iend. She ran toward Phyllis, but the latter cried out
warningly: "Go back. If you try to help me, you'll only sink into this
marsh with me."

Madge hesitated only a minute. "Don't move, Phil, if you can possibly
help it," she cried. "But in a few minutes from now call out, so that
I can tell where you are. Good-bye for a little while; I am going for
help." Madge never knew how she covered the space that lay between her
and the nearest house. This house had a low stone wall around it, and
stood on top of a steep hill that sloped down to this wall. Madge
scrambled over the wall and climbed the hill, sometimes on her feet,
but as often on her hands and knees. There was a light in a window.
She staggered to it and rapped on the window pane. A moment later a
man appeared in a doorway at the right of the window.

"Who's there?" he called out sharply. "What do you mean by knocking on
my window? Answer me at once!"

Madge stumbled over to him. "Oh, won't you please come with me?" she
said. "My friend Phyllis is stuck fast in the marsh. I must have help
to get her out."

Without a word the man disappeared into the house. For one dreadful
instant, Madge thought he did not intend to help her; she thought he
must believe that she was an impostor and was making up her story. The
next minute the man returned, wearing a pair of high rubber hoots and
carrying a dark lantern and a heavy rope.

"Don't be frightened," he said kindly to her as she walked wearily
after him. "People often lose their way in this marsh after dark.
We'll soon find your friend."

But to himself Judge Arthur Hilliard asked the question: "What in the
world are two young girls doing alone on this dangerous shore at such
an hour of the night?"

It was well that Phyllis remembered Madge's order, else they might have
had some trouble in locating her. As soon as Phyllis saw the friendly
light from the oncoming lantern she called at the top of her lungs:
"Here I am! Here I am!"

"Keep perfectly still!" Judge Hilliard commanded. "I'll have you out
in a short time." He waded into the marsh, his high boots protecting
him from the black ooze. When he was about five yards from Phil he
flung her the rope. "Now work your way along toward us," he directed.
Phyllis obeyed his command and in an incredibly short time was safe on
dry land, her shoes heavy with mud.

"It is bad enough to be lost," declared Phil as she thanked the
stranger, "but i