The men had risen and begun to scatter the fire, kicking the burning wood into the pond. The gulls rose even higher, screaming.
Under cover of the noise that the men were making Jo and Helen began to creep slowly backward into the denser shadows. Ann became aware of what they were doing and she, too, made a successful retreat. She reached the deer path and stood beside the others.
Ben, however, was not so lucky. His foot slipped on a stone and he crashed down into the underbrush.
Instantly Charlie was after him, while Jo and Ann stood as if paralyzed. There was nothing that they could do to help. Helen, in agonizing fear and excitement, put both hands over her mouth so that no sound could escape.
“It’s a boy,” called Charlie. He had caught Ben’s arm and was pulling him roughly toward the fire.
Ann’s courage had come surging back, but Jo leaned toward her and put his lips close to her ear; he seemed to know that she was going out to Ben. “Hush! We can’t do a thing now. Wait!”
Tom yanked Ben by his coat and turned his face toward the light. “What kid is this? What are you doing here, spying on us?”
Ann thought that she would have been frightened nearly out of her wits if that black unshaven face had been so near hers, but Ben drew back as far as he could and answered bravely.
“I saw the smoke and came to put out the fire.”
“Did you come alone?” demanded Tom, giving him a shake. “Don’t you dare to lie to me!”