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+Project Gutenberg's The Motor Girls on Crystal Bay, by Margaret Penrose
+
+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 www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Motor Girls on Crystal Bay
+       The Secret of the Red Oar
+
+Author: Margaret Penrose
+
+Release Date: June 22, 2008 [EBook #25873]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR GIRLS ON CRYSTAL BAY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+THE MOTOR GIRLS
+ON CRYSTAL BAY
+
+Or
+The Secret of the Red Oar
+
+By
+MARGARET PENROSE
+
+----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Copyright, 1914, by
+Cupples & Leon Company
+
+----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+CONTENTS
+
+CHAPTER                             PAGE
+     I.  A Worried Girl                1
+    II.  Freda'S Story                15
+   III.  Crystal Bay                  26
+    IV.  The Red Oar                  36
+     V.  Two Men                      47
+    VI.  The "Chelton"                55
+   VII.  In The Motely Mote           67
+  VIII.  Frights Or Fancies           76
+    IX.  A Merry Time                 83
+     X.  Too Much Joy                 93
+    XI.  The Rescue                  102
+   XII.  The Calm                    109
+  XIII.  Suspicion                   120
+   XIV.  An Angry Druggist           129
+    XV.  An Alarm                    141
+   XVI.  A Bad Case Of Nerves        156
+  XVII.  A Little Race               164
+ XVIII.  More Suspicions             171
+   XIX.  Odd Talk                    176
+    XX.  The Night Plot              184
+   XXI.  The Breakdown               196
+  XXII.  At The Cabin                202
+ XXIII.  Unexpected Help             208
+  XXIV.  Denny'S Soliloquy           214
+   XXV.  The Plotters Arrive         220
+  XXVI.  Cora'S Brave Resolve        227
+ XXVII.  The Red Oar Again           235
+XXVIII.  The Discovery--Conclusion   241
+
+----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+
+THE MOTOR GIRLS ON CRYSTAL BAY
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+A WORRIED GIRL
+
+
+Four girls sat on four chairs, in four different corners of the room.
+They sat on the chairs because they were really too tired to stand
+longer, and the reason for the occupancy of the corners of the
+apartment was self-evident. There was no other available space. For
+the center of the chamber was littered to overflowing with trunks,
+suitcases and valises, in various stages of being packed, and from
+them overflowed a variety of garments and other accessories of a
+journey.
+
+"Oh, dear!" sighed Cora Kimball, as she gazed helplessly about, "will
+we ever be finished, Bess?"
+
+"I don't know," was the equally discouraging reply. "It doesn't seem
+so; does it?"
+
+"I'm sure I can't get another thing in my suitcase," spoke the
+smallest girl of all, who seemed to shrink back rather timidly into
+her corner, as though she feared she might be put into a trunk by
+mistake.
+
+"Oh, Marita! You simply must get more in your suitcase!" exclaimed
+Cora, starting up. "Why, your trunk won't begin to hold all the rest
+of your things unless you crowd more into the case."
+
+"The only trouble, Cora," sighed Marita, "is that the sides and top
+aren't made of rubber."
+
+"There's an idea!" cried a plump girl, in the corner nearest the
+piano. "A rubber suitcase! What a boon it would be for week-ends, when
+one starts off with a Spartan resolution to take only one extra gown,
+and ends up with slipping two party dresses and the 'fixings' into
+one's trunk. Oh, for a rubber suitcase!"
+
+"What's the sense in sighing after the impossible?" asked the girl
+opposite the plump one. "Why don't you finish packing, Bess?"
+
+"Why don't you?" and the plump one rather glared at her more frail
+questioner.
+
+"Now, sisters!" cautioned Cora, as she gazed at the Robinson twins,
+"don't get on one another's nerves. Let's have another try at it. I'm
+sure if we go at it with some sort of system we'll be able to get all
+the things in. And really we must hurry!" she exclaimed, looking at
+the clock on the mantel, which pointed to the hour of four. "I
+promised to have all the baggage ready for the man at five. That only
+gives us an hour----"
+
+"Cora Kimball!"
+
+"Only an hour!"
+
+"Why didn't you tell us?"
+
+Thus the three girls exclaimed in startled tones as they fairly leaped
+from their chairs in their respective corners, and caught up various
+garments.
+
+Then, as the apparent hopelessness of the situation overcame them
+again, they looked at one another, at the trunks and suitcases that
+already held their fair share of articles, at the accumulation on the
+floor, and then they sighed in concert.
+
+"It's no use," spoke Bess Robinson. "I'm not going at all--at least
+not now. I'm going to take another day to sort out the things I really
+don't need."
+
+"You can't!" exclaimed Cora. "Our tickets are bought, the bungalow is
+engaged, and we leave for Crystal Bay on the morning train, if we have
+to ship this whole room by freight--just as it is!"
+
+"Perhaps that would be the easiest way," suggested timid Marita
+Osborne.
+
+"It certainly would create a sensation in Chelton," murmured Belle, as
+she looked at her plump sister. "But come, we really must help you,
+Cora. It's too bad we took advantage of your good nature, and brought
+our things here to pack. We might better have done it at our own
+homes."
+
+"No, I think you'll find my way best in the end," said Cora, with a
+smile, as she looked about for a place in which to pack her sweater.
+"By doing this we won't duplicate on the extras. Now, girls, try once
+more. Marita, let's begin on your suitcase, for that seems to be the
+smallest. Oh, dear, Bess, what are you doing now?" she called, as she
+noted an unusual activity on the part of the plump girl.
+
+"I'm just seeing if I'm heavy enough to close the lid of my trunk,"
+was the answer. "No, I'm not," she exclaimed, as she hopped on and
+hopped off again.
+
+"Look out!" called Belle. "You nearly stepped on my veil-box, Bess."
+
+"Sorry, Sis, but you shouldn't leave it on the floor."
+
+The plump one stood looking at the bulging trunk, and then drew a long
+breath.
+
+"Girls!" she cried, "I'm losing weight."
+
+"How do you know?" asked her sister promptly.
+
+"Couldn't close my trunk lid. That's the way I can always tell.
+Problem: Given a trunk, which requires a force of one hundred and
+thirty-five pounds to close down the lid, and a girl of one hundred
+and fifteen, how many chocolates must the said girl eat before she is
+heavy enough to close the lid? Answer--one pound, and here's for a
+starter," saying which pretty, plump Bess rummaged in a pile of her
+belongings until she found what she was after. Then, sinking down in a
+heap of silk petticoats she began munching bonbons with a contented
+air.
+
+"Bess Robinson!" gasped Cora. "You're never going to do that; are
+you?"
+
+"Do what?" came with an innocent air.
+
+"Sit there and eat chocolates until you're heavy enough to close down
+the lid of your trunk."
+
+"I might as well. I can't check it open that way, and I can't close it
+at my present weight. I need everything I've squeezed into it; and so
+what else can I do?"
+
+"If we could only get someone to help us," said Marita, innocently,
+seeming to take Bess literally. "One of the boys----"
+
+She was interrupted by the laughter of the others, for Marita was a
+newcomer in Chelton, and though Cora and her chums had taken her up,
+attracted by her nice ways, Marita did not yet appreciate her new
+friends.
+
+"Don't mind what Bess says, my dear," spoke Cora, as she saw that
+Marita was a little hurt at the laughter. "As for the boys, please
+don't suggest such a thing. If they came in now, we'd never get
+through packing. I hope----"
+
+"All hope abandon, ye who enter here!" declaimed a voice in the
+doorway, and the faces of two young men peered in.
+
+"Too late!" exclaimed Cora, as she saw her brother Jack and his chum,
+Walter Pennington. "The boys are here! Any more of you, Jack?" she
+asked, as she crowded some feminine finery out of sight behind her
+back.
+
+"No. Why?"
+
+"Because I'm going to give general orders for you to depart at once,
+and I want to include everyone. Begone!"
+
+"Heartless one!" murmured Walter, sliding into the room under Jack's
+arm. "Just when we came to help you, too!"
+
+"Here!" called Bess, from her position, Turkish fashion, amid a
+billowy pile of garments, "Help me up first, Wallie, my dear, and then
+sit on my trunk."
+
+"Why, is that the throne seat?" he asked, as he extended his hand, and
+pretended to find it extremely difficult to lift Bess to her feet.
+
+"No, but the lid needs closing, and I can't do it. Sit on it, that's a
+good fellow," and she extended to him a chocolate from the tips of her
+fingers, which fingers Walter pretended to bite.
+
+"Now you really must go," said Cora, seriously, when Walter had
+managed to close the trunk. "Come, Jack, we have to get through by
+five o'clock," and she glanced at her brother, who was in earnest
+conversation with Marita in her corner.
+
+Jack paid no attention to his sister, and Walter was somewhat
+surprised to see Bess, after looking with satisfaction at the trunk he
+had closed for her, open it again.
+
+"Well, I like that!" he exclaimed, with pretended indignation, "after
+me nearly breaking my back to close that lid----"
+
+"I just wanted the things compressed, Walter dear," said Bess,
+sweetly. "I've got a lot more to put in, and I couldn't squeeze in
+another piece until they had been crowded down a bit. Now run along,
+little boy."
+
+"Come on, Jack!" called Walter, as he turned to go. "We have been
+insulted!"
+
+"They can't insult me," murmured Jack, never turning to look at his
+chum. "Don't be so thin-skinned, Wal. I'm having a good time."
+
+Cora's girl chums looked at her.
+
+"Jack, you must go!" she insisted. "Please do. I should think you boys
+would have lots to do to get ready, too."
+
+"All done, Sis," murmured Jack. "We always travel in light marching
+order, and sleep on our arms," and he bent closer to the blushing
+Marita.
+
+Cora bit her lip. Really she was provoked at Jack this time. She and
+her chums were in the midst of packing for their annual Summer trip,
+and to be interrupted this way, at the last critical moment, was
+provoking.
+
+"Jack!" she began. "I shall tell mother----"
+
+"What's he been doing now?" asked a new voice, and with a gesture of
+despair Cora turned to see another young man in the doorway.
+
+"Come on in, Ed," called Jack. "Didn't know you were in town. You're
+just in time to assist."
+
+"What's it all about?" asked the newcomer. "Are you going or coming?"
+he inquired, as he looked at the partially-filled suitcases and
+trunks.
+
+"Both," answered Walter. "You're coming and they're going."
+
+"Good!" was the comment. "Hello, Cora--Bess--Belle----" He paused as
+he nodded to each of the girls, and looked questioningly at Marita in
+the corner with Jack.
+
+"Oh, excuse me," murmured Cora. "Miss Osborne, let me present to you
+Mr. Edward Foster--just plain Ed, mostly."
+
+"The plainer the better," observed the newcomer, as he bowed to
+Marita. "But what's it all about, Jack?--No, there's no use asking
+him," he murmured as he noted Cora's brother resuming his interrupted
+conversation with the little girl. "Will someone please enlighten me?"
+
+"It's our annual flitting," sighed Cora. "And really half the pleasure
+is taken away with this packing. Well, as long as you boys are here
+you might as well make yourselves useful, as well as ornamental."
+
+"Delighted!" cried Walter, looking about. "Where shall I put this?"
+and he caught up a box from the floor.
+
+"Be careful!" cried Belle. "You'll spill it!"
+
+"Candy?" he asked questioningly, as he rattled the contents.
+
+"My manicure set, and you'll have it all upset. Give it here!" went on
+the owner, and Walter surrendered it.
+
+"No, but seriously, what's it all about?" he asked. "I've just come
+home."
+
+"We girls have taken a bungalow at Crystal Bay," explained Cora.
+"We're due there to-morrow, leaving on the early morning train. The
+boys, that is, Jack and Walter, are to have a tent near us, and
+they're supposed to go with us in the morning. But unless they're
+further along with their packing than we are----"
+
+Cora shrugged her pretty shoulders.
+
+"Don't worry, Sis, we are!" Jack threw at her, without turning his
+head.
+
+"Camping at Crystal Bay--that sounds good," murmured Ed, who liked
+life in the open.
+
+"Can't you come along, old man?" asked Walter. "We've got plenty of
+room, and we were counting on you later, when you got back from your
+trip. Now, as long as you're here, can't you come with us?"
+
+"I don't know but what I could. Yes, I will. I haven't anything on.
+I'll go home and pack up right away. You leave in the morning? I guess
+I can make it."
+
+"Well, when you go, please take them with you," and Cora indicated her
+brother and Walter. "Then we'll be able to go on with our packing.
+Really, Jack," and she spoke most seriously this time, "you must go!"
+
+"All right, Sis!" he agreed. "Don't forget," he added, to Marita, as
+he rose.
+
+"What nonsense has he been telling you now?" asked Belle with a laugh.
+"Don't believe him, Marita."
+
+"Don't tell!" cautioned Jack. "It's a secret!"
+
+Somehow the boys were gotten out of the room, and somehow the girls
+managed to get through with their packing in time for the expressman.
+
+From the Kimball home driveway the expressman drove with the baggage,
+and soon the trunks were rattling down the main street of Chelton,
+that pretty New England town, nestling in a bend of the Chelton River.
+
+"Well, that's over, thank goodness!" sighed Cora, as she saw the
+baggage safely off. "Now to get ourselves ready for morning. You girls
+will take supper with me."
+
+"Oh, that's too much," protested Belle.
+
+"No, really it isn't. I've told mamma, and she is counting on you. But
+I'm too excited to eat much."
+
+"So am I," chorused the others.
+
+"And I'm so anxious to see our new motor boat!" added Bess, for the
+girls had purchased one that had been sent on ahead to Crystal Bay.
+
+"I do hope Ed can go," murmured Belle. "He's such good company."
+
+"Yes, I like him, too," confessed Marita, with a blush, at which the
+others laughed.
+
+The boys came over to the Kimball home that evening, Jack having dined
+with Walter Pennington. Ed came also, to say that he could go, and
+then the young people talked over plans for Summer fun, until the
+chiming of the clock warned the girls, at least, that they must
+separate if they were to get up early the next morning.
+
+"Lottie Weaver will meet us at the station," said Cora, referring to
+another of the party, who had not assisted at the packing.
+
+"That's good. If we had had her trunk over here, with all our things,
+we'd never have gotten the baggage off," said Bess, with a sigh.
+
+"And now, after it's all over," said Cora to her mother that night, "I
+think I would not again have all the packing done in one place. I
+thought it would save time for the girls to bring their things here,
+especially as the Robinsons are so upset with building that addition
+to the parlor. But it was a lot of work!"
+
+"Oh, well," said Mrs. Kimball, "you meant it for the best, my dear.
+I'm sure you will have a pleasant Summer."
+
+They met at the station the next morning--the girls and boys. Lottie
+Weaver was there, in the glory of a new maroon sweater, and Ed Foster
+was also on time.
+
+The express for Crystal Bay was late, and as Cora and her motor girl
+chums marched up and down the platform, nervously waiting, Cora saw a
+girl coming from the waiting room.
+
+"Why, Freda Lewis!" she exclaimed, hurrying up and putting her arms
+about her. "What are you doing here? I thought you were going back to
+Bar Harbor for the Summer."
+
+"So we were! Oh, Cora! I'm so glad to see you. I had to change cars
+here--I got on the wrong train, it seems. I've been traveling all
+night."
+
+"You look it, my dear! Oh, if I had only known you were here----"
+
+"I haven't been waiting long. I'm to take the Shore Express."
+
+"That's our train. But, Freda, you don't look at all well--not a bit
+as you did at school," for Freda was a chum Cora had made much of a
+year or so before, but had not seen of late.
+
+"I'm not well, Cora," said Freda, earnestly.
+
+"What is the trouble?"
+
+"Anxiety, mostly. Oh, Cora, we've had such a dreadful time, mother and
+I!"
+
+Her voice trembled pitifully.
+
+"Freda, dear, what is the matter?" asked Cora in sympathetic tones,
+for she saw tears in the other's eyes.
+
+"Oh, it's money matters. You know we own--or at least we thought we
+did--a large tract of land at Crystal Bay."
+
+"Crystal Bay!" exclaimed Cora, in surprise.
+
+"Yes. It was Grandfather Lewis's homestead. Well, most of our income
+has come from that since father's death, and now--Oh, I don't know all
+the details, but some land speculators--land sharks, mother calls
+them--are disputing our title.
+
+"Mother has just worried herself sick over it, and I'm afraid she is
+going into nervous prostration. I've been to see some distant
+relatives about the matter, but I can't do anything. I'm so sorry for
+dear little mother. If she should break down----"
+
+Poor, worried Freda could not go on. Cora held her close and the
+thought came to her that Freda herself was on the verge of a nervous
+breakdown. The girl had changed very much from the happy, laughing
+chum of a year before.
+
+"Freda, dear, tell me more about it," murmured Cora. "Perhaps I can
+help--I have friends--Jack and I----"
+
+"Here comes the train!" interrupted Jack. "Come on, Cora!"
+
+"I must see you again, Freda," said Cora, hastily. "I'll look for you
+on the train. I've got to get my party together. Don't forget--I'll
+see you again!" and, wondering what was the cause of her friend's
+worry, Cora hastened up the platform, toward her companions, while the
+train steamed noisily in.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+FREDA'S STORY
+
+
+"Well, are we all here?"
+
+"Count noses!"
+
+"Did anybody lose anything?"
+
+"If it's a pocketbook it's mine!"
+
+"Especially if it has money in it!"
+
+Thus the motor girls, and their boy friends, sent merry quip and jest
+back and forth as they found seats in the coach, and settled down for
+the trip to Crystal Bay. Cora, after making sure that the girls had
+comfortable seats, and noting that Jack had pre-empted the place
+beside Marita, leaned over Bess and whispered:
+
+"I'm going back in the next car for a little while."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"Did you lose anything?" asked Belle, who overheard what Cora said.
+
+"No, but you saw me talking to that girl on the platform; didn't you?"
+
+"Yes, and I wondered who she was," remarked Bess.
+
+"She was Freda Lewis."
+
+"Freda Lewis! Why, I never would have known her!"
+
+"Nor I!" added Belle. "How she has changed! Of course you were more
+intimate with her than we were, Cora; but she certainly doesn't seem
+to be the same girl."
+
+"She isn't," replied Cora. "She and her mother are in trouble--financial
+trouble. I'm going back and talk to her. I want to help her if I can."
+
+And while Cora is thus bent on her errand of good cheer, it may not be
+out of place, for the benefit of my new readers, to tell a little
+something more about the characters of this story, and how they
+figured in the preceding books of this series.
+
+To begin with the motor girls, there were three of them, though
+friends and guests added to the number at times. Somehow, in speaking
+of the motor girls, I always think of Cora Kimball first. Perhaps it
+is because she was rather of a commanding type. She was a splendid
+girl, tall and dark. Her mother was a wealthy widow, who for some
+years had made her home in the quiet New England town of Chelton,
+where she owned valuable property. And, while I am at it, I might
+mention that Jack was Cora's only brother, the three forming the
+Kimball household.
+
+Bess and Belle Robinson were twins, the daughters of Mr. and Mrs.
+Perry Robinson. Mr. Robinson was a wealthy railroad man, associated
+with large metropolitan interests.
+
+Bess, Belle and Cora had been chums since their motoring days began,
+when Cora had been given a car, and, after some persuasion, Mr.
+Robinson also had bought one for his daughters.
+
+I think I have already intimated that Bess was plump and rosy--a
+little too plump, she herself admitted at times. Her sister was just
+the opposite--tall and willowy, so that the two formed quite a
+contrast.
+
+Marita Osborne was a newcomer in Chelton, who had soon won her way
+into the hearts of the motor girls, so much so that Cora had invited
+her to come to the bungalow at Crystal Bay.
+
+Each year Cora and her chums sought some new form of Summer vacation
+pleasure, and this time they had decided on the seashore, in a quiet
+rather old-fashioned resort, which the girls, on a preliminary
+inspection trip, had voted most charming. In fact they went into such
+raptures over it that Jack and his chums had decided to go there also.
+So the boys and girls would be together.
+
+Speaking of the boys, the two who will come in for the most
+consideration will be Walter Pennington and Ed Foster. Walter was
+perhaps a closer chum of Jack's than was Ed, the former attending
+Exmouth College with Jack, where, of late, Ed had taken a
+post-graduate course. Ed was considered quite a sportsman, and was
+fond of hunting and fishing.
+
+The first book of this series, entitled "The Motor Girls," tells how
+Cora became possessed of her car, the _Whirlwind_, and what happened
+after she got it. In that powerful machine she and her girls chums
+unraveled a mystery of the road in a manner satisfactory to themselves
+and many others.
+
+When the motor girls went on a tour, they made a strange promise--or
+rather Cora did--and how she kept it you will find fully set forth in
+the second volume. In the third you may read of the doings of the
+girls at Lookout Beach, where came two runaways whom Cora befriended.
+The runaways were two girls--but there, I must not spoil the story for
+you by telling you their secret.
+
+Going through New England in their cars, the motor girls had a strange
+experience with the gypsies, as set forth in the fourth volume. Cora
+was in dire straits for a time, but with her usual good luck, and her
+good sense, she finally turned the situation to the advantage of
+herself and her chums.
+
+Motoring so appealed to the girls that when they got the chance to
+change from the land to the water they eagerly took it. Cora became
+the owner of a fine motor boat, and in the story "The Motor Girls on
+Cedar Lake," you may read of what she and her friends did with their
+craft. The hermit of Fern Island had much to be thankful for, after
+meeting Cora, who did him a great service.
+
+Longing for wider waters in which to display their skill as amateur
+motor-boatists, the girls went to the coast the Summer following their
+experiences on Cedar Lake, and there they found the waif from the sea.
+Again did Cora and her chums take advantage of an opportunity to
+befriend an unfortunate.
+
+The experiences of that Summer were talked of nearly all of the
+following Winter. Now warm weather had come again, and with it the
+desire to be flitting to a watering place. Crystal Bay, as I have
+said, was selected, and of the start for that place I have already
+told.
+
+Cora, walking back through the coaches, looking from side to side for
+Freda, found herself wondering what had caused the sudden change in
+her former companion.
+
+"She was considered well-off at school," murmured Cora, as she saw her
+friend half way down the second coach, "but she never appeared fond of
+money. Now the loss of it seems to have changed her terribly. I wonder
+if it can be--just money?"
+
+Cora reached the seat where Freda was, with her face turned toward the
+window.
+
+"Well, I am here, you see," announced Cora, pleasantly. "I left them
+to shift for themselves a while. They do seem to depend so much on
+me."
+
+"That's because you are always doing things for others," said Freda,
+and there was a suspicious brightness in her eyes.
+
+"Then I hope I can do something for you!" exclaimed Cora, earnestly.
+"Come, Freda, dear, tell me your troubles--that is, if you would like
+to," she added quickly, not wishing to force a confidence for which
+the other might not be ready.
+
+"Oh, Cora, dear, of course you know I want to--it isn't that! Only I
+don't like to pile my worries on you."
+
+"Go on--it always helps to tell someone else. Who knows but what I may
+help you. Is it a real worry, Freda?"
+
+"So real that sometimes I am afraid to think about it!"
+
+There was no mistaking the girl's fear. She looked over her shoulder
+as though she expected to see some unpleasant object, or person.
+
+"Suppose you begin at the beginning," suggested Cora, with a smile.
+"Then I'll know what we are talking of."
+
+"I don't know what the beginning was," said Freda slowly, "but I can
+almost see the--ending," and she seemed to shiver. "But where are you
+going, Cora, you and your friends?" she asked. "I must not be selfish
+and talk only about myself."
+
+"We are going to Crystal Bay."
+
+"Crystal Bay! How odd, just where mother is, and where I am going.
+Then I shall see you often."
+
+"I hope so," murmured Cora. "We have a cute little bungalow, and the
+boys--my brother and his chums--will use a tent. But I want to hear
+more about your trouble. Really, Freda, you do look quite ill."
+
+"Perhaps that is partly because I have been traveling all night. It is
+always so wearying. But my chief cause of anxiety is for mother. She
+is really on the verge of a breakdown, the doctor says. Oh, if
+anything happens to her----"
+
+"Don't think of it," urged Cora. "Perhaps it will help you if you tell
+me some particulars."
+
+"I will," said Freda, bravely. "It is this way. My grandfather was a
+pioneer land-owner of a large tract at Crystal Bay. It came to us,
+after papa died, and we lived well on the income from it, for there
+was much farm land besides the big house we lived in. But a month or
+so ago a big land company, that wants to get our property for a
+factory site, filed a claim against us, saying we had no good title to
+the estate. They said certain deeds had not been filed, and that we
+were only trespassers, and must get off."
+
+"And did you go?" asked Cora, with deep interest.
+
+"Not yet, but I am afraid we'll have to. You see these men took the
+matter to court. They got an injunction, I think it is called. Anyhow,
+it was some document that forbade the people who rent the land from us
+from paying us any more money until the case was settled. And, as we
+depend on the rents for our living--well, you see we haven't any
+living now, to speak of," and Freda tried to smile through her tears.
+
+"Oh, that's a shame!" cried Cora, impulsively. "And can nothing be
+done?"
+
+"We have tried, mother and I. But we really have no money to hire
+lawyers, and neither have any of what few friends and relations there
+are left. I have just been on a quest of that kind, but it was not
+successful.
+
+"There are supposed to be some documents--deeds, mortgages, or
+something like that, in existence, and if we could only get hold of
+them we might prove our claim, and force the men to let us have our
+rent money again. But until we get those papers----"
+
+Freda paused suggestively.
+
+"Oh, I wish I could think of a way to help you!" murmured Cora. "I can
+see you have been suffering!"
+
+"I don't mind so much about myself," said Freda, bravely, "but I am
+really more worried about mother than I am about the property. If
+worst came to worst I could go to work, but mother has taken so to
+heart the actions of the land sharks! She never was strong, you know.
+You met her; did you not?"
+
+"I think not, but perhaps I may have done so. Now, Freda, I am going
+to help you!"
+
+Cora spoke enthusiastically.
+
+"Are you? How?" asked the other, eagerly.
+
+"I don't just know how, but I am. First I'm going to think this over,
+and then I'm going to talk about it with Jack. He has a friend--Ed
+Foster--who knows something about law. We may be able to get ahead of
+these land sharks yet."
+
+"Oh, I hope so!" gasped Freda, with a fond look at Cora. "It is so
+good of you to bother with poor me."
+
+"And why shouldn't I?" asked Cora. "You look as though you needed
+bothering with. Take care that you don't break down, too, Freda."
+
+"I shall keep up. I must, for mother's sake. Oh, but those men were
+positively brutal when they told her she had no right to grandfather's
+property! But it has done me good to talk to you, Cora dear."
+
+"I am glad of it. You look better already. Now wouldn't you like to
+come forward and meet some of the girls? You know the Robinson twins,
+anyhow."
+
+"Yes, I know them. But I don't want to see anyone just yet. Later on,
+perhaps. I just want to rest, and think. It was awfully good of you to
+come to me. We shall see each other at Crystal Bay."
+
+"Oh, indeed we shall. Well, then, if you won't come I'll go back to my
+friends. Now don't forget--I'm going to help you, Freda!"
+
+"Oh, that's so good of you! I feel more hope and courage now. I--I
+feel like--fighting those land sharks!" and Freda clenched her little
+hands as though the struggle to come would be a physical one.
+
+With a reassuring pat on Freda's shoulder Cora left her friend, to go
+to her chums in the other coach. She found them about to organize a
+searching party to look for her, and they clamored for the reason for
+her desertion.
+
+She told them something of Freda's story, and Ed Foster promised to
+talk the matter over with Mrs. Lewis later, and see if he could give
+any legal aid.
+
+"It's too bad!" exclaimed Bess. "There ought to be a law to punish
+such men."
+
+"There probably are laws," said Cora, "but the trouble is there are so
+many laws that bad men can often use them for their own ends."
+
+"Bravo, Portia. A Daniel come to judgment!" cried Ed. "With you on her
+side, Freda is sure to win!"
+
+But, though the motor girls tried to be merry, the little cloud of
+Freda's trouble overshadowed them all the way to Crystal Bay.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+CRYSTAL BAY
+
+
+"Here we are!"
+
+"Where's the bungalow?"
+
+"Me for that motor boat of Cora's!" cried Jack.
+
+"No, you don't!" exclaimed his sister. "Not till I try her first."
+
+They had alighted at the station, and there was the confusion that
+always follows engaging a carriage and seeing that the baggage has
+safely arrived. Cora found time to slip off for a minute and whisper
+words of cheer to Freda. Then she rejoined her chums, and made ready
+for the trip to the bungalow.
+
+The boys, with a fine disregard of housekeeping responsibilities, were
+already making plans to go fishing that afternoon, having spied a man
+who took out parties in his launch.
+
+But finally order came out of chaos. The girls found themselves at
+their bungalow, surrounded by their belongings. The boys, after seeing
+that their possessions were piled in the tent, slipped on their oldest
+garments and began overhauling their fishing tackle.
+
+"Aren't you going to do anything toward getting a meal?" asked Cora of
+Jack, as she went over to the tent to borrow a corkscrew with which to
+open some olives.
+
+"We thought maybe you'd ask us over," he answered, craftily, as he
+adjusted a reel on his rod.
+
+"Oh, Jack!" she cried. "We can't! We've got so much to unpack.
+Besides, we're only going to have a light lunch now."
+
+"A _light_ lunch! Excuse me. I know--crackers, pickles and olives.
+Never! We'll go to the town delicatessen, sister mine!"
+
+"Thank goodness there is one," murmured Cora.
+
+She hastened back to the bungalow. And then began a series of
+strenuous happenings.
+
+Somehow trunks and suitcases were unpacked; somehow rooms were picked
+out, rejected, taken again, and finally settled on. Then, between the
+nibblings at the crackers and pickles Jack had despised, the girls
+settled down, and at last had time to admire the place they had
+selected for their Summer stay.
