Shortly after the automobiles left, Elizabeth spied a fleck of white out on the water, and with her experienced eye saw it bob up and down.
“Zan, bring the glasses! I’m sure I see the white launch,” cried she, keeping her eye on the distant spot.
“Where? I can’t see a thing but some white-caps,” said Zan, handing the glasses to Elizabeth.
“That’s because you never spent your Summers on an Island off the Maine coast like I have,” laughed the girl, focussing the glasses.
“It’s Fred and his crew, all right!” cried Elizabeth, passing the glasses to Zan.
“Oh yes, I can see them now, but aren’t they going very slow for a motor launch?” called Zan.
“Maybe something broke down and they can’t get in,” said Eleanor Wilbur, who had been more than pleasant and obliging all that week.
“No, they are labouring against wind and tides, I guess,” remarked Elizabeth, who was busy with a long strip of linen which happened to be packed with the stores when Mrs. Remington made up the hamper.
“What are you doing?” asked one of the girls.
“I’m using this linen Mother sent for bandages if we had to use them, for a signal flag. I’ll stick it out on that dead pine tree on the cliff and Fred will surely see it.”