“Is he badly hurt, madam?” cried Captain Norris.
“I don't know,” replied Miss Harding; “I'm just trying to help him up, Captain Norris,” she laboriously explained in an effort to account for her arms about Billy's neck.
Norris gave a start of surprise at hearing his name.
“Who are you?” he cried. “How do you know me?” and as the girl turned her face toward him, “Miss Harding! Thank God, Miss Harding, you are safe.”
“But where on earth did you come from?” asked Barbara.
“It's a long story, Miss Harding,” replied the officer, “and the ending of it is going to be pretty hard on you—you must try to bear up though.”
“You don't mean that father is dead?” she asked, a look of terror coming to her eyes.
“Not that—we hope,” replied Norris. “He has been taken prisoner by these half-breed devils on the island. I doubt if they have killed him—we were going to his rescue when we ourselves were captured. He and Mr. Mallory were taken three days ago.”
“Mallory!” shouted Billy Byrne, who had entirely recovered from the blow that had merely served to stun him for a moment. “Is Mallory alive?”
“He was yesterday,” replied Norris; “these fellows from whom you so bravely rescued us told us that much.”