Silently the other two canoes joined them, and noiselessly, scarcely
daring to breathe, the young folks watched.




CHAPTER V

A SHOT IN THE DARK


In the minds of each of the young people in the canoes, one word kept
repeating itself over and over again: "Spy, spy, spy!"

Since the war had begun, the country had been overrun with them, that
they knew; but out here on this remote island... Yet there was
something about the very posture of the man, his hunched-up figure,
the nervous twitching of the fingers that held the document, that
branded him.

As they watched, he started to fold up the paper, glancing stealthily
about meanwhile; then, as though satisfied that no one was watching,
he picked up the heavy bag that lay beside him, evidently preparing
for flight.

Betty, a little tense figure in the bottom of the boat, uttered a
gasp of dismay, as Allen began carefully to lower himself into the
shallow water.