did not tell. Now
everything has worked out beautifully. Oh, yes, there is just one thing
more. We will never tell just how the houseboat happened to break away
from her moorings."

"Right you are, Little Captain," said Phyllis, saluting.

The others echoed Phyllis's sentiments. Flora Harris was deeply
touched; as for her grandfather, he placed his hands on Madge's
shoulders and, looking down into her eyes of true blue, kissed the
loyal little captain almost reverently on her white forehead.

"God bless you, my dear," he said solemnly. "You are Robert Morton's
own daughter."

After Flora and her grandfather had gone the girls spent the time until
luncheon relating their further island adventures to Mrs. Curtis and
Tom. It had been decided that they take the train for Miss Tolliver's
the following afternoon, and after remaining to luncheon with the
Curtises they were to go down to the wharf to find out whether their
houseboat had been picked up and towed to a landing near them.

When they reached the dock at a little after two o'clock it was to find
the "Merry Maid" bobbing listlessly at the end of a strong rope cable.
Tom Curtis had sent out a swift sea-going launch which had sighted her
and picked her up within a few hours after it had started out.

"Hurrah for the 'Merry Maid'!" sang out Madge. "You can't lose her."

"Hurrah for the little captain!" cried Phyllis. "We can't get along
without her."

"Hurrah for a hard afternoon's work," reminded Lillian. "Fall to, my
hearties."

"Aye, aye, sir," sounded the chorus, and the crew of the "Merry Maid"
"fell to."

* * * * *

"Miss Phyllis Alden, Miss Madge Morton, Miss Lillian Seldon and Miss
Eleanor Butler, there is an express package downstairs for you as big
as I don't know what!" announced the little maid at Miss Tolliver's
Select Seminary for Girls in breathless excitement. "I saw it marked
quite plain underneath your name. 'For the Captain and Mates of the
"Merry Maid."'"

The little maid ran down the steps as quickly as she had traveled up.

"It is study hour and we are not supposed to leave our rooms. Do you
think we dare go down to the library?" inquired the obedient Eleanor.

But the other three girls were already disappearing from the room and
were making for the library.

Just outside the library door Phil paused. "I'll go and find Miss
Tolliver," she said.

"Do come and see us open a big box that has j