rmises by
calling attention to the current which was sweeping round the island.

"Just look at that water rushing past!" he cried. "We didn't notice
anything like that when we rowed across. It was slack tide then, I
suppose, and now it is rising. It is running strong! I say, what about
that boat? We had better look after her at once."

Rob leapt to his feet before the words were well spoken, and ran
hurriedly forward. His companions watched him go, saw him cross the
plot of grass, come out from beneath the shadow of the trees, and stand
for a moment silhouetted against the sky; then he stopped short, and
threw up his hands with a gesture of dismay. It was indeed a sight to
fill the onlooker with dismay, for the tide had reached the spot where
the boat was moored, and was drifting her rapidly towards the shore!

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

In another moment all the members of the party had left their seats, and
were standing by Rob's side, gazing disconsolately at the lost boat.
Already it had been carried to a considerable distance, and the four men
stared into each other's faces in horrified bewilderment.

"This is a nice state of things!"

"What _is_ to be done? How on earth are we to get her back?"

"She has floated so far--too far, I am afraid, for anyone to swim after
her."

"I could not last out such a distance. It seems a risky thing to
attempt, much too risky. It would not improve matters to have a
drowning case into the bargain. I am afraid none of us dare attempt
it."

Then there was a pause, while the girls huddled together in a group,
watching the men's faces with anxious glances. Arthur stood frowning
and biting his moustache, his eyes bright with anger.

"I should like to shoot myself for my stupidity! Why could I not have
thought of the tide when we were beaching the boat? It would have been
just as easy to drag her up a few yards higher, and then we should have
been safe. We should not have been in such a stupid hurry to be
finished, but I heard Peggy's voice calling to me and--"

"Oh no, no! Don't say it--don't say it! Arthur, Arthur, don't say it
was my fault!" cried Peggy in a voice of such agonised distress as
startled the ears of her companions. Arthur's eyes turned from the boat
for the first time, and he hastened to her side.

"Why, Peg," he cried, "what's the matter, dear? Nobody was blaming you;
there is not a shadow of blame to be laid on you. The fault is ours fo