"There's the hotel!" this from Margy.
"Don't go to the wharf, Larry," Ella begged. "I'm a sight. I'd hate to have people see me looking like this."
"Can't get through the surf, anyway," said Larry. "That wind yesterday kicked up a heavy sea. I'll have to run for the inlet."
That he would do so, must have been surmised by the little group of people standing on the right-hand bank as the Clara shot into the inlet waters and stopped at the floating wharf.
"Daddy!" cried Ella, almost leaping into the water as she tried to spring from the boat. "Oh, Daddy! Daddy! Did you worry about me?"
She was in her father's arms before she could finish her sentence. And tumbling from the boat with all her eagerness, the Riddle Club members found themselves held tightly in a circle of weeping mothers and of fathers who laughed as the safest way to keep from crying.
"Thought you'd play Robinson Crusoe, did you?" said Mr. Marley, lifting Artie to his shoulder. "Well, Larry, I'm afraid you've had more than you bargained for."
"How did you know we were on an island, Daddy?" asked Polly curiously.
"Didn't. Just made a guess at the Robinson Crusoe part," he answered her. "But we can't stand here—the whole town will be upon us. Come, Captain, we'll go up to the cottage and listen to the whole story. The children look as though they needed something hot to eat and then a good nap."
Captain Mooney was persuaded not to drive Ella home until she had had a good hot lunch, and Larry, too, was persuaded to go to the cottage. Every one talked very fast for an hour, for the fathers and mothers were anxious to hear everything that had happened.