e story of Kitty was told in detail, and even these young ladies
confessed to a keen interest in the mystery of Luna Land.

"We must make a landing, and spend an hour in the woods before
returning," suggested Eugenia as they skirted the shore.

"There's a beautiful rocky point, Mae. We can easily sail in the cove,
and let the girls scamper around there."

And this was the plan immediately decided upon.

CHAPTER XV

STRANDED

TIME flew as the girls scampered over rocks, slid down sandy slopes, and
otherwise "explored" the picturesque retreat.

No accident marred the afternoon, beyond the unexpected slide of Cleo,
who, venturing too near the edge, came down to the water's brink by way
of a sliding, sandy trail.

Everybody had been in wading, choosing a shallow pool that trickled in
from the bay and hid behind a wall of sand, now plainly marked, as the
tide was receding.

"Come, girls, we must be moving," warned Mae, "a sail boat depends on
wind and tide for safe navigation."

Reluctantly they left the sand, for this strip of rocky woods was
attractive to the point of positive fascination.

With a friendly breeze they were soon under full sail again, and the
voyage home promised too prompt an ending to their day's sport. They
would have prolonged it.

"Couldn't we sail in and out that group of islands?" asked Grace,
reluctant to reach port too early.

"We might," agreed Mae, "if we were sure to be safe from sand bars."

"Water's splendidly deep," her sister at the tiller assured her. "We may
as well let the girls see all the sights."

Accordingly, the Blowell was directed toward the islands, that seemed
like mere splashes of green, spilled on the blue water.

In and out they went in apparent safety, every one enjoying the close
land sailing, and the glimpses of varied woodlands these little islands
exhibited.

"Tide's going out fast," called Mae, as the sail swung north.

Eugenia did not reply. She thought she felt something scrape.

A grinding sound assured her, she _had_ heard scraping--and she knew the
feel of sand.

They stopped like a canoe running out of the waves!

"Sand bar!" shouted Mae, but none of the girls knew just what that
meant.

Opening the sail, clear of every reef, Mae tried to get off the bar, and
Eugenia urged the tiller to try one spot, then another; but the Blowell
stood still, and defied the breeze or water to move her.

"Can't we go?" asked Cleo, just beginning