+
+A woman had been engaged to open the bungalow for them, and she had
+provided most of the necessaries of life, aside from those the girls
+brought with them. Cora and her chums had been satisfied to have her
+attend to everything from buying food to providing an oil stove on
+which to cook it.
+
+There were a number of conveniences at Crystal Bay. Stores were not
+out of reach, and supplies could be procured with little trouble. A
+trip across the bay brought one to the shores of a real village, with
+school house, post-office and other accessories of civilization. A
+trip down the bay opened into eel pots in August, bluefishing in
+September and deep sea fishing later on, when the Summer colonists had
+departed.
+
+Very early in the morning after the arrival of the motor girls at
+Crystal Bay, house, tent and bungalow were deserted--it was all a
+matter of motor boat. Moored to the brand new dock, at Tangle Turn, a
+brand new motor craft heaved with the incoming waves and tugged at its
+ropes whenever a sufficiently strong motion of the water gave it
+excuse to attempt an escape.
+
+This was the _Chelton_, the "up-to-datest" little-big motor boat
+possible to own or acquire, according to the verdict of the young men
+from Chelton who had just now passed judgment, and the wise decision
+of Cora and her girl friends who had actually bought the boat, after
+having taken a post-graduate course in catalogs and hardware
+periodicals, to say nothing of the countless interviews they had found
+it necessary to hold with salesmen and yacht agents.
+
+They were all there, even Freda, who declared she ought to be busy
+with other matters, but that the call of the colony was too strong for
+her that one morning, at least.
+
+"Of course we know how to run her," insisted Cora to Ed, the latter
+having expressed doubt as to the girls' ability to manage so important
+a craft. "Didn't we run the _Pet_?"
+
+"Oh, yes, but this--this is a deep-sea boat," Ed explained, "and you
+might run yourselves away to other shores."
+
+"And land on a desert island? What sport!" exclaimed Lottie, to whom
+motor boating was an entirely new experience. "I hope we make it
+Holland. I have always longed to see a real, live Holland boy. The
+kind who are all clothes and wooden shoes."
+
+"We might make one up for you," suggested Belle. "I think Wallie would
+look too cute for anything in skirty trousers and polonaise shirts.
+Just let his locks grow a little--Look out there, Bess! That's water
+around the boat. It only looks like an oil painting. It's real--wet!"
+
+Bess was climbing over the dock edge, and of course the boys could not
+allow her that much exercise without pretending that she was in danger
+of going overboard. After Belle unhooked the hem of her sister's skirt
+from an iron bolt, thereby giving Bess a sudden drop to the deck of
+the _Chelton_, however, Bess declared she knew water when she saw it,
+and also the difference between a water color and an oil painting.
+
+"What did you call her _Chelton_ for?" asked Walter. "I thought you
+decided to take the name from the first remark the first stranger
+should make about her."
+
+"Yes, and what do you think that was?" laughed Belle.
+
+"'Push'!" promptly answered Freda. "An old fisherman came along as
+Jack was arranging the painter, and he just said 'push'!"
+
+"That would be a handy little name," commented Walter.
+
+"Next some boys, out clamming, saw her," said Jack, "and they said
+'peach.'"
+
+"Either of which would have done nicely," declared Ed. "Peach would
+have been the very name--after the girls----"
+
+"_Chelton_ is dignified and appropriate," interposed Cora; "besides,
+if we should stray off to Holland they would know along the Dikes that
+we belonged in Chelton."
+
+"Now don't forget that the wheel is a sea wheel and turns opposite to
+the direction you want to go," cautioned Jack.
+
+"How is that?" inquired Lottie, who had joined the other in examining
+the boat.
+
+She was shown with patience. The boys were plainly glad that one of
+the girls, at least, did not know all about running a motor boat.
+
+"And oh, what is that?" gasped Marita. "That cunning little playhouse!"
+
+"Playhouse!" repeated Cora. "That's our living room--our cabin. Those
+fixtures are to cook with, eat with, live with and do all our
+housekeeping with."
+
+"Also die with," added Walter. "I think that electric toaster might be
+all right for fudge, but for real bread--Now say, Cora, can you really
+cook pork and beans on that?"
+
+"These are the very latest, most improved and most expensive electric
+attachments on the market," answered Cora, with a show of dignity,
+"and when you boys take a meal here, if we ever invite you to, I think
+we can easily prove the advantage of electrical attachments over
+campfire iron pots."
+
+The cooking apparatus was examined with interest. A motor boat cabin
+fitted up with such a "kitchenette" was indeed a novelty.
+
+"You see," explained Cora, "we have two ways of getting power. We can
+take it from the storage battery, or from the little dynamo attached
+to the motor."
+
+"Lovely!" exclaimed Lottie, to whom a "current" meant little, but who
+wanted to seem interested.
+
+"That is to provide for the various kinds of cooking," Jack said,
+jokingly. "Now eggs are weak, they cook by storage; but a Welsh rabbit
+is done by the dynamo."
+
+"It means something else," Captain Cora remarked, "namely, if we have
+company for supper, and the storage current gives out, we will not
+have to make it a progressive meal, extending into the next day. The
+course can be continued from the extra current."
+
+"For the love of Malachi!" exclaimed Walter. "What's this?"
+
+"Our boiler," said Bess, who knew something about the boat's fitting
+up. "We have that for dishwater."
+
+"Dishwater!" repeated Ed. "You've got this down to domestic science
+all right. That rubber hose runs off the hot water from the cylinder
+jacket, and----"
+
+"Oh, never!" cried Jack. "They will be making tea with it."
+
+"Isn't it salty?" innocently asked Marita.
+
+"Likely," said Belle, for the girls had all taken an interest in the
+housework-made-easy-plan, and had arranged to use the boiling water as
+it came from the motor after cooling the cylinder. "But it won't hurt
+dishes."
+
+"Now I call that neat," commented Ed, "and to think that mere girls
+should have thought of it."
+
+Freda gave Cora a meaning glance. "Girls ought to think of the
+housework," she laughed with a wink at Belle. "Just look at the linen
+chest."
+
+She opened a small box and exhibited a goodly supply of suitable
+linen. No table cloths; just small pieces, doilies and plenty of neat,
+pretty towels.
+
+"Let's board here," suggested Walter. "Our food was really rude this
+morning."
+
+"Do we go out for a sail?" asked Ed, attempting to turn on the
+gasoline.
+
+"Oh, no indeed!" Cora answered quickly. "Not a box is unpacked in our
+place yet, and perhaps, if you boys are all to rights, you wouldn't
+mind giving us a hand."
+
+"Oh, of course we're all to rights," replied Jack. "I had a bolt of
+mosquito netting for my blanket last night and Wallie's bathrobe for
+my pillow."
+
+"And I made friends with a pretty, little, soft ground mole, Jack,"
+put in Ed, "and if the rest of our boxes do not arrive and unpack
+themselves in time for your slumber this eve, that mole has agreed to
+cuddle up under your left ear. I believe you sleep on your left."
+
+"Thanks," Jack said, "but I see no reason why mere household truck
+should keep us from a cruise. I am aching to try the _Chelton_, Cora."
+
+Cora and Freda were talking in whispers in the other end of the boat.
+It was no "mere household truck" surely that brought the serious
+expression to their faces.
+
+"It isn't far," Freda was heard to say, "and he promised to wait for
+us this morning."
+
+"And I do want to be with you," Cora answered. "But I won't let them
+take the boat out the first time without me. It cost too much to run
+the risk of damaging it by sky-larking."
+
+"Now what are you two up to?" demanded Jack. "Just because Drayton
+Ward has not arrived, we are held up for his coming. I tell you, Sis,
+that chap may not put in an appearance at all, here. He knows--sweller
+places."
+
+"Oh, don't you mind him, Cora," Ed interrupted. "Dray is sure to come.
+He had his canoe shipped two days ago, besides sending to the cove
+for his motor boat. I expect some tall times when he gets here. Our
+own innocent little _Lassie_ won't know how to skip over the waves
+at all--she'll be that flustered when the swell, gold-railed,
+mahogany-bound, carpet-floored _Dixie_ gets here."
+
+"It would take more than a mere _Dixie_ to knock out our _Lassie_,"
+declared Walter, "but I should like to know why she is not on the
+scene yet. Didn't we plainly say Tuesday?"
+
+"We did, plainly and emphatically. But a boat builder, letter or
+seller has a right to make his own day in delivering the goods. We'll
+be lucky if we get the barge at all without taking the sheriff up to
+that shipyard."
+
+"Meanwhile we have the _Chelton_," said Ed, tugging at Cora's sleeve.
+
+"And we must get back to the bungalow," she observed. "Freda and I
+have an important appointment for eleven, and if you all promise not
+to follow us or attempt to go out in the _Chelton_, perhaps we will
+have some interesting news for you this evening."
+
+The boys strolled away, talking about the motor boat they had hired.
+Money, for some reason, was not plentiful that Summer with Jack and
+his chums, and they had to be content with a second-hand craft, that
+had been patched and re-patched until there was little of the original
+left. They were not even sure the _Lassie_ would run, but they were
+anxious to try her.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+THE RED OAR
+
+
+"This way, Cora. The sand is so heavy out there it is better to keep
+near the edge," said Freda, as the two girls tramped along in the deep
+sand of the seashore that banded Crystal Bay.
+
+"But isn't it perfectly beautiful along here?" exclaimed Cora, in rapt
+delight. "I had no idea the little place could be so charming."
+
+"Oh, yes," returned Freda, with a suspicion of a sigh. "Over there,
+just in that splendid green stretch is, or was, grandfather's place.
+It runs all along to the island, and on the other side there is a
+stream that has been used for a mill race."
+
+"Over there!" Cora repeated. "Why, that looks like the very best part
+of the bay. And that house on the hill?"
+
+"Grandfather's own home and--mother's," finished Freda.
+
+"Is it rented now?"
+
+"Yes, we have rented it for three years, and it has brought us quite a
+little income," said Freda.
+
+"But you see that is cut off now. I am sure I do not know who collects
+the rents."
+
+"What a shame!" cried Cora. "And all because there is some technical
+proof of ownership missing. I should think that when your family had
+undisputed possession for years it ought to be sufficient to establish
+your rights."
+
+"Yes, we never dreamed we could lose it," Freda explained. "Mother and
+I have lived there in the Winter since father died, and we have rented
+it in Summer, as I said. Of course the Summer is the desirable time
+here. And we had some of the loveliest old furniture. But when we had
+to break up we sold most of it."
+
+"Look out! There's a hole there," Cora warned just in time, for in the
+heavy sand little rivulets were creeping from some rollers tossed in
+by a passing boat. The bay was dotted with many craft, and the picture
+it presented gave Cora keen delight, for it forecasted a merry Summer
+for the motor girls.
+
+"We only have a little farther to go," Freda said. "I hope old Denny
+has kept his word and stayed in. He is the queerest old fellow--you
+will be amused at him, I am sure. But he was always such a staunch
+friend of grandfather."
+
+"I am anxious to meet him," rejoined Cora. "Somehow I feel we girls
+ought to get at the bottom of this. Wouldn't it be fine if we could?"
+
+"More than fine, it would be glorious!" Freda replied. "If we lose it
+all now, I will have to look for work. Not that I mind that," she
+added, "but I intend to take a course in nursing. I have always longed
+to be a nurse."
+
+"And that would be a splendid profession for you," Cora agreed. "I do
+hope you will not have to go to work in some office."
+
+"Oh, there's Denny! Denny!" called Freda, leaving Cora without further
+ceremony, and hurrying ahead as fast as the soft sand would allow.
+"See, there he is! Just going out in his fishing boat."
+
+Cora ran after her, and soon they overtook the old fisherman, who was
+deaf. Freda didn't mind getting her shoes wet in order to approach the
+water's edge.
+
+"Good morning, Denny," she called, "come in here. We want to talk to
+you."
+
+He took his pipe from his mouth, in order that his mind should not be
+distracted. Then he pushed his cap back, and dropped an oar.
+
+"Freddie, is that you?" he asked. "Sure I thought you was comin' up to
+the shack, and I've bin waitin' for you."
+
+"We are on our way up there now. You are not going out, are you?"
+pleaded Freda.
+
+"No, Freddie," (he always called her Freddie), "I'll come right in. I
+was only goin' acrost to get a few little things; but they can wait."
+
+Cora now had a chance to see this quaint old fellow. He was Irish,
+with many fine humorous wrinkles about his eyes and mouth. He seemed
+to breathe through his pipe, so constantly did he inhale it, and just
+how he kept his sailor's blouse so clean, and his worn clothes so
+neat, was a trick he had learned in his younger days in the navy.
+
+"Isn't this a fine day?" he commented, with a nod to Cora.
+
+"Simply perfect," she answered, seeing there was no need for a formal
+introduction. "I have been telling Freda how surprised I was at the
+beauty of this place."
+
+"Surprised, is it? Sure, there ain't another spot this side of Cape
+Cod with as many fine points to it. I wouldn't leave this little bay
+for a berth on any ocean liner."
+
+"My friend, Cora Kimball, is from Chelton, Uncle Denny. Do you know
+where that is?" asked Freda.
+
+"Chelton? Chelton? Sure, I do. I went through there once in a parade
+wagon. We were out with the G. A. R. and I guess the parade got lost,
+for I remember at Chelton we had to put up for the night in an old
+church they were using for a fire house. But we had a fine time," and
+he chuckled at the recollection. "And next day we finished up without
+the need of a wagon. It was like camp days to scatter ourselves about
+the big ramshackle place."
+
+"Oh, yes, that's out in the East End," Cora said. "We have quite an
+up-to-date fire house in Chelton Center."
+
+"Well, that was good enough for me," he asserted. "But come along and
+I'll show you my shack. Freddie will be surprised at my new decorations."
+
+Up the little board walk to a path through the woods the three tramped.
+Denny Shane was popular with young folks; even the mischievous boys who
+would occasionally untie his boat before a storm had no reason to fear
+his wrath, for such pranks were quickly forgotten.
+
+"And the mother, Freddie?" he asked. "How's she gettin' on?"
+
+"Well, she worries a good deal," the girl replied. "But I keep telling
+her it must come right in time."
+
+"Sure it will. The rascals that would do wrong to a widder couldn't
+prosper. 'Taint lucky. But they're foxy. Did you hear anything new?"
+
+"Yes, but not much that is substantial. My friend and I want to see
+you to find out all that you may know about it. Perhaps there is some
+clue we have been overlooking, that you could give us."
+
+"Well, you're welcome to all I know. But here we are. No need to
+unlock my door," he said as he saw Cora smile at his unceremonious
+entrance to the shack. "Them that has nothin' has nothin' to fear."
+
+A surprising little place, indeed, the girls were shown into. Neat and
+orderly, yet convenient and practical, was Denny Shane's home. There
+was a stove and a mantel, a table, two chairs and a long bench. Pieces
+of rag carpet indicated the most favored spots--those to be lived on.
+
+"And now, Freddie," began Denny, drawing out two chairs, "what do you
+think of my housekeeping?"
+
+"Why, you are just as comfortable and neat as possible," she replied.
+"But I notice one thing has not lost its place--your red oar."
+
+"No--indeed!" he said almost solemnly. "That oar will stay with me
+while Denny Shane has eyes to see it. It has a story, Freddie, and I
+often promised to tell it to you. This is as good a time as another."
+
+He put his pipe down, brought a big chair up to the window, opened a
+back door to allow the salt air to sweep in; then, while Cora looked
+with quickening interest at the old red oar, that hung over the
+fireplace, Denny shook his head reflectively and started with his
+story.
+
+"That oar," he said, "seems like a link between me and Leonard
+Lewis--your grandpa, Freddie. And, too, it is a reminder of the night
+when I nearly went over the other sea, and would have, but for Leonard
+Lewis and his strong red oar."
+
+A light flashed into the old eyes. Plainly the recollections brought
+up by his story were sacred. He left his chair and went over to the
+mantel, climbed up on a box and touched the oar that had sagged a
+little from its position.
+
+"The wind rocks this shanty so," he explained, "the oar thinks it's
+out on the waves again, I guess. I don't like to spoil it with nails
+or strings."
+
+"It looks very artistic," Cora declared; "but how curious that an oar
+should be painted red."
+
+"Yes, there was only one pair of them, that I know of. One went with
+the wreck, and this one Len Lewis held on to. Now I'll tell you about
+it."
+
+Again he seated himself and this time started off briskly with the
+tale.
+
+"It was a raw January night--in fact, it seemed as if it had been
+night all day for all the chance the sun had to get out. A howling
+wind whistled and fairly shrieked at everything that didn't fly fast
+enough to suit it. Len and me had been puttin' in a lot of time
+together at his house, just chinnin'--there wasn't much else to do but
+to keep warm. Well, along about five o'clock, we heard a rocket! The
+wind died away for a minute or so, and we dashed out to the beach to
+get the lay of that distress signal. Talk about big city fires!" he
+digressed. "A fire on land ain't what it is on sea. It always seems
+like as if death has a double power with the fire and the deep and
+nothing but the sky above to fan the flame.
+
+"We soon saw the smoke. It was from a point just over the turn, where
+the clouds dip down and touch the waves. A little tail of smoke
+crawled up and hung black and dirty, not gettin' any bigger nor
+spreadin' much. When we sighted her, we went to work in the way men of
+the sea have of working together and never sayin' a word. Up the beach
+we chased, and dragged out the boat we called our 'Lifer.' It was a
+good, strong fishin' boat, and we kept her ready in the rough weather.
+
+"'Wait!' yelled Len to me, just as I was pushin' off. 'I've got a
+lucky pair of oars. They're bigger and heavier than ours, and I'll
+toss 'em in. We might need 'em.'
+
+"Little I thought of the need we would have! And I always laughed at
+Len's idea of luck--and me an Irishman, too."
+
+"Mother always said grandfather was queer about such things," Freda
+remarked. "I remember we had an old jug that he found on one of his
+birthdays. He would never allow that jug to be thrown out; he said it
+meant a jug full of good luck."
+
+"And it, of course, was an empty jug," Cora said, with a smile.
+"Perhaps that is, after all, the luckiest kind."
+
+Denny chuckled over that remark, and added he had not much use for
+jugs of any kind.
+
+"But I'm gettin' away from my yarn," he said, presently. "We took the
+big thick oars and pulled out against the wind. By this time the hail
+was comin' down in chunks that would cut the face off you. Sometimes
+there are a lot of stragglers around here, but when we need a man, of
+course, there is not one in sight. But we rowed away and somehow
+managed to get close to the wreck. It was a little steamer, not much
+bigger than a tug, and it was burning faster than the smoke told us.
+
+"'You throw the rope and I'll stick to the oars!' shouted Len, his
+voice sounding like a wheeze in the wind. There were three men on the
+steamer and they were just about tuckered out. They were clingin' to
+the rail, their hands blisterin' from the flames that were sweepin' up
+close to them even as they touched the water's edge.
+
+"It's an awful thing to see sufferin' like that," he put in. "I won't
+ever forget how those fellows tumbled into our boat. They just rolled
+in like dead men. But my rope got caught in the rudder of the steamer,
+and I tugged and tugged, but it looked as if we would have to let her
+burn off before we could free ourselves. Just when I decided to make a
+big haul at it I came near my end. I stood up, gave the rope a yank,
+and with that--rip! She let go! And I went with it over into the
+water!"
+
+"Goodness!" Cora exclaimed. "It was bad enough to have to rescue the
+other men, but for you to go into that roaring ocean!"
+
+"It was bad, Miss," agreed the narrator. "And the feel of that water
+as I struck it! It was like a bath of sword-points. Well, that's where
+the oar comes in! Bless the bit of wood it was cut from, it sure was a
+good, strong stick.
+
+"When I flopped into the water, like a fish dumped out of a net, your
+grandpop, Freddie, took nary a chance at reachin' me with the rope. He
+dropped the regular oars and took one of the pair he called lucky.
+
+"'Here,' he yelled, 'grab to that!'
+
+"I can see the red flash now as it nearly hit me on the head, but
+though I did make a stab at it the water was that cold and the ice so
+thick on me hands that I couldn't hold on.
+
+"It's pretty bad to be floppin' around like that, I can tell you. But
+Len kept shoutin' and when one of the other fellows got enough breath
+to stand up with, he took a hand at the rescuin'.
+
+"It was him who dropped the mate to that oar overboard. Mad! I could
+hear Len yell through the thick of it all. But he held the last red
+oar.
+
+"With the effort to keep up me blood heated some, and the next time I
+saw the flash of red I grabbed it good an' proper. It took three of
+them to haul me up, but I clung to the red oar and that's how I'm here
+this minute. Likewise, it's why the oar is here with me."
+
+There was a long pause. The girls had been thrilled with the simple
+recital, so void of anything like conceit in the part that Denny
+himself had played in the work of rescue.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+TWO MEN
+
+
+"And the red oar won out," Cora remarked, looking at the old relic
+with something akin to reverence. "Perhaps, after all, there is
+something in luck."
+
+"Looked like it," agreed Denny. "And after we got back Len couldn't
+pay any attention to the half-frozen men, or to me, that had been
+pretty well chilled--all he could do was talk about the luck of that
+oar."
+
+"I don't blame him," Freda put in. "Your rope had nearly burned, your
+light oar broke, one of the heavy pair went overboard and this one did
+most of the work getting back, I suppose."
+
+"Right," said Denny, "for while we had another pair to work with, they
+were slim, and weak, but that fellow, it sure was tough then; but
+lately when I take it down it seems to have shrunk, for it's gettin'
+lighter, somehow."
+
+"And how did you come to get it?" asked Cora.
+
+"That's the end of my story," said Denny. "When Len was taken very
+sick, of course I used to stay with me friend as much as I could."
+
+Freda unconsciously pushed her chair nearer the old man. Surely to
+hear of the last days of her good grandfather's life was a matter too
+important to pass over lightly.
+
+"Your father was livin' then, Freddie," Denny went on, "and a fine
+healthy young man, too."
+
+"Father died so suddenly," said Freda, "mother hardly ever speaks of
+his death. She always seems overcome after talking of it."
+
+"That was a sad thing," Denny digressed. "To go off in the morning,
+a-whistlin' and happy, and to be brought home without a word in him.
+Freddie, dear, I oughtn't to talk of it."
+
+Freda brushed aside a tear. Her father's death had been caused by
+apoplexy, when she was but a mite of a child.
+
+"But the queer part of it was that your grandfather seemed to think I
+would outlive his son, and John such a strappin'-lookin' fellow,"
+resumed Denny. "Len called me to him, and him sick and miserable, and
+he says: 'Denny, John's not as strong as he looks, and I want you to
+do all you can to help Louisa,' (your mother of course, Freddie), 'for
+she has the child to raise,' he said. Well, he wouldn't let me
+interrupt him when I tried to speak of John. He would have it that I
+should keep an eye to things. Your grandfather Lewis left me no
+papers, however--I supposed John had them--but he left me the old red
+oar. He had fairly been playin' with it for years, always polishin' it
+or shapin' it off here or there. I often look at the marks of his
+knife on it, and wonder why he seemed fond of it."
+
+"I am sure," said Freda, earnestly, "you have kept your promise, Uncle
+Denny. Mother often speaks of how good you were when I was small.
+Father never had any papers about grandfather's land; all he had
+related to family keepsakes. The strange part of it all is to me that
+a man of grandfather's intelligence should be so remiss about his
+property claims."
+
+"But, Freddie, you don't understand. There seemed no need for deeds
+and mortgage papers then about here. Everybody knew everyone else, and
+things seemed to be solid forever. But now them plagued land
+fellows--well, they've got a good cheek, is all I can say." And he
+emptied an unsmoked pipe of tobacco in his indignation.
+
+"But we are going to get after them," Cora declared. "We want to go
+slowly, and, if possible, find out what their intentions are. Find
+what sort of company they claim to have, in the first place, and if
+they are an honorable set of men they ought to make open claims,
+instead of sneaking around, and trying to find out things that might
+cause a flaw in the title. I am suspicious, for one," she finished
+significantly.
+
+"Well, good luck to your spunk," said Denny, "and I never knew the
+like of it to fail. But say, tell me about the boat. What did the lads
+think of the fixin's?"
+
+"Oh, it was the greatest fun," Freda replied. "They could not imagine
+how we ever thought of using the cylinder water for a dishwater
+supply. I never gave it away that you suggested it to Cora's
+mechanic."
+
+"And I want to thank you, Mr. Shane----"
+
+"Mr. Shane!" Denny interrupted. "Say, if you call me that I'll think
+I'm reading me own death notice in the _Beacon_."
+
+Cora laughed at this, and agreed he should be "Uncle Denny" to her as
+well as to the others of the neighborhood.
+
+"But it was splendid of you to have the boat all ready for us when we
+came. I did not suppose Freda had a chance to get down to it before we
+loomed up."
+
+"You don't know the risin' hour for us folks at the Bay," returned
+Denny, with a sly wink. "Freddie couldn't stay abed when the sun is
+beckonin' on the waves; could you, Freddie?"
+
+"Oh, the early Summer mornings are beautiful," replied Freda, "and I
+am sorry I had to lose so many of them. Who's that? The girls, looking
+for us! There's Bess puffing, and Belle--fluffing. I do think they are
+the most attractive pair."
+
+Cora smiled, for her own devotion to the Robinson twins was only
+paralleled by the twins' devotion to Cora.
+
+"Cora! Freda!" called youthful voices from the path. "Where are you?"
+
+"Come in--do!" answered Denny, who always had a spare chair for
+visitors.
+
+"Oh, we can't," replied Belle. "Cora, the boys are threatening to take
+out the _Chelton_. And oh! I'm completely out of breath. It's dreadful
+to try to hurry through the sand."
+
+"Indeed they shall not take the _Chelton_ out without my permission,"
+Cora declared. "When we make our initial trip I intend to command it.
+For one thing, Uncle Denny is to come along; for another--well, that's
+to be a little surprise. This afternoon at two exactly--will you come,
+Uncle Denny?"
+
+"I will that," the old sailor replied. "I think it would be a good
+thing to have a little weight, like my old head, in her when she
+starts out. Them laddies are always up to pranks."
+
+"Oh, we are just crazy to get out on the water," Bess put in, "and
+what do you think? That vain little Lottie went all the way to town to
+get the exact nautical cap. I wonder if she thinks folks in motor
+boats run slowly enough to see little white caps on little light
+girls?"
+
+"When we get going I think all that will be seen will be splash, and
+all that will be heard will be chug," Cora remarked. "But come on.
+Let's hurry along. I promised Rita to help her with something."
+
+"What?" asked Bess, curiously.
+
+"Now, Bessie, that would be telling," replied Cora, stopping just long
+enough to empty the sand from her tennis shoe. Denny was trudging
+along after them--he could not resist an excuse to go down to the
+shore.
+
+"Well, I'll say good-bye," said Freda. "I have to run back to mother.
+She will think I am lost."
+
+"But you are coming this afternoon?" Cora insisted.
+
+"Oh, I really can't, Cora, thank you," answered the other. "I have
+something so important to look after."
+
+"What are you girls up to?" demanded Belle. "You have been acting
+mysteriously ever since you met on the train. Freda, it is really
+unpardonable not to take the initial trip with us, but if you really
+cannot----"
+
+"I really cannot," returned Freda, decisively, and somehow the girls
+realized that Freda's business was urgent.
+
+"Now, I'll show you a short cut," said Denny. "Take that path
+there--don't be afraid of the sign that the owner put up--he has no
+right to the beach front; then when you get to the Lonely Willow--do
+you know where that is?"
+
+Not one of them knew, but they were anxious to find out.
+
+"You can't miss the Lonely Willow, for it stands all alone and looks
+as forlorn as the mast of a sunken steamer," said Denny. "It's in the
+deep hollow by the watercress patch. Turn around that tree to your
+left and you'll see another path. But wait a minute," he broke off,
+"maybe it's a bit lonely."
+
+"Oh, there are enough of us to shout if we see bears," Cora laughed.
+"We have to hurry, and we will be glad to explore."
+
+"Well, good-bye then, and good luck. I'll be at the dock ahead of
+you."
+
+"Isn't he the quaintest old man?" asked Belle as the little party
+hurried along. Then she added: "You and Freda made quite a visit. We
+began to think you were kidnapped."
+
+"We did make a stay," agreed Cora, "but Denny is a very old friend of
+Freda's family, and, to tell you the truth, we could hardly break away
+when he started in to tell sea-yarns. Ouch! The mud is deep. I guess
+we must be near the Lonely Willow."
+
+"There it is!" exclaimed Belle, who was somewhat in advance of the
+others. "Indeed, it does stand all alone."
+
+"Isn't it scary here!" whispered Bess. "See those two men under the
+Willow."
+
+All eyes were turned to the big tree. Two men were seated on a branch
+that made a comfortable seat. As the girls approached one of the men
+wrapped some papers up and thrust them into his pocket. But the
+movement was not lost on the girls.
+
+No word was spoken for a few moments. Belle dropped back a little as
+if to allow the others to face the strangers first. Of course Cora,
+always being the leader, boldly made her way along.
+
+They had to pass almost under the tree to reach the path, but there
+was no halting once the girls started out.
+
+Finally they had passed in perfect safety, but as they were almost out
+of earshot one of the men said:
+
+"I thought she'd be with him--that old Denny!"
+
+The rest of the remark was lost, but this fragment served to put Cora
+on her guard.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+THE "CHELTON"
+
+
+"Oh, isn't it exciting?" cried Marita, who had managed to have Jack
+help her over the dunes on the way to the dock.
+
+"You're right!" replied Jack, surveying her "nautical" outfit.
+"Couldn't beat it."
+
+"Silly! I mean going for the cruise."
+
+"Oh, I thought you meant that rig you're wearing. It is most becoming,
+but I hope it won't get wet."
+
+"Oh, the water won't hurt it. I got it on that account. I think the
+girls' maroon sweaters look dandy--they can be seen for such a
+distance."
+
+"Yes, I suppose togs have something to do with a good time, although I
+must say Cora doesn't seem to give much time to hers. Look at Marita
+in white. She looks like a French doll."
