" Then she
went back to her engine. She must tighten the wires, and leave the
craft in readiness for a quick run.
"Oh, Cora!" came the voice of Bess suddenly, "you've missed it. We
have had the most glorious time."
Bess approached, her cheeks as red as the sumac she carried, and her
eyes as bright as the very ragged sailors that hung rather
dangerously from her belt. "Hasn't Laurel come yet?"
"No, not yet," replied Cora, intent upon her task at the wires. "I
am afraid she will hardly come to-night."
"Then we have got to go after her," declared Bess. "Jack said so.
He said she could not stay alone on that island all night."
"Oh, did he?" Cora replied in an absent-minded way. "I have had
such--a time--with this boat," and she pulled on the wires to make
them taut, breaking one and necessitating a splice.
"Can't we take the boat to look for Laurel?" persisted Bess, with
more concern than she usually showed.
"Why, of course, I suppose so," said Cora. "There, I guess that
will do," and she straightened up with a sigh, for the use of the
pliers made her hands ache.
"Why, Cora!" exclaimed Bess, "you look actually pale. You must be
awfully tired."
"Me pale," and she laughed. "Now, Bess, don't get romantic. Just
fancy me being pale!"
"Well, you are, and I insist that you come back to camp at once and
get a drink of warm milk. Cora Kimball, you--look--scared!"
"Oh, I am.
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