attracted much attention. Several
who had run down to the water's edge, now that they saw the two rescued,
strolled away again, while the boats that had started toward the capsized
one veered off as the occupants saw the one containing Cora move away, and
noted the girl swimming.

Of course Cora and Eline could have reached the lighthouse much quicker
than Rosalie Haley had they desired, but Cora was a bit diffident about
rowing up to meet a strange man with his rescued son, leaving the daughter
swimming out in the bay.

"We'll just keep with her," whispered Cora to Eline, nodding toward the
swimmer, "and let her do the explaining."

"Yes," agreed Eline.

They rowed on for a time in silence, the recently submerged boy saying
nothing. Then Cora called to Rosalie:

"Won't your father be worried?"

"I don't believe so. He knows both of us can swim." She talked easily in
the water for she progressed with her head well out, being, in fact, an
excellent swimmer. "Besides," she went on, as she reached forward in her
side stroke, "poor Daddy has other things to worry about. His sister has
disappeared--our Aunt Margaret."

"Disappeared!" echoed Cora.

"Yes, gone completely. And not under the most pleasant circumstances,
either; but Daddy believes that it's all a mistake and will be cleared up
some day. But he is certainly worried about Aunt Margaret, and he's had
the authorities looking all over, but they can't find her. So that's why
I know he won't worry over a little thing like this. He's got a bigger
one," and she swam on.

Cora wondered where she had heard that name--Margaret--before. She was
sure she had, and under peculiar circumstances, but so much had been
crowded into the last few minutes that her brain did not act quickly. It
was a puzzle that she reserved for future solution.

CHAPTER XIV

SETTLING DOWN

When Cora, leading by the hand dripping Dick Haley, met his father, the
keeper of the light, she exclaimed impulsively:

"I'm sure I've seen you somewhere before!"

It was rather a strange greeting under the circumstances, considering that
Cora had just helped little Dick from the water. But the lighthouse keeper
did not seem to mind it.

"I'm sure I can't remember it, miss," he made answer, "and I'm counted
on as having a pretty good memory. However, the loss is all mine, I do
assure you. Now what mischief has my fat boy been getting into?"

"It was not his fault, I'm sure," spoke Eline