+
+"Oh, she is the cutest thing!" replied Lottie, in her gushing way.
+"But Cora is simply stunning! Just see how she stands out in the
+crowd."
+
+Lottie and Jack strolled through the moss-padded path that led to the
+white sands of Tangle Turn, talking in this vein as they went. It was
+indeed a merry crowd, and well worth noticing, as was evinced by the
+number of curious spectators already assembled on the dock to which
+the _Chelton_ was tied.
+
+"Who's the man?" asked Jack, espying a striking figure in the throng.
+
+"Oh, that's Uncle Denny; don't you know him? He is the dearest----"
+
+"Now, Lottie, I can see his bald head under his cap at this distance
+without marine glasses, and it's a rule of the club that 'dears' have
+special advantages in the matter of healthy heads of hair. But, of
+course, if you wish to call him 'dear'----"
+
+"Jack, you are the greatest tease," she pouted.
+
+Bess, Belle and Cora had already reached the motor boat. Denny was
+proudly "looking her over," pipe in mouth and hands in pockets. The
+girls were bustling about, all enthusiasm, while the boys, assuming an
+air of importance, found many points to investigate.
+
+"Now take seats," called Cora, "we are ready to push off. Lottie,
+don't lean overboard."
+
+"Oh, I am watching the cutest little fish. See, Bess," she exclaimed.
+
+Ed was on the dock with the rope loose from the cleat. Cora was at the
+steering wheel, while Denny insisted on turning the fly wheel, as that
+seemed about the most difficult thing to do. The gasoline was turned
+on, Jack attending to that, and as Denny gave the fly wheel a vigorous
+turn, Ed pushed off and jumped into the boat. The "push" sent the
+_Chelton_ out in the water, but the motor failed to do its duty. Again
+Denny tried, but still no response. As this is not unusual with any
+motor, whether new or old, all hands waited patiently.
+
+"Oh, there's the _Dixie_!" called Lottie, jumping up and waving to an
+approaching boat.
+
+At that instant the _Chelton_ started with a jerk, and there was a
+chorus of screams.
+
+"Lottie's overboard!" cried the girls.
+
+"Overboard!" repeated the boys.
+
+"Quick!" begged Cora. "She may sink!"
+
+To bring the boat to a sudden stop was not an easy matter, and there
+were some moments of suspense before the _Chelton_ passed safely to
+the other side of the spot where Lottie was struggling.
+
+The water was not so deep but that she was able to scramble to her
+feet, but the wash of the boat forced her to work violently to keep
+her head above water.
+
+"The rope!" called Cora, who had dashed from her position at the
+steering wheel to the side of the boat where the mooring rope had been
+dropped. In the excitement, of course, all crowded to one side of the
+small craft, which caused it to careen alarmingly.
+
+"There! There!" shouted Ed. "Lottie, grab the rope!"
+
+"Oh, I can't," came the rather weak and shaky reply. "I can't reach
+it."
+
+By this time the _Dixie_, the innocent cause of the accident, was
+alongside. Drayton Ward, the wealthy young fellow who could boast of a
+motor boat that would have aroused comment even at Newport, leaned
+over the side and grasped the arm of the girl in the water. The rest
+was a simple matter, for soon Lottie was assisted over the rail of the
+_Dixie_, and was in the finest boat on Crystal Bay.
+
+"What do you think of that?" gasped Bess into Cora's ear.
+
+"Clever!" replied Cora, simply.
+
+"But the togs?" queried Jack, to whom the accident had seemed
+something of a joke.
+
+"What a pity," returned Belle, "and she did look so sweet!"
+
+All this time the drenched girl was being most carefully looked after
+by the gallant captain of the _Dixie_. He was seeing to it that she
+did not suffer from a chill, for a big coat had been wrapped around
+her and her pretty white cap that had merrily floated off was now
+replaced by one marked "Dixie." Altogether, for a mere Summer dip,
+Lottie was having a magnificent time, as Ed took pains to observe.
+
+"Oh, I can't go with you now!" called Lottie. "Mr. Ward has kindly
+offered to take me home."
+
+There was a pause after that remark. If Lottie went back to the
+bungalow it seemed only reasonable that someone should go with her.
+But who? Everyone wanted to take the trip on the _Chelton_.
+
+"Let us take you up to the point," called Cora, "and we can wait for
+you to change and come back. Our trip would be spoiled with one of the
+party missing."
+
+"Let's shift," suggested Drayton, with a gracious smile at Cora. "Mine
+is probably the faster boat. You get in here with us, Miss Cora, and
+we will run up and down the bay while your friends are working off the
+oil smoke. That's a neat little boat you have, a perfect little
+model," he finished, coming as close as possible to the _Chelton_.
+
+"Yours is all right, too, Dray," replied Jack, "but it looks too good
+to be true. Doesn't shoot up on land for a change, does it? I have
+heard of _Dixies_ doing that stunt."
+
+"Oh, dear!" exclaimed Lottie. "I am freezing to death. I guess I'll go
+change my dress."
+
+"Good idea," agreed Cora, who was ready to leave her boat and go back
+to the bungalow with Lottie. "Come on," and she jumped to the dock to
+which her boat had drifted. "I'll run along with you."
+
+"Nice way to treat a fellow," complained Drayton. "Well, fellows, I'll
+race you while we are waiting for the ladies to return. What do you
+say, Jack?"
+
+"I'm willing, as long as Cora has finally condescended to let me touch
+the wheel. Everybody sit down this time."
+
+Without a word all hands, keen for a race as soon as one was
+suggested, took seats, and the two boats veered out into the bay and
+"lined up" for the start. Denny was the proudest engineer imaginable,
+and constantly looked over the fine mechanism.
+
+"Ready!" shouted Ed, and at the word both throttles were thrown wide
+open and the boats shot up the bay, emitting clouds of smoke from
+their newly oiled works, and "chugging" so rapidly that the sounds
+were drowned in a roar. It was a pretty sight, for in the girls' boat
+a line of colored sweaters and waving caps lent life to the gray of
+the waters, while Drayton, in his glistening, highly-polished _Dixie_,
+only needed the glint that the sun lent to complete the picture
+afforded by his fine craft.
+
+"Oh, isn't this glorious!" exclaimed Marita. "I thought I should be
+frightened, but this is--lovely."
+
+"Frightened!" repeated Belle. "I used to be so afraid of the water I
+couldn't see anything but the bottom every time I came out; but now I
+just love it."
+
+"Hey there, Dray!" shouted Ed. "You're out of the course. Get in from
+shore!"
+
+"He's keeping his eye on those girls on the beach," laughed Walter.
+"Those are the lassies who have the white canoe." So saying he waved
+his own cap and a flutter of handkerchiefs from the beach came back in
+recognition.
+
+"Turn at the island," ordered Denny.
+
+Here a white flag fluttered, the stake left from some recent sailing
+races. Gracefully the _Chelton_ rounded the stake first. Drayton had
+lost time in running too close to shore. Only a minute later the
+_Dixie_ swayed after the _Chelton_, then the final stretch was taken
+up in earnest. Spectators on the bank might wave now, but the
+motorists had no eyes for them. A slight miss in the _Chelton's_
+explosion brought Denny and Ed to their feet--there should be no break
+in the rhythm of that chug.
+
+"She's all right," Ed called to the old sailor, "only too much oil."
+
+Denny shook his head lest a word might interfere with the boat's
+motion. Dray stood up and did something that caused the bow of his
+boat to shoot up, while the stern seemed to bury itself in the waves.
+
+"His is a racer," Walter told Bess, who was as intent as any of the
+watchers on the result of the trial of speed.
+
+"Maybe ours will turn out to be a winner," Bess responded. "We keep
+pretty close."
+
+Jack never took his hand off the steering wheel, Denny was watching
+the engine, and the others were peering down the straight course
+ahead.
+
+"Oh, I'm getting all wet," exclaimed Marita, for the spray was dashing
+in on all sides.
+
+"Get down in the bottom," advised Walter, "we can't slacken up now. Or
+go in the cabin if you like and close the ports."
+
+This was a signal for all three girls to slip down to the floor of the
+boat and while they lost the good view afforded from the seats, they
+evidently enjoyed the change, and craned their necks to see over the
+sides.
+
+"Of course Dray will win," complained Belle. "We couldn't expect to
+beat the _Dixie_."
+
+"We might," encouraged Bess. "Cora said this boat had remarkable speed
+for its size."
+
+"Gee, whiz!" shouted Walter, "look at that spray deluge Dray!"
+
+"And she's missing," added Ed, for the sounds from the _Dixie_ were
+distinctly out of time.
+
+Suddenly Dray's boat slowed down, and the _Chelton_ shot so far ahead
+that it was plain something had happened to the _Dixie_.
+
+Jack stood up and looked back. "Something is wrong," he said. "We had
+better not get too far ahead. Dray is fussing with the carbureter."
+
+The race was over. The girls stood up from their hiding place and Jack
+turned the boat about. By this time Dray had turned off the gasoline
+and the _Dixie_ merely heaved up and down on the swells.
+
+"What's the matter, Dray?" called Walter. "Something given way?"
+
+"I don't know," answered Dray, "she simply won't 'mote.'"
+
+"Let me take a look at her," suggested Denny, ever eager for a new
+adventure.
+
+"Oh, there are Cora and Lottie!" exclaimed Belle. "Can't we go in for
+them, and look after Dray's boat afterward?"
+
+"That would be a nice way to treat a ship in distress," said Denny,
+"but excuse me," and he showed regret at his remark. "I shouldn't be
+thinkin' of a lad when the young girls are needin' help."
+
+"Oh, the girls are all right," Jack assured the old seaman; "but say,
+Dray," he called, "what's the matter, anyhow?"
+
+"Just give me a line and tow me in, then we will hold a post mortem,"
+replied Dray, good humoredly. "I don't fancy taking her apart out
+here."
+
+"Good!" exclaimed Marita, "then we can go for Cora and Lottie."
+
+Promptly the brand new rope of the _Chelton_ was tossed to the
+disabled boat and fastened, then the two boats started for shore.
+
+Cora and Lottie were waiting. The latter had shed her wet "garments of
+vanity," as Belle described them, for a simple brown linen frock.
+
+"What happened?" called Cora, as the boats neared shore.
+
+"Mis-happened," answered Dray. "It was just fate. We couldn't expect
+to beat the motor girls."
+
+"Nice of you," acknowledged Cora, "but I am sorry if there is anything
+wrong with your beautiful boat."
+
+"It's the boat and not the boy," remarked Ed. "Well, we'll do as much
+for you some day, Cora. Wait until we get our little _Lassie_ out.
+She, being a mere girl, may have a show."
+
+"What's the matter, Lottie?" asked Bess, as they landed and the girls
+noted that Lottie was remarkably quiet, and even a trifle pale.
+
+"Not a thing," Cora hurriedly answered, while she crushed her fingers
+on Lottie's arm. "We were detained at the bungalow, that's all. We'll
+tell you all about it later on."
+
+The girls gathered around Cora and Lottie at this remark. But Cora, by
+some mysterious signal system, had warned Lottie not to say anything,
+and she soon joined the boys, who had already boarded the _Dixie_ to
+overhaul her.
+
+They looked at the engine, at the spark plugs, at the cylinder, but
+Cora, who happened to have more room at the point where the carbureter
+was situated, suddenly exclaimed:
+
+"I've got it! Water in the carbureter!"
+
+"Right-o!" confirmed Dray, in another moment. "The spray mixed with
+the gas--dashed over into the air in-take valve. Moral, go slow, for
+water sometimes is fatal, even in a good cause!"
+
+"Shame to spoil the race," said Ed; "we were just warming up."
+
+"It's all right," commented Denny, "and a good lesson. I never knew
+myself that too much speed would do the like of that. Well, I must be
+off doin' some chores. I've been a-galavantin' most of the day, and
+the fishes of Crystal Bay are not educated to come up to me door yet.
+Thank you for the sport. It was fine," he concluded, genially.
+
+"Indeed you must come along again," Cora urged. "This was only a
+baby-trial. We will want to be going out on the deep soon; then you
+must come along."
+
+"Thank you, very kindly," Denny called, as he started off. "The deep
+is a bad place for young 'uns, I can tell you. Better stick around
+shore."
+
+"Tell us what is the matter, Lottie," demanded Bess, for Lottie had
+not yet recovered her self-possession.
+
+"Oh, I guess I had a chill," she evaded, glancing at Cora.
+
+"And the mere sight of a couple of strange men startled her," Cora
+added. "I have warned her there may be lots of strange men around
+Crystal Bay."
+
+"But not the same strange men every time," Lottie put in. This gave a
+clue to her fright. The men who had secluded themselves under the
+Lonely Willow that morning had appeared again, this time in the
+vicinity of the girls' bungalow, now known as the "Motely Mote."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+IN THE MOTELY MOTE
+
+
+"Do you young ladies realize that we have the cares of housekeeping on
+our shoulders?" asked Cora, from a mass of boxes and bags, not to
+mention trunks, in the alleged living room of the Mote.
+
+"Oh, let us forget it--do," begged Bess. "I always hate the summertime
+when it brings dishes and things."
+
+"It's good for you," affirmed Marita. Bess did know that hard work is
+considered "good" for stout persons.
+
+"Maybe, but it is not pleasant," Bess answered, flinging herself upon
+the improvised couch, a matter of hammocks and blankets, still bearing
+baggage checks and tie-ropes.
+
+"But our housekeeper has given notice," announced Cora. "And I don't
+wonder. Not one has been on time for a single meal since we arrived.
+But I must say, I wish she had stayed until the stuff was all
+unpacked. It's dreadful on the hands," and she looked at hers
+ruefully.
+
+"Why not ask the boys to help?" asked Lottie, who was doing her best
+to press her damp clothes by stretching the most important of them
+over Belle's trunk, and holding them there with two suitcases. "If I
+had not gotten these things wet I should have been glad to unpack, but
+if I leave them this way over night I shall never be able to wear them
+again."
+
+"If you knew the boys as well as we do," Bess put in, "you would know
+what their help means. They would insist upon trying on every article
+of clothing they unpacked; wouldn't they Cora?"
+
+"Something like that, Bess, if they did unpack at all. But, seriously,
+if you will give me a little help to drag these empty trunks to the
+porch, I will tell you of a plan I have evolved. Of course we cannot
+remain this way without a chaperone."
+
+"Isn't it perfectly silly?" complained Belle. "As if we were not all
+capable of taking care of ourselves."
+
+"Oh, I don't know about that," objected Cora. "I have noticed that in
+case of emergency, when some strange man happens to poke his nose in
+at the window, we are all rather glad to acknowledge we are mere
+babes."
+
+"And also when we meet them under willow trees," Marita reminded the
+boastful ones. "I am sure I agree with Cora that we need a chaperone,
+and perhaps a policeman or two."
+
+The girls paused in dragging the baggage toward the front door.
+
+"Just the same," Marita went on, "Lottie was frightened to-day and she
+only heard a strange man say, 'They call them the motor girls.' As if
+that was anything terrifying."
+
+"But it was the way they said it," Lottie protested. "They just peered
+at us--and----"
+
+"Now, Lottie," said Cora, "you have an idea that everyone who looks at
+us 'peers' at us. For my part I was rather flattered by their
+attention. You see the fame of the motor girls is spreading. But let
+me now make my proposition," and she settled down on the rug that was
+intended to cover the floor--some time.
+
+"Let her 'prop'!" cried Belle.
+
+"Well, you know our little friend, Freda, has lost some property; that
+is, her mother and herself have lost a certain claim to it. This
+little colony around here is fairly bristling with the prosperity
+implanted in it by such thrifty men as was Freda's grandfather, but in
+spite of that, strangers come in, make a big fuss about riparian
+rights, and government laws, and property claims and, in so doing,
+pretend to discover a flaw in a title that for years has been
+considered perfectly clear." She paused, for Bess had opened her mouth
+twice, and this time Cora wanted to hear what she had to say.
+
+"We heard some women talking about that to-day," said Bess, "and they
+said it was a shame to take a homestead from Mrs. Lewis. They were not
+whispering their opinions, either."
+
+"So it is a shame," Cora said, "and if we can, in any way, help to get
+the truth established, we will surely have a good reason to remember
+this holiday."
+
+"How?" queried Marita. "We don't understand anything about land, and
+deeds, and lawyers."
+
+At this everyone but Marita laughed. She was not acquainted with the
+daring deeds of the motor girls, as that was what they had undertaken
+and accomplished in the past.
+
+"You see, Marita dear," Cora explained, "because we seem such harmless
+babies we are able to get information that others, considered more
+dangerous, might not have access to. Now, let me continue. There are
+men around here, members of some sort of a land company, who are
+trying to get hold of certain papers. We don't know whether they exist
+or not, but in our own quiet, girlish way----"
+
+Here she was interrupted with a burst of mocking laughter. "Your quiet
+girlish way," repeated Belle. "Why, Cora, I do believe if you thought
+you could get the better of that land company you would take the
+_Chelton_, and go--pirating! Wouldn't it be great to go out on a dark
+night, steam up the bay, watch for other boats, listen to the
+smugglers----"
+
+"Oh, Belle," put in Lottie, "that's not the way in books. We would
+have to go out and get kidnapped, and then, when in the cave, we would
+hear the plot of the men who were going to steal the old homestead."
+
+"Hurrah!" cried her hearers.
+
+"Lottie for captain of the kidnapped," suggested Cora. "Now, Lottie,
+when it gets good and dark you are to go out under the biggest tree on
+the place and await your captors."
+
+"Hello there! Anybody home?"
+
+"The boys!" gasped Belle. "Now what about having wasted our time? Come
+in!"
+
+"Nice of you to ask us," groaned Jack. "Say, we are dead and buried,
+and the will is now being read. Somebody broke into our larder and
+stole the grub. Have you any to put out at interest?"
+
+"Stole your eatables!" exclaimed Marita.
+
+"Well, you could scarcely call it that," replied Jack, espying an
+undamaged orange on the window sill, and making a lunge for it. "We
+did intend to eat the stuff, but it was just plain grub--not
+eatables."
+
+"Jack, haven't you boys had your supper?" asked Cora.
+
+"We are on a diet," explained Jack. "Wallie had the crackers, Ed
+nabbed the dried beef--he's the biggest and needs the most, you
+know--and I got the pickles. Then we followed directions, and each
+drank three sips of pure spring water. But the trouble arose when Dray
+came in. He said he was to have milk--doctor's orders. We didn't have
+any but 'pretense' milk, so Dray is now out looking for a cow."
+
+Just then the sound of approaching footsteps was heard.
+
+"They come!" announced Jack. "I was merely the herald. Have you made
+out the menu, Cora dear?"
+
+"Do you mean to say we have to feed--all you boys?" demanded Bess.
+
+"Feed us? No, we can eat with spoons. Just lead us to the eats.
+Really, it is serious with Dray. He has already gone dead white. Come
+in, fellows. We are expecting you. The girls are just getting out the
+best linen!"
+
+Dray, Walter and Ed entered, and like Jack, showed signs of starvation.
+They literally fell into the most convenient spot available as they
+reached the room.
+
+"Good evening, ladies," panted Dray. "We are delighted to accept your
+kind invitation to dine with you. Pray pardon the togs. I feel like a
+regular 'toff,' don't you know, but my studs are for the moment lost.
+And what is a frock without the studs!"
+
+"Well, if this isn't the very utmost," said Cora, laughing at the
+boys' predicament. "Do you mean to say that you are really hungry?"
+
+"Shall we demonstrate?" asked Ed. "Do you allow us? Belle, get out the
+chronometer and a hunk of something. If you don't soon you will have a
+case of homicide on your hands."
+
+Finally believing that the boys were hungry, the girls proceeded to
+empty the ice box on the back porch. They did not find any too much
+food there, for the sudden departure of their housekeeper that
+afternoon had left the girls themselves almost stranded. But, being
+girls, they managed the living end a little better than the boys did.
+
+The boys, it seemed, had laid in a stock of canned stuff, in the usual
+hit-and-miss way, but some other campers found the "cave" where the
+food had been hidden. It was out of the question either to take or get
+ice, so the next best thing considered was the digging of a big hole
+in a very damp place. Into this the boys had sunk a nice, clean,
+galvanized tub, and in it the victuals had been placed. On top was a
+cover, made of boards and oil cloth, and over this was placed the limb
+from a tree, this last to detract attention.
+
+"Now, wouldn't you think," said Jack, as he fortified himself with a
+sandwich, "that any decent chap would know that we belonged to the
+union? We are going to form a housewives' league at dawn to-morrow,
+and then we will find the culprits. They will be offering us our own
+grub at exorbitant rates."
+
+"Bright little Jackie," commented Bess, who was devouring cheese and
+macaroons. "When you find the culprits you will have a perfectly good
+movie act in your camp. It will be entitled 'The Fate of the Kid
+Grubber.'"
+
+While the boys were thus engaged in the delightful task of keeping off
+starvation, the girls were anxious to hear what was the proposition
+Cora had offered to lay before them.
+
+"That's just the way," grumbled Belle; "we never can get at the
+interesting things!"
+
+"I am going to tell the boys this minute," threatened Marita. "We
+notice, Belle, that you brought out that lemon pie that was hidden.
+Looks as if you found the boys rather interesting."
+
+"Now you know exactly what I mean," insisted Belle. "Cora said we had
+to have a chaperone and we all agreed. Instead, we have a crowd of
+noisy boys."
+
+"When you boys have finished," Cora remarked, "we would like to clear
+up the debris. Also, we have a sad announcement to make. We have lost
+our housekeeper!"
+
+"Good!" almost shouted Ed. "I apply at once. I can give every
+qualification, even to a civil service examination. Cora, I never
+tasted such food before----"
+
+"Mutiny!" yelled Jack, making a spring at Ed, which ended in such a
+mixup that the girls fled to the kitchen.
+
+"We really cannot stay alone here to-night," Cora said.
+
+But the boys had come to their feet again, and evidently to terms.
+Jack was hugging Walter and Dray was smoothing Ed's black hair.
+
+"Will the boys go and leave us?" asked the timid Marita.
+
+"Of course they will, and that right now," declared Cora. "We have no
+time to spare to get someone else to stay with us, however. Bess, do
+you want to come with me? I am going out for our new companion."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+FRIGHTS OR FANCIES
+
+
+"Oh, do hurry," pleaded Cora. "I had no idea it was so late. And it is
+awfully dark."
+
+"A nice way to scare me when you have got me out," objected Bess.
+"Cora Kimball, I have a great mind to run back. I never saw lights
+look so attractive as they do just now in the Mote."
+
+"Run back if you like," returned Cora, "but I will run on. It was
+unfortunate that the boys came in just as they did. I really have a
+good reason for not wanting to stay alone to-night."
+
+"You have?" asked Bess. "I knew you and Lottie had had some adventure."
+
+"Oh, don't be silly, Bess," and Cora laughed lightly. "Everything is
+perfectly safe and sane at the bay, but what I want is to get over to
+the little cottage where Freda and her mother are living before they
+retire. It is Mrs. Lewis I hope to get as our housekeeper."
+
+"Mrs. Lewis!" exclaimed Bess in surprise.
+
+"Yes, but we won't call her housekeeper. I haven't thought it all out
+yet; in fact, I am not sure they will come, but I hope so."
+
+"Oh, so do I; that would be fine," and Bess almost forgot how black
+the night was. "I met Mrs. Lewis the day we came, and I could not help
+thinking what a fine, wholesome mother Freda had."
+
+"Yes, I have been talking to her and I think she is just that--fine
+and wholesome. And goodness knows," added Cora fervently, "we need
+some weight at the Mote. But they may not consent. I happened to
+overhear a remark this afternoon that set me to thinking. I am afraid
+poor Freda and her mother are in for further trouble."
+
+They hurried along, making their way with difficulty in the deep sand
+that covered road and path alike. Once or twice they paused, startled
+at the sound of men's voices, then hurried the more to make up for
+lost time.
+
+"Why didn't we have one of the boys come with us?" asked Bess.
+
+"Because I am not ready yet to have the boys know all our plans, and
+to trust one of them--Bess Robinson, you know our boys. What one knows
+the rest can guess."
+
+"That's so," mused Bess. "Is that the cottage?"
+
+"Yes, right over there," and Cora indicated a light through the trees.
+"I am glad they are still up!"
+
+It was only a few steps further, and this space was rapidly covered.
+As the two girls reached the porch, and before they had a chance to
+touch the knocker, the door was opened by Freda.
+
+"Who is it?" she asked in a frightened voice.
+
+"Only Cora and Bess," Cora replied, noting the fear in Freda's tone.
+"Are we too late to come in?"
+
+"No, indeed," Freda replied, reassured. "I was afraid it might be
+unwelcome visitors, but you are heartily welcome."
+
+The living room of the cottage was typical of the seashore--a long
+apartment, with field-stone fireplace and fumed fir trim. The stairway
+led up from the room and gave it an air of even greater spaciousness.
+Altogether it was most attractive. Mrs. Lewis, a slim, fine-featured
+woman, rose from her rocker as the girls entered.
+
+"It is late to call," began Cora, "but our business is really urgent.
+We have been left all alone suddenly--our housekeeper says she
+received a hurried call to go back to her family in the city. I don't
+question the call, I know how often and faithfully they follow maids
+who find a country place lonely; but the fact is we girls do not fancy
+staying alone to-night."
+
+"Why, of course not," replied Mrs. Lewis, briskly. "You must have some
+older person with you."
+
+It was plain, now that the girls had become accustomed to the lights,
+that Freda and her mother had both been crying. Their eyes were red
+and their cheeks swollen. Freda saw that the girls observed this.
+
+"Yes, we have been weeping," she said, with an attempt at a smile. "It
+seems as though we have new troubles daily."
+
+"I am so sorry," Cora returned. "I wish we could help you."
+
+"I am sure you have done so," replied Mrs. Lewis. "Freda has great
+hopes that you girls will do for us what perhaps lawyers might not be
+able to do." She hesitated and Freda went on:
+
+"Those horrid men from the land company were here again this
+afternoon. They say we have no right even to this little cottage."
+
+"No right here!" exclaimed Cora. "I believe they are just trying to
+get you to leave the place so that they can go on with their plans
+without being watched."
+
+"I never thought of that," replied Mrs. Lewis, as though the idea was
+novel to her. "Then, indeed, they will have more trouble than
+brow-beating to get us to leave Crystal Bay."
+
+"I must hurry with my errand," said Cora. "I came to see if it would
+be possible for you and Freda to lock up and come over with us
+to-night. I am afraid those land sharks have our little place marked,
+too, for they have been loitering around all day. I don't want to tell
+the boys. They are hasty and so apt to resent any intrusion that would
+worry us."
+
+"Why should the men bother you?" asked Mrs. Lewis.
+
+"I suppose because they know that Freda is a friend of ours," replied
+Cora. "But don't worry about them bothering us, all we want is to be
+able to meet them fairly. Of course if they knew we were alone at
+night they might be mean enough to frighten us, and some of the girls
+are rather timid."
+
+"Indeed, we will lock up at once," declared Mrs. Lewis, "and go right
+over with you. We have not many treasures now to be afraid of losing."
+
+"Oh, that is splendid!" Cora cried. Freda immediately went about
+fastening the windows and seeing to the general locking up, while Mrs.
+Lewis hurried up stairs to pack a small bag. It seemed as though they
+were ready almost instantly, much to the relief of Bess, who kept
+wondering if the boys would remain at the bungalow with the girls
+until her own and Cora's return.
+
+"Now we are off," said Mrs. Lewis, looking back at her home with a
+wistful sigh. She seemed to have a premonition that leaving it meant
+more than appeared at the moment.
+
+Freda walked with Bess while Mrs. Lewis and Cora kept close behind
+them. They had not more than reached the turn that led to the direct
+path when shouts and laughter were heard.
+
+"There are the girls," Bess exclaimed. "They are looking for us."
+
+The surmise was correct, for directly the answer came back to the
+familiar camp call.
+
+"Here we are!" cried Cora. "On the pine path."
+
+"Oh!" gasped Belle. "We have had the greatest fright! Where have you
+been?"
+
+"Making a call," replied Cora, calmly. "What was your fright?"
+
+"Come along and I'll tell you," Belle replied. Then she saw Freda and
+Mrs. Lewis.
+
+"We have brought protectors," Cora said. "Mrs. Lewis and Freda are
+going to spend the night with us."
+
+"Oh, splendid!" exclaimed Marita. "I was so afraid we would have to
+stay alone."
+
+"Where are the boys?" Cora asked.
+
+"Someone from the beach came up and said Dray's boat was loose, and of
+course, they had to all go at once to tie it up."
+
+"Better than to let it drift," Cora said, "but I am sorry if you were
+timid."
+
+"Oh, we were not," declared Belle, stoutly. "Only we distinctly heard
+someone on the back porch."
+
+"At our ice box!" gasped Cora.
+
+"Oh, we never thought of that!" exclaimed Belle.
+
+"Then likely we will be without breakfast," responded Cora. "But here
+we are. Who has the key?"
+
+Belle opened the door. "The light is out!" she whispered. "Cora," she
+said, aside, "I left it burning!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+A MERRY TIME
+
+
+"Yes, I say it's a shame!" cried Jack, indignantly.
+
+"Perfectly awful," confirmed Dray.
+
+"Our meeting is at nine," announced Walter, "and when I went on the
+soup shift, I did not agree to do the waiting. That's not my part."
+
+Ed tucked an end of white mosquito netting in his belt, draped it
+jauntily, and appeared ready to do the "waiting." Walter was frying
+bacon and eggs on the oil stove. Jack threw dishes at the
+oilcloth-covered table in imitation of a game of quoits, and he rarely
+missed the mark. They were about to have breakfast, and in spite of
+the difficulties encountered in the way of modern improvements omitted
+in the arrangement of Camp Couldn't (the camp got that name for a
+million reasons), the boys were having a fine time.
