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diff --git a/19311-h/19311-h.htm b/19311-h/19311-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..62bc40a --- /dev/null +++ b/19311-h/19311-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6711 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Outdoor Girls in Florida, by Laura Lee Hope</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + .right {text-align: right;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%;padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + .bboxtitle {border: double; margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%;padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + hr.full { width: 100%; } + pre {font-size: 75%;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Outdoor Girls in Florida, by Laura Lee +Hope</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Outdoor Girls in Florida</p> +<p> Or, Wintering in the Sunny South</p> +<p>Author: Laura Lee Hope</p> +<p>Release Date: September 17, 2006 [eBook #19311]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN FLORIDA***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Emmy,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + + + + + +<div class='bboxtitle'> +<h1>The Outdoor Girls<br />In Florida</h1> + +<h3>OR</h3> + +<h2>WINTERING IN THE<br /> +SUNNY SOUTH</h2> + +<h3>BY</h3> +<h2>LAURA LEE HOPE</h2> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Author of "The Outdoor Girls of Deepdale," "The<br />Outdoor Girls in a Motor +Car," "The Bobbsey<br />Twins," "The Bobbsey Twins At<br />School," Etc.</span><br /> +<br /><br /> +<i>ILLUSTRATED</i><br /> +<br /><br /><br /> + +NEW YORK<br /> +GROSSET & DUNLAP<br /> +PUBLISHERS<br /> +</div></div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='bbox'> +<h2>BOOKS FOR GIRLS</h2> +<h3>BY LAURA LEE HOPE</h3> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<div class='center'>12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume, 40 cents, postpaid.</div> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<h3>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES</h3> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Outdoor Girls Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS OF DEEPDALE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT RAINBOW LAKE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A MOTOR CAR</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A WINTER CAMP</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN FLORIDA</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<h3>THE BOBBSEY TWINS BOOKS</h3> + +<div class='center'>For Little Men and Women<br /><br /></div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Bobbsey Twins Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SNOW LODGE</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span></div> + +</div> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1913, by Grosset & Dunlap.</span></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">The Outdoor Girls in Florida</span></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 257px;"> +<img src="images/p001.jpg" width="257" height="400" alt=""THAT'S A MANATEE—A SEA-COW SOME FOLKS CALL 'EM," ANSWERED THE YOUTH." title=""THAT'S A MANATEE—A SEA-COW SOME FOLKS CALL 'EM," ANSWERED THE YOUTH." /> +<span class="caption">"THAT'S A MANATEE—A SEA-COW SOME FOLKS CALL 'EM," ANSWERED THE YOUTH.—<a href='#Page_126'>Page 126</a>.</span> +</div> + +<div class='center'><i>The Outdoor Girls in Florida.</i></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">chapter</span></td><td align='left'></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">page</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Bad News</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_1'>1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Good News</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_14'>14</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Will's Letter</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_25'>25</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV</td><td align='left'>"<span class="smcap">Come Home</span>!"</td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_33'>33</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Missing Again</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_41'>41</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">An Appeal for Help</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_50'>50</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Off for Florida</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_59'>59</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Launching the Boat</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_68'>68</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">On a Sand Bar</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_75'>75</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Doubtful Help</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_82'>82</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Into the Interior</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_93'>93</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Warning</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_103'>103</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Strange Tow</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_108'>108</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Tattered Youth</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_118'>118</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Two Men</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_126'>126</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Suspicious Characters</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_132'>132</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In Danger</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_139'>139</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Between Two Perils</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_147'>147</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Lost</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_154'>154</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Loon</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_163'>163</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">To the Rescue</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_169'>169</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Everglade Camp</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_177'>177</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Escape</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_185'>185</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Youth on the Raft</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_189'>189</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Will Ford</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_196'>196</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN FLORIDA</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>BAD NEWS</h3> + + +<p>"Why, Grace, what in the world is the matter? You've been crying!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have, Betty. But don't mind me. It's all so sudden. Come in. I +shall be all right presently. Don't mind!"</p> + +<p>Grace Ford tried to repress her emotion, but the cause of her tears was +evidently too recent, or the effort at self-control too much for her, +for she gave way to another outburst, sobbing this time on the shoulder +of Betty Nelson, who patted her sympathetically, and murmured soothingly +to her chum.</p> + +<p>"But what is it, Grace?" Betty asked, after waiting a minute.</p> + +<p>"I—I'll tell you in a moment or two, Betty. Just—just wait," and the +tall, graceful girl made a more successful effort to master her +feelings.</p> + +<p>"Here come Amy and Mollie," went on Betty,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> as she glanced from the +library window and saw two girls walking up the path opened across the +lawn through the mass of newly fallen snow. "Do you want to meet them, +Grace; or shall I say you don't feel well—have a headache? They'll +understand. And perhaps in a little while——"</p> + +<p>"No—no, Betty. It's sweet of you to want to help me; but Amy and Mollie +might just as well know now as later. I'll be able to see them—in a +little while. It—it's all so sudden."</p> + +<p>"But what does it all mean, Grace? I can't understand. Is anyone +dead—or—or hurt?" and Betty Nelson, who had called at the house of +Grace to talk over plans for a dance they were going to attend the +following week, looked anxiously at her chum. Only the day before Grace +had seemed like her nearly-always jolly self. She and her three chums, +including Betty, had been down town shopping, and Grace, as usual, had +indulged in chocolates—her one failing, if such it can be called.</p> + +<p>"Surely she can't be ill," thought Betty. "Ill from too many chocolates? +I've seen her take twice as many as she did yesterday, and she doesn't +look ill."</p> + +<p>With this half-formed thought in her mind Betty looked more critically +at her chum. Aside<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> from the tears—which seldom add to a girl's +beauty—there was no change in Grace Ford.</p> + +<p>That is, no change except one caused by something rather mysterious, +Betty thought—something that was hard for Grace to tell, but which had +deeply affected her.</p> + +<p>There came a ring at the door. Betty started toward it from the library, +where she and Grace had gone when Grace let her chum in a short time +before.</p> + +<p>"Shall I answer, Grace?" inquired Betty, hesitating.</p> + +<p>"Yes, do, please. I think Katy is with mamma. She took the news very +much to heart. Let Amy and Mollie in, and then I'll tell you all about +it. Oh, but I don't know what to do!"</p> + +<p>"Now look here, Grace Ford!" exclaimed Betty briskly, pausing a moment +on her way to the door. "You just stop this! If no one is dead, and no +one is hurt, then it can't be so very dreadful. You just stop now, and +when we all get together we'll help you in whatever trouble you have. +You know that; don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, Betty, I do. You aren't the 'Little Captain' to all of us for +nothing. I'll try and not cry any more."</p> + +<p>"Do. It—it isn't at all becoming. Your nose is positively like +a—lobster!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is not, Betty Nelson!" Grace flared.</p> + +<p>"It certainly is. Look in the glass if you don't believe me. There—take +my chamois and give it a little rub before I let in Amy and Mollie. It's +only nice, clean talcum—you needn't think it's powder."</p> + +<p>"All right—as if talcum wasn't powder, though," and Grace smiled +through the traces of her recent tears.</p> + +<p>"That's better," decided Betty, with a nod of her shapely head and a +bright look from her sparkling eyes. "Yes, I'll be there in a moment," +she called as there came another ring at the bell.</p> + +<p>"Shall I bring them right in, Grace?" she called over her shoulder, as +she neared the door.</p> + +<p>"Yes—yes. I might as well—have it over with," faltered the weeping +one.</p> + +<p>"Gracious, you'd think <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'some one'">someone</ins> was going to be hanged, or beheaded, or +sent to the galleys for life—or some other dreadful thing such as we +read of in our ancient histories," commented Betty. "Cheer up, Grace. +There may be worse to come."</p> + +<p>"It's awfully good of you, Betty, to try and cheer me, only, if you +understood—but there—let them in. They must be perishing!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, it isn't so cold. You don't feel well,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> that's all. Hello, +Amy—Mollie. Come in!" she greeted the other girls, at the same time +endeavoring by nods and winks to convey some idea that all was not well +with Grace.</p> + +<p>But if Betty hoped to convey a quiet intimation that something out of +the ordinary had happened she did not succeed. In her eagerness to warn +the newcomers not to ask questions she overdid it, and succeeded only in +making them alarmed.</p> + +<p>"What—what is it?" asked Mollie, in a sort of stage whisper.</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing like that," said Betty, seeing that she was only making +matters worse.</p> + +<p>"Who—who is——" began Amy.</p> + +<p>"No one!" said Betty, half-sharply. "Don't put on such a mournful look, +Amy. But Grace has had some bad news, I expect, so I let you in."</p> + +<p>"Bad news!" echoed Mollie.</p> + +<p>"What kind?" inquired Amy.</p> + +<p>"I don't know—yet. She's going to tell us."</p> + +<p>The two newcomers, divesting themselves of their rubbers, walked on +tiptoe toward the library, preceded by Betty. The latter heard their +cautious approach and turned on them quickly.</p> + +<p>"Nobody's asleep!" she exclaimed. "Why don't you act—naturally?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why don't you, yourself, Betty Nelson?" demanded Mollie Billette, +quickly, her dark eyes flashing. "You meet us as if—as if something +terrible had happened, and because we live up to the part, and behave +ourselves, you——"</p> + +<p>"Hush, please," begged gentle Amy, for well she knew Mollie's +failing—an exceedingly quick temper.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon," spoke Mollie, contritely. "I forgot myself."</p> + +<p>"That's all right," said Betty, with a smile. "I don't blame you. But we +must all help Grace now. She feels very bad."</p> + +<p>As the three entered the library they saw their chum standing near a +window, looking out over the snow-covered lawn. Grace did not turn at +the approach of her friends.</p> + +<p>Then Amy stole softly up to her, and, reaching up her arms, tried to put +them around Grace's neck. But Grace was tall, while Amy was rather +short, so the little act of kindness could not be carried out.</p> + +<p>Mollie laughed a little. She could not help it.</p> + +<p>Amy flushed. She was rather sensitive on the point of her stature.</p> + +<p>"Don't mind them, Amy," said Grace quickly, as she turned about, placing +her own arms around<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> the other. "I know I am too tall, and I seem to +keep on growing. Hello, Mollie dear. I'm so glad you came," and she +kissed the two newcomers.</p> + +<p>Her eyes filled with tears again, seeing which Betty called out:</p> + +<p>"Now, Grace, remember you promised not to do that any more. Just be +brave, and tell us all about it; that is, if we can help you in any +manner."</p> + +<p>"I—I don't know whether you can or not," spoke Grace slowly, "but I'll +tell you just the same. It's—it's about my brother Will!"</p> + +<p>She paused a moment, catching her breath as she gave this piece of +information.</p> + +<p>"Has he—has he——" began Betty, hoping to make it easier for Grace to +tell.</p> + +<p>"No, he hasn't done anything to attract public attention this time," +went on Grace. "But he has run away."</p> + +<p>"Run away!"</p> + +<p>It was a surprised chorus from the three visitors.</p> + +<p>"Yes he has left Uncle Isaac's home—stopped work in the cotton mill, +and gone—no one knows where."</p> + +<p>"Why, Grace!" exclaimed Mollie. "Do you really mean it?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p> + +<p>Grace nodded. She could not speak for a moment.</p> + +<p>"How did it happen?" asked Betty.</p> + +<p>"Who told you?" Amy wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"Uncle Isaac himself told us," resumed Grace, after a pause. "As for how +it happened we don't know yet. Uncle Isaac is on his way now to give us +some particulars. He just telephoned to mamma, and that is what upset us +all. I have sent for papa to come home from the office. He will be here +to meet Uncle Isaac I hope. Oh, isn't it dreadful!"</p> + +<p>"But perhaps it is only some boyish prank," suggested Betty hopefully. +"What are the particulars? Perhaps he has only gone off with some +friends, and will come back again, just as he did the—other time."</p> + +<p>"The other time," as Betty called it was rather a delicate subject with +the Ford family, for Will with some chums had gotten into a little +difficulty not long before this story opens, and the present +complication was an outcome of that. I shall describe them in order +presently.</p> + +<p>"No, I don't believe it is a prank this time," went on Grace. "He has +been gone some time, and we never knew it until Uncle Isaac mentioned it +casually over the telephone. Oh, I wish he would come! We can't do a +thing until we hear<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> the particulars. Then papa will start an inquiry, I +think. Poor Will! I hope he is not—not hurt!" and again Grace showed +symptoms of tears.</p> + +<p>"Now stop that!" commanded the Little Captain sharply. "You know it does +no good to worry. Wait until you have some real facts to go on."</p> + +<p>"Yes, do," urged Mollie.</p> + +<p>"But he isn't your brother," said Grace in retort. "How would you like +it, Mollie Billette, if Paul should be missing some day?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'd feel dreadful, of course. But Paul and Dodo get into so many +scrapes," she added, with a curious shrug of her shoulders, in which she +betrayed her French ancestry—"so very many scrapes, my dears, that we +are past being shocked."</p> + +<p>But, for all Mollie spoke so lightly, she knew—and so did her +chums—that should anything happen to the twins Mollie would be the +first to show emotion.</p> + +<p>"Have you heard no word from Will himself?" asked Betty, after a pause.</p> + +<p>"Not a word, and that makes it seem all the worse. If we only had some +word—something to go by, we might not feel so bad. But it came like a +bolt out of a blue sky—what Uncle Isaac<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> telephoned about an hour ago. +He is down town attending to business, and he said he'd come up as soon +as he could. He was surprised himself, to know that Will was not home."</p> + +<p>"Then he knew that he had left Atlanta?" asked Mollie.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but he supposed Will had started back home."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I don't exactly understand it all," said Amy in a low voice. +"You know I've been away, and——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course!" exclaimed Grace. "I forgot that you had been off with +that newly-found brother of yours. Well, you see, Amy, Will disgraced +himself a while ago——"</p> + +<p>"I don't call it much of a disgrace," said Betty in defense of the +absent one.</p> + +<p>"Well, papa did," said Grace. "I thought perhaps he was a little too +severe on Will, but mamma said it was best to be severe at the start."</p> + +<p>"What did he do?" asked Amy.</p> + +<p>"I didn't hear all the particulars," went on Grace. "But you know that +new Latin teacher the High School boys have—Professor Cark, his name +is."</p> + +<p>Amy nodded.</p> + +<p>"Well, the boys didn't like him from the very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> start," proceeded Grace, +"and I guess he didn't like the boys any too well. They played some +tricks on him, and he retaliated by doubling up on their lessons. Then +one night he was kidnapped—taken from his boarding place and hazed. It +was nothing very bad, but the faculty held a meeting, and voted to <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'expell'">expel</ins> +all the boys concerned in it. Will was one, and papa was so angry that +he said he would punish Will in a way he wouldn't forget. He said he'd +take him out of school, before he'd have him expelled, and make him lose +a term.</p> + +<p>"So poor Will was given his choice of starting the study of law in +papa's office, or going to work for Uncle Isaac Ford—papa's brother. +Uncle Isaac has a big cotton mill down in Atlanta, Georgia, you know. +Papa thought it would be a good thing for Will to see what hard work +meant. At the same time it would take him away from Deepdale, and out of +the influence of some of the boys who were responsible for the hazing. I +don't believe Will was one of the ringleaders."</p> + +<p>"And did he go South?" asked Amy.</p> + +<p>"He did. He chose to work for Uncle Isaac instead of studying law here. +And for the past month or so he has been in the mill. Then, all of a +sudden, he disappears."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But how?" asked Mollie.</p> + +<p>"We don't know the particulars," said Grace. "We supposed up to about an +hour ago, that Will was in Atlanta, though we wondered why he didn't +write. But then he never was very good at sending letters. Then came +this 'phone message. I answered and I was surprised to hear Uncle Isaac +speaking.</p> + +<p>"At first I thought he was talking from Atlanta, and I was afraid +something had happened. But Uncle Isaac said he was here—in Deepdale, +and then he startled me by asking how Will was.</p> + +<p>"'Why, isn't he down in your mill?' I asked. Uncle Isaac said he was +not—that Will had not come to work one morning, and had left a note +saying that he was going to quit. Of course Uncle Isaac thought Will had +come back home. But when I told him we had not seen my brother, why, +Uncle Isaac was as startled as I was. He said he'd come right up here +and tell us all he knew."</p> + +<p>Grace paused. She had spoken rather at length.</p> + +<p>"Well, that is rather strange," murmured Mollie.</p> + +<p>"But of course it may be easily explained when your Uncle comes," said +Betty.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There he is now!" cried Grace, glancing out of a window. "And he has +papa with him. He must have stopped at the office. Oh, I'm so glad papa +is here!" and she hurried to the front door to let them in.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>GOOD NEWS</h3> + + +<p>"Oh, father!" gasped Grace, as she slipped into his waiting arms. Hardly +a greeting did she give to Uncle Isaac, but perhaps this was on account +of having spoken to him over the telephone shortly before. "Oh, father! +Where is poor Will?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, Grace," answered Mr. Ford gently. "But don't worry. We +shall find him. How is your mother?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, she feels it dreadfully of course. She's been wanting you so much."</p> + +<p>"I came as soon as I could. Your Uncle Isaac stopped for me after +telephoning the news to you."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I allowed that was the best procedure," said Mr. Ford Sr., he +being the elder brother of the father of Grace. Uncle Isaac spoke with a +slight Southern accent, but not very pronounced, since he had lived most +of his life in the North.</p> + +<p>"I'll see your mother first, Grace, and then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> we'll discuss what's best +to be done," went on Mr. Ford. "It was rather a shock to me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, father! I hope nothing has happened to poor Will!" sighed Grace.</p> + +<p>"Well, if there has, he brought it on himself," said Uncle Isaac +sharply. "He had a good place with me, and he could have stayed there +and learned the business. Instead of that he chose to act like a——"</p> + +<p>"Never mind, Isaac," spoke Mr. Ford quickly. "The thing is done, and +we'll have to make the best of it. Perhaps I acted a bit hastily in +sending him to you."</p> + +<p>"It would have done him good if he had stayed with me. But boys are so +foolish."</p> + +<p>"And I presume you and I were—at Will's age," said the father. "Well, +I'll go see your mother, Grace, and then I'll be down again. Is <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'some one'">someone</ins> +here?" and he looked at the rubbers in the hall.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Betty, Mollie and Amy."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all right. You can stay with them until I come down. Isaac, +if you are hungry I'll have some lunch sent up."</p> + +<p>"Not for me. I never eat between meals," and Uncle Isaac spoke with +firmness.</p> + +<p>As Betty looked out of a crack in the library door she made up her mind +that Mr. Ford's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> brother seldom did anything "between meals." He seemed +to be a man who lived by hard and fast rules, and he had not the most +kindly face and manner in the world. He was quite a contrast to Grace's +father.</p> + +<p>"Maybe that's why Will left him," mused Betty. "I'm sure he looks as if +he would be a hard master. Poor Will!"</p> + +<p>"I'll just sit in here and look at the paper," went on Uncle Isaac, +starting toward the library.</p> + +<p>"The girls—my chums—are in there," said Grace quickly. "Of course, if +you——"</p> + +<p>"Excuse me!" interrupted Uncle Isaac. "I'll meet them later, after your +father and I have straightened out this tangle—if it can be done. I'll +sit in the parlor, though I'm not used to it. No use wearing out the +best carpet. Is anyone in the dining room?"</p> + +<p>"They are getting ready for dinner," said Grace with a smile, to which +the elderly man did not respond. "I guess you'll have to go to the +parlor, Uncle Isaac. Of course we'll entertain you, but——"</p> + +<p>"No, I'd rather look over the paper. Go along, Jim, and comfort Margaret +all you can. I'm sure it wasn't my fault——"</p> + +<p>"Of course not, Isaac. I'll be back presently," and Mr. Ford started for +his wife's room. Grace<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> rejoined her chums, and Uncle Isaac went to the +parlor.</p> + +<p>And, while the scene is thus cleared for a moment I will take advantage +of it to make my new readers somewhat better acquainted with the +characters and setting of this story.</p> + +<p>The initial volume of this series was "The Outdoor Girls of Deepdale; +Or, Camping and Tramping for Fun and Health," and in that was related +how Betty, Amy, Mollie and Grace had gone on a walking trip, and how +they solved the strange secret of a five hundred dollar bill.</p> + +<p>The second book brought our heroines into the midst of summer, and also +saw them started on a voyage in Betty's motor boat. This book, called: +"The Outdoor Girls at Rainbow Lake; Or, the Stirring Cruise of the Motor +Boat <i>Gem</i>," had to do, in a measure, with a curious happening on an +island, following the strange loss of some valuable papers, when a horse +Grace was riding ran away with her. And how the papers were +recovered—but there. It would not be "playing the game" to go into +details now.</p> + +<p>"The Outdoor Girls in a Motor Car; Or, The Haunted Mansion of Shadow +Valley," was the third book of the series. As the sub-title indicates +there really was a house where strange manifestations took place, and +when Mollie was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> captured by the "ghost," her chums were very much +alarmed.</p> + +<p>The adventures of our friends in the touring car, which Mollie owned, +carried them well into Fall, and when the first snow came, and the girls +had the chance to go to the woods, they took advantage of the +opportunity. In the fourth book, "The Outdoor Girls in a Winter Camp; +Or, Glorious Days on Skates and Ice boats," there was related how a +certain property dispute, involving Mr. Ford, was settled through good +luck favoring the girls. Also how Amy was claimed by a brother, of whose +existence she was unaware.</p> + +<p>They had been back from camp some little time now, when the strange +disappearance of Will Ford gave them new food for thought and action.</p> + +<p>"Oh, if we only could find him for you, Grace!" exclaimed Betty, when +her chum had returned to the library, after greeting her father. "If we +only could."</p> + +<p>"Yes. If only we could pick him up, as we did that five hundred dollar +bill," added Mollie.</p> + +<p>"We might," said Amy, half seriously.</p> + +<p>And the girls discussed this possibility—one not so remote as might +seem at first, since they had done many strange things of late.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> + +<p>A word or two more before I go on.</p> + +<p>The girls, as I have intimated, lived in the city of Deepdale, in the +heart of the Empire State. Deepdale—Dear Deepdale as the girls called +it—lived up to its name. It was a charming town, with some country +features that made it all the nicer. It nestled in a bend of the Argono +River, a stream of some importance commercially.</p> + +<p>The four girls I have already named—Grace Ford, Mollie Billette, Betty +Nelson and Amy. In the first volume the latter was Amy Stonington, but a +mystery concerning her had been solved, and a brother who had long +sought her, at last found her. He was Henry Blackford, who was concerned +in the five hundred dollar bill mystery, and he recognized Amy as his +sister in a peculiar way. So Amy Stonington became Amy Blackford, and +Mr. and Mrs. John Stonington, instead of being her uncle and aunt, were +mere strangers to her.</p> + +<p>No, not mere strangers, either, for they had not brought her up from a +baby to so easily relinquish her now. They could not bear to give her +up, and as she had no other relatives, except her brother, as far as she +knew, and as he had to travel about considerably in his business, Amy +remained with those she had so long regarded as her parents. She was +very glad to do so.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> + +<p>Betty was the only child, while Grace had, as I have mentioned, a +brother Will. Mollie had a small brother and sister—the twins, Dora (or +"Dodo") and Paul. Her mother was a well-to-do widow, and the parents of +the other girls were wealthy, but made no display of their means.</p> + +<p>As I have noted, Will's foolish prank had brought its punishment, though +perhaps he did not merit it as much as did some of his chums. One, Frank +Haley, had been expelled, and another had been suspended for three +weeks. But to Will would seem to have come the heavier punishment, now +that he was away from home, no one knew where.</p> + +<p>Mr. Ford came down from his wife's room. Grace glided out to him.</p> + +<p>"How is she?" the girl inquired.</p> + +<p>"I have made her feel a little easier," he announced. "Now we will hear +what Uncle Isaac has to say."</p> + +<p>It was not a great deal.</p> + +<p>"I put Will right to work, as you directed me, Jim," the visitor said to +his brother. "Work is good for boys, and I started him at the bottom of +the ladder. That's what you wanted; wasn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I did think so at the time, after he got into that scrape," said +Mr. Ford. "I was pretty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> well provoked, but I begin to think now I was a +bit too harsh with him."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" snorted Uncle Isaac. "Harshness is good for boys. I wasn't +any harsher on him than on any of the boys that work in my mill. I made +him toe the mark—that's all."</p> + +<p>"But Will has a sensitive nature," said his father slowly. "Did he give +any intimation that he was going to leave?"</p> + +<p>"Not a bit. He did his work well—that is, as well as any boys do. None +of 'em are much good."</p> + +<p>Grace caught her breath. She started to say something, but her father, +by a slight motion of his head, stopped her.</p> + +<p>"Will stayed at my home, you know," went on Uncle Isaac. "I did the best +by him I knew. I didn't let him out nights, I made him read good and +helpful books like 'Pilgrims Progress,' and others of the kind, and I +kept him from the moving pictures.</p> + +<p>"Well the first thing I knew he wasn't in his room when I went to call +him one morning, and there was this note."</p> + +<p>He held it out. Mr. Ford read it eagerly. All it said was:</p> + +<p>"I can't stand it any longer. I'm going to quit."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And he had packed up his things and left," went on Uncle Isaac. "I was +dumbfounded, I was. I didn't think it was much use to hunt for him as I +thought he'd come right home. He had some money—you know you gave him +some."</p> + +<p>Mr. Ford nodded.</p> + +<p>"I didn't write, as I calculated on coming up North," went on Uncle +Isaac. "Then when I telephoned, and found Will hadn't come home, I +didn't know what to think."</p> + +<p>"Nor I either," said Mr. Ford, "when you stopped in at my office and +told me. When did he leave your house?"</p> + +<p>"It will be a week to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"And never a word from him in all that time," mused the father. "I don't +like it."</p> + +<p>Grace felt her eyes filling with tears. Betty patted her hand.</p> + +<p>"Well, something will have to be done," said Mr. Ford with a sigh. +"Isaac, let's talk this over, and see what we can do. I may have to go +to Atlanta to straighten this out. I don't believe Will would +deliberately set out to cause us worry."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure he wouldn't!" declared Grace, eagerly.</p> + +<p>Her father and uncle left to go to Mr. Ford's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> private office in the +house, for he was a lawyer, and kept a large library at home. The girls +sat in the main library, looking at one another with sad eyes.</p> + +<p>"Oh, isn't it too bad—just after we had such fun in our winter camp!" +exclaimed Grace. "Poor Will! It does seem as if there was nothing happy +in this world any more."</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't feel that way!" protested Betty. "Come, have you girls no +good news to cheer her up with?" she asked, looking at Mollie and Amy.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I haven't—unless it's to tell the latest funny thing Dodo +and Paul did," spoke Mollie. "And I detest telling of children's +pranks."</p> + +<p>"How about you, Amy? Can't you cheer up Grace?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I did mean to tell you when I came in; but seeing Grace so upset +I almost forgot it," said Amy.</p> + +<p>"Forgot what?" asked Betty with a smile. "Girls, I am almost sure it's +something good, Amy has such a quiet way with her that she always has +unexpected pleasure for us."</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether this will be pleasure or not," went on Amy with a +blush, "but Uncle Stonington (I'm going to call him that, though<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> he is +no relation)" she interjected, "Uncle Stonington has bought an orange +grove in Florida, and we can have all the oranges we want. If that's +good news," she finished.