It was too late, however, for her to reform. The mother had decided on her fate, and she was doomed.
"I shall see the next time that it is a sure thing," their mother said; "as to her return, we must investigate that matter."
Later on, the boys came in. They were not told of Sim's return. They were not exactly untruthful about it, but evaded the true story. They said, when asked how far out they had taken her, that they could not get a boat, and had got rid of her on the rocks.
"Are you sure she is dead?" asked the girls.
"Dead? I guess so! Dead enough!" they both answered.
"Then here is an instance of one returned from the dead," said Miss Eleanor, bringing in Sim, who yelled and scratched as soon as she saw her would-be executioners.
Their faces were a study. "Is it Sim?" they asked in such real astonishment that no one could doubt them.
"Now, boys," the mother said, "you have deceived us; but we will listen to your story if you will tell the truth."
With shamefacedness they said they did not mean to be deceitful; they really believed she was dead. They took her down to Juniper, and while they were trying to find a boat she had burst open the bag and run off over the rocks. They followed her, and she disappeared under a rock into the water. They heard a splash, and waited some time to make sure that she was gone. It must have been a stone that fell in, while Sim escaped. They were very honest in telling their story, and they were forgiven and received their money, though the mother decided to attend to the business in her own way.
When, some days after, Sim was missing, no one asked any questions, believing that everything had been done for the best.