+
+"That coffee will be cold," protested Dray, "and my doctor says cold
+coffee is slow poison. I prefer my poison quick." The joke about
+Dray's doctor was that Dray never knew a doctor other than the medical
+inspector at school. He had such astonishingly good health that they
+used the idea of sickness in reference to him as a "counter irritant."
+
+"But this stove is a trifle small," said Walter. "What do you say we
+buy that one from Camp Cattle? It's a peach."
+
+"If the Cattle crowd have a good stove they won't sell it," replied
+Jack. "You will likely find a second-hand flue in it, or a rubber hose
+leader. Those boys are brilliant. If we need a new stove let it be
+from Duke's, with a cast-iron guarantee."
+
+"Right-o," seconded Dray. "The cast-iron is always useful about a
+camp. But I say, what about the racket at the Mote last night? That
+sister of yours, Jack, is wasting her talents. She ought to be chief
+of a detective bureau."
+
+"Cora is all right," Jack returned, proudly. "And while we are on the
+subject, and not to brag, of course, I might say that some of the
+other girls are in the same class. First few years they came out to
+the woods I used to be rather doubtful, but now we often find that the
+maids can take care of the masters; don't we, Wallie? More of that
+odor, please. I wonder why bacon turns all to odor when it's cooked
+up!"
+
+"There are only two more pieces of odor left," complained Walter, "and
+I'd like the smell myself."
+
+"Oh, all right. I have had more than enough." Jack waved a disdainful
+hand loftily. "I believe, as it is, I should be more careful what I
+eat."
+
+A huge, very hard bun, the sort found only in bakeries near Summer
+resorts, hit Jack squarely in the face. Without any comment he caught
+it, cut it in half, and with a tin spoon plastered it with butter.
+Then he put "the lid on it," and tried to get it between his teeth. It
+was heroic exercise, but Jack had been trained at a reputable college,
+and had learned to eat what he wanted.
+
+"But those duffers, the land men," continued Dray, "what are they
+after the girls for? I had an idea one of them must be trying to claim
+relationship with the fair Freda. He kept so close to her when she was
+out after Denny."
+
+"Relationship!" Jack repeated, with a laugh. "You almost hit it, Dray.
+I guess the bear would like to be her first cousin, for he is trying
+to get her goods and chattels from her."
+
+"How?"
+
+"Oh, we must not go into that; at least not just yet. I promised Cora
+not to be hasty with Moran. He's the 'gent' who is supposed to be
+president of the company."
+
+"The one who wears the Panama? I wonder if anyone would think of haste
+in connection with that duffer. It took him just one hour to buy three
+soft crabs from some kids at the dock yesterday," said Walter. "I
+wouldn't like to be his messmate. But I don't like his eye; it's made
+on the bias."
+
+"Yes, always looks as if it were going to slip out of the socket,"
+confirmed Jack. "Well, I hope the girls won't go in too deep with
+their schemes. Those fellows are from little old N'Yawk."
+
+"Quick!" whispered Walter. "There's that Black. If he lays eyes on
+your plates he'll lick them."
+
+The last morsels of food were crammed into mouths before the call from
+the neighboring camper was answered.
+
+"Come right in," Ed said, finally, "and help yourself. Have you had
+your grape fruit?"
+
+"Oh, no," sighed Tom Black, "I didn't feel exactly right this
+morning." (He brushed a brown hand across his brow.) "Nerves, I
+guess."
+
+"Nerves? Grub!" shouted Jack. "Didn't I see a can marked 'soup' in
+your back yard this a. m.?"
+
+"Might have, but I didn't. Else I would have had soup."
+
+"There were grubbers around last night," went on Jack, "and we thought
+we found a thread that matches your sweater, sticking to a nail in our
+grub box."
+
+"My sweater is not ripped that I can see," replied Tom, innocently,
+"but if you are so kind I might take it. Don't think we put our sewing
+boxes in the kit, come to think of it."
+
+"It will be ripped presently," announced Ed. "We have reason to
+suspect the Cattle; in fact, we have engaged counsel."
+
+"The motor girls, I fancy, will defend you," said Tom, nonchalantly,
+"but I assure you, you will have no case. We are absolutely without
+grub; in fact, our case is pitiable."
+
+"And you had a 'Doins' last night," Dray reminded him. "Now, Tom, we
+want to be fair, but we have arranged to form a housewives' league for
+the purpose of swiping systematically. For instance," (here he got a
+burnt match and tried to trace something on the oilcloth), "if we have
+company, and no olives, we could go over to your cupboard, take a
+bottle and deposit in its stead, say, a can of beans."
+
+"Great!" shouted Tom, tossing up his cap, that landed on the flaming
+oil stove. "You should not waste oil," he said, as he rescued the cap.
+"It's always wise to turn out the stove when you take off the pan."
+
+"The meeting is to be held in our living room," Ed said, pointing
+outside to a bench made of a tree limb _au naturel_. "When we have
+formed our committees and settled on our constitution----"
+
+This last word seemed to give every boy present a sort of agony, for
+each began to "feel for his constitution," as if that important part
+of his physique had been lost in the camp woods.
+
+"I wish you could settle my constitution," remarked Tom. "Once I get
+that settled, I don't care what happens."
+
+"Now, quit your fooling," returned Walter. "I have an engagement and I
+would like to get my housework done. Tom, help yourself to a towel,
+and be careful not to wipe the plates on a glass towel. You can tell
+the difference by the border. The dish towel is all border, the center
+or hole went up on the oil stove, a little trick our stove has--it
+does not like towels. The proper towel for the glasses is that one
+with the black line drawn through the middle. The black line is not
+important, it was put there with a single wipe of the spark plug from
+the _Lassie_. Ed did it, very neatly."
+
+Tom took the towel tossed to him, and, as only a boy can, began to dry
+the dishes that Walter was piling in front of him. First he patted and
+rubbed the towel on one side of the dish that lay before him; then he
+turned the same dish over with a bang and repeated the patting and
+rubbing on the other side. After that he gave the plate a spin. If it
+landed right side up he left it so; if the trade-mark showed he
+counted it a "foul," and tried the trick again. How boys can get work
+done that way is always a mystery to girls, who find the same play
+labor.
+
+"Do I stay for lunch?" Tom asked. "I suppose when a fellow helps with
+the general housework he is entitled to his 'keep.'"
+
+"Oh, we would just love to have you," replied Jack, with mock
+seriousness, "but the fact is, we are all invited out. We lunch on the
+_Chelton_ to-day," and he strutted around with such wide sweeping
+curves, and twists, that he knocked from the narrow board table every
+last bit of butter the "Couldn'ts" had in their camp. Gingerly he
+scooped up the top lump, that lay on the store dish, but the scraps
+had to be scraped up with the egg turner, and the spot on the floor
+(they had a board floor in the camp) had to be washed up with the dish
+water, when Walter finally relinquished that important commodity.
+
+"More careful next time," commanded Dray. "I'm off to call the
+meeting. Where's that dinner bell?"
+
+The "bell," a very old and very large tray, was found outside under
+the bench, and with a good strong stick Dray beat it furiously, until
+it might easily be heard by every camper on the grounds. At the first
+signal boys came scampering from all directions. Some carried
+towels--too much excited to drop them in their camps; others dashed
+through the woods with sweaters on their arms, and reluctant neckties
+in their fists, for it was early and the campers had scarcely time to
+make "careful" toilets.
+
+"Grub?" they asked in chorus. "Let us see it? Lead us to it!"
+
+"Grub nothing!" replied Walter. "You just get outside on that bench,
+the overflow can take the reserved seats on the nice green moss. This
+meeting has been called for the purpose of organizing the Housewives'
+League of Crystal Bay."
+
+"Aoo-oo-ou--oh!" came a groaning reply from those who felt able to
+groan. "And I left sugar in my coffee cup," wailed he with the dish
+towel.
+
+"And there were perfectly good crumbs at my place," sighed Teddy, a
+boy with so many colors in his face that they called him "Rainbow."
+
+"Come to order!" called Jack, banging on the tent table, which was to
+serve as the chairman's desk. "Every camp must qualify."
+
+"We do! We do!" shouted the majority, the rest being engaged in a
+rough and tumble for places near the "door."
+
+"The purpose of this meeting," went on Jack, ducking a lump of moss
+tossed in lieu of a bouquet, "is to formulate plans, whereby the
+humans of Prowlers' Paradise may continue to defy the birds of the
+air, and the beasts of the field, and live in a perfectly human way."
+
+"Hurrah for the humans!" shouted Rainbow, and the cheers that followed
+did more than merely consume time.
+
+"Let me explain," interrupted Dray, pushing Jack from his place, and
+taking the stand pompously. "We have been the victims of prowlers. We
+have lost our soup; we also lost our cans of milk--in fact, the cruel
+ones took everything but our appetites, and now we propose to put a
+stop to such depredations. We will form a league to borrow and to
+lend, also to pay back, but he who taketh his brother's soup and
+returneth not a can of beans shall be expelled from the Prowlers'
+Paradise!"
+
+"We did lose five small cans of milk," reiterated Walter to Dave, the
+head or chief of a big camp called "We-like-it," "and if we find the
+rowdy who took that he shall be court-martialed."
+
+A commotion then started that broke up the meeting. The boys, in
+rolling and tumbling about, rolled Dainty, so-called because he never
+could get enough to eat, and because his quest showed in unweighable
+pounds of fat, deliberately down the small hill at the side of Camp
+Couldn't. Two of the Cattle did the rolling, and as Dainty made one
+full turn a can of milk squirmed out of his pocket.
+
+"Robber! Thief! Traitor!" screamed the rollers, and then poor Dainty
+was lugged back to the camp.
+
+Making the charge against him, and making an example of him would be
+too sad a tale for words; sufficient to say that the meeting adjourned
+at the request of a peace commission.
+
+When the last visitor had been "shooed" away and the Couldn'ts had
+carefully prepared for the lunch to be taken on the _Chelton_
+(although Ed claimed that Walter had appropriated his most becoming
+tie, and that the shade of tan rather marred Wallie's own "tannery"
+effect), the boys finally put the camp flap down good and tight, and
+were off to the bay.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+TOO MUCH JOY
+
+
+Far out in the pretty bay the _Chelton_ was anchored. It was arranged
+that the luncheon should be given too far from land to get anything in
+supplies that might have been forgotten. In fact, it was to be a test
+meal, such as might be a necessity in case of "shipwreck" or accident.
+
+It was such a day as sometimes makes early Summer copy Spring, when
+the mists of morning mingle with the sun's rays, and send up shafts of
+haze to pillar the sky from land or water.
+
+There had been great preparations for this salt water lunch. The
+girls, enthusiastic over the possibilities, had vied with one another
+in arranging the affair.
+
+Dray ran his boat, the _Dixie_, alongside, and together the fleet of
+two comprised what the boys termed a "White House Lunch." The cooking
+was all done on the _Chelton_ and the eatables were handed over the
+brass rail to Lottie and Marita, who served as waitresses on the
+_Dixie_. First there were lettuce sandwiches, rolled. Any girl who can
+successfully roll bread and lettuce is termed proficient by the
+cooking teachers, and it was a tie between Belle and Cora as to who
+did the most and best of the rolling.
+
+With the lettuce came the greatest treat to the boys--homemade crab
+salad--home caught crabs and handmade dressing thereon.
+
+"I caught the biggest crab," declared Lottie, handing the wooden plate
+to Belle. "Isn't that fine!"
+
+"Finest!" she repeated, enthusiastically. "But say! Why don't the boys
+catch crabs?"
+
+The boys did not waste time asking questions. Lettuce sandwiches! Crab
+salad! They would be serving frappé next!
+
+"Eat plenty of salad," Cora ordered. "We spent all yesterday evening
+crabbing."
+
+"Will--we--eat--it?" exclaimed Walter. "I won't dare look at a frying
+pan again this week, and my term ends with the week," he said, between
+bites.
+
+Next came baked potatoes. These had been done on the electric toaster,
+right aboard the _Chelton_, and while scarcely a correct following for
+salad, the first was given as an appetizer, and the potatoes as food.
+
+The latter were served on the smallest of wooden plates, with the most
+extravagant little butter plates--really sauce or cream "thimbles,"
+all fluted and shaped from white paper.
+
+A dozen of these cups had been Belle's contribution to the feast. She
+spied them at the news stand, over at the point, and could not leave
+them.
+
+Dried beef went with the potatoes, also dill pickles, and while Cora
+kept the electric toaster going, and saw to it that the "kitchen" did
+not run out of hot water from a reserve tank, the other girls took
+turns eating their own lunches. Of course, as the boys were guests, it
+was important their wants should be first supplied, a matter not
+easily managed, as the girls soon found out.
+
+"More! More!" called Ed, who was eating the browned potato skin, or
+bark, with unmistakable relish. "Potatoes are good for the nerves!"
+
+"Robber!" shouted Jack, grabbing a second supply that had just been
+adjusted on Ed's plate. "Potatoes are good for the lungs, and I
+am--winded."
+
+"I should like just a tiny bit more crab," simpered Dray. "Fish is
+good for----"
+
+"We have something more," Cora announced, "don't each too much solid
+stuff."
+
+"We couldn't," declared Belle, "not if we kept eating for the rest of
+our mortal lives, it wouldn't be too much."
+
+"There are the 'Likes'!" announced Lottie, indicating a canoe gliding
+up the bay, in which were two members of the "We-like-it" camp. "Now
+we will have to hide things."
+
+"Hide things!" Belle tossed her sweater over her plate as she saw the
+canoe. "We are lost!"
+
+"Oh, let us invite them alongside," suggested Lottie, who, up to that
+moment had been so busy with setting out plates that she had scarcely
+spoken to the visitors. "We have plenty of stuff."
+
+"Nix, nary, not much!" cried Ed, in protest. "That's 'Dainty' there,
+the stroke, and if he gets in here he'll eat the dish pan and the
+cooker. I say, young ladies should be most careful what sort of
+fellows they associate with."
+
+But in spite of this the "Likes" were invited. Possibly they smelled
+the eatables, for they came up to the side of the _Chelton_ as nicely
+as if they had set out from shore with that intention.
+
+"Thanks," called Dainty, the fat one, "we would be pleased to,"
+although no one had asked him to do anything.
+
+"Delighted," affirmed Kent, the other of the party. "We sent our cards
+by messenger."
+
+The canoe bobbed up and down, until Cora took an extra rope from the
+_Chelton_ and threw it to Dainty, who in turn tied it to a small hook
+in the green _Snake_. This served to keep the canoe from capsizing as
+Dainty and Kent crept into the _Chelton_.
+
+Just what saved all three boats from being turned upside down in the
+racket that followed only Neptune knows, for in their delight at
+seeing real food the boys from the "Likes" grew so impetuous that the
+"Couldn'ts" felt called upon to interfere.
+
+Crabs, sandwiches, potatoes--each in turn were hailed with gales of
+glee, until the girls fell back exhausted with the strain of providing
+and cooking.
+
+"Let me, let me," begged Dray, "I know exactly how to handle electric
+appliances. I press my neckties--with an electric iron."
+
+He was over into the _Chelton_, and piling more potatoes under the
+little tin cover on the toaster, before anyone had time to answer.
+
+"Turned or unturned?" he asked, surveying a smoking potato critically.
+
+"Both or neither," answered the famished Dainty between gasps.
+
+"I'll take my coffee now," announced Jack, sitting back in the
+cushions, and flicking an imaginary speck from his sweater.
+
+"Now, you must wait," Cora ordered. "We have not caught up to you yet.
+We are only at the entree."
+
+Lottie declared she never had such a splendid time in her life, and
+the brightness of her cheeks catching the flame from her eyes bore out
+this statement. Marita, too, seemed to have "shook her cocoon," Jack
+said, his economy of language scarcely making up for the little
+difference in "shook" and "shaken." Certainly she managed to climb
+from one boat to another with remarkable alertness, while Bess, Belle
+and Cora acted like up-to-date society maidens, only they acted a
+little in advance of the "date" usually adhered to.
+
+"And do we have to leave these shores?" wailed Ed, sipping a real good
+cup of coffee. "Why not anchor here for now and for eternity!"
+
+"I thought you liked camping," said Belle. "Surely you are not tired
+of housekeeping. Doesn't it run smoothly?"
+
+"Sure," replied Ed, "but the grub is the trouble. I wonder why mammas,
+with good moral intentions, train little boys to eat?"
+
+"Do you see those clouds," remarked Cora, "they are just swooping down
+on us, and we are miles from home. My, but it is going to be a quick
+shower!"
+
+The young people had been enjoying themselves so much that not until
+Cora spoke did they realize that the sky had become overcast.
+
+"Oh, I'm scared to death," cried Marita. "Those clouds are so
+near--you would think they would touch the water!"
+
+"Oh, aren't they black!" gasped Belle.
+
+"Come, get everything under cover," called Jack, thinking first of the
+danger to the girls and their boat. "Dray can get his awning up
+quickly enough, but this one has not been opened yet."
+
+"You boys just tie your canoe tight to us," Cora said, as the two
+visitors were about to climb into their frail skiff. "You would be
+washed out during the storm that's coming. Here, Bess, hold this,"
+handing Bess one end of the awning tie. "Belle, can you keep that rope
+taut?"
+
+It was astonishing how quickly the scene of enjoyment turned to one of
+alarm. Those of the girls who were active and eager to assist in
+making things safe, did not suffer so much from fright as did they who
+took time to watch the clouds. The first severe storm of Summer
+usually has a more terrifying effect upon the timid ones than those
+that may follow, and this one certainly was a "star" for a starter.
+
+The lightning soon began to flash intermittently and the thunder to
+rumble. The clear expanse of horizon afforded such a wide view of the
+storm that it was small wonder those out in the bay feared for their
+safety.
+
+"Oh!" wailed Marita, as one flash of lightning seemed to dart directly
+at the brass rail of Dray's boat. "I thought I was struck!"
+
+Her words had not been uttered before the clap of thunder followed.
+This had that queer, deep sound peculiar to the water, and certainly
+the heart of the storm seemed to hover over the little fleet.
+
+All over the bay sail boats, canoes, motor boats, row boats and every
+sort of craft were making for shore, but in most of these there were
+little or no goods that might be damaged by rain or waves, while both
+the _Dixie_ and the _Chelton_ would have suffered severely had they
+encountered a down-pour uncovered.
+
+The awnings were up at last, and Jack had started the _Chelton_.
+Directly after that the chug of the _Dixie_ was heard.
+
+Then it was all storm! Raging! Roaring! Which way could two small
+motor boats hope to plough their way in such a fury of wind, rain and
+lightning?
+
+The waves had assumed the proportions of billows, and every time a
+boat lifted with the crest, a huge bank of water would break over it.
+
+Jack clung to the steering wheel, and Cora never took her eyes off the
+engine. But how they whirled and twirled! There was the _Dixie!_ It
+was keeping near--one good thing. The canoe had broken loose and was
+soon lost to sight. No one bewailed it; there was too serious work at
+hand for that.
+
+"Let me look after the gas!" begged Kent of Cora. He was at her elbow,
+but she had insisted on personally attending to the machine.
+
+"I know it better, perhaps," she shrieked back, "but stay close. If I
+cannot manage I will let you know!"
+
+One terrific clap, then a roar sounded in the ears of all, but seemed
+to paralyze Lottie.
+
+She fell in a heap and lay speechless. Up to this time she had been
+half sitting in the bottom of the boat.
+
+"She's struck!" shrieked Belle. Then Cora left the engine to Kent and
+took charge of the senseless girl.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE RESCUE
+
+
+The coffee that stood on the still warm electric stove proved a
+valuable aid in restoring the stunned Lottie. She had not been struck;
+her nerves had simply given out, and she had collapsed.
+
+Finally she opened her eyes.
+
+"I'm all right now," she said faintly, and it was evident the shock
+had dulled her terror, at least.
+
+"Just lie still," whispered Cora, encouragingly. "The storm will soon
+be over."
+
+"The storm?" Lottie repeated. Then she closed her eyes again, but this
+time it was only exhaustion, not faintness.
+
+The other girls had been roused to activity by Lottie's condition.
+They could now see a rift in the clouds, and one after another hurried
+to say that the storm was breaking, and it was not so bad; that boats
+could be seen, and perhaps they would soon sight land.
+
+But those at the wheels of the boats knew how little they could do in
+the way of steering. Every time the wheel was turned one way the force
+of the rollers would wash it completely around. In fact they were
+making absolutely no progress, and might almost as well have allowed
+the powerless craft to submit to the fury of the waters.
+
+Cora realized this, as did the boys, but the other girls, except
+perhaps Bess, felt more secure as the sound of the motor indicated
+motion. The clouds were lifting, but the force of the storm seemed to
+be coming in from sea, and had little to do with the appearance of the
+sky.
+
+"Oh, if help would only come!" Cora whispered to Bess. "I'm afraid
+another and worse storm is gathering!"
+
+"Don't give up," replied the girl, her own face gray in the mist and
+spray that covered the deck even under the awnings.
+
+"I--see--something bobbing up and down over there!" Cora continued.
+"See! It is--a big, strong boat, perhaps a lifeboat!"
+
+"Let us hope so," answered Bess, fervently.
+
+Not one word could Cora exchange with Jack, he was too far from her to
+hear her voice. The _Dixie_ was still near enough to be sighted, but
+how the boys managed to keep her so was as remarkable to themselves as
+to those on the _Chelton_.
+
+"That's a boat, all right," said Bess with more vigor in her voice,
+"and it looks like one from the life-saving station."
+
+Cora peered anxiously in the direction of the speck that played upon
+the waves.
+
+"Hey!" yelled Jack, "there comes Denny!"
+
+"Denny!" repeated Cora wonderingly.
+
+"Oh, there's Freda!" called Belle, jumping up from the bottom of the
+boat and promptly falling back again.
+
+"It's Freda and Denny, and someone else?" asked Bess, breathlessly.
+"Oh, what a mercy!"
+
+"It's a boy," declared Kent. "See the rain-hat and slicker?"
+
+"Yes, and see Freda's hair floating out from under that rubber hat!"
+insisted Bess. "Oh, I know it's Freda, and I can see Denny plainly!"
+
+The boat was coming nearer. On the crest of a roller it fairly soared
+towards them. Then Cora saw it was Denny and Freda, with another man
+whom they did not know.
+
+"Head up into it!" came a voice from the dory, for even in a storm
+Denny knew how to make his voice carry over the water.
+
+Jack heard, and swung the wheel toward the left. That would put them
+"into the storm," instead of on the edge of it.
+
+At that moment the _Dixie_ shot past and dashed right up to the dory.
+
+"Here," called Jack, "can you make it to get in here?" This was called
+to those in Denny's boat.
+
+"Not now!" shouted back the man. "Keep close!"
+
+The roar of the storm increased. Just as Cora had predicted, the new
+squall was worse than the first. For some moments all three boats
+tossed and tumbled as if they had neither master nor man, but it was
+the _Chelton_ that righted herself first.
+
+By an ungiven signal the three boats got into line. The dory was
+directly in the center and the two motor boats served to shield it
+from the waves that lashed them on either side.
+
+"Quick! Freda!" yelled Cora, grasping the line Denny tossed to her.
+"You can climb in! We can hold it tight!"
+
+Like a sprite, the girl in the yellow slicker and rubber hat made for
+the highest end of the boat, measured her distance to the _Chelton_,
+and while Kent and Cora strained to hold the rope steady, sprang.
+
+It was not the distance, which was but a few feet, but the uncertainty
+of the boats' motion that made the leap perilous. But Freda landed
+safely in the _Chelton_.
+
+"None too soon!" gasped Cora, pressing her arms around the wet oilskin
+coat. "See where they have gotten to now!"
+
+The boats had drifted apart again. The girls clung to Freda as if she
+had really brought them safely to shore, instead of adding her own
+weight to their burden, but it was the message from land that
+reassured them.
+
+"Isn't it dreadful!" moaned Lottie, still trembling from her collapse.
+
+"No!" replied Freda, cheerfully. "It isn't so bad out there. But we
+knew what it was on this bar, and could tell by the wind just about
+where you were drifting. If Jack will let me take the wheel I will
+follow Denny's orders and ride into it. Then we can go around the
+island--and see a blue sky!"
+
+"Blue sky!" came the exclamation from the girls in unison.
+
+"Certainly. But I must have the wheel, Jack."
+
+Having satisfied them that she could run the boat, Freda changed
+places with Jack, while Cora let her brother take up her watch beside
+Kent. Then Cora went to the steering wheel with Freda.
+
+"Don't be afraid," the latter said. "I have ridden out worse storms
+than this with Denny. They have a way of turning things upside down,
+but you are all right as long as you can keep well on top."
+
+She was driving directly into the smother. The girls shut their eyes,
+and it must be admitted that more than one put their fingers in their
+ears, for indeed the roar was deafening.
+
+"There are Denny and the man getting into the _Dixie_!" breathed Cora.
+"Oh, I am so glad, for it must have been dreadful to row that boat."
+
+"It _was_ no joke, but Denny likes hard work," Freda answered. "Now
+here is where we ride it out!"
+
+Every bit of power was turned on and with one well directed plunge the
+_Chelton_ was shot through what seemed to be a "comber" as if she had
+been a submarine.
+
+"Oh!" gasped Cora. Freda dropped into the "V" space at the base of the
+wheel. Still, she did not take her hands from the spokes. It was a
+serious moment. What if the boat could not ride those waves? The time
+it took to get out of the harder waves could not be estimated by the
+hands of a clock or watch; but in gasping breaths, thumping hearts,
+pale faces and fears--for boys as well as for girls--it must have been
+a long, long time.
+
+Finally Freda stood up.
+
+"There!" she exclaimed. "What did I tell you?"
+
+"Sky!" they all shouted, clapping their hands like children.
+
+"And--it--took a girl--to--do it!" exclaimed Jack, who would not have
+been blamed for hugging Freda had the opportunity offered. Instead,
+however, he made his way back to the wheel and allowed Freda and Cora
+a chance to look at their blistered hands, for both girls had been
+tugging at the spokes.
+
+"Who would believe a storm would end like that?" said Belle, with the
+relief that comes so quickly upon intense strain.
+
+"We have got to keep in out of the rain for a while," Cora cautioned.
+"There are enough water-loaded clouds over there yet to dampen our
+enthusiasm."
+
+This proved to be true, for torrents of rain followed in the wake of
+the vanishing thunder clouds.
+
+But the wind had ceased, and the waves soon quieted. With more than a
+sigh of relief the _Chelton_ girls and boys fell into the course made
+now by the _Dixie_, for in that boat Denny Shane was at the wheel.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+THE CALM
+
+
+A more delightful scene than Crystal Bay presented, two hours after
+the squall, could scarcely be imagined. To the motor girls it was
+particularly effective, as may easily be imagined. Coming back around
+the island the _Dixie_ picked up the lost canoe, so this left nothing
+to be worried over in the record of adventure.
+
+"How do you feel, Lottie?" Cora asked, when all had landed safely and
+stood looking over the waters that could be so deceptive.
+
+"Oh, I am all right, really," answered Lottie, a little ashamed that
+she should have allowed herself to give way.
+
+"But be careful," cautioned Cora. "Take it easy for the rest of the
+day, at least. It doesn't do to try too much."
+
+"Grandmother!" Lottie answered, with an affectionate squeeze of Cora's
+arm. "What about you? Who did all the engineering in the storm? And
+who is still 'on deck' giving orders?"
+
+"Oh, I am strong," replied Cora, though strong as she was the last few
+hours had told in the paler tint of her cheeks.
+
+The return of the storm-stricken ones attracted crowds of bungalowers
+and campers to the beach; for, of course, craft of all sorts had been
+caught in the gale. The center of interest, however, was the
+_Chelton_, for that boat had already gained a reputation at Crystal
+Bay.
+
+Not one person came in from the bay in dry clothes; in fact, many were
+drenched, and naturally the girls showed the effects of the storm more
+conspicuously than did the boys. Bess happened to be the one "who got
+the worst of it," among the motor girls--perhaps because there was
+more of her for the waves to hit.
+
+"You are certainly a beauty," commented Belle, who had been more
+fortunate in dodging the water. "You look like a swimming lesson in
+the first stage."
+
+"I feel as if I needed artificial respiration," replied Bess,
+good-humoredly, "but I want to forget it all--all but this. Isn't this
+wonderful?"
+
+"Almost enough to make up for the danger," Belle returned. "But wasn't
+Freda splendid? What good training she must have had to be able to
+manage that boat. No one else except Cora could have done it, and she
+was unfamiliar with the tricks of the bay. I do feel so sorry for
+Freda and her mother!" This last was said with a wistful sigh, for all
+the members of the Mote were now much attached to the motherly Mrs.
+Lewis.
+
+"Cora must have known those men were going to put the 'for sale' sign
+on the cottage, when she hurried so to get Freda and her mother over
+to our place the other night," went on Bess. "I knew there was
+something more important than merely taking care of us."
+
+"Oh, of course, that's just like Cora. Fancy Mrs. Lewis never hearing
+a word about it. If she had been in the house when they tacked that
+sign on----"
+
+"It must be perfectly awful to lose everything that way; to feel it is
+all an injustice, yet not to be able to prove one's own claim," said
+Belle. "Tricky business men are worse to watch than spiteful girls,
+and we always thought _they_ were about all that we could handle.
+There's Ted and Jean. Just look at their boat!"
+
+Among the last of the storm-bound ones to "enter port" were Ted and
+Jean, members of "Camp All Alone." They certainly presented a sorry
+spectacle, as they came up to the dock.
+
+"How do you feel?" asked Lottie, who was down near the water's edge,
+in spite of Cora's admonition.
+
+"I feel like playing a spaghetti obligato on a big hot bowl of soup,"
+replied Jean. "That would be the song to reach my heart."
+
+"The sun is clucking, girls," announced Walter. "She may set at any
+time. Is there aught to eat at the Mote? Let us thither. We intended
+to go to the store before tea."
