The door gave way much more readily than had been anticipated.
Nick and Chick barely saved themselves from falling; Patsy sprawled upon the floor inside the cabin, and almost at the feet of Carleton Lynne, who was standing up, and holding Madge Babbington tightly in his arms.
Madge was sobbing, so she raised a tearful as well as a startled face toward the intruders who had come upon them so suddenly.
Lynne looked at the unexpected callers as calmly as if they had been expected, and as if their method of entrance was the customary thing. He did not relax his hold upon Madge in the slightest degree, but rather held her the tighter.
“Hello, Mr. Carter!� he exclaimed. “You’re just in time. How are you, Chick? Glad to see you, Patsy. I hope all the folks are well at home. That’s the proper thing to say, isn’t it?�
“You seem to be rather pleasantly occupied, Lynne,� Nick replied, with a smile that was somewhat grim. “You make me feel sorry that I interrupted you.�
“Well, you needn’t be. I’m mighty glad that you came. If you’ll take the trouble to move that screen, you’ll see something. We just put it there to get him out of our sight.�
Patsy moved the screen; then he burst into laughter.
Red Mike was there, of course, with some picture cords tied around his wrists and ankles and a towel tied around his face so that he could not talk.
“It’s all over but the shouting, Carter,� said Lynne. “Shall I tell you about it?