Glad to know what kept them , Jack departed , to be swallowed up in his turn , for not a sign of a boy did she see after that ; and , having vainly strained her eyes to discover the attraction which held them , she gave it up , lay down on their jackets , and began to read . Then the treacherous tide , as it ebbed lower and lower down the beach , began to lure the boat away ; for it was not fastened , and when lightened of its load was an easy prize to the hungry sea , always ready to steal all it can . Jill knew nothing of this , for her story was dull , the gentle motion proved soothing , and before she knew it she was asleep . Little by little the runaway boat slid farther from the shore , and presently was floating out to sea with its drowsy freight , while the careless boys , unconscious of the time they were wasting , lingered to see group after group photographed by the enterprising man who had trundled his camera to the rocks . In the midst of a dream about home , Jill was roused by a loud shout , and , starting up so suddenly that the sun-umbrella went overboard , she found herself sailing off alone , while the distracted lads roared and beckoned vainly from the cove . The oars lay at their feet , where they left them ; and the poor child was quite helpless , for she could not manage the sail , and even the parasol , with which she might have paddled a little , had gone down with all sail set . For a minute , Jill was so frightened that she could only look about her with a scared face , and wonder if drowning was a very disagreeable thing . Then the sight of the bicycle boy struggling with Jack , who seemed inclined to swim after her , and Frank shouting wildly , `` Hold on ! Come back ! '' made her laugh in spite of her fear , it was so comical , and their distress so much greater than hers , since it was their own carelessness which caused the trouble . `` I ca n't come back ! There 's nothing to hold on to ! You did n't fasten me , and now I do n't know where I 'm going ! '' cried Jill , looking from the shore to the treacherous sea that was gently carrying her away . `` Keep cool ! We 'll get a boat and come after you , '' roared Frank , before he followed Jack , who had collected his wits and was tearing up the rocks like a chamois hunter . The bicycle boy calmly sat down to keep his eye on the runaway , calling out from time to time such cheering remarks as `` All aboard for Liverpool ! Give my love to Victoria ! Luff and bear away when you come to Halifax ! If you are hard up for provisions , you 'll find an apple and some bait in my coat-pocket , '' and other directions for a comfortable voyage , till his voice was lost in the distance as a stronger current bore her swiftly away and the big waves began to tumble and splash .
At first XXXXX had laughed at his efforts to keep up her spirits , but when the boat floated round a point of rock that shut in the cove , she felt all alone , and sat quite still , wondering what would become of her .
Frank Halifax Jill Liverpool Luff Victoria coat-pocket left minute oars