"That is wisdom," remarked Burd Alling, dryly. "She hasn't flown away, that's sure."
The two mothers were on the afterdeck in comfortable chairs; Jessie hated to disturb them, for Mrs. Norwood and Mrs. Drew had not heard the first outcry regarding Henrietta. Mr. Norwood and Mr. Drew were busy with their fishing-lines. Neither of the four adult passengers had seen the child.
"I'll be hanged, but that is the greatest kid I ever saw!" exclaimed Darry Drew with vigor. "She's always in some mischief or other."
"I am so afraid she is in trouble," confessed Jessie. "You know, we are responsible to her cousin Bertha Blair for her safety."
"If the kid wants to dive overboard, are we to be held responsible?" demanded Burd, somewhat crossly.
"You hard-hearted boy!" exclaimed Amy. "Of course it is your fault if anything happens to Hennie."
"I told you, Drew, that you were making a big mistake to let this crowd of girls aboard the Marigold," complained the stocky youth, sighing deeply. "While this was strictly a bachelor barque we were all right."
Jessie, however, was really too much worried to enter into any repartee of this character. She ran off again to the cabin to have a second look for Henrietta. She found no trace of her except the doll she had brought aboard and the green parasol.
She went back on deck. The fishermen were beginning to haul in weakfish and an occasional tautog, or blackfish. Amy, with a shout, hauled in Henrietta's line and got inboard a fine flounder.
"Anyway, we'll have a big fish-fry for supper. The men will clean the fish and Darry and Burd will fry them. Your mother and mine, Jess, say that they have got through with the galley for the day."