----------------------------------------------------------------------

[Illustration: Before the Hand Organ Danced a Little Figure. Frontispiece. ]

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Madge Morton's Victory

ByAMY D. V. CHALMERS

Author of Madge Morton, Captain of the Merry Maid;Madge Morton's Secret, Madge Morton's Trust. 

THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANYAkron, Ohio--New York

Made in U. S. A. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright MCMXIVBy THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY

----------------------------------------------------------------------

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE I. Commencement Day at Miss Tolliver's 7 II. How it Was All Arranged 16 III. Tania, a Princess 24 IV. The Uninvited Guest 37 V. Tania, a Problem 51 VI. A Mischievous Mermaid 58 VII. Captain Jules, Deep Sea Diver 65 VIII. The Wreck of the "Water Witch" 80 IX. The Owner of the Disagreeable Voice 90 X. The Goody-Goody Young Man 100 XI. The Beginning of Trouble 112 XII. "The Anchorage" 124 XIII. Tania's Nemesis 131 XIV. Captain Jules Makes a Promise 141 XV. The Great Adventure 150 XVI. A Strange Pearl 161 XVII. The Fairy Godmother's Wish Comes True 172 XVIII. Missing, a Fairy Godmother 180 XIX. The Wicked Genii 198 XX. A Bow of Scarlet Ribbon 206 XXI. The Race for Life 215 XXII. Captain Jules Listens to a Story 224 XXIII. The Victory Over Fate 232 XXIV. The Little Captain Starts on a Journey 243

----------------------------------------------------------------------

MADGE MORTON'S VICTORY

CHAPTER I

COMMENCEMENT DAY AT MISS TOLLIVER'S

"O Phil, dear! It is anything but fair. If you only knew how I hate tohave to do it!" exclaimed Madge Morton impulsively, throwing her armsabout her chum's neck and burying her red-brown head in the soft, whitefolds of Phyllis Alden's graduation gown. "No one in our class wishes meto be the valedictorian. You know you are the most popular girl in ourschool. Yet here I am the one chosen to stand up before everyone and readmy stupid essay when your average was just exactly as high as mine. "

Madge Morton and Phyllis Alden were alone in their own room at the end ofthe dormitory of Miss Matilda Tolliver's Select School for Girls, atHarborpoint, one morning late in May. Through the halls one could hearoccasional bursts of girlish laughter, and the murmur of voices betokenedunusual excitement. 

It was the morning of the annual spring commencement. 

Phyllis slowly unclasped Madge's arms from about her neck and gazed ather companion steadfastly, a flush on her usually pale cheeks. 

"If you say another word about that old valedictory, I shall neverforgive you!" she declared vehemently. "You know that Miss Tolliver isgoing to announce to the audience that our averages were the same. Youwere chosen to deliver the valedictory because you can make a speech somuch better than I. What is the use of bringing up this subject now, justa few minutes before our commencement begins? You know how often we havetalked this over before, and that I told Miss Matilda that I wished youto be the valedictorian instead of me, even before she selected you. "

Phil's earnest black eyes looked sternly into Madge's troubled blue ones. "If you begin worrying about that now, you won't be able to read youressay half as well, " declared Phil impatiently. "Please sit still for aminute and wait until Miss Jenny Ann calls us. "

Phil pushed Madge gently toward the big armchair. Then she walked over tostand by the window, in order to watch the carriages drive up to MissTolliver's door and to keep her back turned directly upon her friendMadge. 

The little captain sat very still for a few minutes. She had on anexquisite white organdie gown, a white sash, white slippers and whitesilk stockings. In the knot of sunny curled hair drawn high upon her headshe wore a single white rose. A bunch of roses lay in her lap, also amanuscript in Madge's slightly vertical handwriting, which she fingeredrestlessly. 

The silence grew monotonous to Madge. 

"Are you angry with me, Phil?" she asked forlornly. 

Madge and Phyllis Alden had been best friends for four years, and hadnever had a real disagreement until this morning. 

Phyllis was too honest to be deceitful. "I am a little cross, " sheadmitted without turning around. "I wish Lillian and Eleanor would comeupstairs to tell us how many people have arrived for the commencement. "

Madge started across the room toward Phil. But Phyllis's back wasuncompromising. She pretended not to hear her friend's light step. Suddenly Madge's expression changed. The color rose to her face and hereyes flashed. 

"I won't apologize to you, Phil, " she said. "I had intended to, but I seeno reason why I should not say it is unfair for me to be thevaledictorian when you have the same claim to it that I have. It ishateful in you not to understand how I feel about it. I am going to findMiss Jenny Ann. " Madge's voice broke. 

A knock on the door interrupted the two girls. Madge opened the door to aboy, who handed her a small parcel addressed in a curious handwriting to"Miss Madge Morton. " The letters were printed, but the writing did notlook like a child's. It was the fiftieth graduating gift that she hadreceived. Phil's number had already reached the half-hundred mark. 

Madge dropped her newest package on the bed without opening it. She washalf-way out in the hall when Phyllis pulled her back. 

"Look me straight in the face, " ordered Phil. Madge obeyed, the flash inher eyes fading swiftly. "Now, see here, dear, " argued Phyllis, "supposethat Miss Matilda had chosen me to deliver the valedictory instead ofyou, wouldn't you have been glad?"

Madge nodded happily. "I should say I would, " she murmured fervently. 

Phyllis laughed, then leaned over and kissed her friend triumphantly. 

"There, you have said just what I wanted to make you say, " went on Phil. "You say you would be glad if Miss Tolliver had chosen me for thevaledictorian instead of you. Why can't you let me have the same feelingabout you? Please, please understand, Madge, dear"--the tears started toPhil's eyes--"that no one has been unfair to me because you were MissMatilda's choice. "

Madge glanced nervously at the little gold clock on their mantel shelf. "It is nearly time for the entertainment to begin, isn't it?" sheinquired. "I suppose Miss Jenny Ann will call us in time. What a lot ofnoise the girls are making in the hall!"

She idly untied her latest graduating gift. It was a small box, madeafter a fashion of long years ago, and its tops and sides were encrustedwith tiny shells. On one side of the box the word "Madge" was worked outin tiny shells as clear and beautiful as jewels. Inside the box, on apiece of cotton, was a single, wonderful pearl. It was unset, but the twogirls realized that it was rarely beautiful. There was no name in thebox, no card to show from whom it came. 

Madge turned the box upside down and peered inside of it. "I don't knowwho could have sent this to me, " she declared, in a puzzled fashion. "Mrs. Curtis is the only rich person I know in the whole world, and shehas already given us her presents. I must show this to Uncle and Aunt. Iam afraid they won't wish me to keep it. But I don't know how we are evergoing to return it to the giver when he or she is anonymous. "

"Isn't that Miss Jenny Ann calling?" Madge turned pale with theexcitement of the coming hour and thrust the gift under her pillow. 

Phyllis picked up a great bunch of red roses. The eventful moment hadarrived. The graduating exercises at Miss Matilda Tolliver's were aboutto begin!

Neither of the two girls knew how they walked up on the stage. Beforethem swam "a sea of upturned faces. " It was impossible to tell one personfrom another. When Madge and Phil overcame their fright they discoveredthat they were among the twelve girl graduates, who formed a whitesemi-circle about the stage, and that Miss Matilda Tolliver was making anaddress of welcome to the audience. 

Phyllis had no dreaded speech ahead of her. She looked out over theaudience and saw her father and mother, Dr. And Mrs. Alden; and Madge'suncle and aunt, Mr. And Mrs. Butler; but Madge could think of nothingsave the terrifying fact that she must soon deliver her valedictory. 

"Madge, " whispered Phil softly, "don't look so frightened. You know youhave made speeches before and have acted before people. I am not a bitafraid you will fail. See if you can find Mrs. Curtis and Tom. There theyare, smiling at us from behind Eleanor and Lillian. "

Readers of "MADGE MORTON, CAPTAIN OF THE 'MERRY MAID', " will remember thedelightful fashion in which Madge Morton, Eleanor Butler, Lillian Seldonand Phyllis Alden spent a summer on a houseboat, which they evolved froman old canal boat and named the "Merry Maid. "

How they anchored at quiet spots along Chesapeake Bay, made theacquaintance of Mrs. Curtis, a wealthy widow, and what came of thefriendship that sprang up between her and Madge Morton made a story wellworth the telling. 

In "MADGE MORTON'S SECRET" the scene of their second houseboat adventurefound them at Old Point Comfort, where, as Mrs. Curtis's guests, theypartook of the social side of the Army and Navy life to be found there. The origin of Captain Madge's secret, and of how she kept it in spite ofthe humiliation and sorrow it entailed, the mysterious way in which the"Merry Maid" slipped her cable and drifted through heavy seas to adeserted island, where her crew lived the lives of girl Crusoes for manyweeks, form a narrative of lively interest. 

In "MADGE MORTON'S TRUST" the further adventures of the "Merry Maid" werefully related. For the sake of the trip the happy houseboat girls saddledthemselves with Miss Betsey Taylor, a crotchety spinster, who wastroubled with nerves, and who offered to pay liberally for her passage ontheir cosy "Ship of Dreams. "

Madge's faith and unshakable trust in David Brewster, a poor young manwho did the work on Tom Curtis's yacht, which made the trip with the"Merry Maid, " her championing of David when suspicion pointed darklytoward him as a thief, and her unswerving loyalty to the unhappy youthuntil his innocence was established, revealed the little captain in thelight of a staunch true comrade and doubly endeared her to all hercompanions. 

Madge heard Miss Matilda Tolliver announce that the valedictory would bedelivered by Miss Madge Morton. Phyllis gave her companion a littlenudge, and somehow Madge arrived at the front of the stage and stoodunder a huge arch of flowers. Just above her head swung a great bell. Everyone was smiling at her. Madge was seized with a dreadful case ofstage fright. Her tongue felt dry and parched. She tried to speak, but nosound came forth. 

Mrs. Curtis's lovely face, with its crown of soft, white hair, smiledencouragingly at her. Tom was crimson with embarrassment. Lillian andEleanor held each other's hands. Would Madge never begin hervaledictory?

She tried again. No one heard her except her friends and teachers on thestage. Her voice was no louder than a faint whisper. 

Miss Tolliver leaned over. "Madge, speak more distinctly, " she ordered. 

Then the little captain realized that the most humiliating moment of herwhole life had arrived. She had been selected as the valedictorian of herclass, she had been chosen above her beloved Phil because of her gift asa speaker, yet she would be obliged to return to her seat without havingdelivered a line of her address. She would be disgraced forever!

Madge's knees shook. Her lips trembled. Tears swam mistily in her eyes. She was a lovely picture despite her fright. 

At eighteen she was in the first glory of her youth, a tall, slendergirl, with a curious warmth and glow of life. Her lips were deeplycrimson, her hair a soft brown, with red and gold lights in it, and hereyes were full of the eagerness that foreshadows both happiness andpain. 

Phil and Miss Jenny Ann were exchanging glances of despair--Madge hadbroken down, there was no hope for her. Suddenly her face broke into oneof its sunniest smiles. She lifted her head. Without glancing at thepaper she held in her hand she began her address in a clear, penetratingvoice. 

CHAPTER II

HOW IT WAS ALL ARRANGED

Madge's valedictory address was almost over. She had spoken of"Friendship, " what it meant to a girl at school and what it must mean toa woman when the larger and more important difficulties come into herlife. "Schoolgirl friendships are of no small consequence, " declaimedMadge; "the friendships made in youth are the truest, after all!"

Phil listened to her chum's voice, her eyes misty with tears. Only ahalf-hour before she and her beloved Madge had come very near to havingthe first real quarrel of their lives. Phil turned her gaze from Madge toglance idly at the arch of flowers above her friend's head. Phil supposedthat she must be dizzy from the heat of the room, or else that she couldnot see distinctly because of her tears; the arch seemed to be swayinglightly from side to side, as though it were blown by the wind. Yet theroom was perfectly still. Phil looked again. She must be wrong. The archwas built of a framework of wood. It was heavy and she did not believe itwould easily topple down. 

Madge was happily unconscious of the wobbling arch. A few more lines andher speech would be ended! There was unbroken silence in the roomy chapelof the girls' school, where the commencement exercises were being held. Suddenly some one in the back part of the room jumped to his feet. Ahoarse voice shouted, "Madge!"

Madge started in amazement. Her manuscript dropped to the ground. Everyface but hers blanched with terror. The swaying arch was now visible toother people besides Phil. Tom leaped to his feet, but he was tightlywedged in between rows of women. Phil Alden made a forward spring just asthe arch tumbled. She was not in time to save Madge, but some one elsehad saved her; for, before Phil could reach the front of the stage, Madge's name had been called again. Although the voice was an unknownone, Madge instinctively obeyed it. She made a little movement, leaningout to see who had summoned her, and the arch crashed down just at herback. 

The quick cry from the audience frightened Madge, whose face was turnedaway from the wreck. She swung around without discovering her rescuer. Some one had fallen on the stage. Phyllis Alden had reached her friend'sside, not in time to save her, but to receive, herself, a heavy blow fromthe great bell that was suspended from the arch. 

Madge dropped on the stage at Phil's side, forgetting her speech and thepresence of strangers. 

Miss Tolliver and Miss Jenny Ann lifted Phyllis before Dr. Alden had hadtime to reach the stage. There was a dark bruise over Phil's forehead. Ina moment she opened her eyes and smiled. "I am not a bit hurt, MissMatilda; _do_ let the exercises go on, " she begged faintly. "Let Madgeand me go up to the front of the stage and bow, Miss Matilda. Then I canshow people that I am all right. We must not spoil our commencement inthis way. "

Miss Matilda agreed to this, and Madge and Phyllis went forward to thecenter of the stage. A storm of applause greeted them. Madge and Philwere a little overcome at the ovation. Madge supposed that they werebeing applauded because of Phil's heroism, and Phil presumed that thedemonstration was meant for Madge's valedictory, therefore neither girlknew just what to do. 

It was then that Miss Matilda Tolliver came forward. She was usually avery severe and imposing looking person. Most of her pupils weredreadfully afraid of her. But the accident that had so nearly injured hertwo favorite graduates had completely upset her nerves. Instead of makinga formal speech, as she had planned to do, she stepped between the twogirls, taking a hand of each. "I had meant to introduce Miss Alden alittle later on to our friends at the commencement exercises, " announcedMiss Tolliver, "but I believe I would rather do it now. I wish to statethat, although Miss Morton has delivered the valedictory, Miss PhyllisAlden's average during the four years she has spent at my preparatoryschool has been equally high. It was her wish that Miss Morton should bechosen to deliver the valedictory. But Miss Alden's friends have anotherhonor which they wish to bestow upon her. She has been voted, without herknowledge, the most popular girl in my school. Her fellow students haveasked me to present her with this pin as a mark of their affection. "

Miss Matilda leaned over, and before Phil could grasp what was happeninghad pinned in the soft folds of her organdie gown the class pin, whichwas usually an enameled shield with a crown of laurel above it; but thecenter of Phil's shield was formed of small rubies and the crown of tinydiamonds. 

Phyllis turned scarlet with embarrassment, but Madge's eyes sparkled withdelight. She was no longer ashamed of having been chosen asvaledictorian. In spite of herself, Phyllis Alden was the star of theircommencement. 

It was not until the four girls were seated with their dear ones about around luncheon table in the largest hotel in Harborpoint that Madgesuddenly recalled the stranger whose warning cry had probably saved herfrom a serious hurt. 

Mrs. Curtis and Tom were entertaining in honor of Madge and Phyllis. There were no other guests except the two houseboat girls, Eleanor andLillian, Dr. And Mrs. Alden, and Mr. And Mrs. Butler. 

Madge sat next to Tom Curtis, and during the progress of the luncheonmanaged to say softly: "Did you see who it was that called my name sostrangely this morning, Tom? I was so frightened at having to deliver myvaledictory that when I heard that sudden shout, 'Madge!' I was too muchconfused to recognize the voice. "

Tom shook his head. "I don't know who it was. I heard the voice butcouldn't discover its owner. It must have been some one at the very backof the room, for no one in the audience seems to know who called out toyou. "

"I suppose I'll never know, " sighed Madge. "It is a real commencement daymystery, isn't it?"

Tom nodded smilingly. "By the way, Madge, where are the houseboat girlsgoing to spend the summer after you come to Madeleine's wedding?" heasked. "You must be tired after your winter's work. "

Madge shook her head soberly. "We are not going to be on the houseboatthis year, " she whispered. "Going to New York to be bridesmaids is aboutas much as four girls can arrange. We haven't even dared to think of thehouseboat. "

"I have, " interposed Phyllis, who had heard the remark and the reply, "but we don't wish our families to know. You see, Madge and I are hopingand planning to go to college next winter, so, of course, we can't affordanother summer holiday, " she ended under her breath. 

"What's that, Phil?" inquired Dr. Alden from the other end of the table. 

Phil blushed. "Nothing important, Father, " she answered. 

"Oh, then I must have been mistaken, " replied Dr. Alden, "for I thought Icaught the magic word, 'houseboat. ' No one of you girls has ever spokenof the 'Merry Maid' as unimportant. "

A cloud instantaneously overspread five faces about the luncheon table. Neither Mrs. Curtis nor Dr. Alden realized that in mentioning thehouseboat they had forced the houseboat passengers to break a vow ofsilence. Only the day before the five of them had met in Miss Jenny AnnJones's room. There they had solemnly pledged themselves that, since itwas impossible for them to have this year's vacation aboard the "MerryMaid, " they would bear the sorrow in silence. This time there was no"Miss Betsey" to pay the expenses of the trip. The girls and Miss JennyAnn hadn't a dollar to spare. The cost of going to Madeleine Curtis's NewYork wedding was appalling to all of the girls except Lillian, whoseparents were in affluent circumstances. But, of course, Madeleine wasalmost a houseboat girl herself. Readers of the first houseboat storywill recall how Madeleine's fiancé, Judge Hilliard, rescued Madge andPhyllis from a serious situation and saved Madeleine from a far worseplight than that in which he found the two girls. 

"Mrs. Curtis, " remarked Dr. Alden in the midst of the mournful silence, "Mr. And Mrs. Butler, my wife and I have just been talking things over. We have decided that it would be a good thing for our girls to spendseveral weeks on board their houseboat. But, of course, if they havedecided differently----"

It was a good thing that Mrs. Curtis was not giving a formal luncheon. Aunited shriek of delight suddenly arose from four throats. Madge sprangfrom the table to hug her uncle, Eleanor blew kisses to her mother fromacross the room, Lillian clapped both hands, and Miss Jenny Ann smiledrapturously. 

Phil's face was the only serious one. "Are you sure we can afford it, Father?" she queried. 

Dr. Alden nodded convincingly. "For a few weeks, certainly, " hereturned. 

"Then we don't need to worry about afterward, " rejoined Madge. "And don'tyou think, girls, it will be perfectly great, so long as we are going toMadeleine's wedding in New York, for us to spend this holiday at theseashore?"

"Where, Madge?" asked Lillian. 

"I'll tell you, " answered Mrs. Curtis, "only, not to-day. It is a secret. Here is our pineapple lemonade. Let's hope for the happiest of holidaysfor the little captain and her crew aboard the good ship 'Merry Maid'. "

CHAPTER III

TANIA, A PRINCESS

"Madge, do you think there is any chance that Tom won't meet us?"inquired Eleanor Butler nervously. "I do wish we could have come on toNew York with Lillian, Phil, and Miss Jenny Ann instead of making thatvisit to Baltimore. It seems so funny that they have been in New York twowhole days before us. I suppose they have seen Madeleine's presents, andour bridesmaids' dresses--and everything!"

Eleanor sighed as she leaned back luxuriously in the chair of the Pullmancoach, gazing down the aisle at her fellow passengers. 

Madge was occupied in staring very hard at her reflection in the smallmirror between her seat and Eleanor's. She had wrinkled her small noseand was surreptitiously applying powder to the tip end of it. 

"Of course Tom and the girls will meet us, Eleanor, " she repliedemphatically. "Tom would expect us to be lost forever if we were to beturned loose in New York by ourselves. Oh, dear me, isn't it too splendidthat we are going to be Madeleine's bridesmaids? I wonder if we shalllook very 'country' before so many society people?"

"Of course we shall, " returned Eleanor calmly. "You need not look atyourself again in that mirror. You are very well satisfied with yourself, aren't you?" teased Eleanor. 

Madge blushed and laughed. "I _do_ like our clothes, Nellie, " sheadmitted candidly. "You know perfectly well that we have never hadtailored suits before in our lives. You do look too sweet in that palegray, like a little nun. That pink rose in your hat gives just the touchof color you need. I am sure I don't see why you are so sure we shallseem countrified, " ended Madge. She had liked her reflection in theglass. She wore a light-weight blue serge traveling suit without awrinkle in it, a spotless white linen waist, and her new hat wasparticularly attractive. Her cheeks were becomingly flushed and her eyesglowed with the excitement of arriving for the first time in New YorkCity. 

"We are almost in Jersey City now, aren't we, Madge?" exclaimed Eleanor, making a leap for her bag, which promptly tumbled out of the rack aboveand fell directly on the head of a young man who was walking down theaisle of the car. 

Madge giggled. Eleanor, however, was crimson with mortification. Theyoung man did not appear to be pleased. The girls had a brief glimpse ofhim. He had blue eyes and sandy hair and was exceedingly tall. Eleanor'sbag had knocked his glasses off and he was obliged to stoop in search ofthem in the aisle. 

"Oh, I am so sorry, " apologized Eleanor in her soft, Southern voice, asshe picked up the glasses and restored them to their owner. "I am gladthey were not broken. "

The young man paid not the slightest attention to her apology. 

"Hurry, Nellie, " advised Madge, "it is nearly time for us to get off thetrain and your hat is on crooked. Don't be such a timid little goose! Youare actually trembling. Of course Tom or some one will meet us, and ifthey don't I shall not be in the least frightened. " Madge announced thisgrandly. "That whistle means we are entering Jersey City. We will findTom waiting for us at the gate. "

Eleanor obediently followed Madge out of their coach. The little captainseemed older and more self-confident since she had been graduated at MissTolliver's, but Nellie hoped devoutly that her cousin would not becomeimbued with the impression that she was really grown-up. It would spoiltheir good times. 

The two girls had never seen such a headlong rush of people in theirlives. They clung desperately to their bags when a porter attempted tocarry them. A man bumped violently against Madge, but he made no effortto apologize as he rushed on through the crowd. 

"I never saw so many people in such a hurry in my life, " declared Nelliepettishly. "They behave as though they thought New York City were on fireand they were all rushing to put the fire out. I shall be glad when Tomtakes charge of us. "

Once through the great iron gates the girls looked anxiously about forTom, but saw no trace of him. 

"I suppose Tom must have missed the ferry, " declared Madge with pretendedcheerfulness. "We shall have to wait here for only about ten minutesuntil the next ferry boat comes across from New York. "

When fifteen minutes had passed and there was still no sign of Tom, Madgebegan to feel worried. 

"Madge, I am sure you have made some kind of mistake, " argued Eleanorplaintively. "I know Mrs. Curtis would not fail to have some one here ontime to meet us for anything in the world. Perhaps Tom wrote for us tocome across the ferry, and that he would meet us on the New York side. Where is his letter?"

"It is in my trunk, Nellie, " replied Madge in a crestfallen manner. Shewas not nearly so grown-up or so sure of herself as she had been half anhour before. "I know it was silly in me not to have brought Tom's letterwith me, but I was so sure that I knew just what it said. Perhaps we hadbetter go on over to New York. Let's hurry. Perhaps that boat is justabout to start. "

The two young women hurried aboard the boat, which left the dock a momentlater, just as a tall, fair-haired young man, accompanied by two girls, hurried upon the scene. The young man was Tom Curtis and the young womenwere Phyllis Alden and Lillian Seldon. 

In the meantime Madge and her cousin had crossed the river and had landedon the New York side. What was the dreadful roar and rumble that mettheir ears? It sounded like an earthquake, with the noise of frightenedpeople shrieking above it. After a horrified moment it dawned on the twolittle strangers that this was only the usual roar of New York, which TomCurtis had so often described to them. 

"There isn't any use of our staying here very long, Eleanor, " declaredMadge, feeling a great wave of loneliness and fear sweep over her. "Anaccident must have happened to Tom's automobile on his way to the trainto meet us. I am afraid we were foolish not to have stayed at the JerseyCity station. I am sure Tom wrote he would meet us there. I have behavedlike a perfect goose. It is because I boasted so much about not beingfrightened and knowing what to do. But I _do_ know Mrs. Curtis's address. We can take a cab and drive up there. "

Eleanor would fall in with Madge's plans to a certain point; then shewould strike. Now she positively refused to get into a cab. Her motherand father and Miss Jenny Ann had warned her never to trust herself in acab in a strange city. New York was too terrifying! Eleanor would searchfor Mrs. Curtis's home on foot, in a car, or a bus, but in a cab shewould not ride. 

Madge was obliged to give in gracefully. A policeman showed the girls toa Twenty-third Street car. He explained that when they came to the ThirdAvenue L they must get out of the car and take the elevated train uptown, since Madge had explained to him that Mrs. Curtis lived on SeventiethStreet between Madison and Fifth Avenues. 

There was only one point that the policeman failed to make clear toEleanor and Madge. He neglected to tell them that elevated trains, aswell as other cars, travel both up and down New York City, and the way todiscover which way the "L" train is moving is to consult the signs on thesteps that lead up to the elevated road. The policeman supposed that thetwo young women would make this observation for themselves. Of course, under ordinary circumstances, Madge and Nellie would have been moresensible, but they were frightened and confused at the bare idea of beingalone in New York and consequently lost their heads, and they dashed upthe Third Avenue elevated steps without looking for signs, settledthemselves in the train and were off, as they supposed, for SeventiethStreet. 

They were too much interested in gazing into upstairs windows, wherehundreds of people were at work in tiny, dark rooms, to pay muchattention to the first stops at stations that their train made. They knewthey were still some distance from Mrs. Curtis's. Madge was completelyfascinated at the spectacle of a fat, frowsy woman holding a baby by itsskirt on the sill of a six-story tenement house. Just as the car went bythe baby made a leap toward the train. Madge smothered her scream as thewoman jerked the child out of danger just in time. Then it suddenlyoccurred to her that this was hardly the kind of neighborhood in which tofind Mrs. Curtis's house. The sign at the next stop was a name and not astreet number. It could not be possible that she and Eleanor had madeanother mistake!

Madge hurried back to the end of the car to find the conductor. 

"We wish to get out at the nearest station to Seventieth Street andLexington Avenue, " she declared timidly. 

The man paid not the slightest attention to her. Madge repeated herquestion in a somewhat bolder tone. 

"You ain't going to get off near Seventieth Street for some time if youkeep a-traveling away from it, " retorted the conductor crossly. "You'vegot on a downtown 'L' 'stead of an up. Better change at the next station. You'll find an uptown train across the street, " the man ended morekindly, seeing the look of consternation on Madge's white face. 

The girls walked sadly down the elevated steps, dragging their bags, which seemed to grow heavier with every moment. They found themselves inone of the downtown foreign slums of New York City. It was a bright, early summer afternoon. The streets were swarming with grown people andchildren. Pushcarts lined the sidewalks. On an opposite corner a handorgan played an Italian song. In front of it was a small open space, encircled by a group of idle men and women. Before the organ danced alittle figure that Madge and Eleanor stopped to watch. They forgot theirown bewilderment in gazing at the strange sight. The dancer was a littlegirl about twelve years old, as thin as a wraith. Her hair was black andhung in straight, short locks to her shoulders. Her eyes were so big andburned so brightly that it was difficult to notice any other feature ofher face. The child looked like a tropical flower. Her face was white, but her cheeks glowed with two scarlet patches. She flung her little armsover her head, pirouetted and stood on her tip toes. She did not seem tosee the curious crowd about her, but kept her eyes turned toward the sky. Her dancing was as much a part of nature as the summer sunshine, andMadge and Eleanor were bewitched. 

A rough woman came out of a nearby doorway. She stood with her hands onher hips looking in the direction of the music. "Tania!" she calledangrily. Elbowing her way through the crowd, she jostled Madge as shepassed by her. "Tania!" she cried again. The men and women spectators letthe woman make her way through them as though they knew her and wereafraid of her heavy fist. Only the child appeared to be unconscious ofthe woman's approach. Suddenly a big, red arm was thrust out. It caughtthe little girl by the skirt. With the other hand she rained down blowson the child's upturned face. One blow followed the other in swiftsuccession. The little dancer made no outcry. She simply put one thin armover her head for protection. 

The music went on gayly. No one of the watching men and women tried tostop the woman's brutality. But Madge was not used to the indifference ofthe New York crowd. Like a flash of lightning she darted away fromEleanor and rushed over to the woman, who was dragging the child alongand cuffing her at each step. 

"Stop striking that child!" she ordered sharply. "How can you be socruel? You are a wicked, heartless woman!"

The woman paid no attention to Madge. She did not seem even to have heardher, but lifted her big, coarse arm for another blow. 

Madge's breath came in swift gasps. "Don't strike that child again, " sherepeated. "I don't know who she is, nor what she has done, but she is toolittle for you to beat her like that. I won't endure it, " the littlecaptain ended in sudden passion. 

The woman turned her cruel, bloodshot eyes slowly toward Madge. She wasone of the strongest and most brutal characters in the slums of New York, and few dared to oppose her. She was even a terror to the policemen inthe neighborhood. 

"Git out!" she said briefly. 

Her arm descended. It did not strike the child. Quick as a flash, MadgeMorton had flung herself between the woman and the child. For a momentthe blow almost stunned the girl. The East Side crowd closed in on thegirl and the woman. If there was going to be a fight, the spectators didnot intend to miss it. Eleanor was numb with fear and sympathy. She didnot know whether to be more frightened for Madge than sorry for thechild. 

The woman's face was mottled and crimson with anger. Madge's face wasvery white. She held her head high and looked her enemy full in theface. 

"Git out of this and stop your interferin'!" shouted the virago. "Thishere child belongs to me and I'll do what I like with her. If you are oneof them social settlers coming around into poor people's places andmeddlin' with their business, you'd better git back where you belong orI'll social-settle you. "

At this moment a thin, hot hand caught hold of Madge's and pulled itgently. Madge gazed down into a little face, whose expression she neverforgot. It was whiter than it had been before. The scarlet color had goneout of the cheeks and the big, black eyes burned brighter. But there wasnot the slightest trace of fear in the look. Instead, the child's lipswere curved into an elf-like smile. 