</p> + +<p>"It is—fine!" declared Mollie.</p> + +<p>"And we were talking about it to-day," resumed the quiet girl, "and he +said perhaps he would take Aunty down there to stay until spring, as her +health is not very good. And I'll probably go——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Amy!"</p> + +<p>It was a protesting chorus.</p> + +<p>"And I mentioned you girls, and Uncle Stonington said I could bring you +down—if you'd come—all of you—to a Florida orange grove."</p> + +<p>"Amy Stonington—I mean Blackford—I'm just going to hug you!" cried +Betty. "Go! Of course we'll go!"</p> + +<p>"After we find Will," put in Grace in a low voice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>WILL'S LETTER</h3> + + +<p>Amy's announcement—unexpected as it was—had two effects. It dispelled, +for a time, the gloom that had come with the news of Will Ford's +disappearance, and it gave the girls something to talk about, to +speculate over and to plan for.</p> + +<p>"I must confess," admitted Betty, "that our strenuous life this Fall and +Summer, living in the outdoors, has unfitted us for the hum-drum sort of +existence that used to satisfy us. We seem to want some excitement all +the while now."</p> + +<p>"That's so," agreed Mollie. "But outdoor life is a little too chilling +these days."</p> + +<p>There had been a series of storms and cold weather in Deepdale, ever +since the girls had returned from the logging camp.</p> + +<p>"But it must be perfectly lovely in Florida now," spoke Grace, who found +that by joining in the conversation she did not think so much about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> her +missing brother. "The weather there in our winter season is delightful. +Where is Mr. Stonington's orange grove, Amy—near Palm Beach?"</p> + +<p>"No, it is somewhere in the Indian River section, I believe. I don't +know just where."</p> + +<p>"And do you really mean to say you can take us there?" asked Betty. "Oh, +you're a dear!"</p> + +<p>"Uncle Stonington said he would be glad if I could take you girls," said +Amy. "He got the grove through some sort of a business deal. He doesn't +know anything about raising oranges, but there are men in charge who do. +There is quite a big sort of place—a ranch I believe they call it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" exclaimed Betty. "Ranches are only in the West. They are +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'inhabitated'">inhabited</ins> by—cow-punchers," and she seemed very proud of her knowledge.</p> + +<p>"Why do they have to punch the cows?" asked Mollie. "Westerners use such +funny words."</p> + +<p>"Oh, they don't really punch them," said Grace. "I've heard Will and the +boys talk about it. It's just a name. But there are no ranches in +Florida."</p> + +<p>"Well, then it's just a plain orange grove," said Amy. "There is a large +house, some bungalows and other buildings. And there is a river and a +lake——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My motor boat!" cried Betty.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with it?" demanded Mollie. "Do you see it?"</p> + +<p>"No, but I wonder if we could take it along?"</p> + +<p>"I'll ask Uncle Stonington," said Amy. "I'm sure you can. Oh, I do hope +you girls can go! Do you think you can?"</p> + +<p>"I'm going—if I have to walk!" declared Betty. "I can send my boat by +freight, and we can have the most delightful times ever! Oh, Amy!" and +she hugged her chum again.</p> + +<p>"I'm not sure I can go," observed Grace, slowly. "If poor Will is in +trouble——"</p> + +<p>"We'll get him out!" cried Mollie. "Of course you'll go. And I'll go, +too! We'll all go. We'll be outdoor girls down where there's no winter!"</p> + +<p>"It sounds—enticing," murmured Grace, who did not like the cold +weather. "Think of orange blossoms——"</p> + +<p>"And brides!" completed Betty. "Oh, girls!"</p> + +<p>"Silly!" chimed in Mollie.</p> + +<p>"Is Mrs. Stonington very ill?" asked Betty. "You said something about +her going down there."</p> + +<p>"She is not at all well," spoke Amy. "Uncle Stonington is quite worried +about her. I think<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> when it came to getting the orange grove he took it +as much on her account as on his own. The doctor said the air down there +would do her good."</p> + +<p>"Is it as bad as that?" asked Mollie, in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"Well, she is not at all well," Amy replied. "But we all have hopes that +a change will benefit her. I do hope you girls will come with me. I'll +be so lonesome without you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we'll come," said Mollie, with much confidence.</p> + +<p>They talked of the Florida possibilities at some length, and Betty was a +bit anxious as to how she could get her motor boat down to the Land of +the Everglades.</p> + +<p>"You'll have to consult that sea-going uncle of yours," suggested +Mollie.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I shall," Betty agreed, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"Papa and Uncle Isaac are rather long," complained Grace. "I wonder what +they are going to do?"</p> + +<p>"If your father has to go South I'm sure Uncle Stonington would be glad +to have him stop at the orange grove," said Amy.</p> + +<p>"I don't know that he'd have time," remarked Grace. "If he has to search +for poor Will——"</p> + +<p>She was interrupted by the footsteps of her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> father and uncle as they +came from the private library. Mr. Ford—as I shall indicate Grace's +father—was speaking.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't see anything to do but to take a trip down there," he +said. "When I'm on the ground I can decide what course to take. Writing +is only nervous work. And yet I don't see how I can spare the time now."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I could manage for you," said Uncle Isaac. "If I find Will I +can bring him back to the mill, and make him work harder than ever. Hard +work——"</p> + +<p>"No, no!" exclaimed Mr. Ford, quickly. "I think Will has been punished +enough. I want to get him home, and then we'll map out a course of +procedure. Perhaps I gave him too heavy a sentence," and, almost +unconsciously, he glanced at his brother.</p> + +<p>Certainly Mr. Ford, Sr., looked like an inexorable judge who would exact +the last farthing of a debt, or the final round of punishment. Will had +evidently had no easy time.</p> + +<p>"Well, I must think about this Southern trip," went on Will's father. +"Why, you girls look as though you had been talking secrets!" he +exclaimed, not wanting to inflict too much of his family troubles on the +visitors.</p> + +<p>"We have!" cried Betty. "You are not the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> only one going South, Mr. +Ford. We may go too."</p> + +<p>"Go South? What do you mean?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Stonington has purchased an orange grove in Florida," Betty went +on, "and Amy has asked us all down there. Do, please, say that Grace can +go!" and she blew him a kiss, for the four chums shared their parents +and friends as they did their—well, let us say—chocolates.</p> + +<p>"Florida," spoke Mr. Ford, musingly. "I wonder if, by any chance, Will +could have gone there? Many young men go down South in the winter to +work as waiters in the big hotels. But I hardly think he would be so +foolish. Well, of course if Grace wants to go——"</p> + +<p>"I do want to, Daddy, but poor Will——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll find him. He has just gone off on some little trip, perhaps. +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Verly'">Very</ins> likely he has written to us and the letter has miscarried. Or he +may be carrying it around in his pocket, thinking he has mailed it. Yes, +I think you may go, Grace, if the others do. Don't worry about your +brother. We'll have trace of him soon."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure we all hope so," said Mollie, impulsively. "We are thinking of +taking Betty's boat down with us."</p> + +<p>"A good idea. I wish I could go. And it is fortunate that, on account of +a change in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> school system, you will not miss a term." For following +a shift in the educational work of Deepdale, had come a reconstruction +of the system. The outdoor girls were sufficiently advanced to permit of +their taking several months' vacation, and still remain up to the +standard required by the State regents.</p> + +<p>"And to think of going to Florida!" cried Betty, as she walked about the +room. "I know we shall just love it there."</p> + +<p>"Young folks waste a lot more time than I did when I was young," said +Mr. Ford, Sr., with a sniff.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we should have been better off if we had 'wasted' a little more +time, as you call it," remarked his brother, as he thought of his +missing son.</p> + +<p>"Humph!" snorted Uncle Isaac.</p> + +<p>"Well, let's get down to my office," suggested Will's father, after a +pause. "I'm going to have my hands full. To trace a missing boy—though +really I don't imagine that will be serious—and have a daughter go to +Florida is 'going some,' as the boys say. But I guess I can manage it. +Now, Isaac, if you're ready——"</p> + +<p>He was interrupted by a ring at the bell, and the shrill call of the +postman's whistle.</p> + +<p>"I'll go," Grace exclaimed, intercepting the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> maid. She brought back +several letters, and at the sight of the handwriting on the envelope of +one she exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"It's from Will! It's from my brother. Oh, Daddy, here's a letter from +Will!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>"COME HOME!"</h3> + + +<p>Grace's announcement caused a flutter of excitement among her chums, and +Mr. Ford's face showed his pleasure and surprise. But a moment later he +had steeled his features into a non-committal mask, for he was really +much provoked by his son's conduct, and if this was an appeal for +forgiveness he wanted to be in the proper censuring attitude. At least +so he reasoned.</p> + +<p>"We'll see you again, Grace," spoke Betty, as she led the way for the +other two girls to follow. She felt that the family might like to be by +themselves while perusing the first letter from Will since his latest +escapade.</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't go!" exclaimed Grace, guessing her chums' intention. "Stay +and hear what Will has to say. I'm sure papa would want you to," and she +looked at Mr. Ford, who was nervously tearing open the envelope. His +brother was watching him anxiously, but it was not a kindly look on +Uncle Isaac's face.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> + +<p>At first, when it seemed as if something seriously might have happened +to Will, the elderly man was rather alarmed, thinking perhaps he might +be blamed. Now that a communication had come from the youth, seeming to +indicate that all was well with him, his former employer was ready to +deal harshly with him. He was even meditating what form of punishment +could be applied, and he planned harder tasks for him, in case his +father should send Will back to the cotton mill in Atlanta.</p> + +<p>"Yes, stay, by all means," spoke the younger Mr. Ford, in rather +absent-minded tones, as he flipped open the letter. "We have no secrets +from you girls, and if you are going to Florida, and Will is in that +neighborhood, he can take a run over and see you. Let's see now; what +does the rascal say?"</p> + +<p>There was a caressing note in the father's voice in spite of the +somewhat stern look on his face, and he slowly read the letter, half +aloud. The girls could catch a word here and there. Grace was leaning +forward expectantly, her lips parted. The strain had told on her, and +her eyes were still red from the tears she could not hold back.</p> + +<p>"'Dear Father and All,'" read Mr. Ford. "Hum—yes—I wonder if he's +going to ask for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> money. 'I suppose this will surprise you'—yes, Will +was always good on surprises."</p> + +<p>"Oh, father, do please get on with the letter—tell us what has happened +to Will!" begged Grace. "We're so anxious! Mother will want to know. +Read faster, please, if you can; won't you, father?"</p> + +<p>"All right, Grace. But nothing much seems to have happened to him so +far. Hello, what's this, though? 'Going to strike out for myself. Can't +stand Uncle'—um—'will write particulars later—I have a good chance +for an opening'—I wonder if it's as a waiter in some Palm Beach hotel? +'There may be a good thing in this. I can learn the business, the agent +says'——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Daddy, please read it right!" importuned Grace. "We can't tell what +Will says and what you make up as you go along. Read it yourself, and +tell us what it means. Then I'll go to mamma."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and if he says anything against me, don't be afraid to come out +with it," interjected Uncle Isaac. "Will and I didn't get along +well—that's no secret. He didn't like work, and he didn't hesitate to +say so. I've no doubt he had hard feelings against me, but I say here +and now that I treated him as I would my own son. I made him work harder +than I would my own son, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> fact, for I felt that I had a duty to do by +Will."</p> + +<p>"And I guess you did it—too well," muttered Grace, with rather a +vindictive look at her uncle, which look, however, he did not see.</p> + +<p>"Well, to be frank with you, Isaac," spoke Mr. Ford, "the boy says that +he did not like the life in the factory. But I did not suppose he would. +I did not send him there to like it, but I thought the discipline would +do him good. However, he seems to have struck out for himself."</p> + +<p>"But, Daddy!" cried Grace, clinging to his arm. "What has happened? +Where is Will? Where did he go?"</p> + +<p>"There now," he said, soothingly. "It seems to be all right, and Will is +in no danger. All your tears were wasted. To be brief, he writes that he +did not like the work in the mill, and getting a chance to go to +Jacksonville, Florida, he took it and went without the formality of a +good-bye."</p> + +<p>"What is he doing in Jacksonville?" asked Mollie. "If we go to Amy's +orange grove we may see him."</p> + +<p>"He writes that he has a chance to get in with a concern that is going +to develop some of the Everglade lands," went on Mr. Ford, referring to +the letter. 'The company plans to drain the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> swamps, and grow pecans, +oranges and other tropical fruits and nuts.' Will says he was offered a +sort of secretaryship to one of the developers, and took it.</p> + +<p>"He asks my permission to stay and 'make good,' as he calls it. He +thinks it is a great chance; better even than the cotton business, +Isaac."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I s'pose so. There's a lot of folks been fooled in those +Everglade-developing concerns, though. They're fakes, to my way of +thinking. But let him live and learn. That's the only way."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to let him stay down there?" asked Grace.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know," said Mr. Ford, musingly. "I don't bank much on +Will's knowledge of affairs. This company may be all right, and again it +may not. I'd rather investigate a bit."</p> + +<p>"Will says," he went on, again referring to the letter, "that he is +sorry he went off in the abrupt way he did, but he felt that it was the +only method to pursue. He says he feared you would stop him, if you +heard about it, Isaac."</p> + +<p>"I'd have tried, anyhow," was the grim comment.</p> + +<p>"And as the opportunity had to be taken up quickly, or be lost, Will +went away in a hurry,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> continued his father. "He says he wants to show +all of us that he can make his own way in the world, if given a chance, +and he doesn't want to come back until he has done so. He thinks he has +had enough of school. He sends his love to—to all of us—and his +mother, and says he will write again soon, and run up for a few days' +visit as soon as he can get the time."</p> + +<p>Mr. Ford's voice faltered a little as he went on. After all, he loved +Will very much, and he knew that it was only the spirit of a proud boy +that was keeping him away from home.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to let him stay, Daddy?" asked Grace again.</p> + +<p>"No, Grace, I think I'll write to him to come home," replied Mr. Ford. +"I think this has been a lesson to him. He gives his prospective +Jacksonville address in this note. I'll just send him a wire."</p> + +<p>Going to the telephone, Mr. Ford dictated this brief telegram to his +son.</p> + +<p> +"Come home. All is forgiven."<br /> +</p> + +<p>"It's like one of those advertisements you see in the newspapers," said +Grace, with a little laugh.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> + +<p>She was much relieved now, and so were her chums. They could think with +more pleasure of the prospective trip to Florida.</p> + +<p>"But if Will left you a week ago, Uncle Isaac, I don't see why this +letter has only now arrived," spoke Grace. "When is it postmarked, +father?"</p> + +<p>"It reached Deepdale to-day, but it was mailed in—let me see—why, I +can't make out the other mark, nor the date either."</p> + +<p>"Let me try," suggested Uncle Isaac, putting on his glasses. But he had +no better luck.</p> + +<p>"Either Will carried that letter around in his pocket after writing it," +said Mr. Ford, "or he dropped it in some obscure postoffice where their +cancelling stamps are worn out and letters go only once a week or so. +The letter was written on the night he left your house, evidently," he +said to his brother, indicating the superscription. "I guess the mails +down your way are not very certain, Isaac."</p> + +<p>"Not always. Well, I'm glad the boy is all right. I tried to do my duty +by him, as I promised I would, Jim."</p> + +<p>"I know you did, Isaac, and I think this will be a lesson to him. I'll +be glad to have him back, though. For I—I've missed him," and again Mr. +Ford's voice faltered.</p> + +<p>"So have I," said Grace, softly. "And this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> will make mamma's headache +better. I'm going up to tell her."</p> + +<p>"And we'll be going, now that you have good news," remarked Betty. +"Wasn't it odd to get good and bad news so close together?"</p> + +<p>"But the good came last—and that makes it the best," observed Amy with +a smile.</p> + +<p>Mr. Ford gave Grace her brother's letter to take up to her mother, while +he and his brother prepared to go down town again, to finish transacting +some business that had called the Southerner up North.</p> + +<p>"And I guess I'd better telegraph Will some money while I am at it," his +father said. "He writes that he has plenty of cash, but his idea of a +lot of money is a few one dollar bills and a pocket full of change. I'll +wire twenty-five dollars to him in Jacksonville to come home with."</p> + +<p>"I'll be down in a minute, girls," called Grace, as she hurried up +stairs to her mother's room. "Wait for me, and we'll talk about this +Florida trip."</p> + +<p>When Grace came down, having made her mother happy with her good news, +she was eating chocolates.</p> + +<p>"Now we know she is all right," laughed Betty.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>MISSING AGAIN</h3> + + +<p>"And to think that in a few more days we'll leave all this behind +us—all the cold, the icicles, the snow, the biting winds—leave it all, +and sail into a land of sunshine and oranges and Spanish moss and +magnolias and——"</p> + +<p>"Alligators!" finished Betty for Grace, who was thus going into raptures +over the prospect before them, as she looked over the wintry landscape +that was in full view just outside the window of Amy's home. I say Amy's +home, for, though it had developed that she was no relative of Mr. and +Mrs. Stonington, still they insisted that she call their home hers as +long as she liked. So it was at Amy's home, then, that her chums had +gathered to talk over the trip to Florida.</p> + +<p>It was the day after the somewhat startling developments regarding Will +Ford, and Mr. Ford, true to his determination, had telegraphed his son +twenty-five dollars.</p> + +<p>"Well, of course Florida will be lovely!" exclaimed Mollie, "and I love +oranges——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + +<p>"To say nothing of orange blossoms," interjected Grace.</p> + +<p>"I said oranges!" went on Mollie, putting emphasis on the word. "I like +them as well as anyone, but I love winter and skating and ice boating, +too."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I just can't bear cold weather!" said Grace, with a shiver, and a +look toward the chair on which, in a fluffy pile, rested her furs—and +Grace looked handsome in the sable set that her father had given to her +at Christmas.</p> + +<p>"You didn't seem so cold when we were up in the old lumber camp," +remarked Betty. "You skated and ice-boated with the rest of us, and +seemed to enjoy it."</p> + +<p>"I know, but it was a different sort of cold up there—so dry, and not +so penetrating as down here. The wind seems to go right through me," and +again the tall girl shivered.</p> + +<p>"It doesn't take long——" began Mollie, and then she stopped short and +bit her lips to keep back a smile.</p> + +<p>"Long to do what?" asked Grace, curiously.</p> + +<p>"Never mind," spoke Mollie. "You might get angry."</p> + +<p>"I will not. I haven't your——"</p> + +<p>This time it was Grace who caught herself in time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Go on—say it. You may as well as think it!" snapped Mollie, with some +asperity. "You were going to say you hadn't my temper, weren't you, +now?"</p> + +<p>"Well, yes, I was," said Grace, slowly. "And you were going to say I was +so thin that the wind didn't take long to go through me; weren't you?" +challenged Grace.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I was, and——"</p> + +<p>"Girls—Mollie—Grace!" cried Betty, anxious not to see a quarrel. "What +can I do to pour oil on troubled waters? Let's talk about—Florida."</p> + +<p>"Don't pour cod liver oil, whatever you do," said Grace, quickly. "I had +to take some of the horrid stuff the last cough I had, and I can taste +it yet. Where are my chocolates? Oh, thank you, Amy," as the latter +passed them over. "Have some. These have maraschino cherries inside."</p> + +<p>"Leave it to Grace to discover something luxurious in the candy line," +observed Mollie.</p> + +<p>"Well, I notice that you're only too glad to eat them," and Grace fairly +snapped out the words.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear! It seems hopeless to keep peace between you two to-day," +sighed Betty. "Can't you be nice? Especially after Amy has asked us<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +over here to talk about the trip. Let's talk about——"</p> + +<p>"What to wear!" exclaimed Amy, with a bright thought. "You see we'll +have to take two sets of clothing. One to wear until we get to Florida, +and the other after we arrive at the orange grove. We'll need thin +things there. Aunt Stonington is making me up some pretty voile and +white muslin dresses."</p> + +<p>"I was wondering whether I ought to take my furs," said Grace.</p> + +<p>"Furs in Florida!" cried Mollie. "Never!"</p> + +<p>"But it will be cold going down," said Grace. "It's cold even in +Washington, now. I think I'll wear them. I may not get another chance +this winter if we stay there very long."</p> + +<p>"We can stay as long as we like," said Amy. "Uncle Stonington says he'll +remain until Spring, anyhow, for the business will take until then to +get going properly. Then, too, he is anxious about Aunty's health. The +doctor says the longer she stays in a mild climate the better she will +be."</p> + +<p>"She doesn't look very well," spoke Betty in a low voice. Mrs. +Stonington had greeted the girls as they came to call on Amy, and had +then gone to lie down. The callers had all noticed how frail and worn +she seemed. Perhaps the shock<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> of almost losing Amy had something to do +with it. But there also appeared to be the seeds of some deep-seated +malady present in her system. And a look at Mr. Stonington's face told +that he, too, was worrying. But the trip to Florida might work wonders. +They all hoped so, at any rate.</p> + +<p>"If we're going to take Bet's boat we ought to wear our sailor suits +part of the time," suggested Mollie. "Are you going to take the <i>Gem?</i>"</p> + +<p>"What about that, Amy?" questioned Betty. "Did you inquire whether there +are navigable waters near the orange grove?"</p> + +<p>"There are. The grove is near the town of Bentonville, on the Mayfair +River, which empties into Lake Chad, so I think there will be plenty of +chance to go boating. The grove is in the Indian River section, where +some of the finest oranges grow."</p> + +<p>"Then the <i>Gem</i> goes along," decided Betty. "I'm going to stop at the +freight office on my way home, and see about having it crated and +shipped."</p> + +<p>Discussing what they would take in the way of dresses, and other +feminine accessories, talking over prospective trips in the motor boat, +speculating as to whether Will or any of his boy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> chums would go to +Florida for a brief visit, made the winter afternoon pass quickly.</p> + +<p>"It would be nice if Will and some of the other boys could come down," +said Mollie, reflectively.</p> + +<p>"By 'some of the others' meaning Allen Washburn, I suppose," said +Mollie, slyly, for Betty's liking for the young lawyer was no secret, +nor was his for her.</p> + +<p>"Speak for yourself, please," said the "Little Captain," a flush +mounting to her already rosy cheeks. "Though of course if Will is coming +home he won't want to go back again," she concluded.</p> + +<p>"Hardly, I fancy," agreed Grace. "That's the last chocolate. I must get +some more for to-night. Who's going downtown?"</p> + +<p>They all were, it developed, and on the way Betty stopped at the +railroad freight office and arranged to have a man sent to the boathouse +to crate the <i>Gem</i>. Then it could be taken to the railroad on a truck.</p> + +<p>"And what will we do with it when we get to Bentonville?" asked Amy. "It +does look so big out of the water," for, after the visit to the freight +office they had gone to where the <i>Gem</i> was stored in winter quarters.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we can manage it there," said Betty.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There must be plenty of men and trucks down there."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Stonington says there are other motor boats on the river, so +there must be ways of getting them on and off," put in Amy.</p> + +<p>Grace got her chocolates, and also insisted on buying hot drinks for her +chums.</p> + +<p>"For I simply can't seem to get warm," she declared, as she sipped hers.</p> + +<p>"And with all those furs," remarked Betty. "I guess you'll have to live +in the South in Winter, Grace."</p> + +<p>"I wish I could."</p> + +<p>As the girls walked with Grace toward her house, the Ford home being the +first on their way, they saw a messenger boy with his little +black-covered book and a bunch of telegrams just turning into the gate.</p> + +<p>"There's a message!" exclaimed Grace, breaking into a run. "I want to +take it from him before he rings the bell. Mamma is so nervous at the +sight of a telegram. She always thinks the worst thing has happened. I +suppose this is from Will, saying he is on his way home. Poor boy! he +has had a lesson."</p> + +<p>"I feel sorry for him, too," said Betty.</p> + +<p>"I'll take the message," spoke Grace to the boy, as she signed the +extended book. "Prepaid?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> Yes. Here is a dime for yourself. Get a hot +chocolate; you must be cold."</p> + +<p>"T'anks!" was the reply. "I kin git two for dat!"</p> + +<p>"I hope he won't buy cigarettes," ventured Mollie.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" answered Grace, as she tore open the message, which was +addressed to her father. She felt she had a right to do this, as, had it +been some business communication, she argued, it would have gone to Mr. +Ford's office. Grace felt sure it was from her brother.</p> + +<p>Quickly she read the brief message in the waning light of the winter +day. Then she swayed and her face paled.</p> + +<p>"What is it—bad news?" asked Betty quickly, as she put her arms around +her chum.</p> + +<p>"Yes—yes. It's about—Will. Read it. Poor mother! How can I tell her? +And she has been expecting him so!"</p> + +<p>Betty glanced at the few words. They were:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Cannot locate Will Ford at Jacksonville address +given. Am holding the twenty-five dollars subject +to your order. Party was at address noted, but +information to our agent here is to effect that +young man left in company with a labor contractor +who does not bear a very good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> reputation. Young +man's boarding mistress worried. What shall we +do?" </p></div> + +<p>The message was to Mr. Ford. It was from Jacksonville, and was signed by +the telegraph operator there.</p> + +<p>"Will is missing again!" sobbed Grace. "Oh, what shall I do? What shall +I do?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>AN APPEAL FOR HELP</h3> + + +<p>For one of the very few times in her life when confronted by an +emergency the "Little Captain" did not know quite what to do. Grace +clung to Betty, murmuring over and over again:</p> + +<p>"What shall I say? What shall I do?"</p> + +<p>Amy and Mollie stared uncomprehendingly at one another. Grace still held +the telegram that had brought more bad news.</p> + +<p>Then Betty got her senses in working order.</p> + +<p>"In the first place," she said, "you mustn't let your mother know about +this, Grace. You must keep it from her. In the second place your father +must be told at once. Now you go in and act as if nothing had happened. +I'll go see your father."</p> + +<p>"But I can't act as if nothing had happened," protested Grace, with a +wailing tone in her voice. "I'd be sure to act so strangely that mamma +would suspect at once, and begin to question me."</p> + +<p>"Then Mollie or Amy must go in with you,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> and help to keep up +appearances. Amy, you go in and talk—play—sing—dance—do anything to +keep Grace from feeling bad, and giving away the secret. As soon as Mr. +Ford comes he can decide whether or not to tell his wife. Mollie, you +and I will go down to his office. This is the night he gets home late; +isn't it, Grace?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Oh, how I wish he were here now! Poor Will!"</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll soon have him home," declared Betty. "Now you two do as I +tell you. Talk about Florida—anything but what has happened. Mr. Ford +will know what to do when he comes. Now, Mollie, let's hurry. Gracious! +I believe it's going to snow. Well, we won't have any of that in +Florida, that's a blessing for you, Grace," and Betty smiled bravely.</p> + +<p>"We may never go now—if Will isn't found."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he'll be all right," declared Betty, with more confidence than she +felt. "Come along, Mollie."</p> + +<p>The two set off through the gathering storm, while Grace and Amy turned +into the former's house. They were under a strain, and afterward they +hardly remembered what they did. But Grace did not betray the secret, at +any rate. The two girls talked of many things, and when Mrs. Ford +referred to the home-coming of her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> son Amy changed the subject as soon +as she could.</p> + +<p>Then, fortunately, Mrs. Ford went upstairs to lie down until dinner was +ready, and Grace, with a sigh of relief, threw herself on a couch.</p> + +<p>"There!" she sighed. "We can act naturally now. Poor little mother—I +wonder how she will take it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, she is brave," said Amy. "Besides, nothing very dreadful can have +happened. Will may be all right. Even if he has gone off with a labor +contractor, who has a bad reputation, your brother is able to look after +himself. He can appeal to the police, if necessary."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps. Anyhow, you can look on the bright side, Amy. I wish papa +would hurry."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he will, as soon as Betty tells him."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Betty and Mollie were hurrying on through the storm to Mr. +Ford's office. They found him working over a complicated law case, and +he seemed startled when he saw the two girls.</p> + +<p>"Where is Grace—what has happened?" he asked, quickly.</p> + +<p>"This telegram—it came for you to the house—Grace opened it," +explained Mollie, briefly.</p> + +<p>Mr. Ford seemed to comprehend it at a glance.</p> + +<p>"I was afraid of this!" he exclaimed. "Some of those rascally labor +contractors will do any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span>thing to get help. I will have to go down there, +I think. Does Mrs. Ford know?"</p> + +<p>"No, I told Grace to keep it from her until you came home."</p> + +<p>"That was right. I must make light of this. Then I'll leave for +Jacksonville at once. Thank you very much, Betty."</p> + +<p>He closed his desk and went out with the girls, calling a carriage for +them and himself, as the snow was now falling heavily.</p> + +<p>In some way Mr. Ford managed to impart some of the details of the new +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'emegerncy'">emergency</ins> to his wife without unduly arousing her. He also spoke of the +necessity of going to Florida.</p> + +<p>"Oh, do you really have to go?" his wife asked, in alarm.</p> + +<p>"I think it will be better. Will may do something rash, thinking he is +putting through a fine business deal. I don't want him to get +into—legal difficulties. It would not look well for my professional +reputation," and Mr. Ford forced a laugh to reassure his wife.