CHAPTER XVI
RAGS TO THE RESCUE
Phyllis whirled about. "What is the matter? Why do you say that?" shedemanded in a fierce whisper.
Eileen shrank back, evidently appalled by what she had unconsciouslyrevealed. "I--I--didn't mean anything!" she stammered.
"You certainly did!" Phyllis declared. "You said something about 'Ted.'Who _is_ 'Ted,' and what is going on outside there?"
"Oh, I don't know!--I'm not--sure! I'm dreadfully nervous--that's all."
"Look here!" cried Phyllis, with stern determination, "I believe you knowa great deal more than you will acknowledge. You've said something about'Ted.' Now, I have a brother Ted, and I've reason to think he has beenmixed up with some of your affairs. I wish you would kindly explain itall. I think there's some trouble--out there!"
"Oh, I can't--I oughtn't," Eileen moaned; when suddenly Leslie, who hadglanced again out of the window, uttered a half-suppressed cry:
"Oh, there _is_ something wrong! They're--they're strugglingtogether--for something!"
Both of the other girls rushed to the window and peered out over hershoulder. There was indeed something decidedly exciting going on. The twofigures who had been circling about the old log, watching each other likea couple of wild animals, were now wrestling together in a fierceencounter. How it had come about, the girls did not know, as none of themhad been looking out when it began. But it was plainly a struggle for thepossession of something that one of them had clutched tightly in hishand. Vaguely they could see it, dangling about, as the contest went on.And each, in her secret heart, knew it to be the burlap bag--and itscontents!
"Eileen!" cried Phyllis, turning sharply upon the other girl, "is one ofthose two--my brother Ted? Answer me--truthfully."
"Yes--oh, yes!" panted Eileen.
"And is he in--danger?" persisted Phyllis.
"Oh--I'm afraid so!"
"Then I'm going out to help him!" declared Phyllis, courageously. "Come,Leslie--and bring Rags!"
Leslie never afterward knew how it happened--that she, a naturally timidperson, should have walked out of that house, unhesitatingly andunquestioningly, to do battle with some unknown enemy in the storm andthe dark. If she had had any time to think about it, she might havefaltered. But Phyllis gave her no time. With Rags at their heels, theysnatched up some wraps and all suddenly burst out of the front door ontothe veranda, Phyllis having stopped only long enough to take up herelectric torch from the living-room table. She switched this on in thedarkness, and, guided by its light, they plunged into the storm.
The force of the wind almost took their breath away. And as they plowedalong, Leslie was horrified to notice that the tide had crept almost upto the level of the old log and was within sixty feet of the bungalow."Oh, what _shall_ we do if it comes much higher!" she moaned to herself.But from that moment on, she had little time for such considerations.
Phyllis had plunged ahead with the light, and the two other girlsfollowed her in the shadow. Leslie was somewhat hampered in her advance,as she was holding Rags by his collar and he strongly objected to therestraint. But she dared not let him loose just then.
Suddenly they were plunged in utter darkness. Phyllis's torch had givenout! And the two others, reaching her side at that instant, heard hergasp, "Oh, dreadful! Can anything be the matter with this battery?" Butafter a moment's manipulation the light flashed on again. It was in thisinstant that they saw the face of Ted, lying on the ground and staring upat them while his assailant held him firmly pinned beneath him in an irongrip.
"Help!" shrieked Ted, above the roar of the wind. "Let Rags loose!"
They needed no other signal. Leslie released her hold on the impatientanimal, and with a snarl that was almost unnerving, he darted, straightas an arrow, for Ted's assailant.
The girls never knew the whole history of that encounter. They onlyrealized that Ted finally emerged from a whirling medley of legs andarms, limping but triumphant, and strove to loosen the dog's grip on aman who was begging to be released.
"That'll do, Rags, old boy! You've done the trick! Good old fellow! Nowyou can let go!" he shouted at the dog, trying to persuade him to loosenhis hold. But Rags was obdurate. He could see no point in giving up thestruggle at this interesting juncture.
"Call him off!" Ted shouted to the girls, "I can't make him let go!"
"Is it _safe?_" cried Phyllis, in answer.
"We'll have to take a chance!" he answered. "He's half killing thisfellow!"
With beating heart Leslie came into the range of the light, grasped Ragsby the collar and pulled at him with all her might. "Come Rags! Let go!It's all right!"
The dog gave way reluctantly. And when he had at length loosed histerrible grip and was safely in Leslie's custody, the man scrambled tohis feet, rose, held on to his arm with his other hand, and groaned.
And, despite his disheveled condition and his drenched appearance, in theglare of the electric torch the girls recognized him, with a start ofamazement. It was the fisherman of the afternoon--the man with the formerlimp!
In the glare of the electric torch the girls recognizedhim]
He turned immediately on Ted with an angry, impatient gesture. "Well, theother fellow got it--after all! I don't know what business _you_ had inthis concern, but you spoiled the trick for me--and didn't do yourselfany good! And if that dog gives me hydrophobia, I'll sue the whole outfitof you! He beat it off in that direction--the other fellow. I saw thatmuch. I can't lose any time, though what I need is a doctor."
And with another angry snort, he disappeared into the darkness and thehurricane.