nd we can
have a ride now and then," for Mollie's machine was in use by her mother
that summer, and the girls had no chance at its pleasures.

"Mercenary!" whispered Mollie to the Little Captain.

Percy was made as welcome as the circumstances permitted, and he sat on
the sand under a huge umbrella while the girls frolicked in the water.
The boys came back for luncheon, and helped to divide the boredom of the
newest arrival, though they made uncomplimentary remarks behind his
back, and Betty was in constant fear lest some unpleasant incident
should occur. She had to remember that she was the hostess.

Nothing was said of the incident at the fisherman's hut, and that
afternoon the young people went for a motor boat trip. That is, all but
Percy Falconer. He could not be induced to embark, even on the calm
waters of the bay, and so he spent a lonesome afternoon at the cottage,
talking to Mrs. Nelson.

Toward evening Betty found a chance to speak to Old Tin-Back, who came
with a mess of crabs.

She asked him who lived in the little, lone hut.

"Well, no one as you would care to know, Miss Betty. He's a man that
hasn't a good name."

"A man? But I thought a woman----"

"Oh, yes, Mag, his wife, is there, too. She's worse than Pete in some
respects."

"Are they smugglers?" Betty wanted to know.

"Well, they might be, if there was anythin' to smuggle. But I call 'em
just plain--thieves. Pete could tell lots about other folks' lobster and
crab cars being opened if he wanted to, I guess."

A telegram came from Mr. Nelson that evening, saying he would remain in
Boston two or three days. He added that there was "no news," which the
girls took to mean he had heard nothing about the diamonds. Will sent no
word.

It was about nine o'clock, when, after a stroll down the moonlit beach,
the boys and girls were returning to the cottage. As they came up the
walk a scream rang out.

"What's that?" cried Allen, who was beside Betty.

"It sounded like Jane, the cook," was the answer. "But----"

More screams interrupted Betty, and then the voice of a woman was heard
calling:

"Come quick! There's men in the cellar!"

CHAPTER XVIII

ANXIOUS DAYS

"Come on, boys!" cried Allen, evidently the first to sense the meaning
of the alarm.

"Oh, but shouldn't we have some sort of weapons, you know?" spoke Percy.

"Get out of my way!" cried Roy Anderson, brushing past the dude. "My
fists are the only weapons I want."