</p> + +<p>Arrangements for going to Jacksonville were soon made, as he was to +leave on the midnight train. In the meanwhile he communicated with the +telegraph authorities in the South, telling them of his plans, and +asking for any additional information.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p> + +<p>All that he could learn was that Will had gone to the address given in +his first letter—a private boarding house. He had been there a few +days, making friends with the landlady, and finally had gone off with a +man who bore a shady reputation in the city. Will had said he was going +farther into the interior, and the woman thought she heard something +about a lumber camp, or a place where turpentine and other pine-tar +products, were obtained.</p> + +<p>"Well, do the best you can, Grace, until I come back," said Mr. Ford. +"And look after your mother. Perhaps this will be all right after all."</p> + +<p>There were three weary days of waiting, relieved only by brief messages +from Mr. Ford, saying that he was doing all he could to find Will. Mrs. +Ford was not told the whole story, save that her son had gone into the +interior.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm sure something must have happened!" exclaimed Grace, when on +the fourth day there came a message saying Mr. Ford was on his way back. +"He hasn't Will with him, or he would have said so. Oh, isn't it +perfectly terrible!"</p> + +<p>"Now, don't worry," advised Betty. "I know that is easy to say, Grace, +and hard to do. But try. Even if your father hasn't found Will, per<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span>haps +he has some trace of him. He would hardly come back without good +reason."</p> + +<p>"I suppose not. Oh, aren't boys—terrible!"</p> + +<p>"But Will didn't mean to cause all this trouble," spoke Mollie.</p> + +<p>"I know. But he has, just the same."</p> + +<p>Grace was too miserable even to think of chocolates.</p> + +<p>Mr. Ford looked pale and tired when he came home, and his eyes showed +loss of sleep.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said to Grace, who was surrounded by her three chums, "I +didn't find Will. He seems to have made a mess of it."</p> + +<p>"How?" asked his sister.</p> + +<p>"Well, by getting in with this developing concern. It seems that he +signed some sort of contract, agreeing to work for them. He supposed it +was clerical or secretary's work, but it turns out that he was deceived. +What he signed was a contract to work in one of the many camps in the +wilds of the interior. He may be getting out cypress, or turpentine."</p> + +<p>"Couldn't you locate him, Daddy?" asked Grace.</p> + +<p>"No, for the firm he signed with operates many camps. I could get very +little satisfaction from them. I may have to appeal to the +authorities."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But Will is not of age—they can't hold him even if he did sign a +contract to work, especially when they deceived him," declared Grace.</p> + +<p>"I know it, my dear," replied her father. "But they have him in their +clutches, and possession, as you know, is nine points of the law, and +part of the tenth. Where Will is I don't know. Just as the message said, +he went off with that smooth talker, and he seems to have disappeared."</p> + +<p>"How—how can you find him?" asked Grace.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to have your Uncle Isaac trace him. He knows the South better +than I, and can work to better advantage. That is why I came back. Uncle +Isaac is in New York City now. I am going to telegraph him to come on +here and I'll give him the particulars. Then he can hunt for Will. Poor +boy! I guess he wishes now that he'd stayed in the mill."</p> + +<p>The news was broken to Mrs. Ford as gently as could be, but it nearly +prostrated her. Then Uncle Isaac came, and to his credit be it said that +he was kinder than his wont. He seemed really sympathetic and did not +once say, "I told you so!"</p> + +<p>He readily agreed to search for his nephew, and left for the South as +soon as he could finish his business.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I guess our Florida trip is all off," said Grace with a sigh, one +evening.</p> + +<p>"Not at all," said her father. "I want you girls to go. It may be that +you might hear some word of Will."</p> + +<p>"Then we will go!" his sister cried. "Oh! I do hope we can find him."</p> + +<p>The preparations for the Florida trip went on. Meanwhile nothing was +heard from the missing youth, and Uncle Isaac had no success.</p> + +<p>Then, most unexpectedly, there came word from the boy himself—indirect +word—but news just the same.</p> + +<p>It was in the shape of a letter from a Southern planter, who said one of +his hands had picked up the enclosed note in a cotton field near a +railroad track. It had probably been tossed from a train window, and had +laid some time in the field, being rain-soaked. It bore Mr. Ford's +address, and so the planter forwarded it. The note was as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Dad</span>: I certainly am in trouble. That +development business was a fake, and I have +literally been kidnapped, with a lot of other +young fellows—some colored. They're taking us +away to a turpentine swamp to work. I've tried to +escape, but it's no use. I appealed for help to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +the crowd, as did some of the others, but the +contractors declared we were a lot of criminals +farmed out by the State. And, as a lot of their +workers really are convicts, I had no show. I +don't know what to do—help me if you can. I don't +know where they're taking us, but if I get a +chance I'll send word. I'm scribbling this under +my hat in the train, and I'm going to toss it out +the window. I hope you get it.</p> + +<div class='right'> +"<span class="smcap">Will.</span>"<br /> +</div> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>OFF FOR FLORIDA</h3> + + +<p>Grace was in tears when her father finished reading Will's pathetic +letter. Nor were the eyes of her chums altogether dry, for they all +liked Will, who seemed as much a brother to them as he did to his own +sister.</p> + +<p>"We—we mustn't let mamma know this," announced Grace, when she had +regained control of herself. "It would prostrate her."</p> + +<p>"Yes, we must keep it from her if we can," agreed Mr. Ford.</p> + +<p>"To think of poor Will being in with—with criminals," went on his +sister. "It will be a terrible experience for him."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they are not desperate criminals," suggested Amy, as a sort of +ray of hope.</p> + +<p>"No, I do not believe they are," said Mr. Ford, frankly. "The State +would not let contractors hire them if they were. I suppose they are +mostly young men who have been guilty of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> slight violations of the law, +and hard work is the best punishment for them. But I certainly am sorry +for Will.</p> + +<p>"I had no idea that when, to punish him for what was more +thoughtlessness than anything else, I sent him South, it would turn out +this way. I regret it very much."</p> + +<p>"But it wasn't your fault, Daddy," declared Grace. "It just couldn't be +helped. But Will is brave—his letter shows that. Oh, can you help him?"</p> + +<p>"I certainly shall, daughter," and Mr. Ford put his hand on Grace's +head, now bowed in grief. "I will write to Uncle Isaac at once, and have +him get in touch with the authorities. They should be able to tell where +the different gangs of prisoners have been sent, and by investigating +each one we can, by elimination, find Will. Then it will be an easy +matter to get him home. And I think he will be very glad to see Deepdale +again, in spite of the fact that he wanted to start out for himself to +'make good.' I hope the lesson will not be too hard for him."</p> + +<p>"If we could only do something!" exclaimed Betty.</p> + +<p>"Yes, girls always seem so—so <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'helplessly'">helpless</ins> at a time like this," murmured +Mollie. "Oh, I wish I were a—man!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Tut—tut!" exclaimed Mr. Ford, with a laugh, something he had seldom +indulged in of late. "We couldn't get along without our girls. You can +offer sympathy, if nothing else, and often that is something as real as +actual service. But I don't agree that you girls are helpless. You have +proved in the past that you outdoor lassies can do things, and I would +not be surprised in the future if you gave further evidence of it."</p> + +<p>Though he spoke rather lightly, Mr. Ford little realized how soon the +time was to come when the outdoor girls were to prove their sterling +worth in a peculiar manner.</p> + +<p>"Well, things are certainly taking a queer turn," said Grace as she +looked at the scribbled letter of her brother, so strangely forwarded to +them. "There is no telling how long ago this was written. Poor Will is +probably having a hard time this very minute."</p> + +<p>"He probably is if he's at work in a turpentine camp," said Mr. Ford. +"It is no easy work, and it is no wonder the contractors have to take +criminals, and fairly kidnap their helpers. Then they have to literally +mount guard over them to force them to remain. But I must start things +moving to aid Will."</p> + +<p>Letters were written to Uncle Isaac, to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> planter who had so kindly +forwarded the letter, and to various authorities.</p> + +<p>"But you girls must not let this interfere with your trip, nor with the +enjoyment of it," said Mr. Ford, who had told his wife something of the +truth, but not enough to cause her to worry. He said they had word from +Will, and hoped soon to have him home. And Mrs. Ford, who leaned much on +her husband and daughter, was more content than she had been. "Get +ready, Grace," said her father, "and enjoy your winter in the South."</p> + +<p>"I certainly don't enjoy a winter in the North," she replied. "Girls, +did you see my chocolates?"</p> + +<p>"Hopeless! Hopeless!" murmured Mollie, with a smile, as she found the +confections on the mantel.</p> + +<p>Preparations for the Florida trip went on apace. The girls were so busy +sorting out what clothes they were going to take, and having new gowns +made that, for a time, they almost forgot about Will.</p> + +<p>Though Mr. Ford had set in motion various forces, no definite word had +yet been received. But they were hoping that every day would bring some +message. Uncle Isaac wrote that he was doing all he could.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> + +<p>Frank Haley, Will's school chum, and Allen Washburn, the young lawyer, +were very anxious to start off and make a search for their friend. But +Mr. Ford, though deeply grateful to them, thought it might complicate +matters. So, much against their desire, the two young men were forced to +remain in Deepdale.</p> + +<p>"Though we may take a run down and see you," said Allen to Betty a few +days before the one set for the departure. "Would you mind?"</p> + +<p>"We shall be very glad to see you," she answered, rather +non-committally.</p> + +<p>"We?" he asked, pointedly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course I meant that I would, too," and she blushed as she +glanced at him.</p> + +<p>"That's better!" he laughed.</p> + +<p>The next day Mollie telephoned for all of her chums to gather at her +house for a sort of farewell tea some of the friends of the girls wished +to tender to them. It was a cold, snowy, blustery day, and as Grace, +wrapped in her furs, walked shiveringly along with Amy and Betty she +remarked:</p> + +<p>"I can almost envy Will now—down where it is nice and warm."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we'll soon be there," answered Betty.</p> + +<p>They found Mollie in the midst of showing some of her new gowns to her +friends, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> three chums joined in the admiration. For Mollie, with +the characteristics of a French girl, loved pretty clothes, and rather +inclined to a pronounced style not indulged in by her chums. But she +always dressed becomingly.</p> + +<p>"It is lovely!" exclaimed Hattie Reynolds. "But isn't it awfully light, +Mollie?"</p> + +<p>"Not for where we are going," was the answer. "You forget that we are +going to a summer land. Oh, Dodo—stop that!" she cried, for from the +room where stood Mollie's half-packed trunk came the twin, trailing a +garment. "That's my best petticoat!" wailed Mollie. "You'll ruin it. And +Paul! What are you doing with that shirtwaist—it's my very finest +lawn!"</p> + +<p>"Us 'ookin' for tandy!" calmly announced Dodo. "Has oo dot any in oo +pockets?"</p> + +<p>"Pockets! We never have pockets!" cried Betty. "Oh, aren't they too +funny for anything!"</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't say so, if they did this—or something like it—to you +three or four times a day," exclaimed Mollie, half-crossly, as she +advanced to rescue her garments. But the twins backed away, stepping on +the skirt.</p> + +<p>"Paul—Dodo—give those to sister at once!" commanded Mollie.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Us will—for tandy!" stipulated Paul, craftily.</p> + +<p>"Oh, if I only had some!" exclaimed Mollie.</p> + +<p>"Allow me," volunteered Grace, producing a bag. "Here, children."</p> + +<p>"Not while they have my things!" cried Mollie. "Chocolate on my white +waist—never! Put the things down. Paul—Dodo, and Grace will give you +candy."</p> + +<p>"Oo dot tandy?" asked Dodo, looking doubtfully at Grace.</p> + +<p>"Yes," and she opened the bag to show them. This was evidence enough, +and the garments were placed where they belonged, Mollie hastening in to +lay them straight again.</p> + +<p>The little tea was a success, in spite of the invasion of the twins. The +girls were bidden farewell by their friends—rather envious friends, to +be frank—for who would not envy one a trip to sunny Florida with its +flowers in the midst of winter?</p> + +<p>The motor boat had been crated and shipped. Mr. Stonington had arranged +his business for a long stay in the South, and all was in readiness for +the trip. The girls had decided on a hundred and one things to take with +them, and had rejected as many, only to make new selections. But finally +even their exacting tastes were grati<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span>fied, and satisfied, and their +trunks were ready to go.</p> + +<p>"But oh, I do wish Aunty Stonington was better," sighed Amy, the day +before that set for their departure.</p> + +<p>"Why, is she worse?" asked Betty.</p> + +<p>"She seems very weak. Uncle is quite worried about her, though the +doctor says the change will benefit her as soon as we get there. But I +am afraid about the trip, though we are to go in a compartment car, and +won't have to change."</p> + +<p>"That will be lovely," said Grace. "We'll look after your aunt for you, +Amy."</p> + +<p>"That's sweet of you girls. Perhaps it will not be as bad as I fear. But +she seems failing rapidly. The winter has been unusually severe for +her."</p> + +<p>"And poor mamma is not herself," murmured Grace. "Lack of news from Will +seems to prey on her mind. But there! don't let's talk any more about +our troubles. Let's look on the bright side of the clouds. I'm sure we +ought to just hug Amy to pieces for giving us this nice trip."</p> + +<p>"Well, please leave enough pieces of me so I can eat an orange or two +when we get to Florida," laughed Amy.</p> + +<p>"Also enough to catch a few alligators," added Betty.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't you mention the horrid things!" cried Grace with a nervous +shiver. "Are there really any there, Amy? Say no, my dear, and I'll give +you two chocolates."</p> + +<p>"Well, there are some," said Amy, who never could seem to dissimulate. +"But Uncle Stonington says they are small—at least, near where we are +going. Some people have them for pets."</p> + +<p>"Mercy!" cried Grace. "I'd as soon have a pet snake."</p> + +<p>"Well, we won't worry about them until we get bitten," suggested Mollie. +"And perhaps their bark is worse than their bite. Do they bark, Amy?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I don't know."</p> + +<p>"No, they cry—like babies," said Grace. "Don't you remember 'alligator +tears?'"</p> + +<p>"She's thinking of crocodiles," said Betty. "Or else alligator pears."</p> + +<p>"Worse and worse," protested Mollie. "We'll have the fauna and flora of +Florida hopelessly mixed before we get through. Now let's see if we have +everything packed," and they went over their list of belongings for the +tenth time.</p> + +<p>But all things must have an end, and so did their preparations. The day +of the start came, final good-byes were said, and with Mr. and Mrs. +Stonington the four outdoor girls took the train for the Sunny South.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>LAUNCHING THE BOAT</h3> + + +<p>"Can you smell the orange blossoms?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Aren't they delicious!"</p> + +<p>"It reminds me of a wedding—hark, can you hear the strains of +Mendelssohn?"</p> + +<p>"Those are frogs, Betty," laughed Mollie.</p> + +<p>The girls and Mr. and Mrs. Stonington were driving in a big +canopy-topped carriage along a Florida road, toward the orange grove on +the outskirts of the town of Bentonville. Their journey was over and at +last they were in Florida.</p> + +<p>"Oh, see the magnolias!" cried Grace, as they passed a tree in full +bloom, the fragrance being almost overpowering. "They are just like +those the boys sold us when the train stopped."</p> + +<p>"Only they smell much sweeter," said Betty.</p> + +<p>"Yes, almost too sweet," added Mollie.</p> + +<p>Their trip had been practically without incident, and certainly without +accident. There had been one or two delays, caused by various small +happenings, but finally they had steamed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> into the junction station, +where they took a way train for Bentonville.</p> + +<p>This last was a short trip, the one in the compartment car, without +change, having been rather monotonous. And yet not dull, for the girls +found much to talk about, to speculate upon and to wonder at.</p> + +<p>The snow, the cold and biting winds had gradually been left behind, and +Nature, coy and uncertain at first, had, with the advance into the +South, grown bolder. They had come from the land of bleakness and +barrenness—from the place of leafless trees—into the region of Summer, +almost in a day and night. They had exchanged snows for flowers.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Stonington had stood the trip well, though a trifle weary and worn +as the end of the journey came in sight. But the warm and balmy air of +the South seemed to revive her, and her cheeks, that had been pale, took +on a tinge of color.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am so glad," murmured Amy, and the others were glad with her.</p> + +<p>They had delayed at the Bentonville station long enough to make sure +that Betty's boat had arrived, and to send home telegrams telling of +their safe journey.</p> + +<p>They had been met by a man from the orange grove, a kindly Southern +worker, whose very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> nature seemed a protest against haste and worry.</p> + +<p>"Well," he greeted them slowly, "I see you all has arrived. Welcome, +folks! Now when you're ready we'll move along; but don't be in no rush. +It's too pow'ful warm to rush."</p> + +<p>Indeed it was warm, and the girls, who had changed to some of their +summer garments, felt the truth of this.</p> + +<p>"Oh, for a lawn waist and a white skirt, low canvas shoes and a palm +leaf fan!" sighed Mollie, as they drove beneath great trees that +tempered the heat of the sun.</p> + +<p>"Anything else?" asked Betty with a laugh.</p> + +<p>"Lemonade," suggested Amy. "Or, no, since we are on an orange plantation +I suppose orangeade would be more appropriate, girls."</p> + +<p>"Anything as long as it's cool," sighed Grace. "I declare, all my +chocolates have run together," and she looked with dismay into a box of +the confection she had been carrying.</p> + +<p>"No wonder—it's summer, and we left winter behind us," said Betty. +"You'll have to give up chocolates down here, Grace, my dear."</p> + +<p>"Or else keep them on ice," ventured Amy.</p> + +<p>A turn of the road brought them in full view of the orange grove in +which Mr. Stonington was interested, and at the sight a murmur of +pleased surprise broke from the girls.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And to think of going out there and picking oranges as one would +apples!" exclaimed Amy. "Doesn't it seem odd to see oranges that aren't +in a crate, or a fruit store?"</p> + +<p>"Some of those will be in crates 'fore night," said the driver. "We're +picking every day now. It's a good season, and we're making the most of +it," he added to Mr. Stonington.</p> + +<p>"Glad to hear it. You'll have to ship them as fast as you can with four +orange-hungry girls on hand," and he laughed at Amy and her chums.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Uncle Stonington!" Amy cried. "As if we could eat all the oranges +here!" and she looked over the rows and rows of fruit-laden trees.</p> + +<p>"You ain't no idea how many oranges you can eat, when yo'all get them +right off a tree," said the driver. "They taste different from the ones +you Northerners have, I tell you!"</p> + +<p>One of the foremen, whom Mr. Stonington had met before, came from the +grove to welcome them, and to show them the way to the bungalow they +were to occupy during their stay in the South.</p> + +<p>"We hope you will like it here," said the overseer, a Mr. Hammond.</p> + +<p>"I don't see how we could help it," said Mrs. Stonington. "I am in love +with the place al<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span>ready, and I feel so much better even with this little +taste of Summer."</p> + +<p>"That's good!" exclaimed her husband, with shining eyes.</p> + +<p>As the carriage stopped in front of a cool-looking bungalow, a +"comfortable-looking" colored "mammy" came to the door smiling +expansively.</p> + +<p>"Bress all yo' hea'ts!" she exclaimed. "Climb right down, and come in +yeah! I's got de fried chicken an' corn pone all ready fo' yo'all. An' +dere's soft crabs fo' dem as wants 'em, an' chicken-gumbo soup, an'——"</p> + +<p>"Hold on, Aunt Hannah!" exclaimed Mr. Hammond with a laugh. "Have a +little mercy on them. Maybe they are not hungry for all your good +things."</p> + +<p>"Oh, aren't we, though!" cried Mollie. "Just try me. I've always wanted +chicken fried in the Southern style."</p> + +<p>"You'll get it here," said Mr. Stonington.</p> + +<p>Let us pass over that first meal—something that the girls did not do by +any means—but the mere details of our friends arriving, getting +settled, and then of resting to enjoy life as they had never enjoyed it +before, can have little of interest to the reader. So, as I said, let us +pass over a few days.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> + +<p>Each one, it is true, brought something new and of peculiar interest to +the girls, but it was only because they had never before been in +Florida. To the residents it was all an old story—even the picking of +oranges.</p> + +<p>The grove was near a beautiful stream, not such a river as was the +Argono of Deepdale, but broader, more shallow and sluggish.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if there are alligators in it?" asked Betty, of one of the +pickers.</p> + +<p>"Not around here," he answered. "You have to go into the bayous, or +swamps, for them critters. Don't yo'all worry 'bout the 'gators."</p> + +<p>"We won't when we get in the <i>Gem</i>," said Betty. "I wonder when they +will bring her up and launch her?"</p> + +<p>"Let's go to the depot and find out," suggested Amy. "We can have a +carriage and team with a driver any time we want it, Uncle Stonington +said."</p> + +<p>At the freight office the boat was promised to them for the following +day, but it was two before this promise was kept.</p> + +<p>"You mustn't fret," said Mr. Stonington, when Betty grew rather +impatient. "Remember you are down South. Few persons hurry here."</p> + +<p>But finally the <i>Gem</i> arrived, and after some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> hard work she was +launched. Proudly she rode the river, as proudly as at Deepdale, and +Betty, with a little cry of joy, took her place at the wheel.</p> + +<p>Batteries and magneto were in place, some gasoline was provided, and a +little later the motor boat was ready for her first trip in Southern +waters.</p> + +<p>"All aboard!" cried Betty, as the engine was started.</p> + +<p>Slowly, but with gathering speed, the trim craft shot out into the +middle of the Mayfair.</p> + +<p>"Oh, this is just perfect!" breathed Mollie. There was a little cloud on +the face of Grace. They all knew what it was, and sympathized with her. +No news had come about Will.</p> + +<p>They puffed along, to the wonder and admiration <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'of of'">of</ins> many of the colored +pickers, who stopped to look—any excuse was good enough for +stopping—especially the sight of a motor boat. Suddenly Grace, who was +trailing her hand over the stern, gave a startled cry, and sprang up.</p> + +<p>"Oh! oh!" she screamed. "An alligator. I nearly touched the horrid +thing! Go ashore, Betty!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>ON A SAND BAR</h3> + + +<p>"Alligators!" screamed Amy. "Don't you dare say that, Grace!"</p> + +<p>"But it's so—I saw one—I nearly put my hand on his big black head. Oh, +isn't it horrid!"</p> + +<p>Grace and Amy were clinging to each other now in the middle of the boat. +Betty had turned about at their exclamations, and Mollie was gazing +curiously into the swirling water.</p> + +<p>"I don't see any alligator," she announced, unbelievingly. "Are you sure +you saw one, Grace?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I am. Oh, Betty! There's one now, just ahead of you. You're +going to run into him!"</p> + +<p>Betty turned her attention to guiding the boat only just in time. +Certainly something long and knobby and black was almost at the bow. She +veered to one side, and then exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Alligator! That was nothing but a log, Grace Ford! How silly of you!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Silly? Nothing of the sort. I tell you I did see an alligator."</p> + +<p>"It was a log—but it does look like one of the big creatures, though," +said Amy. "Oh, if it should have been one!"</p> + +<p>"Well, it couldn't eat us—here in the boat," said Mollie.</p> + +<p>"No, but it might have capsized us, and then—" Grace paused +suggestively.</p> + +<p>"'All's well that ends well,'" quoted Betty, as she turned the boat +nearer shore. "Some day we must take our lunch, and have a picnic +ashore. See the lovely Spanish moss hanging down from the trees. It's +like living history over again. Just think of it, how Balboa came here +and discovered the land, and——"</p> + +<p>"It wasn't Balboa, it was Ponce de Leon who located Florida," corrected +Mollie. "Don't you remember—Flowery Easter?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, so it was. Well, anyhow——"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 248px;"> +<img src="images/p084.jpg" width="248" height="400" alt=""THERE! THERE!" SCREAMED GRACE. "THERE'S AN ALLIGATOR!"" title=""THERE! THERE!" SCREAMED GRACE. "THERE'S AN ALLIGATOR!"" /> +<span class="caption">"THERE! THERE!" SCREAMED GRACE. "THERE'S AN ALLIGATOR!"—Page 76.</span> +</div> + +<div class='center'><i>The Outdoor Girls in Florida.</i></div> + +<p>"There—there!" screamed Grace. "There's an alligator, surely. It's +alive, too! Oh, dear! An alligator!"</p> + +<p>She pointed to something long and dark floating in the river—something +that seemed to be covered with scales and ridges—something that +suddenly turned up an ugly head, with bulging eyes, which looked fishily +at the girls in the boat.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then, with a swirl of its tail, the creature sank below the surface.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that was an alligator," said Betty quietly.</p> + +<p>"I told you it was," spoke Grace. "And to think I nearly had my hand on +it. Oh, I don't want to remember it."</p> + +<p>"But it didn't bite you," said practical Mollie.</p> + +<p>"If it had—well, the less said the better," remarked Betty. "Now let's +forget all about it and enjoy ourselves. Maybe there are only a few of +them here in the river."</p> + +<p>"I wonder what alligators are good for, anyhow?" came from Amy, as she +resumed her seat. "They don't seem fit for anything."</p> + +<p>"You forget about alligator bags," corrected Mollie. "What would we do +for valises and satchels if we had no alligators, I'd like to know?"</p> + +<p>"That's so," admitted Amy.</p> + +<p>Grace was looking over the surface of the river as though to see if any +more of the ugly creatures were in sight, but the water was unruffled +save by the wind.</p> + +<p>Not knowing the character of the stream Betty did not want to venture to +far. So, after going down about a mile or so, she turned the boat and +headed up stream. They passed a number of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> small boats, manned by +colored boys who were fishing, and the youngsters suspended operations +to gaze with mingled wonder and fear at Betty's swiftly-moving craft.</p> + +<p>They tied up at the small dock which extended out into the river at the +foot of the orange grove, well satisfied with their first trip, even +though they had been frightened by the alligators.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you will find one or two 'gators, now and then," said Mr. Hammond, +the overseer, when told of the girls' experience. "But they won't bother +you, especially in a big boat. Don't worry."</p> + +<p>But Grace was so nervous that night that she did not sleep well, and +Mrs. Stonington grew quite alarmed. Perhaps it was as much worry over +the fate of Will, as the recollection of her escape from the alligator, +that disturbed Grace.</p> + +<p>For no good news had come from Mr. Ford. He had set many influences at +work on the case, but so far nothing had come of his inquiries.</p> + +<p>Will seemed to have been taken into the interior of Florida, and there +lost. There were so many turpentine camps, or places where contract +labor was used to get out valuable wood, or other products, that a +complete inquiry would take a long time.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ford was as well as could be expected,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> Grace's father wrote, +though naturally very much worried. And Grace was worried too. If she +could have engaged actively in a search for her brother perhaps she +might not have fretted so. But it was harassing to sit idly by and let +others do the work.</p> + +<p>"Especially when we have already done so much," said Betty, agreeing +with her chum's view of the case.</p> + +<p>Watching the work of gathering oranges, occasionally themselves helping +somewhat, taking walks, drives and trips in the motor boat, made time +for the girls pass quickly.</p> + +<p>Then, one day, Betty said:</p> + +<p>"Girls, we must go on a picnic. Take our lunch and go down the river in +the boat. Go ashore and eat. We will do some exploring."</p> + +<p>"And perhaps find the fountain of youth that Ponce de Leon missed," +added Mollie.</p> + +<p>"If you find it, bring some of the water back," begged Mr. Stonington. +"You girls will not need it—I do."</p> + +<p>"We'll bottle some for you," promised Amy, laughing.</p> + +<p>Soon they were off in the <i>Gem</i> again, Grace, at least, keeping a wary +eye out for alligators. But they saw none of the unprepossessing +creatures.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Though perhaps we may meet with a sea-cow," suggested Betty, as she +looked for a pleasant place whereon to go ashore for lunch.</p> + +<p>"What's a sea-cow?" asked Mollie.</p> + +<p>"One that eats sea-weed," cried Amy.</p> + +<p>"No, I mean a manatee," went on Betty. "Don't you remember the big +creatures we saw in the New York aquarium a year or so ago?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes!" exclaimed Amy. "Well, they're not as bad as alligators—at +least they haven't such large mouths."</p> + +<p>"And they only eat—grass," added Mollie.</p> + +<p>Betty was sending her boat ahead at good speed, scanning the shores of +the river for some quiet cove into which to steer. The day was warm, and +the sun shone down unclouded. From the banks came the odor of flowers.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, as the boat chugged along, there came a momentary halt, as +though it had struck something.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" cried Grace.</p> + +<p>"Maybe an alligator has us," suggested Mollie with a laugh. For the +<i>Gem</i> went on as though nothing had happened.</p> + +<p>"Don't be silly!" chided Grace. "It was certainly something."</p> + +<p>Betty looked back a bit nervously, and glanced at the engine.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I hope the gasoline isn't giving out," she murmured.</p> + +<p>"The idea!" cried Grace.</p> + +<p>Then with a shock that threw all the girls forward in their seats the +<i>Gem</i> came to a sudden halt, and the engine raced furiously. Betty at +once shut off the power.</p> + +<p>"Oh, oh!" cried Grace. "What is it? Has an alligator got hold of us?"</p> + +<p>Betty looked over the bow. Then she said grimly:</p> + +<p>"We've run on a sand bar—that's all. Run on it good and hard, too. I +wonder if we can get off?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>DOUBTFUL HELP</h3> + + +<p>Betty's words caused her three chums to stare at her in wonder. Then, by +glancing over the side of the boat themselves, they confirmed what she +had said.</p> + +<p>"A—a sand bar," faltered Grace, sinking back among some cushions that +matched her dress wonderfully well. Mollie said later that Grace always +tried to match something, even if it was only her chocolates.</p> + +<p>"A plain, ordinary sand bar," repeated Betty. "One of the men at the +dock warned me about them, and even told me how to locate them, by the +peculiar ripple of the shallow water over them. But I forgot all about +it. Oh dear!"</p> + +<p>"Well, it can't be so very bad," spoke Mollie, who was idly splashing +the water with one hand. "We can't sink, that's a consolation."