Another swing around the tail of the point, and Luna Land lay before them. All eyes were strained toward the rocky summit over the arch.
"I see her!" shouted Julia. "Remember I saw her first," and she stood to wave her camp hat in one hand and a handkerchief in the other.
"Yes," added Grace, throwing the blue cheesecloth to the breeze, "there they are!" Kitty was waving her white flag against the green foliage background. "Oh, Neal go in quickly. Some one may catch them before we can reach them."
Not another word was spoken until the launch scraped the rocks.
"Stay where you are!" called Kitty. "We have to jump."
"Why? They may be hurt," protested Elizabeth. But her companions had realized the situation. Kitty wanted to reach the launch from the secluded corner of the rock, and would not risk embarking from the natural landing, with its view all open.
"Can we take the canvas?" Isabel asked Neal. A nod of his head gave permission, and before he seemed to know just what they were going to do, four of the girls had leapt to land. Cleo and Helen then tossed the bundled piece of awning over the side of the Treddie, and safely ashore, then climbed out themselves, and, like the firemen under burning buildings, stood the True Treds, with that big piece of canvas stretched under the leafy peak of the rocky archway.
"Ready!" called out Kitty.
A firmer grasp was made at every holding point, and then—a gentle thud.
Little Royal bounced like a circus baby in the life net.