Frantic looks and powerful concentration seemed to do the trick, for Arden fell in with Terry’s plan.
“That’s fine, Melissa,” Arden complimented her. “Let’s start at once, before it gets too dark. Terry, you and Melissa go together, and the rest of us will follow in our boat.”
“Give her back the pin, at least for a time,” suggested Arden. “It will make her trust us more.”
“Not a bad idea,” agreed Terry. “I will.”
“Yes, do,” said Serge in a low voice.
Terry slipped the pin back to Melissa, and she and the girl started for the boats.
“All right, Mother?” Terry asked. “Do you want to come too?”
“No,” replied Mrs. Landry. “I might be of some use here. Come back as quickly as you can, and good luck to you.”
They needed no urging, and with Melissa leading and the others following, they crossed the peaceful bay and landed close to the pitiful shack that Melissa called “home.”
“It’s in my room,” the girl told them, proud in her simple way to be the center of so much excitement.