</p> + +<p>"Don't do that!" exclaimed Amy quickly. She had "cuddled" closer to +Betty following the shock as the boat came to a stop on the concealed +bar.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't do what?" asked Mollie wonderingly.</p> + +<p>"Put your hand in the water. There may be alligators, you know. I +think—I'm not sure—but I think I saw something like the head of one a +moment ago."</p> + +<p>Mollie pulled in her hand so suddenly that she flirted a little shower +of drops on all in the boat.</p> + +<p>"Stop it! You mean thing!" cried Grace.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I beg your pardon," spoke Mollie with elaborate politeness. "I +didn't think your sailor suit would spot—mine doesn't."</p> + +<p>"It isn't that—no indeed. I meant Amy—for bringing up such a topic as +alligators at this moment, when we can't move. And the ugly creatures +always come out on a sand bar to sun themselves; don't they?"</p> + +<p>"Not on this sand bar," asserted Betty. "It's under water. If it had +been out I should have seen it."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable, Grace," said Amy +humbly, "but really I did not think it was safe for Mollie to put her +hand in the water."</p> + +<p>"Of course it wasn't, you dear!" soothed Mollie, patting Amy softly on +the shoulder. "I wasn't thinking of what I was doing."</p> + +<p>"And I didn't mean anything, either," added Grace, thinking that perhaps +she and Mollie had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> not treated Amy with just the deference due a +hostess, for Amy did figure in that role.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all right," said Amy with a smile that seemed always full of +warm fellowship and feeling. "I know just how you feel."</p> + +<p>"Well, I feel wretched—there's no denying that," spoke Betty with a +sigh. "To think that I should run you girls on a sand bar, almost on our +first trip. Isn't it horrid?"</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll forgive her if she'll run us off again; won't we, girls?" +asked Grace, searching among the cushions.</p> + +<p>"Here it is," said Amy with another of her calm smiles, as she produced +the box of candy for which Grace was evidently searching.</p> + +<p>"Thanks. Well, Betty, are you going to get forgiven?"</p> + +<p>"Which means am I going to get you off this bar? Well, I'm going to do +my best. Wait until I take a look at the engine."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with it?" asked Mollie quickly, a new cause for alarm +dawning in her mind.</p> + +<p>"Nothing, I hope," replied Betty. "But we ran on the bar so suddenly +that it may be strained from its base."</p> + +<p>"Is it a baseball engine?" asked Grace languidly. She seemed to have +recovered her com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span>posure now. Whether it was the fact of her chocolates +being safe, or that there was no immediate danger of sinking, or that no +alligators were in sight, was not made manifest, but she certainly +seemed all right again.</p> + +<p>"It's enough of a ball game to have a base, and to be obliged to hold +it," said Betty with a smile, as she bent over the machinery, testing +the bolts and nuts that held the motor to the bottom of the boat.</p> + +<p>"I guess it's all right," she added with a sigh of relief. "Now to see +if it will operate. But first I think we'd better see if we can push +ourselves off with the oars and boat hook," for Betty, knowing that the +best of motors may not "mote" at times, carried a pair of long sweeps by +which the <i>Gem</i> could laboriously be propelled in case of a break-down. +There was also a long hooked pole, for landing purposes.</p> + +<p>"Mollie, you take one of the oars, and I'll use the other," directed +Betty, for she realized that she and the French girl were stronger than +the others. "We'll let Grace and Amy use the hook. Then if we all push +together we may get off without further trouble. If that won't answer, +we'll try reversing the engine." The machinery had been shut down by +Betty immediately following the sudden stop on the bar.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> + +<p>About the stranded craft swirled the muddy river. Bits of +driftwood—logs and sticks—floated down, and sometimes there was seen +what looked to be the long, knobby nose of an alligator, but the girls +were not sure enough of this, and, truth to tell, they much preferred to +think of the objects as black logs, or bits of wood. It was much more +comforting.</p> + +<p>"Are you all ready?" asked the Little Captain as she took her place on +one side, well up in the bow, Mollie taking a similar position on the +other side. Each held one of the long oars.</p> + +<p>"All ready," answered Amy, who had taken up the boat hook.</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute," begged Grace, looking for something on which to cleanse +her hands of the brown smudge of chocolate. "This candy is so sticky!"</p> + +<p>"There's the whole river to wash in," said Mollie. "'Water, water +everywhere,' and not any solid enough to go ashore on," she concluded +with a laugh.</p> + +<p>"I'll never dip my hands in this water—not until I can see bottom," +declared Grace, finally selecting a bit of rag that Betty used to polish +the brass work of the engine.</p> + +<p>"As if it would hurt to take hold of the boat hook with chocolate +fingers," spoke Mollie a bit<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> sharply. "At any rate one could wash the +pole without fear if its being nipped by an alligator."</p> + +<p>"Don't be silly," directed Grace with flashing eyes.</p> + +<p>"Well, don't eat so much candy then."</p> + +<p>"Come, girls, if we're going to get off the bar it's time we tried it," +suggested Betty with a smile. She did not want the two tempers, that +seemed often on the verge of striking fire, one from the other, to +kindle now. There was enough of other trouble, she reasoned.</p> + +<p>The oars and pole were thrust into the water ahead of the boat. Bottom +was found within a few inches, showing how shallow was the stream over +the bar. The prow of the <i>Gem</i> seemed to have buried itself deeply in +it.</p> + +<p>They pushed and pushed and pushed again, but the only noticeable effect +was the bending of the slender pole of the boathook on which Grace and +Amy were shoving with all their strength. The motor boat did not budge.</p> + +<p>"Once more!" cried Betty. "I think it moved a little."</p> + +<p>"I wish—I could—think so!" panted Mollie, as she shifted the position +of her oar.</p> + +<p>Again they all bent to the task, and Amy and Grace combining their +strength on the pole caused it to bend more than ever.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Stop!" cried Betty, in some alarm. "It will break, and I don't know +where I can get another. We'd better try reversing the engine."</p> + +<p>She sat down in the cushioned cockpit, an example followed by the +others. They were breathing rather hard, and presently Betty went into +the cabin and came out with some iced orangeade that had been put aboard +in a vacuum bottle to retain its coolness.</p> + +<p>"Here," she invited, "let's refresh ourselves a bit. I can see that we +are going to have trouble."</p> + +<p>"Trouble?" queried Amy, looking at her chums.</p> + +<p>"Yes. We aren't going to get off as easily as I thought."</p> + +<p>"Do you think we'll ever get off?" asked Grace.</p> + +<p>"Of course we will," declared Betty promptly.</p> + +<p>"I'll never wade or swim ashore—not with the river full of such nasty +alligators!" announced Grace.</p> + +<p>"Wait until you're asked," cried Mollie. "I'm sure we can get off when +the motor is reversed."</p> + +<p>"The propeller seems to be in deep water," spoke Betty, taking an +observation over the stern. "Come back here, girls, and sit down."</p> + +<p>"It's more comfortable here," objected Grace,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> languidly. "In fact, if +it were not for the fact of being stranded I should like it here." The +cockpit was covered by an awning which kept off the hot rays of the sun, +and the cushions, as Grace said, were very comfortable.</p> + +<p>"But I want to get all the weight possible in the stern," Betty +insisted. "That will raise the bow."</p> + +<p>Understanding what was required of them, the girls moved aft, and +perched on the flat, broad deck, while Betty went to start the motor and +slip in the reverse clutch.</p> + +<p>The engine seemed a bit averse to starting at first, and, for a few +seconds, Betty feared that it had suffered some damage. But suddenly it +began to hum and throb, gaining in momentum quickly, as it was running +free. Betty slowed it down at the throttle, and then, looking aft to see +that all was clear, she slipped in the clutch that reversed the +propeller.</p> + +<p>There was a smother of foam under the stern of the <i>Gem</i>, which trembled +and throbbed with the vibration. Betty turned on more power, until +finally the maximum, under the circumstances, was reached.</p> + +<p>"Are we moving?" she called, anxiously, to her chums.</p> + +<p>"Not an inch!" answered Mollie, leaning over<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> to look at the surface of +the water. "Not an inch."</p> + +<p>"We'll try it a little longer," said Betty. "Sometimes it takes a little +while to pull loose from the sand."</p> + +<p>"Suppose some of us go up in the bow and push?" suggested Mollie. "That +may help some."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps; and yet I want to keep the bow as light as possible, so it +won't settle down any more in the sand."</p> + +<p>"I'll go," volunteered Mollie. "One can't make much difference. And I am +not so very heavy."</p> + +<p>"All right," agreed Betty.</p> + +<p>With one of the oars Mollie pushed hard down into the holding sand, +while Betty kept the motor going at full speed, reversed.</p> + +<p>But the <i>Gem</i> seemed too fond of her new location to quit it speedily, +and the girls, looking anxiously over the side, could see no change in +their position.</p> + +<p>"It doesn't seem to do any good," wailed Betty, hopelessly, as she +slowed down the engine. The water about the craft was very muddy and +thick now, caused by the propeller stirring up the bottom of the river.</p> + +<p>"I guess we'll have to wade, or swim, ashore,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> said Amy, in what she +meant to be a cheerful voice.</p> + +<p>"Never!" cried Grace. "I'll stay here until someone comes for us. Say, +we haven't called for help!" she exclaimed, with sudden thought. "We're +not so far from either shore but what we could make ourselves heard, I +think. Let's give a good call!"</p> + +<p>"That's so," agreed Mollie. "I never thought of that."</p> + +<p>The girls looked across to the distant shores. True enough, the banks +were not far off—too far to wade or swim, perhaps, but as the day was +calm and still their voices might possibly carry.</p> + +<p>"There doesn't seem to be much of a population on either side," observed +Betty, grimly. "Still there may be houses back from the shore, hidden by +the trees. Now, all together."</p> + +<p>They raised their fresh young voices in a combined call that certainly +must have <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'caried'">carried</ins> to both shores. Then they waited, but nothing +happened. Again they called, and again—several times.</p> + +<p>"I'll give the first man who comes for us in a boat all the chocolates I +have left," bribed Grace. No one appeared to accept.</p> + +<p>Again they called, after a little rest, and a sipping of what remained +of the orangeade. But<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> to no purpose did their appeals for aid float +across across the stretch of muddy water.</p> + +<p>Once more Betty tried reversing the engine, and again the girls pushed +with the oars and pole. The <i>Gem</i> remained fast on the sandy bar.</p> + +<p>"I wonder how it would do if I got out and dug around the bow?" +suggested Betty. "The water is shallow on the bar—hardly over my +ankles."</p> + +<p>"Don't you do it!" cried Grace. "Those horrid——"</p> + +<p>"Hark!" cried Mollie, with upraised hand, "I hear something."</p> + +<p>Through the stillness they could all note the regular staccato puffing +of the exhaust of a gasoline motor. It drew nearer.</p> + +<p>"It's a boat coming!" <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'crid'">cried</ins> Betty.</p> + +<p>A moment later a motor craft swung into view around an upper bend, +coming swiftly down the river. But at the sight of it the girls gave a +gasp, for it was filled with roughly dressed colored men, while in the +stern sat a white man of even more villainous appearance than the +blacks. And the boat was headed straight for the stranded <i>Gem</i>. Help +was coming indeed, but it was of doubtful quality.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>INTO THE INTERIOR</h3> + + +<p>"Oh, dear!" cried Grace, as she shrank back against Betty. "Oh, dear."</p> + +<p>"Those—those men," breathed Amy, who also seemed to be looking about +for some sort of physical support. "See, Betty!"</p> + +<p>They both seemed to depend on the "Little Captain" in this emergency. As +for Mollie, her dark eyes flashed, and she looked at Betty with a nod of +encouragement. Whatever happened, these two would stand together, at any +rate.</p> + +<p>"Don't be silly!" exclaimed Betty, stilling the wild beating of her own +heart by the reflection that she must be brave for the sake of others.</p> + +<p>"But they are coming right toward us!" gasped Grace, making a move as +though to hide in the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Of course they are!" exclaimed Mollie, quickly. "They are going to help +us; aren't they, Betty?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I hope so," was the low-voiced answer. "One thing, girls, +speak very carefully.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> Sound carries very distinctly over water, you +know."</p> + +<p>"They are coming toward us," added Amy, shrinking closer to Betty. There +was no doubt of that. The eyes of all in the approaching motor boat, +which was a powerful craft, were fixed on the girls in the <i>Gem</i>, and it +was a strange sight to see the eyes of the colored men, with so much of +the white showing in contrast to their dark faces, staring fixedly at +our friends. Grace caught herself in a half-hysterical laugh.</p> + +<p>"They looked just like those queer china dolls," she explained +afterward.</p> + +<p>The white man steering the boat was almost as dark in complexion as were +his companions, but at least he was white—the girls were sure of that.</p> + +<p>"I guess they know we have run on a sand bar," Betty explained, in as +calm a voice as she could bring to her need. "They are avoiding it +themselves."</p> + +<p>As she spoke the other boat made a wide sweep and then, having gone down +past the <i>Gem</i>, it again swept in on a curve, now being headed up +stream.</p> + +<p>"Stuck?" called the white steersman, and his voice was not unpleasant, +though a bit domineering, Betty thought.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But perhaps this is because he is used to giving orders," she +reflected.</p> + +<p>"Yes; we are on a sand bar, I'm afraid," she answered, and smiled.</p> + +<p>"Look natural!" she commanded to the others a moment later, her voice +not reaching the men in the other craft, she felt sure, for the clutch +of the relief boat had been thrown out and the engine was racing, making +considerable noise. "Look as though we expected this," Betty commanded. +"There's nothing to fear. We are not far from home."</p> + +<p>"Lots of folks get stuck on that bar," went on the man, who was bringing +his boat into a position favorable for giving aid to the <i>Gem</i>. "It +ought to be buoyed, or marked in some way. You're strangers around here, +I take it," he went on.</p> + +<p>"Yes, from Mr. Stonington's orange grove," said Betty, simply. "If you +will kindly pull us off this bar we will gladly pay you for your +trouble."</p> + +<p>Was it fancy, or did Betty detect fierce and eager gleams in the eyes of +the colored men?</p> + +<p>"Oh, shucks!" exclaimed the steersman, quickly. "I've pulled lots of +bigger boats than yours off that bar. And not for pay, neither. Can you +catch a rope?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," said Mollie, quickly, determined to second Betty's efforts to +appear at ease. "We've done considerable cruising."</p> + +<p>"That's good. Well, you want to know this river before you do much more. +It's treacherous. Sam, throw that rope while I put us up a little +closer," he commanded.</p> + +<p>"Yes, boss," was the reply of a big colored man in the bow.</p> + +<p>Both Mollie and Betty grasped for the rope as it came uncoiling toward +them.</p> + +<p>"That's good," complimented the man. "Now can you make it fast? Have you +a ring-bolt there?"</p> + +<p>"No, but there's a deck-cleat," spoke Betty.</p> + +<p>"Just the same. Now, then, I'm going to turn about and try to haul you +off, pointing my bow down stream. This boat works better on the direct +clutch than in reverse. And when I start to pull, you'd better reverse +your motor. Can you do it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," answered Betty.</p> + +<p>"Good. You do know something about boats. So you're from the orange +grove; eh? I heard the new owner had come on. Need any men down there?" +and he seemed quite business-like.</p> + +<p>"I—I don't know," faltered Betty, looking at Amy. "Mr. Stonington +hasn't told us anything<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> about that. This is his niece," and she nodded +at Amy.</p> + +<p>"Oh, is that so! Well, if he should happen to need any pickers, I can +supply him. Hank Belton is my name. I supply laborers for lots of orange +growers and others. I'm the biggest dealer in labor around here; ain't +I, boys?" and he appealed to the colored men.</p> + +<p>"Dat's what you am, boss!" exclaimed one, with a chuckle.</p> + +<p>"And I always treats my help right, no matter what happens after they +hire out; don't I, boys?"</p> + +<p>"Suah!" came in a chorus.</p> + +<p>"So just remind Mr. Stonington about me," the man went on with what he +evidently meant for a friendly smile, but which made the girls shudder. +"My place is at Penbrook—about ten miles up the river. Now, then, have +you that rope fast?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Betty.</p> + +<p>"Get ready then—I'm going to pull you. And start your motor as soon as +the tow rope gets taut!"</p> + +<p>"All right," answered Betty in business-like tones.</p> + +<p>The tow rope straightened out as the other motor boat started down +stream. Betty watched,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> and, when she thought the proper time had come, +she started her motor on the reverse.</p> + +<p>For a moment it seemed that, even with this, the <i>Gem</i> would not come +off the bar, and the girls looked anxiously over the side to detect the +first motion.</p> + +<p>Then there came a quiver to the stranded boat, and a shout from the +colored men:</p> + +<p>"She's movin', boss!"</p> + +<p>"Turn on a little more gas!" cried the steersman to Betty. "I think we +have her now!"</p> + +<p>She speeded up her motor, and in another instant the <i>Gem</i> came free so +suddenly that there was danger of a collision.</p> + +<p>"Shut down!" called Hank Belton quickly. "You're all right now."</p> + +<p>Betty turned off the power, and Mollie cast loose the tow rope.</p> + +<p>"Thank you very much," she called to the man.</p> + +<p>"I wish you would let us pay you," added Betty.</p> + +<p>"Nary a pay, Miss," was his answer. "I'm glad I could help you. Just +give my message to Mr. Stonington, and I'll be obliged to you. Better +back down a bit before you turn. That bar sticks out a ways. It's a +wonder you didn't hit it before. You can't draw much."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We don't!" answered Betty.</p> + +<p>The other boat was proceeding down stream now, the colored men looking +back with their rolling eyes. Betty started her engine on the reverse +again, and then, feeling sure that they were beyond the bar, she turned +and steered her craft back toward the orange grove. The picnic plan was +given up now as it was getting late and the girls were tired.</p> + +<p>"Thank goodness that's over!" exclaimed Grace, with a sigh of relief. +"Oh, I was so frightened!"</p> + +<p>"At what?" asked Mollie.</p> + +<p>"I—I don't know."</p> + +<p>"Well, it was very kind of them," said Betty. "We might have had to stay +there a long time."</p> + +<p>"And I'm going to tell Uncle Stonington," spoke Amy. "He may want to +hire men, for there are many more oranges to pick."</p> + +<p>Grace sat thoughtfully on the cushions, neglecting even to eat her +chocolates.</p> + +<p>"'A penny for your thoughts,'" offered Betty.</p> + +<p>"I was just wondering," said Grace slowly, "that perhaps that man might +know something of the labor contractor who has Will in the toils. I wish +I had thought to ask."</p> + +<p>"That's so!" cried Mollie. "But we can find<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> him again. It will give us +something to do, Betty. We can come up the river again."</p> + +<p>"And I'll be sure to keep away from that sand bar," declared the Little +Captain.</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Stonington were quite alarmed when the girls told of their +adventure.</p> + +<p>"They weren't in any real danger," declared Mr. Hammond, the overseer. +"The river isn't deep nor swift, and there are boats going up and down +quite often."</p> + +<p>"But what about those rough men?" asked Mrs. Stonington.</p> + +<p>"Oh, rough is the worst thing you can say against them. They aren't +really bad. Belton has the best supply of laborers around here. Probably +he was taking those men down to Hanson's grove. We will need pickers +ourselves next week, Mr. Stonington, and I don't believe we can do any +better than to get them from Belton."</p> + +<p>"Very well, Mr. Hammond; whatever you say."</p> + +<p>"And that will be a chance to repay him for his kindness to us," added +Betty.</p> + +<p>"And perhaps we can get some news of my brother," spoke Grace, +wistfully, for there had come no word from those who were searching for +the missing youth.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'd like to go and ask myself," went on Grace.</p> + +<p>"Well, there's no reason why you shouldn't," said Mr. Hammond. "I'll be +going up the river in a day or so, and if you think we'll hire of Belton +I'll tell him so," he said to Mr. Stonington.</p> + +<p>"Yes, if you like, Mr. Hammond."</p> + +<p>"All right, then I'll pilot the girls to his camp if their boat will +hold me."</p> + +<p>"Indeed it will!" exclaimed Betty, "and you can tell me how to avoid +sand bars."</p> + +<p>"Belton's place is a little way into the interior from the river," went +on Mr. Hammond, "but it's a safe road."</p> + +<p>"Then we'll go," decided Betty.</p> + +<p>The next few days were filled with small incidents of little interest. +The girls motored about, and did some fishing in the river, catching a +variety of specimens, few of which were pronounced fit for the table. +But they enjoyed themselves very much.</p> + +<p>They wandered about in the orange grove, eating as much of the delicious +fruit as they chose. Sometimes they took walks with Mrs. Stonington, who +was slowly regaining her health. Mr. Stonington was kept busy seeing to +the details of the business, that was new to him.</p> + +<p>One night Mr. Hammond said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I think we'll need those pickers to-morrow, or next day, Mr. +Stonington."</p> + +<p>"Very well, then get them. The girls can take you up to Belton's camp."</p> + +<p>"And perhaps I can get some word of Will," observed Grace hopefully.</p> + +<p>The trip up the river was devoid of incident, except that Betty nearly +ran on another sand bar, being warned just in time by Mr. Hammond. Then +they reached the landing where Belton's boat was moored.</p> + +<p>"That shows he's in camp," said the foreman, as he helped the girls tie +the <i>Gem</i>. Then they struck off into the interior, not a few doubts +tugging at the girls' hearts. It was very wild and desolate, the +Everglades being not far distant.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>A WARNING</h3> + + +<p>Trailing vines hung from great trees on either side of the path. Large +bunches of Spanish moss festooned other monarchs of the forest, which +seemed gloomy indeed as the girls gazed off into it. Now and then some +creature of the woods, disturbed by the passage of the party, would take +flight and scurry off, fly away or slink deeper into the fastness, +according to its nature.</p> + +<p>"Ugh!" exclaimed Grace in a low voice, as she walked along behind Betty, +"I don't like it here!"</p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked Mollie, who was in the rear of Grace. "I think it is +most romantic. Just think—we may be treading over the very ground where +de Leon and his men searched for that fountain of perpetual youth."</p> + +<p>"What was that?" asked Mr. Hammond, turning about interestedly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, one of the old discoverers was searching for a fountain to keep him +young," explained Betty, with a smile.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Huh! He'd better be careful of what he drinks in these woods," said the +overseer. "There's water that's deadly poison, to say nothing of the +moccasins and copperheads in some of the swamps. If that fellow is a +friend of yours warn him to be careful."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he died some years ago," explained Mollie, trying not to laugh.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, then that's all right," and the overseer seemed relieved. +"Yes, you want to be careful of what you drink in these wilds. Of course +a good clear spring is all right, and generally you'll find a cocoanut +shell, or something like that, near it to drink from. That's a sign it's +good water."</p> + +<p>"What are those other things?" asked Amy. "Cottontails—did you call +them—do you mean rabbits?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed. I mean snakes."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" screamed the girls in chorus.</p> + +<p>"They call 'em cotton mouths because their lips are white," Mr. Hammond +explained, "and it looks as though they were chewing cotton. They're +deadly too, and so are the copperheads, which look just like that color. +Be careful of 'em."</p> + +<p>"I—I don't believe I want to go any farther," faltered Grace, hanging +back.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, there's none along this trail!" the overseer hastened to assure +her. "It's only where there's not much travel. Just keep a sharp +lookout—that's all."</p> + +<p>They went on in Indian file, for the path was narrow. As they penetrated +deeper into the interior the woods became more and more gloomy until +even brave Betty began to feel a bit doubtful as to the wisdom of +coming. But she knew Mr. Hammond could be trusted to see that no harm +came to them.</p> + +<p>The path widened now and they came to a little clearing. On one edge of +it stood a hut before which was an old man—so old in fact that to the +outdoor girls he seemed like a wizened monkey.</p> + +<p>"Mercy! Who's that?" whispered Mollie.</p> + +<p>"An Indian," answered Mr. Hammond.</p> + +<p>"An Indian?" queried Betty.</p> + +<p>"Yes, one of the Seminoles. He's all right, and a friend of mine. Hello, +Ko-dah!" called Mr. Hammond, adding something in a sort of jargon, to +which the aged man replied. He seemed more like a negro than an Indian.</p> + +<p>"He claims to be over a hundred years old," went on Mr. Hammond, as he +and the party passed through the clearing. "And he sure looks it. His +wife is nearly as old."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span></p> + +<p>As they went on they heard ahead of them the not unpleasant strains of a +negro melody.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" asked Grace, coming to a stop.</p> + +<p>"We're near Belton's place," explained the foreman. "He keeps quite a +lot of hands in readiness, and they pass away the time singing and +eating until they're hired. I hope he has some good ones for us. The +oranges need picking quickly now."</p> + +<p>A minute later the party emerged into a large clearing about which were +grouped many huts, in front of which, and lolling in the shade of some, +were a score or more of colored men. They set up a call for "Boss," as +Mr. Hammond came in sight.</p> + +<p>"Howdy, Hammond!" greeted the labor contractor, as he came out of the +best-looking house in the clearing. "Why, it's the girls I hauled off +the sand bar!" he added, as he recognized Betty and her chums. "Did you +get home all right?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and we've come to do as you said, and hire some help for Mr. +Stonington," ventured Betty, blushing a bit at her boldness.</p> + +<p>"Good!" exclaimed Mr. Belton. "I've got just the kind of pickers you +want, Hammond. Quick, cheerful lot of boys, that will work from sunrise +to sunset."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's what you always say," laughed Mr. Hammond. "I guess they won't +be much worse than the usual run. Now let's talk business," and the two +men walked off to one side.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I forgot," called the contractor. "Young ladies, my wife is up in +that cabin," and he pointed to the one he had just left. "She'll be glad +to see you and make you a cup of tea. Sue!" he called, "take care of Mr. +Stonington's girls!" and a woman appearing in the doorway waved a +friendly greeting to the chums.</p> + +<p>Over the teacups, in a cleaner and neater cabin than one would suspect +it to be from a glance at the outside, the girls told of their trip. +Mrs. Belton said her husband had told her of their predicament on the +sand bar.</p> + +<p>"How do you like it in Florida?" she asked, after a pause.</p> + +<p>"I'd like it better if I could find my brother," said Grace. "He's +here—lost—in some turpentine swamp, we are afraid. I wonder if Mr. +Belton could give us any information, since he is in the labor +contracting business?"</p> + +<p>"You can ask him when he comes back," said his wife.</p> + +<p>"And if we can get any trace of Will we'll go there and get him out of +the clutches of those men," went on Grace.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Belton started from her chair.</p> + +<p>"Don't you do it, honey! Don't you do it!" she exclaimed earnestly. +"Keep away from the turpentine camps whatever you do. There's a +desperate lot of men there—convicts a lot of 'em, and there's worse men +guarding 'em. Keep away if you know what is good for you," and she +looked earnestly at Grace, who paled as she thought of poor Will.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>A STRANGE TOW</h3> + + +<p>Betty, as well as Grace, Mollie and Amy, seemed much taken aback by the +earnest words of Mrs. Belton. The wife of the labor contractor seemed +under stress of some excitement, as she faced the girls after the +warning.</p> + +<p>"Don't go!" she went on. "Don't any of you think of going! I used to +think my husband dealt with a rough enough class of men, but those in +the interior—in the turpentine camps, and cypress swamps—oh, they are +the most lawless element you can imagine. And no wonder, for no men, +unless they are compelled, will work with those contractors. They have +to keep their men just like prisoners."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear, don't tell me any more!" begged Grace, her eyes filling with +tears as she thought of her brother.</p> + +<p>"But perhaps Will isn't treated as the others are," suggested Betty, +giving the woman a look she understood. "He went there under differ<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span>ent +circumstances than the others, and he may receive consideration."</p> + +<p>"Of course I don't know all the circumstances," went on Mrs. Belton as +she nodded at Betty to show that she would be more careful in what she +said. "He may be favored. Of course not all the contractors are cruel, +but they have to deal with a bad class of men, and that makes them +harsh, perhaps. But take my advice, and don't go near one of those +places under any circumstances. Please don't!"</p> + +<p>"Don't go where?" asked her husband, coming in at that moment with Mr. +Hammond. "Are the girls thinking of going cruising among the +Everglades?" and he laughed heartily. Betty was beginning to like him +very much, as were the other girls. He was rough, and uncouth, but he +seemed honest and sincere, and his wife, a hard-working woman, had given +of her best hospitality to the visitors.</p> + +<p>"No, they weren't talking of the Everglades," said Mrs. Belton. "This +young lady thinks her brother may have been taken to one of the +turpentine camps, or other camps in the interior, and she wants to +rescue him. I was telling her to keep away."</p> + +<p>"And that's good advice," agreed Mr. Belton, more seriously than he had +yet spoken. "I don't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> mind mixing up with some men, but those contract +laborers are pretty bad. My men are nothing to them, though I do get a +hard customer once in a while."</p> + +<p>"But what can we do?" Grace besought. "If Will is there we must get him +away! Of course I'm not sure, but papa is looking everywhere for him, +and the best clue we got was that he was somewhere in the interior of +here."</p> + +<p>"Then take my advice, and let the authorities do the searching," said +Mr. Belton. "The season won't last much longer, and they may discharge a +lot of their men—these contractors may. Then your brother could come +out of his own accord."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but it is so long to wait!" cried Grace. "Surely there must be some +way," and she looked pleadingly at the two men.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know," said Mr. Belton slowly. "I'll do all I can to help +you, and so will any of my men. And I think Hammond, here, will say the +same thing."</p> + +<p>"Surely!" exclaimed the overseer. "But the question is—what could we +do?"</p> + +<p>"We'd first have to locate the camp," said the labor man. "After that we +could talk business. It would depend on who was running it, and where it +was. I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll keep<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> my eyes and ears open, and +when I hear anything I'll let you know, Miss. What sort of a looking +young man might your brother be?"