Now Margy and Mun Bun did not have very strong voices, and, besides, though they were not far from one part of the shore, it was quite a distance to Cousin Tom’s house, where their father and mother were at that moment.  Also, the wind was blowing their voices away, and over toward the other shore of Clam River, where at this time no one lived.

But the two little Bunkers did not know this, and they kept on calling for their mother or father to come to get them.  But neither Daddy nor Mother Bunker answered.

And the water kept on rising, for the tide was coming in fast, and it was going to be high.

Now it happened, just about this time, that Mr. Oscar Burnett, the lobster fisherman, was coming up the inlet in his motor-boat.  He had been out to sea to lift his lobster-pots and he had been waiting at the entrance of Clam River for the tide to make the water deep enough for him to come up.  On days when the tide was not so low he could come up all right, even at “slack water.”  But this time the channel was not deep enough for his motor-boat and he had to wait.

And as he puffed up, steering this way and that so as not to run on sand bars, he heard, faintly, the cries of Margy and Mun Bun.

Having good ears, and knowing the cries must be near him, Mr. Burnett looked about.

He saw the place where the island was now almost hidden from sight because of the rising waters, and he saw the two children, Margy and Mun Bun, standing there, their arms around each other, crying for help, and also crying real tears.  For they were very much frightened.

“Well, I swan to goodness!” exclaimed the lobster fisherman.  “There’s those two children again, and this time they’re marooned ’stead of being adrift!  Yes, sir!  They’re marooned!”

I used that word once before and I forgot to tell you what it means, so I’ll do so now.  It means, in sailor talk, being left alone on an island without any way of getting off.  Sometimes pirates used to capture ships, take off the passengers and set them on an island without leaving a boat.  And the poor passengers were marooned.  They could no more get off than could Margy and Mun Bun.

“Marooned!  That’s what they are!” said Mr. Burnett.  “I’ll have to go over and get ’em, just as I got ’em when they drifted down the inlet in the boat.  I never saw such children for getting into trouble!”

Not that Mr. Burnett thought it was too much trouble to go and get Margy and Mun Bun off the island where they were marooned.  Instead, he was very glad to do it, for he loved children.  So he steered his motor-boat over toward what was left of the island—­which was very little now, as the tide was still rising.  Then the lobster fisherman called: 

“Don’t be afraid, Mun Bun and Margy!  I’ll soon get you!  Don’t be afraid.  Just stand still and don’t wade off into the deep water.”

[Illustration:  “Don’t be afraid!  I’ll soon get you!” Said Mr. Burnett. Six Little Bunkers at Cousin Tom’s.—­Page 174]