ng to
do all they could to learn the secret of the mysterious package of
diamonds.

"And now what shall we girls do?" asked Betty, after breakfast.

"What do the boys want to do?" queried Mollie. "Perhaps you may have
some plans for us."

"Sorry, ladies," Allen said, "but our boat is on a strike again, and
we'll have to have it fixed. It isn't much, though, and we can go out
this afternoon."

"Then we'll go down on the beach for a while," proposed Betty. "It's
lovely this morning. We'll go in bathing just before luncheon, and
then, after a little sleep, we'll be ready to have the boys amuse us."

"Sounds nice, to hear them tell us," commented Roy with a laugh.

And this plan was followed. When the boys went off in the motor boat,
the ignition system of which was not working to their satisfaction, the
girls strolled down to the shore, walking along it.

"Let's go as far as the place we found the diamonds," proposed Amy.

"Think you might find some more?" asked Betty, with a smile.

"No such luck. But I thought perhaps we might see----"

"Those men again? No, thank you!" cried Grace.

"Nonsense!" exclaimed Mollie. "The beach is free, and it is broad
daylight. Come along."

So they strolled along the sand, stopping now and then to pick up a
pretty shell or pebble. Out in the bay was the fleet of clamming boats,
little schooners from which the grappling rakes were thrown overboard,
and allowed to drag along the bottom with the motion of the craft, to be
hauled up now and then, and emptied of their shelly catch.

On the other side of the point of land the ocean beat restlessly on the
beach.

"Here's the place," exclaimed Betty, at length, as they came to the log
where they had sat when Mollie and Amy dug up the box of diamonds.

"It doesn't look as though they had come back and searched in vain for
the treasure," said Betty.

There was no evidence in the sand, that was certain. The girls looked
about a bit, and then strolled on. Before they knew it they found
themselves in front of the lone hut where, from the odor that hung in
the air, and the evidence of nets and boats about, it was evident a
fisherman dwelt.

As the girls came opposite this, the door opened and a woman, with a
hard, cruel face, peered out.

"Ah, little missies!" she croaked, "it's a fine morning for a walk, but
you must be tired. Won't you come in and rest?" And she leered up into
their faces.

CHAPTER XVII

ANOTHER ALARM