Three escaped criminals hide out at Gull Cottage at a time when Mrs. Muir has asked the captain not to interfere, so he doesn't.
After the Captain finally agrees not to interfere in mortal matters, three escaped convicts hold up at Gull Cottage, straining Carolyn and Martha at gunpoint. The women make several ill-executed attempts to summon help and fail before the Captain finally intervenes.—statmanjeff