Harriet gazed at her companion, the lines of her face contracting.

“Jane,” she said, “I saw that man myself.  It was the night I rowed out to see who was making camp near us.  He shot out ahead of me in his canoe and disappeared.  I must have disturbed him.”

“But who—­what?” gasped Jane.

“I believe he is the man who has been following us and trying to drive us away.  I can’t think of any other reason for his acting as he has.  He undoubtedly knows that we are somewhere about, and has been looking for us just as the boys themselves have been doing.”

“Good gracious,” muttered Crazy Jane.  “I’m sorry I didn’t stay on the boat.”

“And I am glad you did not.  You surely have discovered something.  Would you know the man if you were to see him again?”

“Yes.”

“Then we will see if we can’t discover him again.  I believe we are getting near to a solution of the enemy that has been following us.  Either we must settle him or he will do us some injury.  I am glad the boys saw him, too.  I am going to suggest to Miss Elting that we go back to our old anchorage to-morrow.  To-day we have other plans on hand.  And that reminds me.  It is getting dark and it is time we were getting back to the boat.  We will go down the rope when we reach there.  Come.”

The two girls hurried along, keeping a sharp lookout, not knowing but that the boys might be lying in wait for them.  They reached the rocks above the houseboat.  All was quiet below.  Jane went down the rope first, landing in the creek.  Harriet did the same, and none of their companions discovered either of them until Jane had climbed aboard the boat and appeared dripping before them.

“Here we are, girls,” laughed Jane.

“Did you discover anything?” asked Miss Elting eagerly.

“We did.”

“Tell us what happened,” urged the guardian.

“The boys found the false trail we made, as well as the one we did not wish them to find.  They nearly discovered Jane, too.  She sat in a tree while they made their plans nearby.  Then Jane fell out of the tree.”

The girls shouted.

“And what do you think?” continued Harriet.  “The boys were only a short distance away.  They hurried to the scene, and when they got there they found—­”

“Jane,” finished Tommy.

“No.  A man.  A half-breed from what Jane says.  He went away in a canoe.  He did not see her.”

Miss Elting regarded Harriet reflectively.

“Yes, I think it was the same one,” said Harriet in answer to the guardian’s unspoken question.  “It is evident that our presence here is suspected by others than the Tramps.  I would suggest that we carry out our plans to-night, then move away from here to-morrow.”

CHAPTER XXII

SPOOKS OF THE LONESOME ISLE

“Yes, I know the way.  I could go there blindfolded,” answered Harriet, in reply to a question from Miss Elting.