boat dragged an old fishnet. Each girl had on her head a queer
half-hood, black, and from under this Nellie's brown hair fell in
tangles on her bare shoulders, and Dorothy's beautiful yellow ringlets
framed in her own pretty face. The children wore queer bodices, like
those seen in pictures of Dutch girls, and full skirts of dark stuff
finished out their costumes.

As they sat in the boat and looked out to sea, "watching for the
fisherman's return," their attitude and pose were perfect.

The people did not even cheer. They seemed spellbound.

"That child is an actress," they said, noting the "real" look on
Nellie's face. But Nellie was not acting. She was waiting for the
lost father at sea.

When would he come back to her?


CHAPTER XIV
THE FIRST PRIZE

When the last craft in the procession had passed the judges' stand,
and the little lake was alive with decorations and nautical novelties,
everybody, of course, in the boats and on land, was anxious to know
who would get the prizes.

There were four to be given, and the fortunate ones could have gifts
in silver articles or the value in money, just as they chose.