With a last look about the cabin, wondering what could be the business of the man who stayed there, the girls started off. But they had not taken three steps before they saw, coming toward them from the other side of the clearing, two figures. "Oh!" cried Ruth, drawing back. "There comes that man, and he's got someone with him." Alice, too, was startled and a little bit afraid, but a moment later there came a cheerful hail. "Oh, it's Russ and Paul!" Alice cried. "They have come for us!" "Thank goodness!" exclaimed Ruth, and a few seconds later the four young people were together, making mutual explanations. Mr. DeVere had indeed become worried about his daughters, when the storm arose, and, as they had left word whither they were going, Russ and Paul volunteered to go after them, taking raincoats and umbrellas. "And here we are!" exclaimed Russ, as he helped Ruth on with her garment. "And we were never so glad to see anyone in all our lives; were we?" went on Alice, who, in spite of her brave nature, had been considerably unnerved by the events of the last few minutes. The young men were much surprised when told about the strange man and the dog, and they at once wanted to make an inspection of the cabin. "Who knows what we might find!" exclaimed Russ. "Wait until later, then," suggested Ruth. "Please take us home now." Russ and Paul had no choice, after that, but to take the girls back to Oak Farm. The rain was over, but the trees still dripped with moisture and the raincoats and umbrellas were very useful. Paul walked with Alice, while Russ kept pace at the side of Ruth. And as the four walked together they talked of the recent happenings, speculating as to the meaning of them all. Back in the comfortable farmhouse, clothed in dry garments, Ruth and Alice were inclined to laugh at their scare, which, at the time, had seemed very real. "I think that man was real kind," said Mrs. Apgar, as she heard the story. "To leave his cabin that way." "He was, unless he had some object in view," said Sandy. "I'd like to know what his game is. He's got some object hangin' around here, and I'm goin' to find out what it is." "Was that his cabin?" asked Ruth. "No, that's an old shack that really belongs on this place," explained Mr. Apgar, "but there's a dispute as to the title, so no one really knows who owns it. 'Tain't much 'count, anyhow. But you say he was livin' in it?" "He had it partly furnished, at any rate," said Alice. "It could be fixed up and made into a lovely little bungalow." "Well, you folks kin do that if you like," offered Sandy. "I kin have it fixed so that fellow won't stay there. He's got no rights: only a squatter." "I think we'd feel safer here," returned Ruth, with a smile. "That man might come back unexpectedly." "I think I'll go up there to-morrow and have a look around," suggested Russ. "I'd like to see more of that cabin by daylight."