said a bright blue sign stuck in the sand here and there.

The Brownies read this aloud and tears came into gentle Kindheart’s eyes.

‘I never saw a better beach for paddling,’ said he, wiping away his tears with the back of his hand.

‘Listen to this!’ cried Silvertongue, standing before a scarlet sign that was repeated all along the shore.

NO SAND BUILDING ALLOWED

read the scarlet sign in great black letters that all could see.

‘What about this?’ called Sweet-Tooth, capering before a green sign over which he had just stubbed his toe.

NO DIGGING ON THIS BEACH

‘That is what the sign says. But I can’t believe it. I am going straight through this Town until I see what they have done with the children here.’

The Brownies did not have far to go to find the children. A stone’s throw from the beach stood the school-house, a dingy red brick building with a tall iron fence all roundabout.