</p> + +<p>Grace described Will accurately, enough so that Mr. Belton said he would +know him if he saw or heard of him.</p> + +<p>"And now are you young ladies ready to go back?" asked Mr. Hammond, as +he smiled at Betty and her <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'chusm'">chums</ins>.</p> + +<p>"Quite," she answered. "We have had a good view of the interior of +Florida."</p> + +<p>"Oh, shucks!" exclaimed the labor contractor. "Begging your pardon, +Miss, for that kind of talk. But you haven't seen anything of the +interior yet. There's parts I wouldn't want to trust myself to, not with +all of my men behind me, and I'm not a scary sort of an individual, +either. There's parts no one has ever been in, I reckon. Don't you say +so, Hammond?"</p> + +<p>"That's what I do!" was the emphatic answer. "Well, are you ready, +girls?"</p> + +<p>They left, bidding Mr. and Mrs. Belton good-bye, and Grace received +renewed promises that all possible would be done to locate her brother.</p> + +<p>Mr. Belton promised to bring a boat-load of laborers to the orange grove +in the morning, and as the visitors left they heard the soft strains of +one of the negro songs following them through<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> the deep woods. The +effect was weird in the extreme, especially when they reached the denser +parts of the forest.</p> + +<p>Good time was made back to "Orangeade," as the girls had christened the +bungalow in the grove, the boat running well. Mr. Hammond complimented +the girls on the manner in which they ran the craft, each taking a turn +at steering, while the overseer imparted instructions as to various sand +bars and shallow places along the course.</p> + +<p>Mr. Stonington was much interested in the report brought back by the +girls regarding the lawlessness of the interior camps, and he agreed +with Mr. Hammond that if any attempt at a rescue should be made a number +of reliable men must be taken along.</p> + +<p>"And I must write to father!" exclaimed Grace, "and ask if he has any +clues. He may be able to give us some aid in locating the neighborhood +of the camp. Oh, if Will could only know we are here, and would send us +a letter! Just think, girls! He doesn't even know we are in Florida!"</p> + +<p>"It does seem strange," remarked Mollie. "Usually wherever we go we see +the boys once in a while."</p> + +<p>"It is lonesome without them," said Betty im<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span>pulsively. "I wonder if +there is any chance of them coming down this summer?"</p> + +<p>"It's winter—up where they are," remarked Amy.</p> + +<p>"Oh, every place is summer to Betty when she thinks of a certain young +man; summer and orange blossoms," drawled Grace.</p> + +<p>"Don't be silly!" snapped Betty, with a vivid blush. "You know I meant +<i>all</i> the boys—not one!"</p> + +<p>"Selfish girl—she wants them all!" laughed Mollie.</p> + +<p>Glorious were they—those winter days in Florida, where the outdoor +girls enjoyed themselves to the utmost. Had it not been for one little +rift in the lute, their pleasure and happiness would have been +complete—and that rift was the absence of Will. Grace seemed to feel it +more keenly as day passed day and no word came.</p> + +<p>Her father did write saying that the inquiry was progressing slowly, and +that it would take some time to have scanned each list of minor +offenders who had been "hired" out to contractors under an old law, +operative only in certain cases. As for naming any special locality +where Will might be, that was impossible, as yet.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Stonington seemed very much improved by her stay in the South, but +she was not yet out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> of danger, the doctor said, and must use care. Her +husband and Amy were still anxious about her, and watched her carefully; +for, though she was no relation to Amy, she still acted, and in reality +was, almost as a mother to the girl.</p> + +<p>Amy's newly-found brother paid one visit to the bungalow in the orange +grove, but could not stay long, as his business was increasing. He +reported all well in Deepdale.</p> + +<p>"By the way," he said with a chuckle, "those old friends of yours, Alice +Jallow and Kittie Rossmore, have started a sort of automobile club. I +guess they're trying to rival you."</p> + +<p>"They're not friends of ours," said Mollie quickly, "and as for being +rivals—we refuse to consider them as such."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't blame you."</p> + +<p>The orange picking was in full swing now, and the girls spent many happy +days in the grove. They learned many new ways of eating oranges, and +marveled at the difference in flavor of the fruit picked from the trees, +from that as they recalled it in the North.</p> + +<p>The laborers supplied by Mr. Belton had proved to be good workers, and +more were sent for, the girls taking Mr. Hammond up to the clearing in +the motor boat to arrange about them. Grace hoped to have some news of +her brother,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> but the contractor said he had not been able to get any +clues.</p> + +<p>It was about a week after this, on a fine sunny day, not as warm as some +of its predecessors, that Betty proposed a trip in her motor boat.</p> + +<p>"Let's go quite a distance up the river," she suggested. "There are new +sights to see, Mr. Hammond says, and no bars to run upon after we pass +the landing where Mr. Belton docks. We may find some new streams or +lakes to explore, for we've been all over Lake Chad." This was so, the +girls soon having exhausted the possibilities of that body of water.</p> + +<p>"I'm willing," agreed Mollie.</p> + +<p>"And we can take our lunch, and stay all day," added Grace. "Oh dear! I +wish someone would invent non-melting chocolate!" she complained, for +her fingers were stained with the half-liquid confection.</p> + +<p>"Some non-eating ones would be better," said Mollie, with a laugh. "Just +the kind you look at, you know."</p> + +<p>"I don't think that's funny," spoke Grace, slightly elevating her pretty +nose.</p> + +<p>Finally they got started, after repeated injunctions from Mrs. +Stonington to "be careful," to all of which they dutifully promised +obedience.</p> + +<p>The trip was a delightful one, and no accidents<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> marred it. They swept +on up the river, which had hardly current enough to be noticeable. They +paused to admire pretty spots, and stopped for lunch in a "perfect +fairyland of a grove," to quote Amy. The <i>Gem</i> was anchored near an +overhanging tree which served to permit the girls to go ashore dry-shod.</p> + +<p>Merry indeed was the luncheon. Grace was passing the olives, when she +happened to glance toward the boat. Her surprise caused her to drop the +bottle in the box of crackers, as she cried:</p> + +<p>"Betty—look, your boat is adrift!"</p> + +<p>"So it is!" agreed the Little Captain, standing up. "I thought we +anchored it securely."</p> + +<p>"And look!" added Mollie, as she pointed. "It's going up stream! Can the +engine have started of itself?"</p> + +<p>"No, the clutch is out," said Betty, running down to the shore. +"Something is towing the boat up stream. See, the anchor rope is +extended out in front!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>THE TATTERED YOUTH</h3> + + +<p>Betty Nelson reached the bank of the river and stopped. She could go no +farther for the muddy water stretched itself at her feet. But her +boat—the trim little <i>Gem</i>—was moving slowly up the stream under the +influence of the mysterious something that was towing it away from the +girls.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" cried Grace. "What can we do? Betty—Mollie! We must stop it."</p> + +<p>"Yes; but how?" asked Mollie. She and the others had followed Betty to +the shore.</p> + +<p>"We must find another boat, and catch the <i>Gem!</i>" cried Amy. "It isn't +going very fast."</p> + +<p>"If we only could!" murmured Betty, looking helplessly around. But no +other boat was in sight. "We must do something," she went on. "We'll be +marooned if we stay here!"</p> + +<p>"But what can be towing our boat?" asked Mollie. She stood on the bank, +nervously twining her fingers in and out, weaving them back and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> forth +as she always did when puzzled or alarmed. "Is it the current taking it +away, Betty?"</p> + +<p>"But it's going against the current," Grace pointed out. "Some animal +must have become entangled in the anchor or painter, Betty. An +alligator, perhaps."</p> + +<p>"That's it!" cried Mollie. "An alligator is running away with our boat. +Oh, Betty!"</p> + +<p>"It may be that," admitted the Little Captain, as she gazed after her +craft. "I didn't think of it, but that's probably what it is. I don't +see the beast above the water, though. Do you, girls?"</p> + +<p>There was nothing visible except part of the anchor rope that extended +from the ring-bolt in the forward deck, over the stem and slanting down +into the water.</p> + +<p>"The alligator may be swimming just below the surface," was Mollie's +opinion. "He may come up pretty soon, and we can throw stones at it. +That's it, Betty. We must stone the creature and make it let go. Come +on!"</p> + +<p>Betty laughed. The others looked at Mollie curiously.</p> + +<p>"She—she's hysterical," murmured Grace.</p> + +<p>"I am not!" protested Mollie indignantly.</p> + +<p>"But the idea of throwing stones at an alligator!" cried Grace. "Why, +its hide will turn a bullet!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh!" exclaimed Amy blankly. "Then what can we do? We have no bullets!"</p> + +<p>"It isn't going very fast," observed Mollie as she watched the boat +moving slowly up the river. "We can run along the bank after it, and +maybe the beast will let go, or run ashore with the <i>Gem</i>. Then we could +get it."</p> + +<p>"Who—the boat or the alligator?" asked Betty, who seemed to be in +better spirits now, even in the face of trouble.</p> + +<p>"The boat, of course."</p> + +<p>"Then speak <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'af'">of</ins> the <i>Gem</i> as 'her' and the alligator as 'it,'" Betty +directed. "But I believe Mollie's plan is the only one we can adopt. We +must follow along the bank. Only I hope, if the alligator does let go, +it won't be in the middle of the river, for then our boat would float +down, and it might lodge on the other shore. Then we would be as badly +off as we are now. Oh, what a predicament! We seem to be getting into +nothing but trouble of late."</p> + +<p>"Never mind," consoled Amy. "Maybe this will be the last."</p> + +<p>"It's a comfort to think so, anyhow," agreed Grace. "I wonder why an +alligator ran off with our boat?"</p> + +<p>"A mere accident," was Betty's opinion. "Probably the creature was +swimming along<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> shore, and became entangled in our anchor rope. It may +be as much frightened as we are distressed. But come on, if we're going +to try to get the boat."</p> + +<p>Stumbling over the uneven way, the girls raced along the river bank. +Sometimes the boat appeared to be coming close in shore, and again it +would veer out.</p> + +<p>"I've just thought of something!" exclaimed Amy as they came up nearly +opposite the boat, for it was being towed more slowly now, as though the +creature having it in charge found it harder work.</p> + +<p>"Then do, for goodness sake, tell us what it is," demanded Mollie. "I'm +about played out."</p> + +<p>"If we threw stones on the other side of the alligator—I mean across, +between him and the other shore—it might scare him over this way."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" screamed Grace. "Don't you dare scare him over here!"</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean right here," went on Amy. "I only meant farther in toward +this shore. Then he might run aground and we could wade out and get the +boat."</p> + +<p>"Wade in the water that has an alligator in it!" cried Grace with a +shudder. "Never!"</p> + +<p>"Well, it might be a good plan to try," spoke Betty. "I see what Amy +means. When we were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> little, and used to play with toy boats, if one +went out too far we used to throw stones in the water beyond it, and the +waves would sometimes send it ashore. Now, if we did that, the alligator +might think someone on the other bank was throwing things at him, and he +would come over here. It's worth trying."</p> + +<p>"I am certain I can't throw straight," complained Grace.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, this isn't a ball game," said Mollie. "Any sort of throwing +will do for an alligator. Come on, now, all together."</p> + +<p>In spite of her protest, Grace managed to do fairly at the +stone-throwing. In fact the outdoor girls were what their name +implied—they could do many things that outdoor boys could do, and +throwing stones was one of their accomplishments. They had not played +basket ball for nothing.</p> + +<p>A shower of missiles fell into the water on the far side of whatever +creature was towing the <i>Gem</i>. For a few minutes no effect was produced, +and then the creature under water did seem to veer over toward the shore +where the girls were slowly walking along.</p> + +<p>"Gracious! If he really comes here!" cried Grace, getting ready to beat +a retreat.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid there's not much danger," spoke<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> Betty, in a low tone. "He +seems too fond of our boat."</p> + +<p>"Throw more stones!" directed Mollie, and another shower of small rocks +sailed through the air to fall with many splashes into the turbid water.</p> + +<p>There was a swirl in the river just in front of the <i>Gem</i>, as though the +creature towing it objected to the treatment it was receiving. And then, +as the girls, anxiously watching, prepared to send another volley of +stones, Amy uttered a cry, and pointed up the river toward a small point +of land that jutted out into the stream.</p> + +<p>"Look!" she cried. "A man in a boat!"</p> + +<p>They all gazed to where she indicated, and beheld not a man, but a +ragged youth standing up in a broad bottomed scow, poling himself down +stream. He was headed directly for the <i>Gem</i>.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he is just in time!" cried Mollie. "He'll get our boat for us!"</p> + +<p>"Call to him!" directed Grace. "I'm so nervous that I can't speak above +a whisper."</p> + +<p>Mollie raised her voice in an appeal for help.</p> + +<p>"Hello, there!" she called. "Our boat! Right in front of you! Can you +get it? Scare away the alligator! It's towing our boat off! Please get +it!"</p> + +<p>The ragged youth looked up, startled, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> glanced from the boat, +seemingly moving up stream without any visible propelling agency, to the +four girls on the shore. He seemed much surprised, and acted, as Betty +said afterward, as though he would like to run away. She called to him:</p> + +<p>"Look out for the alligator! Don't get into danger!"</p> + +<p>The ragged youth now seemed to comprehend what was wanted of him. He +poled his clumsy craft toward the <i>Gem</i> and peered down into the water +to see what manner of creature was at the other end of the anchor rope. +Then he waved his pole at the girls, as though to reassure them, and +edged nearer the motor boat.</p> + +<p>"All right!" he called, in a quick, nervous manner. "I see him. I'll get +him for you."</p> + +<p>"Gracious—I wonder if he means the boat or the alligator?" said Mollie. +"I hope he understands that we don't want both—only the boat."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he'll know," declared Betty. She was eagerly watching the actions +of the ragged youth in the scow.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he drew something from his pocket and held it close to the +water, leaning over the edge of his craft.</p> + +<p>There was a puff of smoke, a flash of fire, and a report that sounded +very loudly to the girls.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh!" cried Grace, covering her ears with her hands.</p> + +<p>"Be quiet, silly!" exclaimed Betty. "It was the only thing he could do. +He shot at the alligator."</p> + +<p>Again the revolver of the ragged youth sounded loudly and, a little +cloud of smoke floated over his boat. Then he shouted:</p> + +<p>"I hit him! I hit him!"</p> + +<p>He was seen to reach over with his pole, and fish for something in the +water.</p> + +<p>"I hope he isn't going to bring it ashore—the alligator, I mean!" cried +Mollie. "We want the boat. Get the boat!" she called to the ragged +youth.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>THE TWO MEN</h3> + + +<p>The girls need have had no fears. The youth in the boat seemed to know +what he was doing. He was pulling up the anchor rope now, and a moment +later he had the grapple in his scow. Then he let his craft slip down +stream until he was below the <i>Gem</i> and in a position to tow it.</p> + +<p>As he did this there was a swirl in the water just above him, and a +queerly-shaped body half arose, falling back with a splash.</p> + +<p>The girls had a glimpse of something like a seal, with a queer head, not +unlike that of a small hippopotamus.</p> + +<p>"Look!" cried Mollie. "That was no alligator! What in the world is it?"</p> + +<p>"That's a manatee—a sea-cow, some folks call 'em!" answered the ragged +youth, as he poled his boat toward them, towing the <i>Gem</i>. "They're +harmless, but I had to shoot this one to make him let go. I didn't hurt +him much. I never see one so far inland as this, though. I'll have your +boat there in a minute."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't hurry," said Betty kindly. "As long as she's safe we are all +right. It's awfully kind of you to get her for us. We thought an +alligator had her."</p> + +<p>"It was rather queer," said the ragged youth. "I never see a boat towed +by a manatee before. I'll be ashore in a minute."</p> + +<p>He was poling his scow over toward the girls, towing their boat in, +aided by the current. A little later he had leaped ashore with the rope, +pulling the anchor after him.</p> + +<p>"We're a thousand times obliged to you!" exclaimed Mollie, impulsively. +"We never should have known what to do without our boat. We're from +Bentonville."</p> + +<p>"Yes? That's quite a ways down." The youth, in spite of his rags, had a +good-looking face and a pleasant manner. He seemed restless and afraid, +and was constantly glancing about him, as though in fear of seeing +someone or something he did not care to encounter.</p> + +<p>"Would you—I mean, can we do anything for you?" half stammered Betty. +She wanted to offer him money, but she did not quite know how he would +accept it. "If you are going down stream," she went on, "we could take +you as far as we are going. If you would come with us, perhaps——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, no, I couldn't think of it!" the youth cried—cried out in very +fear, it seemed to Mollie, who was observing him narrowly. "I must go +on—go on alone. I am going for help!"</p> + +<p>"For help!" exclaimed Betty. "What is the trouble? Perhaps we can help +you. We are from Mr. Stonington's orange grove, and if we told him you +needed help——"</p> + +<p>"No, no!" interrupted the youth, glancing about him nervously. "It isn't +that kind of help. I am trying to help someone else. I—I can't tell +you. But I must be getting on. And will you do me a favor?" he asked +suddenly.</p> + +<p>"Of course!" cried Betty. "We will be only too glad to, since you did so +much for us. Only for you our boat might be far up the river now. What +can we do for you?"</p> + +<p>"Don't tell anyone you saw me," begged the youth, earnestly. "There are +those who would stop me—take me back where I came from. They are after +me—they may be below me, trying to head me off. If you meet them—meet +any rough-looking <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'me'">men</ins> who ask for me—don't tell them about me. Don't +set them after me, please."</p> + +<p>"You may be sure we will not!" exclaimed Betty, warmly. "Are you +from——"</p> + +<p>"Please don't ask me!" he exclaimed. "It is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> so much easier to throw +them off the trail if you really know nothing. So don't question me."</p> + +<p>"Very well, we won't. But if you are escaping, perhaps you need +money——"</p> + +<p>"No, I have some, thank you," and he showed a small roll of bills. "He +gave it to me," and he seemed to indicate, by a nod, someone farther up +the stream.</p> + +<p>"Then do you think you will be all right?" asked Mollie. Amy and Grace +had taken no part in the talk. They seemed to be content to look at the +strange youth who had rendered the outdoor girls such a service.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I'll be all right," was the answer, but the ragged youth +looked about him apprehensively. "I must be getting on now, after +help—for him. Don't say you saw me—don't tell them anything about me."</p> + +<p>"We won't," promised Betty. "You may rely on us."</p> + +<p>"Thank you—good-bye!" He stepped into his skiff and quickly poled out +from shore, dropping down with the current. The girls gazed after him +for a moment. Strangely had he come into their lives, and as strangely +gone out, without revealing his identity. And he had done them such a +service, too.</p> + +<p>"Well, we have our boat back," remarked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> Betty, with a sigh of +thankfulness. "I wonder what possessed that sea cow to swim off with +it?"</p> + +<p>"Probably it was only an accident," said Mollie. "Well, we certainly +have had a day of it. Now let's get back before anything else happens. +Gracious, how swiftly he is poling along!"</p> + +<p>She pointed to the youth, who was almost out of sight at a bend in the +river.</p> + +<p>"He wants to get away from those who are after him," observed Grace. "I +wonder if he is a desperate criminal?"</p> + +<p>"He didn't look at all like a criminal," spoke Amy. "I think he had a +nice face."</p> + +<p>"He wasn't bad looking," admitted Betty. "Poor fellow, he was very +nervous, though."</p> + +<p>"And no wonder—meeting four girls at once!" laughed Mollie.</p> + +<p>"What shall we do if we meet those men who are after him?" asked Grace. +"I shall be so frightened!"</p> + +<p>"We won't meet them!" declared Betty. "If we do we need not speak to +them. But if they insist we can say truthfully that we don't know who +that young fellow was, nor where he went."</p> + +<p>"He's out of sight now, at all events," spoke Amy. "I wonder whom he is +going to get help for? I wish he had told us more."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't," answered Betty, promptly. "The less we know the less we can +tell if any men question us. Now let's get aboard and get back. No more +manatees for me!"</p> + +<p>The <i>Gem</i> was none the worse for her queer tow, and soon, with the girls +aboard, was dropping down stream again. The strange youth was not in +sight, even when the turn of the river was made, but he may have poled +off into one of the many little bayous, or tributary streams, that +joined the main one.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad he's out of sight," murmured Grace. "If those men should come +after him——"</p> + +<p>She stopped suddenly, and stared ahead. There, coming around a turn in +the river, was a small motor boat containing two men, who, at the sight +of the <i>Gem</i>, headed directly for her, at the same time indicating by +gestures that they wished to speak to those aboard.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS</h3> + + +<p>"What shall we do?" whispered Grace, glancing at Betty, who stood at the +wheel, seemingly as calm and unperturbed as though she had the <i>Gem</i> out +for a little run on Rainbow Lake. "Oh, what shall we do?"</p> + +<p>"Do?" echoed Mollie. "Wait until there's something to be done, of +course."</p> + +<p>"But those men—they are heading right for us, and we don't know them!"</p> + +<p>"And we didn't know Mr. Belton when he came to our rescue," replied +Mollie. "So that doesn't count."</p> + +<p>"But neither of these men is Mr. Belton," went on Grace. "Oh, I don't +like Florida as much as I thought I would!"</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry," spoke Amy gently.</p> + +<p>"I—I didn't mean just that, my dear," answered Grace impulsively. "But +they are heading for us, Betty."</p> + +<p>"Of course they are," said the Little Captain.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But that doesn't mean I am going to stop for them."</p> + +<p>"Betty Nelson! Do you mean that you aren't going to stop?" gasped Grace.</p> + +<p>"That's what I do mean. I don't see why we should halt our boat just +because two strange men signal us. Indeed I'm not going to!" and Betty +turned on more power. She gazed straight ahead as though she did not see +the men in the approaching craft, who were now wildly waving their +hands, and turning their rather disreputable-looking craft in the +direction of the <i>Gem</i>.</p> + +<p>"Betty Nelson! You're just splendid!" cried Grace impulsively as she +moved forward and threw her arms about her chum. "I wish I had your +courage!"</p> + +<p>"Don't hug me too tightly," begged Betty with a laugh. "I may have to +steer out of their way."</p> + +<p>Indeed it did seem so, for the other craft was coming about so as to +almost cross the bows of the boat of the outdoor girls. Then one of the +men called:</p> + +<p>"I say, young ladies, will you stop a minute? We want to speak to you."</p> + +<p>Betty never turned her head, but gazed on down the river as though +intent on not grounding on a sand bar, or running into an alligator.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +Her chums followed her example, but Grace could not forbear giving the +men one glance.</p> + +<p>"They're talking together," she reported in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"Let 'em talk—as long as they don't talk to us," answered Mollie.</p> + +<p>The men seemed to have decided on something after a conference, for the +one who had first hailed the girls now called again:</p> + +<p>"I say, young ladies, we don't mean to be impolite or to bother you, but +we're looking for a boat, and——"</p> + +<p>"This boat isn't for sale," said Betty in non-committal tones. "We have +no time to stop."</p> + +<p>"But you don't understand," cried the man, seemingly growing desperate. +"One of our boats was taken last night by a young fellow, and he came +down the river. We followed him, but we must have passed him in the +night. Now we're on our way back. He may have hid in some bayou, and be +on his way down farther up stream. All we wanted to know was if you had +seen a tall young fellow, with blue eyes, in a small skiff?"</p> + +<p>Betty returned no answer. It was not a question, strictly speaking. The +men had merely said they wanted to know, and Betty saw no reason for +gratifying their "want."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hey, can't you stop and answer a civil question?" cried the second man, +and his voice was angry. "If you don't we may——"</p> + +<p>Betty's cheeks flushed. Without turning her head she answered:</p> + +<p>"You'd better be careful how you make threats. We are from Mr. +Stonington's orange grove, and Mr. Hammond——"</p> + +<p>"There, I knew you'd make a mess of it, Bill!" said the other man—the +one who had first spoken—and he turned accusingly to his companion.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't care—why don't they answer? I'll wager they've seen that +fellow and won't tell."</p> + +<p>"Why shouldn't they tell?" asked the first man in a low voice, but he +forgot how well even low tones carry over the water. "They are strangers +here I am certain. They can't know 'The Loon,' and so we're perfectly +safe in questionin' 'em."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but they won't answer. Git over closer and maybe we can make 'em!"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" gasped Grace, startled.</p> + +<p>"They'd better not try!" cried Mollie with a sparkle in her eyes. "We're +not very far from home, and this boat can go twice as fast as theirs."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't be alarmed," said Betty. "I've got some speed in reserve yet."</p> + +<p>The men consulted together again. They had put their boat about now, and +were coming down after the <i>Gem</i>. But it was easy to see they had no +speed.</p> + +<p>"I say!" called out the man who had first hailed. "Won't you tell us if +you've seen a ragged lad in a boat? We don't mean any harm. Just stop a +minute!"</p> + +<p>"We have no time!" said Betty sharply, "and if you persist in following +us——"</p> + +<p>"Say, look here!" blustered the second man, "if you gals don't——"</p> + +<p>"Now let up on that line, Bill!" cautioned the other. "We don't mean any +harm," he proceeded. "My friend here is a bit rough——"</p> + +<p>"I'm no rougher than you!" retorted his companion.</p> + +<p>"We're willing to pay for the information," went on the first man. "It +won't take but a minute——"</p> + +<p>But Betty stayed to hear no more. She opened wide the throttle of her +motor, and the <i>Gem</i> shot ahead, leaving the other craft far behind. +There was some evidence in the quicker staccato exhaust of the pursuing +boat that the occupants tried to get more speed out of her, but they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +failed, and a little later Amy, turning around, saw them circling back +up stream.</p> + +<p>One man stood up and shook his fist vindictively at the girls. Grace +gasped as she saw this.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am sure they mean us some harm!" she cried.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" asserted Betty. "We're far enough off now."</p> + +<p>"But if we come out again?" Amy suggested.</p> + +<p>"I think we will take one of the young men from the orange crate +factory," suggested Mollie. "Mr. Hammond will spare us one, I'm sure, +and it would be too bad if we had to give up our trips on the river just +because some men are hunting a fugitive."</p> + +<p>"And I wonder what they want of him?" asked Grace. "He seemed harmless +enough."</p> + +<p>"They said he had their boat," supplied Amy.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that was probably to escape in," suggested Grace. "He was going +for help for <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'some one'">someone</ins>. Maybe a friend of his was hurt. I wish someone +could take help to my brother. Oh, it's dreadful to think he may be in +need of it, and that we are unable to get to him."</p> + +<p>"It certainly is," agreed Betty. "But fretting will do no good. We may +have news of him any time now."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span></p> + +<p>A little later the girls tied up at the orange grove dock. They made +light of their adventures, even the one with the sea cow, and did not +mention the ragged youth at all, except to say a stranger had recovered +their boat for them.</p> + +<p>"For there is no need of telling too many persons that we saw him," said +Betty later. "Some of the hands might hear of it and, without meaning +to, betray his secret."</p> + +<p>"But we don't know where he went," said Grace.</p> + +<p>"No, and I don't want to—then we can't tell under any circumstances. +We'll just keep quiet about it."</p> + +<p>For a day or so the girls did not venture far from the bungalow on the +river, but soon they tired of comparative inactivity and planned a +little cruise, down stream this time, past Lake Chad, and up another +river that emptied into it.</p> + +<p>"But you'd better take one of my young helpers along," suggested Mr. +Hammond, when the girls made known their plan. "There have been a couple +of suspicious characters hanging around of late, and I don't want you to +take any chances. I'll give you a young fellow you can depend on."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>IN DANGER</h3> + + +<p>The girls looked at one another on hearing Mr. Hammond's warning. The +same thought was in the mind of each.</p> + +<p>"What—what kind of suspicious characters were they?" asked Betty.</p> + +<p>"Oh, just the usual kind," replied the overseer. "I don't want to alarm +you, and you needn't be afraid. They're mostly a cowardly set that +always congregate around where a lot of work is going on, hoping to get +money without labor, either by some form of chance game, or by +deliberately taking advantage of some of the simple-minded colored +hands. I ordered these two away a couple of times, and I'll do more than +that the next time I see 'em."</p> + +<p>"Did they—did they come in a motor boat?" faltered Mollie.</p> + +<p>"I didn't notice. But they weren't the kind of fellows I want hanging +around here, especially when pay-day comes. But don't think any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> more of +what I said. I'm going to give you a young fellow to accompany you. He +knows the river and the region around like a book, and anyone who tries +to bother you when you're out he'll make short work of. He's a sort of +deputy constable."</p> + +<p>"Why do you think—I mean, in what way do you think anyone might try to +bother us?" asked Betty.</p> + +<p>"Oh, various ways. They might try to sell you a lot of useless trinkets, +knowing you're from the North. Fancy shells, sea beans, curios and the +like of that. You see, there isn't much ready money floating around +among the poor people here. Even some of the scattered Seminoles—or +what were once Seminole Indians—try to make a living selling trinkets +they make themselves, and if they thought you had money they would +become annoying. But Tom Osborne will see to 'em, all right. He knows a +lot of 'em. When are you going?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, in about an hour," answered Grace. "We're going to take our lunch +and stay all day."</p> + +<p>"That will suit Tom fine. He's very fond of—lunch!" and Mr. Hammond +laughed.</p> + +<p>"Doesn't he like—girls?" asked Mollie, with a blush.</p> + +<p>"You can tell that better than I after you've<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> met him. He's one of my +bookkeepers, and a fine young fellow. I'll send him along to you."</p> + +<p>"But maybe we ought not to take him from his work," suggested Betty, +feeling that perhaps Mr. Stonington would not like the operation of his +orange business interfered with by the pleasure of herself and her +friends.