"It's a mermaid, sure," declared Jack. "I heard her giggle!" and he grabbed out Cora's side comb to arrange his own hair.
"Oh, it is—a girl," whispered Bess to Cora. "I heard her voice."
"I hope she's nice," answered Cora, "but as long as we get some one to pull us off we have no occasion to be particular."
By this time the rowboat was almost alongside.
"Hurrah!" shouted Jack.
"Also hurray!" added Ed.
"Walter, you're a brick!" exclaimed Cora fervently.
The light of the lantern now fell upon the face of the stranger.
The stranded ones looked upon the countenance of a girl, not perhaps a very young girl, nor a very pretty girl, but her face was pleasant, and she pulled a stroke as steady as did Walter.
Walter stood up. He was enveloped in a bath robe!