"Don't stay here, lady, please, " she begged. "The ogress will be horridto you. She can't hurt me. You see, I am an enchanted Princess. "

An instant later the child received a savage blow from the woman's hardhand full in the face without shrinking. It was Madge who winced. Tearsrose to her eyes. She put her arms about the child and tried to shelterher. 

"Don't be calling me no names, Tania, " the woman cried, dragging at thechild's thin skirts. "Jest you come along home with me and you'll gitwhat is comin' to you, you good-for-nothin' little imp. "

"Is she your mother?" asked Madge doubtfully, gazing at the brutal womanand the strange child. 

Tania shook her black head scornfully. "Oh, dear, no, " she answered. "Itis only that I have to live with her now, while I am under theenchantment. Some day, when the wicked spell is broken, I shall go away, perhaps to a wonderful castle. My name is Titania. I think it means thatI am the Queen of the Fairies. "

The woman laughed brutishly. "Queen of gutter, you are, Miss Tania. I'lltan you, " she jeered, as she dragged the little girl from Madge's arms. 

The little captain looked despairingly about her. There, a calm witnessof the entire scene, was a big New York policeman. "Officer, " commandedMadge indignantly, "make that woman leave that child alone. "

The big policeman looked sheepish. "I can't do nothing with Sal, " heprotested. "If I make her stop beating Tania now, she'll only be meanerto her when she gets her indoors. Best leave 'em alone, I think. I haveinterfered, but the child says she don't mind. I don't think she does, somehow; she's such a queer young 'un'. "

Sal was now engaged in shaking Tania as she pushed her along in front ofher. Madge and Eleanor were in despair. 

Suddenly a well-dressed young man appeared in the crowd. There wassomething oddly familiar in his appearance to Eleanor, but she failed toremember where she had seen him before. "Sal!" he called out sharply, "leave Tania alone!"

Instantly the woman obeyed him. She slunk back into her open doorway. Thecrowd melted as though by magic; they also recognized the young man'sauthority. A moment later he was gone. Madge, Eleanor, and the strangelittle girl stood on the street corner almost alone. 

CHAPTER IV

THE UNINVITED GUEST

"Are you good fairies who have strayed away from home?" inquired Tania, calmly gazing first at Madge and then at Eleanor. She was perfectlyself-possessed and asked her question as though it were the most naturalone in the world. 

The two girls stared hard at the child. Was her mind affected, or was sheplaying a game with them? Tania seemed not in the least disturbed. "Do goaway now, " she urged. "I am all right, but something may happen to you. "

"You odd little thing!" laughed Madge. "We are not fairies. We are girlsand we are lost. We are on our way to visit a friend, Mrs. Curtis, wholives on Seventieth Street near Fifth Avenue. She will be dreadfullyworried about us if we don't hurry on. But what can we do for you? Wecan't take you with us, yet you must not go back to that wicked woman. "

"Oh, yes, I must, " returned Tania cheerfully. "I am not afraid of her. When the time comes I shall go away. "

"But who will take care of you, baby?" asked Eleanor. "Fairies don't livein big cities like New York. They live only in beautiful green woods andfields. "

The black head nodded wisely. "Good fairies are everywhere, " shedeclared. "But I can make handfuls of pennies when I like, " she continuedboastfully. "Let me show you how you must go on your way. "

"You can't possibly know, little girl, " replied Madge gently. "It is sofar from here. "

However, it was Tania who finally saw the two lost houseboat girls onboard the elevated train that would take them to within a few blocks oftheir destination. Tania explained that she knew almost all of New York, and particularly she liked to wander up and down Fifth Avenue to gaze atthe beautiful palaces. She was not young, she was really dreadfullyold--almost thirteen!

The last look Madge and Eleanor had of Tania the child had apparentlyforgotten all about them. She was gazing up in the air, above all thetraffic and roar of New York, with a happy smile on her elfish face. 

 * * * * *

"My dear children, I wouldn't have had it happen for worlds!" was Mrs. Curtis's first greeting as she came out from behind the rose-coloredcurtains of her drawing room. "Tom has been telephoning me franticallyfor the past hour. How did he and the girls miss you? You poor dears, youmust be nearly tired to death after your unpleasant experience. "

While Mrs. Curtis was talking she was leading her visitors up a beautifulcarved oak staircase to the floor above. Her house was so handsomelyfurnished that Madge and Eleanor were startled at its luxuriousappointments. 

Mrs. Curtis brought her guests into a large sleeping room which openedinto another bedroom which was for the use of Phil and Lillian. 

Madeleine was to be married the next afternoon at four o 'clock. Thegirls had not brought their bridesmaids' dresses along with them, as Mrs. Curtis had asked to be allowed to present them with their gowns. 

It was all that Madge could do not to beg Mrs. Curtis to show them theirfrocks. She hoped that their hostess would offer to do so, but during therest of the day their time was occupied in seeing Madeleine, her hundredsof beautiful wedding gifts, meeting Judge Hilliard all over again, andbeing introduced to Mrs. Curtis's other guests. The four girls went tobed at midnight, thinking of their bridesmaids' gowns, but without havinghad the chance even to inquire about them. 

Mrs. Curtis belonged to the old and infinitely more aristocratic portionof New York society. She did not belong to the new smart set, whichnumbers nearer four thousand, and does so much to make societyridiculous. Madeleine had asked that she might be married very quietly. She had never become used to the gay world of fashion after her strangeand unhappy youth. It made the girls and their teacher smile to see whatMrs. Curtis considered a quiet wedding. 

Miss Jenny Ann and her four charges had their coffee and rolls in Madge'sroom the next morning at about nine o'clock. Madge peeped out of thedoorway, there were so many odd noises in the hall. The upstairs hall wasa mass of beautiful evergreens. Men were hanging garlands of smilax onthe balusters. The house was heavy with the scent of American Beautyroses. But there was no sign of Mrs. Curtis or of Madeleine or Tom, andstill no mention of the bridesmaids' costumes for the girls. 

Lillian Seldon was looking extremely forlorn. "Suppose Mrs. Curtis hasforgotten our frocks!" she suggested tragically, as Madge came back withher report of the house's decorations. "She has had such an awful lot toattend to that she may not have remembered that she offered to give usour frocks. Won't it be dreadful if Madeleine has to be married withoutour being bridesmaids after all?"

"O Lillian! what a dreadful idea!" exclaimed Eleanor. 

Even Phyllis looked sober and Miss Jenny Ann looked exceedinglyuncomfortable. 

"O, you geese! cheer up!" laughed Madge. "I know Mrs. Curtis would notdisappoint us for worlds. Why, she has all our measures. She couldn'tforget. Oh, dear, does my breakfast gown look all right? There is someone knocking at our door. It may be that Mrs. Curtis has sent up ourfrocks. "

"Then open the door, for goodness' sake, " begged Eleanor. "Your breakfastgown is lovely; only at home we called it a wrapper, but then you werenot visiting on Fifth Avenue. "

Madge made a saucy little face at Eleanor. Then she saw a group ofpersons standing just outside their bedroom door. A man-servant held fourenormous white boxes in his arms; a maid was almost obscured by fourother boxes equally large. Behind her servants stood Mrs. Curtis, smilingradiantly, while Tom was peeping over his mother's shoulder. 

Madge clasped her hands fervently, breathing a quick sigh of relief. "Ourbridesmaids' dresses! I'm too delighted for words. "

"Were you thinking about them, dear?" apologized Mrs. Curtis. "I ought tohave sent the frocks to you sooner, but I wanted to bring them myself, and this is the first moment I have had. You'll let Tom come in to seethem, too, won't you?"

The man-servant departed, but Mrs. Curtis kept the maid to help her liftout the gowns from the billows of white tissue paper that enfolded them. She lifted out one dress, Miss Jenny Ann another, and the maid the othertwo. 

The girls were speechless with pleasure. 

Mrs. Curtis, however, was disappointed. Perhaps the girls did not likethe costumes. She had used her own taste without consulting them. Thenshe glanced at the little group and was reassured by their radiantfaces. 

"O you wonderful fairy godmother!" exclaimed Madge. "Cinderella's dressat the ball couldn't have been half so lovely!"

Madeleine's wedding was to be in white and green. The bridesmaids' frockswere of the palest green silk, covered with clouds of white chiffon. About the bottom of the skirts were bands of pale green satin and thechiffon was caught here and there with embroidered wreaths of lilies ofthe valley. The hats were of white chip, ornamented with white and palegreen plumes. 

It was small wonder that four young girls, three of them poor, shouldhave been awestruck at the thought of appearing in such gowns. 

"I shall save mine for my own wedding dress!" exclaimed Eleanor. 

"I shall make my début in mine, " insisted Lillian. 

"We can't thank you enough, " declared Phyllis, a little overcome by somuch grandeur. 

Tom was standing in a far corner of the room. 

"I would like to suggest that I be allowed to come into this, " hedemanded firmly. 

"You, Tom?" teased Madge. "You're merely the audience. "

Tom took four small square boxes out of his pocket. "Don't you be toosure, Miss Madge Morton. My future brother-in-law, Judge Robert Hilliard, has commissioned me to present his gifts to his bridesmaids. Madge shallbe the last person to see in these boxes, just for her unkind treatmentof me. "

"All right, Tom, " agreed Madge; "I don't think I could stand anythingmore just at this instant. "

Nevertheless Madge peeped over Phil's shoulder. Judge Hilliard hadpresented each one of the houseboat girls with an exquisite little pin, an enameled model of their houseboat, done in white and blue, the colorsof the "Merry Maid. "

 * * * * *

The wedding was over. There were still a few guests in the dining roomsaying good-bye to Mrs. Curtis and Tom; but Madeleine and Judge Hilliardhad gone. The four girls and Miss Jenny Ann found a resting place in thebeautiful French music room. 

Madeleine's wedding presents were in the library, just behind the musicroom. 

"It was simply perfect, wasn't it, Miss Jenny Ann?" breathed Lillian, asthey drew their chairs together for a talk. 

"Madeleine must be perfectly happy, " sighed Eleanor sentimentally. "JudgeHilliard is so good-looking. "

"Oh, dear me!" broke in Madge, coming out of a brown study. She wassitting in a big carved French chair. "I don't see how Madeleine Curtiscould have left her mother and this beautiful home for any man in theworld. I am sure if I had such an own mother I should never leave her, "finished the little captain. 

"Until some one came along whom you loved better, " interposed Miss JennyAnn. 

"That could never be, Miss Jenny Ann, " declared Madge stoutly, her blueeyes wistful. "Why, if my father is alive and I find him, I shall neverleave him for anybody else. "

"What's that noise?" demanded Phyllis sharply. 

It was after six o'clock and the Curtis home was brilliantly lighted. Thewindow blinds were all closed. But there was a curious rapping andscratching at one of the windows that opened into a small side yard. 

"It may be one of the servants, " suggested Miss Jenny Ann, listeningintently. 

"It can't be, " rejoined Madge. "No one of them would make such a strangenoise. "

"I think I had better call Tom, " breathed Eleanor faintly. "It must be aburglar trying to steal Madeleine's wedding gifts. "

Madge shook her head. "Wait, please, " she whispered. She ran to thewindow. There was the faint scratching noise again! Madge lifted theshade quickly. Perched on the window sill was the oddest figure that everstepped out of the pages of a fairy book. It was impossible to see justwhat it was, yet it looked like a little girl. One hand clung to thewindow facing, a small nose pressed against the pane. 

"Why, it's a child!" exclaimed Miss Jenny Ann in tones of relief. "Openthe window and let her come in. "

Madge flung open the window. Light as a thistledown, the unexpectedlittle visitor landed in the center of the room. 

Madge and Eleanor had completely forgotten the elfin child they had metin the slums of New York City; but now she appeared among them just asmysteriously as though she were the fairy she pretended to be. 

She wore a small red coat that was half a dozen sizes too tiny for her. Her skirt was patched with odds and ends of bright flowered materials. Onher head perched a cap, a scarlet flower, cut from an odd scrap of oldwall paper. In her hands Tania clasped a ridiculous bundle, done up in adirty handkerchief. 

"You strange little witch!" exclaimed Madge. "However did you find yourway here? Be very still and good until the lovely lady who owns thishouse sees you, then I wouldn't be at all surprised if she gave you somecake and ice cream before she sends you away. "

Tania sat down in the corner still as a mouse. Her thin knees werehunched close together. She held her poor bundle tightly. Her big blackeyes grew larger and darker with wonder as she had her first glimpse of afairyland, outside her own imagination, in the beautiful room and thegroup of lovely girls who occupied it. 

Mrs. Curtis came in a minute later, followed by a man who had been one ofthe guests at the wedding. Madge, Eleanor, and Tania recognized himinstantly. He was the young man who had protected Tania from the blows ofthe brutal woman the afternoon before, but Tania did not seem pleased tosee him. Her face flushed hotly, her lips quivered, though she made nosound. 

Mrs. Curtis smiled quizzically. Madge could see that there were tearsbehind her smiles. "Who is our latest guest, Madge?" she asked, gazingkindly at the odd little person. 

Tania rose gravely from her place on the floor. "I am a fairy who hasbeen under the spell of a wicked witch, " she asserted with solemnity, "but now the spell is broken and I've run away from her. I shan't go backever any more. "

Mrs. Curtis's young man guest took the child firmly by the shoulders. 

"What do you mean by coming here to trouble these young ladies?" hedemanded sternly. "I thought I recognized your friends, Mrs. Curtis. Theysaved this child yesterday from a punishment she probably well deserved. She is one of the children in our slum neighborhood that we have not beenable to reach. I will take her back to her home with me at once. "

The child's head was high in the air. She caught her breath. Her eyes hada queer, eerie look in them. "You can't take me back now, " she insisted. "The spell is broken. I shall never see old Sal again. "

Madge put her arm about the small witch girl. "Let her stay here justto-night, Mrs. Curtis, please, " begged Madge earnestly. "I wish to findout something about her. I will look after her and see that she does notdo any harm. "

Quite seriously and gently Tania knelt on one knee and kissed Mrs. Curtis's hand. "Let me stay. I shall be on my way again in the morning, "she pleaded, "but I am a little afraid of the night. "

"My dear child, " said Mrs. Curtis, gently drawing the waif to her side, "you are far too little to be running away from home. You may stay hereto-night, then to-morrow we will see what we can do for you. I won'ttrouble you with her to-night, Philip, " she added, turning to her guest. 

"It will be no trouble, " returned Philip Holt blandly. "She lives lessthan an hour's ride from here. Her foster mother will be greatly worriedat her absence. "

Mrs. Curtis looked hesitatingly at Tania, who had been listening withalert ears. The child's black eyes took on a look of lively terror. "Please, please let me stay, " she begged, clasping her thin little handsin anxious appeal. 

"Won't you let Tania stay here to-night, Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge forthe second time. "I am sorry to disagree with Mr. Holt, but I do notbelieve that poor little Tania is either lawless or incorrigible. Thewoman who claims her is the most cruel, brutal-looking person I ever saw. I am sure she is not Tania's mother. Let me keep her here to-night, andto-morrow I will inquire into her case. "

"Very well, Madge, " said Mrs. Curtis reluctantly. She glanced towardPhilip Holt. His eyes, however, were fixed upon Madge with an expressionof disapproval and dislike. For the first time it occurred to Mrs. Curtisthat Philip Holt might be very disagreeable if thwarted. She immediatelydismissed the thought as unworthy when the young man said smoothly: "Ishall be only too glad to have Miss Morton investigate the child'srecord. I am sorry that my word has not been sufficient to convinceher. "

Madge made no reply to this thrust. Then an awkward silence ensued. Mrs. Curtis looked annoyed, Tania triumphant, Madge belligerent, and the othergirls sympathetic. Making a strong effort, Philip Holt controlled hisanger and, extending his hand to Mrs. Curtis, said: "Pray, pardon myinterference. I was prompted to speak merely in your interest. I trust Ishall see you again in the near future. Good night. " He bowed coldly tothe young women and took his departure. 

"What a disagreeable----" Madge stopped abruptly. Her face flushed. "Ibeg your pardon, Mrs. Curtis, " she said contritely. "I shouldn't havespoken my mind aloud. "

"I forgive you, my dear, " there was a slight tone of constraint in Mrs. Curtis's voice, "but I am sure if you knew Mr. Holt as I do you wouldhave an entirely different opinion of him. "

"Perhaps I should, " returned Madge politely, but in her heart she knewthat she and Philip Holt were destined not to be friends, but bitterenemies. 

CHAPTER V

TANIA, A PROBLEM

"Don't you think it would be a splendid plan for Tania?" asked Madgeeagerly. "Miss Jenny Ann and the girls are willing she should come to us. Tania is such a fascinating little person, with her dreams and herpretences, that she is the best kind of company. Besides, I am awfullysorry for her. "

Mrs. Curtis and Madge were seated in the latter's bedroom indulging inone of their old-time confidential talks. 

"Tania would be a great deal of care for you, Madge, " argued Mrs. Curtis. "She is worrying my maids almost distracted with her foolishness. Lastnight she wrapped herself in a sheet and frightened poor Norah almost todeath by dancing in the moonlight. She explained to Norah that she waspretending that she was a moonflower swaying in the wind. I wonder wherethe child got such odd fancies and bits of information? She has neverseen a moonflower in her life. " Mrs. Curtis laughed and frowned at thesame time. "Poor little daughter of the tenements! She is indeed aproblem. "

"Shall I tell you all I have been able to find out about Tania?" askedMadge. "Her history is quite like a story-book tale. I think her fatherand mother were actors, but the father died when Tania was only a littlebaby. That is why, I suppose, they called the child by such an absurdname as 'Titania. ' I looked it up and it comes from Shakespeare's play of'Midsummer Night's Dream. ' I think perhaps her mother was just a dancer, or had only a small part in the plays in which she appeared, for theynever had any money. Tania has lived in a tenement always. The motherused to take care of her baby when she could, and then leave her to theneighbors. But the mother must have been unusual, too, for she taughtTania all sorts of poetry and music when Tania was only a tiny child. Indeed, Tania knows a great deal more about literature than I do now, "confessed Madge honestly. "It isn't so strange, after all, that Taniapretends. Why, she and her mother used to play at pretending together. When they sat down to their dinner they used to rub their old lamp andplay that it was Aladdin's wonderful lamp, and that their poor table wasspread with a wonderful feast, instead of just bread and cheese. Theytried to make light of their poverty. "

Mrs. Curtis's eyes were full of tears. She could understand better thanMadge the scene the young girl pictured. 

"Tania was eight years old when her mother died, " finished Madgepensively. "Since then poor Tania has had such a dreadful time, livingwith that wretched old Sal, who has made a regular slavey of her, and shejust had to go on with her pretending in order to be able to bear herlife at all. "

Madge and Mrs. Curtis were both silent for a moment. The bright Junesunshine flooded the room, offering a sharp contrast to Tania's sadlittle story. 

"You see why I wish to take her on the houseboat, " pleaded Madge. "Itseems so wonderful that we are going to Cape May and will be on thereally seashore, near you and Tom, that each one of us feels the desireto do something for somebody just to show how happy we are. Miss JennyAnn says we may take Tania, if you think it wouldn't be unwise. "

"She ought to go to school, Madge, " argued Mrs. Curtis half-heartedly. "Tania does not know any of the things she should. Philip Holt, who doesso much good work among the poor in Tania's tenement district, says thatthe child is most unreliable and does not tell the truth. "

Madge wrinkled her nose with the familiar expression she wore whenannoyed. Her investigations had proved Philip Holt a liar, but sherefrained from saying so. 

"You don't like Philip, do you?" continued Mrs. Curtis. "It isn't fair tohave prejudices without reason. Mr. Holt is a fine young man and doessplendid work among the poor. Madeleine and I have entrusted him with themost of the money we have given to charity. I am sorry that you girlsdon't like him, because he is coming to visit me at Cape May thissummer. "

Madge dutifully stifled her vague feeling of regret. "Of course, we willtry to like him, if he is your friend, " she replied loyally. "It was onlythat we thought Mr. Holt had a terribly superior manner for such a youngman, and looked too 'goody-goody'! But you have not answered me yet aboutTania. Do let us have Tania. I'll teach her lots of things this summer, and it won't be so hard for her when she goes to school in the fall. Sheis pretty good with me. "

"Very well, " consented Mrs. Curtis reluctantly, "for this summer only. The child will get you into difficulties, but I suppose they won't beserious. What is Madge Morton going to do next fall? Is she going tocollege with Phil, or is she coming to be my daughter?"

Madge lowered her red-brown head. "I don't know, dear, " she faltered. "You know I have said all along to Uncle and Aunt that, just as soon as Iwas grown up, I was going to start out to find my father. I shall benineteen next winter. It surely is time for me to begin. "

"But, Madge, dear, you can't find your father unless you know where tolook for him. The world is a very large place! I am sorry"--Mrs. Curtissmoothed Madge's soft hair tenderly--"but I agree with your uncle andaunt; your father must be dead. Were he alive he would surely have triedto find his little daughter long before this. Your uncle and aunt havenever heard from or of him during all these years. "

"I don't feel sure that he is dead, " returned Madge thoughtfully. "Yousee, my father disappeared after his court-martial in the Navy. He neverdreamed that some day his superior officer would confess his own guiltand declare Father innocent. I can't, I won't, believe he is dead. Somewhere in this world he lives and some day I shall find him, I am sureof it. Phil, Lillian and Eleanor have all pledged themselves to my cause, too, " she added, smiling faintly. 

"I'll do all that I can to help you, Madge. Just have a good time thissummer, and in the autumn, perhaps, there may be some information for youto work on. What is that dreadful noise? I never heard anything like itin my house before!" exclaimed Mrs. Curtis. 

Madge sprang to her feet. There was the sound of a heavy fall in the nextroom, a scream, then a discreet knock on Madge's door. 

"Come!" commanded Mrs. Curtis. 

The door opened and the butler appeared in the doorway, his solemn, redface redder and more solemn than usual. 

"Please, it's that child again, " he said. "While the young ladies was outin the automobile with Mr. Tom, she went in their room, emptied out oneof their trunks and shut herself inside. She said she was 'Hope' and thetrunk was 'Pandory's Box, ' or some such crazy foolishness. She meant tojump out when the young ladies came back, but Norah went into the roomwith some clean towels, and when the little one bobs her head out of thatbox, just like a black witch, poor Norah is scared out of her wits anddrops on the floor all of a heap. If that child doesn't go away from heresoon, Ma'am, I don't know how we can ever bear it. "

"That will do, Richards, " answered Mrs. Curtis coldly. But Madge couldsee that she was dreadfully vexed at Tania's latest naughtiness. 

The little captain gave Mrs. Curtis a penitent hug. "It is all my fault, dear. I should never have brought the little witch here, " she murmured. "I'll go and make it all right with Norah and see that Tania does no moremischief--for a while, at least. "

Mrs. Curtis looked somewhat mollified, nevertheless, she was far frompleased, and Madge's championship of little Tania was to cause the littlecaptain more than one unhappy hour. 

CHAPTER VI

A MISCHIEVOUS MERMAID

There was a splash over the side of a boat, then another, one more, and afourth. The water rippled and broke away into smooth curves. Down a longstreak of moonlight four dark objects floated above the surface of thewaves. For a few seconds there was not a sound, not even a shout, to showthat the mermaids were at play. 

Two dark heads kept in advance of the others. 

"Madge, " warned a voice, "we must not go too far out. Remember, wepromised Jenny Ann. My, but isn't this water glorious! I feel as though Icould swim on forever. "

A graceful figure turned over and the moonlight shone full on a happyface. The two swimmers moved along more slowly. 

"Nellie, Lillian!" Madge called back, "are you all right? Do you wish togo on farther?"

Phil and Madge floated quietly until their two friends caught up withthem. 

"I feel as though I could go on all night at this rate, " declared LillianSeldon. Eleanor put her hand out. "May I float along with you a little, Madge?" she asked. "I am tired. How wide and empty the ocean looksto-night! We must not get out of sight of the lights of the 'MerryMaid'. "

"There is no danger!" scoffed Madge. 

"Look out!" cried Phil Alden sharply. She was swimming ahead. She sawfirst the sails of a small yacht making across the bay with all speed tothe line of the shore that the girls had just quitted. 

"Let's follow the boat back home, " suggested Madge. "We can keep farenough away for them not to see us. It will be rather good fun if theytake us for porpoises or mermaids, or any other queer sea creature. "

"Don't run into that Noah's ark that we saw anchored in the creek thismorning, Roy, " came a shrill voice from the deck of the yacht. "I sawhalf a dozen women going aboard her this afternoon laden with boxes andtrunks--everything but the parrot and the monkey. It looked as thoughthey meant to spend the summer aboard her. "

"Perhaps they do, Mabel, " a man's voice answered. "The 'Noah's Ark' is ahouseboat. It looked very tiny for so many people, but I thought it wasrather pretty. "

"Well, we have girls enough at Cape May this summer--about six to everyman, " argued Mabel crossly. "I vote that we give these new persons thecold shoulder. Nobody knows who they are, nor where they come from. It isbad enough to have to associate with tiresome hotel visitors, but I shalldraw the line at these water-rats, and I hope you will do the same. "

"She means us, " gasped Eleanor. "What a perfectly horrid girl!"

The high, sharp voice on the yacht was distinctly audible over the water. The boat had slowed down as it drew nearer to the shore. 

"Swim along with Phil, Nellie, " proposed Madge. "I am going to have somefun with those young persons. I don't care if I _am_ nearly grown-up; Iam not going to miss a lark when there's a chance. I have that rubberball that Phil and I brought out to play with in the water. Watch methrow it on their yacht. They'll think it's a bomb, or a meteor, if I canthrow straight enough. I am going to settle with them this very minutefor the disagreeable things they just said about us and our pretty 'MerryMaid. '"

"Don't do it, Madge!" expostulated Phil; but she was too late; Madge haddived and was swimming along almost completely under the water. She swamin the darkness cast by the shadow of the boat as it passed within a fewyards of them. 

Like a flash she lifted her great rubber ball. She had better luck thanshe deserved. The ball came out of nowhere and landed in the center ofthe group of three young people on the yacht. It fell first on the deck, and then bounced into the lap of the offending Mabel. 

It was hard work for the waiting girls not to laugh aloud as naughtyMadge came slowly back to them. 

A wild shriek went up from on board the yacht. "Oh, dear, what was that?"one girl asked faintly, when the first cries of alarm had died away. 

"Where is it? What was it?" growled a masculine voice. "Are you reallyhurt, Mabel? You are making so much fuss that I can't tell. "

Mabel had dropped back in a chair. She was white with fear and tremblingviolently. 

"It is in my lap, " she moaned. "It may explode any moment--do take itaway!"

The owner of the yacht, Roy Dennis, turned a small electric flashlightfull on his two girl guests. There, in Mabel's lap, was surely a round, globular-shaped object that had either dropped from the sky or had beenthrown at them by an unknown hand. Roy had really no desire to pick it upwithout seeing it more clearly. 

The other girl was less timid. She reached over and took hold of Madge'sball. Then she laughed aloud. Oddly enough, her laugh was repeated out onthe water. 

"Why, it's only a rubber ball!" she asserted. Ethel Swann, who was one ofthe old-time cottagers at Cape May, ran to the side of the boat. "See!"she exclaimed, "over there are some boys swimming. I suppose they threwthe ball on board just to frighten us. They certainly were successful. "She hurled Madge's ball back over the water, but Roy Dennis's small yachthad gone some distance from the group of mischievous mermaids and he didnot turn back. "If I find out who did that trick, I surely will get evenwith them, " muttered Roy. "I don't like to be made a fool of. "

"Don't tell Jenny Ann, please, girls, " begged Madge, as the four girlsclambered aboard the "Merry Maid. " "It was a very silly trick that Iplayed. I should hate to have the cottagers at the Cape hear of it. Idon't suppose I shall ever grow up. "

"Girls, whatever made you stay in the water so long?" demanded Miss JennyAnn, coming into the girls' stateroom with a big pitcher of hot chocolateand a plate of cakes. "I have been uneasy about you. You have been in thewater for half an hour. That's too long for a first swim. Poor Tania isfast asleep. The child is utterly worn out with so much excitement. Thinkof never having been out of a crowded city in her life, and then seeingthis wonderful Cape May! Tania wanted to stay up to wish you good night. I left her staring out of the cabin window at the stars when I went intoour kitchen to make the chocolate. When I came back she was asleep. "

"Dear Jenny Ann, " said Madge penitently, pulling their chaperon down onthe berth beside her, while Lillian poured the chocolate, "it was myfault we were late. The bad things are always my fault. But we are goingto have a perfectly glorious time this summer, aren't we? Just think, next year Phil and I shall be nineteen and nearly old ladies. "

"I wonder if anything special is going to happen to us this holiday?"pondered Phil, crunching away on her third cake. 

"Something special always does happen to us, " declared Lillian. "Let's goto bed now, because, if we are going to row up the bay in the morning toexplore the shore, we shall have to get up early to put the 'Merry Maid'in order. We must be regular old Cape May inhabitants by the time thatMrs. Curtis and Tom arrive. "

Next morning bad news came to the crew of the little houseboat. Mrs. Curtis had been called to Chicago by the illness of her brother, and Tomhad gone with her. They did not know how soon they would be able to comeon to Cape May; but within a very few days Philip Holt, the goody-goodyyoung man who was one of Mrs. Curtis's special favorites, would come onto Cape May, and Mrs. Curtis hoped that the girls would see that he had agood time. 

Neither Madge, Phil, Lillian nor Eleanor felt particularly pleased atthis information. But Tania, who was the only one of the party that knewthe young man well, burst unexpectedly into a flood of tears, the causeof which she obstinately refused to explain. 

CHAPTER VII

CAPTAIN JULES, DEEP SEA DIVER

The "Water Witch" rocked lazily on the breast of the waves, awaiting thecoming of the four girls, who had planned to row up the bay on a voyageof discovery. They were not much interested in staying about among theCape May cottagers, after the conversation which they had innocentlyoverheard from the deck of the launch the night before. Of course, ifMrs. Curtis and Tom had come on to Cape May at once to occupy theircottage, as they had expected to do, all would have been well. The fouryoung women and their chaperon would have been immediately introduced tothe society of the Cape. However, the girls were not repining at theirlack of society. They had each other; there was the old town of Cape Mayto be explored with the great ocean on one side and Delaware Bay on theother. 

