TIME flew as the girls scampered over rocks, slid down sandy slopes, and otherwise "explored" the picturesque retreat.
No accident marred the afternoon, beyond the unexpected slide of Cleo, who, venturing too near the edge, came down to the water's brink by way of a sliding, sandy trail.
Everybody had been in wading, choosing a shallow pool that trickled in from the bay and hid behind a wall of sand, now plainly marked, as the tide was receding.
"Come, girls, we must be moving," warned Mae, "a sail boat depends on wind and tide for safe navigation."
Reluctantly they left the sand, for this strip of rocky woods was attractive to the point of positive fascination.
With a friendly breeze they were soon under full sail again, and the voyage home promised too prompt an ending to their day's sport. They would have prolonged it.
"Couldn't we sail in and out that group of islands?" asked Grace, reluctant to reach port too early.
"We might," agreed Mae, "if we were sure to be safe from sand bars."
"Water's splendidly deep," her sister at the tiller assured her. "We may as well let the girls see all the sights."
Accordingly, the Blowell was directed toward the islands, that seemed like mere splashes of green, spilled on the blue water.
In and out they went in apparent safety, every one enjoying the close land sailing, and the glimpses of varied woodlands these little islands exhibited.
"Tide's going out fast," called Mae, as the sail swung north.
Eugenia did not reply. She thought she felt something scrape.
A grinding sound assured her, she _had_ heard scraping--and she knew the feel of sand.
They stopped like a canoe running out of the waves!
"Sand bar!" shouted Mae, but none of the girls knew just what that meant.
Opening the sail, clear of every reef, Mae tried to get off the bar, and Eugenia urged the tiller to try one spot, then another; but the Blowell stood still, and defied the breeze or water to move her.
"Can't we go?" asked Cleo, just beginning to realize their predicament.
"Not unless we are lifted," replied Mae gloomily.
"Do you mean to tell us we are stuck?" asked Louise.
"That's the simplest way of putting it," replied Eugenia.
"Then," said Grace, still imbued with the spirit of fun. "Where do we go from here?"