Having completed the snare, which had taken only a few moments to prepare. Jack bent forward, showing the white of his teeth as a wolf of its fangs when about to spring on its prey. "Now together!" he whispered. Virginia saw her danger and realized the crisis of all her efforts to make atonement for the wrong she had caused Constance was at hand. Again the affrighted despairing cry burst in an audible whisper from her lips. "Help! Help! Oh, God in heaven, help!" Just what Jack would have done in his fury it is impossible to say, for the liquor had frenzied him, and Virginia's stubborn resistance had aroused in him a latent devil. His intention, whatever it may have been, was frustrated by Sam, who at that moment smashed in the window, covered him with his revolver and shouted, "Throw up your hands!" The crash of broken glass arrested Jack's attention, and upon looking around he discovered the muzzle of a large caliber revolver thrust through the broken window and leveled straight at him. So sudden was the surprise, so unexpected and imminent the danger, that he automatically flung up his hands. Upon crossing the island, after leaving Thorpe and the detective at the edge of the wood, Sam had immediately boarded the launch, and stowing the dog in a comfortable position on cotton waste in the "fo-castle," directed the engineer to proceed to the north end of the island. On arriving at the point agreed upon, aside from the cabin's range of city lights, Sam got into a small boat, provided for the occasion, and pushed ashore, after having conveyed Thorpe and the detective on board the launch. A consultation was held, and it was arranged that the detective and Smith, who had remained in the launch, should go in the small boat, assail the south door and cut off escape in that direction, while Thorpe and Sam in the launch would take a position at the main door of the cabin. After securing an axe from the launch, the detective and Smith proceeded as quickly as possible on their mission. Instead of rowing, they paddled along, Indian fashion, the dip of the blades scarcely disturbing the silence that enveloped them. The launch steamed slowly along in the boat's wake, and just as noiselessly, and was the first to touch one of the logs which supported the cabin. They heard voices within that seemed feminine and familiar to both Sam and Thorpe, though uncertain on account of the low tone. As prearranged, Sam stealthily clambered up on the roof and crawled to the starboard side, where he lay flat on his stomach, and peered head down, in through the loose curtained four-paned window. What he saw prompted him to instantaneous action, and the crash of broken glass followed.