The girls never forgot how, with the aid of the boys, they had captured the Codfish and turned him over to the police. Though, as Laura said, the thief had been in jail for some time, the chums had never stopped thinking and wondering about him. But never before had the possibility of his escaping been thought of.

   But now, as they made their way through the forest that was growing darker and darker, they could not shake off the thought of him.

   They glanced often and uneasily into the shadowy woodland and drew closer together as if for protection. The rain was beginning to come a little faster now, and their clothes felt damp. Even Billie’s courage was beginning to fail.

   Suddenly Laura stopped stock still and looked at them impatiently.

   “There’s not a bit of use our going on like this,” she said. “For all we know we may be getting farther away from the path every minute.”

   “And my feet hurt,” added Vi pathetically.

   Suddenly Billie called to them. She had gone on a little ahead and, peering through the dusk, had seen the outline of something dark, a black smudge against the gray of the woods.

   “Girls, come here quick!” she cried, and half-fearing, half-hoping, they knew not what, the others ran to her.

   “What is it?” Laura cried.

   For answer Billie pointed through the gloom.

   “There! See it?” she cried excitedly. “It’s some sort of little house, I guess—a hut or something.”

   “A house!” cried Laura joyfully. “Glory be, let’s go! What’s the matter?” she asked, as the other girls hung back.

   “Better not be in too much of a hurry,” Billie cautioned her. “The place looks as if it were empty; but you never can tell.”

   “Well, there’s something I can tell,” Laura retorted impatiently. “And that is, that I’m getting soaking wet.” She started on again, but Billie called to her to stop.

   “Don’t be crazy, Laura,” she whispered. “We’re all alone in the woods, and it’s almost night. How do we know who may be in that shack?”

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