"It proves one thing anyway," put in Allen, from his corner. "The paper is important, and our friend to-night is undoubtedly what we thought he was." "Much good that does us," said Will, morosely folding the paper and stuffing it carefully into his pocket. "Of course, it's better than nothing, and we'll get it into official hands just as soon as we can; but we certainly ought to have caught that rascal." "Say!" exclaimed Roy suddenly, his eyes gleaming with the light of adventure, "maybe it isn't too late yet. Unless Adolph, the spy, had a boat or swam to the nearest island, which is more than a mile away, he's still on this island somewhere. We've got our good old trusties over in the big tent, and there's a bare chance we might be able to round him up." "No, you don't!" said Grace decidedly, while all the girls looked startled. "You're going to use your guns to keep that man away from here. Do you suppose we're going to lie awake all night listening for shots?" "Oh, all right," said Roy, "I'm properly squelched." "Let's go to bed," yawned Grace, "I'm dying by inches. And, oh, Mollie, dear, don't forget to bring the candy box!" Half an hour later the lights in the little cottage were out and the boys, all except Allen, who had been made as comfortable as possible in the house, were taking turns at standing guard outside. Despite the quiet beauty and peace of the night, the girls found it almost impossible to sleep. They tossed and dozed, and waked and dozed again until, toward daylight, they fell into a restless, uneasy sleep. CHAPTER VII ROBBED Crack! Crack! The girls started to a sitting posture and regarded each other fearfully. "What is it?" cried Mollie, her eyes big and round in the semi-dark. "Betty, what are you doing?" "That was a shot," responded Betty, her voice quivering with excitement. "I've been listening for it all night. Who's coming--" "Oh, dear!" wailed Amy. "I knew some one would get killed! It's worse than some awful nightmare." But Betty was already running from the room, with Mollie close at her heels. Reluctantly, Grace and Amy slipped on their robes and slippers and followed. Betty almost ran into Mrs. Irving on the landing, and gasped an apology. "Oh, dear, what do you suppose it is?" she panted, as they went on down the stairs together. "If another of the boys is hurt--" But at that moment the boys themselves came bursting in upon them, rumpled, sheepish and out of temper, to confront the excited girls in the lower hall. "What do you know about that?" cried Roy disgustedly. "If I'm not the biggest fool that ever lived, I'll eat my hat." "Far be it from me to stop you," growled Will. "He must have passed near enough to touch you, and you let him get away." "Well, you needn't rub it in," retorted Roy, turning upon him savagely, while the girls looked from one to the other uncomprehendingly. "You ought to know I'm sore enough without having you find fault."