"As I pushed out into midstream the girl grew frantic. With an almost superhuman effort she succeeded in removing the woolen scarf which had been wound so tightly about her mouth, then with a cry which I shall never forget while life lasts, she shrieked out piteously, as she threw out her white arms wildly toward me: "'Help! help! Oh! help, for the love of Heaven! Don't desert me! Come back! oh, come back and save me!' "The blood fairly stood still in my veins. Her companion hurled her back so quickly that she completely lost her balance, and fell fainting in his arms. "'Go!' he cried, angrily, 'and not one word of what you have seen or heard!' "I can not desert a lady in distress, sir,' I answered. "With a fury such as I have never seen equaled, he turned and faced me in the moonlight. "'I will give you just one moment to go!' he cried, his right hand creeping toward his hip-pocket--'another moment to get out of sight!' "I knew that it was as much as my life was worth to remain where I was; so, despite the girl's pitiful entreaties, I rowed back slowly into midstream and down the river. "I fairly made my boat fly over the water. I headed straight for Clayton--the nearest village--and there I told my startling story to the people. In less time than it takes to tell it, a half dozen of us started back for Wau-Winet Island. Arriving, we crept silently up the steep path that led to the house. My loud ringing brought the gentleman himself to the door. I shall never forget the fire that leaped into his eyes as he saw me; but nothing daunted, I said to him determinedly: "I have come here with these men to aid the young girl who appealed to me for help a little while ago.' "My companions pressed close behind me, until they filled the wide entrance hall and closed in around him. "'You are certainly mad!' he cried. 'There is no young lady on Wau-Winet Island, nor has any woman ever put foot upon it at least since it has been my property,' he added. "'Do you mean to say that I did not row you and a young lady over to this island within this hour, and that she did not appeal to me for help?' I asked. "'Certainly not!' he declared promptly. "'You must be either mad or dreaming to even think of such a thing,' he continued, haughtily. 'However,' turning to my companions, 'seeing that you have had the trouble of coming here--brought by this lunatic--you are welcome to look through the house and satisfy yourselves. In fact, I beg that you will do so.' "Much to his surprise, we took him at his word." CHAPTER V. THE MYSTERIOUS HOUSE ON LONELY WAU-WINET ISLAND. "We searched the stone house from cellar to garret in hopes of finding a trace of the beautiful girl I felt sure was imprisoned within its grim walls, the owner following, with a look of defiance on his dark, handsome face. "'She _must_ be on this island,' I declared, vehemently. 'I rowed you and her over here.'