ow, for Ted's assailant.

The girls never knew the whole history of that encounter. They only
realized that Ted finally emerged from a whirling medley of legs and
arms, limping but triumphant, and strove to loosen the dog's grip on a
man who was begging to be released.

"That'll do, Rags, old boy! You've done the trick! Good old fellow! Now
you can let go!" he shouted at the dog, trying to persuade him to loosen
his hold. But Rags was obdurate. He could see no point in giving up the
struggle at this interesting juncture.

"Call him off!" Ted shouted to the girls, "I can't make him let go!"

"Is it _safe?_" cried Phyllis, in answer.

"We'll have to take a chance!" he answered. "He's half killing this
fellow!"

With beating heart Leslie came into the range of the light, grasped Rags
by the collar and pulled at him with all her might. "Come Rags! Let go!
It's all right!"

The dog gave way reluctantly. And when he had at length loosed his
terrible grip and was safely in Leslie's custody, the man scrambled to
his feet, rose, held on to his arm with his other hand, and groaned.

And, despite his disheveled condition and his drenched appearance, in the
glare of the electric torch the girls recognized him, with a start of
amazement. It was the fisherman of the afternoon--the man with the former
limp!

[Illustration: In the glare of the electric torch the girls recognized
him]

He turned immediately on Ted with an angry, impatient gesture. "Well, the
other fellow got it--after all! I don't know what business _you_ had in
this concern, but you spoiled the trick for me--and didn't do yourself
any good! And if that dog gives me hydrophobia, I'll sue the whole outfit
of you! He beat it off in that direction--the other fellow. I saw that
much. I can't lose any time, though what I need is a doctor."

And with another angry snort, he disappeared into the darkness and the
hurricane.

CHAPTER XVII

EILEEN EXPLAINS

It was an amazed, bewildered, and sheepish group that faced each other in
the light of the electric torch after the departure of the unknown man.
Phyllis was the first to recover self-possession.

"Well, we might as well go indoors," she remarked, in her decided way.
"There's evidently nothing to be gained by staying out here in the
storm!"

The others, still too benumbed in mind to have any initiative of their
own, followed her obediently.