"Do be careful, children, " called Miss Jenny Ann warningly as the girlsarranged themselves for a row in their skiff. "In all our experience onthe water I never saw so many yachts and pleasure boats as there are onthese waters. If you don't keep a sharp lookout one of the larger boatsmay run into you. Don't get into trouble. "

"We are going away from trouble, Miss Jenny Ann, " protested Phil. "Thereis a yacht club on the sound, but we are going to row up the bay past theshoals and get as far from civilization as possible. "

Madge stood up in the skiff and waved her hand to their chaperon. Thegirls looked like a small detachment of feminine naval cadets in theirnautical uniforms. Each one of them wore a dark blue serge skirt of anklelength and a middy blouse with a blue sailor collar. They were withouthats, as they hoped to get a coating of seashore tan without wasting anytime. 

"I shall expect you home by noon, " were Miss Jenny Ann's final words asthe "Water Witch" danced away from the houseboat. 

"Aye, aye, Skipper!" the girls called back in chorus. "Shall we bringback lobsters or clams for luncheon, if we can find them?"

"_Clams!_" hallooed Miss Jenny Ann through her hands. "I am dreadfullyafraid of live lobsters. " Then the houseboat chaperon retired to write aletter to an artist, a Mr. Theodore Brown, whose acquaintance she hadmade during the first of the houseboat holidays. He had suggested that hewould like to come to Cape May some time later in the summer if any ofhis houseboat friends would be pleased to see him, and she was writing totell him just how greatly pleased they would be. 

The "Merry Maid" had found a quiet anchorage in one of the smaller inletsof the Delaware Bay, not far from the town of Cape May. The larger numberof the summer cottages were farther away on the tiny islands near thesound and along the ocean front. 

The "Water Witch" sped gayly over the blue waters of the bay in thebrilliant late June sunshine. Madge and Phil, as usual, were at the oars. Tania crouched quietly at Lillian's feet in the stern of the skiff. Eleanor sat in the prow. 

"What do you think of it all, Tania?" Madge asked the little adoptedhouseboat daughter. Tania had been very silent since their arrival at theseashore. If she were impressed at the wonderful and beautiful things shehad seen since she left New York City, she had, so far, said nothing. 

Her large black eyes blinked in the dazzling light. She was lookingstraight up toward the sky in a curious, absorbed fashion. "I was tryingto make up my mind, Madge, if this place was as beautiful as my kingdomin Fairyland, " answered Tania seriously, "and I believe it is. "

"Have you a kingdom in Fairyland, little Tania?" inquired Phil gently. She did not understand the child's odd fancies, as Madge did. 

Tania nodded her head quietly. "Of course I have, " she returned simply. "Hasn't every one a Fairyland, where things are just as they should be, beautiful and good and kind? I am the queen of my kingdom. "

Phil looked puzzled, but Madge only laughed. "Don't mind Tania, Phil. Sheis going to be a very sensible little houseboat girl before our holidayis over. Besides, I understand her. She only says some of the things Iused to think when I was a tiny child. But I do wish the people on theboats would not stare at us so; there is nothing very wonderful in ourappearance. "

The girls were trying to guide their rowboat among the other larger craftthat were afloat on the bay. They wished to get into the more remotewaters. In the meantime it was embarrassing to have smartly dressed womenand girls put up their lorgnettes and opera glasses to gaze at the girlsas the latter rowed by. 

"Can there be anything the matter with us?" asked Phil solicitously. "Inever saw anything like this fire of inquisitive stares. "

"Of course not, Phil, " answered Lillian sensibly. "It is only because weare strangers at Cape May, and most of the people whom we see about comehere each year. Then we are the only persons who live in a Noah's ark, asthose pleasant people on the yacht called our pretty 'Merry Maid' lastnight. Don't worry. Have you thought how odd it is that we won't evenknow them if we should be introduced to them later? We did not see eitherthem or their boat very plainly last night; we only overheard themtalking. "

"But I'll know the voice of that woman who screamed, " replied Madgerather grimly. "I just dare her to shriek again without my recognizingher dulcet tones. "

The girls were now drawing away from the crowded end of the bay. Theykept along fairly close to the shore. There was an occasional house nearthe water, but these dwellings were farther and farther apart. Finallythe girls rowed for half a mile without seeing any residence save anoccasional fisherman's hut. They hoped to reach some place where theycould catch at least a glimpse of the wonderful cedar woods that flourishfarther up the coast of the bay. 

Suddenly Lillian sang out: "Look, girls, there is the dearest littlehouse! It is almost in the water. It rivals our houseboat, it is so likea ship. Isn't it too cunning for anything!"

Madge and Phyllis rested on their oars. The girls stared curiously. 

They saw a house built of shingles that had turned a soft gray whichexactly resembled an old three-masted schooner. It had a tiny porch infront, but the first roof ended in a point, the second rose higher, likea larger sail, and the third, which must have covered the kitchen, wasabout the height of the first. 

"See, Tania, I can make the funny house by putting my fingers together, "laughed Lillian. "My thumbs are the first roof, my three fingers thesecond, and my little fingers the last. "

The girls rowed nearer the odd cottage. The place was deserted; at leastthey saw no one about. Over the front door of the house hung a trimlittle sign inscribed, "The Anchorage. "

"Dear me, here is a boathouse, and we've a houseboat!" exclaimed Eleanor. "I wish we dared go ashore and knock at the door, to ask some one to showus over it. "

"I don't think we had better try it, Eleanor, " remonstrated Phil. "Thehouse probably belongs to some grouchy old sea captain who has built itto get away from people. "

At this moment a man at least six feet tall, wearing old yellowtarpaulins, came around the side of the house of the three sails with alarge basket on each arm. He sat down on a rock in front of the house andbegan lifting mussel and oyster shells out of one of his baskets. Hewould peer at them earnestly before throwing them over to one side. Hewas a giant of a man, past middle age. His face was so weather-beatenthat his skin was like leather. His eyes were blue as only a sailor'seyes can be. On one of the man's shoulders perched a wizened littlemonkey that every now and then tugged at its master's grizzled hair orchattered in his ear. 

[Illustration: "Good Morning" Shouted Madge. ]

The man did not observe the girls in the rowboat, although they were onlya few yards away. 

"Good morning, " sang out Madge cheerfully, forgetting the vow of silencewhich the girls had made that morning against the Cape Mayites. But then, the girls had never dreamed of seeing such a fascinating seafaring oldmariner. Their vow had been taken against the society people. 

The sailor, however, did not return Madge's friendly salutation; he wenton examining his oyster and mussel shells. 

Madge looked crestfallen. The old sailor had such a splendid, strongface. He did not seem to be the kind of man who would fail to return afriendly good morning greeting. 

"I don't think he heard you, Madge. Let's all halloo together, " proposedLillian. 

"Good morning!" shouted five young voices in a mischievous chorus. 

The seaman lifted his big head. His smile came slowly, wrinkling his faceinto heavy creases. "Good morning, mates, " he called heartily. "Comingashore?"

"Oh, may we?" cried Madge in return. "We should _dearly_ love to!"

The five girls needed no further invitation. They piled out of the "WaterWitch" before their host could come near enough to assist them. 

The seaman did not invite them into the house. The girls took their seatson the big rock near the water. Madge was farthest away, but promptly themonkey leaped from its master's shoulder and planted itself in Madge'shair, pulling the strands violently while he chattered angrily. 

"You horrid little thing!" she cried; "you hurt. I wonder if you hate redhair. Is that the reason you are trying to pull mine out? Please, somebody, take this playful beast away. "

The old sea captain, as the girls guessed him to be, promptly came toMadge's rescue and removed the angry monkey. 

"You must forgive my pet, " he remarked kindly. "My little Madge isjealous. She doesn't like strangers and we don't often have young ladyvisitors. "

"Madge!" exclaimed the little captain, smiling as she tried to re-arrangeher hair. "What a funny name for a monkey. Why, that is my name!"

After a few advances the monkey became very friendly with the othergirls, but she would have nothing to do with Madge. She would fly into aperfect tempest of rage whenever Madge approached her or tried to talk toher. The monkey even deserted her master to perch in Tania's arms. Theanimal put its little, scrawny arms about the queer child's neck, andthere was almost the same elfish, wistful look in both pairs of darkeyes. 

"Do you catch many fish in these waters?" inquired Eleanor, whosehousewifely soul was interested in the big basket of lobsters that shesaw crawling about, writhing and twisting as though they were in agony. 

"Almost every kind that lives in temperate waters, " answered the sailor, "but there is nothing like the variety one finds in the tropics. "

"Were you once a sea captain?" asked Lillian curiously. 

The man shook his head. "I'm not a captain in the United States service, "he returned. "I am called captain in these parts, 'Captain Jules, ' but Ihave only commanded a freight schooner. "

"I know I have no right to be so curious, " interposed Madge, "but Idearly love everything about the sea. Were you ever a deep sea diver?Somehow you look like one. "

"I was a pearl-fisher for many years, " the seaman answered as calmly asthough diving for pearls was one of the most ordinary trades in theworld. But his eyes twinkled as he heard Madge's gasp of admiration andcaught the expression on the faces of the other girls. 

"You were looking for pearls in those oysters and mussel shells when ourboat came along, weren't you?" divined Madge, regarding him with largeeyes. 

The man nodded a smiling answer. 

"Yes, but I didn't expect to find any pearls, " he answered. "It isstrange how a man's old occupation will cling to him, even after he haslong ago given it up. There are very few pearls to be found now in theDelaware Bay or the waters around here. "

Captain Jules was gravely removing lobsters from his basket for Tania'sentertainment while he talked to Madge. Tania was watching him, breathless with admiration and terror. The captain would take hold of oneof the great, crawling things, rub it softly on its horned head as onewould rub a tabby cat to make it purr. He would then set the lobster upon its hind claws and the funny crustacean would fall quietly asleep, asthough it were nodding in a chair. 

"I never saw anything so queer in my life, " chuckled Phil. "You hypnotizethe lobsters, don't you?"

Captain Jules shook his shaggy head. He was proud of the appreciation hisaccomplishment had excited. "No; I don't hypnotize them, " he explained. "Anybody can make old Father Lobster fall asleep if he only rubs him inthe right place. You are not going, are you?" for the girls had risen todepart. 

"I am afraid we must, " said Madge; "we promised to get back to ourhouseboat by noon. If you come down to Cape May, won't you please come tosee us? Our houseboat is a rival to your boathouse. "

"You are very kind, " answered the old captain, shaking his head, "but Idon't do much visiting. I thank you just the same. Let me fix you up abasket of fish. Afraid of the lobsters, aren't you, little girl?" hesaid, smiling at Tania. 

The old sailor followed his visitors to help them aboard their rowboat. He walked beside Madge, keeping a careful watch on his monkey, whichstill chattered and gesticulated, showing her hatred of the littlecaptain. 

The girls realized that this man had the manners of a gentleman, althoughhe looked as rough and uncouth as a common sailor. There was a kind ofnobility about him, as of a man who has lived and fought with the bigthings of the earth. 

Madge looked at him beseechingly just before they arrived at their skiff. Now, when Madge desired anything very greatly she was hard to resist. Herblue eyes wore their most bewitching expression. "Please, " she faltered, "I want you to do me a favor. I know I have no right to ask it, but, but----"

"What is it?" inquired Captain Jules, smiling. 

"Have you your diving suit?" asked Madge. "If you have, and you wouldshow it to me some day, I would be too happy for words. " Madge blushed ather own temerity. 

The captain shook his head. There was little encouragement in hisexpression. "Maybe, some day, " he replied vaguely; "but I have had thesuit put away for some time. Who knows when I will go down into the seaagain? Be careful in that small skiff, " he warned the girls. "There areso many launches about on these waters, run by men and women that don'tknow the very first principles of running a boat, that a small craft likeyours may easily drift into danger. You must look lively. "

The girls waved their good-byes as Madge and Phil pulled away. Madgenoticed that the old sailor stared curiously at her, and every now andthen he shook his head and frowned. Madge supposed it was because she hadbeen so bold as to ask a favor of a perfect stranger. Yet, if she couldonly see Captain Jules again and he might be persuaded to show her hisdiving suit and to tell her something of the strange business ofpearl-fishing, she couldn't be really sorry for her impudence. Thisaccidental meeting with an old sailor inspired Madge afresh with her loveof the sea and the mystery of it. She could not get the man out of hermind, nor her own desire to see him soon again and to ask him morequestions. 

As for Captain Jules, when the girls had fairly gone he lighted his pipeand strode along the line of the shore. "It's a funny thing, Madge, " hesaid, addressing the monkey, "but when a man gets an idea in his head, everything and everybody he sees seems to start the same old ideaa-going. I wish I had asked her to tell me her surname. I wonder if sheis the real Madge?"

CHAPTER VIII

THE WRECK OF THE "WATER WITCH"

The girls began their row to the "Merry Maid" with all speed. They hadhad such an interesting morning that they did not realize how the timehad flown. They did not know the exact hour now, but they feared it wouldbe after twelve before they could rejoin Miss Jenny Ann. The sun was sonearly overhead and shining so brilliantly that the effect was almostdazzling. Madge and Phil did not try to see any distance ahead in theircourse. Lillian, however, was on the lookout. There were several inletsopening into the larger water-way down which the girls were rowing. Boatswere likely to come unexpectedly out of these inlets, and the girlsshould have been far more watchful than they were. 

"It's too bad about Mrs. Curtis and Tom not coming on to Cape May as soonas we expected them, isn't it?" remarked Phil, resting for half a momentfrom the strain of the steady pulling at her oars. "I hope they willarrive soon, before we have the responsibility of entertaining Mrs. Curtis's friend, Philip Holt. It won't be much fun to have a strange manfollowing us about everywhere, even if he should turn out to be nicerthan we think he is. " Phil was the stroke oar. She was talking over hershoulder to Madge, who was paying more attention to her friend'sconversation than to her rowing. 

"Oh, I think Mrs. Curtis and Tom will be along soon, " she rejoined. "Ifelt dreadfully when we received the telegram this morning. But now Ihope Mrs. Curtis's brother will get well in a hurry. Perhaps they will behere almost as soon as this Philip. I'll wager you a pound of chocolates, Phil, that this goody-goody young man can't swim or row, or do anythinglike an ordinary person. He will just think every single thing we do isperfectly dreadful, and will frighten Tania to death with his preaching. I know he thinks her fairy stories are lies. He told Mrs. Curtis thatTania never spoke the truth. " Madge lowered her voice. "I am sure we havenever caught her in a lie. I suppose this Philip will think myexaggerations are as bad as Tania's fairy stories. I hate too literalpeople. "

"Dear me, whom are you and Phil discussing, Madge?" inquired Lillian, leaning over from her seat in the stern with Tania, to try to catch herfriends' low-voiced conversation. "If it is that Philip Holt, you neednot think that he will trouble us very much when he comes to Cape May. Heis just the kind of person who will trot after all the rich people hemeets, and waste very little energy on those who have neither money norsocial position. "

Lillian was looking at Madge and Phil as she talked. For the moment sheforgot to keep a sharp watch about on the water. But a moment since therehad been no other boats in sight near them. Eleanor was resting in theprow with her eyes closed. The sun blazed hotly in her face, she couldonly see a bright light dancing before her eyes. 

As Lillian leaned back in her seat in the stern her face took on anexpression of sudden alarm. At the same moment the four girls heard thedistinct chug of a motor engine. Cutting down upon them was a pleasureyacht run by a gasoline motor. The prow of the yacht was head-on with the"Water Witch" and running at full speed. The boat had blown no whistle, so the girls had not seen its approach. 

"Look ahead!" shouted Lillian. 

The young man who was steering the yacht paid no heed to her warning. Hekept straight ahead, although he distinctly saw the rowboat and itspassengers. 

Madge and Phyllis had no time to call out or to protest. They realized, almost instantly, that the motor launch meant to make no effort to slowdown but to put the full responsibility of getting out of danger on therowers. 

The girls had no particular desire to be thrown into the water, nor tohave their boat cut in two, so they pulled for dear life, with whitefaces and straining throats and arms. 

They just missed making their escape by a hair's breadth. The young manrunning the yacht must have believed that the skiff would get safely byor else when he found out his mistake it was too late for him to slowdown. The prow of his yacht ran with full force into the frail side ofthe "Water Witch" near her stern. 

The little skiff whirled in the water almost in a semi-circle. By amiracle it escaped being completely run down by the launch. Yet a secondlater, before any one of the girls could stir, the water rushed into thehole in its side and it sank. Madge and Phyllis had had their oarswrenched from their hands. Then they found themselves struggling in thewater. 

A cry rose from the launch as the "Water Witch" and her passengersdisappeared. But there was no sound from the little rowboat, save thegurgle of the water and a shrill scream from Tania as the waves closedover her head. 

The yacht swept on past, borne perhaps by her own headway. 

As Madge went down under the water two thoughts seemed to come to hermind in the same second: she must look after Eleanor and Tania. Hercousin, Nellie, was not able to swim as well as the other girls. She hadalways been more nervous and timid in the water and was liable to suddencramp. Madge knew that being hurled from a boat in such sudden fashionwith her clothes on instead of a bathing suit would completely terrifyEleanor. She might lose her presence of mind completely and fail tostrike out when she rose to the surface of the water. As for Tania, Madgewas aware that she, of course, could not swim a stroke. The little onehad never been in deep water before in her life. 

Madge struggled for breath for a second as she came to the surface of thebay again. She had swallowed some salt water as she went down. In thenext desperate instant she counted three heads above the waves besidesher own. Phyllis was swimming quietly toward Eleanor. Evidently she hadentertained Madge's fear. "Make for the 'Water Witch, ' Nellie, " Madgeheard Phil say in her calm, cool-headed fashion. "It has overturned andcome up again and we can hang on to that. Don't be frightened. I amcoming after you. Try to float if your clothes are too heavy to swim. I'll pull you to the boat. "

Lillian's golden head reflected the light from the sun's rays as she swamalong after Phil. But nowhere could Madge see a sign of a little, wild, black head with its straight, short locks and frightened black eyes. 

She waited for another breathless moment. Why did Tania not rise to thesurface like the rest of them? Madge was trying to tread water and tokeep a sharp lookout about her, but her clothes were heavy and keptpulling her down; swimming in heavy shoes is an extremely difficultbusiness, even for an experienced swimmer. All of a sudden it occurred toMadge that Tania might have risen under the overturned rowboat. Then herhead would have struck against its bottom and she would have gone downagain without ever having been seen. 

There was nothing else to be done. Madge must dive down to see what hadbecome of her little friend, yet diving was difficult when she had noplace from which to dive. Madge knew she must get all the way down to thevery bottom of the bay to see if by any chance Tania's body could havebeen entangled among the sea weed, or her clothes caught on a rock orsnag. 

Once down, she looked in vain for the little body along the sandy bottomof the bay. She espied some rocks covered with shimmering shells and seaferns, but there was no trace of Tania. For the second time she rose tothe surface of the water. She hoped to see Tania's black head glisteningamong those of her older friends clustered about the overturned boat. Shehad grown very tired and was obliged to shake the water out of her eyesbefore she dared trust herself to look. 

Then she saw that Phil had hold of one of Eleanor's hands and with theother was clinging to the slippery side of their overturned boat. Eleanorwas numb with cold and shock. Although her free hand rested on the boat, Phil dared not let go of her for fear she would sink. 

Phyllis was beginning to feel uneasy about Madge. She had given nothought to her during the early part of the accident, she knew Madge tobe a water witch herself, but when the little captain did not come to theskiff with the rest of them Phil's heart grew heavy. What could she do?Dare she let go her hold on Eleanor? Strangely enough, in their peril, Phyllis had given no thought to the little stranger, Tania. 

Phyllis Alden breathed a happy sigh of relief when she saw Madge's curly, red-brown head moving along toward them. 

"Have you seen Tania?" she called faintly, trying to reserve both herbreath and her strength. 

Then Phil remembered Tania with a rush of remorse and terror. "No, Ihaven't, Madge. What could have become of the child?" she faltered. 

Lillian looked out over the water. Surely the launch that had wreckedthem would have been able by this time to come back to their assistance. The boat had stopped, but it had not moved near to them. So far, its crewshowed no sign of giving them any aid. Lillian could not believe hereyes. 

"I'd better dive for Tania again, " said Madge quietly, without intimatingto her chums that she was feeling a little tired and less sure of herselfin the water than usual. She knew they would not allow her to dive. 

When she went down for Tania the second time she chose a different placeto make her descent. She must find the little girl at once. 

She was swimming along, not many inches from the bottom of the bay, whenshe caught sight of what seemed to her a large fish floating near somerocks. Madge swam toward it slowly. It was Tania's foot, swaying with themotion of the water. Caught on a spar, which might have once been part ofa mast of an old ship, was Tania's dress. On the other side of her was arock, and her body had become wedged between the two objects. It was abeautiful place and might have been a cave for a mermaid, but it held thelittle earth-princess in a death-like grasp. 

It is possible to be sick with fear and yet to be brave. Madge knew herdanger. She saw that Tania's dress was caught fast. She would have to tugat it valiantly to get it away. First, she pulled desperately at Tania'sshoe, hoping she could free her body. A suffocating weight had begun topress down on her chest. She could hear a roaring and buzzing in herears. She knew enough of the water to realize that she had been too longunderneath; she should rise to the surface again to get her breath. Butshe dared not wait so long to release Tania. Nor did she know that shecould find the child again when she returned. She must do her work now. 

So Madge pulled more slowly and carefully at Tania's frock, unwinding itfrom the spar that held it. With a few gentle tugs she released it andTania's slender body rose slowly. The child's eyes were closed, her facewas as still and white as though she were dead. Madge was glad of Tania'sunconsciousness. She knew that in this lay the one chance of safety forherself and the child. If Tania came to consciousness and began tostruggle the little captain knew that her strength was too far gone forher to save either the child or herself. She would not leave her. Shewould have to drown with her. 

She caught the little girl by her black hair, and swam out feebly withher one free arm. At this moment Tania's black eyes opened wide. Sherealized their awful peril. She was only a child, and the fear of thedrowning swept over her. She gave a despairing clutch upward, threw bothher thin arms about Madge's neck and held her in a grasp of steel. For asecond Madge tried to fight Tania's hands away. Then her strength gaveout utterly. She realized that the end had come for them both. 

CHAPTER IX

THE OWNER OF THE DISAGREEABLE VOICE

It may be that Madge had another second of consciousness. Afterward shethought she could recall being caught up by a giant, who unloosed Tania'shands from about her throat. Quietly the three of them began to floatupward with such steadiness, such quietness, that she had that blessedsense of security and release from responsibility that a child must feelwho has fallen asleep in its father's arms. 

The first thing that she actually knew was, when she opened her eyes, tolook into a pair of deep blue, kindly ones that were smiling bravely andencouragingly into hers. Near her were her three friends, looking verywet and miserable, and one little, dark-eyed elf who was sobbingbitterly. Farther away were two strange girls and one red-faced youngman. Then Madge understood that she had been brought aboard the yachtthat had run down their rowboat. 

The little captain sat up indignantly. "I am quite all right, " she saidhaughtily, looking with an unfriendly countenance at their wreckers. Then, feeling strangely dizzy, she sank back and with a little sighclosed her eyes. 

"Don't do that, " protested Eleanor tragically. "You must not faint. Captain Jules, please don't let her. "

The old captain's strong hands took hold of Madge's cold ones. "Pullyourself together, my hearty, " he whispered. "A girl who can dive downinto the bottom of the bay as you can shows she has good sea-blood inher. She can see the old captain's diving suit any day she likes--own itif she has a mind to. Fishing for pearls isn't half so good a trade asfishing for a human life. You'll be yourself in a minute. Lucky Ihappened to walk down the beach in the same direction your boat went. "

One of the two strange girls came to Madge's side at this moment with acup of strong tea. "_Do_ drink this, " she pleaded. "It has taken sometime to make the water boil. I wish to give some to the other girls, too. I am so sorry that we ran into you. You must know that it was anaccident. "

Madge drank the tea obediently, gazing a little less scornfully at thegirl who was serving her, her face pale with fright and sympathy. Theother girl stood apart at a little distance with a young man. They wereboth staring at the wet and shivering girls with poorly concealedamusement. 

"We are awfully sorry to give you so much trouble, " said Madge to thegirl with the tea. She was trying to control her feelings when she caughtsight of the owner of the small yacht and his friend and her temper gotthe better of her. 

"I am sorry, " she repeated, "that we are giving _you_ trouble. But, really, your motor launch had no right to bear down on our boat withoutblowing its whistle or giving the faintest sign of its approach. It putthe whole responsibility of getting out of the way on us. "

Madge was sitting beside the old captain. Her direct mode of attackshowed that she was feeling more like herself. 

"What the young lady says is true, " declared Captain Jules with emphasis. "I doubt if you have the faintest legal right to navigate a boat in thesewaters. If I hadn't happened to walk along down the shore of the bayafter these young ladies left me two of them would have been drowned. I'll have to see to it that you keep off this bay if you do any more suchmischief as you did this morning. "

The young man in a handsome yachting suit worthy of an admiral in theUnited States Navy frowned angrily at Madge and her champion. 

"I say it wasn't my fault that I ran into your little paper boat, " heprotested angrily. "I gave you plenty of time to get out of my way, butyou girls pulled so slowly that we did slide into you. Still, if you willadmit that it was your fault and not mine, I will have your old skiffmended, if she isn't too much used up and you can get somebody to tow herback to land for you. I can't; I have enough to carry as it is. "

The girl standing beside the young man giggled hysterically. Madgedecided that she had heard her high, shrill notes before. Phyllis, Lillian and Eleanor were furiously angry at the young man's retort toMadge and Captain Jules, but they bit their lips and said nothing. Theywere on his yacht, although they were enforced passengers; it was betternot to express their feelings. 

But Madge was in a white heat of passion over the young man's boorishretort. 

"It was not our fault in the least that we were run down, " she said in alow, evenly pitched voice. "We are not willing to take the least bit ofthe blame. You not only ran into our little boat and sunk her, but youdid not take the least trouble to come to our aid when you had not thefaintest knowledge whether any one of us could swim. _Men_ in the part ofthe world where I come from don't do things of that kind. Put your boatback and tow our rowboat to land, " ordered Madge imperiously. "Wecertainly will not allow you to have it mended. Neither my friends nor Iwish to accept any kind of recompense from a man who is a _coward_!"

The word was out. Madge had not meant to use it, but somehow it slippedoff her tongue. 

"Steady, " she heard the old sailor whisper in her ear. He was gazing ather intently, and something in his face calmed the hot tide of her anger. "I am sorry I said you were a coward, " she added, with one of her quickrepentances. "I don't think you were very brave, but perhaps somethingmay have happened that prevented your coming to our aid. "

"Mr. Dennis does not swim very well, " the nicer of the two girlsexplained, sitting down beside Madge. She was blushing and biting herlips. "Mr. Dennis meant to put back as soon as he could. I am EthelSwann. I received a letter from Mrs. Curtis this morning, who is one ofmy mother's old friends. She wrote that she and her son would be down alittle later to open their cottage, but she hoped that we would meet yougirls before she came. I am so sorry that we have met first in such anunfortunate fashion. "

"Oh, never mind, " interrupted Madge impatiently. "If you are Ethel Swann, Mrs. Curtis has talked to us about you. We are very glad to know you, Iam sure. "

"These are my friends, Roy Dennis and Mabel Farrar, " Ethel went on, herface flushing. The four girls bowed coldly. Mabel Farrar acknowledged theintroduction by a stiff nod. The young man took off his cap for the firsttime when Madge introduced Captain Jules. 

"Run your boat along the side of the overturned skiff and I'll tie her onfor you, " ordered Captain Jules quietly. "I think I had better go alongback to land with you. "

Roy Dennis, who was a little more frightened at his deed than he cared toown, was glad to obey the captain's order. 

Just as the girls were landing from the launch Mabel Farrar's footslipped and she gave a shrill scream. Instantly the girls recognized thevoice which they had heard the night before condemning them to socialoblivion. 

Although Captain Jules had only a short time before positively refusedthe invitation of the girls to come aboard the "Merry Maid" to pay them avisit, it was he who handed each girl from the deck of Roy Dennis's boatinto the arms of their frightened chaperon. Finally he crossed over tothe deck of the houseboat himself, bearing little Tania in his arms andlooking in his wet tarpaulins like old King Neptune rising from thebrine. 

Captain Jules was made to stay to luncheon on board the houseboat. Therewas no getting away from the determined young women. In his heart ofhearts the old sailor had no desire to go. Something inspired him withthe desire to know more of these charming girls. 

When the girls had put on dry clothing they led Captain Jules all overthe houseboat, showing him each detail of it. He insisted that the "MerryMaid" was as trim a little craft as he had ever seen afloat. 

After luncheon, at which the captain devoured six of Miss Jenny Ann'sbest cornbread gems, he sat down in a chair on the houseboat deck, holding Tania in his arms. He talked most to Phyllis, but he seldom tookhis eyes off Madge's face. Sometimes he frowned at her; now and then hesmiled. Once or twice Madge found herself blushing and wondering why herrescuer looked at her so hard, but she was too interested to care verymuch. 

She sat down in her favorite position on a pile of cushions on the deck, with her head resting against Miss Jenny Ann's knee and her eyes on thewater. "Do tell us, Captain Jules, " she pleaded, "something about yourlife as a pearl-fisher. You must have had wonderful experiences. We woulddearly love to hear about them, wouldn't we, girls?"

The girls chorused an enthusiastic "Yes, " which included Miss Jenny Ann. 

Captain Jules laughed. "Haven't you ever heard that it is dangerous toget an old sea dog started on his adventures? You never can tell when hewill leave off, " he teased, stroking Tania's black hair. "But I wouldn'tbe surprised if Tania would like to hear how once I was nearly swallowedwhole, diving suit and all, by a giant shark. I was hunting for pearls inthose days off the Philippine Islands. I had been tearing some shellsfrom the side of a great rock when, of a sudden, I felt a strangepresence before I saw anything. I might have known it was time to expecttrouble, because the little fish that are usually floating about in thewater had all disappeared. A creepy feeling came over me. I was cold asice inside my diving suit. Then I turned and looked up. Just a few feetin front of me was a giant shark that seemed about twenty-five feet long. He was an evil monster. The upper part of his body was a dirty, darkgreen and his fins were black. You never saw a diving suit, did you? Soyou don't know that all the body is covered up but the hands. I tucked myhands under my breastplate in a hurry. It didn't seem to me that a pearldiver would be much good without any hands. Well, the great fish made asweep with its tail, and in a jiffy he and I were face to face. I stoodstill for about a second. I held my breath, my heart pounding like ahammer. Nearer and nearer the monster came swimming toward me, with itsshovel nose pointing directly at the glass that covered my face. Icouldn't stand it. I threw up my hands. I yelled way down at the bottomof the sea with no one to hear me. There was a swirl of water, a cloud ofmud, and my enemy vanished. He didn't like the noise any better than Iliked him. "

The girls breathed sighs of relief. The captain chuckled. "Oh, a diver isnot in real danger from a shark, " he went on, "his suit protects him. Butthere are plenty of other dangers. Maybe I'll tell you some of them atanother time. Why, I declare, it is nearly sunset. You don't know it, children, but the bottom of the tropic sea has colors in it as beautifulas the lights in that sky. The sea-bottom, where the diver is apt to findpearl shells, is covered with all sorts of sea growths--sponges twelvefeet high, coral cups like inverted mushrooms, sea-fans twenty feetbroad. "

As the old diver talked, the girls could see the magic coral wreaths, glowing rose color and crimson, the tall ferns and sea flowers that wavedwith the movement of the water as the earth flowers move to the stirringof the wind. And there in the land of the mermaids, hidden betweenwonderful shells of mother-of-pearl, lie the jewels that are the purestand most beautiful in the world. 

