Soon all four were on the beach with the two dogs, Sally very happy to be with Berta again, and Timmy very downcast and puzzled. He stood staring up the beach and down, looking quite lost.

“I can’t see George anywhere,” said Dick, suddenly feeling scared. “She’s not in the sea.”

They all gazed over the water, but no one was bathing that morning. Anne turned to Julian in sudden panic.

“Ju! Where is she?”

“I wish I knew,” said Julian, anxiously. “She’s not here. And she hasn’t gone out in her boat — it’s over there. Let’s go back to the house.”

“I don’t think George would have gone for an early bathe without telling me,” said Anne. “And I also think I would surely have woken up just for a moment when she came back after taking Sally down — oh Julian, I think something happened when she went downstairs with Sally late last night!”

“I’ve been thinking that too,” said Julian soberly. “We know that there was someone about last night because George saw a face outside the window. Let’s go back to the house and see if we can spot anything to help us near the garden door or the kennel.”

They went back, looking very anxious. As soon as they began to look about near the kennel, Anne gave an exclamation and bent down. She picked up something and held it out to the others without a word.

“What is it — gosh, it’s the girdle off George’s dressing-gown!” said Dick, startled. “That proves it! George was caught when she came down to put Sally into her kennel!”

“They must have thought she was me,” said Berta, in tears. “You see — she was carrying Sally and they know Sally belongs to me — and she has short hair too and dresses like a boy in the daytime.”

“That’s it!” said Julian. “Actually you look like a boy, in your boy’s things, but George doesn’t — and the kidnappers are looking for a girl dressed as a boy — and George fitted the bill nicely, especially as she had the poodle with her. She’s been kidnapped!”

“And will my father get the usual note to say his daughter will not be harmed if he does what the kidnappers want, and hands over this new secret?” said Berta.

“Sure to,” said Julian.

“What will they say when they know they’ve got George, not me?” asked Berta.

“Well…” said Julian, considering. “I really don’t know. They might try the same thing with Uncle Quentin, but of course, he hasn’t got the figures they want.”

“What about Berta now?” asked Dick. “Once those men find they’ve got the wrong girl, they’ll be after Berta in a trice!”

“George won’t tell them,” said Anne, at once. “She’ll know that Berta would be in immediate danger if she did tell them — so she’ll say nothing as long as she can.”

“Would she really?” said Berta, wonderingly. “She’s brave, isn’t she! She could get herself set free at once if she said she wasn’t me, and proved it. Gee, she’s wunnerful if she could do a thing like that!”