"Not so very sir; she's apt to be tossed about pretty roughly by the big waves; turn over several times, liker than not." "Yes, I suppose so." "Oh," cried Amy, with a shudder, "I think I'd almost rather drown." "No, Miss," said the man, "I guess you'd find even that better'n drowning." Having fully satisfied their curiosity, our friends inquired if there was anybody about there who would take them across the river. "Yes, sir, I'll row you across, half of you at a time," answered the man, addressing Donald, who had acted as spokesman for the party. "All of you at once would be too big a load for the boat." It was but a short walk to the river, a few minutes' row across it, and soon they were all on the farther side and walking along the beach toward home. "Dinner time!" exclaimed Ella, looking at her watch. "What's to be done about it?" Her question seemed to be addressed to Mary. "Don't ask me," was the demure reply. "It's none of my concern to-day. Didn't you hear the agreement between Charlie and Don yesterday?" "There! Mr. Charles Perrine, see the scrape you have got yourself and me into!" exclaimed Donald with a perplexed and rueful look. "What in the world are we to do!" cried Charlie, stopping short with his hand upon the gate and turning so as to face the others. "Get in out of the sun for the first thing," replied his cousin. "Yes, yes, of course!" and he stepped back and held the gate open for the ladies to pass in. "We are all hungry as bears, I suppose," he said when they were fairly in the house. "Come, Mary, be good and tell us what to do. Shall we go to one of the hotels?" "No, make the fire, set the table, and grind some coffee," she answered, laughing. "I foresaw that I'd have to come to the rescue, and am prepared. We'll have coffee, stewed oysters, cold fowl left from yesterday, plenty of good bread, rolls and butter, fruits and cake, and it won't take many minutes to get it ready." "Mary, you're a jewel!" Charlie returned, catching her about the waist and kissing her on both cheeks. "Begone, you impertinent fellow!" she said laughingly as she released herself and pushed him away. "Even a cousin shouldn't take such liberties." CHAPTER XXIV. "O pilot! 'tis a fearful night, There's danger on the deep." --_Bayly._ Elsie had gone home, and in a few days our little party would break up entirely, Ella and Amy return to their homes, Mary, Donald and Charlie go with Edward and Violet to their mother's cottage to spend some time as Mrs. Travilla's guests. The Allisons had gone, and there was now abundance of room, though the Conlys, mother and daughter, still lingered, loath to leave the delightful sea breezes. The quiet life led under her cousin Elsie's roof was not much to Virginia's taste, but nothing better had offered as yet.