Suddenly Mabel heard footsteps running down the deck toward their suite. She glanced up idly, wondering why any one should put himself to so much exertion on such a hot day, and even as she looked up a figure darted into the room and closed the door behind him.
Mabel jumped quickly to her feet and faced the newcomer, who, she now perceived, held a revolver in his hand.
Mabel was not frightened by the sight of the weapon, for she was not unacquainted with the use of firearms and had faced more than one dangerous situation; but as the man turned and faced her, she uttered a cry of amazement.
The man was Henry Bristow.
Bristow, who had not perceived that the room was occupied, turned at the sound of Mabel’s voice, his revolver half raised. At sight of Mabel he dropped his arm, and removed his cap.
“Please pardon me for this intrusion,” he said quietly. “I did not know the cabin was occupied nor whose it was. I just happened to see the door open, and I slipped in.”
“What is the matter?” asked Mabel, who realized that something must be wrong.
“Oh, nothing,” was the reply.
Before Mabel could utter another word, there was a loud knock on the closed door.
Shirley, in response to the knock, came in from the next room. She took in the situation at a glance, but did not betray her surprise by so much as an exclamation. She advanced quickly toward Mabel and young Bristow.