The hour was nine o’clock in the evening.  The night was very dark, though the stars were shining.  It had been decided that Margery and Tommy should remain on board the “Red Rover,” putting out all lights and locking the doors, though no anxiety was felt about them, as there was scarcely a chance that their presence would be discovered, provided the girls remained quiet.

The paraphernalia for the evening’s enterprise was carefully loaded into the rowboat; then, with final admonitions to Tommy and Margery to keep silent and not be afraid, the party set out in the rowboat for the entrance of the creek.  They paused there long enough to make certain that no one was about, after which they rowed along the shore a short distance and made a landing at a point where the ground was fairly level.

“Now be very quiet,” whispered Harriet.  “Remember the signal to return to the boat is one long caw.  Two caws in quick succession mean ‘hurry.’”

“We shan’t be far apart, shall we?” questioned Hazel, somewhat apprehensively.

“No.  Within speaking distance,” replied Miss Elting.  “Leave it to Harriet and Jane to make the first advance.  We will follow when the time is right.  It is fortunate that we left Tommy and Margery at home.  Are you ready, Harriet?”

It was a silent party of four shadowy figures that made its way cautiously along the shore of the island for some little distance.  The party then turned sharply to the right and disappeared among the bushes that marked a slight rise of ground.  Reaching this rise they turned to the left and once more proceeded straight ahead.

The lights of a campfire were soon distinguishable between the trees.  The party was nearing the camp of the Tramp Club.  The time to prepare for their final triumph was at hand.

“Now, Harriet,” urged Miss Elting in a half whisper.

“Yes.  I will go around to the other side of the camp.  That will be the most difficult position to get away from, so I am choosing it for myself.  Jane, you will remain here, while Miss Elting and Hazel will take a position halfway between us.  You see that will enable us practically to surround the camp.  After you hear me, wait a moment, then give them a thriller.”

Harriet, accompanied by the guardian and Hazel, stepped promptly away.  After going on for some distance, the girl directed Miss Elting and Hazel to stop and remain where they were, except that they were to separate, yet keep within easy call of each other.  This detail arranged, Harriet went on.

According to previous arrangement, Jane, Miss Elting and Hazel gradually crept nearer to the camp, continuing until they could make out the figures of the boys quite plainly.  The latter were sitting about the campfire.  Their attitude was one of dejection.  They had been outwitted and they knew it.

“If we don’t find those girls to-night, then to-morrow morning we’ll get out of here,” announced George.  “They know that they have won and we’ll let them come and tell us so rather than hunt all summer for them.”