They were within a mile of their landing place when, off to their right and a little ahead of them, Madge spied the rowboat they had seen at the beginning of their sail.

The boat was now tossing idly on the waves, and its sole occupant, a young man, was trying vainly to guide it with a single oar.

“There is that boat again,” called Madge to Tom, who was busy with his sails.  “I believe the young man in it is in trouble and is signaling to us for help.”

As Tom drew nearer to the rowboat the other man in it called out:  “Say, can’t you take me aboard?  I’ve lost an oar, and it’s a pretty tough job trying to get ashore with one oar in a sea like this.”

Tom glanced quickly at Madge.  He was quite ready to help the young man, but wished to be sure that his young woman guest had no objection to the stranger coming aboard their boat.

It took five minutes to bring the sailboat close enough to pick up the man.  Tom threw him a rope and the stranger climbed aboard, making fast his rowboat to the stern of the sailing vessel.  He was a peculiar, wild-looking fellow, with dark, shifting eyes and thick, curly hair that partly covered his ears.  As be stepped into the sailboat his lips parted in a smile that showed his teeth, which Madge noted were long, very white and pointed at the ends.  He was deeply tanned, yet, in spite of his rough appearance, seemed to be a gentleman.

“You are very kind,” he said in a low, purring voice which caused Madge to eye him sharply.  “I would not have troubled you, but there is a heavy squall coming up.  I shall be greatly obliged to you if you will put me ashore.”

“All right,” assented Tom.  “We are in a hurry to get to shore ourselves, as my mother will be anxious if the storm catches us.”

Madge had continued to gaze at the new-comer.  “Where have I seen him before?  He is like a wolf.  His teeth look almost like fangs, and I don’t like his strange, shifting eyes,” she mentally criticised.

Aloud she said to Tom:  “Miss Jenny Ann will be worried.  She has been very nervous about us since we were locked in that old cabin in the woods overnight.”

The stranger regarded Madge quizzically.  She could have sworn that a mocking light lay in his dark eyes.  “Did you say you were locked in an old cabin in the woods overnight?  How unfortunate.”

“It will be more unfortunate for the fellow who locked the girls in, provided we find him,” threatened Tom shortly.  The stranger’s suave tones aroused in him a peculiar feeling of antagonism.

The young man regarded Tom through half-shut eyes.  “I must ask you to land me on the beach above here,” he drawled.

“Sorry,” answered Tom firmly.  “I don’t know any other pier along here except ours.  I told you I was in a hurry to go ashore.  I don’t like to be disobliging, but you will have to go to our landing with us.”