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while her eyes tried to see some sign of hope among the steep
cliffs that rose up on the left。 No one was there； though usually at
this hour they were full of visitors； and it was time for the walkers
to have arrived。
〃I wonder if Gerty and Mamie will be sorry if I'm drowned；〃
thought Jill； remembering the poor girl who had been lost in the
Chasm not long ago。 Her lively fancy pictured the grief of her
friends at her loss； but that did not help or comfort her now； and as
her anxious gaze wandered along the shore； she said aloud； in a
pensive tone；
〃Perhaps I shall be wrecked on Norman's Woe； and somebody will
make poetry about me。 It would be pretty to read； but I don't want
to die that way。 Oh； why did I come！ Why didn't I stay safe and
comfortable in my own boat？〃
At the thought a sob rose； and poor Jill laid her head down on her
lap to cry with all her heart； feeling very helpless； small； and
forsaken alone there on the great sea。 In the midst of her tears
came the thought； 〃When people are in danger； they ask God to
save them〃； and； slipping down upon her knees； she said her prayer
as she had never said it before； for when human help seems gone
we turn to Him as naturally as lost children cry to their father； and
feel sure that he will hear and answer them。
After that she felt better； and wiped away the drops that blinded
her； to look out again like a shipwrecked mariner watching for a
sail。 And there it was！ Close by； coming swiftly on with a man
behind it； a sturdy brown fisher； busy with his lobster…pots； and
quite unconscious how like an angel he looked to the helpless little
girl in the rudderless boat。
〃Hi！ hi！ Oh； please do stop and get me！ I'm lost； no oars； nobody to
fix the sail！ Oh； oh！ please come！〃 screamed Jill； waving her hat
frantically as the other boat skimmed by and the man stared at her
as if she really was a mermaid with a fishy tail。
〃Keep still！ I'll come about and fetch you！〃 he called out； and Jill
obeyed； sitting like a little image of faith； till with a good deal of
shifting and flapping of the sail； the other boat came alongside and
took her in tow；
A few words told the story； and in five minutes she was sitting
snugly tucked up watching art unpleasant mass of lobsters flap
about dangerously near her toes； while the boat bounded over the
waves with a delightful motion； and every instant brought her
nearer borne。 She did not say much； but felt a good deal； and when
they met two boats coming to meet her； manned by very anxious
crews of men and boys； she was so pale and quiet that Jack was
quite bowed down with remorse； and Frank nearly pitched the
bicycle boy overboard because he gayly asked Jill how she left her
friends in England。 There was great rejoicing over her； for the
people on the rocks had heard of her loss； and ran about like ants
when their hill is disturbed。 Of course half a dozen amiable souls
posted off to the Willows to tell the family that the little girl was
drowned； so that when the rescuers appeared quite a crowd was
assembled on the beach to welcome her。 But Jill felt so used up
with her own share of the excitement that she was glad to be
carried to the house by Frank and Jack； and laid upon her bed；
where Mrs。 Hammond soon restored her with sugar…coated pills；
and words even sweeter and more soothing。
Other people； busied with their own pleasures； forgot all about it
by the next day； but Jill remembered that hour long afterward； both
awake and asleep； for her dreams were troubled； and she often
started up imploring someone to save her。 Then she would recall
the moment when； feeling most helpless； she had asked for help；
and it had come as quickly as if that tearful little cry had been
heard and answered； though her voice had been drowned by the
dash of the waves that seemed ready to devour her。 This made
a deep impression on her； and a sense of childlike faith in the
Father of all began to grow up within her； for in that lonely
voyage； short as it was； she had found a very precious treasure to
keep for ever； to lean on； and to love during the longer voyage
which all must take before we reach our home。
Chapter 22 A Happy Day
〃Oh dear！ Only a week more； and then we must go back。 Don't you
hate the thoughts of it？〃 said Jack； as he was giving Jill her early
walk on the beach one August morning。
〃Yes； it will be dreadful to leave Gerty and Mamie and all the nice
people。 But I'm so much better I won't have to be shut up again；
even if I don't go to school。 How I long to see Merry and Molly。
Dear things； if it wasn't for them I should hate going home more
than you do；〃 answered Jill； stepping along quite briskly； and
finding it very hard to resist breaking into a skip or a run； she felt
so well and gay。
〃Wish they could be here to…day to see the fun；〃 said Jack； for it
was the anniversary of the founding of the place； and the people
celebrated it by all sorts of festivity。
〃I'd id want to ask Molly； but your mother is so good to me I
couldn't find courage to do it。 Mammy told me not to ask for a
thing； and I'm sure I don't get a chance。 I feel just as if I was your
truly born sister； Jack。〃
〃That's all right； I'm glad you do；〃 answered Jack； comfortably；
though his mind seemed a little absent and his eyes twinkled when
she spoke of Molly。 〃Now； you sit in the cubby…house； and keep
quiet till the boat comes in。 Then the fun will begin； and you must
be fresh and ready to enjoy it。 Don't run off； now； I shall want to
know where to find you by and by。〃
〃No more running off； thank you。 I'll stay here till you come； and
finish this box for Molly； she has a birthday this week； and I've
written to ask what day； so I can send it right up and surprise her。
Jack's eyes twinkled more than ever as he helped Jill settle herself
in the boat； and then with a whoop he tore over the beach； as if
practising for the race which was to come off in the afternoon。
Jill was so busy with her work that time went quickly； and th~
early boat came in just as the last pink shell was stuck in its place。
Putting the box in the sun to dry； she leaned out of her nook to
watch the gay parties land； and go streaming up the pier along the
road that went behind the bank that sheltered her。 Flocks of
children were running about on the sand； and presently strangers
appeared； eager to see and enjoy all the delights of this gala…day。
〃There's a fat little boy who looks ever so much like Boo；〃 said Jill
to herself； watching the people and hoping they would not come
and find her； since she had promised to stay till Jack returned。
The fat little boy was staring about him in a blissful sort of maze；
holding a wooden shovel in one hand and the skirts of a young girl
with the other。 Her back was turned to Jill； but something in the
long brown braid with a fly…away blue bow hanging down her back
looked very familiar to Jill。 So