Madge's chin was in her hands. She did not hear the old captain get upand say good-bye. She was wishing, with all her heart, that she, too, might go down to the bottom of the sea to view its treasures. 

"Madge, " Phil interrupted her reverie, "Captain Jules is going. "

Madge put her soft, warm hands into the big man's hard, powerful ones. "Good-bye, " she said gratefully. "There is something I wish to tell you, but I won't until another time. "

Miss Jenny Ann stared thoughtfully after the giant figure as CaptainJules left the houseboat and strode up the shore in search of a smallskiff to take him home. 

"You girls have made an unusual friend, " she said slowly to Madge. "Inmany ways Captain Jules is rough. He may be uneducated in the wisdom ofschools and books, but he is a great man with a great heart. "

Before Madge went to bed that night she wrote Tom Curtis. She told himhow sorry they all were that he could not come at once to Cape May. Shealso described the day's adventures. She made as light of their accidentas possible, but she ended her letter by asking Tom if he would not sendher a book about pearl fishing. 

CHAPTER X

THE GOODY-GOODY YOUNG MAN

"Philip Holt has come, Madge, " announced Phyllis Alden a few days later. "He is staying at one of the hotels until Mrs. Curtis and Tom arrive toopen their cottage. He has already been calling on a number of Mrs. Curtis's friends here. Now he has condescended to come to see us. MissJenny Ann says we must invite him to luncheon; so close that book, if youplease, and come help us to entertain him. I am sure you will be _so_pleased to see him. "

Madge frowned, but closed her book obediently. "What a bore, Phil! I wasjust reading this fascinating book on pearl-fishing. A few valuablepearls have been found in these waters. There was one which was sold to aprincess for twenty-five hundred dollars. Who knows but the 'Merry Maid'may even now be reposing on a bank of pearls! Dear me, here is thattiresome Mr. Holt! Of course, we must be nice with him on Mrs. Curtis'saccount. I hope she and Tom will soon come along. Let us take Mr. Holtwith us to the golf club this afternoon. We promised Ethel Swann to comeand she won't mind our bringing him. "

The girls were not altogether surprised that the young people whom theyhad lately met at Cape May were divided into two sets. The one had takenthe girls under their protection and seemed to like them immensely. Theother, headed by Mabel Farrar and Roy Dennis, treated them with coolcontempt. But the girls felt able to take care of themselves. Not one ofthem even inquired what story Mr. Dennis and Miss Farrar had told abouttheir memorable meeting on the water. 

The Cape May golf course stretches over miles of beautiful downs and theclubhouse is the gathering place for society at this summer resort. 

Ethel Swann bore off Lillian and Eleanor to introduce them to some of herfriends, and the three girls followed the course of two of the playersover the links. 

Philip Holt was plainly impressed by the smartly-dressed women and girlswhom he saw about him. He was a tall, thin young man with sandy hair andhe wore spectacles. He insisted that Madge and Phyllis should not forgetto introduce him as the friend of Mrs. Curtis, who expected him to be herguest later on. Indeed, Philip Holt talked so constantly and sointimately of Mrs. Curtis that Madge had to stifle a little pang ofjealousy. She had supposed, when she was in New York City, that Mrs. Curtis, who was very generous, only took a friendly interest in PhilipHolt and his work among the New York poor, but to-day Philip Holt gaveher to understand that Mrs. Curtis was as kind to him as though he were amember of her family. And Madge wondered wickedly to herself whether TomCurtis would be pleased to have him for a brother. She determined tointerview Tom on the subject as soon as he should return from Chicago. 

Later in the afternoon Madge and Phyllis were surprised to see Roy Dennisand Mabel Farrar come down the golf clubhouse steps and walk across thelawn toward them, smiling with apparent friendliness. Madge's resentfulexpression softened. She did not bear malice, and she felt that she hadsaid more to Roy Dennis about his treatment of them than she should havedone. She, therefore, bowed pleasantly. Phil followed suit. To theiramazement they were greeted with a frozen stare by the newcomers, whowalked to where the two girls were standing without paying the leastattention to the latter. Madge's color rose to the very roots of herhair. Phil's black eyes flashed, but she kept them steadily fixed on thegirl and man. 

"How do you do, Mr. Holt?" asked Mabel in bland tones, addressing thegirls' companion. "I believe I am right in calling you Mr. Holt. I haveheard that you were a friend of Mrs. Curtis and her son. This is myfriend, Roy Dennis. We are so pleased to meet any of dear Mrs. Curtis's_real_ friends. We should like to have you take tea with us. "

Philip Holt looked perplexed. He opened his mouth to introduce Madge andPhyllis to Miss Farrar, but the girls' expressions told the story. 

Miss Farrar and Mr. Dennis had purposely excluded the two girls from theconversation. 

For the fraction of a second Philip Holt wavered. Mabel Farrar wassmartly dressed. Roy Dennis looked the rich, idle society man that hewas. Moneyed friends were always the most useful in Mr. Holt's opinion, he therefore turned to Miss Farrar with, "I shall be only too pleased toaccompany you. "

"You'll excuse me, " he turned condescendingly to Madge and Phil, "butMrs. Curtis's friends wish me to have tea with them. "

Madge smiled at the young man with such frank amusement that he wasembarrassed. "Oh, yes, we will excuse you, " she said lightly. "Pleasedon't give another thought to us. Miss Alden and I wish you to consultyour own pleasure. I am sure that you will find it in drinking tea!" Sheturned away, the picture of calm indifference, although she had a wickedtwinkle in her eye. 

"Well, if that wasn't the rudest behavior all around that I ever saw inmy life!" burst out Phil indignantly after the disagreeable trio haddeparted. "Mrs. Curtis or no Mrs. Curtis, I don't think we should beexpected to speak to that ill-bred Mr. Holt again. The idea of hismarching off with that girl and man after the way they treated us! Ishall tell Mrs. Curtis just how he behaved as soon as I see her, then shewon't think him so delightful. "

Madge put her arm inside Phil's. "You had better not mention it to Mrs. Curtis, Phil. Mrs. Curtis is the dearest person in the world, but she isso lovely and so rich that she is used always to having her own way. Shethinks that we girls are prejudiced against this Mr. Holt because he saidthe things he did about Tania. By the way, I wonder what the little witchhas against him? I mean to ask her some day. But let's not trouble aboutPhilip Holt any more. He is just a toady. I don't care what he says ordoes. We have done our duty by him for this afternoon at least. He won'tjoin us again. Let's go over to that lovely hill and have a good, old-fashioned talk. "

Phil's face cleared. After all, she and Madge could get along much, better without troublesome outsiders. 

"Isn't it a wonderful afternoon, Phil?" asked the little captain afterthey had climbed the little hill and were seated on a grassy knoll. "Wecan see the ocean over there! Wouldn't you like to be swimming down thereunder the water, where it is so cool and lovely and there would benothing to trouble one?"

"What a water-baby you are, " smiled Phil, giving her chum's arm a softpressure. "I sometimes think that you must have come out of a sea-shell. I suppose you are thinking of the old pearl diver again. "

"Phil, " demanded Madge abruptly, "have you ever thought of whatprofession you would have liked to follow if you had been born a boyinstead of a girl?"

"I do not have to think to answer that, " replied Phyllis, "I know. If Iwere a boy, I should study to become a physician, like my father; buteven though I am a girl, I am going to study medicine just the same. Assoon as we get through college I shall begin my course. "

"Phil, " Madge's voice sounded unusually serious, "don't set your hearttoo much, dear, on my going to college with you in the fall. I don't knowit positively, but I think that Uncle is having some business trouble. Heand Aunt have been worried for the past year about some stocks they own. I shan't feel that I have any right to let them send me to college unlessI can make up my mind that I shall be willing to teach to earn my livingafterward. And I can't teach, Phil, dear. I should never make asuccessful teacher, " ended Madge with a sigh. 

"I can't imagine you as a teacher, " smiled Phil, "but I am sure that youwill marry before you are many years older. "

"Marry!" protested Madge indignantly. "Why do you think I shall marry?Why, I was wishing this very minute that I were a man so that I could setout on a voyage of discovery and sail around the world in a little shipof my own. Or, think, one might be a pearl-diver, or lead some excitinglife like that. Now, Phil Alden, don't you go and arrange for me just tomarry and keep house and never have a bit of fun or any excitement in mywhole life!"

Phyllis laughed teasingly. "Oh, you will have plenty of excitement, Madgedear, wherever you are or whatever you do. Don't you remember how MissBetsey used to say that she knew something was going to happen wheneveryou were about? I suppose you would like to be a captain in the Navy likeyour father, so that you could spend all your time on the sea. "

"No, " returned Madge, "I should want a ship of my own. I wouldn't like tobe a captain in the Navy. There, you always have to do just what you aretold to do, and you know, Phil, that obedience is not my strong point. "The little captain laughed and shook her russet head. "You see, Phil, Ithink that if I could go around the world, perhaps in some far-away landI would find my father waiting for me. "

For several minutes the two chums were silent. At last Phil leanedforward and gave Madge's arm a gentle pinch. "Wake up, dear, " shelaughed, "perhaps some day you will own that little ship and go aroundthe world in it. Just now, however, we had better go on to the houseboat. I believe Nellie and Lillian are going to wait at the golf club until thelast mail comes in, so they can bring our letters along home with them. We must say good-bye to that nice Ethel Swann. She is a dear, in spite ofher ill-bred friends. "

Phyllis and Madge found Miss Jenny Ann sitting in a steamer chair on thehouseboat deck exchanging fairy stories with Tania. The little girl knewalmost as many as did her chaperon, but Tania's stories were so full ofher own odd fancies that it was hard to tell from what source they hadcome. 

"Do you know the story of 'The Little Tin Soldier, ' Tania?" Miss JennyAnn had just asked. "He was the bravest little soldier in the world, because he bore all kinds of misfortunes and never complained. "

With a whirl Tania was out of Miss Jenny Ann's lap and into Madge's arms. The child was devoted to each member of the houseboat party, but she wasMadge's ardent adorer. She liked to play that she was the littlecaptain's Fairy Godmother, and that she could grant any wish that Madgemight make. 

Phil, Madge and Tania sat down at Miss Jenny Ann's feet to hear moreabout "The Brave Little Tin Soldier. " Tania huddled close to Madge, herblack head resting against the older girl's curls, as she listened to theharrowing adventures that befell the Tin Soldier. 

The sun was sinking. Away over the water the world seemed rose colored, but the shadows were deepening on the land. Phil espied Lillian andEleanor coming toward the houseboat. Lillian waved a handful of whiteenvelopes, but Eleanor walked more slowly and did not glance up towardher friends. 

Miss Jenny Ann rose hurriedly. "I must go in to see to our dinner, " sheannounced. "Phil, after you have spoken to the girls, will you come in tohelp me? Madge may stay to look after Tania. "

The little captain was absorbed in a quiet twilight dream, and as Taniawas in her lap she did not get up when Phil went forward to meet Lillianand Eleanor. 

Instantly Phil realized that something was the matter with Nellie. Eleanor's face was white and drawn and there were tears in her gentle, brown eyes. Lillian also looked worried and sympathetic, but wasevidently trying to appear cheerful. 

"What is the matter, Eleanor? Has any one hurt your feelings?" asked Philimmediately. Eleanor was the youngest of the girls and always the one tobe protected. Phyllis guessed that perhaps some one of the unpleasantacquaintances of Roy Dennis and Mabel Farrar might have been unkind toher. 

But Eleanor shook her head dumbly. 

"Nellie has had some bad news from home, " answered Lillian, tenderlyputting her arm about Eleanor. "Perhaps it isn't so bad as she thinks. "

Madge overheard Lillian's speech and, lifting Tania from her lap, sprangto her feet. 

"Nellie, darling, what is it? Tell me at once!" she demanded. "If Uncleand Aunt are ill, we must go to them at once. "

"It isn't so bad as that, Madge, " answered Eleanor, finding her voice;"only Mother has written to tell us that Father has lost a great deal ofmoney. He has had to mortgage dear old 'Forest House, ' and if he doesn'tget a lot more money by fall, 'Forest House' will have to be sold. "

Nellie broke down. The thought of having to give up her dear old Virginiahome, that had been in their family for five generations, was more thanshe could bear. 

Madge kissed Eleanor gently. In the face of great difficulties Madge wasnot the harum-scarum person she seemed. "Don't worry too much, Nellie, "she urged. "If Uncle and Aunt are well, then the loss of the money isn'tso dreadful. Somehow, I don't believe we shall have to give up 'ForestHouse. ' It would be too frightful! Perhaps Uncle will find the money intime to save it, or we shall get it in some way. I am nearly grown now. Iought to be able to help. Anyhow, I don't mean to be an expense to Uncleand Aunt any more after this summer. " Madge's face clouded, although shetried to conceal her dismay. "Do Uncle and Aunt want us to leave thehouseboat and come home at once?"

Phil's and Lillian's faces were as long and as gloomy as their otherchums' at this suggestion. 

But Eleanor shook her head firmly. "No; Father says positively that hedoes not wish us to leave the houseboat until our holiday is over. It isnot costing us very much and he wishes us to have a good time thissummer, so that we can bear whatever happens next winter. "

No one had noticed little Tania while the houseboat girls were talking. Her eyes were bigger and blacker than ever, and as Madge turned to gointo the cabin she saw that there were tears in them. 

"What is it, Tania?" putting her arms about the quaint child. 

"Did you say that you didn't have all the money you wanted?" inquiredTania anxiously. "I didn't know that people like you ever needed money. Ithought that all poor people lived in slums and took in washing like oldSal. "

Madge laughed. "I don't suppose the people in the tenements are as pooras we are sometimes, Tania, because they don't need so many things. Butdon't worry your head about me, little Fairy Godmother. I am sure thatyou will bring me good luck. "

CHAPTER XI

THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE

"Madge, I am afraid that you and the girls are not having as good a timeat Cape May as I had hoped you would have, " remarked Mrs. Curtis to thelittle captain about a week later as they strolled along the beautifulocean boulevard that overlooked the sea. Only the day before Mrs. Curtisand Tom had returned from Chicago. Just behind them, Lillian, Miss JennyAnn, Phyllis, Tom Curtis and Mrs. Curtis's protégé, Philip Holt, loiteredalong the beach. They were too far away to overhear the conversation ofthe two women. 

"On the contrary, we are having a perfectly beautiful time, " answeredMadge, her face radiant with the pleasure of her surroundings. "I thinkCape May is one of the loveliest places in the whole world! And we girlshave met the most splendid old sea captain. He has the dearest, snuggestlittle house up the bay! He was once a deep-sea diver and knows the mostfascinating stories about the treasures of the sea. " Madge ceasedspeaking. She could tell from her friend's slightly bored expression thatMrs. Curtis was not interested in the story of a common sailor. 

"Yes, Madge, I know about all that, " Mrs. Curtis returned a littlecoldly. "What I meant is that I fear you girls are not enjoying thesocial life of Cape May, which is what I looked forward to for you. I dowish, dear, that you cared more for society and less for such people asthis old sailor and a tenement child like Tania. I doubt if this man is afit associate for you. "

Madge's blue eyes darkened. She thought of the splendid old sailor, withhis great strength and gentle manners, his knowledge of the world and hisfine simplicity, and of queer, loving little Tania, but she wisely heldher peace. "I am sorry, too, that I don't like society more if you wishit, " she replied sweetly. "I do like the society of clever, agreeablepeople, but not--I like Ethel Swann and her friends immensely, " sheended. "And, please, don't say anything against my old pearl diver, Mrs. Curtis, until you see him. I am sure that you and Tom will think that heis splendid. "

Mrs. Curtis looked searchingly at Madge, and Madge returned her gazewithout lowering her eyes. Mrs. Curtis's face softened. She found it hardto scold her favorite, but she had been very much vexed at the story thatPhilip Holt had repeated to her of Madge's escapades at Cape May, and howshe accused Roy Dennis of cowardice when he had taken her and her friendson his boat after Madge's and Phil's own heedlessness had caused theirskiff to be overturned. Somehow, the tale of the throwing of the ball onboard Roy Dennis's yacht and of frightening Mabel Farrar had also goneabroad in Cape May. Lillian had confided the anecdote to Ethel Swannunder promise of the greatest secrecy. The story had seemed to Ethel tooridiculous to keep to herself, so she had repeated it to another friend, after demanding the same promise that Lillian had exacted from her. Andso the story had traveled and grown until it was a very mischievous talethat Philip Holt had recounted to Mrs. Curtis, taking care that TomCurtis was not about when he told it. 

Mrs. Curtis thought Madge too old for such practical jokes. She alsobelieved that Madge should have more dignity and self-control. She lovedher very dearly, and she wished her to come to live with her as herdaughter after her own, daughter, Madeleine, had married, but Mrs. Curtiswas determined that the little captain should learn to be less impetuousand more conventional. 

"Philip Holt has told you something about me, hasn't he, Mrs. Curtis?"asked Madge meekly, hiding the flash in her eyes by lowering her lids. 

"Philip told me very little. He is the soul of honor, " answered Mrs. Curtis quickly. "You are absurdly prejudiced against him. But with thelittle that he told me and what I have gathered from other sources, Ifeel that you have been most indiscreet. I can't help thinking that thevarious things that have happened may be laid at your door, and that theother girls have just stood by you, as they always do. "

Madge bit her lips. "Whatever has occurred that you don't like is myfault, Mrs. Curtis, " she confessed, "and Phil, Lillian and Nellie _have_stood by me. I am sorry that you are angry. "

The other young people were coming closer. Not for worlds would Madgehave had them overhear her conversation with Mrs. Curtis. She was tooproud and too hurt to ask Mrs. Curtis just what Philip Holt had saidagainst her. Neither would she retaliate against him by telling herfriend of his rudeness. 

Mrs. Curtis put one arm about Madge. "It is all right, my dear, " shesaid, softening a little, "but you must promise me that you will not dosuch harum-scarum things again, and that you will try to keep yourtemper. " Mrs. Curtis was on the point of asking Madge to give up heracquaintance with the sailor and not to see the man again, but she knewthat her young friend was feeling a little hurt and no doubt resentfultoward her, so she put off making her request until a later time. 

"Tania has behaved very well, so far, hasn't she, Madge?" Mrs. Curtistactfully changed the subject. "I confess I am surprised. Philip Holtassured me that the child was continually in mischief in the tenementneighborhood where she lives. When he took her into the neighborhoodhouse to try to help her she positively stole something. I am afraidTania's mother was not the woman you think she was; she was only a cheaplittle actress, a dancer. " Mrs. Curtis glanced at her companion. Madgewas eyeing her seriously. 

"It isn't like you, Mrs. Curtis, dear, to say things against people. Philip Holt must have----" Madge stopped abruptly. At the same time TomCurtis came up from behind to join his mother and the girl. 

"Come on, Madge, and have a race with me across the sands, " he urged. "Mother will be trying to make you so grown-up that we can't have anysport at all. Besides, you are looking pale. I am sure you need exercise. There is a crowd over there in front of the music pavilion. I will wagera five-pound box of candy that I can beat you to it. Philip Holt willentertain Mother. She likes him better than she does the rest of us, anyhow, because he devotes his time to good works and to working goodpeople, " added Tom teasingly, under his breath. 

While Tom was talking Madge darted off across the sands. She never wouldget over her love of running, she felt sure, until she was old andrheumatic. The color came back to her cheeks and the laughter to hereyes. 

Tom was close behind her. "Madge Morton, you didn't give me a fairstart, " he protested, "you rushed away before I was ready. I thought youalways played fair?"

Madge dropped into a walk. "I do try to, Tom, " she answered moreearnestly than Tom had expected. His remark had been made only in fun. "You believe in me, don't you, Tom?" she added pleadingly. 

"Now and forever, Madge, through thick and thin, " answered Tom steadily. 

They had now come up nearer the crowd of people on the beach. Up on agrand stand a band was playing an Italian waltz, and an eager crowd hadgathered, apparently to listen to the music. 

But the two young people soon saw that on the hard sand a child wasdancing. Tom stopped outside the circle of watchers, but Madge wentforward into it. She had at once recognized little Tania! Eleanor hadbeen left on the houseboat to take care of the child, but Eleanor was nownowhere to be seen, and her charge had wandered into mischief. 

Tania was dancing in her most bewitching and wonderful fashion. Madgecould not help feeling a little embarrassed pride in her. The child wasmoving like a flower swayed by the wind. She poised first on one foot, then on the other, then flitted forward on both pointed toes, her thin, eager arms outstretched, curving and bending with the rhythm of themusic. She wore her best white dress, the pride of her life, whichEleanor had lately made for her. On her head she had placed a wreath ofwild flowers, which she must have woven for herself. They were like afairy crown on her dark head. With the love of bright colors, which shemust have inherited from some Italian ancestor, she had twisted a brightscarlet sash about her waist. 

Again Madge saw that Tania was utterly unconscious of the audience abouther. She looked neither to the right nor to the left, but straight upwardto the turquoise-blue sky. 

How different Tania's audience to-day from the crowd of people that hadwatched her on the street corner when Eleanor and Madge had first seenher! Yet these gay society folk were even more fascinated by the child'swonderful art. They could better appreciate her remarkable dancing. 

Tania did not even see her beloved Madge, who was silently watching her. Tania's usually pale cheeks glowed as scarlet as her sash. Unconsciouslythe little girl's movements were like those of a butterfly, a-flutterwith the joy of the sunshine and new life. 

The music stopped suddenly and with it Tania's dance ceased as abruptly. She stood poised for a single instant on one dainty foot, with hergraceful arms still swaying above her flower-crowned head. Her audiencewatched her breathlessly, for the effect of the child's grace had beenalmost magical. 

"Wasn't that a wonderful performance?" whispered Tom in Madge's ear. "Thechild is an artist! Where do you suppose she learned to dance likethat?"

But Tania had come back to earth in a brief second. To Madge'smystification, Tania started about among the people who had been watchingher performance with her small hands clasped together like a cup. 

The child courtesied shyly to a fat old lady. Her gesture wasunmistakable. The woman rummaged in her chain pocket-book and dropped asilver quarter into Tania's outstretched hands. The next onlooker wasmore generous. Tania's eyes shone as she felt the size and weight of abig silver dollar. 

Few people in the Cape May crowd knew who Tania was, or whence she hadcome. They probably thought that the object of the dance had been to earnmoney. 

For a few moments Madge had been paralyzed by Tania's peculiar actions. She did not realize what they meant. In this lapse of time the rest oftheir party joined them. 

It was the expression on Mrs. Curtis's face that made Madge appreciatewhat Tania was doing. 

"What on earth is Tania about?" exclaimed Lillian in puzzled tones. Shesaw the child standing before a young man who was evidently teasing herand refusing her request for money. 

"She has been dancing like a monkey with a hand organ, " answered PhilipHolt scornfully. "I am afraid Cape May people will hardly understand it. It looks as though the young women on the 'Merry Maid' were in need ofmoney. " The young man laughed as though his last remark had been intendedfor a joke. 

"None of that talk, Holt. " Madge caught Tom's angry tone as she hurriedforward to Tania. The little captain could have cried with mortificationand embarrassment. In the crowd of curious onlookers she caught sight ofMabel Farrar's and Roy Dennis's sneering faces. 

"Tania!" she cried sharply. "What in the world are you doing? Stop takingthat money at once!"

Tania glanced around and discovered Madge. Instead of looking ashamed ofherself, the child's face grew radiant. "Madge, " she cried, in a highvoice that could be heard all about them, "it is all for you!"

Tania rushed forward with her outstretched hands overflowing withsilver. 

Madge could have sunk through the sands for shame. Mrs. Curtis's faceflamed with anger and chagrin. She might have been able to explain to herfriends that Tania was only a street child and knew no better than todance for money; but how could she ever explain the remark to Madge? Itlooked as though Madge had been a party to Tania's dancing and begging. 

Madge was overcome with embarrassment and humiliation. She knew that shemust, for the minute, appear like a beggar to the crowd of Cape Maypeople. For just that instant she would have liked to repulse Tania, tohave thrust the child and her money away from her before every one. But aglance at Tania's eager, happy face restrained her. She put her armprotectingly about the little girl, hiding her in the shelter of herbody. "I don't want the money, Tania, " she whispered. "It wasn't rightfor you to have taken it from these people. "

"Don't you want it?" faltered Tania. "I thought you said last night thatyou and Eleanor were very poor, and that you needed some money very much. All the time I was in bed last night I thought of what your FairyGodmother could do to help you. I know how to do but one thing--to danceas my mother taught me. How can it be wrong to take the money frompeople? I have often done it in New York. They only gave it to me becausethey liked my dancing. " Madge could feel Tania's hot tears on her hands. 

She clasped Tania closer. "It isn't exactly wrong, Tania; I was mistaken. It was just different. I will have to explain it to you afterward. Now wemust give the money back to the people again. "

Holding tight to Tania's hand, Madge walked among the group of strangers, explaining Tania's actions as best she could without hurting the littlegirl's feelings. It was one of the hardest things that the proud littlecaptain had ever been called upon to do. But a part of the crowd hadscattered. It was not possible to find them all and return their silver. Tania was too puzzled and heart-broken to continue her errand long. Shedid not understand why Madge had refused to take her gift, which shethought she had fairly earned. Finally she could hold back her sobs nolonger. Dropping her few remaining nickels and dimes on the sand shebroke away from Madge's clasp and ran like a little wild creature awayfrom everyone. 

Madge stopped for just a second among her friends before followingTania. 

"You see, Madge, " remarked Mrs. Curtis coldly, "Tania is quiteimpossible. I knew the child would get you into difficulties, and it isjust as I feared. She must be sent away at once. "

But Madge shook her head with a decision that was unmistakable. 

"No, " she answered quietly, "Tania shall not be sent away. None of youunderstand, and I can't explain it to you now, but Tania thought she wasdoing something for Nellie and me. She was foolish, of course, and I willsee that she never does it again. "

With her head held high, Madge hurried away in pursuit of her FairyGodmother. 

CHAPTER XII

"THE ANCHORAGE"

Madge was alone in the "Water Witch, " which had been mended and was asgood as new. She had just come from an interview with Mrs. Curtis, inwhich she had tried to make her friend understand the reason for Tania'sbehavior of the day before. Mrs. Curtis, however, would not take thelittle captain's view of the matter. She dwelt on the fact that Tania hadslipped away from the houseboat without letting Eleanor know of it, andthat she was a naughty and disobedient child. 

Madge also believed that Mrs. Curtis no longer loved her so dearly as inthe early days of their acquaintance. The young girl was sure that someinfluence was being brought to bear to prejudice her friend against her. But what could she do? Philip Holt was trying to destroy the affectionMrs. Curtis felt for Madge in order to ingratiate himself. It looked asthough he were going to succeed. Madge was too proud to ask questions orto accuse Philip Holt with deliberately trying to influence her friendagainst her. Although she was only a young girl, she realized that lovedoes not amount to very much in this world unless it has faith andsympathy behind it. So long as she had done nothing she knew to be wrong, and for which she should make an apology, she could only wait to see ifMrs. Curtis's affection would be restored to her or cease altogether. 

As usual, when she was troubled, the impulse came to her to be alone onthe water. She had explained to Miss Jenny Ann that she might be gone forseveral hours, so there was no immediate reason why she should return tothe houseboat. The other girls were yachting with some Cape May friends. 

Madge rowed her boat up the bay toward the home of the old sailor. Shewas not far from the very place where Captain Jules had rescued Tania andher a short while before. She thought of the strange-looking beamsticking up out of the sandy bottom of the bay on which Tania's dress hadcaught. It had certainly looked like the broken mast of an old ship. Shedetermined to ask Captain Jules if any wrecks had recently occurred nearthat part of the bay, and concluded that she would row up to the sailor'shouse for the express purpose of asking him this question. Of course, this was only an excuse. She was deeply anxious to call on the old sailoragain and, if possible, persuade him to keep his promise to her to showher his diving suit, and to tell her more of his strange experiences atthe bottom of the sea. 

Captain Jules was sitting in his favorite place on the big rock just bythe water in front of his house. He was mending the sail of his fishingboat. 

Madge's boat came round a slight curve in the bay, dancing toward him. This time Captain Jules spied his guest and saluted her as he would havegreeted a superior officer. 

The little captain blushed prettily as she returned his salute in herbest naval fashion. 

The old captain looked hurriedly toward his small house. There was nosight or sound of any one about. He seemed uncomfortable for a moment, then his face cleared. His deep blue eyes gleamed and his mouth setsquarely. "Coming ashore to make me a call, Miss Madge?" he askedinvitingly. 

Madge nodded. "If I shan't be in your way. You must let me just sit thereon the rock by you. I have been reading a perfectly thrilling book aboutpearl-divers, " she announced as soon as she was comfortably settled, "butnone of the stories were as thrilling as the ones you told us. The booksaid that pearls had been found in New Jersey. I wonder if you have everthought of diving down to the bottom of this bay to see if it holds anytreasures?"

The sailor was studying the girl's face so earnestly that he forgot toanswer her. 

"Oh, yes, I have thought of it, " he replied a little later, smiling athis guest. "A man never wholly forgets his trade. But what a taste youhave for sea yarns, little lady! I half-way think, now, that if you hadnot been born a girl you might have followed the sea for your calling. "

"I should have loved it best of anything in the world, " answered Madgefervently, gazing at the beautiful expanse of sunny, blue water. "I neverfeel as much at home anywhere as I do on the sea. You see, " she continuedconfidingly, "I have a reason for loving the water. My father was asailor. He was a captain in the United States Navy once. "

"'A captain in the United States Navy, '" Captain Jules repeated huskily. "I thought so. I thought so. "

"Why?" asked Madge wonderingly. 

