The girls gathered delicious, fragrant little bunches, and felt that they were scoring tremendously over those unfortunates who were receiving information about architecture inside the church. "We mustn't stay too long!" sighed Edith. "It's a pity, but I'm afraid we really ought to go now. They'll be looking for us if we don't." So they walked back across the meadow to the bank. Here a most unpleasant surprise greeted them. The boat, into which they had meant to step and ferry themselves back, had drifted into the middle of the river. "Good gracious! Didn't you tie it up?" exclaimed Edith, aghast. "Of course I did, but-well, I suppose I didn't tie it tight enough. I never thought it would float away," confessed Sybil. The boat, though still working on the chain which spanned the river, was quite inaccessible from either side. The girls were in an extremely awkward position. Nobody knew where they had gone, and unless it occurred to some of their party to come and seek them by the wharf, or unless some chance passer-by happened to notice their plight, they might wait for a long time without rescue. "What are we to do?" fumed Beata. "If we're not back at four the 'sardine-tin' will be waiting for me, and Mr. Vicary will be so cross! The last time we were late he went and complained to Father and said he'd have to charge us extra for wasting his time. There was an awful row, and Violet scolded Romola and me, although it was really Tattie's fault." "Can we get to Durracombe on this side of the river?" suggested Sybil. Edith shook her head. "We could; but there isn't a bridge till you get to Parlingford, and that's five miles round. I think we'd better stay here." "I could slay that wretched boat for playing us such a trick!" said Merle. Meantime Miss Mitchell and the rest of the girls had finished their survey of the various monuments, and, catching sight of the church clock, realised how late it was, and that they must start back at once. Of course the four truants were missed, and a hasty search was made for them, in the chancel, and behind the organ, and outside among the tombstones. "They're not anywhere here!" reported the scouts. "Then they must have walked on," said Miss Mitchell. "Beata knew she had to be back by four o'clock. I expect we shall catch them up on the road. Come along!" [Illustration: "WHY DIDN'T 'EE FASTEN UP THE CHAIN"]