“It’s a boat.  I believe it is the same one I saw in there before.  But I can’t be sure of that.  I don’t know boats well enough; then, again, the night is too dark to make certain.  I don’t know that it would be anything of importance if a boat were to run in here to anchor for the night.  That evidently is what they propose doing,” she thought.

That Harriet’s surmise was correct was evidenced a few moments later when the boat’s anchor splashed into the waters of the bay and the anchor chain rattled through the hawse hole.  Harriet tried to get a clear idea of what the boat itself looked like, but was unable to do so on account of the darkness.  Now the creak of oars was borne faintly to her ears; the sound ceased abruptly, then was taken up again.

“They are putting a boat ashore!” muttered Harriet, who was now sitting on the sand, her hair streaming over her shoulder in the fresh, salty breeze.  “I hope to goodness none of them comes out here.  The girls would be terribly frightened if they knew about this.  I don’t believe I shall tell them, unless—­”

Harriet paused suddenly as the sound of men’s voices was heard somewhere toward the land end of the bar.  She walked around to the rear of the cabin, peering shoreward.  She made out faintly the figures of two men coming down the bar.  They were carrying something between them—­something that seemed to be heavy and burdensome, for the men were staggering under its weight.

The Meadow-Brook Girl realized that she was face to face with a mystery, but what that mystery was she could not even surmise, nor would she for some time to come.  She determined to act, however, and that, if possible, without alarming her companions.  Hesitating but a moment, Harriet stepped out boldly and started up the bar to meet the mysterious strangers with their heavy burden.

CHAPTER XIII

A STRANGE PROCEEDING

They did not appear to see her until Harriet was within a few yards of them.

Then they halted sharply, dropped their burden and straightened up.  The right hand of one of them slipped to his hip pocket, then a few seconds later was slowly withdrawn with a handkerchief in it.

“It’s a girl,” exclaimed one of the pair in a low voice.

“Well, what do you think about that?”

“Hello, there, Miss!  What is it?  Who are ye?” demanded one of the men.

“I was about to ask the same question of you.  What are you doing here?”

“This here is free coast, young woman.  We’ve as good a right to be here as yourself, and maybe more right,” returned the stranger.

“That depends, sir.  I wish you wouldn’t speak so loudly, either.  You will awaken my companions.  I would just as soon they did not see you, for I don’t like the looks of you in the dark.”

“Companions!” exploded one of the men under his breath.  “Whew!  Where are they?”