her caramel cake
and Lillian another plate of fudge. The farmer boy had come down after
luncheon, and had scrubbed the decks of the houseboat to the last
degree of cleanliness. The girls had hung flags everywhere, and on the
outside of the cabin, facing the water, Phyllis had hung a piece of
white bunting with the word "Welcome" stamped on it in large letters.
This was the first thing Madge would see as she came within sight of
the houseboat.

Inside the cabin the table was set for tea. It held the best pickles,
preserves, cold meats and jellies that the houseboat larder could
furnish. Lillian had made a pitcher of lemonade and another of iced
tea. Miss Jones had roasted potatoes, and her corn muffins were ready
to slip into the oven as soon as she heard their friends approaching.

The three girls and their chaperon wore simple white frocks, with blue
sashes knotted about their waists, for blue and white were the
houseboat colors.

They were watching a golden sunset from the deck of their ship when,
together, they espied a figure standing up in a small skiff that was
moving in their direction. The boat was rowed by one man. The other
man sat with his arm in a sling. The upright figure was waving a great
bunch of flowers.

"Madge is coming!" cried Phil. The four women got out their
handkerchiefs and shouted across the water.

As Madge climbed aboard the boat a strange, squeaky sound greeted her.
First it played fast, then slow. It was undoubtedly music.

"My bonnie lies over the ocean,
My bonnie lies over the sea,
My bonnie lies over the ocean,
Oh, bring back my bonnie to me."

The tune was old as the hills.

"What on earth is that?" demanded Madge, as she kissed her chaperon and
started around the semi-circle of her chums.

"It's Lillian's surprise!" Eleanor explained. "It's a hurdy-gurdy. We
found it in the village. I know it is pretty old. But Lillian
persuaded the man to bring it on board, as we thought it would be jolly
to have a dance on the deck to-night in honor of Miss Madge Morton,
captain of the 'Merry Maid.'"

CHAPTER XV

A CALL FOR HELP

"Madge, you must go over to Fisherman's Island with me," urged Phil a
few days later. "I feel dreadfully about Mollie. I promised the poor
girl that we would come to see her soon. Now, a long time has passed;
we have never been there. Eleanor and Lillian are anxious to go along
with me. Mollie is perfectly lovely, and I