ard Miss Lincoln's orders, and to go along the beach
and tell them of their danger. There was not time to run back and ask
permission. Nobody else was in sight, so she must decide on her own
authority that it was expedient for once to disobey. Scrambling quickly
on to the shore by an even more precipitous path than the one by which
she had ascended, Patty made what haste she could along the sands
towards her companions. She shouted to them while she was still a
considerable distance off, but though they waved their hands in reply,
they did not come any the faster.

"How stupid they are!" thought Patty. "Can't they see the water behind
them? They walk as if they were strolling round the quad."

With an extra effort she hurried on, and reached them out of breath and
panting.

"Why don't you make haste?" she gasped. "Didn't you hear me call?"

"It's all very well to say 'Make haste!'" replied Maud. "We can't get
Muriel along."

"I've hurt my foot," said Muriel. "I slipped on a stone, and I think I
must have sprained my ankle. It hurts dreadfully when I lean any weight
upon it. Let me have your arm, Patty."

"Don't you see how fast the tide's rising?" said Patty, giving the
asked-for assistance. "If we're not very quick we shall be surrounded."

"Why, so we shall!" exclaimed Vera. "I didn't notice it before. Come
along at once. We must run."

"I can't run," said Muriel fretfully, "you know I can't. I can scarcely
even limp as it is."

"You must," said Maud, taking her other arm; "that is, if you don't want
to be drowned."

"Don't pull me, Maud," cried Muriel, "you're hurting me. Oh, I can't go
any faster! My foot will give way underneath me."

"What are we to do?" said Kitty blankly. "The water's rushing round on
both sides of us! If we don't get across that piece of sand in front
directly, we shall be on an island."

"Let us make a chair of our hands," suggested Patty, "and try to carry
Muriel. See, Maud! Clasp my wrists like this, and I'll clasp yours.
Muriel, sit down! Now, then; one, two, let's step together."

"She's too heavy; I can't manage it!" exclaimed Maud, dropping her
burden on to the sands.

"Then you try, Kitty."

"No, no! I'm not so strong as Maud. Oh, look at the water!"

"Come along, girls," shouted Vera, "we must run for our lives! It's no
use our all being drowned."

"Maud! Kitty! Vera! You don't mean to leave me?" shrieked Muriel.

"Quick! Quick!" was the sole reply she received,