out for what happened last
week in the gymnasium," said Muriel.

"It's too bad!"

"It's an absolute shame!"

"Suppose we were to go after all," suggested Vera tentatively.

"But Phyllis would stop us."

"She won't see. She's taking the tent poles and walking up that path
towards the hotel. She'll be round the corner in half a minute."

"Why, so she is!"

"If we're quick we could be beyond the point before she comes back."

"Then come along at once."

"Yes, don't let us waste a moment."

The four girls jumped up, and, hurrying off, went away round the rock
with such record speed, that by the time Phyllis returned to fetch the
remainder of the tent they were well out of sight. Imagining that they
must have walked down the beach towards the village, Phyllis did not
trouble to go and look for them, so the only person who knew the real
direction they had taken was Patty, who happened to have overheard most
of the conversation, and to have seen their hasty flight. Having
examined as many sea anemones as she cared to, Patty climbed up a steep
little track on to the cliff again, and spent a blissful half-hour by
herself, lying in the sunshine on a bed of purple heath, watching the
white sails of the boats in the distance, and a steamer far out on the
horizon. From her point of lookout she had a very good view over the
whole of the large bay. How fast the tide was flowing in! The sandbanks,
which only ten minutes ago had gleamed yellow in the sunshine, were now
covered with water, and a huge white wave appeared at the mouth of the
estuary, advancing with threatening speed.

"It must be the tidal wave that Phyllis spoke about," thought Patty.
"She told us how dangerous it is on this coast, how it comes in with a
great rush, as fast as a man can run, and floods all the bay quite
suddenly. I expect that was the reason Miss Lincoln wouldn't let us go
far along the beach this afternoon. Why! Surely that cannot be Muriel
and the others such a long way out upon the sands! I thought they would
have been back before now. Yes, it is! And their backs are turned to the
sea! They're sauntering along as calmly as if the tide were going down
instead of rising. Oh, why don't they look round and hurry?"

Patty sprang to her feet and waved her handkerchief frantically, but the
girls were not looking in her direction, and took no notice. What was
she to do? She felt, at all costs, they must be warned. She would be
obliged to disreg