the
beach. "From your description I feel almost certain that he is the
same boy who went off with our sailboat. I'd like to come across him
again."

"Well, I wouldn't," declared Lillian. "I am not so bloodthirsty as you
girls are."

The girls met no one along the beach, except a few children. Phil led
them straight to the tent, where she had talked with the afflicted
girl. "Of course, there isn't much of a chance that we shall find
Mollie in the tent," explained Phil, "but I thought I would look here
first."

"Do you know the girl's name, Phil?" queried Eleanor.

Phyllis shook her head. "Not her real name. I only call her Mollie
because her dreadful old father called her 'Moll,' and 'Moll' is an
ugly name."

The tent was more forlorn and dilapidated than ever. It was empty.
There was not a sign of life anywhere about, except for a few faded
wild flowers cast carelessly in the corner of the tent.

Madge picked them up. "These flowers make me think of poor 'Ophelia'
in the play of 'Hamlet.' Ophelia went mad, you know, and wandered
about with wild flowers in her hair."

"Mollie isn't the least bit crazy, Madge. You will understand that as
soon as you see her," protested Phil. "It is only that she is like a
child, and does not remember things. Would you girls mind going around
to the other side of the island? Mollie said their shanty boat was
over there. I do so want to find her."

Lillian hesitated. "I don't think we ought to go among those rough
fishermen again," she protested. "We are sure to see some rude sailors
over there who might speak to us."

"Oh, don't worry, Lillian," reassured Madge. "I am sure no one would
dare say anything to us."

Madge was now deeply interested in the discovery of Phil's friend and
longing for any kind of adventure. She had fully made up her mind to
see Mollie if it were possible.

It was more than a mile walk around the island. But the girls came, at
last, to a spot where they again beheld a dirty canal boat made fast to
a tree on the sandy shore. A huge woman, with a coarse, dreadful face,
sat out on deck holding a baby in her lap. Several small children
played near her. But there was no sign of Mollie. Captain Mike was
gone, and with him his sailboat.

Phil went as near the edge of the shore as she could. The woman gazed
at the four chums with sullen curiosity. She presumed that they had
come to ask her husband to take them out sailing. But Phi