Carmen Chadwick looked quite pale and scared as she joined the group on the dock, and took hold of Katherine’s arm as if to seek her protection.

“All ready now?” asked Miss Judy.

“Ay, ay, skipper,” replied Tiny Armstrong.

“Man the boat!” commanded Miss Judy.

The girls got into the launch and Miss Judy started the engine.  They rode a short distance up the river to the Whaleback, a small island shaped, as its name indicated, like a whale’s back.  It was quite flat, only slightly elevated above the surface of the water.  On one side it had rather a wide beach covered with stones and littered with driftwood; behind this beach rose a dense growth of pines that extended down to the very edge of the water on the other side of the island.

The initiation party disembarked upon the beach.  A huge fire was laid ready and Miss Judy lit it, then she requested the new girls to sit down in a place which she designated at one side of it, while the old girls seated themselves in a row opposite.  Sahwah took note that the new girls were in the full glare of the firelight, while the old ones sat in the shadow.

Miss Judy opened the ceremonies.  Stepping into the light, she addressed the neophytes.  “Since the dwellers in the Alley live together in such intimate companionship it is necessary that all be properly introduced to each other, so that we shall never mistake our own.  We shall now proceed with the introductions.  As soon as a new girl or councilor recognizes herself in the pictures we shall proceed to draw, let her come forward and bow to the ground three times in acknowledgment, uttering the words, ‘Behold, it is I! who else could it be?’”

She poked up the fire to a brighter blaze and then sat down beside Tiny Armstrong on the end of a log.  As she seated herself Jo Severance rose and came forward demurely.  Jo was an accomplished elocutionist, and a born mimic.  Assuming a timid, shrinking demeanor, and speaking in a high, shrill voice, she piped,

  “Mother, may I go out to swim?”
  “Yes, my darling daughter,
  Put on your nice new bathing suit,
  But don’t go near the water!”

“Don’t you think it’s unladylike to have your muscles all hard and developed?”

* * * * *

Oh-Pshaw buried her face in her handkerchief with a convulsive giggle.  The voice, the intonation, the expression, were Carmen Chadwick to a T. But how did the Alleys know about her attitude toward bathing?  She had not told anyone.  Then she recalled that the Lone Wolf had walked behind them on the pier that morning when Carmen had been talking to her.  Had the Lone Wolf also heard them talking about her?  Agony wondered in a sudden rush of embarrassment.

There was no mistaking the first “portrait.”  All eyes were focused upon Carmen, and blushing and shrinking she went forward to make the required acknowledgment.