being lifted up between the two men. It
was useless to struggle.

Amy was much lighter than Betty, and was hoisted up to the shoulder of
the old crone, who seemed wonderfully strong.

"Take a look out, Mag, and see if any one's in sight before we make a
dash for the shack," directed Pete. "Her screams may have been heard.
She yelled like a banshee!"

The fishwife, carrying the limp figure of Amy, peered beyond the line of
sand dunes.

"No one in sight," she muttered, beckoning the others to advance.

"But what gets me is where the other two are," growled Pete who, with
Jake, was carrying Betty. "There's four of 'em, and they've always been
together ever since they come down here. Where are the other two? That's
what I'd like to know."

Betty shuddered as she thought of Mollie and Grace sleeping in the
little clump of trees. Suppose these horrid men should go back there and
find them. It was horrible to contemplate.

"Well, you've got half of 'em. That ought to be enough for what you
want," said Jake, hoarsely chuckling.

Betty was puzzling her brains, trying to think why she and Amy had been
thus captured. What object had the old fisherman and, too, why had the
old crone been so eager to get them to her hut? Betty could only guess.
Her head ached. She felt really ill, and could not doubt but that poor
Amy was in like condition.

A few seconds later they were both carried into the hut, and set in
rickety chairs. Their bonds were not removed, and the door was closed
and locked. Amy looked over at Betty, and the latter could see that her
chum's eyes were filled with tears.

Then, suddenly, Amy seemed to collapse. She slipped from the chair to
the floor.

"Now what's up?" roughly demanded Pete. "I wish I'd never gone into this
girl business, anyhow--it's so uncertain. What's happened?" and he
looked at the limp form of Amy on the floor.

Betty tried to rise, but sank back dizzily. The room seemed to become
suddenly dark. She feared she would topple over as Amy had done.

"It's only a faint, the poor dear," chuckled the old woman. "I'll attend
to her. You go out and get the boat ready," she told the two men.

Betty's brain became clearer. There was no longer blackness before her
eyes.

"Here, drink this," said the woman, raising Amy by her shoulders, and
holding a glass of water to her lips. The gag had been removed. Amy
drank and a little color came into her face.

"Where--where am I? What happened?" sh