"So do I."
There was a hasty consultation, and three parties were made up. Percy offered the use of his car, and Allen elected to go in it with Mrs. Nelson, to town. The others would go to the fisherman's shack and to the life saving station, though at this time of year there was only one man on duty. But he would know how to organize a corps of fishermen and clammers to make a search, if needed.
Mrs. Nelson returned from the village, after sending a telegraph message. She was unable to communicate with her husband by telephone.
"We had best follow them to the fisherman's cabin," said Allen. "That will be a sort of rallying point."
There they found all the young folks gathered, those who had been assigned the task of going to the life saving station having accomplished their errand, bringing back the message that soon a body of hardy men would be patrolling both beaches.
But it was Tin-Back who gave the real clue. He came up as they were making a second examination of the cabin, to discover some other evidence of the former presence of Betty and Amy there.
"The girls missin'!" exclaimed the old crabber. "Wa'al, there's only one place t' look fer 'em!"
"Where's that?" asked Mrs. Nelson. "Not—not——"
"No'm, they're not drowned, don't fear that, mum," said Tin-Back, with ready perception. "Nothin' like that could happen. They're off—there!"
He waved his hand toward where the mysterious schooner had been anchored.