+
+"After giving you your lunch!" exclaimed Cora, in surprise.
+
+"But, don't you see, that is why we didn't get to the store. You are
+really liable for our suppers. Don't you think so, fellows?" he asked.
+
+"Not only liable, but accountable," added Ed. "Of course we will go
+home and dress. I wonder what on earth the squall did to headquarters?"
+he asked, suddenly realizing that the camp had had need of secure
+moorings during the last two hours.
+
+"Let's look," suggested Dray, who had now moored the _Dixie_ securely,
+while Jack and Cora had attended to the _Chelton_.
+
+"Oh, you ought to see your tent," sang out a little fellow, who wore
+little beside a shirt and bathing trunks. He had been out in the
+squall and had, very likely, enjoyed it immensely.
+
+"What's the matter with it?" inquired Jack.
+
+"Oh, it's all flippy-floppy," replied the urchin. "But some lady saw
+it goin' and she tied it back to the stakes."
+
+"Some lady?" repeated Jack.
+
+"Mrs. Lewis, likely," suggested Cora. "I hope she did not go out in
+that down-pour to tie the tents."
+
+"I rather hope she did," admitted her brother. "I had some things in
+that tent not warranted rainproof. Hey, fellows!" he called to the
+other members of Camp Couldn't. "Hurry up. Our tent was struck, they
+say."
+
+At the word the crowd from the beach ran helter-skelter through the
+woods toward the camp colony. Surely there was enough excitement
+around Crystal Bay that afternoon to last for some time, and there was
+every prospect now of new adventures developing.
+
+"Any tents down?" asked Dainty, as he puffed along.
+
+"Thinking of spilled grub?" queried Walter. "Nothing doing. We have a
+salvage corps department to our housewives' league, you know, and they
+are bound to protect the members from bandits. So you may just run
+along and see what is going on at the Cattle."
+
+The storm had played havoc in the woods. Pine branches had scratched
+deep furrows in the white sand paths, beautiful bushes of blooming
+mountain laurel and mountain pinks were shorn of every bloom, and the
+wild roses were scattered like pink butterflies on the catch leaves of
+shrubs.
+
+The first camp to be met by the boys was Camp Hyphen. This was quite a
+pretentious establishment with a smaller tent adjunct. The adjunct
+stood for the hyphen, and it now lay in a heap like a discarded potato
+sack, its store of supplies settled uncertainly in nearby bushes.
+
+"My, and they had just joined the League," wailed Jack. "I suppose we
+will all have to put up for the reinforcements."
+
+"We are not an insurance company," Ed objected. "Why should we make
+good for a storm?"
+
+"Because we have a calamity clause. You had better look up your rules
+and regulations, young man. The last time I saw them they were pasted
+with a daub of good family flour on our back door."
+
+"Thank goodness the rain will have suspended our constitution," Ed
+replied. "That back door never could have gone dry through the
+torrent. Don't you remember how the small showers doused it?"
+
+"We do," Walter answered, "and as we have the only written rules, that
+same fact of the back door may stand us in well."
+
+"Pikers!" Jack called them with a laugh. "But will you observe the
+Hys! They are going to rebuild!"
+
+A hyphenated name seemed the worst of luck for this camp, for there
+was no strong pole or cast iron bar to hold the two tents together,
+and the "hy" was merely a strip of ground that gave extra play to the
+wind. The smaller tent was now being dragged from the bed of wet sand
+into which it had partly buried itself, and the campers were
+struggling heroically to get it back to its pegs.
+
+"Too bad!" called Walter, sympathetically.
+
+"Worse than that," replied one fellow, who looked as if he might have
+been shipwrecked.
+
+"But we are insured--in the league, you know," shouted another member
+of the demolished camp. "We are coming up for supper."
+
+"You are?" returned Dray. "Say, fellows," to his own camp company,
+"the best thing we can do is to take what stuff we find left and hide
+up at the Mote. Those fellows will come down on us and won't believe
+about the washed-away constitution. Who on earth put that indemnity
+clause in, anyhow?"
+
+"Oh, Clem did. He's studying engineering, and I suppose he is lonesome
+for his math. We ought to make him pay the assessment. But I agree
+with Dray," continued Walter. "We ought to 'beat it' up to the Mote,
+quick. There are other tents flopping around, and everybody will be
+good and hungry, you can be sure."
+
+"Queer how old Denny made for his shack as soon as we got in," Ed
+remarked. "I wonder if he thought that would be demolished?"
+
+"No, not likely," Jack said, "but the old fellow was pretty wet and
+played out. He's plucky, all right, and I don't believe we would be in
+yet but for him and Freda. But he is old, just the same, and only his
+pluck keeps him up to it. I would like to have been more decent to
+him, but he won't give one a chance. We must fix it up some way,
+though."
+
+"We sure must," agreed the others.
+
+"There's another," announced Jack, as a perfectly flat tent almost
+blocked their way. This was evidently deserted, for not a boy was to
+be seen, either lamenting or trying to right the canvas.
+
+"Funny," commented Ed. "They must have gone to the hotel."
+
+"Hotel!" exclaimed Jack. "Why, they borrowed a pint of our kerosene
+this morning. They may have gone to jail."
+
+"Let's run," suggested Ed. "This funeral march is getting on my
+nerves. Besides, I am anxious to see the Couldn't."
+
+In a few minutes the boys sighted their own tent. It looked all right.
+
+"Thank goodness!" breathed Dray, fervently. "I really couldn't stand
+any more nerve-racking experiences."
+
+"We look intact," said Walter. "I wonder if my dress suit is still
+unwrinkled."
+
+"Your overalls?" asked Jack, mimicking Walter's tone of voice. "Oh, I
+am sure they are perfectly all right, for I saw them in the wood box
+just before we left."
+
+"Brute!" responded Walter. "But I say! What's that? We are inhabited!"
+
+Sounds of voices issued from inside the tent. Jack dashed ahead and
+raised the flap.
+
+"Robbers! Thieves! Police!" he yelled, then he had to dodge something.
+
+"We are here for our rights," sang out a strong voice. "We demand our
+insurance!"
+
+"Seems to me the demand is rather violent," replied Ed, as the
+Couldn'ts saw what was going on. The entire tent was filled with boys
+from the wrecked camps, and they were making away with practically
+everything in the line of eatables they could lay their hands on.
+
+"Clear out!" ordered Dray, "or we will call the police. What sort of
+way is this to keep law and order?"
+
+"The only way," replied Hal, a boy from the "Mist." "We couldn't even
+keep up in starvation, but with something to sustain us we might be
+able to keep the law. As a matter of fact, it was civic pride that
+compelled us to come in here and eat."
+
+There was no help for it now, the Couldn'ts had been robbed. Even
+their party paper napkins were being made into balls.
+
+"Isn't it awful!" moaned Jack, falling into the one dry spot on the
+sandy floor. "And we were the real benefactors of this ranch. That's
+the way goodness is repaid in this hard, cruel world."
+
+Nobody noticed the sermon--everyone was too busy looking for food.
+Finally Walter and Ed, after a private conference with Dray and Jack,
+decided to give to the unfortunates all the food they possessed, "in
+order to avert worse damage to their property."
+
+"But we are dining out," Ed put in, "and it's only fair that you
+should take the provender home. We want to wash our little faces, you
+know. We dine with ladies."
+
+"Oh, we will pay it all back," declared Clem, who was scooping up
+empty boxes in the hope of being agreeably disappointed in their
+contents as compared with their weight.
+
+"Yes--you--will!" mocked Jack, "when we can skate on the sand of the
+desert. But hustle. There's not another scrap around. Land that oil
+can, Ted. It's empty."
+
+After considerable urging, ordering and coaxing, the Couldn'ts rid
+themselves of their uninvited guests, and were once again in
+possession of their own tents.
+
+"Did the girls invite us?" asked Dray. "I hate to intrude."
+
+"They did not," replied Jack, "and we are not going to intrude. We are
+just going over to thank Mrs. Lewis for saving this camp from
+destruction. She hammered down those stakes. Look at them!" he
+ordered. "Ed, did you ever wield a hammer as truthfully as that?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+SUSPICION
+
+
+"Of course we can get supper for everyone," declared Mrs. Lewis,
+cordially, when Cora spoke of the determination of the boys to come
+down upon the Mote for tea. "We have plenty of food."
+
+"You are a wonder, Mrs. Lewis," declared Cora. "You always have a full
+larder. I don't see where it comes from, for you don't even use up the
+budget."
+
+"It's a matter of experience," answered Mrs. Lewis. "When one has to
+do things, my dear, one learns how. I am so glad we have macaroni
+cooked. Boys love big, steaming dishes."
+
+Cora gave a sigh of relief. What a blessing Mrs. Lewis had proven to
+be! After finding themselves shut out of their house by a trick of the
+land agents she and her daughter had taken up a permanent residence in
+the girls' camp. Freda, in spite of all opposition, had installed
+herself as "maid." She insisted on waiting on the table, and attending
+to rooms, and helping her mother generally, although the girls wanted
+her to be one of them. Everyone declared that her mother, with her
+wonderful management and activity, more than made up for Freda being a
+visitor at the Mote.
+
+Freda seemed happier now than when she shared the little cottage with
+her mother, but this was easily understood. Under the new arrangement
+Mrs. Lewis was earning an honest and comfortable living, and Freda was
+more than willing to assist her in every way possible. Before, they
+had lived in constant dread of the land agents putting them out of
+their home. Even the fact that the sign "For Sale" had been placed on
+the cottage did not seem so unbearable, for the girls and boys had
+insisted that that was only a "scare" on the part of the land agents,
+and that while the town constable would not interfere to the extent of
+taking down the sign, he had promised to investigate the rights of
+those who put it up.
+
+But town constables are slow and timid when strangers, with big-brimmed
+hats, and plenty of cigars, come from the city, and order papers signed
+at so much per sign--for the constable.
+
+The boys had come, and the supper was almost ready. Lottie looked as
+pretty and as well as ever, for she had dressed in a chic pink frock,
+and with a pink snood binding her brow looked as fresh as though she
+had just come from the hands of a beauty specialist. After all, such
+vigorous treatment and baths of spray as the girls had encountered all
+that afternoon amounted to just that--beauty treatment; and Lottie was
+not the only one whose cheeks glowed, and in whose eyes shone the
+light that comes only from youth and health.
+
+The rumpus that always followed the boys' arrival was in full sway,
+Jack and Ed chasing Bess around the bungalow to make her give up an
+imaginary lost scarf pin, while Dray and Walter contented themselves
+with the less violent exercise of rocking on the front porch, where
+the other girls were scattered. They certainly were "scattered," for
+there was so much to tell and hear of the afternoon's adventure that
+each girl chose her own listener and her own corner.
+
+Everyone seemed deeply absorbed in this when Freda appeared at the
+door with the warning bell. That meant that in five minutes the tea
+bell would ring--only it was going to be dinner to-night.
+
+"That sounds fine," Dray told Freda, who in her blue linen sailor suit
+looked quite as well as the young ladies who put in most of their time
+"leisuring." "Our Belle is not nearly as aristocratic as that."
+
+"I hope dinner will bear out the reputation," Freda replied, a bit
+shyly, for Dray was somewhat of a stranger to her.
+
+"Dinner will make that reputation immortal," Jack declared, as he and
+Ed gave up their chase and joined the others on the porch. "But hello!
+Here comes Denny! And he has no pipe! Something surely is wrong."
+
+Everyone ceased chattering as Denny Shane appeared on the tan bark
+path.
+
+"Hello, there, Denny!" called Jack, getting up from his porch chair.
+"What's up?"
+
+"A-plenty," answered Denny with a sweep of his cap that took everyone
+in the greeting. "Where's the Widder Lewis?"
+
+"Oh, what's the matter, Denny?" asked Freda, aghast. "Can't you tell
+me first? You know how weak mother is."
+
+"'Tis nothing bad," replied Denny, as he sat down on the bottom step
+of the porch, in spite of all invitations to come up and have a chair.
+He settled his cap more securely on his gray head. "I just want
+to--tell her something."
+
+"But what?" insisted Freda, who now sat beside the old sailor on the
+step. "I know all about the business, you know."
+
+"Do come in, Denny," pleaded Cora. "It will be easier to talk in the
+living room. We young folks can go into the dining room and start our
+dinner while you settle it all quietly among yourselves."
+
+"Thank you, Miss," Denny replied, promptly accepting Cora's invitation.
+"That will be the best way, I guess."
+
+Famished as everyone seemed to be, the visit of Denny somewhat shifted
+the interest from appetites, and curiosity strayed from the dining
+room toward the living room.
+
+"What can have happened?" whispered Belle to Marita. "Denny looks
+positively--angry."
+
+"Doesn't he?" Marita replied. "I suppose it is something about Freda's
+property; don't you think so?"
+
+"Likely."
+
+The voices from the other room, that had been subdued, now rose in
+tones of surprise. Freda and her mother were both trying to talk at
+the same time, evidently.
+
+Cora was serving the dinner and endeavoring not to spoil it. The boys
+were too hungry and too glad to eat to allow any interruption to
+interfere with their pleasure, but the girls were prone to whisper,
+and even to listen when a voice penetrated the room.
+
+"It was them!" they heard Denny exclaim, "and I'll have the law on
+them!"
+
+Then Freda said something like: "Can't be sure!"
+
+"Sure as me name's Dinny Shane!" exclaimed the old man. "Who else
+would have tied up little Brian, the dog that was never tied before in
+his life! Sure I'd like to 'a caught them at it," and he brought his
+fist down hard on something.
+
+The boys and girls exchanged glances.
+
+"Something doing," ventured Jack. "I'll bet Denny has seen the
+witches."
+
+"No--banshees," corrected Ed. "Witches aren't ripe this time of year.
+But Cora, don't let us keep you. Really, Walter would love to take
+your place up head there, when you have finished."
+
+Cora was anxious to join in the conversation with Freda and her
+mother, Freda having whispered to her that they would like to have her
+do so as soon as the dinner was over.
+
+"Then I will be excused," she said, "although I hope you won't hurry."
+
+"Don't be alarmed," said Walter. "It's very bad to eat in a hurry."
+
+"I'll serve," proposed Bess, "I know just how much everyone has had,
+and how much more they _ought_ to have. Dray, you cannot have another
+bit of pudding."
+
+Dray was stretching far out for the dish. He did love apple slump. And
+Mrs. Lewis knew just the right amount of cinnamon to season with.
+
+A hush followed Cora's entrance to the living room. Not a single word
+or exclamation escaped through the Summer hangings that hid the narrow
+door.
+
+"Do you think it's a conspiracy?" remarked Walter. "I'm glad we had
+dinner first. I had no idea that a hurricane went straight to the
+hunger zone like that."
+
+"You would be a star to go up North," commented Ed. "Just fancy
+carrying stuff in your pockets and starving because the exact latitude
+for grub had not been reached--wow!"
+
+"I would insist upon being made chairman of the latitude committee,"
+replied Walter, "and my moves would be swift and certain."
+
+The door opened and Freda entered. She was not exactly all smiles, but
+the serious look on her face was not deep enough to cause comment.
+
+"I came to fetch your coffee," she announced, cheerfully. "You must
+think we are planning to dynamite something," she added.
+
+"Oh, worse than that," replied Dray, getting one more spoonful of
+slump on the sly. "We thought you were taking a negative vote on the
+coffee. Nerves, at night, you know."
+
+"Let me help you," insisted Belle. "I am almost stiff from sitting, or
+maybe it is from the way I _wasn't_ sitting in the bottom of the
+boat."
+
+"Very likely," affirmed Jack. "I would not be surprised if we had to
+come around in the morning with nippers to get the kinks out. I see
+one forming, right now, in Lottie's cheek."
+
+"We will be stiff, I am sure," added Bess, "although our muscles ought
+to be in good form."
+
+"When you have finished," Freda whispered to Belle, "we want to give
+Denny something."
+
+"Of course," Belle replied. "How selfish we are, sitting here
+'gabbing,' and neither you nor your mother has had supper yet. I'll
+serve coffee at once."
+
+"Don't hurry," Freda said. "We have time enough."
+
+Everyone, however, seemed to guess at once that they should make room
+for the next "table," and the coffee was swallowed, hastily.
+
+"What is it?" Lottie ventured to ask Freda. "We are just dying of
+curiosity. What has happened?"
+
+"Oh, I can't tell you now," Freda answered, evasively. "I guess
+everyone knew we were shipwrecked this afternoon."
+
+Cora appeared at the door. "May we come to eat now?" she asked. "I
+have only succeeded in making Denny stay with the understanding that
+we won't keep him long. He is anxious to get back to his cabin."
+
+"I am that," said Denny, following Cora into the dining room. "Can't
+tell what'll happen now."
+
+"Then something _did_ happen," Bess said aside, to Marita. "I can't
+imagine what."
+
+"Now you must eat a good meal," Mrs. Lewis insisted to Denny. "I
+remember well how you always loved macaroni and cheese."
+
+"And I remember well how you fixed it up," answered Denny, gallantly.
+"This is a bit like the old days; isn't it? When I used to eat you out
+of house and home, when Len would fetch me into your house to tempt me
+appetite," and he chuckled at the recollection. "Freddie, you were
+only a tot then, but you could climb on my knee right smart. I guess
+you were always a romp." This last was plainly intended as a
+compliment, for Denny smiled at Freda as she handed him his steaming
+coffee.
+
+If the young folks thought that by special attention to Denny and his
+wants at the table they might get an inkling of the mystery that had
+so excited the old man they were disappointed, for he never betrayed a
+word of it, and only an occasional absent look in his sober gray eyes
+betokened anything unusual.
+
+He scarcely took time to swallow the tempting food, however, when he
+jumped up and declared he could not stay another minute, although
+Cora, Freda, and Mrs. Lewis urged him to remain.
+
+"I must run--I really must," he insisted, "and mind what I tell you,"
+to Freda and Cora, "look out for yourselves!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+AN ANGRY DRUGGIST
+
+
+"We didn't want to make a fuss over it before the boys," Cora
+explained to a number of the girls, who, next morning, were seated
+about the bungalow side porch, trying to get in a few stitches of
+embroidery. "They would be sure to go straight at those land fellows,
+and we think--Denny and all of us--that the best way to do is to watch
+them carefully for a while."
+
+"But what happened?" demanded Lottie, impatiently.
+
+"We don't know exactly what, but it appears that while Denny was out,
+fishing us in, someone entered his shack and ransacked it."
+
+"Burglars! What for? In that hut!" exclaimed Belle.
+
+"We don't know that, either," continued Cora. "We can only surmise.
+They must have been after something that was neither money nor table
+silver." She laughed a little at the idea of anyone trying to rob the
+humble cabin of a fisherman. "The little terrier is never tied up and
+never troubles anybody, but it seems he did object to the intrusion,
+for he has a cut on one leg, made, possibly, by a heavy shoe, and when
+Denny found him he was tied tight to a hook in the woodshed. Denny
+will never forgive whoever tied Brian."
+
+"But did the thieves take anything?" Bess wanted to know.
+
+"Not a thing. Of course there was nothing an ordinary thief would have
+any use for; but it looks as if they were searching for something in
+particular, for everything was turned inside out. Every strip of
+carpet was pulled up and loose boards in the floor pried away. It
+really is too bad for Denny. He will have a lot of trouble getting
+things in order again, and you know he is neat, for a lone fisherman."
+
+"Isn't that outrageous!" exclaimed Belle. "I think, Cora, we should
+have told the boys and had them make a charge against whoever may be
+guilty. They will be ransacking here next."
+
+"Oh, goodness! I hope not," cried Marita. "I think we should have
+police protection."
+
+"And have officers ringing our door bell all hours of the night
+because someone forgot to turn out the dining room light, or the side
+window was found unlocked," said Cora. "They have very few officers
+here, I should imagine, and if we really gave them something to do
+they might insist on doing it."
+
+"Tell us more about it," begged Marita, who was naturally fascinated
+with the "scary" part.
+
+"I only know that his shack was entered and all but torn down," said
+Cora. "As to who did it, or why it was done, we can only surmise. But
+don't talk too much about it. We want to keep it quiet."
+
+"Why?" demanded Marita.
+
+"Because by letting other people talk about it we may be able to trace
+the perpetrators. We could easily find out who knew it had happened,
+in that way."
+
+"Oh, I see," Marita answered vaguely, although her tone did not
+indicate comprehension. "Freda and Mrs. Lewis are going out; aren't
+they?" This question implied "why" also.
+
+"Yes," Cora answered again. "They have some business to attend to. I
+told them not to hurry back for lunch--we would attend to it. We
+really need the exercise."
+
+"But I am going canoeing directly after lunch," Lottie objected.
+
+"After lunch?" repeated Belle. "This will be before lunch--the getting
+ready."
+
+"Oh, you know what I mean," Lottie grumbled. "It makes one's hands so
+horrid to handle cooking things."
+
+"Were you going to paddle?" asked Cora, innocently.
+
+"I was going to try," admitted Lottie.
+
+"Then your hands will be in better shape from some active work," Cora
+added, mischievously. "It is awful to try to paddle with soft hands."
+
+"Oh, I guess mine are not any too soft," Lottie retorted, a bit
+abashed that she should have fallen into the trap.
+
+"Where are you going, Lottie?" asked Marita. "You know it is only safe
+to canoe near the shore. The water can be very rough sometimes."
+
+"I don't think you ought to go in a canoe until you can swim," said
+Cora. "You know a canoe is the most uncertain of craft, except that it
+is absolutely certain to upset if you draw a breath in, when you
+should send a breath out. Jack says a canoe is more than human, but I
+won't shock your ears by saying what he thinks it is."
+
+"I am sure there is no danger when one sits still," Lottie insisted,
+"but if you don't want me to go, Cora----"
+
+"Of course I want you to go, and have a nice time," Cora explained,
+"but I don't want you to upset. You should wear a bathing suit and be
+ready to swim in case of a spill."
+
+"Oh, I couldn't do that!" exclaimed Lottie, rather shocked. "I am
+going with Clem."
+
+"Well, I hope Clem will put you in the very bottom of the boat, and
+not trust to a seat. Even a big cushion is wobbly," finished Cora.
+"Now, young ladies, are you ready for a tramp? We have to walk to the
+old village this morning to shop, unless you want to go to the dock
+and take Frank's ferry. He will take us across for ten cents each, and
+we need things to eat."
+
+"Oh, do let us walk," begged Bess. "I haven't seen half the things
+that grow around here."
+
+"Do _you_ grow around here?" asked Belle, maliciously, inferring that
+the desired walk was needed to "reduce." A withering look was the
+answer she received from her twin sister. Just the same the walk was
+decided upon, and a little later the wintergreen path was alive with
+voices. It was one of the delights of Summer to tramp and ramble; and
+in spite of the joys of motor boating the girls were not slow to
+appreciate the pleasures of dry land decked in various shades of
+foliage green and floral tints.
+
+The mountain laurel was at its best--that little tasselled thing we
+call "pfingster," but which looks quite aristocratic enough to belong
+to the orchid family, made bouquets of itself in every appropriate
+spot, while the glorious rhododendrons put forth a display sufficiently
+beautiful and courageous to last all Summer.
+
+"Oh, my, look at the style!" Lottie exclaimed as a party of young
+folks appeared before them. They were evidently coming from the Cliff
+Hotel, and made the most of that fact.
+
+"There's Hilda Hastings!" Cora said, in surprise. "I didn't know she
+was down here."
+
+A remarkably pretty girl, light-haired and wearing lilac shades, with
+a parasol that reflected that becoming tint, was Hilda. She evidently
+saw, and recognized Cora just as the latter spied her.
+
+"Cora Kimball!" cried Hilda, in the delighted way that usually marks a
+meeting with a home friend in the midst of vacation time. "Where did
+you come from?"
+
+"Oh, Hilda!" answered Cora, advancing to meet the girl who almost ran
+to greet her, "I am so glad to see you. We are stopping at our own
+little bunk--the Motely Mote--on Pine Shade Way. And where do you put
+up?"
+
+Introductions followed, and girls from the Mote were plainly delighted
+to meet the others from a fashionable hotel. The meeting also resulted
+in a general invitation from the Cliff girls to the Motes to attend a
+hop to be given the next evening at the hotel.
+
+"And do bring every boy you can scrape up," Hilda enjoined. "We shall
+be sure to need them."
+
+"What dress?" asked Lottie the Vain.
+
+"Linen or lace, doesn't matter in the least," declared a young girl
+whom they called Madge. "We will wear whatever we fall into for
+dinner."
+
+"All right," answered Lottie for all, fluttering at the prospect of a
+real hotel hop. "We will wear whatever we may find pressable--we have
+the awfullest time with wrinkles down here."
+
+"Don't mind them," answered Hilda. "Wrinkled clothes are a seaside
+fad, you know. If you have none you will be suspected of being the
+Press Club Trust. That's a clothing club--not literary."
+
+With other pleasantries the two sets parted, but not until all sorts
+of invitations to come and visit had been extended and accepted.
+
+"What nice girls," the timid Marita remarked as the fashionable ones
+turned into the lane. "Isn't Hilda pretty? Are they from Chelton?"
+
+"She is and they are," answered Cora. "But I do not see how we are
+going to that hop. The boys were going to take us out in a sail boat,
+you know."
+
+"Oh, I would be frightened to death in a sail boat," objected Lottie.
+
+"And perfectly safe in a canoe," observed Belle. "Charlotte, that is
+scarcely understandable."
+
+"Well," said Lottie, turning a deeper shade of pink, "I am afraid of
+that big pole in a sail boat. It looks as if it would sweep one's head
+off every time it veers around."
+
+"Just duck," advised Belle. "It's a great teacher of the proper mode
+of ducking; and that is not to be despised, Lottie, whether one has to
+duck harsh words, or big poles. But I want to go sailing. I can't see
+what fun there is in going into a stuffy hotel on a beautiful
+moonlight evening when we can go out on the water and see something."
+
+"Don't you think we would see something in the Cliff ball room?"
+challenged Lottie.
+
+"Peace!" called Cora, good-naturedly. "It looks as if we might have to
+take a vote on the question. But I can't say that the boys would be
+willing to accept a negative answer."
+
+"Oh, won't they come?" Lottie asked in surprise.
+
+"I don't believe they will forego the sail," replied Cora. "However,
+we won't decide until we ask them. If they want to postpone the water
+sport we may take in the hop."
+
+This was looked upon as a reasonable solution of the problem, and
+while some of the girls hoped for the sail, perhaps an equal number
+wished to go to the dance.
+
+It was a delightful morning, and the woods were fairly alive with young
+folk. It seemed there could be very few mothers or chaperones at Crystal
+Bay, for even in marketing hours it was always the girls with baskets,
+or the boys with huge paper bags, who were encountered. On benches along
+the beach, to be sure, "elders" might be found sunning themselves and
+ruining their fading sight with alleged art embroideries, but in the
+matter of housekeeping it was youth that prevailed at the bay.
+
+It was a long walk to the general store at the point, but there was a
+resting place there, and if one wanted to tarry and felt like dancing,
+a very accommodating young man sat near the piano ready to play at the
+shortest notice. Belle and Lottie usually took a twirl while Bess and
+Cora did the shopping, but to-day having walked instead of coming by
+motor boat they sank into a seat at the water's edge and watched
+others try the newest steps.
+
+Around the drug counter a number of men were engaged in earnest
+conversation with the salesman. Belle needed cold cream and was
+waiting her turn to tell the clerk so.
+
+"We just about have it," said one man to the man behind the counter.
+"There is no question about the legal right; it is only a matter of a
+lost document. We may get along without it, but we understood you were
+a life-long resident, knew the people, and thought perhaps you could
+tell us something about it. Of course we don't want anyone's time for
+nothing."
+
+The clerk scratched his head and looked over his glasses. The scale
+was tipping with white stuff and a customer was waiting.
+
+"That may be so," he replied, slowly, "but I should think, young
+fellow, that them folks themselves would know more about their own
+business than anyone else. Why don't you go to them?"
+
+"Do you think for a moment that anyone is going to do themselves out
+of house and home like that?" asked the taller man, angrily.
+
+"Oh, that's the game; is it? Well, see here! Do you think for one
+moment that I, Bill Sparks, am going to do a poor widow out of house
+and home to suit you!"
+
+He had raised his voice to angry tones, a remarkable thing for Bill to
+do in business hours, but those around who heard had no blame for him.
+The strangers left without taking up their cigars or paying for them.
+Bill looked after them quizzically.
+
+"That's the way to answer that sort," he remarked to no one in
+particular. "Too many of them speculators around the bay, lately. Cold
+cream?" he inquired of Bess.
+
+Cora had seen the men, although she was in the grocery department, and
+when Bess told her what she had overheard she looked troubled.
+
+"We must not put that off another day," she told Bess. "I am convinced
+that those men are dishonest, for why should they go sneaking around
+that way? Why not ask for information from the proper persons?"
+
+Scarcely had she spoken than Mrs. Lewis and Freda appeared in the
+doorway that led from the boat landing. Freda's face was flushed, and
+Mrs. Lewis's was pale.
+
+"What is it?" Cora asked, hurrying up to them.
+
+"They have started a mill dam across the creek," replied Freda. "If
+they turn that water into use for mill purposes the whole shore of the
+bay will be ruined!"
+
+"Don't go so fast, daughter," urged Mrs. Lewis. "We can stop them; we
+must get a lawyer at once."
+
+"Of course," answered Cora, "I think they call it an injunction, or
+restraining papers. Who is your lawyer, Mrs. Lewis?"
+
+"We haven't any," Freda replied for her mother. "We were told if we
+engaged counsel they would eat up the whole thing. Oh, isn't it
+dreadful!" and the brave Freda was on the verge of tears.
+
+"I'll see Jack at once," declared Cora, "and if there are not
+trustworthy lawyers here we will fetch our own down from Chelton. The
+senior member of the firm would do anything reasonable for our family,
+and when mother is away she leaves Jack and me full discretion. Let us
+hurry back before the boys get out on the water. Bess, call Belle and
+Lottie."
