Ella Mooney did not go home that night, for the little girl fell asleep in the midst of the story Larry told and Mrs. Marley put her to bed herself.
"While I never want to go through it again," concluded Larry, "I want to say this: I never saw a braver bunch of kids, or a bunch of better sports. They didn't one of 'em grunt or complain, and if they were afraid, they kept it pretty well to themselves. I'm proud to have had the Riddle Club on board the Clara and I hope to take 'em sailing many a day to come."
The telephone bell in the house next door began to ring that afternoon, and it rang till nearly midnight. All Sunrise Beach was asking for news—had the missing children really come home safe? Those who did not telephone came to see for themselves, and Carrie Pepper, Mattie Helms, Joe Anderson and Albert Holmes were among these.
"How funny you look!" said Carrie to Polly. "As if you were sleepy. But I'm awfully glad you weren't drowned," she added, and kissed her.
"I'm going to bed in a minute—we couldn't sleep much last night," Polly explained. "Ella is already asleep and so is Margy."
"Where did you find Ella?" asked Carrie, and nothing would do but she must have all the details.
"H'm—she ought not to be going around in boats by herself," Carrie commented at the end. "Say, you must have left awfully early yesterday. Mattie and I came down to see you off and you'd already gone."
Polly looked everywhere but at Fred, and was saved an answer by Mrs. Marley, who came in to insist that Polly must go to bed and rest.
In the morning—the Riddle Club members and Ella slept seventeen long blissful hours without waking—Captain Mooney drove up in his big car with an outfit of clothes for Ella. Fred was already dressed and down, and the Captain suggested that while he waited for his daughter he and Fred "take a turn on the beach."
"How queer Fred acts," said Polly to Jess, watching the two coming up the walk half an hour later.