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll make it all right with uncle," laughed Amy. "We must enjoy +ourselves while we're here."</p> + +<p>"You needn't worry," spoke Mr. Hammond with a laugh. "Tom will be glad +to come, and the worst of the rush is over now. Just consider him your +escort, and he'll do anything you want, from catching an alligator to +getting your meals. He's a handy young fellow, Tom is, and he knows all +the streams about here."</p> + +<p>While the overseer was gone to summon the young man, the girls prepared +for the little outing. They had put up a lunch, or, rather, Aunt Hannah, +the genial colored "mammy" had done it for them, putting in plenty of +fried chicken and corn bread.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we'd better have more," suggested Mollie, to Aunt Hannah, when +the fact of Tom Osborne going along was mentioned.</p> + +<p>"Bress yo' he'at, honey!" exclaimed the buxom cook, "I done put in +enough fo' two mo'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> gen'men if yo'all would laik t' take 'em along. +Don't yo'all worry!"</p> + +<p>"No, I think one young man will be sufficient," laughed Betty. "Only I +didn't want him to go hungry, and I know the appetites of my friends."</p> + +<p>"Speak for yourself, if you please!" chided Mollie. "You eat as much as +any of us."</p> + +<p>"I wonder if those two suspicious characters Mr. Hammond spoke of could +be the ones who followed us in the boat?" asked Amy, to change the +subject.</p> + +<p>"They <i>could</i> have been," remarked Grace, "but I wouldn't want to think +so."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked Mollie.</p> + +<p>"Because it would show that they were still following us."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it was unwise that I told them where we were from," said Betty, +"but I did it for the best. I didn't want them to think that we had no +friends near at hand."</p> + +<p>"Of course," rejoined Amy. "You meant it all right. And they may not +have been the same ones at all. Mr. Hammond did not say they made +inquiries for us, or for that poor young fellow. What was it they called +him—'The Duck?'"</p> + +<p>"'Loon—loon!'" corrected Betty, with a laugh.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, I knew it was some kind of a bird," asserted Amy. "I wonder why +they called him that?"</p> + +<p>"A loon is supposed to be a crazy sort of a bird," went on Betty, "and, +come to think of it, that poor chap didn't look very bright. Maybe he +was half-witted, and that's why they called him The Loon."</p> + +<p>"Well, he knew enough to shoot the manatee, and get our boat for us," +defended Grace. "I don't think he was very stupid."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't mean it that way," said Betty quickly. "I only suggested +that perhaps those mean men—I'm sure they were mean—might have called +him that to suit their own purposes. But I think we are well rid of +them, anyhow. Here comes Mr. Hammond, and that must be Tom with him," +and she indicated two figures approaching.</p> + +<p>"Oh, are you going to call him Tom?" gasped Grace.</p> + +<p>"I don't see why not," was the calm answer. "He looks just like the sort +of a nice young chap whom one would call Tom."</p> + +<p>"Betty Nelson!" cried Mollie. "I'm going to tell——"</p> + +<p>"Hush!" commanded the Little Captain, quickly. "I haven't done it yet."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Hammond presented the young man, who seemed quite at his ease under +the scrutiny of four pairs of eyes—pretty eyes, all of them, too.</p> + +<p>"You needn't worry when Tom is along," said the overseer with a laugh, +as he named each of the girls in turn. "Now go off and have a good time. +I depend on you, Tom, to bring them safely back."</p> + +<p>"I will, Mr. Hammond. Are you ready, young ladies?" and he smiled at +them.</p> + +<p>The girls started for the boat, into which a colored boy had already put +the baskets of lunch. Somehow or other Betty naturally fell into step +beside Tom. She looked up at him frankly and said:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Hammond told us your last name, but I have forgotten it, I'm +ashamed to say."</p> + +<p>"It's Osborne. But I'd rather you'd call me Tom, if you don't mind. +Everyone does around here—that is, all my friends, of course," he added +quickly.</p> + +<p>"Then we'd like to be your friends," said Betty with a smile, and a calm +look at Mollie, who was making signs behind Tom's back. Obvious signs +they were, too. Betty looked triumphant, as though saying: "There, +didn't I tell you?"</p> + +<p>Tom Osborne proved that he knew something about motor boats, and was +also versed in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> ways of making girls comfortable. He asked if they +wanted him to steer, and as Betty had not taken her craft down the river +very often she agreed. The girls sat on the after deck, under a +wide-spread awning, and chatted of the sights they saw.</p> + +<p>They emerged into Lake Chad, skirted its shores and swept into the river +beyond. They passed several other power craft and one or two houseboats +in which were gay parties.</p> + +<p>At the suggestion of Tom, they decided to go up a little side stream to +where he said was a pleasant place to eat lunch, and this they reached +about noon.</p> + +<p>"Now, if you girls want to walk about and see what there is to be seen," +he told them, "I'll get out the victuals and set the table on the grass +under that tree," and he indicated it. "I'll call you when I'm ready."</p> + +<p>Betty and her chums assented, and Tom proceeded to set out the luncheon. +The girls strolled on for some distance, and Mollie, attracted by some +flowers on the end of a small spit of land, extending for some distance +into the stream, walked toward them, the others following.</p> + +<p>They picked many blossoms, and were watching a pair of large turtles +when Amy, glancing toward the main land, which was reached by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> crossing +a narrow neck of sand, uttered a cry of alarm.</p> + +<p>"Look!" she gasped, pointing to two long, black objects stretched right +across the narrow place. "Alligators! Two big ones!"</p> + +<p>It was only too true. The girls' way back was blocked.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>BETWEEN TWO PERILS</h3> + + +<p>"What—what are we going to do?" gasped Grace. She, as Betty said +afterward, seemed always to be the first to ask questions that were hard +to answer in an emergency. "They—they may attack us!"</p> + +<p>"Why can't you say something less—less scary?" demanded Mollie who, +after the first gasp of fright, had come forward to stand beside Betty. +Amy had already shrunk to a place in the rear near Grace. It seemed to +be always thus, with Betty and Mollie facing the immediate danger, and +Grace and Amy needing protection.</p> + +<p>Not that they were not brave when occasion demanded it. They would not +have been outdoor girls else, but somehow the first fear of something +menacing sent Amy and Grace scurrying to the rear, whence it needed +considerable persuasion to bring them to the van again.</p> + +<p>"They—they don't seem to see us," ventured<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> Amy, after a few tense +seconds, during which the four had stared at the alligators.</p> + +<p>"They won't see you and Grace at all, if you stay behind us," said +Mollie a bit sharply. "There's no present danger, as far as I can see. +Why don't you come out and help Betty and me throw stones at them?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you're never going to do that!" gasped Grace. "Why that would—make +them mad!"</p> + +<p>"Well," answered Betty, with a shrug of her shoulders, "I don't know +that a mad alligator is any worse than any other kind. They're all mad, +as far as I'm concerned, and throwing stones at them can't make them any +worse. I rather side with Mollie. We may drive them away."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and it may drive them toward us," cried Amy. "Please don't!"</p> + +<p>"We won't coax them this way if we can help it," said Betty. "You may be +sure of that. But we must do something. We can't stay out on this +almost-island much longer. We'll have to eat, and——"</p> + +<p>"Where's Tom?" suddenly asked Grace. "He ought to be able to rescue us. +He knows all about alligators—and—and such things."</p> + +<p>"Yes, maybe he can charm them away," suggested Mollie +half-sarcastically. "But I don't see him."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></p> + +<p>The girls looked toward where they had left their escort setting the +"table" on the grass. They had a glimpse of the white cloth, and the +various things upon it, but Tom was not in sight.</p> + +<p>"Maybe—maybe an alligator ate him!" said Grace. She was half-crying +now.</p> + +<p>"Don't be silly!" directed Betty in a stern tone. It was sometimes +necessary to be severe with Grace when she was likely to give way to her +feelings. But in this case Betty did not want to be too much so, for she +realized all that her chum had suffered in the disappearance of her +brother.</p> + +<p>The two big alligators, and they were exceptionally large, so the girls +said afterward, seemed to have taken permanent possession of the narrow +neck of land that connected the peninsula with the main shore. The girls +were practically prisoners on what, with a rise of the river, would be +an island.</p> + +<p>"They don't seem to be coming after us," remarked Mollie looking about +for some stones, or anything else, to use as a weapon of offense.</p> + +<p>"No, they're just waiting their time," said Amy, who was still clinging +to Grace. "When they get ready they'll crawl out here and—and—what is +it alligators do to you, anyhow—charm you?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You're thinking of snakes," said Betty, narrowly watching the saurians. +"Alligators knock you down with their tails, I understand, sort of stun +you, and——"</p> + +<p>"Spare us the horrible details," interrupted Mollie, and she drawled it +out in such a funny way that the others laughed.</p> + +<p>The alligators evinced no intention of coming forward. They were moving +about, seeming to scoop out resting places in the hot sand, on which the +sun poured fierce rays. Then, having made themselves comfortable, +stretched out at full length, the creatures sunned themselves.</p> + +<p>The girls were getting uncomfortable now, for they were in an exposed +position, and the day was warm. There was very little shade on that +small peninsula.</p> + +<p>"We've got to get help!" decided Mollie at length. "For some reason our +escort has deserted us, and——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't say that!" cried Betty. "I'm sure he can't have done that."</p> + +<p>"Well, he isn't there; is he?" demanded Mollie, waving her hand toward +the distant spread on the grass. "And I'd like to know where he is!"</p> + +<p>"Maybe some of those men who were hanging about the orange grove, or who +were after<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> that poor, ragged young man, have taken Tom away," suggested +Amy.</p> + +<p>"Comforting—isn't she?" asked Mollie, appealing to the others.</p> + +<p>"Well, I mean——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, never mind—don't make it any worse," interrupted Mollie. "The +question is what can we do?"</p> + +<p>"Let's call for him," suggested Grace. "He can't have gone very far, and +it's a still day. He'll hear us."</p> + +<p>"It is rather strange where he could have gone," mused Betty. Anxiously +she looked toward the main shore. There was no sight of Tom Osborne.</p> + +<p>Together the girls raised their voices in a shout that must have carried +far. They wailed, but there was no response. Then they called again, +with like result. The outdoor girls looked anxiously at one another. The +alligators seemed disposed to maintain their position indefinitely, and +the neck of land was so narrow that the saurians occupied the entire +width of it.</p> + +<p>"Well, here goes!" cried Betty when it was evident that their calls were +not going to be heeded. With that she threw a stone at the nearest +alligator. Her aim was exceptionally good. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span>Betty admitted that herself, +afterward, the missile falling on the broad and scaly back of the +reptile.</p> + +<p>"Oh—oh!" cried Grace. "Now you have done it, Bet!"</p> + +<p>They all looked and waited. Nothing happened. The alligator merely moved +his tail slightly and did not open his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't see that I did very much," said Betty calmly. "I'm going +to try again."</p> + +<p>"Don't!" begged Grace. "They may come for us!"</p> + +<p>At that moment Amy, who had gone back a little way toward the far end of +the spit of land, uttered a cry.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" cried Mollie. "Is there another alligator there?"</p> + +<p>"No, but I have found a way to get off, and back to the shore without +going near those creatures. See! here is a sand bar curving from the +side here, right around to that other point of land. You can see bottom +all the way to shore. It isn't more than a few inches deep, and we can +wade."</p> + +<p>They all ran to where Amy stood, forgetting for the time being the +alligators that held them prisoners.</p> + +<p>"That's so! It can be done!" cried Betty, taking in at a glance Amy's +plan. "We can<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> wade right along that raised bar. The water is deep on +either side of it, but as she says, it is only a few inches deep on top +of the bar. Come on, girls," and she sat down and began unbuttoning her +shoes.</p> + +<p>"Don't—don't!" cried Mollie. "Keep them on. What if we do get wet? Our +shoes will soon dry, it's so hot. And there might be crabs or little +fishes or—little alligators on the bar. We'll wade in our shoes."</p> + +<p>"All right, I'd just as soon," agreed Betty.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/p162.jpg" width="250" height="400" alt="IN THE SHALLOW WATER OVER THE BAR WERE A NUMBER OF REPTILES." title="IN THE SHALLOW WATER OVER THE BAR WERE A NUMBER OF REPTILES." /> +<span class="caption">IN THE SHALLOW WATER OVER THE BAR WERE A NUMBER OF REPTILES.—Page 153.</span> +</div> + +<div class='center'><i>The Outdoor Girls in Florida.</i></div> + +<p>Little Captain that she was, she prepared to take the lead. She was +about to step out into the shallow water when she drew back with a gasp.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter—cold?" asked Mollie.</p> + +<p>"No—but look—snakes!"</p> + +<p>Betty pointed to where, pursuing their sinuous way in the shallow water +over the bar, were a number of reptiles.</p> + +<p>"Moccasins," whispered Mollie. "We—we can't go that way either," and +she glanced back toward the sleeping alligators. Both ways of escape +were blocked.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>LOST</h3> + + +<p>Grace burst out crying. She said she knew it was silly, and not at all +what an outdoor girl should do, and, very contritely afterward, she told +the others how sorry she was that she had given way. But she just could +not seem to help it. Without reserve she sobbed on Amy's shoulder.</p> + +<p>For a moment Mollie and Betty, looking at one another, feared that Amy, +too, would give way to her feelings, and that they would have two +hysterical ones on their hands. But the little outburst of Grace seemed +to act as a sort of tonic to Amy, who put her arms about her chum, +murmuring comforting words.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what—what are we going to do?" sobbed Grace.</p> + +<p>"We're not going to cry—at any rate!" snapped Mollie. "At least I'm +not."</p> + +<p>There was an incisiveness—a sharpness—to her voice that made Grace +look up a bit angrily.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I—I'm not crying!" she said, and there was more energy in her voice +than had been noticeable for some time.</p> + +<p>"Well, it's a very good imitation of it then," went on Mollie. "Crying +isn't going to do any good, and it gets on the nerves of all of us."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry—I couldn't seem to help it," spoke Grace, in a low voice. +"I—I won't do it again. But oh, what are we going to do?"</p> + +<p>No one knew what to answer. Certainly they were in a situation that +needed help to enable them to escape from it. They could not approach +the alligators—at least they did not think they could, though perhaps +the creatures would have fled when the girls came near. And the snakes, +while not aggressive, seemed to be numerous in the water that offered +the only ford to shore. And moccasins, the girls had been told, were +deadly poisonous.</p> + +<p>"If Tom would only come!" muttered Betty. "I can't see what keeps him," +and she looked anxiously toward where the luncheon was spread. But there +was no sign of the young man.</p> + +<p>"Maybe we could drive the snakes away by throwing more stones," +suggested Grace, who seemed to have gotten over her little hysterical +outburst. "Let's try it."</p> + +<p>"It's worth trying," admitted Betty. "At<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> least I don't believe the +snakes would come out to attack us, and we might be able to drive them +away."</p> + +<p>The girls, glad of the chance to do something, collected a pile of +stones and showered them into the water. Then when the ripples had +cleared they peered anxiously at the sand bar.</p> + +<p>"They're gone!" cried Amy joyously. "Now we can wade to shore."</p> + +<p>"Better wait," advised Mollie.</p> + +<p>There was an anxious pause, and then Betty said in a hopeless sort of +tone:</p> + +<p>"No, there they come back again," and she pointed to where the writhing +serpents could be seen. Evidently the sand bar was a sort of feeding +place for them, and though they might disappear for the moment at some +disturbance, they returned.</p> + +<p>Hopelessly the girls looked at one another. Then they glanced into the +water, that seemed fairly swarming with the snakes. There appeared to be +more than ever of them. Then Amy looked toward the neck of land and gave +a cry of surprise—of joy.</p> + +<p>"Look!" she exclaimed. "They're going—the alligators. At least +they're—moving!"</p> + +<p>"I hope they don't move toward us!" gasped Grace.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> + +<p>The saurians indeed seemed waked into life. Whether they had completed +their sun bath, or whether the call of their appetites moved them, it +was impossible to say. But they were walking about, dragging their +ponderous, fat, squatty bodies, and their big tails.</p> + +<p>"Let's tell 'em we're in a hurry," suggested Betty, as she caught up a +stone. Running forward she threw it with such good aim that it struck +one of the saurians on the head. With a sort of surprised grunt the +creature slid off the narrow neck of sand into the water. The other +followed with a splash.</p> + +<p>"There they go!" cried Mollie. "Come on now, before they take a notion +to come back. Oh girls! I'm nearly starved!"</p> + +<p>Betty laughed at this—it was characteristic of Mollie, once the +immediate stress was removed, to revert to the matter that had +previously claimed her attention, and this had been their luncheon.</p> + +<p>"Come on!" she cried, and ran toward the main shore.</p> + +<p>Betty said afterward that they had never run so fast, not even at the +school games, where the outdoor girls had made records for themselves on +the cinder track. Just who reached shore first is a matter of no +moment—in fact it must have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> been a "dead heat," as Tom Osborne said +afterward.</p> + +<p>As the girls passed the place where the alligators had been sunning +themselves they gave one look each into the water where the saurians had +disappeared. One look only, and they did not pause to do that. But they +saw no signs of the ugly creatures.</p> + +<p>"Safe!" cried Betty, and the girls, breathless from their run, were +safe. They gathered about the eatables on the grass.</p> + +<p>"Oh, where can Tom be?" cried Betty anxiously. "I—I hope nothing has +happened to him!"</p> + +<p>"Now who is making direful suggestions, I'd like to know?" asked Grace.</p> + +<p>"Well, it is queer to have him disappear that way," voiced Mollie. "But +I'm going to be impolite and—eat."</p> + +<p>She approached the "table," an example followed by the others. Certainly +Tom had done his work exceedingly well. The spread was very inviting.</p> + +<p>Betty looked all around the little glade on the edge of the river, where +the table was set. There was no sign of their escort. The <i>Gem</i> floated +lazily where she was moored, and the scene was quiet and peaceful +enough. But there was a cer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span>tain mystery about the disappearance of Tom +Osborne.</p> + +<p>"Well, we may as well eat," sighed Betty. "Then we can look about a bit. +There won't be any alligators inland, I guess."</p> + +<p>Even the fright the girls had experienced had not taken away their +appetites, and soon they were making merry over the meal, which was a +bountiful one—they could well trust Aunt Hannah for that.</p> + +<p>But "between bites," as it were, Betty and the others looked about for a +sign of the young man. He did not appear, however, nor were there any +sounds of his approach. The woods back from the river teemed with bird +and animal life. The latter was not so visible as the former, for the +feathered creatures flitted here and there amid the branches, bursting +into various melodious notes.</p> + +<p>The meal went on; it was finished. The girls packed up with a little +sense of disappointment. They felt that their outing had been rather +spoiled. They saved enough for Tom in case he should come back hungry, +which would very likely be the case.</p> + +<p>"Well, we may as well put things on board," said Betty, at length. "We +can't stay here much longer. It's getting late."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But can we—ought we—go back without Tom?" asked Mollie.</p> + +<p>"I don't see what else we can do—if he doesn't come," said Betty. "We +can't stay here all night."</p> + +<p>The <i>Gem</i> was made ready for the trip back. Then came a time of anxious +waiting as the shadows lengthened. Betty, as well as the others, was +getting nervous.</p> + +<p>"We simply must go," said the Little Captain, at length. "He will have +to come back as best he can. I don't see what made him go away. I am +quite sure Mr. Hammond will not like it."</p> + +<p>"But if we go, can Tom find his way back?" asked Grace.</p> + +<p>"He'll have to. But of course we'll tell Mr. Hammond, and he, and some +of the men, can come for Tom, if they think it necessary."</p> + +<p>There seemed nothing else to do, and presently the girls went aboard, +taking the remains of the lunch with them.</p> + +<p>"We ought to leave some sort of note for Tom, telling him what happened, +and that we couldn't wait any longer," suggested Mollie, as Betty was +about to start.</p> + +<p>"That's so. I didn't think of that. We'll do it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And leave him some lunch, too," voiced Amy.</p> + +<p>"Good!" cried Betty. "Tom has one friend, at least."</p> + +<p>A goodly packet of lunch was done up, and placed in a tree, well +wrapped, where it would be sure to be seen. Then a note was left, with a +brief account of what had happened, and the information that the girls +had gone back to Orangeade.</p> + +<p>"He ought to see that!" remarked Betty, stepping back to inspect her +handiwork. She had pinned a small square of white paper, containing the +writing, to a sheet of light brown manila, so that it was visible for +some distance.</p> + +<p>"It looks like a whole book—instead of a note," laughed Mollie.</p> + +<p>The <i>Gem</i> was started and began dropping down the branch stream toward +the main river. At least the girls hoped it was the main river when they +turned into a larger body of water. But as they puffed on, amid the +lengthening shadows, an annoying doubt began to manifest itself in +Betty's mind. She glanced at the shores from time to time.</p> + +<p>"Girls," she said finally, "does everything look right?"</p> + +<p>"Do you mean—your hair?" asked Amy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, I mean the scenery. Is it familiar? Have we been here before? Did +we come this way?"</p> + +<p>They all stared at Betty.</p> + +<p>"What—what do you mean?" faltered Grace.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't seem to remember this place," went on Betty. "I'm afraid +we've taken the wrong turn in the river, and that——"</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say that we're lost; do you?" cried Mollie.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid so," was Betty's low-voiced reply.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>THE LOON</h3> + + +<p>Onward chugged the <i>Gem</i> and the sudden acceleration in the heart-beats +of the girls seemed to keep time with the staccato exhaust of the motor.</p> + +<p>"Lost!" faltered Grace.</p> + +<p>"And night coming on," echoed Amy.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you two!" cried Mollie. "I wish I were a boy!"</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Betty, as she guided her craft to the center of the stream. +It was lighter there, for they were not so much under the overhanging +trees with their festoons of moss. "Why, Mollie, dear?"</p> + +<p>"Then I could use slang, such as—oh, well, what's the use? I don't +suppose it would do any good."</p> + +<p>"But are you sure we are lost?" asked Amy. "What makes you say so, +Betty?"</p> + +<p>"Because this place doesn't look at all like any part of the river we +came down before. The trouble was that we let Tom steer, and we didn't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +notice the course very much, as we should have done on coming in a new +channel. But I'm sure we are lost."</p> + +<p>"It isn't a very pleasant thing to be sure about," said Mollie grimly, +"but we may as well face the worst. Grace, let's you and I look to our +stock of provisions."</p> + +<p>"What for?" asked Grace, who had found a few stray pieces of candy in a +box, and was contentedly eating them.</p> + +<p>"Well, if we're lost that doesn't mean we're not going to eat, and if we +have enough for supper and breakfast——"</p> + +<p>"Breakfast!" cried Grace. "Are we going to be here for breakfast?"</p> + +<p>"And stay out all night?" added Amy.</p> + +<p>"There may be no help for it," said Betty as calmly as she could. "We +have slept aboard before this, and we can do it again."</p> + +<p>"But you're not going to give up without trying to get back to the +grove; are you?" asked Mollie, who, after the first shock, was her own +brave self again, as was Betty.</p> + +<p>"Of course I'm going to try," replied Betty. "But that doesn't mean +we'll get there. Often, after you're lost, trying to find your way back +again only makes you lost the more—especially with night coming on."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But what are we going to do?" queried Grace blankly. She had ceased +eating candy now.</p> + +<p>"Well, it's very evident that we're not going the right way," went on +Betty. "The farther we go the more sure I am that we were never on this +part of the stream before. So I think we had better turn back, and, if +necessary, start over again from where we had lunch.</p> + +<p>"We may be able to see the right turn by starting over once more. Then +we will be all right. Once I am started on the right track I think I can +follow it. We have a compass, and I noticed, in a general way, which +direction we came, though I was not as careful as I should have been."</p> + +<p>"But it will be very dark," objected Amy. "It is getting darker all the +while."</p> + +<p>"That will be the worst of it," admitted Betty frankly, "and if we find +we can't go on, we shall have to tie up for the night. We might do +worse."</p> + +<p>"But anchor far enough from shore so that nothing can—get us," pleaded +Grace. "No alligators, I mean."</p> + +<p>"Don't worry—they won't come aboard," declared Betty.</p> + +<p>"These rivers are split up into a lot of side brooks, bayous and such +things," said Mollie. "Tom mentioned that, and he said that often one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +could wander about in them being close to the right route all the while, +and yet not know a thing about it."</p> + +<p>"Cheerful prospect," remarked Grace.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm sure we'll get on the right stream—sometime," spoke Mollie +cheerfully. "What do you say—had we not better turn back?"</p> + +<p>They all agreed that this was best, and soon, in the fast gathering +dusk, the <i>Gem</i> was swung about and was breasting the rather sluggish +current.</p> + +<p>To the credit of the outdoor girls be it said that even in this +nerve-racking emergency they did not altogether lose heart and courage. +Of course there was that first instinctive fear, and something like a +gasping for breath, as when one plunges into cold water. But the +reaction came, and the girls were themselves once more—brave and +self-reliant.</p> + +<p>"I only hope we don't pass the stream up which we went to have our +lunch," spoke Mollie as they went on. She and the others were peering +from side to side in the gloom.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm sure we can find that," declared Betty. "There is a big, dead +cypress tree, with a lot of moss on it, just at the turn. We must watch +for that."</p> + +<p>There were one or two false alarms before they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> saw it, but finally they +were all sure of the turn, and Betty made it.</p> + +<p>"Oh, are you going all the way back to where we ate?" asked Grace, as +Betty guided her craft into the branch stream.</p> + +<p>"I think so," answered the Little Captain. "It will not take much +longer, and we may find Tom there. If we do, all our troubles will be +over. I think we had better go up."</p> + +<p>"But it's getting dark so fast," objected Grace.</p> + +<p>"Then a little more dark won't make much difference," returned Mollie +with a shrug. "Go on, Betty."</p> + +<p>The <i>Gem</i> chugged her way up "Alligator Brook," as the girls had named +it. Eagerly they looked for some sign of their missing escort, and +listened for any sound that would indicate he was coming to meet them. +But the forest was silent. Night was settling down, and birds and beasts +were seeking their resting places.</p> + +<p>They reached the place where the boat had been tied, and could see where +they had eaten their lunch. Over in the gloom there fluttered the paper +Betty had fastened to a tree to indicate to Tom the fact that his +charges had left.</p> + +<p>"He hasn't been here," said Mollie in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"No, there's the packet of lunch," went on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> Grace pointing to it. "We +may need it ourselves."</p> + +<p>Betty said nothing, but in the semi-darkness her chums could see the +worried look on her face.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there was a crashing through the underbrush, announcing the +approach of someone.</p> + +<p>"Here he comes!" exclaimed Amy.</p> + +<p>"Let's call!" suggested Grace.</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute," advised Betty.</p> + +<p>The figure of a young man came into view. He looked about him nervously, +turning his head from side to side like a timid bird.</p> + +<p>"That isn't Tom!" said Mollie.</p> + +<p>Low as her voice was the youth heard. He fairly leaped forward, and +Betty, as she had a better glimpse of him, spoke:</p> + +<p>"It's The Loon! The one who saved our boat for us!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>TO THE RESCUE</h3> + + +<p>For a few seconds it was like a tableau, the strange young man, more +ragged than before (if that were possible) standing in the midst of the +clearing, and gazing as though spellbound at the girls in the motor +boat.</p> + +<p>On their part, Betty and her chums, following the half-whispered +announcement made by Betty, stared at The Loon almost as if he might be +a ghost of the Florida forest.</p> + +<p>For perhaps a quarter of a minute they all remained thus, scarcely +moving—hardly breathing—and then the young man made a slow turn. He +seemed about to plunge back into the tangle whence he had come.</p> + +<p>"Don't do that!" said <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Molly'">Mollie</ins>, hardly above a whisper. "He mustn't do +that!" and she seemed appealing to her chums. "We must keep him +here—speak to him—perhaps he knows where Tom went."</p> + +<p>"Or, if he doesn't, perhaps he can tell us which way to go to get home," +breathed Grace. "He's some company, anyhow."</p> + +<p>The Loon, to give him the title bestowed on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> him by the men in the boat, +hesitated as he caught the sound of whispering. He shifted from one foot +to the other, much after the manner of some animal seeking to escape +unnoticed.</p> + +<p>He took a step backward. By this time Betty had brought her boat close +to the extending tree branch, where she had made fast before. The power +had been shut off and the <i>Gem</i> had drifted to the former mooring place. +Now Betty was ready for action.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon," she said in a low voice, and with an intonation +calculated to disperse the fears of even the most timid youth, "but will +you be so good as to help us again? We are the girls, you know, whose +boat you got when the manatee was towing it away."</p> + +<p>"Wha—what?" gasped the other, and he seemed much afraid.</p> + +<p>"We're the same girls," went on Betty. "You know, we saw you poling down +the river that day. If you come closer you can see us and make sure. We +need help again. We are lost and a friend of ours is missing. Wait, I'll +light the lamps," and with a turn of the switch Betty set aglow the +electric lights, operated by a storage battery.</p> + +<p>The youth started again. Clearly he was a most timid creature.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We saw the men who were after you," put in Mollie, thinking to add to +his confidence. "And we didn't tell; did we, girls."</p> + +<p>"No!" came in a chorus. In spite of the rather unprepossessing +appearance of the youth the girls were glad to see him.