the southwest shore
of Cape Charles, not many miles from where the great Atlantic Ocean
enters the Chesapeake Bay. Slowly but steadily the "Merry Maid" drifted
down the Maryland coast. Once out on the deep waters the pretty toy
boat moved on and on. In the cabin Miss Jenny Ann and the girls slept
peacefully, unconscious of danger.

Soon the lights in the yellow-shaded lamps went out. The boat was in
utter darkness.

If there had been lights aboard the "Merry Maid," if early in her
perilous voyage cries for help had sounded from her deck, the little
boat would soon have been rescued. But with no lights and no sounds
aboard, the houseboat passed on her way, and purely by chance her
course did not cross the line of another craft.

CHAPTER XI

THE AWAKENING

It was about an hour before dawn when Phyllis Alden awoke with an odd
sensation. She had dreamed that she had been traveling in an airship
and had grown seasick from the motion. She heard a sound of wind and
pouring rain, and a far-off muffled roar of thunder. A storm had come
up, of this Phyllis was sure. But why did she continue to feel seasick?
How the wind and the waves were rocking the poor "Merry Maid"!

The boat lurched a little. Phil clutched at the side of her berth. By
this time she was wider awake. "What a terrific storm!" she thought to
herself. "I hope we won't be blown away." Phil turned over on her
pillow. It was incredible that everybody else should be asleep when the
wind made such a noise. Besides, the boat was moving; Phil felt sure of
it.

She sat up in her berth. At this moment a heavy wave struck the "Merry
Maid" on her port side. Phil rolled out of bed and ran to the tiny
cabin window. The rain was coming down so hard and fast that, try as
she might, she could not see the familiar line of the shore.

Once Phil's feet were on the floor she realized that their boat was
actually moving. Seizing her dressing-gown, without calling to one of
the other girls, she rushed out on the rain-swept deck. For a moment
the rain filled her eyes and blinded her. Her breath left her. She
clung to the railing outside the cabin. Far off, back of them, a
single, far-reaching light shone on the water. To the right a dimmer
glow burned. But everything else was a blank waste of water. She stood,
a white and terror-stricken figure, realizing in the instant their
great disaster.

"Miss Jenny Ann! Madge!" she shouted, going back into the cabin. "Wake
up,