Captain Jules pulled his needle slowly through a heavy piece of sailcloth. It must have stuck, he was so long about it, and his big handsfumbled it so clumsily. 

"Oh, because of your liking for the water, Miss Madge, " he returnedquietly. "You see, there are two great loves born in the hearts of menand women that you never can get away from. The one is the love of thesoil and the other is the love of the sea. No matter what your life is, if you have those two passions in you, you've got to get back to thecountry or to the water when your chance comes. But why do you say thatyour father was once a captain in the United States Navy? Is he dead?"

"I am afraid so, " replied Madge faintly. Of late she was beginning tobelieve that her uncle and aunt, Mrs. Curtis and all her older friendswere right. If her father were not dead in all these long years, surelyhe would have tried to find her. He would have sought to discover somenews of the daughter whom he had left when she was only a baby. 

Captain Jules seemed about to say something, then, changed his mind. Heshook his great, shaggy, gray head and looked at Madge tenderly. "Is yourmother living?" he inquired. 

"No, she died soon after my father went away to join his ship on his lastvoyage, " Madge went on sadly, her eyes filling with tears. She was halftempted to tell the old sailor her father's story, then decided toreserve it until some future day when she felt that she knew him better. In spite of her liking for the old sea captain, she realized that she hadhardly known him long enough to make him her confidant. 

Captain Jules continued to sew. He opened his mouth, to speak once ortwice and then closed it again. Finally he asked Madge huskily, "What wasyour father's name, child?"

"Captain Robert Morton, " replied Madge slowly. "He was from Virginia. IfI knew him to be alive, I'd be the happiest girl in the world. "

Captain Jules cast a peculiar glance in her direction which Madge did notsee. 

"My dear little mate, " he said slowly, "some day a young man will comealong who will be far more to you than any old father could have been. But what made your father go away? If he was a captain in the Navy, whatmade him resign his command?"

"I can't tell you that to-day, Captain Jules. Perhaps I'll tell you someday when I know you better; in fact, I am sure I shall tell you. Perhapswhen I do tell you I shall ask you to do me a great favor. Perhaps Ishall ask you to help me hunt for him. I'll tell you a secret. Uncle andAunt have been good to me and I love them dearly, but I want my ownfather, and I can't, I won't, believe he is dead. That is, not until Ihave absolute proof. "

"Little girl!" exclaimed Captain Jules in such a strange voice that Madgewas startled, "I promise you that I'll help you find him. " Then in acalmer tone of voice he said: "I told you that I would show you mydiver's suit. If you will wait on my porch I will go around inside thehouse to see if I can find it. "

He rose hastily and disappeared into the house, leaving Madge to wonderwhy the few words she had spoken concerning her father had affected theold sea captain so strangely. 

Chapter XIII

TANIA'S NEMESIS

Captain Jules was gone a long time, but Madge did not mind waiting forhim. She loved the odd house with its roof shaped like three sails andits restful name, "The Anchorage. "

When Captain Jules came back with the great suit his face was pale, almost haggard, but he was smiling good-humoredly. "Come, stand over hereby this window while I show you my old togs. I haven't looked at thisdiving suit myself for several years. "

Madge was too much interested in the diving dress to glance in at thecaptain's window to see if she could catch a glimpse of the inside of thesnug little house that she had not yet been invited to enter. 

The diving suit was much lighter than she had expected to find it. Itweighed only about twenty pounds. It was made of water-proof material andhad a large helmet of copper with great circular glasses in front thatlooked like goggle eyes. 

Captain Jules explained that there were two lines with which the divercommunicated with the outside world. The one was the air line, and it wasused to pump air down to the man below in the water. The life line wasusually hitched around the diver's waist. This line was let out to anydepth the diver required, and by pulling on it the diver could signal tothe men who followed his course: one jerk, pull up; two, more air; three, lower the bag. Madge was utterly fascinated with the netted bag, made ofrope, that Captain Jules showed her. He told her that the pearl-diveralways carried a bag to hold the treasures that he finds at the bottom ofthe sea. To her vivid imagination, the empty bag was even now filled withshining pearls, the rarest treasures of the sea. 

The young girl persuaded Captain Jules to let her dress up in his diver'ssuit, when she stumbled about the veranda in it, her gay laughtermingling with the captain's deep chuckles of delight. 

"O Captain Jules!" she pleaded, "do take me down to the bottom of the seawith you. I have always wanted to be a mermaid, and this may be the onlychance I shall ever have. 'Only divers know of things below, of water'sgreen and fishes' sheen, '" she chanted gayly. 

The old sea captain gazed at Madge, breathing a deep sigh ofsatisfaction. "I believe you have the courage to do it if I were to letyou try, " he murmured. "It comes nearer to convincing me than anythingelse. "

"Captain Jules, " continued the girl earnestly, "please, please let's godown to the bottom of this bay. You could take me with you and then therewouldn't be any danger. We have been down together without diving suitsand here we are safe and sound on land again! You said you thought theremight be pearls in the oyster beds of this bay. We could look, at anyrate. I saw the most wonderful things when I was searching for Tania. Itseemed as though her dress was caught on the broken spar of an old ship, though, of course, I couldn't be sure. Have there been many wrecks inthis bay? Do you suppose it was a ship's spar?"

"There are always wrecks on the water, child. And you mustn't be talkingnonsense about diving down in this bay along with me, " answered CaptainJules severely. He kept his eyes fastened on his diving suit with anaffectionate gleam in them. "Maybe, though, I will make a diving party ofone and go down in the bay alone. I'd give you the pearls I found downthere. "

Madge shook her head. "That wouldn't be fair, " she said, setting her redlips together obstinately. Captain Jules, she felt sure, would be easy tomanage. If he did any diving in the Delaware Bay within the next fewweeks, he must take her with him. 

She wrote secretly to New York City to ask what a diver's suit wouldcost. She was discouraged by the answer, but she did not give up hope. She was also very careful not to let Miss Jenny Ann or Mrs. Curtis knowanything of the wild scheme that was evolving in her head. 

Almost every day the girls saw Captain Jules. Either they went up the bayto call on him, or he made a visit to the houseboat. 

The old captain never invited the girls inside his house, but they hadgreat frolics in his tidy yard. The captain explained that his house wasnot neat enough to be seen by young ladies, as it had only a manhousekeeper. 

Even Mrs. Curtis became a little less prejudiced against Captain Jules. She could not but confess that he was a fine old man, though she stilldid not see why Madge was so much attracted by him. But the girl bidedher time. The four girls and their friends went off on long fishing tripswith Captain Jules. Sometimes Mrs. Curtis, Tom, and their guest, PhilipHolt, went with them. The enmity between Madge and Philip increased everyday, nor did Madge any longer make much effort to conceal her dislike forhim. 

Philip Holt had a special reason for his dislike for Madge Morton. He hadcome to Cape May with the idea of making Mrs. Curtis do an importantfavor for him upon which his whole future depended. He feared that Madge, who looked upon him as a hypocrite, would find out his true character, tell her friend, and thus ruin his prospects. 

A singular misfortune had befallen him. Who could have guessed that oneof the few people who knew his real history, Tania, the little streetchild, would be picked up by the houseboat girls and brought to Cape Mayfor the summer? Tania must not be allowed to betray him. If she did, Mrs. Curtis must not believe either Madge or Tania. The young man had to layhis plans carefully, but he was a born hypocrite and he meant toaccomplish his end. 

His first opportunity to further his cause came one morning when he andMrs. Curtis were sitting on the veranda of her summer cottage. Tom hadgone out sailing and was not expected back for several hours, so thatPhilip believed that the coast was clear. He began by telling Mrs. Curtissomething of the charity work that he had recently done in New York Cityand so brought the subject about to Tania. 

"Dear Mrs. Curtis, you are so generous, " the young man said admiringly. "I have just learned that after the summer holiday is over you intend tosend Miss Morton's protégé, Tania, to a boarding school. It is so kind inyou. "

Mrs. Curtis shook her head. "Oh, no, " she answered, "it is very little todo. Really, I don't see what else could be done with the child. She isvery queer and not attractive to me, but Madge is fond of her and, as Iam very fond of Madge, I shall do what is best for the little girl. "

"Ah, " murmured Philip Holt vaguely, "but do you feel sure that a boardingschool is the best place for the girl? She is so unruly, so untruthful! Ifear that she would give you a great deal of trouble and responsibilityunless she were placed under greater restraint. I have wondered for sometime what should be done for the child. She has caused a lot of mischiefamong the children on the street in her tenement section. It seems to methat she ought to be sent to some kind of an institution where she wouldbe more closely watched--an asylum or home for incorrigible children. "

Mrs. Curtis looked worried and bit her lips. "That is rather hard on thechild, isn't it? Still, I could not undertake to be responsible forTania's good behavior at school. She seems very hard to control. I willwatch her more closely, and, if she shows more signs of untruthfulness, Ishall have to consider your suggestion. However, I will talk the matterover with Madge. I wish you would walk down to the houseboat for me andinvite the girls to come up to the hotel for luncheon. I hope they arenot off somewhere with Captain Jules. He seems to claim the greater shareof their attention lately. "

Philip Holt walked off, very well pleased with his interview. He hadconveyed to Mrs. Curtis precisely the impression he had intended toconvey. 

Ever since his arrival at Cape May Philip Holt had wished to see littleTania alone. He had warned the child that she was not to behave as thoughshe had ever seen him before, yet he was still afraid that she might makea confidante of Madge. He needed to make his threat to her moreterrifying. He decided to find her and intimidate her so thoroughly thatshe would not dare betray her previous acquaintance with him. 

There was but one person in the world of whom the queer, elf-like Taniawas afraid. That person was Philip Holt! She had feared him since the dayof her own mother's death, and the very thought of him was enough to fillher childish soul with terror. 

Tania was playing alone on the sands near that houseboat at the time Mrs. Curtis and Philip Holt were discussing her future. Madge and Miss JennyAnn were inside the houseboat, within calling distance of Tania, but notwhere they could see her. The little girl had just built a house ofshining pebbles and was gazing at it with a pleased smile when she hearda step near her on the sand. Tania stared up at Philip's thin, blondeface in terror-stricken silence. 

"Tania, " the young man asked harshly, "have you told any one down herethat you have ever seen or known me before?"

Tania shook her head mutely. 

"Remember, if you do, I am going to have you shut up in a big house withiron bars at the windows where you can never go out or see your friendsany more, " Philip Holt went on, keeping his voice lowered to a whisper. 

Slowly Tania's black eyes dropped. She tried to be brave and to pretendthat she did not care, but the loss of her freedom was the one thing thatTania feared with all her soul. If she were shut up somewhere, how couldshe ever talk to her fairies, or see the blue sky that she so loved? Andnow, to be parted from the girls forever was too dreadful! Indeed, shewould not dare to tell what she knew. Philip Holt was sure of it. 

It was at that moment that Madge slipped out on the houseboat deck to seeif Tania were all right. To her surprise she saw that Philip Holt wastalking to the little girl. She had not thought that Philip Holt caredenough for children to waste a minute's time with them. She thereforewondered at his sudden interest in Tania. Madge walked quietly off thehouseboat. She was wearing tennis shoes and her softly-shod feet made nosound. She caught one glimpse of Tania's mute, white face and stoppedshort in time to hear Philip say:

"Even if you do tell that old Sal is my mother, Tania, no one willbelieve you. She herself will deny it and help me to have you shut up, "declared Philip Holt menacingly. 

Madge caught each word as though it had been addressed to her. ForTania's sake, and because she knew that for many reasons it was wiser, she held her peace for the time being. 

"How do you do, Mr. Holt?" she asked innocently. "I just saw you from thedeck of the houseboat. "

Philip Holt leaped to his feet. But Madge's eyes were so clear andserene, her face so calm, that it was utterly impossible she could haveoverheard him. 

Philip delivered Mrs. Curtis's message and then left the two girlstogether. Madge dropped down on the sands by Tania and put her arm abouther. "You need never tell me who Mr. Holt is, nor why you are afraid ofhim, Tania, " she whispered; "I overheard what he said, and you need notbe afraid. I will take care of you!"

"He is the Wicked Genii, " faltered Tania, "who hated the Princess andwanted to drive her away from her kingdom in Fairyland. "

"But he can't harm you, Tania, dear, " comforted Madge. "He dare not tryto take you away from us. I am going to tell Mrs. Curtis all about thisWicked Genii and if I'm not mistaken it will be he, not you who is sentaway. "

CHAPTER XIV

CAPTAIN JULES MAKES A PROMISE

Little by little Madge was able to put together the whole story of PhilipHolt's life. He was old Sal's son, and "Holt" was not his own name, buthe rarely came near his mother, never gave her any help, and denied hisrelationship with her whenever it was necessary. When Philip Murphy was asmall boy, he had been taken into the home of a wealthy family namedHolt, but he had never been legally adopted as their child. He was raisedin luxury and had made a great many wealthy friends, and he had learnedto love money more than anything else in the world. But his rich patronswould not allow him entirely to desert his own mother. Twice every monthhe was made to go to see old Sal Murphy in her tenement home on the EastSide. Philip Holt, who now went by the name of his foster parents, fairlyloathed these visits. It was because of his hatred of them that he beganto take his spite out on Tania when he was a lad of about fifteen, andpoor Tania a baby of only six years old. 

Tania's mother had died in the same tenement where old Sal lived. Therehad been no one who wanted the little girl, so old Sal had taken her, beaten and starved her, and made her useful in any way that she could. 

When Philip Holt had grown to manhood his foster parents lost most oftheir money. A little later they died, leaving their foster son nothing. The young man had been used to luxury and rich friends, and he could notgive them up, therefore he told his wealthy friends that because he hadonce been a poor boy he meant to devote his life to charity. He proposedto work among the New York poor and asked their cooperation. Large sumsof money were given him to be used for charity, but Philip Holt believedtoo strongly in the theory that charity begins at home. Whenever it waspossible he used a part of this money for himself. To make more, he beganspeculating in Wall Street. He lost two thousand, then five thousanddollars of the money that had been entrusted to him. For almost a year hehad been the treasurer of a New York charitable organization, and thetime was near at hand when he must give a report of the money that he hadmisused. He knew that disgrace, imprisonment, stared him in the faceunless he could persuade Mrs. Curtis to advance him five thousand dollarsfor some charitable purpose, or give it to him for himself. He, therefore, did not intend to be balked in his plan by either Madge orTania, no matter what desperate measures he had to employ. 

So there were two persons at Cape May who came to believe that they stoodin dire need of money. Yet they wished it for very different reasons:Philip Holt wanted money to save himself from disgrace; Madge desired itto help her uncle and aunt save their old home, "Forest House, " to sendEleanor back to graduate at Miss Tolliver's in the fall, to start on hersearch for her father, and, last of all, to take care of Tania. 

For Madge had managed the little waif's affairs most undiplomatically. When she discovered the threat that Philip held over Tania if she toldhis secret, the little captain went to Mrs. Curtis with the story. Shedid not wish her friend to be deceived by the young man, so she confidedto Mrs. Curtis that Philip Holt, who was supposedly the son of some oldfriends, was really the child of old Sal of the tenements. Mrs. Curtisthought that Madge must be mistaken. She wrote to old Sal to ask her ifit were true. The Irish woman was devoted to her son. She would have doneanything in the world not to disgrace him. She answered Mrs. Curtis'sletter by declaring that Philip Holt was no relative of hers, but a youngman whom she knew because of his kindness to the poor. Mrs. Curtis wasindignant. She insisted that Tania had told Madge a falsehood, and thatPhilip Holt was right in his opinion of Tania. It would not be well tosend the child to a school; she should be put in some kind of aninstitution. This, however, Madge was determined should never happen. Shehad no money of her own, nor did she know where she was to obtain themeans, but she made up her mind to find some way to provide for herquaint little Fairy Godmother. 

The morning after Madge's disquieting talk with Mrs. Curtis the fourgirls and Tania wandered up the bay to spend the morning in the woodsnear the water. Phyllis carried a book that she meant to read aloud, Madge a box of luncheon, and Eleanor and Lillian their sewing. Taniaskipped along with her hand in Madge's. John had promised to join themlater in the day if he returned in time from his trip on the water. 

The girls settled themselves under some trees whence they could command aview of the land and the bay. Madge lay down in the soft grass and restedher head in her hands. She meant to listen to Phil's reading, not topuzzle over her own worries. Phil's book gave a thrilling account of theearly days in the Delaware Bay, when it was the favorite cruising placefor pirates. It was rather hard to believe, when the girls gazed out onthe smooth, blue water, that it had once been the scene of so many fierceadventures with pirates. Once a crew of seventy men, belonging to thefamous Captain Kidd, had actually sailed up the Delaware Bay andfrightened the people of Philadelphia. 

Madge had forgotten to listen. She could hear Phil's voice, but not herwords. The history of piracy, of course, was very thrilling, but Madgedid not see how any long-ago dead and buried pirates or their hiddentreasures could help her out of her present difficulties. She stood inneed of real riches. 

A sailboat dipped across the horizon and headed for the landing not farfrom where the girls were sitting, but no one of them noticed it. 

"Look ahoy! look ahoy!" a friendly voice cried out from across thewater. 

Phyllis closed her book with a snap, Lillian and Eleanor dropped theirsewing, Tania ran to the water's edge, and Madge sat up. 

It was Captain Jules who had hailed them. 

"Well, my hearties, is this a summer camp?" demanded the old sailor ashis boat came near the land. "I have been all the way to the houseboat tofind you. I have something to show you. " Captain Jules's broad face shonewith good humor. He was clad in his weather-beaten tarpaulins, and on hisshoulder perched the monkey. 

Madge covered the sides of her curly head with her hands. "Please don'tlet the monkey pull my hair this morning, " she pleaded as the captaincame up. 

He tossed the monkey over to Tania, who cuddled it affectionately in herarms, and began talking softly to it. 

Then Captain Jules seated himself on the grass and the houseboat girlsgathered about him in a circle. He put one great hand in his pocket. "I've some presents for you, " he announced, trying to look very serious, but smiling in spite of himself. 

"What are they?" asked Lillian eagerly. 

"That's telling, " returned the captain. "You must guess. "

"Shells, " said Tania quickly. 

Captain Jules shook his head. "You're warm, little girl, " he replied, "but you haven't guessed right yet. "

Lillian sighed. "I never could guess anything, " she remarked sadly. "Please do tell us what it is. "

The captain relented and drew out of his pocket a handful of what seemedto be either oyster or mussel shells. 

"You've brought some oysters for our luncheon, haven't you?" guessedEleanor. "You must stay and eat them with us. "

Captain Jules chuckled. "Oysters are out of season, child, and these arenever good to eat. "

But Madge had clapped her hands together suddenly, her eyes shining. "Youhave been down to the bottom of the bay, haven't you, Captain Jules? Andyou've found some pearls!"

Captain Jules shook his head. "I wouldn't call them pearls, exactly. They're too little and too poor. But come, now; maybe they are seedpearls. I went down under the water with the men who were looking overthe oyster beds yesterday. Pearl oysters are not found in beds, like theedible oysters, so I wandered around on the bottom of the bay a bit andpicked up these. " The captain extended his great hand. Five pairs ofeager eyes peered into it. There lay four nearly round, thick shells, horny and rough with tiny little pearls embedded in them. 

"'Pearls are angel's tears', " quoted Phil softly. 

Captain Jules seemed worried. "I searched about everywhere in the bay, but I could only find these four tiny pearls, and pretty lucky I was tofind them!" the sailor continued. "They aren't of much value, but Iwanted to give them to five girls, and that's just the difficulty. " Thecaptain looked at the houseboat party, which now included Tania, asthough he did not know just what he should make up his mind to do. 

"Let's draw straws for them, " suggested Eleanor sensibly. 

Madge shook her head. "No; Captain Jules is to give them to you and toleave me out. Remember, some stranger gave me a handsome pearl when Igraduated. I have never had it mounted. " Madge slipped her armconfidingly through the old sea captain's and gazed into his face withher most earnest expression. "Captain Jules is going to do something elsefor me; he is going down to the bottom of the bay again in his divingsuit, and he is going to take me with him. "

"What a ridiculous idea!" protested Eleanor. "Just as though CaptainJules would think of doing any such thing. "

Lillian laughed unbelievingly, but Phil's face was serious. "It would beawfully jolly, wouldn't it? There wouldn't be any danger if Captain Julesshould take you. Do please take Madge down with you, and then take me, "she insisted coaxingly. 

Captain Jules shook his head, but the little captain observed that he didnot look half so shocked at the idea as he had the first time sheproposed it. This was encouraging. 

Phil took hold of one of the captain's hands, and Madge the other. 

"Please, please, _please_!" they pleaded in chorus. 

"Miss Jenny Ann wouldn't let you, " objected Captain Jules faintly. 

"But if we were to get her permission, " argued Madge triumphantly, "thenyou would take us down to the bottom of the bay. I just knew you would, you are so splendid! I shall send to New York to see if we can rent adiving suit. "

"Never mind about that, I'll see about the suit, " promised Captain Jules. "But it's all nonsense, and I have never said that I would take you. Iwish I weren't a sailor. There is an old saying that a sailor can neverrefuse anything to a woman. "

"Here comes Tom, " announced Lillian hurriedly. 

"Then don't say anything to him about the diving, " warned Madge. "He willthink it is perfectly dreadful for girls to attempt it. "

CHAPTER XV

THE GREAT ADVENTURE

The news that old Captain Jules Fontaine, the retired pearl diver, whosehistory was a mystery to most of the inhabitants at Cape May, was to takeMadge Morton down to the bottom of Delaware Bay with him spread throughthe town and seaside resort like wildfire. It was in vain that thehouseboat party and Captain Jules tried to keep the affair a secret. There were necessary arrangements to be made, men to be engaged to assistin the diving operations; it was impossible to deny everything. 

At first the plan seemed to outsiders like mere midsummer madness. Thenthe story began to grow. Cape May residents learned that Captain Juleshad found pearls in the bottom of the bay. No one would believe thecaptain's statement that the pearls were of little value; gossip made thetiny pearls grow larger and larger, until they were fit for an empress. 

Captain Jules was besieged at his little house up the bay, although, asusual, he kept the door fastened against intruders. Half the fishermenand oystermen in the vicinity begged to be permitted to accompany the oldsea diver in his descent into the water. Captain Jules politely explainedthat he needed no companions; he was merely going on a diving expeditionto amuse two of his friends, Phyllis Alden and Madge Morton, who had ataste for watery adventure. He did not expect to find anything of valuein the bottom of the bay. They were going down merely for sport. 

There was one person at Cape May who listened eagerly to any tale of thefabulous riches that the old pearl diver was evidently expecting tounearth. He was Philip Holt. The time of his visit at Cape May wasrapidly passing. Mrs. Curtis was exceedingly kind and interested in herguest, but Philip did not feel that he dared approach her too abruptlywith the request for so large a sum of money as five thousand dollars. Besides, Philip Holt knew that Tom Curtis disliked him heartily. Tom wasnot likely to approve a man whom Madge mistrusted; nor would Mrs. Curtisgive away or lend five thousand dollars without first consulting her son. So the marvelous tale of the pearls to be found in the Delaware Bayrooted itself in Philip Holt's imagination. Here was another way to getout of his scrape. He was not fond of adventure, but he would do anythingin the world for money. Perhaps he could find pearls enough not only topay his debt, but to make him rich forever afterward. 

Quietly, and without a word to any one, Philip Holt made a secret visitto the house of the three sails. He implored Captain Jules to make himhis diving companion. He attempted to bribe him with sums of money thathe did not possess. He even threatened the old sailor that he would makeinvestigations about his life and expose any secrets that the captainmight wish to keep. Captain Jules only laughed at these threats. He wasnot going down in the bay for treasures, he declared. He expected to findabsolutely nothing of any value. Positively he would not allow any one toaccompany him but the two girls. 

Madge and Phyllis had a hard fight to persuade Miss Jenny Ann to give herconsent to their plan for playing mermaid. But she was getting soaccustomed to the exciting adventures of her girls that, when CaptainJules assured her there was really no special danger, so long as he kepta close watch on the diver with him, she finally agreed to the scheme. Captain Jules gave the two girls every kind of instruction in the art ofdiving that he thought necessary, and the day of the great wateryadventure was set for the week ahead. 

On the morning of Tuesday, July 12th, Madge awoke at daybreak. She felt adelicious, shivery thrill pass over her that was one part fear and theother part rapture. 

"Phil, " she whispered a few seconds later, when she heard her chumstirring in the berth above her, "can you feel fins growing where yourfeet are? Your flop in the bed sounded as though you were a real mermaid!Just think, at ten o'clock sharp we are going down to explore a newworld! I wonder if there were ever any girl divers before? You areawfully good to let me go down first. "

"No, I am not, " answered Phil soberly. "If there is any danger, I amletting you go down to it first. But I shall watch above the water, withall my eyes, to see that everything goes right. The captain has explainedthe whole business of diving to us so thoroughly that I believe I cantell if anything is wrong with you below the surface. You'll be careful, won't you, Madge? You know you are usually rather reckless. Don't staydown too long. "

"Oh, Captain Jules won't let me be reckless this time. We are not goingdown into very deep water, anyway, and a professional diver can stayunder several hours when the water is only about five fathoms deep. "

Madge and Phyllis ate a very light breakfast. Captain Jules had told themthat a diver must never go down into the water on a full stomach, as itwould make him too short-winded. While the two prospective divers wereeating poor Miss Jenny Ann was wondering what had ever induced her togive her consent to so mad an enterprise as this diving. 

Every effort had been made to keep a crowd away from the pier from whichCaptain Jules meant to send out the boats with the tenders, who were themen to look after the safety of Madge and himself. 

As the girls came up, with Miss Jenny Ann, to join Captain Jules they sawtwenty or thirty people about. Mrs. Curtis and Tom, accompanied by PhilipHolt, had come down to the pier. Mrs. Curtis would hardly speak to Madge, she was so angry at the risk she believed the little captain was running. She and Madge had not been very friendly since they had disagreed soutterly in Madge's report of the real character and name of Philip Holt. 

Madge and Phyllis each wore a close fitting, warm woolen dress. Madge hadtucked up her red-brown curls into a tight knot. Her eyes were glowing, but her face was white and her lips a little less red when Captain Julescame forward to fasten her into her diving suit. 

"Don't attempt it, Madge, if you are frightened, " urged Miss Jenny Ann, who was feeling dreadfully frightened herself. "I am sure Captain Juleswill forgive you if you back out. "

Captain Jules looked at Madge searchingly. Her eyes smiled bravely intohis, although her heart was going pit-a-pat. 

"Miss Madge is not afraid, " answered Captain Jules curtly. "RobertMorton's daughter has no right to know fear. "

Madge first slipped her feet into a pair of heavy leather boots. She gavea gay laugh as she slipped into her rubber cloth suit, which was made inone piece. "I feel just like a walrus, " she confided to Tom Curtis, whowas watching her with set lips. 

Then Madge and Captain Jules, who was in exactly the same costume, gotinto their boats and moved out a little distance from the shore. 

Tom Curtis had asked Captain Jules's consent to sit in one of the boatswith Phil. At the last moment Philip Holt stepped calmly into the other. No one stopped to argue with him, or to thrust him out; the whole partywas too much excited. 

Not for all the pearls in all the seas would Captain Jules Fontaine haveallowed one hair of Madge's head to be injured. But he really did notbelieve that she would be in any danger under the water with him. He hadarranged every detail of the diving perfectly. He would watch her everymovement at the bottom of the bay. To tell the truth, Captain Jules wasimmensely proud of Madge's and Phil's bravery in desiring to accompanyhim. 

The final moment for the dive arrived. Madge waved her hand to the crowdof her friends lining the shore. She flung back her head and lookedgayly, triumphantly, up at the blue sky above her, with its sweep ofwhite, sailing clouds. Below her the water looked even more deeply blue. 

"Remember, Madge, " whispered Captain Jules calmly, "the one quality adiver needs more than anything else is presence of mind. Keep a clearhead under the water and nothing shall harm you, I swear. But above all, don't forget your signals. "

With his own hands Captain Jules fastened the brass corselet aboutMadge's slender neck and set a big copper helmet which he screwed overher head to her corselet. Madge then surveyed the world only through theglass windows at each side of her head and in front. Her air-tube enteredher helmet at the back. Two men in one of the boats were to keep theyoung girl diver supplied with oxygen by pumping fresh air down throughthis tube. 

A moment later Captain Jules stood rigged in the same costume as Madge. 

"Steady, my girl, " Captain Jules warned her. 

"Aye, aye, Captain, " returned Madge quietly, "I'm ready. Let us go downtogether to the bottom of the bay. "

"Pump away, " ordered the captain. 

There was a splash on the surface of the clear water, a long-drawn gaspfrom Madge's friends; then a few bubbles rose. Rapidly, skillfully, Madge's tenders played out her life and pipe lines, and Madge Mortondisappeared from the world of men. Captain Jules made his plunge a fewseconds in advance of his companion. 

In the boat where Tom Curtis and Phyllis Alden sat there was abreathless, intense silence. The boy and girl happened to be in the boatwith the men who were looking out for the welfare of Captain Jules. Philip Holt was with Madge's tenders. 

Phyllis knew that there was but one way in which she could follow herchum's course below the surface of the water. She could watch her lifeand air lines. Captain Jules had made it plain to Phyllis that all thetime the diver is under water small ripples will appear near his airline. These bubbles are caused by the air that the diver breathes outfrom the valve in the side of his diving helmet. 

Phyllis watched the lines doggedly. Captain Jules was to keep Madge underwater only about fifteen or twenty minutes, but at that a minute mayappear longer than an hour. 

Suddenly Phyllis Alden discovered that the man who was tending Madge'sair pump seemed to be working less vigorously. He pumped unevenly. Oncehe swayed, as though he were about to fall over in his seat. 

In a second it flashed over Phyllis that the man was ill. He was astrong, red-faced individual, but his face turned to a kind of ghastlypallor. It was all so quick that Phil had no time to speak from her boat. Philip Holt, who was in the same boat with the man, grasped the situationas quickly as Phyllis did. With a single motion he took the tender'splace at the air-pump. Phil saw that he was pumping away with vigor. 

At this moment Phil turned to speak to Tom Curtis. "Tom, how long havethey been under the water?" she whispered. 

