Holmes stared at the sight of the four girls standing there, fully dressed, his jaw dropping.
"So you're all here?" he said, an expression of relief gradually succeeding his consternation. "Found you couldn't get away, eh, Bessie? Why didn't you come to the front door instead of climbing in that way? We'd have let you in all right." He laughed, harshly.
"Well, I've had about all the trouble you're going to give me," he said. "Silas Weeks will be here to take care of you pretty soon, my girl, and now that he's got you in the state where you belong, I guess you won't get away again very soon."
"What state do you think this island is in?" asked Charlie Jamieson, appearing suddenly from his hiding-place.
Holmes staggered back. For a moment he seemed speechless. Then he found his tongue.
"What are you doing here? How did you get into my house?" he snarled. "I'll have you arrested as a burglar."
"Ah, no, you won't," said Charlie, pleasantly. "But I'm going to have you arrested—for kidnapping. Answer my question—do you think this is in the state where the courts have put Bessie in charge of Silas Weeks?"
"Certainly it is," said Holmes, blustering.
"You ought to keep up with the news better, Mr. Holmes. The United States Government has bought this island for military purposes. It's a Federal reservation now, and the writ of the state courts has no value whatever. Even the land this house stands on belongs to the government now—it was taken by condemnation proceedings."
Eleanor gave a glad cry at the good news. At last she understood the trap into which Holmes had fallen.