"You must," said Maud, taking her other arm; "that is, if you don't want to be drowned."
"Don't pull me, Maud," cried Muriel, "you're hurting me. Oh, I can't go any faster! My foot will give way underneath me."
"What are we to do?" said Kitty blankly. "The water's rushing round on both sides of us! If we don't get across that piece of sand in front directly, we shall be on an island."
"Let us make a chair of our hands," suggested Patty, "and try to carry Muriel. See, Maud! Clasp my wrists like this, and I'll clasp yours. Muriel, sit down! Now, then; one, two, let's step together."
"She's too heavy; I can't manage it!" exclaimed Maud, dropping her burden on to the sands.
"Then you try, Kitty."
"No, no! I'm not so strong as Maud. Oh, look at the water!"
"Come along, girls," shouted Vera, "we must run for our lives! It's no use our all being drowned."
"Maud! Kitty! Vera! You don't mean to leave me?" shrieked Muriel.
"Quick! Quick!" was the sole reply she received, as her three friends took to their heels, and, without even turning to look at her, dashed across the narrow belt of dry land which led between two channels to the safer bank of shingle beyond.