"Ten minutes, " returned Tom, glancing hastily at his watch. 

"It seems ten hours, " murmured Phil, as though she dared not speakaloud. 

Tug, tug! Phil thought she saw Madge's air line give two desperate jerks. Two pulls at the line was the diver's signal for more air. Phil knew thatwithout a doubt. Yet Philip Holt seemed to be pumping vigorously. Atleast, he had been only the second before when Phil last looked at him. 

Again Phil saw Madge's air line jerk twice. 

Tom Curtis and the two men in Captain Jules's boat were vainly trying tointerpret some signals that Captain Jules was making to them. The twoboats were at no great distance apart. 

"I am afraid something is the matter below, Phil, " Tom Curtis turned tomutter hoarsely. But Phyllis Alden, who had been sitting near him amoment before, was no longer there. 

Phyllis believed she saw that Philip Holt was only pretending to pumpsufficient air down to Madge. She may have been wrong. Who could evertell? But Phil knew there was no time to discuss the matter. One minute, two minutes, five or ten--Phil did not know how long a diver at thebottom of the water can be shut off from his supply of fresh air andlive. She did not mean to wait, to ask questions, or to lose time. Philmade a flying leap from the skiff that held her to the one in whichPhilip Holt sat by the air-pump. She landed in the water, just alongsidethe boat. Quietly, though more quickly than she had ever moved before inher life, Phil climbed into the boat and thrust Philip Holt away from theair pump. In the minute it had taken her to make her plunge she had seenMadge's signal again, but this time the line jerked more feebly than ithad before. 

Phil set the pump to working again; the signal answered from below, "Allis well!"

The tender had recovered from his attack of faintness and resumed hiswork at Madge's airline. 

But Philip Holt sat crouched in the bottom of the boat, his face whitewith anger. What would Phyllis Alden's action suggest but that he wastrying to suffocate Madge in the water below?

Whether or not Philip Holt meant to stifle Madge Morton he himself neverreally knew. The impulse came to him as he placed his hands on herair-pump. It flashed across his mind that it was Madge who had tried toinjure his prospects with Mrs. Curtis, and who had kept him from goingdown with Captain Jules to search for the pearls that he firmly believedwould be found at the bottom of the bay. It was while these thoughtspassed through Philip Holt's mind his pressure on Madge's air-pump hadwavered. But Phyllis Alden had discovered it. She gave him no opportunityeither for action or regret. 

CHAPTER XVI

A STRANGE PEARL

Madge felt herself in a great fairy world peopled with giants. Everything below the water is magnified a thousandfold. Slowly she went downand down! The fishes splashed and tumbled about her, hurrying to get awayfrom this strange, new sea-monster that had come into their midst. 

The little captain felt no mental sensation except one of wonder and ofawe; no physical impression save a pressure as of a great weight on herhead and a roaring of mighty waters in her ears. She no longer had anyidea of being afraid. 

At the first plunge into the water she had shut her eyes, but now, as sheapproached the bottom of the bay, she kept them wide open. 

The water was clear as crystal, like the reflection in a mammoth mirror. She could see nearly fifty feet ahead of her. Captain Jules walked justin front of her, swinging his great body from side to side, peering downinto the sandy bottom of the bay. Madge discovered that the only way inwhich she could get a view, except the one directly in front of her, wasby turning her head inside her helmet, to look through her side windowglasses. The goggles over her eyes gave her just the view that a horsehas with blinkers. 

There were hundreds of things that Madge would have liked to confide toCaptain Jules. However, for once in her life, she was compelled to holdher tongue. Her eyes, her hands, and her feet she could keep busy. Nowand then she gave a little ejaculation of wonder inside her copper helmetat the marvels she saw. No one heard her cry out. Captain Jules wasted notime. He was exceedingly business-like. He motioned to Madge just whereshe should go and what she should do, and she obediently followed. 

There were long, level flats of sand in the bottom of Delaware Bay, likesmall prairies. Then there were exquisite oases of waving green seaweed, gardens of sea flowers and ferns, and hillocks of rocks, with all sortsof queer sea animals, crabs, jelly-fish, and devil-fish, scurrying aboutthem. 

Caught in the moss, encrusted on the rocks, sunken in the yellow sands, were opalescent, shining shells and pebbles, each one more beautiful thanthe last. Madge did not realize that if she carried these shells andpebbles above the water they would look like ordinary stones. Every nowand then the young diver would stoop and drop one of them in her nettedbag with a thrill of excitement. 

Again and again Captain Jules had assured Madge that she must not expectto find any pearls of much value in Delaware Bay. There were few pearlsin edible oysters. The beds about Cape May were meant to supply thefamily table, not the family jewels. Of course, it was true, the Captainadmitted, that a pearl did appear now and then in an ordinary oyster. Yetthis was an accident and most unlikely to occur. 

Madge had really tried not to believe that she was going to find any kindof prize in the new world under the water. In spite of all her effortsshe had been thinking and planning and hoping. Perhaps--perhaps she wouldfind a pearl of great price. Then her troubles would be at an end. 

All this time Madge had been breathing naturally and comfortably insideher helmet as she traveled along the bed of the bay. She was sounconscious of any difficulty that she was beginning to believe that shewas, in truth, a mermaid, and that water, and not air, was her naturalelement. Suddenly she felt a little uneasy, as though the windows of herroom had been closed for too long a time. It was nothing, she was sure. The stifling sensation would pass in another second. 

At this moment Captain Jules gazed hard at Madge. He had never forgottenhis charge for a moment. But all seemed well with her, and the captainthought he saw ahead of him something that was well worth investigating. He dropped on his knees in the soft mud. With him he had a small hammerand a fork, not unlike a gardener's. Shining through some green sea mossso soft and fine that it might have been the hair of a water-baby, Captain Jules had espied some glittering shells. To his experienced eyethe glow was that of mother-of-pearl. It is the mother-of-pearl shellthat usually covers the precious pearl. The old sailor set to work. Madgewas eagerly watching him, when once again the faint stifling sensationswept over her. Surely it was not possible to faint in a diving suit. Besides, Madge's heart was beating so furiously with excitement that itwas small wonder she could not get her breath. She believed that CaptainJules was about to discover a wonderful pearl. He had wrenched the shellsfree and was trying to open them. Madge stood some feet away from him, quivering with excitement. 

"'And the sea shall give up its treasures', " she quoted softly to herselfas she watched. 

The next moment her hands made an involuntary movement in the water. Hadshe been on land her gesture would have meant that she was fighting forbreath. To her horror she realized that she was slowly suffocating. Something must have happened to her air-pump above the water. She was notfaint from any other cause, but was getting an insufficient supply offresh air. 

At this moment Madge proved her mettle. She remembered Captain Jules'sinjunction, "Keep a clear head under the water and there is nothing tofear. " She knew the signal for more fresh air, and gave two hard, quickpulls on her life line. Then she waited. Relief would surely come in amoment. 

For the first and only time since their descent to the bottom of the bayCaptain Jules had temporarily neglected Madge. He certainly had notexpected to find any pearls in so unlikely a place as Delaware Bay; yetthe shells he held in his hand were most unusual. The thrill of his oldoccupation seized hold of the pearl fisher. His big hands fairly trembledwith emotion. He felt, rather than saw, Madge jerk her life line twice, but it never dawned on him that her signal for more air might fail to beanswered. 

Madge signaled again. A loud buzzing seemed to sound in her ears. Hertongue felt thick and swollen. She could not see a foot ahead of her. Allthe dazzling, shimmering beauty of the world under the water had passedinto blackness. The little captain's eyes were glazing behind the glasswindows of her helmet. She felt that she must be dying. But she hadstrength to give one more signal. Air! air! How could she ever havebelieved that there was anything in the world so precious as fresh air?Madge had a vision of a field of new-mown hay in her old home at "ForestHouse. " The wind was blowing through it with a delicious fragrance. Hadshe the strength to pull her life line once again? The water that sheloved so dearly was to claim her at last. She made a motion to go towardCaptain Jules, but she had no control of her limbs. 

Then Captain Jules became aroused to action. He realized that Madge hadsignaled for air, not once, but several times. This meant that her signalhad not been answered. The captain had been for too many years a deep-seadiver not to guess instantly the girl's condition. The groan inside hishelmet came from the bottom of his heart. Captain Jules's hands shook. Hedropped the shells that he believed might contain priceless pearls downinto the soft sand in the bed of the bay. 

It was at this moment that Tom Curtis and Phyllis Alden, as well as thecaptain's boat tenders, caught his confusing signals from below. Morefresh air was pumped down the tube to Captain Jules, but not to Madge. 

Phil's leap and quick work at Madge's air-pump must have taken place notmore than three minutes afterward, but they were horrible, agonizingmoments. Madge hardly knew how they passed. Captain Jules suffered theregret of a lifetime. How could he have been so unwise as to entrust thesafety of this girl, whose life was so dear to him, to the perils of adiver's experiences? In the few weeks of their acquaintance Madge Mortonhad become all in all to Captain Jules Fontaine. 

There was but one thing for Captain Jules to do for his companion. Hemust signal to have her drawn up to the surface of the water again, trusting that she would not suffocate for lack of air in her ascent. 

Madge was near enough to lay her hand on Captain Jules's arm. Phil'srelief had come just in time. The life-giving fresh air from the worldabove pressed into her copper helmet. It filled her nose and mouth, itpoured into her aching lungs. She received new life, new energy. Now shewas no longer afraid. She did not wish to go above the surface of thewater. Surely all above was now well. She yearned to continue heradventures on the under side of the world. 

She it was, not Captain Jules, who dropped down on her hands and knees togrope for the captain's lost pearl shells. 

But the sand had covered them up forever, or else the water had carriedthem away!

Captain Jules wished to take Madge out of the water immediately, yet heyielded for a minute to her disappointment. What treasures had they lostwhen he threw the mother-of-pearl shells away? Neither of them would everknow. The old diver looked about in the soft mud, while Madge rakedfuriously near the spot where she thought the sailor had dropped theshells. Captain Jules walked on for a little distance. He had seen beyondthem a tangled mass of other shells and seaweed and it occurred to himthat the water might have carried his shells into some hidden crevicenearby. 

But Madge never left her chosen spot. Deeper and deeper she dug. What aswirl of mud arose and eddied about her, darkening the clear water inwhich she stood! The little captain's hammer struck against somethinghard. Was it a rock embedded in the sand? Yet a distinct sound rang out, as of one metal striking against another!

Madge did not know how she summoned Captain Jules back to her side. Shewas wild with curiosity and excitement. Captain Jules was smiling behindhis copper mask. The young girl diver had probably found a piece of oldiron cast off from some ship. Still, she should unearth whatever she haddiscovered so near the dark kingdom of Pluto. 

The captain worked with her. Whatever her find might be, it was largerand heavier than Captain Jules had expected. They could afford to spendno more time with it. It was time for Madge to leave the water. 

It is difficult to make an imploring gesture in a diver's suit. Yet, somehow, Madge must have managed to do so. For one moment longer the oldpearl diver relented. The hole that they were digging in the bottom ofthe bay was widening before them. A chunk of what looked like solid ironwas visible. Then a triangular end came into view. It was rusted until itshone like beautiful green enamel. The top was absolutely flat and ofsome depth, as it was so hard to excavate. 

The time was growing short. Madge had been under the water as long as wassafe for any amateur diver. The captain was a man to be obeyed, as sheknew instinctively. She gave one more dig into the mud about her irontreasure. It now became plain, both to her and to Captain Jules, that shehad found an old iron chest. The captain tugged at it with both hisgreat, strong hands. It was strangely heavy. But he managed to lift it inhis arms. 

Straightway he gave the signal to ascend; three sharp tugs at his lifeline. Madge followed suit. But she cast one long backward glance at thewatery world into which she might never again descend, as slowly, steadily, the boat tenders pulled up her long life line. Her feet dangledabove the sandy bottom of the bay. Now she could see even farther off. About forty feet from the rapidly filling hole from which she and thecaptain had extracted the iron chest was a spar of a ship jutting abovethe sand. The little captain may have been wrong, but it looked like thevery spar on which Tania's dress had caught the day she was so nearlydrowned. Madge could not tell how far she and Captain Jules had traveledon the bottom of the bay, but she knew they had made their descent at aplace no very great distance from the spot where Roy Dennis's yacht hadrun down their skiff, and Captain Jules had rescued Tania and herself. 

Thought travels swifter than anything else in the created world. SoMadge's thoughts had reached the upper world before she followed them. She wondered if the girls would be very sadly disappointed when shereturned bearing, instead of a costly pearl, nothing but a rusted ironbox!

Would Phil have better luck when she descended to the depths of the bay?What had happened in the outside world since she had disappeared from ita long, long time ago?

A flare of blinding sunlight smote across the glass goggles in Madge'scopper helmet. She felt herself picked up and lifted bodily into a boat. Her helmet and corselet were unscrewed. She lay still, smiling faintly asthe boat made for her friends who crowded, watching, on the pier. CaptainJules, bearing the small iron chest, landed a moment later. The littlecaptain had been in a new world, into which few men and rarely any womenhave ever entered. She had been out of her human element, a creature ofthe water, not of the air, and it seemed to her that she must have liveda whole new lifetime as a deep-sea diver. 

Tom Curtis stared anxiously at his watch and smiled into her white face. He breathed a sigh of relief and of wonder. Captain Jules Fontaine andMadge Morton had been down at the bottom of Delaware Bay exactly thirtyminutes!

CHAPTER XVII

THE FAIRY GODMOTHER'S WISH COMES TRUE

Captain Jules decided to wait until another day before taking PhyllisAlden on the journey from which he and Madge had just returned. The oldsailor was too deeply thankful to see his first charge safe on land. PoorMiss Jenny Ann could do nothing but lean over Madge and cry; the nervousstrain of waiting while the girl was under the water had been too great. Indeed, even the people who, Madge knew, were not in the least interestedin her, appeared dreadfully upset. Philip Holt's face was very pale andhis eyes shifted uneasily from Phyllis's to Madge's face. 

Phyllis was the most self-possessed of the four girls. She was greatlydisappointed at the captain's determination to put off the time for herdiving expedition until a later date. But Phyllis was always unselfish. She realized that her chaperon and her friends had had about as muchanxiety as they could endure in one day. Madge had been under the water, and she could not dream of what the others had suffered above, whileawaiting her return. 

Mrs. Curtis put her arms about the little captain and embraced her withan affection she had not shown her during the summer. 

"My dear, " she murmured, "will you ever stop being the most reckless girlin the world? What possible good could that wretched diving feat of yoursdo anybody on earth? If my hair weren't already white I am sure it wouldhave turned so in the last half-hour. Look at poor Philip Holt. He seemsas nervous as though you were his own sister. "

Madge and Captain Jules had both taken off their heavy diving suits andwere soon shaking hands with every one on the pier. Even Roy Dennis andMabel Farrar, much as they disliked Madge, could not conceal the factthat they thought her extremely plucky. 

Captain Jules had laid the iron chest on the ground and for the momentthey had forgotten it. 

It was little Tania who danced up to it and tried to lift it. 

"Show us the pearls you found, Madge, " Eleanor begged her cousin at thisinstant, her brown eyes twinkling. 

The little captain looked crestfallen. "I am afraid we didn't findanything of value, " she said, trying to pretend that she was notdisappointed. "I have only some pretty shells and stones that I gatheredon the bottom of the bay for Tania. "

She pulled her sea treasures out of her netted diving bag. Sure enough, the water had dried on them and the shells and stones appeared quite dulland ugly. There were almost as pretty shells and pebbles to be picked upat any place along the Cape May beach. 

"Why, Madge!" exclaimed Lillian, before she realized what she was saying, "surely, you didn't waste your time in bringing up such silly trifles asthese?"

Madge shook her head humbly. "We didn't find anything else but this oldiron chest. Captain Jules, may I take it back to the houseboat with me asa souvenir, or do you wish it? Tania, child, you can't lift it, it is tooheavy. "

Tom Curtis brought the chest to Captain Jules. Some of the crowd hadmoved away, now that the diving was over. But a dozen or more strangerspressed about the girls and their friends. 

"There is something in this little chest, Captain, " declared Tom Curtisquietly, as he set it down before the captain and Madge. "I could feelsomething roll around in the box as I lifted it. "

Captain Jules shook the heavy safe. Something certainly rattled on theinside. 

There were bits of moss and tiny shells and stones encrusted on the upperlid of the box. Deliberately Captain Jules scraped them off with a stick. The houseboat party and Tom were beginning to grow impatient. What madeCaptain Jules so slow? Philip Holt, who was standing by Mrs. Curtis'sside, gazed sneeringly at the operations. He was glad, indeed, that hehad not risked his life in descending to the bottom of the bay in searchfor pearls, only to bring up a rusty chest. 

"The box is fastened tightly; it will have to be broken open, " remarkedMadge indifferently. She was feeling tired, now that the excitement ofher diving trip was over. She wished to go home to the houseboat. She didnot wish Captain Jules to guess for an instant how disappointed she wasthat they had found nothing of value on their diving adventure. If onlythe captain had not dropped the shells in which there might have been achance of finding pearls!

Captain Jules had hold of the iron hammer that he used when diving. Click! click! click! he struck three times on the lock of the iron safe. Like the magic tinder-box, the lid flew open. Tania's long-drawnchildish, "Oh!" was the only sound that broke the tense and breathlessstillness that pervaded the group. 

A single pearl! The scorned iron chest almost full of shining coins andprecious stones! There were coins of gold and silver--strange coins thatno one in the watching crowd had ever seen before. Some of them boredates and inscriptions of English mintings of the early part of theeighteenth century. 

Of course, it was incredible! No one believed his eyes. A treasure-chestunearthed after more than two hundred years? It was impossible!

Yet instantly each one of the girls remembered that the pirates had sunkmany vessels in Delaware Bay in the latter part of the seventeenth andthe beginning of the eighteenth century. In those days many wealthyEnglish families came over with their servants and their treasure tosettle in the new country of America. 

Phil's book on the history of piracy had recalled this information to thegirls only ten days before. It was then, when Madge lay with her headresting in her hands, looking dreamily out over the waters, that she hadwondered how anything so remote from her as the story of the earlyAmerican battles with pirate ships could help her to solve her presenttroubles? Yet here, like a miracle before her eyes, lay the answer!

The little captain was the last of the onlookers to know what hadhappened. She was too dazed, perhaps, from her stay under the water. 

It was only when Tania flung her eager, thin arms about her beloved FairyGodmother's neck that Madge actually woke up. 

"The fairies who live under the water have given you these wonderfulthings, " whispered Tania. "I prayed that they would come to see you, bringing you all the good gifts that they had. "

Captain Jules reached over and set the priceless box before Madge. Shewas encircled by Miss Jenny Ann and her beloved houseboat chums. 

"It is all yours, Madge, " asserted Captain Jules solemnly. "You found it, child. I should never have discovered it but for you. "

Madge shook her red-brown head. "Captain Jules, that chest is far moreyours than it is mine. I should never have gone down under the water butfor you. If Phil had only dived first, instead of me, she would havefound it, I won't have any of the money or the jewelry unless I can shareit with the rest of you. "

Then, to Madge's own surprise, she began to cry. 

"There, there, little mate, it will be all right, " Captain Jules assuredher quietly. "You've had a bit too much for one day. We don't know thevalue of what we have found just yet, but the old jewelry will makepretty trinkets for you girls. We'll see about the rest later on. "

Miss Jenny Ann put her arm about Madge on one side. Phil was on the otherside of her chum. 

"We will go home now, dear, " said Miss Jenny Ann to Madge. "You are wornout from all this excitement. "

"I'll look after the girls, Captain, " promised Tom Curtis quietly, "thenI will come back to you. " A flash of understanding passed between CaptainJules and Tom Curtis. They had both guessed that Madge's iron box of oldjewelry and coins represented more money than the girls could comprehend, and that it was better for the news of the discovery to be kept as quietas possible for the time being. 

"You will walk home with me, won't you, Philip?" Mrs. Curtis asked herguest. "I am rather tired from the excitement of this most unusualmorning. "

But Philip Holt had forgotten that he wished to keep on the good side ofhis wealthy hostess. His eyes were staring eagerly and greedily at theclosed iron box which old Captain Jules was guarding. He took a stepforward, stopped and looked at the little crowd standing near. 

"No; I can't go back with you now, Mrs. Curtis, " he answered abruptly, "Ihave some important business to transact. "

Mrs. Curtis walked away deeply offended. Philip Holt, however, was toofully occupied with his own disappointment to note this. A sudden daringidea had taken possession of him. Perhaps Madge Morton was not so luckyafter all. Finding a treasure did not necessarily mean keeping it. 

CHAPTER XVIII

MISSING, A FAIRY GODMOTHER

Several days after the finding of the treasure-chest experts came downfrom Philadelphia to appraise its value. It was not easy to decide, immediately, what market price the old jewels, set in quaintly chasedgold, would bring. But the least that the coins and stones would be worthwas ten thousand dollars! It might be more. An extra thousand dollars orso was hardly worth considering, when ten thousand would make things turnout so beautifully even. 

Madge and Captain Jules, Miss Jenny Ann and the other houseboat girls hadmany discussions about Madge's discovery of the iron safe. 

The little captain was entirely alone on one side of the argument. Theothers were all against her. Yet she won her point. She continued toinsist that her wonderful find was purely an accident. How could she everhave unearthed a box, lost from a sunken ship, that had probably beenburied for centuries, if Captain Jules Fontaine had not listened to herpleadings and taken her on the wonderful diving trip with him? Though shehad actually struck the first blow on the piece of iron embedded in thebay, she could never have dragged the safe out of the mud, or been ableto carry it up to the surface, without Captain Jules's assistance. 

Madge and the old sailor started their discussion alone. The captain hadcome over to the houseboat, bringing the iron safe with him so that thegirls might have a better view of its wonders. He had firmly made up hismind that Madge must be made to understand that the money the treasurewould bring was to be all hers. He would not accept one cent of it. Fatehad been kinder to him than he had hoped in allowing him to guide Madgeto the discovery of her fortune. 

"Ten thousand dollars!" exclaimed Madge ecstatically, when the old sailorreported the news to her. "It's the most wonderful thing I ever heard ofin my life. I didn't dream it was worth so much money. Will you pleaselend me a piece of paper and a pencil, Captain Jules. I never have beenclever at arithmetic. " Madge knitted her brows thoughtfully. "Tenthousand dollars divided by two means five thousand dollars for you andthe same sum for us. "

The captain cleared his throat. "What's the rest of the arithmetic?" hedemanded gruffly. "I don't think much of that first division. "

But Madge was hardly listening. She was biting the end of her pencil. "Six doesn't go into five thousand just evenly, " she repliedthoughtfully, "but with fractions I suppose we can manage. You see thatwill be eight hundred and thirty-three dollars and something over forMiss Jenny Ann to put in bank to take care of her if she ever gets sick, or has to stop teaching; and the same sum will pay for Phil's first yearat college and for Eleanor's graduating at Miss Tolliver's, so unclewon't have to worry over that any more. Then my little Fairy Godmothercan go to some beautiful school in the country, and not be shut up in ahorrid home with a capital 'H, ' which is what Philip Holt has persuadedMrs. Curtis ought to be done with her. And Lillian can save her money tobuy pretty clothes, because she is not as poor as the rest of us anddearly loves nice things, and----" Madge's speech ended from lack ofbreath. 

The captain rubbed his rough chin reflectively. "Oh! I see, " he nodded, "I am to get half of the money and you are to get a sixth of a half. Isthat it?"

[Illustration: Madge and Captain Jules Started Their Discussion Alone. ]

Madge lowered her voice to a whisper. "Dear Captain Jules, " she said in awheedling tone, "you'll help me, won't you? The girls and Miss Jenny Anndeclare positively that they won't accept a single dollar of the money. Ishall be the most miserable girl in the world if they don't. Why, we fourgirls and Miss Jenny Ann have shared everything in common, ourmisfortunes and our good fortunes, since we started out together. If anyone of the other girls had happened to discover the treasure instead ofme, she would certainly have divided it with the others. Phil, Lillian, Eleanor and Miss Jenny Ann don't even dare to deny it. So they simplymust give in to me about it. "

"Well, " continued the captain, "I am yet to be told what Madge Mortonmeans to do with the one-sixth of one-half of her wealth when it finallygets round to her. "

The little captain's eyes shone, though her face sobered. "I am not goingto college with Phil, though I hate to be parted from her, " she replied. "Somehow, I think I am not exactly meant for a college girl. I believe Iwill just advertise in all the papers in the world for my father. Then, if he is alive, I shall surely find him. With whatever money is left Ishall go to him. If he is poor, I will manage to take care of him in someway, " ended Madge confidently. 

"You will, eh?" returned Captain Jules gruffly. "It seems to me, my girl, that this is a pretty position you have mapped out for me. I am to takehalf of our find--nice, selfish old codger that I am--while you divideyours with your friends. I am not going to take a cent of that money, soyou can just do your sums over again. "

It was at this point that Madge called Miss Jenny Ann and the otherhouseboat girls into the discussion. It ended with the captain's agreeingto take one-seventh of the money, if all the others would follow suit. 

"Because, if you don't, " declared Madge in her usual impetuous fashion, "I shall just throw this chest of money and jewelry right overboard andit can go down to the bottom of the bay and stay there, for all I care. "

Captain Jules remained to dinner on the houseboat that evening. Afterdinner the girls proceeded to adorn themselves with the old sets ofjewelry found in the safe. Madge wore the pearls because, she insisted, they were her special jewels, and she had gone down to the bottom of thebay to find them. Phil was more fascinated with some old-fashionedgarnets, Lillian with a big, golden topaz pin, and Eleanor with someturquoises that had turned a curious greenish color from old age. 

It was well after ten o'clock when the captain announced that he must setout for home. Tom Curtis had been spending the evening on the houseboatwith the girls, but he had gone home an hour before to join his motherand her guest, Philip Holt. Before going away the captain concluded thatit would be best for him to leave the iron safe of coins and preciousstones on the houseboat for the night. It was too late for him to carryit back to "The Anchorage" alone. As no one but Tom knew of its being onthe houseboat, the valuables could be in no possible danger. The captainwould call some time within the next day or so to take the iron box to asafety deposit vault in the town of Cape May. 

Together Miss Jenny Ann and the captain hid the precious chest in a smalldrawer in the sideboard built into the wall of the little dining roomcabin of the houseboat. They locked this drawer carefully and Miss JennyAnn hid the key under her pillow without speaking of it to any one. 

In spite of these precautions no one on the houseboat dreamed of anypossible danger to the safety of their newly-found prize. Remember, noone knew of its being on the houseboat save Tom Curtis and Captain Jules. Up to to-night Captain Jules had been guarding the treasure at his houseup the bay. No one had been allowed to see it since the famous day of itsdiscovery, except the experts who had come down from Philadelphia to givesome idea of the value of Madge's remarkable find. 

Little Tania was in the habit of sleeping in the dining room of thehouseboat on a cot which Miss Jenny Ann prepared for her each night. Shewent to bed earlier than the other girls, so in order not to disturb her, she was stowed away in there instead of occupying one of the berths inthe two staterooms. Soon after the captain's departure Miss Jenny Anntucked Tania safely in bed. She closed the door of the dining room thatled out on the cabin deck and also the door that connected with thestateroom occupied by Madge and Phil. The cabin of the "Merry Maid" was asquare divided into four rooms, and Miss Jenny Ann's bedroom did not opendirectly into the dining room. 

It was a dark night and a strangely still one. The weather was unusuallywarm and close for Cape May. Over the flat marshes and islands the heatwas oppressive. The residents of the summer cottages left their doors andwindows open, hoping that a stray breeze might spring up during the nightto refresh them. No one seemed to have any fear of burglars. 

On the "Merry Maid" the night was so still and cloudy that the girls satup for an hour after Captain Jules left them, talking over theirwonderful good fortune. They were almost asleep before they tumbled intotheir berths. Once there, they slept soundly all night long. Nothingapparently happened to disturb them, but Madge, who was the lightestsleeper in the party, did half-waken at one time during the night. Shethought she heard Tania cry out. It was a peculiar cry and was notrepeated. She knew that Tania was given to dreaming. Almost every nightthe child made some kind of sound in her sleep. Madge sat up in bed andlistened, but hearing no further sound, she went fast asleep againwithout a thought of anxiety. 

Miss Jenny Ann was the first to open her eyes the next morning. It musthave been as late as seven o'clock, for the sun was shining brilliantly. She slipped on her wrapper and went into the kitchen to start the fire. Afew moments later she went into the dining room to call Tania and to helpthe child to dress. But the dining room door on to the cabin deck wasopen. Tania's bedclothes were in a heap on the floor. The child haddisappeared. 

Miss Jenny Ann was not in the least uneasy or annoyed. She knew thatTania had a way of creeping in Madge's bed in the early mornings and ofsnuggling close to her. Miss Jenny Ann tip-toed softly into Madge's andPhil's stateroom. There was no dark head with its straight, short blackhair and quaint, elfish face pressed close against Madge's lovely auburnone. Madge was slumbering peacefully. Miss Jenny Ann peered into theupper berth. Phil was alone and had not stirred. 

Tania was such a queer, wild little thing! Miss Jenny Ann felt annoyed. Perhaps Tania had awakened and slipped off the boat without telling anyof them. She had solemnly promised never to run away again, but she mighthave broken her word. Miss Jenny Ann explored the houseboat decks. Shecalled the child's name softly once or twice so as not to disturb theother girls. There was no answer. She went back into the cabin diningroom. Neatly folded on the chair, where Miss Jenny Ann herself had placedthem the night before, were Tania's clothes. The child could hardly haverun away in her little white nightgown. 

When the girls finally wakened Madge was the only one of them who wasalarmed at first. She recalled Tania's strange cry in the night. Shewondered if it could have been possible that she had heard a sound beforethe little girl cried out. But she could not decide. She would notbelieve, however, that Tania had forgotten her promise and gone awayagain without permission. 

As soon as Eleanor and Lillian were dressed they went ashore and walkedup and down near the houseboat, calling aloud for Tania. Phyllis was themost composed of the party. She had two small twin sisters of her own andknew that children were in the habit of creating just such unnecessaryexcitements. Still, it was better to look for a lost child before she hadhad time to wander too far away. 

