"Harvey, come here quick," cried Beth; "a crab's going to bite you in
the back."

Thereupon, he, too, jumped upon the lounge to escape the threatening
claws. Immediately, however, he said:

"Oh, pshaw, it's silly to be afraid of crabs. I'm going to get down
again." Beth, however, caught hold of his hand, saying:

"No, I won't let you. I wish somebody would come to help us. I'm
going to try to make Maggie hear me. Maggie. Maggie."

Back from the kitchen floated the slow tones of Maggie.

"What am it, honey?"

"Maggie, come here, quick."

Then they heard the soft tread of her feet crossing the piazza.

"She's coming, Harvey."

Maggie poked her head through the door and beheld the children upon the
lounge.

"Laws a massy, what am yo' doin' thar, honeys?"

Then she saw the crabs on the floor, and she began to laugh.

Now when Maggie laughed it meant more than ordinary merriment. Her