ly come
here. He can reach here by noon, and I think we will be all right here
until then."

Dolly said nothing more to her, but when she was alone with Bessie she
expressed herself more freely.

"I'm afraid of those men," she said, with a shiver. "I think they're far
more dangerous than the gypsies were. Didn't you think, from the way
they talked, that they would do anything if they thought they would get
well paid for it?"

"Yes, but we're warned, Dolly. It isn't as if we didn't have any idea,
as they believe, that there is danger here. So I don't think we need to
be afraid."

On the beach, between the sea and the tents, the blaze of the camp fire
flickered in the darkness, casting an uneven light on the beach. On the
yacht all was still and peaceful. One by one her lights had gone out,
until only the anchor lights, which she was required by law to show,
remained.

"They've gone to sleep on board the yacht," whispered Bessie. "That
looks as if they didn't mean to do anything to-night, doesn't it,
Dolly?"

"I suppose so, Bessie. But I'm not satisfied."

Neither, wholly, in spite of her reassuring words, was Eleanor. Had
there been any way of moving from the camp that night, she would
probably have taken it. But there seemed to be nothing for it but to
wait there until morning, at least.

"We'll stay here," she said, as good-nights were being exchanged, "but
we'll set a guard for the night. Margery, I wish you and Mary King would
take the first watch. You'll be relieved at one o'clock. You're not too
tired, are you?"

"No, indeed," said both girls.

"I think I ought to take the watch. This is partly on my account," said
Bessie.

"Sleep first, and perhaps you can take the second spell, with Dolly,"
said Eleanor. "You've had a harder day than the rest of us, and you
must be tired now."

Bessie and Dolly were, indeed, very tired. The fact that the camp was
not to be left unguarded while they slept seemed to reassure Dolly, and
she and Bessie were soon sound asleep. Only the noise of the light surf
disturbed the intense stillness, and that had a soothing, musical
quality that made it far from a disturbance to those who slept.

But that peace was to be rudely shattered before the first watch was
over. It was just after midnight when a wild tumult aroused the camp,
and Bessie and Dolly, springing to their feet, saw that the beach was as
light as day--and that the light did not come from the camp fire.
Conf