eze from the sea, made an unexpectedly pretty frame for
a very lovely face.

The next day the girls insisted that the boys take them out in their
motor boat. The boys protested a little, for the sun was acting rather
queerly--going under a cloud and staying there sometimes for half an hour
on a stretch.

"I don't know," said Paul, a doubtful eye on the sky. "It isn't what you
could call a real clear day, girls, and I don't want to take any chances
with you."

"Oh, we're not afraid, if you're not," sang out Laura teasingly, and he
turned round upon her with a scowl.

"I'm not afraid for myself, and I think probably you know that. Just the
same----"

"Oh, but here's the sun!" called Vi suddenly, as the sun burst forth from
the cloud and showered a golden glory over everything. "It's going to be
a beautiful day--just beautiful."

So it was settled, and amid great fun and laughter they picked up the
lunch that Connie's mother prepared for them and started happily off,
humming as they went.

As they clambered aboard _The Shelling_--Paul had named his craft after
Captain Shelling, the master of Boxton Military Academy,--the sun went
under a cloud again, and this cloud was bigger and blacker than any that
had swallowed it before. But Laura's taunt still rang in Paul's ears, and
he said nothing.

In a little while there was no need for words. The girls began to see for
themselves that Paul had been right and that it would have been far
better if they had waited till a really clear day.

They had put some distance between them and the mainland when the sun
went under a cloud for good, and a cool little breeze began to rise.

This had been going on for some time before they even realized it, they
were having such fun. Then it was Connie who spoke.

"Doesn't it look a little--a little--threatening, Paul?" she asked
timidly. "Do you suppose it is going to rain?"

"No, I don't think it's going to rain," Paul answered, his hands on the
wheel, his eyes rather anxiously fixed on the water ahead. "But I do
think we're going to have one of those sudden heavy mists that come off
the coast here. Dad said to look out for them, because they're thick
enough to cut, and if you get caught in one you can't see your hand
before your face."

The girls were sober enough now as they looked at each other.

"But what makes you think we're going to have one, Paul?" asked Laura
humbly.

"Because the air is so still and muggy," Paul a