Bee was now on the verge of tears.
“So am I,” was the grim concurrence. “At all events, Patsy must be found and immediately. I shall not wait for you girls to change your bathing suits. I shall walk back to the house at once. You are to go into the bath house and stay there until my brother comes for you. He will bring men with him who will search the woods behind the beach.”
“Won’t you let me try again along the edge of jungle, Miss Martha,” pleaded Bee. “I won’t go far into it. I’ll just skirt it and keep calling out——”
“Who-oo!” suddenly supplemented a clear, high voice.
It had an electrical effect upon the dismayed group. Out from the jungle and onto the beach darted a small, bare-footed, white-clad figure and straight into the midst of a most relieved company.
“Patricia Carroll, where have you been?” demanded Miss Martha sternly. “No; don’t try to smooth things over by hugging me. I am very angry with you for disobeying me.”
Nevertheless, Miss Martha made only a feeble attempt to disengage herself from Patsy’s coaxing arms.
“Now, Auntie, don’t be cross. A Patsy in hand is worth two in the jungle,” saucily paraphrased the unabashed culprit. “I’ve been as safe as safe could be. I’ve really had a wonderful time. I was so interested I forgot that very likely you might miss me and be a little worried.”
“A little worried!”