Page:Ruth Fielding at Lighthouse Point.djvu/157

Rh told of here, I'd be tempted to write to Mr. Hicks myself."

But there was altogether too much to do at Lighthouse Point for the young folks to spend much time worrying about Nita. Phineas said that soft-shell crabs were to be found in abundance at the mouth of the creek at the head of the cove, and that morning the boys made nets for all hands—at least, they found the poles and fastened the hoops to them, while the girls made the bags of strong netting and after dinner the whole party trooped away (Mercy excepted) to heckle the crabs under the stones and snags where Phineas declared they would be plentiful.

The girls were a bit afraid of the creatures at first, when they were shaken out of the scoops; but they soon found that the poor things couldn't bite until the new shells hardened. The boys took off their shoes and stockings and waded in, whereupon Bob suddenly began to dance and bawl and splash the water all over himself and his companions.

"What under the sun's the matter with you, Bobbins?" roared Tom, backing away from his friend to escape a shower-bath.

"Oh! he's got a fit!" squealed Isadore.

"It's cramps!" declared Heavy, from the shore, and in great commiseration.

"For pity's sake, little boy!" cried Bob's sis-