+
+The look of relief that spread over the widow's face was a more
+eloquent form of thanks than words could have been, so without further
+delay they all hurried to the motor boat in which Mrs. Lewis and Freda
+had come over. It was from a bay front hotel and had come over for the
+eleven o'clock mail.
+
+The boy at the wheel started up as soon as all were seated, and as the
+launch was a good-sized one the trip across the bay was both
+comfortable and enjoyable. Of course Belle and Lottie wanted to know
+more than they could be told about the coming of Freda and Mrs. Lewis,
+so they had to content themselves with a word and a look from Cora.
+
+The boys were at the landing as the boat came in. This was exactly
+what Cora had wished for.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+AN ALARM
+
+
+"I will go to Lamberton this afternoon," declared Mrs. Lewis, after
+having conferred with Cora and Jack. "I know a man there who was a
+great friend of my husband. He told me to come to him any time I
+needed advice, and he is a prominent lawyer. I have never troubled
+him--had no good cause to until now."
+
+"I think that would be a good plan," Jack agreed. "I fancy as soon as
+we come down on those fellows good and hard, they will be forced to
+show their hand."
+
+So it was arranged that Mrs. Lewis should go to the town, some
+twenty-five miles away.
+
+"And Freda," she said, "don't worry if I am not back until the last
+train, for if he should happen to be in New York I will wait for him."
+
+"Be careful of that cut in the old road," Freda warned. "Mother, you
+know it is always dark through there, even in broad daylight, and
+after dark it is pitchy."
+
+"I can't get any train until one o'clock," went on Mrs. Lewis, "so,
+Freda, we will hurry back to the bungalow and leave everything ready
+for tea. We can prepare things while the girls are lunching."
+
+"Now, you needn't do anything of the kind," objected Cora, "we girls
+can well enough take care of ourselves once in a while. Why, Mrs.
+Lewis, you have us all spoiled. We are supposed to do most of our own
+housekeeping in Summer camp, you know."
+
+"Indeed, you do that now," returned Mrs. Lewis, who was more than
+grateful for the opportunity for work that Cora had afforded to her.
+"I like housekeeping when there is someone to keep for."
+
+"You had Freda," Jack reminded her.
+
+"And she wouldn't let me do enough to keep in practice," replied Mrs.
+Lewis. "Here we are, and the young ladies are stringing beans!"
+
+"Now that is what I call sweet of you," Jack observed as he greeted
+the four girls, all seated around a low porch table with knives and
+beans plying from basket to pan. "Who told you we were coming to
+dine?"
+
+"You positively are not, Brother Jack," Cora declared. "You boys think
+our place is an elastic delicatessen. Why, we never know whether we
+are going to have enough for another meal or not, and we can't go to
+the point again to-day."
+
+"All right, Little Sister. If you have the heart to eat good string
+beans from old Henry's garden, and know that your brother is starving
+for a single spoonful, just go ahead. They will rest heavy on your
+heart, though. I warn you."
+
+"You may help!" offered Lottie. "Just take that paper bag and scoop up
+the ends. Bess spilled them."
+
+"I absolutely refuse," replied Jack, haughtily, "to be a scraper-up
+for such mean people. No, sir! I have just been manicured," and he
+gazed lovingly at his much-neglected hands.
+
+"It does seem as if all we do is to get ready to eat and then eat,"
+said Belle with a sigh. "I would never keep house for myself if I
+starved. At least, I would manage on fewer meals. We have only been to
+the point since breakfast and now it is time to eat again."
+
+Cora had gone in with Freda and Mrs. Lewis and very soon afterward
+luncheon was announced--the beans were laid over for the evening meal.
+Jack stayed, of course, and wondered (so he said) why the other
+fellows did not come in search of him.
+
+An hour or two later Mrs. Lewis hurried off to the little station,
+after promising Freda that she would be most careful of the dark road
+known as the "Cut."
+
+"For, Mother dear," warned Freda, "I do believe those land sharks
+would do almost anything to scare the information out of us. They have
+threatened to have it at any cost, you know."
+
+"Oh! I am surprised at you being so nervous, dear," replied the
+mother, kissing Freda reassuringly. "I never felt less nervous. In
+fact, I think now things will soon be righted. Good-bye, dear. And
+have a good time with your friends."
+
+Freda watched the little woman step lightly away over the white path.
+Then, with a sigh, she turned back to the bungalow.
+
+"Freda! Freda!" called Bess. "You have not eaten yet, and I'm to do
+the dishes. Hurry this minute and just fill up! I must be finished in
+time for a nap, for I am nearly dead."
+
+Freda did eat, though somehow she felt unusually depressed. Even
+Cora's encouraging words, given into Freda's ear when no one else was
+at hand, did not seem to cheer her.
+
+"Just come down to the bay and go out with me," urged Cora. "I want to
+try the boat with the new control, and I don't want to go out alone!"
+
+"Of course I will go with you," assented Freda. "I have only to change
+my blouse."
+
+The motor trip was delightful. The _Chelton_ seemed to have missed the
+guiding hand of its fair owner, for while the new piece of mechanism
+was being put in Cora had not been using the boat.
+
+"How different from the one we rode in this morning," Freda remarked.
+"I always feel as if something were going to explode when I sit near a
+noise such as that old engine made. I wonder that a big house like the
+Laurel can keep such a tub."
+
+"Guests are always glad to get on the water," answered Cora, "and I
+suppose they are not particular as long as they do not have to pay
+extra for the sail. Most of the hotels down here hire out their
+launches, I believe."
+
+They headed straight for the island, and then ran around it to come
+back on the east shore. In many of the passing boats were young
+friends of Cora, and all sorts of messages were shouted back and
+forth.
+
+"I guess I had better go in early," Cora remarked, "as we really have
+not decided on this evening's plans. Some want the hop and others want
+the sail."
+
+"And I have a lot to do, too," Freda said. "Mother and I have to take
+so much time from what we would like to do for you girls."
+
+Cora protested against this, of course, declaring that the girls never
+had such help before, and regretting that Freda should take the matter
+so seriously.
+
+"I cannot get over the attempt to rob Denny," Cora went on, as they
+neared the bungalow. "I am glad they chose a time when he was not
+around, for he would certainly fight. He thinks he has the same
+strength he enjoyed years ago, and I hate to think what might have
+happened had he met those fellows."
+
+"Wasn't it awful?" commented Freda. "And to think that it must have
+been on our account, for I am convinced that those men were searching
+for papers they believe Denny has."
+
+"No doubt about it," said Cora. "But he has none; has he?"
+
+"He has never mentioned such a thing, and with us worrying as we are,
+I am sure that if he had any of our papers he would show them to
+mother. I know my grandfather trusted him more than he even trusted my
+father, his own son; but that is easy to understand, for Denny had
+settled for life here, near the property, while father was likely to
+go to any part of the world, had he lived. He always wanted to
+travel."
+
+"This is a splendid afternoon to write letters," Cora remarked, "and I
+owe a very long one to mother. That, at least, I will get off on the
+last mail."
+
+"I have some to write, too," Freda rejoined. "I had that very task in
+mind. I have to write to those 'in-laws' I interviewed last week. They
+will think I am very ungrateful not to have written since my return.
+So long," she called out cheerily. "I hope when mother comes back we
+will all have cause to rejoice. That friend of father's is a very good
+lawyer."
+
+"But he may not be able to say much until he has had a chance to look
+into the case," said prudent Cora. "We must not expect results so
+soon."
+
+"Oh, I do," persisted Freda. "I know when he hears all that mother has
+to tell him he will be able to say something quite definite."
+
+So the girls parted, Cora to go to her letter writing, and Freda to
+hers. It seemed the entire household at the Mote was very busy that
+afternoon, some resting for the evening, others arranging the fussy
+trifles so important to young girls.
+
+It was getting dark when Freda came out at the side porch and looked
+anxiously down the road.
+
+"Mother should have come on that train," she told herself. Then she
+waited to hear the train pass at the second crossing. "She would be on
+her way up now if she came," Freda reflected, "I'll get my things on
+and go to meet her."
+
+Coming down the stairs she called Cora, but receiving no reply she did
+not wait to find her. She expected to be gone only a few minutes and
+it was not worth while to wait to tell Cora where she was going.
+
+The dusk came down quickly. Even as Freda passed under the big elm
+tree she could not see the moss at its trunk.
+
+She hastened on, and was almost startled into a scream as she heard a
+noise. It was but the tinkle of a bell.
+
+"Someone on a bicycle!" exclaimed Freda, in relief.
+
+The bell tinkled again, and through an opening in the trees she caught
+a glimpse of the messenger boy from the railroad station. He saw her
+and called:
+
+"A message for you!"
+
+"A message for me?" she repeated in surprise. "Who can it be from?" At
+once she thought of her mother.
+
+"I don't know," answered the lad. "Mr. Burke, at the station, took it
+over the telephone, and wrote it out. Here it is," and he held up an
+envelope. "It's all paid, and you don't have to sign the book; it
+isn't a regular telegram."
+
+With trembling fingers Freda tore open the envelope. There was a
+single slip of paper inside and on it was written in the hand of the
+station agent:
+
+"If you would do your mother a service come to Wickford Junction at
+once."
+
+                  *       *       *       *       *
+
+"Wickford Junction!" gasped Freda, as the messenger boy rode away.
+"Why, how did mother get there? That's in the opposite direction from
+Lamberton. Oh, there must have been some accident, and she has been
+taken there! I must go to her!"
+
+Hastily Freda looked in her purse. She had barely money enough for the
+ticket, but she would go. On eager and anxious feet she sped toward
+the railroad depot. It was getting much darker.
+
+"Oh, Mr. Burke!" Freda gasped, when she saw the agent behind his
+little wicket gate, "I've got to go to Wickford Junction. Mother is
+there."
+
+"She is, Freda? Why I sold her a ticket to Lamberton this morning."
+
+"I know. But there must have been some accident. I just got a message
+from Wickford Junction."
+
+"I know, for I wrote it down. The person wouldn't give any name, but
+I'm sure it wasn't your mother."
+
+"No, it couldn't have been! She's hurt!"
+
+"Hurt?"
+
+"Well, of course I'm not sure, but I fear she is. She must have told
+someone to send it. I've got to go. How much is a ticket?"
+
+"Eighty-five cents. The train's due now. There she comes," he added,
+as a distant whistle sounded.
+
+Freda had barely time to get her ticket and hurry aboard.
+
+"Don't worry," the agent called out to her. "There hasn't been any
+accident, or I'd have heard of it."
+
+But Freda did worry. All the way in the train she was a prey to
+nervous fears, and when the Junction was finally reached she was
+hardly able to keep up.
+
+But there was no sign of an accident, and her mother was not there
+when she alighted--the only passenger to get off.
+
+Wickford Junction was hardly more than a flag station, and there was
+an agent there only part of the time. He was not there now, but in the
+dingy waiting room, where Freda went to make inquiries, she found a
+shabbily dressed woman.
+
+"Are you Freda Lewis?" the latter asked, starting forward.
+
+"Yes, I am. But how did you know? Where is my mother? Did you send me
+a message? Oh, tell me quickly, please!"
+
+"Now, dearie, don't get excited," soothed the woman in accents that
+only made Freda worry more. "It will be all right. I sent for you to
+come here because I wanted to have a chance to talk to you alone. Now
+if you'll sit down----"
+
+"What do you mean?" asked Freda, quickly. "I don't know you. What do
+you want?"
+
+"Just to have a little talk with you. I thought it better to take this
+means than to go to your house. Sit down. You and your mother are
+trying to establish a claim to some property; aren't you?"
+
+"Yes, that is well known. But what do you----"
+
+"Never mind about that. I will tell you all in due time. Have you any
+papers to prove your claim?"
+
+"Any papers?" asked Freda, suspiciously.
+
+"Yes--deeds, mortgages or the like. I have studied law, and I may be
+able to help you. I have had experience in many disputed claims."
+
+"We don't know where----" Freda was about to say that they did not
+know where the papers were, when she thought better of it. Was it
+right to confide thus in a stranger?
+
+"Now, dearie, tell me everything," said the woman. "You can trust me.
+Or, better still, if you will come with me to the country hotel where
+I am stopping we will not be disturbed. Better come with me," and in
+her eagerness she caught Freda by the arm.
+
+"No, no! I'll not go!" gasped the girl. "I want to find my mother. Who
+are you, and why do you ask me these questions? Did you send me that
+false message? What was your purpose in so deceiving me?"
+
+"I did not deceive you!" replied the woman, sharply. "It was for the
+good of your mother that I asked you to meet me here. I will explain
+all to you later, but not here. I can do you good. Only trust me. Come
+with me. I have a carriage waiting outside."
+
+Again she caught Freda's arm.
+
+Then the harassed and nervous girl burst into tears. A kindly-faced
+hack driver, waiting outside in the hope of having some belated
+traveler hire him, heard. Dick Bently was a benevolent sort of chap,
+with daughters of his own. Hearing a girl crying he went into the
+depot.
+
+"What's the matter, Miss?" he asked, and his tone was reassuring.
+
+"Oh, it's my mother!" gasped Freda. "She isn't here, and this--this
+person sent me a message----"
+
+"It was for your good, my dear," interrupted the strange woman, with
+an evil smile. "I'm trying to settle that property matter for you, my
+dearie!"
+
+"Who are you, anyhow?" asked Dick belligerently. He did not like the
+appearance of the woman, nor her tone.
+
+"It is not necessary for me to tell you anything," she replied, with
+assumed dignity. "If I am not wanted, I will go."
+
+"Maybe it would be better," said the hackman. "Now, can I help you,
+young lady?" he asked kindly, as the woman hurried off.
+
+"I only want to go home to Crystal Bay, and to my mother," said Freda,
+and she briefly explained the circumstances.
+
+"Well, it's too bad, but I'm afraid you can't get back to Crystal Bay
+to-night," declared the hackman. "The last train has gone."
+
+"The last train gone!" gasped Freda. "Oh, what am I to do?"
+
+"Now don't you worry a mite," replied Dick. "I'll just take you home
+to my wife, and she'll look after you. Don't you worry," and, after
+some persuasion he prevailed on Freda to go in his ramshackle rig to
+his home, where she was kindly received by his wife.
+
+"I'll go back to the station to meet the express that sometimes stops
+at the Junction," explained Dick, "and, Miss, if there come any
+inquiries for you I'll tell where you are. But you'll have to stay
+with us till mornin', I reckon."
+
+Freda's mind was easier now, but she could not imagine what had been
+the object of the strange woman, nor why she had sent the telegram.
+
+Meanwhile, back in the bungalow, there was much alarm when Freda was
+missed. And when her mother came home safely, and found her daughter
+gone, she almost collapsed.
+
+"Where can she have gone?" she wailed.
+
+Hasty inquiries were made, and one of the boatmen told of having seen
+Freda start out through the woods, and meet the station messenger boy.
+After that it was easy to trace her.
+
+Mr. Burke told of the 'phone message, and of having seen Freda board
+the train for the Junction.
+
+And then a new difficulty arose. There was no train to the Junction
+that night; but Mrs. Lewis was in such a state that nothing short of a
+visit to the place would satisfy her. There was no telephone available
+then, the Junction station being closed.
+
+Cora solved the trouble.
+
+"We can go to Hartford in our boat," she said, "and from there it is
+only a short trip to the Junction. We could hire an auto."
+
+This was done. In the _Chelton_, the motor girls and the boys went to
+Hartford, making good time in getting there. A neighbor came over to
+the bungalow to stay with Mrs. Lewis, who grew more alarmed as the
+night deepened.
+
+The trip by auto, which was taken only by Jack, Cora and the
+chauffeur, was marked by the mishap of a blown-out tire, but that was
+all. When the Junction was finally reached, there, true to his
+promise, was the hackman, and to Cora's excited inquiries he gave
+reassuring answers.
+
+Yes, Freda was all right, and safe at his house. He directed Jack and
+Cora there, and soon all were reunited. Then explanations were
+offered, Freda's fears about her mother were quieted, and the trip
+back to Hartford made, where the motor boat party was anxiously
+waiting.
+
+"And now for the bungalow!" sighed Cora, as she took her place at the
+familiar wheel. A little later it was reached, and mother and daughter
+were together again telling their stories, and speculating much about
+Freda's strange message and the mysterious woman. But the puzzle could
+not be solved.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+A BAD CASE OF NERVES
+
+
+"Would the boys have anything in their camp, do you suppose?" asked
+Bess, with a long sigh.
+
+"Anything for what?" asked Lottie, as she looked surreptitiously into
+the mirror of her vanity box. Lottie was always worried about the
+effect of late hours.
+
+"Is it something to eat?" asked Marita in her timid way. "If you want
+that, Bess, I'll go over and help you carry it."
+
+"Gracious, I hope we don't need anything in the food line," said Cora.
+"I thought we stocked up with enough to last the rest of the week."
+
+"I want something for my nerves," went on Bess. "They're on the ragged
+edge, and I jump at every sound."
+
+"And no wonder," agreed Belle, as she went over to a hammock suspended
+between two trees. "Get something for mine, while you're at it, Bess.
+I think they use bromide, or something like that. But I doubt if the
+boys would have any. They don't seem to have a nerve in their bodies,
+though goodness knows they're 'nervy' enough at other times. Pardon
+the colloquialism," she murmured as she sank back.
+
+It was the morning after Freda's return, and the night had been rather
+a troubled one. No one in the girls' camp felt much like eating
+breakfast, though they managed to nibble at a bit of toast and drink
+some coffee.
+
+The alarm about Freda had giver the motor girls the keenest anxiety,
+and while Jack and the boys tried to make Freda and the girls believe
+the woman and the telephone message had been a joke, it looked to be
+too serious a matter to be lightly passed off.
+
+The odd woman who had met Freda at the country junction had shown, by
+her questions, that she knew much about the disputed property. And her
+manner had been, in a way, rather threatening. It was too unusual to
+have been accidental, at any rate.
+
+But Freda had reached home in safety. The motor girls were glad of
+that, but they were all suffering from a bad case of nerves, though,
+so far, Bess and Belle had been the only ones to admit it openly.
+
+"I wouldn't take any of that bromide, if I were you, Bess," said Cora,
+as she straightened out some of the things in the living room. The
+usually homelike apartment had taken on a most woebegone appearance
+since the previous night. Everyone had left everything just where she
+had happened to let it fall.
+
+"But I've got to do something!" declared the plump twin. "My hand
+shakes--see, I can't hold it still," and in proof she held it out.
+
+"It does shake," spoke Marita, in an awed whisper. "Maybe she had
+better have a doctor."
+
+"Doctor! Nonsense!" laughed Belle. "Her hand trembles because she had
+her arm up so long this morning, trying to do her hair up that new
+way. Sit down, Bess, and you'll be all right in a few minutes."
+
+"But I can't sit still, that's the trouble. I'm so nervous!" and Bess
+hastily arose from a chair in which she had seated herself, and began
+pacing up and down the broad bungalow porch.
+
+"I have an idea!" exclaimed Cora.
+
+"Don't let it die of lonesomeness," suggested Belle, with a laugh.
+"Think up another and have a pair of ideas."
+
+"I will," replied Cora, promptly. "I think if we go out for a little
+spin in the boat it will do us all good. It's a lovely day--too lovely
+to let our nerves get the best of us. What do you say?"
+
+"I'll do anything rather than sit here and think of what might have
+happened," sighed Bess.
+
+"Oh, you're taking it entirely too seriously," put in Lottie, as she
+used a buffer on her already pink and polished nails. "What could have
+happened?"
+
+"Why, they might have taken Freda away!"
+
+"Who would?"
+
+"Those persons--men or women--or both--who are trying to get
+possession of the Lewis property. And, in a way, we might have been
+involved," went on Bess.
+
+"I don't see how," observed Cora.
+
+"Why, we've given advice to Freda and her mother, and if things went
+wrong some persons might say we had an object in it."
+
+"Nonsense!" exclaimed Belle. "You've surely got a case of nerves, all
+right. Come on, let's do as Cora says and take a trip on the water."
+She got out of the hammock--Belle could accomplish this difficult feat
+more gracefully than anyone else, Cora always said.
+
+Then they all went down to the little dock where the _Chelton_ was
+tied, and Cora, with a quickness born of long experience, ascertained
+that there was plenty of gasoline and oil in the craft. She tested the
+vibrator and found the current good, though at times, when not
+suffering from a fit of stubbornness, the engine had been known to
+start with the magneto. But it was not safe to depend on it.
+
+"Are you all ready?" asked Cora.
+
+"I guess so," answered Bess. "I guess I won't have to have bromide,
+after all. I feel better already."
+
+"I thought you would," laughed Cora. "Marita, just straighten out that
+stern flag, will you? Thank you. You're a dear!"
+
+"Look out!" laughed Belle. "When Cora begins calling names there is no
+telling when she will stop."
+
+"Don't worry," was Cora's answer, as she stooped over to crank the
+motor. It started on the first turn and soon the _Chelton_ was
+chugging a course over the sun-lit waters of Crystal Bay.
+
+"Do you see anything of the boys?" asked Cora, as she turned to the
+others from her place at the steering wheel.
+
+"No, there's their boat--at least Jack's apology for one--tied to the
+stake," said Lottie. "Does that boat ever go out two days in
+succession, Cora?"
+
+"I don't believe it does," answered Jack's sister. "It was a sort of
+makeshift, anyhow. Jack only got her running because someone said it
+couldn't be done--it was a sort of dare. But the poor old boat seems
+to suffer from some intermittent fever. It runs one day and rests the
+next."
+
+"And the _Dixie_--she's resting, too," went on Bess, as she looked
+down the bay to where Dray Ward's fine racing craft was moored. "The
+boys are not around yet."
+
+"Probably sleeping," murmured Belle. "The indolent creatures!"
+
+"Folks who live in glass houses--and all the rest of it," said Cora.
+"It's nearly eleven, and we haven't been long away from the breakfast
+table ourselves."
+
+"It's a case of carrying coals to Newcastle; isn't it?" asked Lottie,
+drying with her filmy handkerchief a drop of water on her dress.
+
+"You mean the pot calling the kettle black," laughed Cora. Lottie
+never could get her proverbs just right.
+
+"Oh, well, it's all the same as long as there's black in it,"
+responded Lottie. "I knew I had part of it right."
+
+On went the _Chelton_, and she had that part of the bay all to herself
+for the time being. A little breeze ruffled the water, and the sun
+shone brightly. Under these calming influences of nature the
+girls--even nervous Bess--felt themselves growing calm, and at peace
+with the world. The trouble of the night before seemed to melt away,
+and assume a less sinister aspect. But Cora could not get over the
+feeling that something akin to a tragedy had nearly happened.
+
+"And it may again," she thought. "I do wish we could help Freda and
+her mother, but I don't see how. Land troubles are always so
+complicated."
+
+As Cora turned the wheel and swung the boat about in a wide circle,
+she was aware of another craft coming toward her. She did not remember
+having seen it before, and as it drew nearer she noted that it
+contained but a single occupant--a young man, who, as Lottie said
+afterward, was not at all bad-looking.
+
+The young fellow guided his boat closer to the _Chelton_, and after
+she had done making mental notes of the new craft's characteristics,
+Cora had an idea that the stranger wanted to speak to them. Such
+evidently was his intention, for he slowed down his engine, so as to
+muffle the noise of the exhaust, and called out:
+
+"On which point is Bayhead, if you please?"
+
+"Over there," answered Cora, pointing to a promontory that jutted out
+into the bay. "But be careful and go well out when you round it. There
+are some dangerous rocks at low tide. How much do you draw?"
+
+"Thirty-four inches."
+
+"That's too much to try the short cut."
+
+"Thank you for telling me," went on the young man. He certainly was
+good-looking. Even Cora, conservative as she always was, had to admit
+that.
+
+"We are going over that way," went on Cora. "If you like, I will pilot
+you."
+
+"You are very good," returned the young man. "If it will not be too
+much trouble, and not take you out of your way, I would like very much
+to have you show me the course. I'm a stranger here."
+
+Cora and the motor girls had been on so many trips on land and water
+that they had learned how to meet and accept the advances of
+strangers, even when they were good-looking young men. There was, too,
+a sort of comradeship about a motor boat that lent a chaperonage to
+the effect of girls talking to men to whom they had never been
+introduced. Cora's chums realized this and thought nothing of her
+offer.
+
+"Follow me," Cora called, as she opened the throttle a little wider,
+and the _Chelton_ shot ahead. The other boat came right after, with a
+promptness that caused Cora to think it had more speed than she at
+first suspected.
+
+"My nerves are much better--now," said Bess in a whisper to Lottie, as
+she stole a surreptitious glance at the young man.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+A LITTLE RACE
+
+
+For some time Cora held the lead in her boat, with the other following
+in her wake. The girls talked among themselves, speculation being rife
+as to what the young man wanted in Bayhead.
+
+"It's an awfully swell place," said Lottie. "I spent one Summer there,
+and it was nothing but dress, dress, dress all the while! Either for
+motoring, tennis or bridge. Oh, I got so weary of it!"
+
+"But you liked it--especially the dressing," put in Belle.
+
+"I should have, my dear, I don't mind admitting that, if only I had
+had enough gowns," went on Lottie, with a sigh. "But I didn't have
+half enough. Papa was dreadfully poor that year. I believe he said
+there had been a 'slump in the market,' whatever that means.
+
+"Anyhow I know I couldn't begin to dress as those in my set did. So
+that's how I remember Bayhead. I should like to go there again. It's
+perfectly stunning."
+
+"That young fellow doesn't look to be any too well dressed," remarked
+Bess.
+
+"Naturally he wouldn't--going out in a boat," said Cora. "Something
+seems to be the matter with his engine," she added, for the stranger
+was bending over it.
+
+Whatever it was did not seem to be serious, for the lone motorboatist
+straightened up again presently. He increased his speed, and came
+alongside the _Chelton_.
+
+"We seem to be some distance from the point," he said, with a smile.
+"Don't you want a little race? You can call it off before we get near
+the danger spot."
+
+Cora was rather taken aback by the proposal. It was one thing to
+direct a stranger, even when he was a youth good to look at, and it
+was all right, too, to even pilot him on his way in strange waters;
+but it was quite another matter to have the aforesaid stranger invite
+himself to a race. It was like having a beggar apply at your front
+door, and when given a sandwich, calmly ask for soup.
+
+"I don't believe----" began Cora, but Bess slid up to her on the long
+seat and whispered:
+
+"Oh, do, Cora! It won't do any harm, and it will complete the nerve
+cure you have begun so well. Besides, we need a little practice in
+racing. We may take part in the water carnival down here."
+
+"Well, if the rest of you are willing, I'm not going to be the one to
+object," returned Cora, smilingly.
+
+"Will--will it be dangerous?" faltered timid Marita.
+
+"Not a bit--you dear little goose!" exclaimed Belle, putting her arm
+about the shrinking one. "We've raced lots of times--and won, too!"
+
+"Against such appealing strangers?" asked Lottie, raising her eyebrows
+in a rather affected way.
+
+"Oh, it's all in the game!" laughed Bess. Certainly her nerves seemed
+all right now.
+
+The young man--he had refrained from giving his name, either by
+accident or design--had been bending over his motor during the
+whispered talk among the girls. Now he looked up again.
+
+"Well," he asked, pleasantly, "is it to be a race?"
+
+"If you like," answered Cora, calmly.
+
+"I certainly do like. I'm going to enter some of the Bayhead races,
+and I'd like to see how my boat will go."
+
+"But it's a lighter boat than ours," returned Cora, who was not
+willing to give nor take an unfair advantage. "And we have five
+passengers."
+
+"I've thought of that," the young man went on. "I'm willing to accept
+a handicap. I'll drop back about five hundred feet and allow you that
+much."
+
+"That would be fair," assented Cora, who, from having taken part in
+various races knew what would be about right.
+
+"Then here goes!" cried the stranger, as he throttled down his motor.
+"I'll give you a hail when I'm coming on."
+
+The _Chelton_ at once began drawing away from the _Pickerel_, which
+was the name of the stranger's boat.
+
+This craft, it seemed, had a clutch arrangement, so that the motor
+could be allowed to run without the propeller revolving. Cora's boat
+was likewise equipped.
+
+"Are you going to beat him?" asked Lottie, as she moved back where no
+drop of spray could spot her blue dress.
+
+"I am certainly going to try," said Cora with a smile. "What does a
+race amount to if you don't try to win?"
+
+"Oh, of course, but then I thought this was only in fun."
+
+"It's a race for keeps," announced Cora. "And I think we'll win. That
+last gasoline we got is the best we ever had. It gives us more power,
+and the _Chelton_ is running like a sewing machine, as Jack says. I
+think we're going to win!"
+
+She opened the throttle a little wider and the _Chelton_ responded
+instantly.
+
+A moment later there came a hail from the rear.
+
+"Distance enough! I'm coming!"
+
+Cora glanced back.
+
+"He certainly was generous," she said. "That's a good five hundred
+feet."
+
+"He looks like a generous chap," murmured Lottie. She was again
+polishing her nails. Possibly she thought she might be introduced to
+the stranger, later on.
+
+There was the sound of a louder exhaust from the boat astern. The
+young man evidently was going to try his best to win.
+
+But Cora had no intention of letting him do so. She had shrewdly
+estimated the ability of his boat, as well as she could, though of
+course it was difficult, in the case of a craft she had never before
+seen.
+
+"Sit on the other side; will you, Lottie dear?" asked Cora, as,
+grasping the steering wheel with firmer fingers she looked at the
+course ahead of her.
+
+"Oh, I'm so comfortable here," objected Lottie.
+
+"I know, but the boat isn't trimmed properly, and she can't do her
+best unless she is."
+
+"Like us girls," remarked Belle. "We, too, must be properly trimmed to
+do our best."
+
+"Trimmed!" exclaimed Lottie. "I don't see any frills on the _Chelton_."
