as the creature stretched out her hands toward
her. "Don't--don't you dare touch me!"

"Jest goin' to take the ropes off your pretty hands, dearie," was the
smirking answer. "You don't need them now. You can't run away, you know.
Tee-hee!" and she tittered in glee.

Betty felt it better to submit to the ministrations of the crone, for
the sake of being released from the bonds, which hurt her cruelly. For
they had been pulled tight by the fishermen. It was some time after the
ropes were taken off her ankles and wrists before Betty felt the blood
circulating normally.

Amy lay inert on the rude bunk where she had been placed. Betty noticed
there were sleeping accommodations for three in the place, and with a
shudder she wondered if the old woman was to be their companion on the
voyage that seemed to have begun. For the schooner was pitching and
tossing on a ground swell, that seemed to presage a change of weather.

"Oh--oh, Betty! What has happened?" faltered Amy, as she opened her
eyes. The cloth had been removed from her mouth and the ropes loosed.
Having done this much the old woman crouched on the third bunk, smiling,
muttering to herself, and looking from one girl to the other.

"Oh, Betty--what does it mean?" repeated Amy.

"I don't know, but I'm going to find out soon," declared the Little
Captain, with a return of her usual courage. She felt better now that
she had the use of her arms and legs. She started toward the door.

"It's locked--on the outside, my dearie!" chuckled the old woman. "And
it won't be opened until I call to 'em. So there's no use in makin' a
fuss, my dear!"

"Stop your senseless talk!" snapped Betty. "Don't dare call me by that
name, you--you horrid creature."

"No use gettin' mad," said the crone, and she showed a change of temper.
"You're here, and you're goin' to stay until we put you on shore, so you
might as well make up your mind to that."

"We demand to be put on shore at once!" cried Betty. "Evidently you
and--and those with you have made some mistake. We will not make trouble
for you, if you set us ashore at once. If not----"

"Well, what will you do, dearie?" sneered the old woman.

"My father will deal with such as you!" declared Betty, her eyes
flashing. "You must put us ashore."

"The men will have to attend to that," the crone said. "One of 'em will
be here pretty soon, and you'd better answer 'em fair, or it may be the
worse for you."

Her tone was fierce now.