A REVELATION
"ANYWHERE you like, and the bottom, not the sky, is the limit." It was
Neal, replying to the girls' request for a trip to the Point in the
Treddie.
The party included Grace, Louise, Julia, Helen, Cleo, Isabel, Elizabeth
and Corinne, the last named having run up from the Windward, to spend a
few days with her school companions at Sea Crest.
"A regular excursion," said Elizabeth. "We should have brought eats."
"We may find them," suggested Neal, turning over his engine, whereat the
Treddie chugged off.
"This may look like an excursion, girls," said Cleo, "but it feels like
an expedition. I'm quivering with excitement."
"And I'm all goose flesh with apprehension," followed Louise. "How do we
know what we are going to run into on Looney Land?"
"We don't. There would be no fun in it if we did," Grace told her. "I've
come armed. If bears or lions howl at me they'll get ammonia from my
tree," she rhymed, exhibiting Benny's water pistol.
"Spoof," Corinne exclaimed; "I thought we had wild terrors up at
Windward, but we haven't come across bears nor injuns. Wish I had
brought my illegal sling shot that I only use in self defense."
"Treddie can tread," remarked Isabel. "Who was it walked on the water?"
"Ancient or modern?" flipped Louise. "I'm busy thinking of walking on
air just now."
"Which way do you want to go first?" asked Neal, turning a little from
his steering wheel.
"To the Point," called Cleo.
"Thought we were sure, positive, no mistake, going to Looney Land this
time," grumbled Julia.
"So we are but we will stop off at the Point, and feel the lay of the
land first. We may get a line on the wild animals, you know."
"I like motor boating even better than sail boating, and I thought the
Blowell was perfect." This was Cleo's comment on the Treddie's trip, as
the launch skimmed over the river and bay, rejoicing in every wave
presented to her bow.
"We won't get stuck on a sand bar, at any rate," reflected Louise. "This
boat has power enough to push itself off."
"But we could get engine troubles," Neal warned. "Although I don't
anticipate any such disaster. Which one of you girls lives in the
Gordon house?" he asked presently.
"I do," said Grace. "Don't tell me they are coming back for anything?"
"No, not just that," replied Neal; "but Dick Gordon is my chum. He has
been out with a yachting party all summer, the Altons of New York, you
know, and I had a line from his last port. He will be back in about a
week. I'm awfully anxious to see him. We have great times always, but he
got in service, through the Canadian lines, and I got--left, so I
haven't seen Dick since."
"They took very young boys in the Canadian service just before the
armistice I know," said Cleo, "for my seventeen-year-old brother ran
over there, and got the 'wings' the day before Peace Day."
"Yes, that is how Dick made it," explained Neal. "But now he's getting
back, a little late but mighty welcome."
"I suppose he will want a look at his old room," said Grace. "It is just
as he left it, I believe."
"Yes, Dick has a hobby for sea stuff, and his marine room was his pride.
But he won't bother you folks any; he isn't that sort," said Neal.
"Now Grazie," teased Elizabeth, "look out for your window."
"Rather I'll leave a love note on the sill, like the lady-faire of
old," retorted Grace. "At any rate he is apt to call on me."
"Here we are at the Point," called out Julia. "Don't fall overboard in
landing."
"If you want to go in at the island, after you have looked around here,
there is a perfect stone arch at the other end. I'll take you over that
way, if you like. It's one of the prettiest spots around here,"
suggested Neal.
"Oh, yes, that will be splendid," Louise answered. "We have seen the
island from two sides, and that must be at the extreme other end."
There was no visible apprehension expressed in the way the girls landed
at the point, and if they experienced such emotion, it was thoroughly
disguised, for as a troop they simply besieged the strip of land, with
one grand, vigorous yell.
No Tenderfoots seemed included, but rather seasoned woodsmen; eager to
climb, to beat down trails, "to confront the enemy" with open or closed
fists--such daring indeed was manifested in their act of possession.
"I'm so glad we came in at this end," said Cleo. "With all that shouting
the little woman at the ice cream stand might take fright and go. Then
what would we do for eats?"
"Oh, there comes the carrier pigeon!" explained Grace. "Come on to the
birches. See, he is going to land in there, same as he did before."
"Yes, that's Lovey," declared Cleo. "I'm so glad all the girls will have
a chance to see him. Hurry, and don't make too much noise."
The graceful little gray dove was floating through the air, without a
flutter of wing--just sailing on the breeze. Following Cleo's lead the
girls made their way through the thicket, and presently were in the low,
soft, velvety patch, the sort of maiden-hair grass that grows under the
trees.
