"If it is a good pledge," answered Louise quickly.

"I don't know whether it is good or bad," said Kitty freeing herself,
"but I know I must get to Royal."

"Can't we go with you?" asked Grace. "We are not afraid of any old Aunt
Hannahs."

"Oh, no, no, please, not yet. That would be so much worse. I have to be
so tricky to save Royal, and if she suspected me I would lose
everything. Not that I care for her old hundred dollars now. I wouldn't
even take it," she declared.

The girls were puzzled. Royal, it appeared, must be some child that
Kitty was protecting, and this woman was holding a threatening club over
Kitty's head.

"Are you positive we can't come right over there and fight things out
for you, Kitty?" asked Grace with a brave voice. "We have been waiting
around here all summer for that sort of thing."

"No, no," wailed the child, now running toward the little skiff which
lay under the willow at the water's edge. "I'll call you if I get in
trouble. See that high rock over on the far side of the island? Well,
you can see that all the way from Sea Crest, and if you see a lantern
hanging in that tree to-night, come. If it's day-time I'll put a white
flag up, and the wind will wave it, but I don't believe she'll make
trouble just now. All I was afraid of was being put away, and now I see
why she said that. She just wanted me to run away. But I shan't. I'll
stay, and I'll take care of little Royal."

She was gone. Her oars lapped the waves and sent back their brave
message as she turned into the cove that faced Luna Land.

"Well, of all things!" exclaimed Cleo.

"I expected you to say something a little more original," remarked
Grace. "But I don't quite blame you. It is bewildering."

"And Royal!" repeated Helen. "Royal made our signs and played with the
little tools!"

"And signed his name Peter Pan," recalled Louise.

"Why should Kitty be watching a child with such a swell name?" queried
Julia.

"Why all the other things?" replied Elizabeth.

"There's Neal's toot. We must go," announced Isabel.

"I wish we could circle around the island," suggested Cleo. "No harm in
that, surely. Every one goes as they please on the bay."

"Grand idea!" exclaimed Helen. "Maybe we could see into the island from
the boat. Come on. Hope Neal has some more time to spare."

The owner of the Treddie was glad to circle the little isle, and when
all had jumped in the launch, the trip home began with that preliminary