of humor came to their rescue. She threw back her head
and laughed. As her merry laugh rang out the back door of the house was
burst suddenly open. A savage-looking man dashed out. "Who's there?" he
demanded angrily. "I thought I heard strange voices."

The man ran down the few steps that led to the yard, staring at the
newcomers as though he had seen an apparition.

Phyllis bowed to the man politely. Madge smiled at him with engaging
frankness. But he paid no attention to their friendly overtures. He
raged, stormed and talked to himself. Neither would he listen to
Madge's explanation of their appearance.

"Won't you please be good enough to tell us how we can get away from
this island?" Madge finally demanded in desperation. "We are very
anxious to get back to the mainland, so that we can let our friends
know where we are."

"I'll tell you how you can get away from this house in double-quick
time. Be off with you!" roared the man. "What do you mean by turning up
here and scaring a man out of his wits? We thought this island didn't
have a soul on it but us."

"What are you doing here?" asked Phil quietly.

The man turned red and stammered. He was too stupid to think of a
prompt answer.

At this moment a man who had all the appearance of a gentleman appeared
at one side of the house. He bowed pleasantly to Madge and Phil, but
did not try to conceal his amazement at seeing them.

The girls were equally nonplussed. They certainly had not been prepared
to meet a gentleman in this oddly assorted company.

"I overheard your story," he remarked pleasantly. "You will forgive the
surprise of my servants at your unexpected presence. We presumed we
were alone on the island. It is supposed to be entirely uninhabited,
except in the hunting season. The place is so desolate that I brought
this gypsy lad and his mother over to look after my man and me. I am
sorry that I can not offer you any assistance in returning to your
homes at present. My boat brought me to this island and left me, as I
wish to be entirely alone."

"How funny!" exclaimed matter-of-fact Phil.