+
+"You may later, if we win the race," said Bess. "But what Cora means
+is that the boat isn't properly balanced. There is too much weight on
+the starboard side."
+
+"Oh, then I'm on the starboard side," said Lottie.
+
+"Yes, or on the right, according to the new navy rules," agreed Cora.
+"But, really, someone must shift."
+
+"But if I go over there I'm afraid the spray will get on my dress,"
+objected Lottie. "And it spots terribly, especially with salt water."
+
+"I'll change over," said Marita. "I don't mind if my dress does get
+wet."
+
+"You're a dear," sighed Lottie, as she settled back among the
+cushions.
+
+"And you're a bit selfish," thought Cora.
+
+The _Chelton_, now in better trim, skimmed over the bay. Behind her
+came the _Pickerel_. And, as Cora looked back she noted that the young
+man's craft was slowly overtaking her.
+
+"He has more speed than I thought he had," she mused.
+
+Foot by foot the young man urged his boat onward. Clearly he was not
+of that false chivalrous type that permits a lady to win whether she
+has the ability or not. To a really athletic girl, pitted against a
+man in an equal contest, nothing is more humiliating than to realize
+that her opponent is not putting forth all his powers. There are some
+men who will never try too hard to win from a woman. This stranger was
+evidently not of that type, and Cora valued him accordingly.
+
+"Can you get up any more speed?" asked Belle, anxiously.
+
+"I've got a bit left," said Cora, as she opened the throttle a little
+wider. "And I think I'll need it," she added.
+
+"He certainly is coming on," added Belle in a low voice. "Are we
+getting too near the rocks, Cora?"
+
+"No, it's safe so far. But I think I'll go out a bit. I want to win
+this race."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+MORE SUSPICIONS
+
+
+Cora Kimball well knew the capabilities of the _Chelton_. She had
+steered other motor craft in many races, and was aware, almost to a
+revolution, just how much speed was available in a boat of this kind.
+And while she did not know what the rival boat could do, she was too
+expert at water sports to use up her last reserve of speed.
+
+So, even while she watched the other boat creep up on her, she did not
+open the throttle to its fullest extent, nor did she advance the
+timer, which controlled the spark, to the limit.
+
+"I'm going to be in shape to spurt if I have to," reasoned Cora.
+
+Foot by foot the other boat crept on.
+
+"He's going to win!" exclaimed Bess, in disappointed tones.
+
+"Don't be so sure," laughed Cora. "Remember, we have been in races
+before, and in many a seeming hopeless one we have come out ahead."
+
+"You girls are just--wonderful!" breathed Marita, as she crouched on
+the seat she had taken.
+
+"You don't know us yet," laughed Bess. "Wait until you see some of the
+things Cora can do."
+
+"Don't believe her!" exclaimed Cora, turning for an instant to smile
+at the girl who always seemed to be effacing herself for others. Then
+as she saw the spray coming up against the bows, and dashing over
+Marita, she added:
+
+"Oh, you poor child! Why didn't you say you were getting wet?"
+
+"Oh, I don't mind," was the brave answer.
+
+"But you must," insisted Cora. "Here, put this on," and from a forward
+locker she pulled an oilskin coat, flinging it back to Marita, as at
+that moment the boat yawed when a big wave hit the bows, necessitating
+a firm hand on the wheel.
+
+"Oh, it's getting rough!" exclaimed Lottie, apprehensively.
+
+"Put away your nail-buffer and hang on," advised Bess. "It may be
+rougher before it's calmer."
+
+"I--I wish I hadn't come," mourned Lottie.
+
+"You aren't going to be ill, I hope," said Cora, quickly.
+
+"No, but my dress may be all spotted----"
+
+"Here, take this," offered Marita.
+
+"No, indeed, you keep that," said Cora, quickly. "There are more in
+the lockers. Belle, will you get them out? It is a bit rough out
+here."
+
+They had gotten beyond the protection of the arm of land that enclosed
+the bay, and with a strong tide running there were more waves than
+there had been at first.
+
+But the girls did not mind, save perhaps Lottie, and her chief anxiety
+was for her dress. An oilskin coat, however, averted this danger, and
+she settled back in her place.
+
+Cora looked back at the oncoming boat of the young man. It was within
+ten feet of her now, and as she opened the throttle of the _Chelton_ a
+trifle more, she tried to get a glimpse of the controlling mechanism
+of her rival's craft.
+
+She stood up to do this, and, as she did so there came a slapping wave
+against the bow of her boat. Cora staggered at the wheel, and Lottie
+screamed.
+
+"Be quiet!" commanded Cora. "It's all right."
+
+"But we roll so!"
+
+"There _is_ a bit of a sea on," admitted Cora, calmly. "It will be
+over in a few minutes, though. I'll have to tell him we're close to
+the danger point, and will have to slow down."
+
+Determining to end the race in good style, Cora opened up the throttle
+full, and advanced the spark to the limit. The _Chelton_ responded
+with a sudden burst of speed that carried her some distance ahead of
+the rival craft.
+
+But the young man was evidently not going to take his defeat easily.
+The louder exhaust from his engine told that he, too, had put on more
+power.
+
+But it was not enough, for as Cora raised her hand, in automobile-signal
+fashion, to warn her follower of an impending stop, the end of the
+impromptu race course was reached.
+
+The girls had won.
+
+"What is it?" called the young man as he stood up at his wheel.
+
+"The rocks," answered Cora. "We can't race any more."
+
+"We don't need to," he replied. "You won. I congratulate you!"
+
+His tone was sincere, his manner courteous, but, as Cora looked into
+his boat, when it rushed up alongside her slowed-down craft, she noted
+that his throttle was still partly closed.
+
+Instantly a suspicion came to her.
+
+"He did not try to win!" was the suggestion that flashed to her mind.
+"He didn't try!"
+
+For a moment her brain was in a whirl, and she had an idea that she
+ought to tell her chums what she had in mind. Then she decided to be
+cautious--to wait and watch a little longer. She wanted to find out
+his reason.
+
+Who was this strange young man who seemed so friendly? What did he
+want in Bayhead? Why had he proposed a race? And then, after proposing
+it, why had he not won it when, clearly, he might have done so?
+
+These were the questions that Cora asked herself as she slowed down
+her motor.
+
+She had used up her limit of power in an honest endeavor to win, but
+the young man had not. He had held back purposely.
+
+Why had he done it?
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+ODD TALK
+
+
+"Sorry I couldn't beat you!" called the young man, waving his hand to
+the girls in Cora's boat. "You had more speed than I thought."
+
+"Are you sure it was a fair race?" asked Cora, looking at him sharply.
+Her tone was peculiar.
+
+"A fair race? What do you mean?" he asked, wonderingly. "Do you think
+I should have given myself more of a handicap?"
+
+"Oh, no indeed!" exclaimed Cora, blushing that he should have mistaken
+her meaning. "You were generous--too generous, I think."
+
+"Oh, that's all right. I'm not complaining. Of course it was a fair
+race. The faster boat won."
+
+"I'm glad you think so," spoke Cora, meaningly, as she thought of the
+partly-closed throttle.
+
+"Oh, yes indeed. I'm satisfied!" he exclaimed in generous tones. "But
+is the dangerous place you spoke of near here?"
+
+"Right ahead," answered Cora, pointing to where the water was swirling
+in over some partly-hidden rocks. "Keep well out, and when you round
+the point you'll be at Bayhead."
+
+"I'm greatly obliged to you," was his reply. But Cora did not look at
+him, nor return his bow. She swung her boat around and started back
+for the bungalow. The young man, with a curious glance at her, bent
+over his motor to make some adjustment. In another instant his craft
+shot ahead, seemingly at greater speed than it had made at any time
+during the race.
+
+"I don't think much of him," observed Lottie, as she took a more
+comfortable position on the cushions.
+
+"Why not?" Belle asked.
+
+"Because he didn't even invite us to a tennis game, to say nothing of
+ice cream sodas, and there's a place in Bayhead where they have the
+most delicious chocolate!"
+
+"Lottie!" gasped Marita. "Would you have gone with him?"
+
+"Oh, well," with a shrug of her shoulders, "I don't know as I would,
+only--he might have asked us."
+
+"No, he wouldn't," said Cora, and the manner in which she spoke caused
+her chums to look curiously at her.
+
+"What makes you think so?" inquired Bess, merely for the sake of
+argument. She had stopped eating sweets--for the time being.
+
+"Because he had a special object in view in asking us to race, and
+once that was accomplished he had no further use for us."
+
+"Why, Cora Kimball!" cried Belle. "What makes you say that?"
+
+"Because I think it. You didn't see all that I did."
+
+"What did you see?" asked Bess, eagerly. "Did he have some sort of
+weapon? Or do you think he tried to get us over this way, hoping we
+would be wrecked on the rocks? Maybe he was a wrecker, Cora. I've
+heard that there are some of those terrible people in this section."
+
+"Nonsense!" exclaimed Cora. "I only mean that his boat is a very
+powerful one. He did not 'let her out,' as Jack says, to the limit. He
+could easily have beaten us if he had wanted to."
+
+"The idea!" cried Belle. "I don't like that kind of young man."
+
+"Nor I," agreed Cora. "Not because he refused to win when he could,
+but because of what may be his object. That he had one I'm certain."
+
+The girls turned to look at the other motor boat. It was rounding the
+point to Bayhead now, and seemed to be going at remarkable speed.
+
+"How fast it goes!" exclaimed Lottie.
+
+"Yes, much faster than the _Chelton_," responded Cora. "I told you he
+was holding back."
+
+"What could have been his object?" asked Belle.
+
+And that was a question all the girls asked themselves.
+
+"Well, my nerves are better, anyhow," observed Bess, as she threw back
+the clustering hair from her face so that the wind might caress her
+cheeks, now flushed with excitement.
+
+"That's good," spoke Cora.
+
+"The antidote of the race and the excitement of the mystery, as to why
+the nice young man didn't want to win, are guaranteed to cure nerves
+or money refunded," said Lottie with a laugh. "Where are you going,
+Cora?"
+
+"Back to the bungalow, of course. Mrs. Lewis may be anxious about us.
+It is nearly lunch time, anyhow."
+
+"Then it is time for us to be anxious about ourselves," said Bess.
+"But I don't believe Mrs. Lewis will worry. You know she went away
+right after doing up the breakfast things. She said she was going to
+consult some friends, for those she saw last night could not help her,
+and she may not be back yet. So there's no need to hurry."
+
+"Then I have an idea!" cried Cora. "We have our tea outfit with us,
+and some crackers. Why not go ashore and have a little picnic? It will
+complete the nerve treatment, perhaps," and she smiled at Bess.
+
+"Good!" cried that girl. "It will be just the thing. Are you sure you
+have enough crackers, Cora? If not we could stop at the store on the
+point and get some."
+
+"Oh, there are more than are good for you," was the answer.
+
+Cora changed the course of the boat to send the craft over toward a
+pretty little wooded cove where the girls had often gone ashore for
+luncheon. They always carried in the boat an alcohol stove, with the
+necessary ingredients for tea.
+
+Soon the _Chelton_ was beached at a place where the small waves would
+do her no damage, and the girls were preparing luncheon.
+
+They carried their own fresh water with them, not depending on finding
+a spring. Condensed milk, sugar and some tins of sweet crackers
+completed the meal, which was served on the grass for a table, paper
+napkins adding to the luxury of the occasion.
+
+The picnic place was on a spit of land that jutted out into Crystal
+Bay. It could be approached from either side, and on one side there
+was some dense shrubbery that hid the water from sight.
+
+It was when Cora and her chums were in the midst of their impromptu
+luncheon that they heard a boat grate on the beach that was hidden
+from view by the bushes.
+
+"Someone is coming!" exclaimed Bess.
+
+"Maybe it's the boys," remarked Belle.
+
+"It's about time they followed us," suggested Lottie. "They don't give
+us a moment's peace."
+
+"Do you want it?" asked Cora pointedly, for Lottie had been rather
+taken up with Jack, of late.
+
+"Oh, I don't know," answered the girl. "Of course the boys are nice,
+and----"
+
+"'Handsome is as handsome does,'" quoted Belle. "But that doesn't
+happen to be the boys."
+
+"How do you know?" asked Bess.
+
+"I just had a glimpse of them through the bushes. It's a strange motor
+boat--neither the _Dixie_ nor the _Lassie_."
+
+"Who is in her?" asked Cora.
+
+"I can't make out. Listen!"
+
+She raised her hand for silence, but there was no need. The girls
+ceased chatting at once, and silently followed Cora toward a hedge of
+underbrush, some little distance from where their luncheon was spread.
+
+Then they heard some odd talk--at least it seemed odd until they
+understood the meaning of it.
+
+"So you had a race with them?" one voice asked.
+
+"Yes," replied another, who had just landed on the spit of the land.
+"I raced 'em, but I didn't beat 'em!"
+
+"Couldn't you?"
+
+"Couldn't I? Say, you know what the _Pickerel_ can do when she's
+pushed to it. I held back the throttle."
+
+Cora started. Her suspicions were unexpectedly confirmed.
+
+"You can see them from over here," whispered Belle, pulling Cora's
+sleeve. Cora moved to where an opening in the bushes afforded a
+glimpse of the strangers.
+
+She saw three men, and one of them she knew in an instant to be the
+young chap who had raced with her. His boat, too, was on the beach. It
+was from her that the men had come.
+
+"Well, you know how fast the _Chelton_ can go now, that's sure," spoke
+a voice.
+
+"Yes," answered the young man, "I know. We needn't fear her if it
+comes to a chase. That's what I wanted to make sure of."
+
+"Then all we have to do is to get the rest of the evidence, and the
+property is ours."
+
+"Yes. We can turn the widow and the daughter out, all right, if we get
+the necessary papers. Then we can go ahead and build the dam across
+the brook."
+
+"That's going to arouse a lot of opposition!" exclaimed the third
+member of the trio. "It will spoil the park."
+
+"Well, we can't help it. We need the dam for power for our factory,
+and the people don't really need the park. We'll do it."
+
+"You mean we'll make Shane do it!" exclaimed the young man who had
+raced with Cora.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+THE NIGHT PLOT
+
+
+The girls looked at one another with startled glances. Cora bent
+forward eagerly in order to better hear what else was said. She had no
+compunctions as to eavesdropping, feeling that it was justified under
+the circumstances.
+
+"They must mean Denny Shane, the old fisherman," whispered Bess.
+
+"Hush!" cautioned Cora. Not only did she want to listen, but she was
+fearful lest the men on the other side of the hedge discover the
+presence of herself and her chums.
+
+"Yes," resumed the speaker, "we must make old Shane do it. Once we get
+him in the proper frame of mind he'll testify just as we want him to.
+And we need some testimony to offset that of the widow and her girl.
+Otherwise we'll never get the property without a long delay."
+
+"But how can we get Shane in the proper frame of mind to testify as we
+want him to?" asked another of the trio.
+
+"Leave that to me," answered the one who had been in the fast motor
+boat. And Cora started as she noted the difference in his tone now. It
+was hard and cruel, while, in speaking to her, his accents had been
+those of a cultured gentleman, used to polite society. There was a
+metallic ring to his voice now that boded no good to Denny Shane.
+
+"Yes, I guess we'll leave it to you, Bruce," said a voice, "though
+maybe Kelly could put it over him with a bit of blarney. You know
+Shane is Irish."
+
+"Hush! No names, and not so loud!" cautioned the one who had been
+addressed as Bruce.
+
+"Who'd be listening?" asked the other.
+
+"You never can tell, Moran," was the retort.
+
+"There you go!" exclaimed Bruce, fretfully, and the girls knew it must
+have been the one called Kelly who spoke that time.
+
+There was a movement on the other side of the bush, and Cora, with a
+sudden motion, crouched down, signalling the others to do the same. It
+was only just in time, too. Fortunately for the girls they were in a
+sort of depression, and by crouching down they got out of sight, as
+one of the men came forward to peer through the underbrush. He saw
+nothing, as was evidenced by his report a moment later.
+
+"There's not a soul here," he said. "There's been some picnic party
+around, but they've gone. It's as deserted as a graveyard."
+
+"I'm glad we came away from our luncheon," whispered Cora, as the men
+resumed their talk. The wind sprang up, for a moment, and carried
+their tones away from the girls, so that only an indistinct murmur
+could be heard. Then there came clear talk again.
+
+"Well, what's the program, then?" asked one whom the girls could tell
+was Moran. He was the same man they had seen before in the drug store.
+
+"Get at Shane first of all," decided Kelly. "I'm willing to let Bruce
+do it, even if I am Irish."
+
+"We'll all have to call on him," said Bruce, grimly, "but only one
+need actually do the business. We've got to deal with him in two ways.
+We've got to make him tell what we want brought out in court, and
+we've got to scare him so that he won't tell what we don't want known.
+And there are two ways of doing that."
+
+"How?" asked Kelly.
+
+"First we can offer him a reward. It will be worth it, even if we have
+to pay something to have him testify as we wish. The committee allowed
+us a certain sum for--well, let us say for witness fees. I'd rather
+pay him a hundred dollars and have it all over with. It's better to
+have a friend than an enemy, and you never can tell which way a thing
+like this is going to swing."
+
+"Sposin' he won't take the cash?" asked Moran.
+
+"Then I have another plan," and Bruce laughed bitterly. "I guess I
+don't need to say what it is."
+
+"I'm wise," remarked Kelly. "Only--not too rough, you understand. He's
+a feeble old man."
+
+"No rougher than's necessary," agreed Bruce.
+
+Cora clasped her hands, and looked with fear in her eyes at her chums.
+
+"We----we mustn't let them harm dear old Denny!" whispered Belle,
+shivering with nervousness.
+
+"Hush!" cautioned Cora. "Don't talk--think!"
+
+There was a movement on the other side of the screen of bushes, as
+indicating that the men were about to leave.
+
+"Well, we'll let it go until to-night then," said Kelly.
+
+"Until to-night," agreed Bruce. "And we know, in case of a slip-up,
+that there's no motor boat around here that can catch us when we make
+our get-away."
+
+"There's the _Dixie_," suggested Moran.
+
+"She's out of commission, I heard," responded Bruce. "And she won't be
+in shape for a day or so. The _Chelton_--well, I gave her a try-out a
+while ago, and I know what she can do."
+
+"Oh, do you?" thought Cora. "Perhaps you don't."
+
+"I have to laugh when I think how I took those girls in," went on
+Bruce. "I pretending that I was a stranger in these waters, and they
+kindly offering to pilot me. I guess they took me for some society
+swell of Bayhead."
+
+"The mean thing!" hissed Lottie.
+
+"Well, you can do the society act when you have to," said Kelly. "Only
+I guess we won't need that now. Shane doesn't move in society circles.
+How'd the game with the widow's daughter work out?"
+
+"It didn't work at all. 'Confidence Kate' didn't gain her confidence.
+That's why I'm switching to Shane," answered Bruce. "But we'd better
+be going. There's lots to be done."
+
+Cora and the motor girls listened in silence as the men crunched their
+way down the beach to their boat.
+
+A little later they were chugging away in the speedy _Pickerel_.
+
+"Isn't that just awful!" gasped Belle.
+
+"It's a villainous plot!" exclaimed Bess. "Oh, I'm so nervous! I know
+I'm going to cry--or laugh--or do both."
+
+"Bess Robinson, if you do anything foolish, or faint, you shan't do a
+thing toward helping to save Denny Shane!" exclaimed Cora, vigorously.
+"And I know you do want to help him."
+
+"I certainly do. I'll behave. Oh, let me have a cup of tea."
+
+"I think we'll all be better for it," assented Cora. "Come, girls,
+let's eat and then we'll get back. We, too, have a great deal to do."
+
+"Do you mean that you girls are going to try to----to outwit those
+desperate men?" asked Marita, her eyes opened wide.
+
+"We certainly do mean to!" insisted Cora. "Who else would do it?"
+
+"Why, the police."
+
+"There are only constables in a place like this. We can do better than
+they--especially with the boys to help."
+
+"Oh, of course, the boys!" agreed Marita, and she seemed relieved.
+
+"I must say it was most providential that we heard what they said,"
+spoke Lottie, looking to see if there were any grass stains on her
+dress.
+
+"Indeed it was," assented Cora.
+
+It was rather an excited little luncheon, but the hot tea did them all
+good, and then, rapidly talking over what they had just gone through,
+and making all sorts of plans to outwit the schemers, the girls got
+into their boat again, and headed for the bungalow.
+
+"Of course we must warn Denny at once," said Cora, and to this the
+girls agreed. "Then we'll tell the boys, and see what they suggest.
+But I almost know what Jack will say!"
+
+"What?" asked Lottie. She was very much interested in Jack.
+
+"Oh, he'll want to hide and capture the villains 'red-handed,' as he
+calls it."
+
+"And I don't know but what that's as good a plan as any," remarked
+Belle. "I'd like to see them do it!"
+
+Cora and her chums found Mrs. Lewis rather worried over their absence
+from the bungalow. She had returned, unsuccessful, from seeing her
+friends. Freda was recovering from the shock and fright of the day
+before.
+
+"Where have you been?" Mrs. Lewis asked Cora.
+
+"Oh, just off on a little picnic," was the answer, and Cora motioned
+to her chums to say nothing of what they had heard. They had agreed
+that it would be better for the widow not to know, at least for the
+present.
+
+"Dinner will be ready soon," suggested Mrs. Lewis.
+
+"We'll have it a little late to-day," replied Cora. "We have had some
+tea, and I want to go over and see Jack. They haven't been around here
+since we left; have they?"
+
+"Oh, yes," answered Freda. "They were all here, wanting to know where
+you'd gone; but of course I couldn't say. Then they went out in your
+brother's boat, but they didn't get far before they had a breakdown."
+
+"It's the _Lassie_'s day off again," laughed Belle.
+
+"Why didn't they take the _Dixie_?" asked Bess.
+
+"Something is the matter with her, too," replied Freda.
+
+Cora and her chums exchanged meaning glances. The talk of the men was
+confirmed. Evidently they had their own way of getting information.
+
+"Well, we'll go over to Camp Couldn't," suggested Cora, after a pause.
+"They're probably there now."
+
+They found the boys grouped about, in and out of the tent.
+
+"Here they come!"
+
+"Where have you been, girls?"
+
+"We've been lonesome for you!"
+
+"How bright the day seems now, to what it was before!"
+
+Thus chanted Jack, Walter, Ed and Dray Ward, as they saw the advancing
+girls.
+
+"Oh, stop that nonsense, Jack!" exclaimed Cora, as her brother waltzed
+forward to do a two-step on the moss with timid Marita.
+
+"Why, what is wrong?"
+
+"Lots!" she exclaimed, and her manner must have impressed Jack, for he
+grew grave at once.
+
+"Has anything more happened since last night?" he asked.
+
+"There has. We've discovered the meanest plot to harm Denny Shane.
+Listen."
+
+"We list!" recited Walter, but Cora quieted him with a look.
+
+Then began the telling of the overheard conversation.
+
+"Well, what do you know about that?"
+
+"The nerve of that chap wanting a race!"
+
+"We'll race _him_, all right!"
+
+"And so they're going to do up old Denny, eh?"
+
+"Well, I guess we'll have a hand in that!"
+
+These were the comments of Jack and his chums.
+
+"Now don't do anything rash," begged Cora.
+
+"We've got to do _something_," insisted Jack.
+
+After some consultation it was agreed that the boys should go over and
+have a talk with the fisherman, and then, among themselves, they would
+decide on what was best to be done.
+
+Meanwhile the girls would go back to the bungalow, there to await the
+report of the boys. Nothing would be said to Mrs. Lewis, for she had
+had alarm enough.
+
+It was anxious waiting for the girls, and they were so nervous that
+they did not enjoy the dinner Mrs. Lewis had prepared, at which lack
+of appetite she wondered much. But she ascribed their distraction, and
+their rather strange comments, to the alarm of the day before.
+
+Finally the _Lassie_, which had somehow been induced to "mote," was
+descried coming across the bay from the direction of the old
+fisherman's cabin.
+
+"Come on, girls!" called Cora as she saw the boys. "We'll go down and
+meet them." She did not want Mrs. Lewis to hear the talk.
+
+"Well, Jack?" asked Cora, as the boat came in.
+
+"Not well--bad," he said. "Denny wasn't at home, and no one knew where
+he had gone. So we left a note for him, and we'll be on hand
+to-night."
+
+"What about us?" asked Bess.
+
+"You'd better stay here," said Jack. "No telling what sort of a row we
+may run into, and you're better at home."
+
+"I think so, too," agreed Cora, but the look she gave her chums had
+more meaning in it than the mere words indicated. Bess and the others
+understood.
+
+"And now," went on Jack, "we'll proceed to find out why the _Dixie_
+won't mote. We want her in shape to-night."
+
+"That's right," assented Dray. "I think it's the carbureter. I'll get
+a man from the garage to look it over."
+
+"We'll want a fast boat if the one those fellows have is as speedy as
+you girls say," remarked Walter.
+
+"Couldn't we take the _Chelton_?" asked Ed.
+
+"The _Pickerel_ beat us to-day," said Cora. "Besides, it might be good
+to have her in reserve. Try and have the _Dixie_ fixed up."
+
+"We will!" promised her owner.
+
+The remainder of the day seemed like a dream to the girls. Never had
+time passed so slowly. They were waiting for what the night might
+bring.
+
+The boys made several other trips to the fisherman's cabin, going
+afoot through the woods, as the _Lassie_ had again gone on a strike,
+and a man from the garage was working over the _Dixie_.
+
+The fisherman's cabin could be reached in two ways, but the water
+route was preferred by the young people, even though it was longer.
+
+The boys could not find Denny at home, however, and planned to be at
+his cabin just at dusk, and to remain there until something happened.
+
+"So we'll be sure to be there when the men arrive," said Jack.
+
+Finally twilight came, and with the falling of night the repairs to
+the _Dixie_ were completed. She seemed to be running better than in
+some time.
+
+"Well, here we go!" remarked Walter, as the boys took their places in
+the swift craft. "We'll let you girls know what happens--as soon as it
+happens."
+
+"You'd better!" laughed Cora. "We'll be very anxious."
+
+She and her chums had come down to the dock to see the boys leave on
+their trip to save Denny from an unknown danger.
+
+Then came more anxious waiting.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+THE BREAKDOWN
+
+
+"Well, he hasn't come back yet."
+
+"No. It's sort of queer, too. I wonder where he can be keeping
+himself, all day?"
+
+"Maybe those fellows have got to him after all."
+
+Jack Kimball and his chums, landing at the fisherman's dock from the
+_Dixie_, thus commented when they paid another visit to Denny's cabin,
+and found him still absent.
+
+"No, I don't imagine anything has happened," said Jack. "You know he
+often goes off and stays a long time in his boat. He's got a crazy
+sort of motor in it, that runs about as often as the one does in the
+_Lassie_. He may be stuck somewhere."
+
+"Or else waiting the turn of the tide," suggested Ed.
+
+"That's right," chimed in Dray. "I've heard him say that certain fish
+won't bite when the tide's running out, and that you can catch others
+only when it's coming in. Maybe he is hanging around for that."
+
+"Then he ought to be back soon," declared Jack, "for the tide turned a
+half-hour ago."
+
+"If he's far out in the bay it will take him a long while to come in.
+His boat doesn't make very good time," observed Walter.
+
+The boys walked around the cabin. It was closed and locked, and the
+warning note they had left for the fisherman was still pinned to the
+door.
+
+"Which shows that those men haven't been here," said Jack. "That makes
+me fear that they may have gotten to him before us."
+
+"Why so?" asked Ed.
+
+"Well, it's evident that the men haven't been here since the girls
+gave us the alarm. If they had they'd have torn up that note. Then,
+too, you'd think, if they were going to try to make Denny do what they
+wanted in the way of giving testimony, they'd be getting at it. He
+goes to bed early, as everybody around here knows, and locks up. If
+those fellows wanted to get at him without breaking in they'd come
+early. All of which makes me think that they may already have had a
+serious interview with him."
+
+"I hope not," observed Walter. "I'm more inclined to believe that he's
+out on the bay somewhere. If he is he's all right."
+
+"Say, fellows, I've got an idea!" cried Jack.
+
+"Hold fast to it--they're scarce," remarked Ed.
+
+"No, but seriously. Suppose we cruise about a bit. We needn't go far
+from the shore, and we can have an eye on the cabin. In case Denny is
+out on the water we may pick him up. Then we could tell him what was
+on, and warn him. We could do it even better than on shore here, for
+there's no telling but what some of those fellows may be in hiding
+around here," and Jack cast a look about. It was dark, but a full moon
+was coming up to make a light that revealed most objects.
+
+"Then if there is a possibility that someone may be in ambush here,"
+said Walter, "we'd better keep a bit more mum. But I think Jack's plan
+is a good one. Let's cruise about a bit, but keep within sight of the
+cabin."
+
+No one had any objections so, after making a casual search about the
+cabin, and not finding anyone in hiding, the boys again got aboard the
+_Dixie_ and started to cruise on the bay, that was now sparkling in
+the moonlight.
+
+Jack and his chums kept a careful watch for Denny Shane's boat. There
+were several motor craft out, for the night was one that invited trips
+on the water--calm and still, with a gentle breeze that had in it the
+tang of salt mingled with the sweet odors of Summer.
+
+"I feel just like singing," remarked Ed, after a pause during which
+the _Dixie_ cruised about, not too far from the cabin.
+
+"Have some regard for our feelings," begged Jack. "Remember that we
+are under a great strain."
+
+"And Ed would be, too, if he sang," said Walter. "At least I would
+feel constrained to remonstrate with him."
+
+"Huh! Think no one can sing but yourself!" retorted Ed.
+
+"Moonlight always did have a queer effect on him," remarked Jack.
+
+Round about they cruised, and they were thinking of returning to make
+sure that Denny had not reached his cabin by some other route, unseen
+by them, when the motor of the _Dixie_ gave a combined cough, groan
+and sneeze, and stopped short.
