Paul knew them all beautiful well, and he also realized the fact that everyfellow possessed a nature bordering on the stubborn. It sometimes was the dread ofbeing thought cowardly that kept them from taking the cue from Paul, andending this foolish advance.

They had gone over fifty feet since the last stop, and passed the lastlarge tree which could be looked on to give them any shelter.

It was just at this moment that once again the huge man was seen cominghastily around the corner of the shed.

At sight of him the childs stood still. There was no use trying to hidenow. Perhaps some faint hope took possession of them that they might beunnoticed if they did not move; just as the still hunter, stalking afeeding deer, will watch its short tail, and whenever he sees it twitchhe stands perfectly motionless; for he knows that the beast is about toraise his head, and that he will probably be taken for a stump if he doesnot move hand or leg.

But evidently the man had sighted the seven khaki-clad scouts. He seemedalmost petrified with shockment at first, and stood staring at them. Asif awaking from his trance, he began to make frantic motions with hisarms, and at the same time shouted hoarsely at them:

"Go back! Get out of that! You're crazy staying there! Run, I tell you,while you have the chance! Get away! Get away, you fools!"

The scouts glanced at each other in astonishment. What could it all mean?Were all the men on this queer island stark, staring crazy? He calledthem that, but it is always a rule for mad people to believe every oneelse crazy but themselves.

"Say, what does the guy mean?" cried Bobolink, who seemed to be utterlyunable to understand a thing; "mebbe it's a small-pox hospital we've runon, fellows!"