"Madge, " suggested Phil quietly, "don't be so frightened about Tania. Ihave an idea the child has walked off the houseboat in her sleep. Shemust have done so, for the dining room door is unlocked from the inside. Our door on to the deck was not locked, but Tania's was, because MissJenny Ann recalls having locked it herself. She came through our roomwhen she joined us outdoors after putting Tania to bed. You and I hadbetter go up at once to find Tom Curtis. Dear old Tom is such a comfort!He will help us search for Tania. Then, if it is necessary, he will askthe Cape May authorities to have the police on the lookout for her. IfTania has wandered off in her sleep, the poor little thing will beterrified when she wakes up and finds herself in a strange place. Surely, some one will take her in and care for her until we find her. "

Madge and Phil were wonderfully glad to find Tom Curtis up and alone onhis front veranda. He had just come in from a swim. He seemed so strong, clean, and fine after his morning's dip in the ocean that his two girlfriends were immediately reassured. Tom would tell them just what hadbetter be done to find Tania. 

"Mrs. Curtis's and Philip Holt's window blinds are still down, thankgoodness!" whispered Madge to Phil, "so I suppose they are both asleep. Let us not tell them anything about Tania's disappearance. They wouldjust put it down to naughtiness in her, and that would make me awfullycross. "

Tom Curtis felt perfectly sure that he would soon run across the lostTania. So he left word for his mother that he had gone to the houseboatand that she was not to expect him until she saw him again. 

For two hours Tom and the houseboat party continued the hunt for the lostchild without calling in assistance. Then Madge and Tom went to the townauthorities of Cape May. The police investigated the city and the housesin the nearby seaside resort without finding the least clue to Tania. Toward the close of the long day Tom Curtis began to fear that Tania hadfallen into the water. Cape May is only a strip of land between the greatocean and the bay, and the land is broken into many small islands nearlysurrounded by salt water and marshes. 

Tom managed to get the girls safely out of the way; then, with Miss JennyAnn's permission, he had the water near the houseboat thoroughly dredged. But Tania's little body was not found for the second time down in thebottom of the bay. It was not possible to have all the water in theneighborhood dragged in a single day, so Tom said nothing of his fears tohis anxious friends. 

It was late in the evening. Miss Jenny Ann had prepared dinner for theweary and disheartened girls. She had snowy biscuit, broiled ham, roastedpotatoes, milk, and honey, the very things her charges usually loved. TomCurtis felt impelled to go back home. All that day he had seen nothing ofhis mother or of their visitor, Philip Holt, and Tom was afraid theywould begin to wonder what had become of him. 

Madge caught Tom by the sleeve and looked at him with beseeching eyes. "Please don't go, Tom, " she begged, with a catch in her voice, "I am sureyour mother won't mind. She has Mr. Holt with her, and I can't bear tosee you go. "

Tom and Madge were near the gangplank of the houseboat and Tom was tryingto make up his mind what he should do, when he and Madge caught sight ofa gray-clad figure walking toward them through the twilight mists. 

"It's Mother, " explained Tom in a relieved tone. "Now I can make it allright with her. "

"And that horrid Philip Holt isn't along, " declared Madge delightedly, "so I can tell her about poor little Tania. "

Mrs. Curtis caught Madge, who had run out to meet her, by the hand. "Mydear child, what is the matter with you?" the older woman askedimmediately. "Even in this half-light I can see that your face is pale asdeath and you look utterly worn out. If one of you is ill, why have younot sent for me?"

When Madge faltered out her story of the lost Tania Mrs. Curtis huggedher to her in the old sympathetic way that the little captain knew andloved. 

"I am so sorry, dear, " soothed Mrs. Curtis, "but I am sure than Tom andPhilip Holt will find her. I suppose that is why they have both been awayall day. "

"Philip Holt!" exclaimed Tom in surprise. "He hasn't been with us. Ithought he was at home with you. "

Mrs. Curtis shook her head indifferently. "No; he hasn't been at thecottage all day. Have any of you thought to send word to Captain Jules toask him about Tania? It may be that the child is with him. In any event, I know Captain Jules would give us good advice. "

"Bully for you, Mother!" cried Tom, glad to catch a straw as he saw theshadow on Madge's face lighten. "As soon as I have had a bite of supperwith the girls I'll get hold of a boat and go after the captain. "

Tom did not have to make his journey up the bay to "The Anchorage" thatnight. While he and his mother were at supper with the girls they heardthe sound of Captain Jules's voice calling to them over the water. He hadto come ashore lower down the bay, where the water was deeper than it wasnear the houseboat, but he always hallooed as he approached. 

"O Jenny Ann!" faltered Madge, trembling like a leaf, "it is our captain. Perhaps he has brought Tania back with him. I--I--hope nothing dreadfulhas happened to her. "

Without a word Tom fled off the houseboat. A moment later he espiedCaptain Jules coming toward him, alone!

"Halloo, son!" called out Captain Jules cheerfully. "Glad to know thatyou are down here with the girls. Funny thing, but I've had these girlson my mind all day. It seemed to me that they needed me, and I couldn'tgo to bed without finding out that everything was well with them. What'swrong?" Captain Jules had caught a fleeting glimpse of Tom's harassedface. "Is it--is it Madge?" he asked anxiously. "Is anything the matterwith my girl?"

Tom shook his head reassuringly. It took very few words to make thecaptain understand that the trouble was over Tania and not Madge. 

When, a moment later, the captain went aboard the "Merry Maid" he wasable to smile bravely at the discouraged women. 

"Here, here!" he cried gruffly, while Madge clung to one of his hornyhands for support and Eleanor to the other, "what is all this nonsense Ihear? Tania is not really lost, of course. I'll bet you we find thelittle witch in no time. She has just gone off somewhere in these NewJersey woods to join the fairies she talks so much about. They are sureto take good care of her. We can't do much more looking for her to-night, but I'll find her first thing in the morning. "

Both Captain Jules and Mrs. Curtis insisted that the girls and Miss JennyAnn go early to bed. Just as Captain Jules was saying good night itoccurred to Miss Jenny Ann that she would rather turn over to the oldsailor the box of coins and jewelry. While Tania was lost there would beso many persons in and out of the houseboat that Miss Jenny Ann fearedsomething might happen to the valuables. 

She went to the drawer in the sideboard in the saloon cabin withoutthinking of the key under her pillow, and took hold of the knob. To hersurprise the drawer opened readily. There was no iron safe inside it. Miss Jenny Ann ran to her bed and felt under her pillow. The key wasstill there as though it had never been disturbed. 

Captain Jules and Tom decided that the simple lock to the houseboatsideboard had been easily broken open. When, or how, or by whom, nobodyknew, but it was certain that the jewels and money were gone. Fortune, the fickle jade, who had brought the houseboat girls such good luck onlya short time before, had now cruelly stolen it away from them. 

CHAPTER XIX

THE WICKED GENII

Tania had been aroused in the night by seeing a dark figure standing withhis back to her only a few feet from her bed. Involuntarily the childstirred. In that instant a black-masked face turned toward her and Taniagave the single, terrified scream that Madge had heard. Before Taniacould call out again, a handkerchief was tied so closely around her mouththat she could make no further sound. 

A moment later the mysterious, sinister visitor picked the child up inhis arms and bore her swiftly and quietly away from the shelter of thehouseboat and her beloved friends. The little girl was very slender, yether abductor staggered as he walked. He had something besides Tania thathe was carrying. 

About a quarter of a mile from the houseboat Tania was dumped into therear end of an automobile and covered with a heavy steamer blanket. Thenthe automobile started off through the night, going faster and faster, itseemed to her, with each hour of darkness that remained. 

At times the little prisoner slept. When she awakened she cried softly toherself, wondering who had stolen away with her and what was now tobecome of her. But Tania was only a child of the streets and she had beenreared in a harder school than other happier children, so she made noeffort to cry out or escape. She knew there was no one near to hear her, and the motor car was moving so swiftly that she could not possiblyescape from it. 

Tania and her unknown companion must have ridden all night. Evidently thedriver of the car had not cared about the roads. He had pushed throughheavy sand and ploughed over deep holes regardless of his machine. Speedwas the only thing he thought of. 

By and by the automobile stopped, after a particularly bad piece oftraveling. The driver got down, lifted Tania, still wrapped in herblanket, in his arms and carried her inside a house. The child first sawthe light in an old room, up several flights of steps, which was drearierand more miserable than anything she had ever beheld in her life in thetenements. It was big and mouldy, and dark with cobwebs swinging likedusty curtains over the windows that had not been washed for years. Thewindows looked out over a swamp that was thick with old trees. 

But Tania saw none of these things when the blanket was first lifted fromher head. She gave a gasp of fright and horror. For the first time shenow realized that her captor was her childhood's enemy and evil genius, Philip Holt. 

"Oh!" she exclaimed, with a long-drawn sigh that was almost a sob, "it is_you_! Why have you brought me here? What have I done?" Then a look ofunearthly wisdom came into Tania's solemn, black eyes. She continued tostare at the young man so silently and gravely that Philip Holt's blondeface twitched with nervousness. 

"Didn't you recognize me before?" he asked fiercely. "You were quitelikely to shriek out in the night and spoil everything, so I had to carryyou off with me, little nuisance that you are! You can just make up yourmind, young woman, that you will stay right here in this room until I cantake you to that nice institution for bad children that I have beentelling you about for such a long time. You'll never see your houseboatfriends again. "

Tania made no answer, and Philip Holt left her sitting on the floor ofthe gloomy room wide-eyed and silent. 

For three days Tania stayed alone in that cheerless room. She saw no onebut an old, half-foolish man who came to her three times a day to bringher food. He gave Tania a few rough garments to dress herself in andtreated the little prisoner kindly, but Tania found it was quite uselessto ask the old man questions. She was a wise, silent child, withconsiderable knowledge of life, and she understood that there was nothingto be gained by talking to her jailer, who would now and then grinfoolishly and tell her that she was to be good and everything would soonbe all right. Her nice, kind brother was going to take her away to schoolas soon as he could. The wicked people who had been trying to steal heraway from her own brother should never find her if her brother could helpit. 

So the long nights passed and the longer days, and little Tania wouldhave been very miserable indeed except for her fairies and her dreams. Itis never possible to be unhappy all the time, if you own a dream world ofyour own. Still, Tania found it much harder to pretend things, now thatshe had tasted real happiness with her houseboat girls, than she had whenshe lived with old Sal. It wasn't much fun to play at being an enchantedprincess when you knew what it was to feel like a really happy littlegirl. And no one would care to be taken away to the most wonderful castlein fairyland if she had to leave the darling houseboat and Madge and MissJenny Ann and the other girls behind. 

So all through the daylight Tania sat with her small, pale face pressedagainst the dirty window pane, waiting for Madge to come and find her. She even hoped that a stranger might walk along close enough to the housefor her to call for aid. But a dreary rain set in and all the countrysidenear Tania's prison house looked desolate. More than anything Taniafeared the return of Philip Holt. Once he got hold of her again, she knewhe would fulfill his threats. 

During this dreadful time Tania had no human companion, but she was notlike other children. She was part little girl and the rest of her an elfor a fay. The trees, the birds, and flowers were almost as real to her ashuman beings. For, until Madge and Eleanor had found her dancing on theNew York City street corner, she had never had anybody to be kind to her, or whom she could love. 

Just outside Tania's window there was a tall old cedar tree. Its longarms reached quite up to her window sill, and when the wind blew it usedto wave her its greetings. Inside the comfortable branches of the treethere was a regular apartment house of birds, the nests rising one abovethe other to the topmost limbs. 

Tania held long conversations with these birds in the mornings and in thelate afternoons. She told them all her troubles, and how very much shewould like to get away from the place where she was now staying. However, the birds were great gad-abouts during the day, and Tania could hardlyblame them. 

There was one fat, fatherly robin that became Tania's particular friend. He used to hop about near her window and nod and chirp to her as thoughto reassure her. "Your friends will come for you to-day, I am quite sureof it, " he used to say, until one day Tania really spoke aloud to him andwas startled at the sound of her own voice. 

"I don't believe you are a robin at all, " she announced. "I just believeyou are a nice, fat father of a whole lot of funny little boys and girls. I believe you are enchanted, like me. Oh, dear! I was just beginning tobelieve that I wasn't a fairy after all but a real little girl withpretty clothes and friends to kiss me good night. " Tania sighed. "Isuppose I must be a fairy princess after all, for if I was a real littlegirl no one would have cast another wicked spell over me and shut me upin this dungeon in the woods, which is a whole lot worse than living withold Sal. "

Yet playing and pretending, and, worse than anything, waiting, grew verytiresome to Tania. On the morning of the fourth day of her imprisonmentTania awoke with a start. Something had knocked on her window pane. Itwas only the old cedar tree, and Tania turned over in bed with a sob. Butthe tapping went on. She got up and went to her window. Quick as a flashTania made up her mind to run away. Why had she never thought of itbefore? It was true, her bedroom door was always locked, but here werethe branches of the cedar tree reaching close up to her window. Really, this morning they seemed to speak quite distinctly to Tania:

"Why in the world don't you come to me? I shall hold you quite safe! Youcan climb down through all my arms to the warm earth and then run away toyour friends. "

It was just after dawn. The pink sky was showing against the earliergrayness when Tania slipped into her coarse clothes and, like a smallelf, crept out of her window into the friendly branches of the old tree. She was silent and swift as a squirrel as she clambered down. But sheneed not have feared. No one in the lonely country place was awake butthe child. 

Once on the ground, Tania ran on and on, without thinking where she wasgoing. She only wished to get far away from the dreary house where PhilipHolt had hidden her. There was a thick woods about a mile or so fromTania's starting place. No one would find her there. Once she was throughit Tania hoped to find a town, or at least a farm, where she could askfor help. In spite of her queer, unchildlike ways, Tania knew enough tounderstand that if she could only find some one to telegraph to herfriends they would soon come to her. 

But the forest through which Tania hoped to pass was a dreadful cedarswamp, and in trying to cross it Tania wandered far into it and foundherself hopelessly lost. 

CHAPTER XX

A BOW OF SCARLET RIBBON

In the three days that had passed since the disappearance of Tania fromthe houseboat everything that was possible had been done to discover herwhereabouts. 

It never occurred to Tom or to Mrs. Curtis to connect Philip Holt's oddbehavior with the lost Tania or the vanished treasure box. True, he hadnot been seen for the past three days, but Mrs. Curtis had received anote from him the day after his disappearance from her house, saying thathe had been unexpectedly called away on very important business so earlyin the morning that he had not wished to awaken her, but he had left wordwith the servants and he hoped that they had explained matters to her. 

Mrs. Curtis's maids and butler insisted that Mr. Holt had given them nomessage. They had not seen or heard him go. So, as Mrs. Curtis did notregard Philip Holt's withdrawal as of any importance, she gave verylittle thought to it. 

Madge Morton, however, had a different idea. She laid Tania'sdisappearance at Philip Holt's door. She, therefore, determined to takeTom Curtis into her confidence, but to ask him not to betray theirsuspicions of Philip Holt to Mrs. Curtis until they had better proof ofthe young man's guilt. Madge had never told even Tom that she had onceoverheard Philip Holt reveal his real identity, nor how much she hadguessed of the young man's true character from Tania's unconscious andfrightened reports of him. 

Tom at first was indignant with Madge, not because she and the othergirls believed that Philip Holt had stolen both their little friend andtheir new-found wealth, but because she had not sooner shared hersuspicion of his mother's guest with him. Tom had never liked Philip, soit was easy for him to think the worst of the goody-goody young man. 

Without a word to Mrs. Curtis, Tom and the houseboat girls set to work totrace Philip Holt, believing that once he was overtaken Tania and thestolen treasure would be accounted for. 

It was not easy work. Philip Holt had not been a hypocrite all his lifewithout knowing how to play the game of deception. A detective sent toNew York City to talk to old Sal had nothing worth while to report. Thewoman declared positively that Philip was no connection of hers; that shehad neither seen nor heard of the young man lately. As for Tania, Sal hadtruly not set eyes on her from the day that Madge had taken the littleone under her protection. 

Philip Holt knew well enough that his mother would be questioned abouthis disappearance. He believed that Tania had told Madge his truehistory. So old Sal was prepared with her story when the detectiveinterviewed her. Yet it was curious that the Cape May police were unableto find out in what manner the young man had left the town. Inquiries atthe railroad stations, livery stables, and garages gave no clue to him. 

The houseboat girls were in despair. Madge neither ate nor slept. Shefelt particularly responsible for Tania, as the child had been herspecial charge and protégé. Madge had been deeply grieved when herfriend, David Brewster, had been falsely accused of a crime in theirprevious houseboat holiday, when they had spent a part of their time withMr. And Mrs. Preston in Virginia; but that sorrow was as nothing to this, for David was almost a grown boy and able to look after himself, whileTania was little more than a baby. When no news came of either PhilipHolt or Tania, Madge began to believe that Philip Holt had accomplishedhis design. He had managed to shut Tania up in some kind of dreadfulinstitution. The little captain did not believe that they would ever findthe child, and was so unhappy over the loss of her Fairy Godmother thatshe lost her usual power to act. 

Phyllis Alden, however, was wide awake and on the alert. She knew that itwas not possible for Philip Holt to leave Cape May without some one'sassistance. Some one must know how and when he had disappeared. The wholepoint was to find that person. 

Phil thought over the matter for some time. Then she quietly telephonedto Ethel Swann and asked her to arrange something for her. She made anappointment to call on Ethel the same afternoon, and she and Lillianwalked over to the Swann cottage together. It seemed strange to Madgethat her two friends could have the heart for making calls, but, as therewas absolutely nothing for them to do save to wait for news of Tania thatdid not come, she said nothing save that she did not feel well enough toaccompany them. 

As Lillian and Phyllis Alden approached the Swann summer cottage they sawthat Ethel had with her on the veranda the two young people who had beenmost unfriendly to them during their stay at Cape May, Roy Dennis andMabel Farrar. 

Roy Dennis got up hurriedly. His face flushed a dull red, and he beganbacking down the veranda steps, explaining to Ethel that he must be offat once. 

Phyllis Alden was always direct. Before Roy Dennis could get away fromher she walked directly up to him, and looking him squarely in the eyessaid quietly: "Mr. Dennis, please don't go away before I have a chance tospeak to you. It seems absurd to me for us to be such enemies, simplybecause something happened between us in the beginning of the summer thatwasn't very agreeable. I wished to ask you a question, so I asked Ethelto arrange this meeting between us this afternoon. "

"What do you wish to ask me?" he returned awkwardly. 

Phil plunged directly into her subject. "Weren't you and Philip Holtgreat friends while he was Mrs. Curtis's guest?" she asked. 

Roy Dennis looked uncomfortable. "We were fairly good friends, but notpals, " he assured Phil. 

"But you, perhaps, know him well enough to have him tell you where he wasgoing when he left Mrs. Curtis's, " continued Phil in a calmly assuredtone. "Mrs. Curtis has not received a letter from him since he left here, so she does not know just where he is. We girls on the houseboat wouldalso like very much to know what has become of Mr. Holt. "

"Why?" demanded Roy Dennis sharply. 

Phyllis determined to be perfectly frank. "I will tell you my reason forasking you that question, " she began. "You may not know it, but ourlittle friend, Tania, disappeared from Cape May the very same day thatPhilip Holt left the Cape. We all knew that Mr. Holt had known Tania fora number of years before we met her. He thought that the child ought tobe shut up in some kind of an institution, but Miss Morton wished to putthe little girl in a school. So it may just be barely possible that Mr. Holt took Tania away without asking leave of any one. " Phil madeabsolutely no reference to the stolen money and jewels in her talk withRoy Dennis. If they could run down Philip Holt and Tania the treasure-boxwould be disclosed as a matter of course. 

Roy Dennis hesitated for barely a second. Then he remarked to Phil, half-admiringly: "You have been frank with me, Miss Alden, and, to tellyou the truth, I think it is about time that I be equally frank with you. I have no idea where Philip Holt now is, but I do know something abouthow he got away from Cape May, and I am beginning to have my suspicionsthat there might have been something 'shady' in his behavior that I didnot think of at the time. Three nights ago, it must have been abouteleven o'clock, I was just about ready for bed when Mr. Holt rang me upand asked to speak to me alone. He said that he had just had bad news andwished to get out of Cape May as soon as possible. He asked me if I wouldlend him my car so that he could drive to a nearby railroad station wherehe could get a train that would take him sooner to the place he wished togo. I thought it was rather a strange request and asked him why he didn'tborrow Tom Curtis's car? He said that Mrs. Curtis had gone to bed andthat he did not like to disturb her. He and Tom had never been friendly, so he did not wish to ask him a favor. Well, I can't say I felt verycheerful at letting Philip Holt have the use of my car, but he said thathe would send it back in a few hours and it would be all right. I got itout for him myself and he drove away in it. It didn't come back untilthis morning, and you never saw such a sight in your life, covered withmud and the tires almost used up. "

Phil nodded sympathetically. "Who brought the car back to you?" sheasked. "Was it Mr. Holt?"

Roy Dennis shrugged his heavy shoulders. "No, indeed! He sent it back bya chap who wouldn't say a word about himself, Holt, or from whichdirection he had come. "

"Is the man still in town?" asked Phil, her voice trembling, "and wouldyou mind Tom Curtis's asking him some questions? We are so awfullyanxious. "

Roy Dennis rose quickly. "I believe the fellow is around yet, and I'llget hold of him and take him to Tom at once. I don't think that PhilipHolt has had anything to do with the kidnapping of the little girl, buthis whole behavior looks pretty funny. We will make the chauffeur chaptell us where Philip Holt was when he turned over my car to him. " Roy wasoff like a flash. 

Phyllis and Lillian were making their apologies to Ethel for beingobliged to hurry off at once to the houseboat when Mabel Farrar took holdof Phil's hand. Her usually haughty expression had changed to one of thedeepest interest. "I am _so_ sorry about the little lost girl, " she said. "I hope you will soon find her. She is a queer, fascinating little thing. I have watched her all summer, and she certainly can dance. I can'tbelieve that Philip Holt has actually stolen her, yet I don't know. RoyDennis just told Ethel Swann and me something awfully queer. He says hefound a bright scarlet ribbon, like a bow that a child would wear in herhair, in the bottom of his motor car when the chauffeur brought it backto him to-day. "

Phil's black eyes flashed. "If I ever needed anything to convince me thatPhilip Holt stole Tania away from us that would do it, " she returnedindignantly. "Little Tania slept every night with her hair tied up with ascarlet ribbon so as to keep it out of her eyes. When we find wherePhilip Holt is we shall find Tania, and if I have any say in the matterhe shall answer to the law for what he has done. "

CHAPTER XXI

THE RACE FOR LIFE

It took the united efforts of the Cape May police, Tom Curtis, and RoyDennis to make the chauffeur who had come back with Roy's car say wherehe had met Philip Holt, and when Philip had turned over the automobile tohim to be brought back to Roy. 

The chauffeur was frightened; he finally broke down and told the wholestory. Philip Holt had driven from the farmhouse where he left Tania tothe nearest village. There he had hired the chauffeur and the man hadtaken Philip within a few miles of New York. In the course of the ride, Philip had told the automobile driver the same story about Tania that hehad told the old man in the tumbled-down farmhouse:

Tania was Philip's sister. He was hiding her from enemies, who wished tosteal the child away from him. If anybody inquired about the child orabout him the chauffeur was to say nothing. Philip would pay himhandsomely for bringing the car back to Cape May. 

The reason that Philip Holt had sent back Roy Dennis's automobile wasbecause he knew that Roy would put detectives on his track if he failedto return it. Besides, it would be far easier for Philip Holt to get awaywith his precious iron safe if he were free of all other entanglements. 

It was nearly midnight before the story that the chauffeur told was clearto Tom Curtis. The man believed that he knew the very house in whichTania was probably concealed. There was no other place like it near thetown where the chauffeur lived. 

Tom got out his own automobile. The chauffeur would ride with him. Theywould go directly to the old farmhouse. Tania would be there and allwould soon be well. 

It was about nine o'clock the next morning when Tom's thundering knock atthe rickety farmhouse door brought the foolish old man to open it. Assoon as Tom mentioned Tania, the old fellow was alarmed. He was stupidand poor, but Philip Holt's behavior had begun to look strange even tohim. 

The old farmer was glad to tell Tom Curtis everything he knew. It was allright. Tania was safe upstairs. He would take Tom up at once to see her. He was just on his way up to take Tania her breakfast. Indeed, the oldman explained with tears in his eyes, he had not meant to assist in thekidnapping of a child. He was only a poor, lonely old fellow and hehadn't meant any harm. He had never seen Philip until the moment that theyoung man appeared at his door in his automobile and asked him to lookafter his sister for a few days. 

The farmer's story was true. Philip Holt had no idea how he could safelydispose of Tania. Quite by accident, as he hurried through the country, he had espied the old house. If Tania could be kept hidden there for afew days he would then be able to decide what he could do with her. 

Tom would have liked to bound up the old stairs three steps at a time toTania's bedroom door. Poor little girl, what she must have suffered inthe last three days! But Tom's thought was always for Madge. Before hefollowed the farmer to Tania's chamber he wrote a telegram which he madethe chauffeur take over to the village to send immediately. It read: "Allis well with Tania. Come at once. " And it was addressed to Madge Morton. 

Tom was trembling like a girl with sympathy and compassion when hefinally reached little Tania's bedroom door. He wished Madge or hismother were with him. How could he comfort poor Tania for all she hadsuffered?

Tania's jailer unlocked the door and knocked at it softly. The child didnot answer. He knocked at it again and tried to make his voice friendly. "Come to the door, little one, " he entreated. "I know you will be glad tosee who it is that has come to take you back to your home. "

Still no answer. Tom could endure the waiting no longer, but flung thedoor wide open. No Tania was to be seen. There was no place to look forher in the empty room, which held only a bed and a single chair. But awindow was open and the arm of the old cedar tree still pressed closeagainst the sill. Tom could see that small twigs had been broken off ofsome of the branches. He guessed at once what had happened. Tania hadclimbed down this tree and run away. But Tom felt perfectly sure that hewould be able to find her before the houseboat party and his mother couldarrive. 

The houseboat girls and Miss Jenny Ann were overjoyed at Tom's telegram. Mrs. Curtis was with them when the message came. She was perhaps thehappiest of them all, although she had never been an especial friend oflittle Tania's. In the last few days her conscience had pricked her alittle and her warm heart had sorrowed over the missing child. 

Yet, up to this very moment, Mrs. Curtis did not know the truth aboutPhilip Holt. Just before they started for the train that was to bear themto Tom and Tania Madge told Mrs. Curtis that Philip had stolen the childfrom them and that they also believed he had run off with theirtreasure-chest. 

Mrs. Curtis listened very quietly to Madge's story. When the littlecaptain had finished she asked humbly, "Can you ever forgive me, dear? Iam an obstinate and spoiled woman. If only I had listened to what youtold me about Philip this sorrow would never have come to you. Tom alsowarned me that I was being deceived in Philip Holt. But I believed youwere both prejudiced against him. When we recover Tania I shall try tomake up to her the wrong I have done her, if it is ever possible. "

During the journey Madge and Mrs. Curtis sat hand in hand. Captain Juleslooked after Miss Jenny Ann, Lillian, Phil and Eleanor, although he wasalmost as excited by Tom's news as they were. 

At the country station the chauffeur was waiting to drive Tania's friendsto the lonely old farmhouse that the child had thought a dungeon. 

Tom and Tania would probably be standing in the front yard when theautomobile arrived. They were not there. The old farmer explained thatTom and Tania had gone out together. They would be back in a few minutes. To tell the truth, the man did expect them to appear at any time. Hecould not believe that Tania was really lost, although Tom had beensearching for her since early morning and it was now about four o'clockin the afternoon. 

For two hours the houseboat party waited. The girls walked up and downthe rickety farmhouse porch, clinging to Captain Jules. Mrs. Curtis andMiss Jenny Ann remained indoors. At dusk Tom returned. He was alone andcould hardly drag one foot after the other, he was so weary andheartsick. To think that after wiring her he had found Tania he must faceMadge with the dreadful news that the child was lost again!

Two long, weary days passed without news of the lost Tania. The houseboatparty made the old farmhouse their headquarters while conducting thesearch. At first no one thought to penetrate the cedar swamp where Taniahad hidden herself, but the idea finally occurred to Tom Curtis, and onthe third morning he and Captain Jules started out. 

All that third anxious day the girls searched the immediate neighborhoodfor Tania. When evening came they gathered sadly in the wretchedfarmhouse, to await the return of Tom Curtis and the old sea captain. 

Madge was lying on a rickety lounge, with her face buried in her hands. Phyllis was sitting near the door. Mrs. Curtis stood at the window, watching for the return of her son. In a further corner of the room, MissJenny Ann, Lillian and Eleanor were talking softly together. 

Suddenly each one of the sad women became aware of the captain's presenceas his big form darkened the doorway. A ray of light from their singleoil lamp shone across his weather-beaten face. Phil saw him mostdistinctly and read disaster in his glance. With the unselfish thought ofothers that invariably marks a great nature, she went swiftly across theroom and dropped on her knees beside Madge. 

Madge sprang from her lounge and stumbled across the room toward the oldsailor. Phil kept close beside her. 

"Tania!" whispered Madge faintly, for she too had seen the captain'sface. "Where is my little Fairy Godmother?"

"We have found Tania, Madge, " said Captain Jules gently, "but she is veryill. We found her lying under a tree in the swamp, delirious with fever. She is almost starved, and she is so frail--that----" The old man's voicebroke. 

"Don't say she is going to die, Captain Jules, " implored Mrs. Curtis. "Ifshe does, I shall feel that I am responsible. Surely, something can bedone for her. " The proud woman buried her face in her hands. 

At that moment Tom entered, bearing in his arms a frail little figure, whose thin hands moved incessantly and whose black eyes were bright withfever. 

With a cry of "Tania, dear little Fairy Godmother, you mustn't, youshan't die!" Madge sprang to Tom's side and caught the little, restlesshands in hers. 

For an instant the black eyes looked recognition. "Madge, " Tania saidclearly, "he took me away--the Wicked Genii. " Her voice trailed off intoindistinct muttering. 

"She must be rushed to a hospital at once. " Captain Jules's calm voiceroused the sorrowing friends of little Tania to action. 

"I'll have my car at the door in ten minutes, " declared Tom huskily. "Make her as comfortable as you can for the journey. "

It was in Captain Jules's strong arms that little Tania made the journeyto a private sanatorium at Cape May. Madge sat beside the captain, hereyes fixed upon the little, dark head that lay against the captain'sbroad shoulder. The strong, magnetic touch of the old sailor seemed toquiet the fever-stricken child, and, for the first time since they hadfound her, Tania lay absolutely still in his arms. 

