"They don't seem to be coming after us," remarked Mollie looking about for some stones, or anything else, to use as a weapon of offense.
"No, they're just waiting their time," said Amy, who was still clinging to Grace. "When they get ready they'll crawl out here and—and—what is it alligators do to you, anyhow—charm you?"
"You're thinking of snakes," said Betty, narrowly watching the saurians. "Alligators knock you down with their tails, I understand, sort of stun you, and——"
"Spare us the horrible details," interrupted Mollie, and she drawled it out in such a funny way that the others laughed.
The alligators evinced no intention of coming forward. They were moving about, seeming to scoop out resting places in the hot sand, on which the sun poured fierce rays. Then, having made themselves comfortable, stretched out at full length, the creatures sunned themselves.
The girls were getting uncomfortable now, for they were in an exposed position, and the day was warm. There was very little shade on that small peninsula.
"We've got to get help!" decided Mollie at length. "For some reason our escort has deserted us, and——"
"Oh, don't say that!" cried Betty. "I'm sure he can't have done that."
"Well, he isn't there; is he?" demanded Mollie, waving her hand toward the distant spread on the grass. "And I'd like to know where he is!"
"Maybe some of those men who were hanging about the orange grove, or who were after that poor, ragged young man, have taken Tom away," suggested Amy.