“Hush!” Madge warned in an undertone. There was no need to say more for by this time Enid had fully awakened.
Both girls listened intently. Footsteps could be heard plainly on the deck. Someone had boarded the boat!
“Perhaps it’s one of the sailors,” Enid whispered, but her voice quavered.
“We must see!” Madge returned. “Come on!”
Enid gripped her hand and tried to hold her back. “Oh, I’m afraid!”
“Then I’ll go alone.”
But Enid would not stay behind. As Madge quietly slipped out of bed, she was close beside her. Clinging together, they crept to the door and listened. They could hear the footsteps more distinctly now.
Madge opened the cabin door a crack and peered out. At first she saw nothing, then as her eyes became more accustomed to the dark, she beheld the figure of a man. She saw him pause, look searchingly about and then swiftly enter Mr. Burnett’s cabin.
For an instant she was too startled to move. Then she whispered into her chum’s ear.
“Now is our chance! We must steal out there and lock him in!”