Mrs. Curtis occupied the front seat with her son, who drove his car at arate of speed that would have caused a traffic officer to hold up hishands in horror. It had been arranged that Tom should return to thefarmhouse as soon as possible for the rest of the party. 

No one of the occupants of the car ever forgot that ride. Once at thehospital, no time was lost in caring for Tania. The physician inattendance, however, would give them no satisfaction as to Tania'scondition beyond the admission that it was very serious. Mrs. Curtisengaged the most expensive room in the hospital for the child, as well asa day and night nurse, and, surrounded by every comfort and the prayersof anxious and loving friends, Tania began her fight for life. 

CHAPTER XXII

CAPTAIN JULES LISTENS TO A STORY

Tania did not die. After a few days the fever left her, but she was soweak and frail that the physician in charge of her case advised Mrs. Curtis to allow her to remain in the sanatorium for at least a month. When she should have sufficiently recovered Mrs. Curtis had decided totake upon herself the responsibility of the child's future. She had beena constant visitor in the sickroom and during the long hours she hadspent with the imaginative little one had grown to love her, while Taniain turn adored the stately, white-haired woman and clung to her even asshe did to Madge, a fact which pleased Mrs. Curtis more than she wouldadmit. 

Philip Holt was discovered hiding in New York City. The treasure-box wasin the keeping of old Sal, for Philip had not dared to dispose of thecoins or the jewelry while the detectives were on the lookout for him. Tom Curtis saw that the case against Philip Holt was conducted veryquietly. The houseboat girls had had enough trouble and excitement. Theirtreasure was restored to them and they had no desire ever to hear PhilipHolt's name mentioned again. 

Tom Curtis was more curious. In questioning Philip, Tom learned that hehimself was innocently to blame for Philip's crime. Holt recalled to Tomthe fact that, on returning from the houseboat after spending the eveningwith Captain Jules and his friends, Tom had mentioned to his mother thatthe precious iron safe was on the houseboat, and that if she cared tolook at the old jewelry again Miss Jenny Ann would unlock the sideboarddrawer and show it to her the next day. In that moment Philip Holtdecided on his theft, but he did not expect Tania to thwart him. He hadslipped through one of the open staterooms into the dining room of thehouseboat, broken the lock of the sideboard and opened the dining roomdoor from the inside to make his escape. Philip Holt believed that intaking Tania with him he had accomplished his own downfall. 

If he had not stopped to leave the child at the deserted farmhouse, hismovements would never have been traced. 

Madge Morton was a good deal changed by the events of the last few weeks. She was so unlike her usual happy, light-hearted and impetuous self thatMiss Jenny Ann and the houseboat girls were worried about her. Theyardently wished that Madge would fly into a temper again just to show shepossessed her old spirit. But she was very gentle and quiet and liked tospend a good deal of the time alone. 

Miss Jenny Ann consulted with Lillian, Phil and Eleanor. They decided towrite to David Brewster to ask him to come to spend a few days with themon the houseboat. Madge was fond of David and the young man had done suchfine things for himself in the past year that her friends hoped a sightof him would stir her out of her depression. 

David was visiting Mrs. Randolph--"Miss Betsey"--in Hartford. He repliedthat he would try to come to Cape May in another week or ten days, butplease not to mention the fact to Madge until he was more sure ofcoming. 

One bright summer afternoon Madge returned alone from a long motor ridewith Mrs. Curtis and Tom. She found the houseboat entirely deserted andremembered that the girls and Miss Jenny Ann had had an engagement to gosailing. She curled up on the big steamer chair and gave herself over todreams. 

A small boat, pulled by a pair of strong arms, came along close to thedeck of the "Merry Maid. " Madge looked up to see Captain Jules's faithfulface beaming at her. 

"All alone?" he called out cheerfully. "Come for a row with me. I'll getyou back before tea. "

Madge wanted to refuse, but she hardly knew how, so she slipped into theprow of the skiff and sat there idly facing him. 

Captain Jules frowned at the girl's pale face, which looked even palerunder the loose twists of her soft auburn hair. Madge looked older andmore womanly than she had the day the captain first saw her. There was adeeper meaning to the upper curves of her full, red lips and a gentlersweep to the downward droop of her heavy, black lashes. She wasfulfilling the promise of the great beauty that was to be hers. It waseasy to see that she had the charm that would make her life full ofinterest. 

Still Captain Jules frowned as though the picture of Madge and her futuredid not please him. 

"How much longer are you going to stay at Cape May, Miss Morton?" heinquired. 

Madge smiled at him. "I don't know anything about 'Miss Morton's' plans, but Madge expects to be here for about two weeks more. "

Recently the captain had been calling the houseboat girls by their firstnames, as he was with them so constantly in their trouble. But he had nowdecided that he must return to the formality of the beginning of theiracquaintance. It was best to do so. 

"And afterward?" the old sailor questioned, pretending that he was reallynot greatly interested in Madge's reply. 

The girl's expression changed. "I don't know, " she returned. "Of course, Eleanor and I will go back to 'Forest House' for a while. Aren't you gladthat Uncle has been able to pay off the mortgage? When Nellie and Lilliango to Miss Tolliver's and Phil to college I don't know exactly what Ishall do. Mrs. Curtis and Tom have asked me to make them a visit in NewYork next winter. "

The captain frowned again. It was well that Madge was looking over thewater and not at him, for she never could have told why he looked sodispleased. 

"You and Tom Curtis are very good friends, aren't you, Madge?" saidCaptain Jules abruptly. 

Madge smiled to herself. She felt as though she were in the witness box. Was her dear old captain trying to cross-examine her?

"Of course, I like Tom better than almost any one else. He is awfullygood to me. You know you like Tom yourself, so why shouldn't I?" sheended wickedly. 

"I like him. Certainly I do. He is a fine, upright fellow and his moneyhasn't hurt him a mite, which you can't say of the most of us. But it's adifferent matter with you, young lady, and I want you to go slowly. "

"But I am not going at all, Captain, " laughed Madge. "It seems to me thatI want only one thing in the world, and that's to find my father. Sometimes I am afraid that perhaps I shall never find my father afterall!"

Captain Jules coughed and his voice sounded rather husky. It had adifferent note in it from any that Madge had ever heard him use to her. 

"Don't play the coward, child, " he said sternly; "just because you havehad one defeat don't go about the world saying you must give up. It maybe that your father did that once and is sorry for it now. Keep up thefight. No matter how many times we may be knocked down in this world, ifwe have the right sort of courage we'll always get up again. "

Madge sat up very straight. Her blue eyes flashed back at Captain Juleswith an expression that he liked to see. "I am not going to give up mysearch, " she answered defiantly. "One hears that it is Fate whichseparates two persons. If I find Father, I shall feel that I have won avictory over Fate. But I can't help longing to tell my father that I knowthat he is innocent of the fault for which he was disgraced and dismissedfrom the Navy, and that I have the proof in my possession that would makeit clear to all the world as well as to me. "

The old captain gave vent to a sudden exclamation that sounded like agroan. His face looked strangely drawn under his coat of tan. 

"Are you sick, Captain Jules?" asked Madge hastily. "Do take my place andlet me have the oars. I am sure I can row you. "

Captain Jules smiled back at her. "What made you think I was sick?" heasked. "What was that you were telling me? How do you know that yourfather was guiltless of his fault? Why, Captain Robert Morton was one ofthe kindest men that ever trod a deck, and yet he was convicted ofcruelty to one of his own sailors. "

"Captain Jules, " continued Madge earnestly, "I would like to tell you thewhole story if you have time to listen to it. You know I promised longago to tell you. Two years ago, when we were on the second of ourhouseboat excursions, we spent part of our holiday near Old PointComfort. There I met the man who had been my father's superior officer. Some unpleasant things happened between his granddaughter and me, and shetold my father's story at a dinner in order to humiliate me. Longafterward her grandfather heard of what his granddaughter had done and hemade a statement before my friends which cleared my father's name. Heconfessed to having allowed my father to suffer for something he hadcommanded him to do. My father was too great a man to clear himself atthe expense of his superior officer, so he left the Navy in disgrace andhas never been heard of since that dreadful time. 

"There isn't much more to tell. Only the old admiral has died since I methim. However, he left a paper that was sent to me, in which he acquits myfather of all blame and takes the whole responsibility for my father'sact on himself. Must we go back home, Captain Jules?" for, at the end ofher speech, Madge observed that the captain had turned his skiff and wasrowing directly toward the houseboat. He handed Madge aboard a fewmoments later with the air of one whose mind is elsewhere. 

It was impossible for Miss Jenny Ann to persuade the old pearl diver toremain to supper. With very few words to any of the party he turned Madgeover to her friends and rowed hurriedly away toward his home. 

CHAPTER XXIII

THE VICTORY OVER FATE

Early the next morning word was brought by a small boy that Captain JulesFontaine wished Miss Madge Morton to come out to "The Anchorage" alone, as he had some important business that he wished to talk over with her. 

It was a wonderful morning, all fresh sea breezes and sparkling sunshine. Madge had not felt so gay in a long time as when the other houseboatgirls fell to guessing as to why Captain Jules desired her presence athis house. 

"He intends to make you his heiress, Madge, " insisted Lillian. "Then, when you are an old lady, you can come down here to live in the housewith the roof like three sails, and ride around in the captain's rowboatand sailboat and be as happy as a clam. "

Madge shook her head. "No such thing, Lillian. I don't believe thecaptain wants me for anything important. He may be going to lecture me, as he did yesterday afternoon. At any rate, I'll be back before long. Please save some luncheon for me. "

Madge was surprised when her boat landed near "The Anchorage" not to seeCaptain Jules in his front yard, with his funny pet monkey on hisshoulder, waiting to receive her. She began to feel afraid that thecaptain was ill. She had never been inside his house in all theiracquaintance. But Captain Jules had sent for her, so there was nothingfor her to do but to march up boldly to his front door and knock. 

She lifted the heavy brass knocker, which looked like the head of adolphin, and gave three brisk blows on the closed door. 

At first no one answered. The little captain was beginning to think thatthe boy who came to her had made some mistake in his message and thatCaptain Jules had gone out in his fishing boat for the day, when sheheard some one coming down the passage to open the door for her. 

She gave a little start of surprise. A tall, middle-aged man, with asingle streak of white hair through the brown, was gazing at hercuriously. 

"I would like to see Captain Jules, " murmured Madge stupidly, unable toat once recover from the surprise of finding that Captain Jules did notlive alone. 

The strange man invited Madge into a tiny parlor which rather surprisedher. The room was filled with bookshelves, reaching almost up to the topof the wall. The young girl had never dreamed that her captain was muchof a student. The only things that reminded her of Captain Jules were thefishnets that were hung at the windows for curtains and the great spraysof coral and sponge which decorated the mantelpiece. 

The man sat down with his back to the light, so that he could lookstraight into Madge's face. 

"Captain Jules will be here after a little, Miss Morton, " he saidgravely, "but he wished me to have a talk with you first. "

Madge looked curiously at the unknown man. She could not obtain a verydistinct view of his face, but she saw that he was very distinguishedlooking, that his eyes seemed quite dark, and that he wore a pointedbeard. He did not look like an American. At least, there was something inhis appearance that Madge did not quite understand. It struck her thatperhaps the man was a lawyer. It could not be that Lillian was right inher guess. The treasure in the iron safe had not yet been sold, so itmight be that this man wished to make some offer for it. Whoever he mightbe the silence was becoming uncomfortable. The little captain decided tobreak it. 

"I wonder if you wish to talk to me about the treasure that we found?"she inquired, smiling. "I would rather that Captain Jules should be inhere when we speak of that. "

The stranger shook his head. He had a very beautiful voice that in someway fascinated the girl. 

"No, I don't wish to talk about your treasure, but I do wish to speak ofsomething else that was lost and is found again. I don't know that youwill value it, child, or that it is worth having, but Captain Julesthinks you might. "

Madge's heart began to beat faster. This strange man had something ofgreat importance to tell her. She wondered if she had ever seen himanywhere before. There was something in his look that was oddly familiar. But why did he look at her so strangely and why did not her old friendcome to her to end this foolish suspense?

"I have been down here on a visit to Captain Jules a number of times thissummer and he has always talked of you, " went on the fascinating voice. "I have longed to see you, but----Miss Morton, Captain Jules Fontaine andI knew your father once, long years ago. The news that you had proof ofhis innocence made us very happy last night. "

Madge would have liked to bounce up and down in her chair, like animpatient child. Only her age restrained her. Why didn't this man tellher the thing he was trying to say? What made him hesitate so long?

"Yes, yes, " she returned impatiently, "but do you know whether my fatheris alive now? That is the only thing I care about. "

Madge gripped both arms of her chair to control herself. She wastrembling so that she felt that she must be having a chill, though it wasa warm summer day, for the stranger had risen and was coming toward her, his face white and haggard. Then, as he advanced into the brighter lightof the room, Madge saw that his eyes were very blue. 

"Your father isn't dead, " the man replied quietly. "He is here in thisvery house, and he cares for you more than all the world in spite of hislong silence!"

The little captain sprang to her feet, her face flaming. "Captain Jules!_He_ is my father? He seemed so old that I didn't realize it. Yet he hassaid so many things to me that might have made me guess he kneweverything in the world about me. Oh, where is he? My own, own CaptainJules?"

The stranger, whose arms had been outstretched toward Madge, let themfall at his sides, but Madge had no eyes for him. Captain Jules hadentered the room and she had flung herself straight into his kindlyarms. 

So, after all, it was Captain Jules Fontaine who had to make it clear toMadge that he was not her father, but her father's lifelong and devotedfriend. The captain told Madge the story while he held both her coldhands in his big, rough ones, and the man who was her own father satwatching and waiting for her verdict. 

Jules Fontaine had never been captain of anything but a sailing schooner, but he had been a gunner's mate on Captain Robert Morton's ship. He aloneknew that Captain Morton had been forced into the fault that he hadcommitted by order of his admiral. When Captain Morton was dismissed fromthe United States Naval Service Jules Fontaine, gunner's mate, hadprocured his discharge and followed the fortunes of his captain. The twomen drifted south to the tropics. Every American vessel is equipped witha diving outfit, and some of the men are taught to go down under thewater to examine the bottoms of the boats. Jules Fontaine liked thebusiness of diving. When the two men found themselves in a strange land, without any occupations, Captain Jules joined his fortunes with the pearldivers and for many years followed their perilous trade. 

Captain Morton had a harder time to get along, but after a while hestudied foreign languages and began to translate books. Five years beforethe two men had come back to the United States. Since that time CaptainMorton had tried to follow every movement of his daughter. Captain Juleswanted his friend to make himself known to his own people, but RobertMorton feared that they would never forgive his long silence or his earlydisgrace. He believed that Madge would be happier without knowledge ofhim. It was her own longing for her father, reported by Captain Jules, that had impelled Robert Morton at last to reveal himself to her. 

Madge could not comprehend all of this at once. She did not even try todo so. She realized only that, after being without any parents, she hadsuddenly come into two fathers at the same time, her own father andCaptain Jules, who was her more than foster father. 

With a low, glad cry she went swiftly across the room. She did not try tothink or to ask questions at that moment about the past, she only flungher young arms about her father's neck in a long embrace, feeling that atlast she had some one in the world who was her very own. 

While Madge, her father, and Captain Jules were trying to see how theycould bear the miracle and shock of their great happiness, a small, darkobject darted into the room and planted its claws in Madge's hair. Itpulled and chattered with all its might. 

[Illustration: "I am Going to Keep House for You at 'The Anchorage. '"]

The little captain laughed with the tears in her eyes. "It's thatgood-for-nothing monkey!" she exclaimed as she disentangled thecreature's tiny hands. Then she kissed her father and afterwards CaptainJules. "Now I know why this monkey is called Madge, and I am sorry tohave such a jealous, bad-tempered namesake. "

The captain scolded the monkey gently. "Don't you fret about thisparticular namesake. If you only knew all the others you have had! Everysingle pet that two lonely old men could get to stay around the housewith them we have named for you. "

Captain Morton did not go back to the houseboat with his daughter. Madgethought she would rather tell her friends of her great happiness alone. She wouldn't even let Captain Jules escort her. "You'll both have plentyof my society after a while, " she argued, "for I am going to come to keephouse for you at 'The Anchorage' some day. "

Madge rowed slowly back to the "Merry Maid. " She was thinking over whatshe would say to Miss Jennie Ann and the girls. How should she announceto them that her quest was ended, her victory over Fate won?

As she neared the houseboat she saw that her companions were gathered ondeck, evidently watching for her. Madge rested on her oars and waved onehand to them. Four hands waved promptly back to her. A moment more andshe had come alongside the "Merry Maid. " As she clambered on deck shecast a swift upward glance at her friends, who, with one accord, werelooking down on her, their faces full of loving concern. 

With a little cry of rapture Madge threw herself into Miss Jenny Ann'sarms. "O, my dear!" she cried, "I've found him! I've found my father!"

And it was with her faithful mates' arms around her that Madge told thestrange story of how her quest had ended in the little sitting room of"The Anchorage. "

CHAPTER XXIV

THE LITTLE CAPTAIN STARTS ON A JOURNEY

Six weeks had passed since Madge Morton's discovery of her father, andmany things had happened since then. It was now toward the latter part ofSeptember, and on a beautiful fall morning one of the busy steamshipdocks in the lower end of New York City was crowded with a gay company ofpeople. There were four young girls and three young men, a beautifulolder woman, with soft, white hair and a look of wonderful distinction; awoman of about twenty-six or seven, with a man by her side, who in someway suggested the calling of the artist; a white-haired old man and anelderly lady, who, in spite of the fact that she answered to the name ofMrs. John Randolph, would have been mistaken anywhere for a New Englandspinster. Two men were the only other important members of the group. Oneof them was a distinguished-looking man of about fifty-three with arather sad expression, and the last a bluff old sea captain, whose laughrang out clear and hearty above the sound of the many voices. 

In front of the wharf lay a beautiful steam yacht, painted pure white andflying a United States flag. The boat was of good size and capable ofmaking many knots an hour, but she looked like a little toy shipalongside the immense ocean-going steamers that were entering and leavingthe New York harbor, or waiting their sailing day at their docks. 

One of the girls, dressed in a white serge frock and wearing a white felthat, was walking up and down at the back of the crowd, talking to a youngman. 

"David, more than almost anything, I believe I appreciate your coming toNew York to see me off. It would have been dreadful to go away for awhole year, or maybe longer, without having had a glimpse of you. Whoknows what may happen before I am back again?" The girl's eyes lookedwistfully about among her friends, although her lips smiled happily. 

For a few seconds the young man made no answer. He had never been able totalk very readily, now he seemed to wish to think before he spoke. 

"I shall be a man, Madge, before you are back again, " he replied slowly. "I am twenty now, so I shall be ready to vote. But, best of all, I shallbe through college and ready to go to work. " The young man threw back hissquare shoulders. His black eyes looked serious and steadfast. "I amgoing to make you proud of me, Madge. You remember I told you so, thatday in the Virginia field, when you helped me out of a scrape and startedme on the right road. "

The little captain nodded emphatically. "I am proud of you already, David, " she declared warmly. "I think it is perfectly wonderful that youhave been able to take two years' work in college instead of one, besidehelping Mr. Preston on the farm. You are going to make me dreadfullyashamed when I come back, by knowing so much more than I. Phil entersVassar this fall and Tom will graduate at Columbia in another year. I amgoing to try to study on the yacht, but I shall be so busy seeing thingsthat I know I won't accomplish very much. Just think, David, I am goingaround the world in our own boat with my father and Captain Jules! Isn'tit wonderful how one's dreams come true and things turn out even betterthan you expect them to? I believe, if it weren't for leaving my belovedhouseboat chums and Mrs. Curtis and Tom, and Miss Jenny Ann and you, Ishould be the happiest girl in the world. "

"I don't suppose I count for much, Madge, " answered David honestly, "butI am more grateful to you than you can know for putting me on that list. Some day----" The young man hesitated, then his sober face relaxed and abrilliant smile lighted it. "It's pretty early for a fellow like me to betalking about some day, isn't it, Madge?"

Madge laughed, though she blushed a little and answered nothing. 

Just then Phyllis Alden and a young man in a lieutenant's uniform joinedMadge and David Brewster. 

"Lieutenant Jimmy is saying dreadful things, Madge, " announced Philmournfully. "He says he is sure you won't come back home in a year. You'll stay over in Europe until you are grown up or married, orsomething else, and you'll never be a houseboat girl again!" Phil's voicebroke. 

Lieutenant Jimmy looked uncomfortable. "See here, Miss Alden, " heprotested, "I never said anything as bad as all that. I only said thatperhaps Captain Morton and Captain Jules would stay longer than a year. Almost any one would, if they owned that jolly little yacht. "

"I'll wager you, Lieutenant Jimmy, a torpedo boat full of the same kindof candy that you sent us at the end of our second houseboat holiday, that if you come down to this dock one year from to-day you will see ouryacht, which Captain Jules has named 'The Little Captain, ' paying herrespects to the Statue of Liberty. Come, let's go and make Father andCaptain Jules convince him, Phil, " proposed Madge, hugging Phyllis closeto her, as if the thought of being parted from her for so long as oneyear was not to be borne. 

"I'll take that wager, Miss Morton, " replied Lieutenant Jimmy jokingly, "because I would be so awfully glad to have to pay it. "

"Madge simply must come back on time, Lieutenant Jimmy, " whispered Phil, nodding her head mysteriously toward a young woman and a man. "It's astate secret, and I ought not to tell you, but Miss Jenny Ann and Mr. Theodore Brown, the artist, are to be married a year from this fall. Wemust all be at the wedding. Miss Jenny Ann couldn't possibly be marriedunless every one of the 'Mates of the Merry Maid' were there. If we canarrange it, Miss Jenny Ann is going to be married on the houseboat. Won'tit be the greatest fun?"

For the moment Phil was so cheered at the thought of another houseboatreunion, though a whole twelve months off, that she forgot that her bestbeloved Madge was to leave in another half-hour for her trip around theworld. 

Phyllis and Lieutenant Jimmy were standing a little behind Madge. DavidBrewster stopped to talk to Mrs. Curtis and Tom. 

At the far end of the dock Captain Jules Fontaine was giving some ordersto four sailors who formed the entire crew of his new yacht, for the oldpearl diver was to pilot his own boat, which was to sail under CaptainMorton's orders. The beautiful little yacht was Captain Jules's ownproperty. The old man had made a comfortable fortune in his life in thetropics, but he had little use for it, and no desire, except to makeMadge and her father happy. The little captain's love for the water waswhat endeared her most to the old sailor. He could not be happy away fromthe sea and he couldn't be happy away from Madge and Captain Morton. Thefortunate girl's two fathers had discussed very seriously Madge's ownproposal to come to keep house for them at "The Anchorage. " Both men knewthat she could not settle down at their lonely little house far up thebay and several miles from the nearest town, which was Cape May. Wonderful as the fathers thought Madge, they realized that she was veryyoung and must go on with her education. They could not bear to send heraway to college after all the long years of separation. Captain Julesconceived the brilliant idea of educating her by taking her on a triparound the world. The old sailor couldn't have borne being cooped up inliners and on trains with other people to run them. So Madge's dream of aship all her own, which was to sail "strange countries for to see, " hadcome true with her other good fortune. 

Leaving her friends for a moment, Madge made her way toward the end ofthe dock to beg Captain Jules to reassure her friends of their return atthe end of a year. The captain did not notice her approach. Apparently noone was looking at her. 

On the end of the wharf were gathered three or four small street arabs. They had no business on the wharf, which was precisely their reason forbeing there. They were playing behind a number of large boxes and someother luggage, and, until Madge approached, no one had observed them. They were having a tug-of-war and it was hardly a fair battle. Twogood-sized urchins were pulling against one other strong fellow andanother small boy, so thin and pale, with such dark hair and big, blackeyes that, for the moment, he made Madge think of Tania, who was almostwell enough to leave the sanatorium and had sent her Fairy Godmother manyloving messages by Mrs. Curtis. Madge stopped for half a minute to watchthe boys. In her stateroom were so many boxes of candy she would never beable to eat it all in her trip around the world. If she only had some ofthem to give this lively little group of youngsters!

Captain Jules was at one side of the wide wharf with his back toward herand the group of boys. His yacht was occupying his entire attention. Thestreet urchins did not realize how near they were to the edge of the dockbecause of the pile of luggage that surrounded them. 

The tug-of-war grew exciting. Madge clapped her hands softly. She had notbelieved the smallest rascal had so much strength. Suddenly the olderlad's grip broke. The boys fell back against a pile of trunks that wereset uneasily one above the other. One of the trunks slid into the waterand the smallest lad slipped backward after it with an almost noiselesssplash. His boy companions stared helplessly after him, too frightened tomake a sound. 

Of course, Madge might soon have summoned help. She did think of it for abrief instant, for she realized perfectly that her white serge suit wouldlook anything but smart if she plunged into the river in it. Then, too, her friends, Captain Jules, and her father might be displeased with her. But the little lad had given her such an agonized, helpless look ofappeal as he struck the water! And his eyes were so like Tania's!

Captain Jules turned around at the sound of feet running down the dock. David Brewster and Tom Curtis were side by side. But they both lookedmore surprised than frightened. In the water, a few feet from the dock, Captain Jules espied Madge Morton, her white hat floating off the back ofher head, her face and hair dripping with water. She was smiling in ahalf-apologetic and half-nervous way. In one hand she held a small boyfirmly by the collar. "Fish us out, somebody?" she begged. "I amdreadfully sorry to spoil my clothes, but this little wretch would go andfall into the water at the very last moment. "

Captain Jules and one of his sailors pulled Madge and the small boysafely onto the wharf again. The captain frowned at her solemnly, whileDavid and Tom laughed. 

"How am I ever going to keep her out of the bottom of the sea?" thecaptain inquired sternly. "I don't know that I care for the rôle ofplaying guardian to a mermaid. "

Madge could see Mrs. Curtis, Miss Jenny Ann, her chums and her father, aswell as their other friends, hurrying down toward the end of the dock. She gave one swift glance at them, then she looked ruefully at her owndripping garments. Tom and David long remembered her as they saw her atthat moment. Her white dress clung to her slender form; the water wasdripping from her clothing, her cheeks were a brilliant crimson fromembarrassment at her plight; her red-brown hair glinted in the brightsunlight, and her blue eyes sparkled with mischief and dismay. Before anyone had a chance to scold or to reproach her, she had dashed across thewharf, run aboard the yacht and had shut herself up in her stateroom. 

A few minutes later, dressed in a fresh white serge frock, she emerged tosay good-bye. The houseboat girls had made up their minds that not onetear would any one of them shed when the moment of parting came. Lillianand Phil stood on either side of Eleanor, for neither of them had muchfaith that Nellie could keep her word when it came to the test. 

Madge went first to Mr. And Mrs. John Randolph. "Miss Betsey" took bothher hands and held them gravely. "Madge, dear, remember I have alwaystold you that wherever you were exciting things were sure to happen. Youhave convinced me of it again to-day. Now, you are going around the worldand I hope you will see and know only the best there is in it. Good-bye. "Miss Betsey leaned on her distinguished old husband's arm for support andsurreptitiously wiped her eyes. 

"Jenny Ann Jones, you promised I wouldn't have to say good-bye to you, "protested Madge chokingly. Miss Jenny Ann nodded, while Mr. TheodoreBrown gazed at her comfortingly. Madge rallied her courage and smiled atboth of them. "Do you remember, Jenny Ann, " she questioned, "how on thevery first of our houseboat trips you said that you would marry some day, just to be able to get rid of the name of 'Jones'? I am sure you willlike 'Brown' a whole lot better. " Madge turned saucily away to hide thetrembling of her lips. 

Mrs. Curtis said nothing. She just kissed Madge's forehead, both rosycheeks and once on her red lips. But when the little captain left her, and Mrs. Curtis turned to find her son standing near her, his face whiteand his lips set, his mother faltered brokenly: "I am trying hard not tobe selfish, Tom, and I am glad, with all my heart, that Madge found herfather, but no one will ever know how sorry I am not to have her for mydaughter. "

"Maybe you will some day, after all, Mother, " returned Tom steadily. "Weare young, I know, and neither of us has seen much of the world. Still, Iam fairly sure I know my own mind. Perhaps Madge will care as much as Ido now when the right time comes. "

At the last, Madge could not say farewell to her three chums. Her eyeswere so full of tears that Captain Jules had to lead her aboard theyacht. She stood on the deck, kissing both hands to them as long as shecould see them, until their little boat had been towed far out into thegreat New York harbor. 

Madge's father stood by her, watching the sunlight dance upon the water. 

"My little girl, " Captain Morton began, with a view of distracting herattention from the sorrow of parting, "I have always forgotten to tellyou that I saw you graduate at Miss Tolliver's. Jules was not with methat day. He knew of you but never saw you until you went to Cape May. Iwonder I didn't betray myself to you then, dear. It was I who firstcalled out to you when I saw that arch tottering over your head. "

Madge nodded. "I know it now, " she replied. "I must have caught a briefglimpse of your face. You and Captain Jules sent me the wonderful pearl. We never could guess from whom it had come. "

"Yes, " answered Captain Morton, "Jules and I had kept it for you for manyyears. We determined that sooner or later you should have it. I shallnever forget the day when Jules came hurrying into 'The Anchorage' withthe news that he had seen you and talked with you about me. He was surethat you were our Madge even before he knew your name to be Morton. Itwas wonderful to hear that your dearest wish was to find me. "

Madge slipped her arm into that of her father and laid her curly headagainst his shoulder. "If it was Fate that separated us, then I shallnever be dismayed by it again, for love and determination are far greaterand through them I found you, " she declared softly. 

"I am afraid I am very selfish to take you away for a whole year fromMrs. Curtis and Tom and the houseboat girls, " said her father, almostwistfully. "You are not sorry you are going to spend the next few monthswith no one but two old men for company?"

"But I spent eighteen years without you, " reminded Madge. "Don't youbelieve I ought to begin to make up for lost time? Just think, "--her eyesgrew tender with the pride of possession--"I have what I've longed formore than anything else in the world, my father's love. Perhaps when wecome back next year we can anchor the 'Little Captain' in Pleasure Bayand invite the 'Merry Maid' and her crew to visit us. Then Miss Jenny Anncould be married on the houseboat. We must be very sure to come home ontime if we carry out that plan. "

"Aye, aye, Captain Madge, " smiled her father, "unless our good ship failsus we'll anchor next September in Pleasure Bay and send a specialinvitation to the crew of the 'Merry Maid' to meet us there. "

The End