clothes were in a heap on the floor. The child had
disappeared.

Miss Jenny Ann was not in the least uneasy or annoyed. She knew that
Tania had a way of creeping in Madge's bed in the early mornings and of
snuggling close to her. Miss Jenny Ann tip-toed softly into Madge's and
Phil's stateroom. There was no dark head with its straight, short black
hair and quaint, elfish face pressed close against Madge's lovely auburn
one. Madge was slumbering peacefully. Miss Jenny Ann peered into the
upper berth. Phil was alone and had not stirred.

Tania was such a queer, wild little thing! Miss Jenny Ann felt annoyed.
Perhaps Tania had awakened and slipped off the boat without telling any
of them. She had solemnly promised never to run away again, but she might
have broken her word. Miss Jenny Ann explored the houseboat decks. She
called the child's name softly once or twice so as not to disturb the
other girls. There was no answer. She went back into the cabin dining
room. Neatly folded on the chair, where Miss Jenny Ann herself had placed
them the night before, were Tania's clothes. The child could hardly have
run away in her little white nightgown.

When the girls finally wakened Madge was the only one of them who was
alarmed at first. She recalled Tania's strange cry in the night. She
wondered if it could have been possible that she had heard a sound before
the little girl cried out. But she could not decide. She would not
believe, however, that Tania had forgotten her promise and gone away
again without permission.

As soon as Eleanor and Lillian were dressed they went ashore and walked
up and down near the houseboat, calling aloud for Tania. Phyllis was the
most composed of the party. She had two small twin sisters of her own and
knew that children were in the habit of creating just such unnecessary
excitements. Still, it was better to look for a lost child before she had
had time to wander too far away.

"Madge," suggested Phil quietly, "don't be so frightened about Tania. I
have an idea the child has walked off the houseboat in her sleep. She
must have done so, for the dining room door is unlocked from the inside.
Our door on to the deck was not locked, but Tania's was, because Miss
Jenny Ann recalls having locked it herself. She came through our room
when she joined us outdoors after putting Tania to bed. You and I had
better go up at once to find Tom Curtis. Dear old Tom is such a comfort!
He will help us search for