"There's a boat coming straight for us!" she excitedly explained.
"It's only a short distance off. Go on deck quick and send the men
away. Don't let them come on board."

With a bound the captain was up out of the cabin. He was determined to
protect the girl, although he felt that he was making a fool of
himself. But while she was on his boat, and under his care, no one was
going to molest her. He stood silently watching the row-boat as it
drew near. It contained three men, two at the oars, and one seated
astern.

"Say," the latter called out, "did you see a young woman drifting about
here in a boat last night?"

"Did I see what?" the captain asked, apparently surprised.

"A young woman, Miss Randall, in a boat last night? She has
disappeared, and we're afraid she's drowned."

"No, I didn't see any young woman driftin' around here in a boat last
night," the captain replied. "What makes ye think she's drowned
herself?"

"Because a boat was found adrift in South Bay last night, containing
one oar and a woman's hat. The hat belonged to Miss Randall, and as
she is missing, it is feared that she either drowned herself or met
with an accident."

"Dear me, that's serious. Why would she want to drown herself?"