"With 'em watching maybe from the _Puritan_? I guess not. We got to go ahead and swim the way we always do, Sid. Don't let's even appear to be talking about anything. Come on, I'll beat you in!" For the space of the few minutes while the water closed about her with delicious coolness Sidney forgot everything in an intoxication of delight. Presently she came back to the _Arabella_ and climbed aboard with a sigh of utter content. "Thank goodness _I_ haven't any complexes," she laughed, shaking the salt drops from her bobbed head. "And now what?" Lavender pulled on the light sweater he had worn over his bathing suit. "When it gets dark I'm coming out to the _Arabella_ and stay all night. Maybe they'll come back and I'll find out why. That fellow said something 'bout Rockman's not being safe. They'll learn the _Arabella_ isn't safe either!" "But Lav, I'm coming with you!" "You can't. And this isn't any work for a girl to get mixed up in." Sidney drew herself to her full height. "Lavender Green, if you think you're going to lose me _now_ you're mistaken. I guess we went into this in a sort of partnership and it's going to hold. I found out just as much as you did! And if you come out to the _Arabella_, _I'm_ coming, and Mart, too, if she's home." Lav still hesitated. "Aunt Achsa won't let you. How'd you get away?" This staggered Sidney for a moment, then she thought of a "way." This was Wednesday night and Miss Letty had said that on Wednesday night she was going to drive to Truro and that Sidney might go with her. From Truro Miss Letty was going on to Wellfleet. Aunt Achsa would think Sidney wanted to see Cap'n Davies again. She explained all this breathlessly to Lavender. "This is important enough to warrant a fib. And when it's all over Aunt Achsa will understand. Let's go home now and find Mart." Unwillingly Lavender conceded Sidney's right to share with him his night's vigil at any cost. Again they beached the dory near Sunset Lane. Now they found Mart at home. Sidney put her head in the door, made certain that gran'ma was not in hearing, and cried "Hook!" Mart had only to look once at Sidney's face to know that something had happened. Sidney dragged her out to the Lane and there she and Lavender, in words as quick as pistol shots, told the story. "Meet us down on the beach near Milligan's at eight o'clock," Lav whispered, as they parted. CHAPTER XIX THE GLEAM Exactly at the appointed hour Sidney met Lavender on the beach. She was breathless and a little worried for it had been neither easy nor to her liking to deceive Aunt Achsa. Aunt Achsa had declared that a storm was "comin'" for she could smell it in the air and Tillie Higgins had seen Sam Doolittle start for the backside with his pike pole and that meant a blow for Sam didn't waste steps. "'Tisn't likely Letty Vine'll _go_ to Truro tonight."