</p> + +<p>"Now will you help us again?" asked Mollie. "We've had a dreadful time, +and we need help. You won't go away; will you?"</p> + +<p>"N—no!" was the hesitating answer. "I came to look for you, but I +wasn't sure—you see I have to be so careful."</p> + +<p>"Gracious, I wonder if he thinks we wanted to capture him?" thought +Grace, feeling about amid the cushions for some chocolates. That was a +sure sign Grace had recovered her equanimity.</p> + +<p>"You came to look for us?" echoed Betty, wonderingly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, miss," was the answer. "He sent me to find you."</p> + +<p>"He? Who do you mean?" Betty questioned anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Tom—Tom Osborne. He told me to come here and tell you he couldn't +come."</p> + +<p>"Couldn't come—why?" Betty's voice had a note of fear in it now.</p> + +<p>"'Cause they've caught him. He's cotched, Miss."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Caught? By whom?" It was Mollie who questioned now.</p> + +<p>Before answering The Loon, which name seemed to fit the poor creature +well, glided forward, glancing back nervously over his shoulder now and +then, as though he feared pursuit.</p> + +<p>"Oh dear!" murmured Grace. "I don't like this. It's worse than the ghost +of the island."</p> + +<p>"Be quiet," urged Betty. "It may be all right yet. I'm going to light +more lamps."</p> + +<p>Thus far she had only set aglow one in the after cockpit, and the red +and green side lights, together with the one on the small signal mast. +Now she flooded the cabin with radiance, for it was getting more and +more gloomy in the forest clearing.</p> + +<p>"Won't you come aboard?" urged Betty kindly. "We will do all we can for +Tom Osborne if he is in trouble. We can't understand why he deserted us. +We have been in much distress, we got lost and had to come back. Come +aboard and tell us all about it so we will know what to do. Perhaps you +are hungry. We left food there," and she indicated it. "Bring it here, +and then perhaps you can take us back to the bungalow. The men there +will organize a searching party if need be. But tell us who has caught +Tom."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Loon did not answer for a minute. He looked to where Betty pointed, +saw the packet of food and went toward it eagerly. Then he brought it to +the moored boat.</p> + +<p>"I am hungry," he said simply.</p> + +<p>"Then eat first, and talk later," urged Mollie. "I know what it is to be +hungry."</p> + +<p>"I'll admit I'm hungry now," said Grace. "We left enough food so we +could have some, I think."</p> + +<p>"Hush! we had a good lunch," said Betty, "and there is no telling what +will happen before morning. Grace, you and Amy might make some hot +chocolate."</p> + +<p>"Will you tell us your name now, or are you still afraid?" asked Betty +of the youth, who was eating ravenously. "The men called you—The +Loon—I believe it was."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Miss, that's my name. You see I'm not quite right in the head. I +got hurt when I was a baby. I'm harmless, but I can't do much work—I'm +not strong. My name is Harry Jackson."</p> + +<p>"And have you no home—no friends?"</p> + +<p>"Not as I knows on, Miss, no. I had an uncle once, but he died. I live +around the camps—sometimes the men is good to me, and sometimes not."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p> + +<p>He ate quickly, but daintily, and was not all uncouth. From time to time +he glanced about like some frightened animal.</p> + +<p>"They calls me The Loon," he went on. "But I know some things. I know +more than they want me to."</p> + +<p>"Do you think you could pilot this boat to Mr. Stonington's place?" +asked Mollie with much anxiety.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Miss, I could. I know my way all around these waters. I can take +you there. But we ought to help him—help Tom and the other one. I +promised I'd come for you."</p> + +<p>"Then tell us where Tom is—who has him—how did he come to send you for +us—who is 'the other one'?"</p> + +<p>Betty questioned thus rapidly. The Loon passed his hand over his +forehead as though to brush away the cobwebs from his poor brain. Then +he said:</p> + +<p>"The same men caught him, Miss.</p> + +<p>"What same men?"</p> + +<p>"The ones who were after me. There's a camp back there in the woods, and +they have him, and the other one, too. I started for help for him long +ago, but they got after me and took me back. Then they brought Tom in +this afternoon. He saw me and told me to come for you. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> didn't see +him tell me. We've got to go to the rescue."</p> + +<p>"I should say we had!" exclaimed Betty. "This is all very mysterious, +Harry." She could not bear to call him The Loon. "Can you tell us any +more about all this? Why did Tom go away?"</p> + +<p>"That's it!" cried the queer youth. "That's what I've been trying to +remember. He told me to be sure and tell you that he didn't run away. He +saw you getting flowers, he said, and he went off in the woods a way to +look for some rare kind for you. He didn't mean to go so far. Then the +men caught him, and took him away before he could warn you. That's what +he wanted me to be sure and tell you. Now I've remembered," and he +seemed quite pleased in his own peculiar way.</p> + +<p>"But who is this other one you started to help?" asked Grace, a strange +eagerness creeping into her voice.</p> + +<p>"Wait, please, wait," begged The Loon, again passing his hand over his +brow. "I can't think very fast. I know the bad men in the lumber camp +had Tom, and the other one—I don't know his name. But maybe we can +rescue them both. If you'll come——"</p> + +<p>He sprang from the boat to the tree branch<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> and thence ashore. Then he +stood waiting in the glare of the boat's lights.</p> + +<p>"Wait," said Betty gently. "We must go for help, first. Come, Harry, get +aboard and take us to the orange grove. Then we will get Mr. Hammond and +some men to come to the rescue."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>THE EVERGLADE CAMP</h3> + + +<p>The Loon stood irresolute for a few seconds. He seemed to want to rush +off into the dark woods again, and evidently expected the girls to +follow him. But, though they were very anxious to effect the rescue of +their friend Tom, and the other unknown, held in some distant camp, +Betty and her chums would take no risks.</p> + +<p>"Come!" called the Little Captain to the simple-minded lad, "we will go +for help, and soon be back here—if you can guide us."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I know the way all over these parts—even in the Everglades."</p> + +<p>"Are there Everglades here?" asked Mollie, who had heard much of those +strange, floating forests.</p> + +<p>"A small patch," answered The Loon, "but not much like the real +Everglades. It is a big swampy tract, and the camp is in there."</p> + +<p>"A turpentine camp?" asked Grace, filled with sudden hope.</p> + +<p>"No, the bosses are getting out a certain kind<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> of wood. Oh! but it is +hard work. The wood is partly under water, and the bugs and mosquitoes +and alligators are terrible. I ran away, for I couldn't stand it."</p> + +<p>"Poor fellow," murmured Amy. "Oh, to think of Tom Osborne and some other +young fellow being there."</p> + +<p>"Just like my poor brother Will," agreed Grace. "Oh, I wonder if he +could be the 'other one' he refers to! Listen," she went on to the +simple youth eagerly, "I am going to describe a young man to you. I want +you to tell me if he is like the one you once tried to rescue—the time +you saved our boat," and she gave a close description of her brother.</p> + +<p>"Is the 'other one' like that?" she asked breathlessly.</p> + +<p>The Loon shook his head.</p> + +<p>"No," he said slowly, "not at all like that. He is very thin, this one, +and he is lame."</p> + +<p>"Oh dear!" half sobbed Grace. "I was beginning to have such hope!"</p> + +<p>"Never mind," consoled Betty. "We will find your brother yet. Come now, +we are losing time. Come, Harry," she said gently.</p> + +<p>"And the other one, too?" he asked eagerly. "I promised I would help +him, and took his money; but I lost it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, we will rescue him, too," said Betty. "Come now."</p> + +<p>The Loon was satisfied that his friend would be helped, so he sprang +into the boat. Betty started the engine and then, with the powerful gas +headlight aglow, she turned the wheel over to The Loon.</p> + +<p>However simple-minded the poor youth might be, however undecided and +timid in the forest, he seemed to be a new person on the water. There +was a self-reliance about him, a poise and a certain ability that he +seemed to have acquired suddenly. Without a trace of hesitation he +guided the boat through the winding course of the creek that flowed into +the main stream.</p> + +<p>Coming to the turn he took an entirely different direction from that +followed by the girls.</p> + +<p>"That's where we made our mistake!" exclaimed Mollie.</p> + +<p>The Loon did not respond—he was too busy peering ahead at the dark +water, which was illuminated only for a comparatively short distance by +the searchlight.</p> + +<p>"Suppose—suppose we hit—an alligator!" voiced Grace.</p> + +<p>"Don't suppose at all," retorted Betty. "It's bad for the nerves."</p> + +<p>It was now so dark that the girls could not see<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> just the course taken, +and so could not know where it was they had made other mistakes. But the +darkness did not seem to bother The Loon. Like the bird whose name he +bore he seemed able to see in the gloom as well as in the light.</p> + +<p>"Are we coming back with the men when they make the rescue?" asked +Grace.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" exclaimed Amy. "I'd be afraid."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't!" declared Mollie. "I think we ought to come along."</p> + +<p>"So do I!" added Grace. "That other one, of whom Harry spoke, may be my +brother after all; even if it isn't a turpentine camp we are going to."</p> + +<p>"It hardly seems possible," objected Betty. "The description is so +different. And Will isn't lame."</p> + +<p>"No," responded Grace, in a low voice. "But, oh, how I wish we could +rescue him!"</p> + +<p>"Did this other young man—the one who gave you money—tell you his +name?" asked Betty, determined to try again to bring some glimmer of +memory to The Loon.</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered the simple-minded lad, "but I can't think of it. My mind +isn't all there," he added cheerfully, as though it was something to be +proud of.</p> + +<p>"It wasn't Will, was it?" asked Grace.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No. The men called him Hippity-hop, 'cause he was lame, I guess. But +maybe I could find your brother."</p> + +<p>"I wish someone could," murmured Grace, with a half sob.</p> + +<p>The <i>Gem</i> chugged on through the darkness, making turn after turn, +twisting here and there in the water, The Loon seeming to know the +channel perfectly. In a much shorter time than the girls had expected +they made a turn that a few seconds later brought them out on a broad +stream.</p> + +<p>"Now I know where we are!" cried Betty. "This is the Mayfair river—our +river; isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered The Loon. "We shall soon be at your orange grove now."</p> + +<p>A few minutes later they saw a sudden glare of light and heard the +firing of guns. Then they noticed boats here and there on the stream, +each one containing several lanterns, while the occupants were shouting +from time to time.</p> + +<p>"Look! Look!" exclaimed Grace.</p> + +<p>"Hush!" called Betty. "They are calling us!"</p> + +<p>The girls could distinguish their names being spoken.</p> + +<p>"They're searching for us!" cried Mollie. "Here we are!" she shouted, +and her voice car<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span>ried to the searchers and as they saw the lights of +the <i>Gem</i> the boats converged toward her.</p> + +<p>Mr. Stonington and Mr. Hammond were in one, and Amy's "uncle" greeted +her and the others with alarm in his tones.</p> + +<p>"What happened? Where were you? We have imagined all sorts of terrible +things about you."</p> + +<p>"We got lost," explained Betty quickly, "and some men have captured Tom. +They are holding him a prisoner in an Everglade camp. This young man can +take us back there. We must rescue him," and they quickly filled in the +other details of the story.</p> + +<p>"Well, this beats all!" exclaimed Mr. Hammond. "Those timber men are +getting worse and worse all the while. We'll have to teach them a +lesson!"</p> + +<p>"Will you rescue them?" asked The Loon.</p> + +<p>"Surely, Harry," spoke the foreman, who knew the simple-minded lad. +"We'll get right after the fellows. What do you say, Mr. Stonington?"</p> + +<p>"I say yes, of course."</p> + +<p>"And may we come?" asked Grace. "My brother may be there."</p> + +<p>The two men did not answer for a moment. Then Mr. Hammond said in a low +voice:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Their launch would come in useful, and really there is not much danger +in daylight."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Mr. Stonington. "I'll go along too."</p> + +<p>"Aren't you going to rescue them to-night?" asked The Loon.</p> + +<p>"It would be impossible, Harry," said Mr. Hammond, gently. "They might +escape in the darkness, and take your friend, and Tom, with them. We'll +get ready to descend on their camp at daybreak. That will be best."</p> + +<p>After some thought The Loon agreed to this, and those in the other +searching boats, one or two of them being small launches, having been +informed of the return of the girls, the whole flotilla went back to the +orange grove.</p> + +<p>The Loon was given a place to sleep, and then the girls told more of +their story. Mr. Stonington told how, becoming worried over the long +stay of the young people, he had organized a searching party, getting +more and more alarmed as the hours went by without the return of Betty +and her chums.</p> + +<p>It was rather a restless night in Orangeade, and all were astir early, +for they wanted to be at the Everglade camp by daylight. Two extra +launches besides the <i>Gem</i> made the trip, the others carrying a number +of sturdy men headed by Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> Hammond. Mr. Stonington went with the +girls, The Loon steering.</p> + +<p>By taking a little different course the boats were able to approach +close to the camp in the forest fastness, and at a signal from The Loon +all came to a stop.</p> + +<p>"We had better walk the rest of the way," said the half-witted lad. +"They may hear the boats."</p> + +<p>"Good idea," said Mr. Hammond. "Harry is smarter than any of us think."</p> + +<p>A faint gleam of light was beginning to straggle through the trees when +the party, with The Loon in the lead, set off to march to the Everglade +camp. There was a narrow trail, and Mr. Stonington insisted on the girls +keeping to the rear.</p> + +<p>Silent was the approach, and the only sounds heard were those made by +the awakening denizens of the woods. Presently those in front of the +girls halted. Word was whispered back along the line:</p> + +<p>"We're there!"</p> + +<p>"Then don't you come any farther," said Mr. Stonington to Betty and the +others. "There may be no trouble; but it's best to be on the safe side. +We'll bring the rescued ones back here."</p> + +<p>Wondering what would happen, and not a little alarmed, the girls +waited.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>THE ESCAPE</h3> + + +<p>Taken by surprise by the sudden rush of Mr. Hammond and his men those in +charge of the Everglade camp, and the miserable creatures they held in +virtual bondage, offered little resistance. There was neither time nor +chance for any.</p> + +<p>Well armed, but fortunately not being obliged to use their weapons, the +men from the orange grove made such a show of strength that resistance +seemed out of the question.</p> + +<p>The camp, as the girls saw afterward, was merely a collection of +miserable huts. Some were better than others, and it was to these that +the rescuers turned their attention, for in them were the "bosses" of +the camp.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hammond and his men made a rush for these, and, surrounding them, +called on those within to surrender. At first there was sleepy-eyed +surprise as the rough men ran out. Some showed a disposition to fight, +but Mr. Hammond <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'cooly'">coolly</ins> said:</p> + +<p>"It's of no use, men. We've got you just where we want you, and we're +enough in num<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span>bers to take you all prisoners. We only want a couple of +young fellows you have here."</p> + +<p>"We've a right to all the help we have!" growled the leader of the +campers: "We've got the papers to show it, too!"</p> + +<p>"I don't doubt but what you've got papers—forged ones, though," replied +Mr. Hammond sternly. "We won't dispute that. But you haven't any papers +for my man, Tom Osborne."</p> + +<p>"Tom Osborne—your man—was he the one that——"</p> + +<p>The leader began thus, but he did not finish. He saw the damaging +admission he was about to make.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Tom Osborne!" exclaimed Mr. Hammond. "I say Tom, where are you?" +he called, loudly.</p> + +<p>"Here, Mr. Hammond!" was a shout from a distant shack. "Are the young +ladies all right?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, they're here to help rescue you. Tumble over there, some of you," +directed Mr. Hammond to his men, "and let Tom out. Break in the door!"</p> + +<p>"I say now!" began the leader of the campers, "that won't do——"</p> + +<p>"That's enough from you," warned Mr. Hammond sternly. "Smash in that +door, men!"</p> + +<p>A little later Tom Osborne, rather forlorn and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> miserable from his +night's <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'imprisonement'">imprisonment</ins> in a tumble-down shack, walked out, his bonds +having been cut.</p> + +<p>"Now for your friend, Harry," said Mr. Hammond to The Loon. "We must get +him out next."</p> + +<p>"There's some young fellow in the shack next to where I was," said Tom +Osborne. "I heard him talking to himself early in the evening, but not +since daylight. I guess he's the one you mean."</p> + +<p>A rush was made for the wretched place, and the door was burst in, but +the hut was empty.</p> + +<p>"He's gone!" cried The Loon. "They've taken him to some other place. Oh, +I'll never be able to keep my word to him!"</p> + +<p>"We'll find him," declared Mr. <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Hammand'">Hammond</ins>. "I don't know who he was, but +we'll get him. Look in every shack, men!"</p> + +<p>In turn every cabin was inspected. Many wretched young men, and some old +ones, too, were routed out, but the proprietors of the camp seemed to +have a right to their services, either by contract, or through the +action of the criminal laws. Sad indeed was their plight, but the +rescuers had no legal right to take them away.</p> + +<p>"Though I can, and will, proceed against you for taking Tom Osborne," +declared Mr. Ham<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span>mond. "And I'll see to it that you get the punishment +you deserve."</p> + +<p>Mr. Stonington said something in a low voice to the overseer.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," went on Mr. Hammond. "If you want to tell what became of this +other young man, whom you seem to have kept against his will, I'll do +what I can to have your sentence lightened."</p> + +<p>"He must have got away," said the head lumberman, sullenly. "He was such +a spunky chap that we kept him locked up. And we had a right to him, +too. He signed a contract."</p> + +<p>"Probably an illegal one, if I'm any judge of your methods," said Mr. +Hammond, grimly. "I don't blame him for getting away, but I wish we +could have rescued him. He may be in a bad plight in this swamp."</p> + +<p>An inspection of the cabin where Tom had said some other prisoner had +been held showed a board forced off in the rear, and it was evident that +the unknown young man had gotten out this way when the guard was +asleep—for the camp was kept under guard, so fearful were the bosses +that their wretched slaves would escape.</p> + +<p>"Well, we can't do much more here," said Mr. Hammond, looking about. +They had inspected every cabin, and the men had searched in various +places.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You have my last word," said Mr. Hammond, grimly, as the rescue party +prepared to leave the miserable camp, "if you produce that young man +I'll do what I can to have the courts deal easy with you. If not—you'll +get the limit!"</p> + +<p>"I tell you he escaped!" insisted the head of the lumbermen. "And if you +think you can scare us, go ahead. If you hadn't so many with you, and if +my men had the spunk of chickens, there'd be a different ending to +this," he added, vindictively.</p> + +<p>"Don't be rash," advised Mr. Hammond.</p> + +<p>The girls were permitted a distant view of the camp, and then they +started for their boats, Tom in the midst of the girls, explaining to +them his seeming desertion. The Loon was worried over his failure to +rescue the unknown young man who had given him money.</p> + +<p>"Never mind," consoled Mr. Hammond. "We may find him later. We'll keep a +lookout as we go along. If he has any sense he'll get out of this swamp, +anyhow."</p> + +<p>"I wonder who he may be?" said Grace. "Oh, if only we could go to the +rescue of my brother. I wish we would get some news of him."</p> + +<p>"We all do, dear," spoke Mollie, gently.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<h3>THE YOUTH ON THE RAFT</h3> + + +<p>Tom Osborne, on the way back in the <i>Gem</i> with the girls and Mr. +Stonington, told his story. He had prepared the luncheon, and, seeing +the girls going out on the little neck of land to gather flowers, he +recalled seeing some blooms, of the orchid variety, farther in the +woods.</p> + +<p>Thinking to give the girls a surprise, he decided to gather some before +they returned. He set off, but the flowers grew farther away than he +thought, and before he realized it he was a mile from the glade.</p> + +<p>"Then, all at once," he related, "a couple of rough fellows sprang out +at me, and before I could do anything they had me tied."</p> + +<p>"How awful!" exclaimed Betty.</p> + +<p>"I thought so at the time," said Tom, grimly. "I couldn't imagine why +they wanted me, but when they led me off into the swamp I understood. +They were after workers, and they'd do anything to get them."</p> + +<p>Happily the days are past when such things are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> done, but a few years +ago, before the law intervened, men who were making money by getting +valuable timber, and other products, from the Southern forests, stopped +at little in order to obtain the necessary labor.</p> + +<p>Tom was taken to the Everglade camp, which explains why the calls of the +girls did not reach him. Strong and healthy, he was a great "find" for +the unscrupulous contractors, but as he stubbornly refused to work he +was made a prisoner in one of the shacks.</p> + +<p>It was there that he got into communication with The Loon. Poor Harry, +wandering about in the swamps and forests in search of the young man +who, some time previous, had given him money to go for aid for him, came +within talking distance of where Tom was locked up. Tom knew the +half-witted fellow, and quickly whispered an appeal to him.</p> + +<p>"I told him to go back and find you girls," said Tom, "and tell you why +I couldn't get back. Then I asked him to tell you to get help."</p> + +<p>"And I did," spoke The Loon, proudly.</p> + +<p>"Indeed you did," declared Tom, patting him on the back.</p> + +<p>"I only wish I could have helped the other one," went on Harry.</p> + +<p>"But who was he—can't you tell his name, or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> something about him?" +asked Mr. Hammond.</p> + +<p>The Loon shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I forget," he muttered. "All I know is that I saw him up in the other +camp—away off. He gave me money then, and told me to go to someone—I +forget who—to send a message over the telegraph wires, you know. He +wrote it down, but I lost that and the money. Then I went back, but they +had taken him away. I trailed him, though, and found him where I saw +Tom. Then I ran to meet you girls. I was afraid, too."</p> + +<p>"You were brave, Harry," said Mr. Hammond.</p> + +<p>"Was I?" asked the simple lad, well pleased.</p> + +<p>Tom told more details of his imprisonment; how he heard sounds from an +adjoining cabin that would indicate some other unfortunate was held +there. He heard the men discussing his case, and planning to force him +to work in the morning.</p> + +<p>Then had come the rescue.</p> + +<p>Through the gathering morning light the <i>Gem</i> proceeded on her way. Tom +was at the wheel, having been refreshed by coffee which Betty and Mollie +made aboard their craft.</p> + +<p>A lookout was kept for any signs of a refugee on the way back to the +orange grove, but none was seen.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He may be hiding in the swamp," said Mr. Hammond. "He may come out +after dark, and make his way to our place. I hope he does."</p> + +<p>"I am going to look for him," said The Loon.</p> + +<p>Poor fellow! In spite of his simple ways, he showed a devotion of which +one with a stronger mind might have been proud.</p> + +<p>"Can't something be done for him?" asked Mr. Stonington, nodding in the +direction of Harry. "Ought not we to keep him with us?"</p> + +<p>"It would be hard work," answered Mr. Hammond. "He is used to going and +coming as he pleases. He wanders all about this region. He is harmless."</p> + +<p>Without further incident the orange grove was reached. Tom Osborne, +tired and worn out, received every attention, and was soon himself +again. Mr. Hammond communicated with the authorities regarding the men +of the camp, but little could be done. There were legal complications +hard to avoid.</p> + +<p>"But, at any rate," said Mr. Stonington, "we have rescued Tom, and that +other young man has escaped."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps to a worse fate," observed Mr. Hammond.</p> + +<p>Days passed. The outdoor girls enjoyed their life in the orange grove, +but Grace fretted be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span>cause no word came from her brother. He seemed to +have disappeared completely.</p> + +<p>Following the receipt of a letter from her father, containing no news, +Grace was so gloomy that one day Betty proposed a ride in the launch.</p> + +<p>"It will do you good," she said to Grace. "We will take our lunch again, +and——"</p> + +<p>"Get trapped by alligators or snakes?" suggested Amy.</p> + +<p>"No!" declared Mollie. "We'll take The Loon along, and he will look +after us," for Harry was back from one of his wanderings. He spent much +time away from the grove, seeking in many strange places for the young +man who had appealed to him for help. But he did not find him.</p> + +<p>So the girls went for a little excursion. In spite of the gloom that +seemed to hang over them they had an enjoyable time.</p> + +<p>They were scanning the shores ahead of them, looking for a suitable +place to land and eat their lunch, when Betty, who had taken the wheel, +with The Loon to stand beside and direct her steering, uttered a cry and +pointed ahead.</p> + +<p>"See!" she said. "What is that?"</p> + +<p>The other girls looked.</p> + +<p>"Some sort of a raft," answered Mollie.</p> + +<p>"And someone is on it!" added Amy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's a man!" cried Grace. "A young man! Oh, maybe it's the one who +escaped from the Everglade swamp. Hurry to him, Betty!"</p> + +<p>As she spoke the figure on the raft rose to his knees, and waved a hand +at the girls. Then the youth, for such he was seen to be, toppled over +on his rude craft, and went drifting down the current.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + +<h3>WILL FORD</h3> + + +<p>"Slow up a little, Betty. Now ahead to starboard! Reverse! I have it!"</p> + +<p>Thus cried Mollie, who stood at the bow of the <i>Gem</i> with a boathook in +her grasp, while the motor craft approached the rude raft on which lay +the body of an unconscious youth. Mollie had caught the hook in the edge +of the boards and the motor boat was now beside it.</p> + +<p>"What—what are we going to do with him?" asked Amy.</p> + +<p>"Get him aboard, of course," said Betty, shortly. She was busy making +fast a line to a projection on the raft. The <i>Gem</i> was now drifting with +the craft containing the young man.</p> + +<p>"We never can!" cried Grace. "Oh, perhaps he's——"</p> + +<p>She did not say what she thought.</p> + +<p>"We've just got to get him up here, and take him to a doctor," declared +Betty, fiercely. "He looks half-starved."</p> + +<p>There was a moment of hesitation among the girls—a natural +hesitation—and then Betty and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> Mollie with an understanding look at +each other climbed from the boat to the raft. It was big and strong +enough to support much more weight; for, though it was rudely made, it +was substantial, being composed of tree trunks, and boards, bound +together with withes, forest vines, and bits of rope.</p> + +<p>"He—he's breathing—anyhow," said Mollie, softly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, we—we must lift him up," spoke Betty. "Come on."</p> + +<p>They exposed the pale and drawn face of the youth on the raft. At the +sight of it Grace, who with Amy was leaning breathlessly over the side +of the boat, uttered a cry.</p> + +<p>"It's Will!" she screamed, half-hysterically. "It's my brother Will!"</p> + +<p>Betty and Mollie started back, and nearly let the limp body slip off the +raft.</p> + +<p>"What—what!" cried Betty, for the figure of the youth bore no +resemblance to Will; nor did the features. But the eyes of a sister were +not to be deceived.</p> + +<p>"It is Will!" she cried. "I have been hoping and praying all the while +that it might be he—and it is. It's Will!"</p> + +<p>She would have gotten down to the raft had not Amy restrained her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I believe it is Will," said Mollie, taking a closer look. "We have +found him."</p> + +<p>"Then let's get him aboard at once, and help him," said practical Betty. +"Amy, start that coffee. Grace, you help us! And Harry, too!"</p> + +<p>Thus the Little Captain issued her orders.</p> + +<p>How they got Will Ford aboard the boat the girls could not tell +afterward. But they did, with The Loon's aid, and soon he was being +given hot coffee. Slowly his senses came back, and when some warm broth +had been slowly fed to him he opened his eyes, looked wonderingly about +him, and asked hoarsely:</p> + +<p>"Is it real—or am I dreaming again?"</p> + +<p>"It's real, Will dear," said Grace, putting her arms about him, as he +lay in one of the bunks. "Oh, to think that we have found you again! +Where have you been, and what happened to you?"</p> + +<p>"Where haven't I been?" he asked, smiling a little. "And what hasn't +happened to me?"</p> + +<p>"But you're all right now," said Grace, comfortingly.</p> + +<p>"But what in the world are you girls doing down here?" Will asked, +wonderingly. "It's like a dream. How did you come here?"</p> + +<p>"To rescue you," replied Mollie, with a laugh.</p> + +<p>"Really?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, almost really."</p> + +<p>Will grew better every minute and wanted to tell his story, but the +girls insisted on waiting, except for the most important details, until +he had reached the orange grove. To satisfy him, however, they told how +they came to be in Florida.</p> + +<p>As for The Loon, no sooner had he a sight of Will's face than he danced +about like a child, and cried:</p> + +<p>"That's him! That's the one! He's the one I went to get help for!"</p> + +<p>"That's right, my boy," said Will, weakly.</p> + +<p>"I—I lost the money and note," faltered poor Harry. "But I thought you +had fooled me."</p> + +<p>"But, after all, he was the means of saving Tom, and, in a way, you, +also," said Grace.</p> + +<p>"Who's Tom?" asked Will.</p> + +<p>And they told him.</p> + +<p>That there was surprise at Orangeade when the outdoor girls arrived with +Will Ford can easily be imagined. The first thing done was to send a +telegram to Mr. Ford, apprising him that his son was found.</p> + +<p>Then Will told his story.</p> + +<p>The first part the girls were already familiar with—how, tiring of life +in Uncle Isaac's mill,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> he had determined to strike out for himself.</p> + +<p>"Then I fell in with a plausible talker," explained Will, "and he +persuaded me he had a great scheme for making money. Well, before I knew +it I had signed some papers—foolishly. At first I was given decent +clerical work to do, and then the scheme failed, I was transferred to +another part of the State, and to another company, and in some way, by a +juggling of contracts, not knowing what I was doing, it seems that I +signed an agreement to work in a timber camp. Say, it was worse than +being in prison, and some of the fellows were prisoners, I heard. There +were one or two others like myself; but we couldn't get away.</p> + +<p>"Then I wrote that letter to dad and threw it out of the car window. +From then on I've lived a dog's life. I've been a regular slave. Many a +time I'd have given anything to be back, even with Uncle Isaac. This has +been a lesson to me."</p> + +<p>Will went on to tell how he had been taken from place to place with the +others until he finally was held in the Everglade swamp, and made to get +out timber from the forest.</p> + +<p>"I thought it was all up with me then," he said. "Before that I had met +this chap," and he nodded toward The Loon. "I thought he could help me, +and he promised to. I managed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> to speak to him on the quiet, and gave +him what money I had managed to hide away from those slave-drivers. He +went off, promising to bring help."