t had been wrapped.

"'Boil for twenty minutes," she read, "'stirring briskly.' That can't be
really necessary. I've always noticed that these directions for use are
too precautious. They go in frightfully for being on the safe side.
I should say myself that we'd be all right in trying it after five
minutes. And stirring is rather rot. Things aren't a bit better for
being fussed over. In fact Father says most things come out better in
the end if they're left alone. 'Add salt to taste, and then serve.' It
would have been more sensible to say 'then eat.'" But I suppose serve is
a politer word. By the way, have you any salt?"

"Not a grain," said Miss Rutherford. "I entirely forgot the salt."

"It's a pity," said Priscilla, "that we didn't think of putting in some
sea water. Potatoes are ripping when boiled in sea water and don't need
any salt Peter Walsh told me that once and I expect he knows, I never
tried myself."

She glanced at the sea as she spoke, feeling that it was, perhaps, not
too late to add the necessary seasoning in its liquid form. A small
boat, under a patched lug sail, was crossing the mouth of the bay at the
moment. Priscilla sprang to her feet excitedly.

"That's Flanagan's old boat," she said. "I'd know it a mile off. Jimmy!
Jimmy Kinsella!"

Jimmy was securing the anchor of the _Tortoise_. He looked round.

"Isn't that Flanagan's old boat?" said Priscilla.

"It is, Miss, surely. There's ne'er another boat in the bay but herself
with the bit of an old flour sack sewed on along the leach of the sail.
It was only last week my da was saying----"

"We haven't a moment to lose," said Priscilla. "Miss Rutherford, you
help Frank down. I'll run on and get up the foresail."

"But the soup?" said Miss Rutherford, "and the peppermint creams, and
the rest of the luncheon?"

"If you feel that you can spare the peppermint creams," said Priscilla,
"we'll take them. But we can't wait for the soup."

"Take the bread, too," said Miss Rutherford, "and the peaches. It won't
delay you a minute to put in the peaches!"

"If you're perfectly certain you don't want them for yourself, we'll be
very glad to have them."

"Nothing would induce me to eat a Californian peach in selfish
solitude," said Miss Rutherford, "I should choke if I tried."

"Right," said Priscilla. "You carry them down and sling them on board.
I'll help Frank. Now, then, Cousin Frank, do stand up. I can't drag you
down over the seaweed on yo