“That’s the milk-and-farm boy,” said Alice in a low voice.
“Oh, yes.”
“Hurry, Natalie!” called Mrs. Bonnell. “What happened to you? What kept you? Where were you? We were just going in search of you.”
“I’m all right,” answered the voice from out in the darkness, and then the rescuers could see a faint glimmer of light in a moving boat. “I sprained my ankle, and I couldn’t walk. Reuben came along and found me, and brought me home in his boat. We’ll be there in a minute.”
“Busted part of the blade off one of my oars,” explained the country lad. “That’s why it took us so long. The boat wouldn’t go straight.”
The boys and girls crowded down to the edge of the water and waited anxiously. Now they could discern the approaching boat more clearly. In a little while it grated on the pebbles of the beach, and by the light of the lanterns with which the second searching party had been about to start out, they could see the missing girl resting on some blankets in the bottom of the craft.
“Oh, Natalie!” cried Mrs. Bonnell. “We’ve been so worried about you!”
“I know it, dear Guardie, but I couldn’t help it. I fell and sprained my ankle.”
“Where?”
“In the haunted mill.”