</p> + +<p>"And he tried, too," said Grace. "He helped us first, though." And she +told of getting the motor boat away from the manatee.</p> + +<p>"Just to think!" cried Will. "There he was, talking to you girls all the +while, and me only a few miles away, though I was moved later."</p> + +<p>"I—I'm sorry," spoke The Loon.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you couldn't help it, Harry," voiced Betty, softly. "After all, it +came out all right, and you helped a lot."</p> + +<p>"Indeed he did," agreed Tom Osborne. "Only for him Will and I might +still be prisoners."</p> + +<p>Will related how he had broken from the shack shortly before the +rescuers reached the Everglade camp, and how, after much suffering, +having previously cut his foot, which made him lame, and wandering about +in the woods, he had made the raft and floated down the river. What +little food he had gave out, and he had fainted from weakness and +exposure just as the girls' boat came in sight.</p> + +<p>"But we have you back again," declared Grace.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and you can make up your minds I'm<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> not going to be so foolish +again," spoke her brother. "This has been a lesson to me—one I won't +forget in a hurry."</p> + +<p>"Well, now you can stay with us and have a good time," said his sister. +"I guess you need it."</p> + +<p>"I sure do," said Will, fervently.</p> + +<p>On hearing Will's story Mr. Hammond and Mr. Stonington went to the +authorities again, to proceed against the unscrupulous men who had so +mistreated him.</p> + +<p>But they had left that part of the State, and could not be traced. One +reason, Will thought, why they held him a prisoner, was because they had +violated the law in regard to the treatment of the working-prisoners, +and did not want to be reported. And the reason The Loon's description +of Will gave no clue to the girls was because of Grace's brother's +temporary lameness, and his change due to poor living and ragged +clothes.</p> + +<p>Then came happy days. Mr. and Mrs. Ford, rejoicing over the news of +their son being found, sent word for him to stay with the girls, and +they would join him in Florida. As for the girls—Mollie, Amy and Betty +shared with Grace the fun of showing Will about the lovely place where +they had spent the winter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Loon found a comfortable home with one of Mr. Hammond's workers, and +made himself very useful about the orange grove. He could not do enough +for the girls, or for Will and Tom, the latter two becoming fast chums, +as they had been companions in misery.</p> + +<p>"And to think that soon we will have to leave this lovely place," said +Grace one day, when they had come back from a long trip on the river in +the <i>Gem</i>. "It is perfect here."</p> + +<p>"It is," agreed Mollie, "but do you know I am rather lonesome for the +sight of a snowball, or an icicle."</p> + +<p>"Mollie Billette!" cried Amy.</p> + +<p>"Well, I am! Too much loveliness palls on one after a bit. Of course +it's lovely here, Amy, but we are Northern girls, and one winter in the +South can't change us."</p> + +<p>"Well, we have certainly had some strange adventures here," remarked +Betty, as she swung her boat up to the dock.</p> + +<p>"And with all the orange blossoms, none of us has worn any yet," +remarked Grace, laughing.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know," said Mollie, with a mischievous look at Betty. "I +think some of us have a chance. I saw Tom Osborne out in the moonlight +with you last night, Grace."</p> + +<p>"You did not!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, I did, and he——"</p> + +<p>"Have a chocolate!" capitulated Grace.</p> + +<p>And now the time has come to take leave of the outdoor girls—at least +for a time. Perhaps we may meet them again, under other circumstances. +For they are destined to have other adventures, fully as absorbing as +those I have already set down.</p> + + +<h2>THE END</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE TOM SWIFT SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By VICTOR APPLETON</h3> + + +<p>12mo, printed from large type on good paper, each volume with half-tone +frontispiece. Handsomely bound in cloth. Printed wrappers.</p> + +<div class='center'><b>Price, 40 Cents per Volume, postpaid</b></div> + +<p>It is the purpose of these spirited tales to convey in a realistic way +the wonderful advances in land and sea locomotion. Stories like these +impress themselves on the youthful memory and their reading is +productive only of good.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="Tom Swift Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or Fun and Adventure on the Road</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Stirring Cruise of the Red Cloud</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Speediest Car on the Road</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or Daring Adventures in Elephant Land</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Quickest Flight on Record</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Wreck of the Airship</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Secret of Phantom Mountain</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Castaways of Earthquake Island</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or Marvellous Adventures Underground</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or Seeking the Platinum Treasure</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or A Daring Escape by Airship</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Perils of Moving Picture Taking</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or On the Border for Uncle Sam</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Outdoor Chums Series</h2> + +<h3>By CAPTAIN QUINCY ALLEN</h3> + + +<p>The outdoor chums are four wide-awake lads, sons of wealthy men of a +small city located on a lake. The boys love outdoor life, and are +greatly interested in hunting, fishing, and picture taking. They have +motor cycles, motor boats, canoes, etc., and during their vacations go +everywhere and have all sorts of thrilling adventures. The stories give +full directions for camping out, how to fish, how to hunt wild animals +and prepare the skins for stuffing, how to manage a canoe, how to swim, +etc. Full of the very spirit of outdoor life.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="Outdoor Chums Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR CHUMS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or, The First Tour of the Rod, Gun and Camera Club.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR CHUMS ON THE LAKE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or, Lively Adventures on Wildcat Island.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR CHUMS IN THE FOREST</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or, Laying the Ghost of Oak Ridge.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR CHUMS ON THE GULF</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or, Rescuing the Lost Balloonists.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR CHUMS AFTER BIG GAME</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or, Perilous Adventures in the Wilderness.</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>12mo. Averaging 240 pages. Illustrated. Handsomely bound in Cloth.</p> + +<div class='center'><b>Price, 40 Cents per Volume</b></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP — NEW YORK</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By GRAHAM B. FORBES</h3> + + +<p>Never was there a cleaner, brighter, more manly boy than Frank Allen, +the hero of this series of boys' tales, and never was there a better +crowd of lads to associate with than the students of the School. All +boys will read these stories with deep interest. The rivalry between the +towns along the river was of the keenest, and plots and counterplots to +win the championships, at baseball, at football, at boat racing, at +track athletics, and at ice hockey, were without number. Any lad reading +one volume of this series will surely want the others.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="The Boys of Columbia High Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>The Boys of Columbia High;</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The All Around Rivals of the School.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Boys of Columbia High on the Diamond;</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or Winning Out by Pluck.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Boys of Columbia High on the River;</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Boat Race Plot that Failed.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Boys of Columbia High on the Gridiron;</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Struggle for the Silver Cup.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Boys of Columbia High on the Ice;</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or Out for the Hockey Championship.</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>12mo. Illustrated. Handsomely bound in cloth, with cover design and +wrappers in colors.</p> + +<div class='center'><b>Price, 40 cents per volume.</b></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE RISE IN LIFE SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</h3> + + +<p>These are Copyrighted Stories which cannot be obtained elsewhere. They +are the stories last written by this famous author. 12mo. Illustrated. +Bound in cloth, stamped in colored inks.</p> + +<div class='center'><b>Price, 40 Cents per Volume, Postpaid.</b></div> + + +<div class='unindent'><br />THE YOUNG BOOK AGENT, Or Frank Hardy's Road to Success</div> + +<p>A plain but uncommonly interesting tale of everyday life, describing the +ups and downs of a boy book-agent.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br />FROM FARM TO FORTUNE, Or Nat Nason's Strange Experience</div> + +<p>Nat was a poor country lad. Work on the farm was hard, and after a +quarrel with his uncle, with whom he resided, he struck out for himself.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br />OUT FOR BUSINESS, Or Robert Frost's Strange Career</div> + +<p>Relates the adventures of a country boy who is compelled to leave home +and seek his fortune in the great world at large.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br />FALLING IN WITH FORTUNE, Or The Experiences of a Young Secretary</div> + +<p>This is a companion tale to "Out for Business," but complete in itself, +and tells of the further doings of Robert Frost as private secretary.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br />YOUNG CAPTAIN JACK, Or The Son of a Soldier</div> + +<p>The scene is laid in the South during the Civil War, and the hero is a +waif who was cast up by the sea and adopted by a rich Southern planter.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br />NELSON THE NEWSBOY, Or Afloat in New York</div> + +<p>Mr. Alger is always at his best in the portrayal of life in New York +City, and this story is among the best he has given our young readers.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br />LOST AT SEA, Or Robert Roscoe's Strange Cruise</div> + +<p>A sea story of uncommon interest. The hero falls in with a strange +derelict—a ship given over to the wild animals of a menagerie.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br />JERRY, THE BACKWOODS BOY, Or the Parkhurst Treasure</div> + +<p>Depicts life on a farm of New York State. The mystery of the treasure +will fascinate every boy. Jerry is a character well worth knowing.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br />RANDY OF THE RIVER, Or the adventures of a Young Deckhand</div> + +<p>Life on a river steamboat is not so romantic as some young people may +imagine, but Randy Thompson wanted work and took what was offered.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br />JOE, THE HOTEL BOY, Or Winning Out by Pluck.</div> + +<p>A graphic account of the adventures of a country boy in the city.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br />BEN LOGAN'S TRIUMPH, Or The Boys of Boxwood Academy</div> + +<p>The trials and triumphs of a city newsboy in the country.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP — NEW YORK</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Young Reporter Series</h2> + +<h3>BY HOWARD R. GARIS</h3> + + +<p>The author is a practised journalist, and these stories convey a true +picture of the workings of a great newspaper. The incidents are taken +from life.</p> + +<p>12mo. Bound in Cloth. Illustrated.</p> + +<div class='center'><b>Price, 40 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.</b></div> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="Young Reporter Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>FROM OFFICE BOY TO REPORTER</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The First Step in Journalism.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>LARRY DEXTER THE YOUNG REPORTER</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or Strange Adventures in a Great City.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>LARRY DEXTER'S GREAT SEARCH</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Hunt for a Missing Millionaire.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>LARRY DEXTER AND THE BANK MYSTERY</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or A Young Reporter in Wall Street.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>LARRY DEXTER AND THE STOLEN BOY</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or A Young Reporter on the Lakes.</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Sea Treasure Series</h2> + +<h3>BY ROY ROCKWOOD</h3> + + +<p>No manly boy ever grew tired of sea stories—there is a fascination +about them, and they are a recreation to the mind. These books are +especially interesting and are full of adventure, clever dialogue and +plenty of fun.</p> + +<p>12mo. Bound in Cloth. Illustrated.</p> + +<div class='center'><b>Price, 40 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.</b></div> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="Sea Treasure Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>ADRIFT ON THE PACIFIC</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Secret of the Island Cave.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE CRUISE OF THE TREASURE SHIP</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Castaways of Floating Island.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE RIVAL OCEAN DIVERS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Search for a Sunken Treasure.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>JACK NORTH'S TREASURE HUNT</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or Daring Adventures in South America.</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP — NEW YORK</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Enterprise Books</h2> + +<div class='center'>Captivating Stories for Boys by Justly Popular Writers</div> + + +<p>The episodes are graphic, exciting, realistic—the tendency of the tales +is to the formation of an honorable and manly character. They are +unusually interesting, and convey lessons of pluck, perseverance and +manly independence. 12mo. Illustrated. Attractively bound in cloth.</p> + +<div class='center'><b>Price, 40 Cents per Volume. Postpaid</b></div> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +MOFFAT, WILLIAM D.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">THE CRIMSON BANNER. A Story of College Baseball</span></div> + +<p>A tale that grips one from start to finish. The students are almost +flesh and blood, and the contests become real as we read about them. The +best all-around college and baseball tale yet presented.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +GRAYDON, WILLIAM MURRAY<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">CANOE BOYS AND CAMP FIRES.</span></div> + +<p>In this book we have the doings of several bright and lively boys, who +go on a canoeing trip and meet with many exciting happenings.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +HARKNESS, PETER T.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">ANDY, THE ACROBAT. Or, With the Greatest Show on Earth</span></div> +<p>Andy is as bright as a silver dollar. In the book we can smell the +sawdust, hear the flapping of the big white canvas and the roaring of +the lions, and listen to the merry "hoop la!" of the clown.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +FOSTER, W. BERT<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">THE QUEST OF THE SILVER SWAN. A Tale of Ocean Adventure</span></div> + +<p>A Youth's story of the deep blue sea—of the search for a derelict +carrying a fortune. Brandon Tarr is a manly lad, and all lads will be +eager to learn whether he failed or succeeded in his mission.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +<span class="smcap">WHITE, MATTHEW, Jr.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">TWO BOYS AND A FORTUNE. Or, The Tyler Will</span></div> + +<p>If you had been poor and were suddenly left a half-million dollars, what +would you do with it? That was the problem that confronted the Pell +family, and especially the twin brothers, Rex and Roy. A strong, helpful +story, that should be read by every boy in our land.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +WINFIELD, ARTHUR M.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">BOB, THE PHOTOGRAPHER. Or, A Hero in Spite of Himself +</span></div> + +<p>Relates the experiences of a poor boy who falls in with a "camera +fiend," and develops a liking for photography. After a number of +stirring adventures Bob becomes photographer for a railroad; thwarts the +plan of those who would injure the railroad corporation and <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'incidently'">incidentally</ins> +clears a mystery surrounding his parentage.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +BONEHILL, CAPTAIN RALPH<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">LOST IN THE LAND OF ICE. Or, Daring Adventures Round the South Pole +</span></div> + +<p>An expedition is fitted out by a rich young man and with him goes the +hero of the tale, a lad who has some knowledge of a treasure ship said +to be cast away in the land of ice. The heroes land among the wild +Indians of Patagonia and have many exciting adventures.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP — NEW YORK</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Famous Rover Boys Series</h2> + +<h3>By ARTHUR W. WINFIELD</h3> + + +<div class='center'>American Stories of American Boys and Girls<br /> + +ONE MILLION COPIES ALREADY SOLD OF THIS SERIES<br /> + +12mo. Cloth. Handsomely printed and illustrated.<br /> +<br /> +<b>Price, 60 Cents per volume, postpaid</b></div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="Rover Boys Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or Saving Their Father's Honor</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE ROVER BOYS IN THE AIR</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or From College Campus to the Clouds</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE ROVER BOYS DOWN EAST</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Struggle for the Stanhope Fortune</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE ROVER BOYS AT COLLEGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Right Road and the Wrong</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE ROVER BOYS ON TREASURE ISLE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Strange Cruise of the Steam Yacht</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE ROVER BOYS ON THE FARM</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Last Days at Putnam Hall</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE ROVER BOYS IN SOUTHERN WATERS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Deserted Steam Yacht</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE ROVER BOYS ON THE PLAINS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Mystery of Red Rock Ranch</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Search for the Missing Houseboat</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE ROVER BOYS IN CAMP</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Rivals of Pine Island</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE ROVER BOYS ON LAND AND SEA</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Crusoes of Seven Islands</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE ROVER BOYS IN THE MOUNTAINS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or A Hunt for Fame and Fortune</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE ROVER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Secret of the Island Cave</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE ROVER BOYS OUT WEST</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Search for a Lost Mine</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE ROVER BOYS IN THE JUNGLE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or Stirring Adventures in Africa</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or A Chase for a Fortune</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Cadets of Putnam Hall</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP — NEW YORK</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Putnam Hall Series</h2> + +<div class='center'>Companion Stories to the Famous Rover Boys Series</div> + +<h3>By ARTHUR M. WINFIELD</h3> + + +<p>Open-air pastimes have always been popular with boys, and should always +be encouraged. These books mingle adventure and fact, and will appeal to +every manly boy.</p> + +<p>12mo. Handsomely printed and illustrated.</p> + +<div class='center'><b>Price 60 Cents Per Volume, Postpaid.</b></div> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +THE PUTNAM HALL MYSTERY<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The School Chums' Strange Discovery</span></div> + +<p>The particulars of the mystery and the solution of it are very +interesting reading.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +THE PUTNAM HALL ENCAMPMENT<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Secret of the Old Mill</span></div> + +<p>A story full of vim and vigor, telling what the cadets did during the +summer encampment, including a visit to a mysterious old mill, said to +be haunted. The book has a wealth of fun in it.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +THE PUTNAM HALL REBELLION<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Rival Runaways</span></div> + +<p>The boys had good reasons for running away during Captain Putnam's +absence. They had plenty of fun, and several queer adventures.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +THE PUTNAM HALL CHAMPIONS<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or Bound to Win Out</span></div> + +<p>In this volume the Putnam Hall Cadets show what they can do in various +keen rivalries on the athletic field and elsewhere. There is one victory +which leads to a most unlooked-for discovery.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +THE PUTNAM HALL CADETS<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or Good Times in School and Out</span></div> + +<p>The cadets are lively, flesh-and-blood fellows, bound to make friends +from the start. There are some keen rivalries, in school and out, and +something is told of a remarkable midnight feast and a hazing that had +an unlooked for ending.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +THE PUTNAM HALL RIVALS<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or Fun and Sport Afloat and Ashore</span></div> + +<p>It is a lively, rattling, breezy story of school life in this country +written by one who knows all about its pleasures and its perplexities, +its glorious excitements, and its chilling disappointments.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP — NEW YORK</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Dorothy Chester Series</h2> + +<h3>By EVELYN RAYMOND</h3> + + +<p>A series of stories for American girls, by one of the most popular +writers of fiction for girls' reading. The books are full of interest, +winsome and thoroughly wholesome.</p> + +<p>12mo. Handsomely printed on excellent paper, and finely illustrated. +Handsomely bound in cloth, stamped in Colors.</p> + +<div class='center'><b>Price, 60 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.</b></div> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +DOROTHY CHESTER<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The Haps and Mishaps of a Foundling</span> +</div> + +<p>The first volume tells how Dorothy was found on the doorstep, taken in, +and how she grew to be a lovable girl of twelve; and was then carried +off by a person who held her for ransom. She made a warm friend of Jim, +the nobody; and the adventures of the pair are as interesting as they +are surprising.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br />DOROTHY CHESTER AT SKYRIE</div> + +<p>Shows Dorothy at her country home near the Highlands of the Hudson. Here +astonishing adventures befell her, and once again Jim, the nobody, comes +to her assistance.</p> + +<div class='center'><b>Other Volumes in Preparation.</b></div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Bobbsey Twins Books</h2> + +<div class='center'>For Little Men and Women</div> + +<h3>By LAURA LEE HOPE</h3> + + +<p>Copyright publications which cannot be obtained elsewhere. Books that +will charm the hearts of the little ones, and of which they never will +tire. Small 12mo. Handsomely printed and illustrated. Bound in cloth, +stamped in Colors.</p> + +<div class='center'><b>Price, 35 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.</b></div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Bobbsey Twins Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or, Merry Days Indoors and Out</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORE</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP, — NEW YORK</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE DICK HAMILTON SERIES</h2> + +<h3>BY HOWARD R. GARIS</h3> + + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">a new line of clever tales for boys</span></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +DICK HAMILTON'S FORTUNE<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Stirring Doings of a Millionaire's Son</span></div> + +<p>Dick, the son of a millionaire, has a fortune left to him by his mother. +But before he can touch the bulk of this money it is stipulated in his +mother's will that he must do certain things, in order to prove that he +is worthy of possessing such a fortune. The doings of Dick and his chums +make the liveliest kind of reading.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +DICK HAMILTON'S CADET DAYS<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Handicap of a Millionaire's Son</span></div> + +<p>The hero, a very rich young man, is sent to a military academy to make +his way without the use of money. A fine picture of life at an +up-to-date military academy is given, with target shooting, broadsword +exercise, trick riding, sham battles, and all. Dick proves himself a +hero in the best sense of the word.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +DICK HAMILTON'S STEAM YACHT<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or A Young Millionaire and the Kidnappers</span></div> + +<p>A series of adventures while yachting in which our hero's wealth plays a +part. Dick is marooned on an island, recovers his yacht and foils the +kidnappers. The wrong young man is spirited away, Dick gives chase and +there is a surprising rescue at sea.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +DICK HAMILTON'S FOOTBALL TEAM<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or A Young Millionaire on the Gridiron</span></div> + +<p>A very interesting account of how Dick succeeded in developing a +champion team and of the lively contests with other teams. There is also +related a number of thrilling incidents in which Dick is the central +figure.</p> + +<p>Other volumes in preparation.</p> + +<p>12mo. Handsomely printed and illustrated, and bound in cloth, stamped in +colors. Printed wrappers.</p> + +<div class='center'><b>Price, 60 Cents per volume, postpaid</b></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP — NEW YORK</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Flag and Frontier Series</h2> + +<h3>By CAPTAIN RALPH BONEHILL.</h3> + + +<p>These bracing stories of American life, exploration and adventure should +find a place in every school and home library for the enthusiasm they +kindle in American heroism and history. The historical background is +absolutely correct. Every volume complete in itself.</p> + +<p>12mo. Bound in cloth. Stamped in colors.</p> + +<div class='center'><b>Price, 60 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.</b></div> + + +<div class='unindent'><br />WITH BOONE ON THE FRONTIER, Or The Pioneer Boys of Old Kentucky.</div> + +<p>Relates the true-to-life adventures of two boys who, in company with +their folks, move westward with Daniel Boone. Contains many thrilling +scenes among the Indians and encounters with wild animals.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br />PIONEER BOYS OF THE GREAT NORTHWEST, Or With Lewis and Clark Across the +Rockies.</div> + +<p>A splendid story describing in detail the great expedition formed under +the leadership of Lewis and Clark, and telling what was done by the +pioneer boys who were first to penetrate the wilderness of the +northwest.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br />PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS, Or The Nugget Hunters of '49.</div> + +<p>Giving the particulars of the great rush of the gold seekers to +California in 1849. In the party making its way across the continent are +three boys who become chums, and share in no end of adventures.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br />WITH CUSTER IN THE BLACK HILLS, Or A Young Scout Among the Indians.</div> + +<p>Tells of the experiences of a youth who, with his parents, goes to the +Black Hills in search of gold. Custer's last battle is well described.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br />BOYS OF THE FORT, Or A Young Captain's Pluck.</div> + +<p>This story of stirring doings at one of our well-known forts in the Wild +West is of more than ordinary interest. Gives a good insight into army +life of to-day.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br />THE YOUNG BANDMASTER, Or Concert, Stage and Battlefield.</div> + +<p>The hero is a youth who becomes a cornetist in an orchestra, and works +his way up to the leadership of a brass band. He is carried off to sea +and is taken to Cuba, and while there joins a military band which +accompanies our soldiers in the attack on Santiago.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br />OFF FOR HAWAII, Or The Mystery of a Great Volcano.</div> + +<p>Several boys start on a tour of the Hawaiian Islands. They have heard +that there is a treasure located in the vicinity of Kilauea, the largest +active volcano in the world, and go in search of it.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br />A SAILOR BOY WITH DEWEY, Or Afloat in the Philippines.</div> + +<p>The story of Dewey's victory in Manila Bay as it appeared to a real live +American youth who was in the navy at the time. Many adventures in +Manila and in the interior follow.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br />WHEN SANTIAGO FELL, Or The War Adventures of Two Chums.</div> + +<p>Two boys leave New York to join their parents in Cuba. The war between +Spain and the Cubans is on, and the boys are detained at Santiago, but +escape across the bay at night. Many adventures follow.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP,—NEW YORK</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Railroad Series</h2> + +<h3>BY ALLEN CHAPMAN.</h3> + +<p>Ralph Fairbanks was bound to become a railroad man, as his father had +been before him. Step by step he worked his way upward, serving first in +the Roundhouse, cleaning locomotives; then in the Switch Tower, clearing +the tracks; then on the Engine, as a fireman; then as engineer of the +Overland Express; and finally as Train Dispatcher.</p> + +<p>In this line of books there is revealed the whole workings of a great +American railroad system. There are adventures in abundance—railroad +wrecks, dashes through forest fires, the pursuit of a "wildcat" +locomotive, the disappearance of a pay car with a large sum of money on +board—but there is much more than this—the intense rivalry among +railroads and railroad men, the working out of running schedules, the +getting through "on time" in spite of all obstacles, and the +manipulation of railroad securities by evil men who wish to rule or +ruin.</p> + +<p>Books that every American boy ought to own.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="Railroad Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>RALPH, THE TRAIN DISPATCHER</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Mystery of the Pay Car.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>RALPH ON THE OVERLAND EXPRESS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Trials and Triumphs of a Young Engineer.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>RALPH ON THE ENGINE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>RALPH OF THE ROUND HOUSE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or Bound to Become a Railroad Man.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>RALPH IN THE SWITCH TOWER</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or Clearing the Track.</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>12mo. Illustrated. Handsomely bound in cloth.</p> + +<div class='center'><b>Price, 60 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.</b></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP, — NEW YORK</div> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors have been repaired.</p> + +<p>Page 199, the name "Harry" was originally printed at the end of a paragraph. +It was moved to land at the end of the sentence to which it belonged.</p> + +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. +Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN FLORIDA***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 19311-h.txt or 19311-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/9/3/1/19311">http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/3/1/19311</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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