“No use crying about it,” said the oldest Corner House girl, with decision. “That won’t help.”
“But—but it’s gone out to sea.”
“Nonsense! The tide has taken it up the river. It’s gone round the bend. I hope it won’t be smashed on the rocks, that’s all. We must go after it.”
“How?” asked the tearful Agnes.
“Get another boat, of course. But let’s eat. The children will be hungry, and—— My goodness! the crabs are burning up!” and she ran back into the tent. “Get Tess and Dot, and tell them to hurry!” she called from inside.
But Tess and Dot were not to be found. The beach just then was practically deserted. It was the dinner hour and the various campers all had the sort of appetites that demands meals served promptly on time.
Agnes ran to the other tents in Camp Willowbend; but her small sisters were not with any of the neighbors. It was strange. They had been forbidden to go out of sight of their own tent when neither Ruth nor Agnes was with them; and Tess and Dot were remarkably obedient children.
“I certainly do not understand it,” Ruth said, when Agnes brought back the news.
At that moment a shuffling step sounded outside the tent and a husky voice demanded:
“Any clams terday, lady? Fresh clams—jest dug. Ten cents a dozen; two-bits for fifty; half a dollar a hundred. Fresh clams!”