The Three Midshipmen

s ever. The camp, however, was strewn with leaves and broken branches, and one tree was uprooted. Mrs. Royall's face was grave as she thought of what might have been, had th

handling as if used to it, showed no desire to get away, and contentedl

," Louise Johnson declared gaily. "Girls

ears," Mary Hastings said. "I've almost stepped on him twice

s long ears, "unless maybe Rose," she added, with a teasing glance o

to mine last night, you wouldn't have stopped to measure him before you yelled, any more than I did. He felt a

, turning, stared in amazement at the Poor Thing-the Poor Thing-for

girl's ears. The fact that Elizabeth said nothing made no difference to Rose. She felt the silent sympathy and was comforted. When she had talked herself out, Elizabeth slipped away and sought Olga, but Olga was nowhere to be found-not in the camp nor on the beach, but one of the boats was missing, and at last a girl told Elizabeth that she had seen Olga go off alone in it. That meant an age of anxious

ull strong, A dip

d true; Through

king of the g

we glide like a

nally ventured a little way into the water. It was horrible to do even that alone, but she had promised, and she must do it eve

water all alone?" demanded Anne Went

ter. "It's that Poor Thing," she cried.

k penguin," laugh

ne?" cried Laura, and hurried on ahead, calling

ed for a moment, swept the wide stretch of blue with a

Laura questioned gently, leading her

st eyes to the kind fa

he broke out, "O Miss Laura, do you think she'll come ba

ourse she'll come back, Elizabeth. Why shouldn't she? She's been out

"I can't help it," she sighed. "The wat

," she said, and for a few minutes they sat in silence, while further up the beach girls were wading and swimming and splashing each other, their shouts of laughter making a merry din. Some were diving fro

nder figure that looked so very small outstretched between sky

that-I do wish she wouldn't

is all right. See, Elizabeth,

r arm across the narrow shrinking shoulders and after a momen

quickly. She did n

wering the look. "But do you love her en

what. She won't ever let

very hard for you,

d at her silen

uld please her so much as to conquer your fear of the water

thing but just that," she moaned. "O Miss Laura, you don't

for Olga?" Laura que

wn her cheeks. "I would if I could. I'd do anything,

in, and lifting the girl's face looked de

world of love and sympathy in

lous hope began to grow in them. It was as if she literally drew courage and determination from the eyes lookin

tered; but Laura caught the note of w

an. I know you ca

abeth, and Laura smile

ord, and when you do, you will not be afraid of the water any more. Myra Karr was afraid just as you are-afraid of almost everything, but one wonderful day she conquered her fe

beth leaned forward, eagerly pointing off over

ow you have suffered worrying over he

don't care now she's coming," she sai

er laughs and frolics. She never really enjoys any of the games. She cares for nothing but work.

e. She had known these things, but

d finally, her eyes on

u are the only one who

en she added hastily, "You mean-going in

, it will mean more to her even than to you. Olga needs you, child, more than

t of all," Elizabet

n really help her," Laura replied. "See, she is

earching glance over the few girls sitting or lying on the sand; then her eyes rested on a little shrinking figure standing like a small blue post, knee deep in

you come

Elizabeth replied,

," said Olga. "Cut ou

her lips trembled, her voice was determined, "no, Olga, I'm

ut!" Olga declared. "You're

m going in-alone-if you won't go with

lf, drew the other girl steadily on until the water rose to her neck. Elizabeth gasped, and deadly fear looked out of he

fore had she looked at Elizabeth as she looked at her then. "Now run

towards the water, and Olga f

ver her shoulder, "go back.

re she could lose her footing Olga's hands were on her shoulders and pushing her swiftly back to the beach. This time, however, she did not s

clothes in a hurr

rotested with a pallid smile, "truly

d Olga, and she slammed the door and vanish

. Laura, looking on, rejoiced over both the girls. Everybody was interested in this marvellous achievement of the Poor Thing-they spoke of her less often by that name now-but only Laura realised how much it meant to Olga too. The day that Elizabeth succeeded in swimming a few yards, Olga for the first time took her o

lga, "are you

aid it would be lovely-like rocking in a bi

no one within hearing. She leaned forward and looked straight into the eyes of the oth

t over it-quite,"

ell me!" Olga's t

said El

rag you into water above your knees-you know I couldn't. Somebo

being afraid. I didn't think I could before-truly, Olga. I honestly thought I'd die if ever the water came up to my nec

oach as well as jealousy now in Olg

I did it for you. I never could have-never in this world!-onl

s something that the Poor Thing had never seen there before-

ar canoe," Olga cr

ow pretty the singing so

y, the many paddles rising and falling as

long, we p

keen a

king of the gre

e glide like a l

"I'm going to teach yo