e had traveled almost due south the day before in
order to reach the opposite side of the island. They should now be
going north. There was now no possible doubt. They had been led astray.
Phil would have liked to burst out crying. Instead, she declared
miserably, without the least attempt at cheerfulness: "We are lost
Madge! We have been fooled and tricked. The boy is not taking us across
the island. He has been leading us on a wild-goose chase all day. I am
not going to follow him another step."

"I am afraid we are too tired, now, Phil, to find our way home by
ourselves. Yet think how terrified Miss Jenny Ann and the girls will be
if another night passes and we do not return!"

Madge happened to glance up. The deaf and dumb boy was grinning at them
with an expression of utter derision. He stuck out his tongue.

The little captain's cheeks flamed. As usual, anger inspired her to
action. She sprang to her feet. "Don't you worry, Phil Alden," blazed
Madge. "This wretch of a boy is going to lead us home by the very
quickest route--and don't you forget it."

"What are you going to do?" queried Phil languidly.

Madge marched directly over to the boy; seizing him by both shoulders,
she shook him with all her might. The boy submitted. But when Madge had
finished he refused to stir. He picked up a stick from the ground and
began to whittle it calmly, emitting a guttural, choking laugh.

Madge struck the lad sharply with a little stick she had picked up. At
least he would understand what she meant by that kind of conversation.
Still the youth whittled serenely. Then she put her hand in her back
coat pocket, taking out a small, dark object. It was a small pistol.
Very quietly she opened and loaded it. Then, with her pistol primed,
she pointed it at the obstinate boy. "Forward, march!" she commanded.

The lad's glance shifted. He started to run. Madge shot into the air.
The boy hesitated. Then he raised both hands. He had given up. A minute
later he set off, beckoning to Madge and Phyllis to follow him. He had
decided to take them home by the right path.

"I did not know you had your pistol, Madge," gasped Phil, as the two
friends journeyed on together again.

Madge nodded. "Oh, yes," she explained. "We could not very well have
come on such a journey without it. Miss Jenny Ann knew that I carried
it."

For twenty-four hours, at odd intervals of time, Miss Jenny Ann,
Lillian and Eleanor had walked up and down in front