"Here we are," almost whispered Isabel, for the bird was about settled
on a tuft of meadow grass.
"Oh, here's Kitty!" exclaimed Grace. "Kitty girl, what are you hiding
from?"
And there, crouched at the foot of a tree was Kitty. She looked like
nothing so much as a toad-stool, a bit of human fungus growth, at the
foot of that gentle birch tree. Her knees drawn up, and bare feet hiding
in her bedraggled gingham skirt, Kitty was truly a sorry looking figure.
"What is it?" asked Isabel. The girls had grouped themselves around in
semi-circle, and even Lovey, the waiting messenger, was for the moment
forgotten.
Kitty raised her head and confessed to a pair of very red eyes. Her lips
were trembling and the little cords of her face twitching.
"I heard a racket, and thought she had sent them after me," stammered
Kitty. "But it was only you," and just the glint of a smile played
through her grief.
"Who was coming after you? Whom did you fear, Kitty? Tell us!" asked
Louise, slipping down on the green, beside the crouching figure.
"Aunt Hannah. She came back from New York, and we didn't expect her.
Somehow she found out about--about the accident, and she was furious."
"Your Aunt Hannah?" pressed Grace. The girls sensed tragedy now.
"Says she is, but she ain't, I'm going to ask Captain Dave for my papers
and prove it." Kitty was recovering her courage, perhaps at the thought
of battle.
Louise longed to throw her arms about the child and tell her that her
precious papers were that very moment in the Hart family safe, but she
knew the time had not come for the revelation.
"And she said she'd send them after me," moaned Kitty. "So I'm goin' to
run away."
"Send whom after you?" followed Corinne.
"The reform school people, and I would be put behind bars for life." The
sharp dark eyes gleamed until it seemed sparks would fly, but they were
glints of pure terror, the girl was panic-stricken.
"Just don't you worry, Kitty. We'll stand by you, and you shall never be
put in such a place," Julia assured her. "Have you forgotten Captain
Dave?"
"No, but she is so much smarter than any one else. And I can't get off
this Point without she sees me, and then she might send the police after
me."
That the fearful threat had been held over poor Kitty's head was now
easily guessed--perhaps this was why she had been so secretive about
Luna Land?
"I'll run down to the dock and tell Neal to sail around the bay for a
half hour," suggested Cleo. "Then, we can sit right down and talk things
over with Kitty."
"And here is Lovey with a letter from Bentley," said Kitty, now turning
to the pigeon that had been hopping about, and picking at invisible
bugs. "Whatever would I have done without Bentley. Come, Lovey!"
Tame as a kitten the pigeon strutted up to Kitty's hand. She fondled it,
gave it some crumbs from her pocket, then, from under the gray and white
wing took the tiny quill that held the message.
Cleo had returned, and the girls looked on in wonder, while Kitty
unrolled the little slip, and deciphered the message.
"Yes, she's over there yet, Bentley says. And Royal is crying for me."
At this she threw up the tousled head and glared defiance.
"I'm going right back," she cried. "She shan't scare me off now. That's
just what she wants to do. She wants to steal Royal away, but she
shan't, she shan't!" and only a hold on Kitty's arm, made as the girls
realized she was running off, held her for another moment.
"Who is Royal?" demanded Cleo. "Tell us! We must know."
"I can't tell you. I'm pledged not to, and don't you think I have to
keep a pledge? Do I?" This last was almost an appeal.
"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
dash.
"I'll slow down so you can get a good look," Neal told them, and he
understood enough about the interest in Luna Land to do his part.
All eyes were strained toward the shore.
"There's the pretty, rocky ledge Neal told us about," remarked Isabel.
"Just see! It's like a movie rock. What a pretty arch it forms."
But even the natural beauty of the rocky alcove did not furnish the
point of interest they searched for.
"Would you imagine that place hid human life?" said Cleo, a little
disappointed. "Not even a tree branch moves."
"Dense foliage," added Grace. "It would be pretty hard to see anything
through those trees."
The launch was covering the last strip of water that lapped the island.
Every one seemed tense with an anxious sort of interest.
Suddenly Helen jumped up.
"Look," she called. "Over by the arch!"
"The white duck lady!" cried Cleo. "See, she is looking at us through
glasses."
"Sit down Helen," ordered Grace. "Don't pretend we are interested, or
she will know this launch."
They were not far from the shore, and it was easy to discern the figure
on the rock, who evidently used the glasses to make sure of the faces in
the launch.
"Maybe she's looking for her wireless," said Isabel.
"Well, I am doubly sorry for Kitty if that's Aunt Hannah," declared
Julia, and then the Treddie left Luna Land behind.