+
+"There she goes!" exclaimed Ed.
+
+"You mean there she _doesn't_ go!" corrected Walter.
+
+"Get the talcum powder," suggested Jack.
+
+"I'm sure Dray didn't use the tooth brush on her before we came out,"
+spoke Jack, accusingly.
+
+The boys had a way of doing the most absurd things, from a mechanical
+standpoint, whenever their motors refused to mote. They would dust
+talcum powder on the cylinder tops, or tie a piece of baby-blue ribbon
+on the pet-cock when they had exhausted every other means of making a
+rebellious motor operate.
+
+And the odd part of it was that, often, when they had done these
+seemingly silly things, the boat would start. So they were rather
+superstitious about it, and they did carry a tin of talcum powder with
+them, much to the amusement of the girls.
+
+In turn the usual sources of trouble were looked for and eliminated
+one after the other.
+
+No wires seemed to have broken, the current was good, the vibrator
+buzzed when the contact was made and there was plenty of gasoline in
+the tank.
+
+"Put in a new spark plug," suggested Jack.
+
+"New ones went in to-day," answered Dray. "They can't have sooted
+already. It isn't there."
+
+"Give her a little more air," proposed Walter. "I think she's getting
+too rich a gasoline mixture."
+
+"I'm not going to touch the carbureter!" declared the young owner of
+the _Dixie_. "It was trouble enough to get her fixed before. Hand me
+that talcum." Gravely he dusted some on the pump rod.
+
+Then another attempt was made to start the motor, but it only sighed
+dismally, and refused to do its duty.
+
+"I say!" cried Jack, looking up from where he had been examining the
+carbureter with an electrical pocket flash, "we're drifting out to
+sea!"
+
+"So we are!" agreed Ed. "Say, can't you get her going?"
+
+"Can't seem to," replied Drayton. "I'll sell this boat and get another
+as soon as I can. She's a nuisance!"
+
+"Well, we sure are broken down," sighed Jack, "and how we are going to
+get back to the cabin is more than I can figure out."
+
+"Let's whistle for help," suggested Walter.
+
+"Look!" exclaimed Jack, pointing in the direction of shore. "There's a
+light in Denny's cabin!"
+
+They all looked, and saw a flickering gleam of fire near the shack
+that had been deserted all day.
+
+"Something's doing!" cried Ed. "And we're stuck out here!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+AT THE CABIN
+
+
+"Girls," declared Cora Kimball, "I can't stand it any longer! I've got
+to do something--or have nervous prostration."
+
+"And that's just the way I feel!" said Bess. "Waiting is the most
+nervous thing in the world."
+
+"Have another chocolate," suggested Lottie, helping herself from the
+box on a table near her.
+
+"How dare you suggest such a thing?" demanded Bess. "As if I wasn't
+trying to do all I could to reduce."
+
+"Oh, well, I was thinking of your nerves," observed Lottie.
+
+"But what is it you want to do, Cora, dear?" asked Marita.
+
+"I want to go to Denny's cabin, and see what has happened," was the
+answer.
+
+"What!" cried Belle, with an exclamation of surprise and alarm. "Tramp
+through the woods at this hour of night?"
+
+"It isn't any such great, or late, hour of night," replied Cora,
+calmly, "and the woods are not dark. There's a lovely moon. But I
+don't propose to go through the woods. What is the _Chelton_ for if we
+can't use her?"
+
+"Cora Kimball, do you mean to say that you'd go out on the bay, and
+over to Denny's cabin, after dark, with the prospect that some
+desperate men are going to attack him?" asked Bess.
+
+"The boys are going to be there," answered Cora, still refusing to
+become excited. "Besides, they may need our help. We could take a
+prisoner or two in our boat."
+
+There was a chorus of screams.
+
+"Cora Kimball--how dare you?" demanded Belle.
+
+"Oh, I meant if he was tied hand and foot," went on the leader of the
+motor girls. "Villains are always tied hand and foot, you know. They
+can't move. They're gagged, too. I think I should insist on having our
+villain gagged. It might happen to be that young man who raced with us
+to-day, and he might get sarcastic if he could talk. Yes, I think he
+must be gagged."
+
+"Oh, Cora, you're hopeless," sighed Lottie. "What would my mother say
+if she could see me now."
+
+"She'd tell you to stop eating chocolates and come with me," returned
+Cora, firmly. "I'm going to the cabin."
+
+"I--I'll go with you," volunteered Marita, and then she blushed at the
+attention she attracted.
+
+"Well, if Marita isn't afraid to go, I'm not," announced Lottie, with
+spirit. "Come on, Cora."
+
+"Oh!" gasped Bess.
+
+"Oh, dear!" echoed Belle. "Do we have to stay here all alone?"
+
+"Either that, or come with us," invited Cora. "I'm going over to the
+cabin in our boat."
+
+There was a step at the door of the living room, and Mrs. Lewis looked
+in.
+
+"Did I hear you girls say you were going out?" she inquired.
+
+"Just for a little trip on the water," replied Cora, signing to her
+chums to keep silent. "It is so lovely with the moon, and we won't go
+far."
+
+It was not a great way to Denny's cabin.
+
+"Well, don't be gone too long," cautioned the widow. "You must
+remember that I am, in a way, responsible for you girls."
+
+"Oh, we'll be careful," Cora promised. "We'd take Freda with us, but
+perhaps she had better stay with you."
+
+"Yes, I think so. Besides, she is so nervous after what nearly
+happened last night, that I'd rather she wouldn't go out. Oh, if only
+things were settled! If only we were sure we could get that property
+back, and not have to worry about it being taken away from us!"
+
+"Have they been annoying you of late?" asked Cora, thinking perhaps
+there had been some developments of which she was unaware.
+
+"No, nothing special, since that horrid woman. But it is a constant
+worry to me."
+
+"It must be," returned Cora, sympathetically. "Well, we will hope for
+the best."
+
+Cora did not say so--even to her chums, but she had great hopes that
+something might develop from the events of this night. If the
+unscrupulous men could only be caught in some wrong-doing a hold might
+be obtained over them that would enable them to be defeated in court.
+Thus their claim to the property--which claim Cora felt sure was a
+false one--might be disproved.
+
+That there were papers in existence which would show the widow and her
+daughter to be the rightful owners Cora did not doubt. Freda's
+grandfather, from all accounts, was a careful business man, if
+eccentric in some ways. He would not have come into possession of
+property without having the papers to prove his claim. And he was not
+a man to put them in some safe deposit vault and leave no memorandum
+as to finding the key.
+
+Perhaps they were concealed in some nook or cranny in the widow's
+home. Cora made up her mind to have a search made after this night was
+over.
+
+Then, too, Denny might be able to come upon them. Eccentric in some
+ways, as Freda's grandfather had been, he might have hidden the papers
+in Denny's cabin.
+
+That was a new thought. Perhaps the scheming men knew this, and that
+is why they wanted to attack the old fisherman.
+
+"We simply must go to his cabin," decided Cora, "and find out what has
+happened. I can't wait any longer."
+
+Wraps were quickly donned, and down to the dock went the girls. The
+_Chelton_ was in running order, and soon they were out on the moonlit
+waters of the bay.
+
+"There's a light in his cabin," said Cora, as they came out from
+behind a point, and had a view of the little cove where nestled
+Denny's cottage.
+
+"I hope the boys are there," remarked Bess, "and that they have the
+villains all tied up and ready for delivery."
+
+"Ugh!" exclaimed Belle. "If they have I wish they'd send them by
+parcel post instead of asking us to take charge of them."
+
+"They'll be harmless," guaranteed Cora. "Besides, the _Dixie_ can't
+hold more than the boys; our boat is larger."
+
+"We could let the boys run this one, after the men are tied in her,"
+suggested Lottie, "and we could come home in the _Dixie_."
+
+"Never!" exclaimed Cora. "You can't rely on her. I'll stick to the
+_Chelton_."
+
+But if the girls had only known that, at that moment, far out on
+Crystal Bay, was the ill-fated _Dixie_, drifting to sea, while the
+boys tooted hopelessly for aid on the compressed air whistles!
+
+The _Chelton_ made a quick and uneventful trip to the fisherman's
+cabin. From it a light peacefully glowed.
+
+"There's no one here," announced Bess. "Not even the boys."
+
+"Be careful," warned Cora. "It may be a trap. Let us go up softly."
+
+"But what about those men?" asked Belle. "Maybe they have taken Denny
+away with them, and the boys, too."
+
+"Don't be silly," advised Cora. "Let's go up and look in."
+
+As they peered in the cabin window they saw Denny seated in an easy
+chair. He was alone, and across his knees was the red oar of which he
+seemed so fond.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+UNEXPECTED HELP
+
+
+"Well, we certainly are up against it--good and proper!" exclaimed
+Jack. "And I'm glad the girls aren't along!"
+
+"Why?" asked Walter, leaning back against the gunwale to rest after
+laboring over the refractory engine of the _Dixie_.
+
+"Because they can't call me down for my slang. And believe muh--as the
+telephone girls say--I can use slang now and then--some!"
+
+"It is aggravating; isn't it?" asked Dray.
+
+"Aggravating, my dear chap, is hardly the word," drawled Ed. "It's
+humiliating!"
+
+He brought that out in such a droll way that the others laughed.
+
+For the engine of the motor boat still refused to be coaxed into
+going. They were being carried out toward the mouth of the bay on the
+outgoing tide, which was now running strongly. Soon they would be out
+to sea, and though the moon still shone brightly there was a haze in
+the sky that betokened a coming storm.
+
+But it was not so much the fact of the stalled engine, nor that they
+were being carried out to sea, and were in some danger, that worried
+the boys.
+
+"We're falling down on what we said we'd do," declared Jack. "We
+promised the girls that we'd save Denny from those fellows, and we
+can't do it. They may be at him now."
+
+"We certainly saw a light at his cabin," ventured Ed.
+
+"But we can't see it now," added Jack, straining his eyes for a
+glimpse of the spot where the fisherman's shack stood.
+
+"Well, there's no use worrying over what can't be helped," observed
+Walter, philosophically. "We're here and not there. Denny will have to
+look out for himself--I guess he's able."
+
+"That isn't the point," rejoined Jack. "There we took the case out of
+the girls' hands, so to speak. We said we were the big noise, and that
+we'd look after things. Then we go and get stuck miles from shore
+where we can't do a thing. They'll laugh at us when we do get back, if
+they don't do any worse."
+
+"But we didn't know we were going to get stuck when we came out for a
+little run, after we found Denny wasn't home," said Dray.
+
+"That's no excuse," returned Jack. "It's like a child breaking the
+looking glass and then saying he didn't mean to. Well, I know one
+thing Cora will say when we get back--if we ever do--and own up that
+we weren't on hand when the play came off."
+
+"What will she say?" asked Dray. He was not well acquainted with the
+doings and sayings of the motor girls, as yet.
+
+"She'll say that she and Bess and Belle and the rest of them could
+have done better themselves, if we'd left it to them. And I guess
+she'd be more than half right," sighed Jack.
+
+"Well, there's no use crying over a bridge before you come to it,"
+observed Dray. "Let's have another go at that engine."
+
+They began their labors all over again. They even took out the spark
+plugs, though they had been new that afternoon.
+
+Nothing could be found wrong there. The feed pipe from the gasoline
+tank was examined, but it seemed to provide a good flow. The timer was
+adjusted and readjusted. The coil was looked to. Everything, in short,
+that the boys could think of, or that previous trouble had taught them
+to look for, was tried, and all with no effect.
+
+They even did more absurd things, such as the talcum powder act, while
+Jack spouted some Latin verses at the forward cylinder. But the motor
+refused to mote.
+
+"And, all the while, we're going out to sea," remarked Walter.
+
+"Out to sea to see what we can see," said Jack.
+
+"Oh, hush-a-bye-baby on the jokes," exclaimed Dray, a bit petulantly.
+"If ever I buy a speed boat again you'll know it! A good old-fashioned
+make-and-break motor for mine after this--one you can depend on."
+
+"Haven't you an oar or a paddle?" asked Ed.
+
+"Not a thing that we could use to work against the tide," answered
+Dray, gloomily. "There's a boat hook, but that isn't any better than a
+straw. I left the oars out after the man got through fixing the motor
+to-day. He said I wouldn't need them."
+
+"The regard that individual has for the truth is something scandalous!"
+said Walter, grimly. "I shall acquaint him with the fact on my return."
+
+"When we _do_ return," returned Jack, gloomily.
+
+"Oh, we're bound to be picked up--sooner or later," declared Walter.
+
+"Mostly later," went on Jack, more gloomily.
+
+"Well, here goes for another try," said Dray.
+
+"That's right. Maybe the machine has just been giving us a try-out,"
+suggested Ed. "We certainly have said mean things about you, old Mote!"
+he went on sarcastically. "Kindly forgive us and go. 'See by moonlight
+'tis 'most midnight, time boat and us were home hour-and-a-half ago,'"
+he said, quoting from the old nursery rhyme.
+
+But the motor only coughed and sighed and wheezed like an old man with
+the asthma, and the boat still drifted.
+
+They called, they blew on the compressed air whistle until all the
+reserve supply of oxygen was exhausted from the tank, and then they
+had to resort to their voices again.
+
+"Well, there's one thing left," answered Jack, tragically.
+
+"What is it?" begged Ed.
+
+"We can swim for it. That's better than being carried out to sea.
+Let's swim before it is too late."
+
+"That's what I say!" exclaimed Dray. "Let the _Dixie_ go--she's no
+good!"
+
+The others were considering Jack's startling proposal, when Ed looked
+up, and exclaimed:
+
+"Hark! Don't you hear something?"
+
+The others listened. Faintly from the direction of the sea came a
+sound--unmistakable.
+
+"A boat!" cried Jack. "I'll not take off my coat yet."
+
+"A motor boat, too," added Ed.
+
+"And coming this way," went on Walter.
+
+"Come on, fellows, give 'em a hail!" suggested Dray.
+
+Up to now, with all their shouting and blowing of the whistle, they
+had neither seen nor heard of a craft. They had drifted too far out.
+If any had come within hearing distance the occupants had paid no heed
+to the calls for help. Now there was one approaching, that was
+evident.
+
+"All together, now!" called Jack, and they united their voices in a
+shout.
+
+"There are her lights!" called Dray.
+
+"Yes, and she's heading right over here," agreed Ed.
+
+A little later the red and green lights came nearer.
+
+Then, as the craft surged up to the stalled Dixie, and came to a stop,
+the engine still running with the clutch thrown out, a voice asked:
+
+"Do you fellows want a tow?"
+
+"Do we?" came in a chorus. "We don't want anything any more."
+
+"Fling us your rope," was the curt order.
+
+Unexpected help had arrived. But it was too late.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+DENNY'S SOLILOQUY
+
+
+"What shall we do?" asked Cora, in a whisper.
+
+"It _is_ rather a puzzle," admitted Bess.
+
+The motor girls were standing outside Denny Shane's cabin, looking in
+on him as he sat at his ease, with the red oar over his knees.
+
+"He doesn't seem to be in any danger," went on Cora.
+
+"No, those men either haven't harmed him, or they haven't arrived
+yet," returned Belle.
+
+"Oh, but suppose they should come while we are here?" suggested
+Marita, shrinking against Cora.
+
+"Don't go to supposing such uncanny things," objected Cora, as she put
+her arm about the other. "Are you afraid?"
+
+"I don't know," was the hesitating answer. "I suppose one ought to be
+afraid, coming at night to a cabin where some horrible men are
+expected. And yet, somehow, I don't seem to be," replied Marita. "I
+know I would have been a few months ago, but since I have met you
+girls, and seen the things you do, why it's queer, but really I--I
+rather like it!" and she laughed.
+
+"See what your influence has done," whispered Cora.
+
+They had all spoken in low tones, for Denny was sometimes sharp of
+hearing, and they did not want to arouse him.
+
+The girls were really puzzled, not only at the peaceful surroundings
+at Denny's cabin, but at the absence of the boys. Of course they could
+not know that Jack and the others had been there and gone, not finding
+Denny at home. Nor did they know anything of the note left pinned to
+the door.
+
+"Do you suppose it could all be over?" asked Lottie.
+
+"All over? What do you mean?" asked Cora.
+
+"I mean could the men have been here, and been captured by the boys
+and taken to jail?"
+
+"Oh, it's possible, but not very probable," returned Cora. "They
+surely would have managed to get some word to us if anything like that
+had happened."
+
+"But what are we going to do?" asked Bess. "We ought not to stay
+here."
+
+"No, I suppose not," admitted Cora, slowly. "It might be a good thing,
+though, just to stop and speak to Denny. Then we'd know, soon enough,
+what had happened. Suppose we do that?"
+
+The others agreed. They had stepped away from the window for a moment,
+but now Cora walked toward it again. Denny was still holding the oar,
+but he must have gotten up, for the window was now partly open, and it
+had not been so at first.
+
+Denny was talking to himself. He was indulging in a soliloquy,
+apparently addressing himself to the oar.
+
+"If you could only talk," he said, "if you could only talk, what a
+tale you could tell. Yes, indeed!" and he sighed. "A tale of the sea
+and the land--of calm and storms."
+
+"He's very poetical; isn't he?" whispered Bess.
+
+"Hush!" cautioned Cora. "Listen to what he says."
+
+Denny was evidently in a talking mood, and was living the past over
+again.
+
+"If only Grandfather Lewis were here, what tales he could tell, too,"
+Denny went on. "And there's one tale I'd be glad to listen to. He
+could tell where the land papers were. If only I could find 'em
+everything would be all right, and the factory men--ha! we could laugh
+in our sleeves at 'em. Laugh in our sleeves! Ha! Ha! No, we could
+laugh in their faces, so we could; couldn't we?"
+
+He held up the oar, speaking to it as one might to a favorite dog.
+
+Denny swung it above his head, as though testing its weight as a club.
+
+"'Twas so he swung it the night of the storm--the night he saved my
+life!" murmured Denny. "My, what a night that was! What a night!"
+
+He seemed lost in recollection for a moment, and then resumed his
+self-communion.
+
+"'Twas so he held it--held it out to me in the smother of foam and
+spray when I was goin' under. And what was it he said?
+
+"'Grab holt!' says he. 'Grab holt and I'll pull you in. Don't be
+afraid, the oar is strong!' And so it is--a grand, strong oar. As
+strong as old Len Lewis himself. What a grand old man he was! A fine
+old man!
+
+"But he's gone, and we all have to go. I'll have to go with the rest,
+I suppose. But before I do go I wish I could find them land papers.
+What in the world did Grandfather Lewis do with 'em anyhow?
+
+"They must be around here. He ought to have kept 'em in the bank, or
+in a strong box; but he was always like that. Hidin' his things away
+in curious places. He even did it with his tobaccy. A strange man!
+
+"But I'll wager the papers aren't far from the land. That would be his
+way--to keep the papers near the land. 'A place for everything and
+everything in its place,' he used to say. What more natural than that
+he'd have the papers near the land?
+
+"I wonder, though, did he stick 'em anywhere around me cabin? He come
+over here often enough to sit and chat. Ah, many's the good old talk
+we used to have--a talk of the old days. Often I'd come in from me
+boat, and find him here. He might have brought the papers an' hid 'em
+here when I was out. I wonder if he did?"
+
+Denny looked around his simple cabin. He laid the oar down gently, as
+a thing revered. He walked about the room, looking in various places.
+
+"No, the papers wouldn't be here," he mused. "I'd have found them
+before this. And those fellows, who came and upset my place when I
+wasn't home--they'd have found 'em if they was here. I wonder what
+Grandfather Lewis did with them papers?"
+
+It was a puzzle that others than Denny Shane would have given much to
+solve.
+
+Cora and her chums looked at one another in the moonlight outside
+Denny's cabin. His talk had revealed something to them, but there was
+no clue to the missing papers which could prove the title of Mrs.
+Lewis to the valuable land.
+
+"Well, there's one thing sure, Denny hasn't been attacked as yet,"
+whispered Bess. "And the boys haven't been here to warn him, or he'd
+show some signs of it."
+
+"I think you're right," agreed Cora. "What had we better do? Tell him
+ourselves?"
+
+"That's what I say--let's warn him," suggested Belle.
+
+The girls started for the cabin door, but paused midway as they heard
+the approach of a motor boat near the fisherman's little dock.
+
+"Wait," suggested Cora. "That may be the boys now."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+THE PLOTTERS ARRIVE
+
+
+"What's the trouble?" asked one of the four men in the boat that had
+come to the rescue of Jack and his chums. "Engine broken, or are you
+out of gasoline?"
+
+"We've got gas, but there may be water in it," replied Dray. "I
+watched the fellow when he filled the tank, though, and he used the
+chamois all right."
+
+"You can't always go by that," said another of the accommodating
+strangers. "There's an awful sight of poor gasoline being palmed off
+nowadays. Have you got a long rope?"
+
+"We sure have," answered Jack. "It's mighty good of you to stop and
+give us a tow."
+
+"That's all right," laughed one of the men. "We never can tell when we
+might want a helping hand ourselves. Pass us the rope."
+
+It was flung over. The two boats were now bobbing side by side, for
+they were well out in the bay, and the sea was quite choppy. The tide
+was running out, and help had come to the boys not any too soon.
+
+The rope, passing from the bow of the _Dixie_, where it was made fast
+to a ring bolt in the deck, was caught on to a cleat in the stern of
+the other boat.
+
+"You'll look after the steering; will you?" asked one of the men.
+
+"Surely," answered Dray.
+
+"Because there's nothing harder than towing a boat that yaws from side
+to side," the man went on.
+
+"We'll keep a straight course," declared the owner of the speedy boat
+that had proved such a disappointment of late. "We know something
+about gasoline craft."
+
+"Glad to hear it," remarked one of the occupants of the rescuing boat,
+in a grumbling sort of voice. "There's so many launched on the bay
+now, with a lot of chaps running them who don't know any more than to
+turn on the gasoline and switch on the spark."
+
+"And girls, too," added another of the men. "Though I must say there
+are some girls here who----"
+
+"Easy there!" called one of the rescuers sharply.
+
+He might have been speaking to his companion, who was attending to the
+fastening of the towing rope, but to Jack it seemed as though there
+was an injunction to be careful of what was said.
+
+Somehow or other, though why he could not tell, Jack's suspicions were
+aroused. He tried to get a good look at the faces of the men, but the
+moon was hidden behind some clouds just then, and it was out of the
+question. The light was too baffling.
+
+"Well, I guess we're ready," announced the man who was making fast the
+towing rope. "Now where do you fellows want to go? We can't promise to
+take you home, as we have some business of our own to attend to."
+
+Jack always said, afterward, that nothing could have been more
+providential than the way the moon shone out brightly just as he was
+about to reply.
+
+He had it on the tip of his tongue to ask that, if possible, they be
+landed near Denny's cabin, when a ray of moonlight glinted on the name
+of the rescuing boat, painted on her stern. There Jack read the word:
+
+_Pickerel._
+
+"Great Scott!" he almost ejaculated aloud. "The boat that raced with
+Cora! The same men who are after old Denny!"
+
+Jack made up his mind in a flash. It would never do for the men to
+know that he and his friends were on their way to save Denny from the
+very fate the men had in store for him.
+
+"Oh, if you can land us anywhere near Buler's Pavilion, it will
+answer," said Jack, naming a place not far from the entrance to the
+bay, and not far from where they were at that moment.
+
+"Buler's Pavilion!" cried Ed. "Why that's----"
+
+"It's probably closed, by this time, I know that!" answered Jack,
+quickly, giving Ed a sly kick. "But we can get somebody up, I guess."
+
+Then, in a tense whisper he hissed into Ed's ear:
+
+"These are the men after Denny. I know them by their boat. Don't let
+on who we are. We're going to Buler's."
+
+"Sure, we can rouse somebody up if they are closed," answered Ed,
+quickly falling in with Jack's scheme. "That will do us, all right,"
+he added to the men. "That is, if it won't be too much out of your
+way."
+
+"Not at all," said one. "We'll be glad to leave you there. Maybe you
+can find somebody to fix your boat. All ready?"
+
+"Let her go," said Jack. He wanted the _Pickerel_ to get far enough
+ahead so that he could talk to his chums without the danger of being
+overheard.
+
+The engine of the rescuing boat was set going more rapidly, and the
+clutch was thrown in. The craft forged ahead, and soon the _Dixie_ was
+under way again. She was being brought back from the sea which had so
+nearly claimed her, and in a strange manner.
+
+"Why did you want to say we'd like to be landed at Buler's?" asked
+Dray of Jack.
+
+"Because I want to fool these fellows," and Jack quickly told how he
+had seen the name of the boat that had raced with his sister's. "If we
+do land there," he went on, "they won't know who we are. We can tell
+them to cut us off before we get to the dock, in case the place should
+happen to be open and lighted up. Then they can't see us."
+
+"Good idea," said Dray. "You're a wise boy, Jack."
+
+"I just saw that name in time," went on Cora's brother. "Otherwise it
+would have been all up with us."
+
+"But what about Denny?" asked Ed. "How are we going to save him if we
+land at Buler's, and let these fellows go on?"
+
+"I've thought of that," answered Jack. "We'll have to get another
+boat, if we can, and go to Denny's cabin in her. The _Dixie_ is no
+good. Oh, excuse me!" he said quickly to Dray. "I didn't mean
+that--exactly."
+
+"It's all right, old man, the _Dixie_ is certainly no good to-night.
+Say all you please about her, you can't hurt my feelings."
+
+"If only the _Reliance_ is at Buler's we can get her and go to the
+cabin flying," went on Jack. "If not, we'll do the best we can. Maybe
+Denny can stand them off until we arrive."
+
+"Say, what's the matter with up and telling these fellows we know who
+they are, and who we are," suggested Walter. "We can tell them we know
+what they're up to, and threaten them. Won't that stop them from
+bothering Denny--at least to-night?"
+
+"Not a bit of it," returned Jack, quickly. "Do you know what they'd do
+as soon as they found out who we were?"
+
+"What?" asked Ed.
+
+"They'd know at once we were working against them, and they'd cut us
+adrift. Then we would be out of it. And I haven't any desire," added
+Jack, with a shrug of his shoulders, "to go out to sea again."
+
+"We land at Buler's," said Walter, decidedly.
+
+And a little later they landed at that resort, which had closed
+unusually early, for some reason.
+
+"All right--cast off!" Jack had called as they neared the dock, and
+the _Dixie_, with trailing rope, ran up to it under her own momentum,
+while the other craft swung off into the darkness, the boys calling
+their thanks to the men.
+
+"And if they only knew who it was they had given a tow to!" chuckled
+Walter.
+
+"They'll know, soon enough," replied Jack. "We've got to look up a
+boat to take us to Denny Shane's. We've simply got to get there."
+
+And while the boys were thus looking for a boat to take the place of
+the disabled _Dixie_, the plotters, in their swift _Pickerel_, were
+hastening toward the little cove where the fisherman's cabin stood.
+
+The men in the boat were Moran, the slow-moving character whom Cora
+had seen in the store; Bruce, the "society" chap; Kelly, a blunt and
+unscrupulous Irishman, who handled the money for the factory
+interests, and a man to run the boat. He had been brought in at the
+last minute.
+
+"We lost a lot of time, towing those chumps," grumbled Moran, as the
+_Pickerel_ forged ahead.
+
+"Well, we were early," said Bruce. "I've had a man keeping watch on
+Shane's shack, and he was late getting in. He telephoned to me. It's
+just as well to let Shane get a bit settled before we tackle him. He
+was out fishing until long after dark."
+
+Then the engineer slowed down the powerful motor as they came up to
+the dock.
+
+It was this sound that Cora and her chums heard.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+CORA'S BRAVE RESOLVE
+
+
+When the girls heard Cora's remark, that the approaching motor boat
+might contain the boys, Lottie said:
+
+"Oh, we're all right now!" and she sighed in relief.
+
+"How much you depend on them!" observed Belle, in a low voice. "When
+you've been with us a little longer you'll learn that we can do almost
+as well by ourselves."
+
+"But I am glad the boys have arrived," agreed Cora. "I never was so
+pleased to know that they were on hand."
+
+But a moment later, as they saw the forms of four men leaving the
+motor boat, which had been made fast to the dock, Cora shrank back, at
+the same time whispering a warning.
+
+"Girls, something is wrong! Those aren't the boys. Quick, get out of
+sight!"
+
+She pulled Bess behind a row of bushes, and the others followed
+silently. They had started down to the beach from the cabin, but
+fortunately managed to conceal themselves in time. The men, walking up
+the little slope toward the cabin, had not seen them.
+
+Trembling with nervousness, Cora and her chums awaited the new turn of
+events. That it would come soon seemed likely, for the men appeared
+bent on something. They had made fast their boat, and came up the
+slope openly, as though their errand was the most innocent in the
+world. The light still glowed in the cabin.
+
+"Oh, Cora!" gasped Marita. "Suppose they do----do something!"
+
+"Which is very likely they will do," replied Cora. "But don't talk--I
+want to watch."
+
+From behind the screen of bushes Cora watched the men coming forward.
+The moon still gave a good light, though it was declining in the west.
+
+"Is he there?" Cora heard one of the men ask.
+
+"He seems to be--there's a light going, anyhow," was the answer. "I'd
+rather found him in bed, but we can't have all we want."
+
+"Oh, where are the boys!" cried Bess, frantically. "Why don't they
+come?"
+
+"I don't know," answered Cora. "Surely they should have been here. But
+there must be a good reason why they are not. Jack wouldn't disappoint
+us."
+
+"Why don't you include Walter and the others?" asked Belle.
+
+"Of course you know I meant them," Cora retorted. "I can't understand
+it--really I can't."
+
+"Perhaps they are in hiding," ventured Lottie.
+
+"They'd have been out before this, if they were," declared Cora.
+
+There came a sudden knock. It was one of the men striking on the door
+of Denny's cabin. From their hiding place in the bushes the girls
+heard it plainly.
+
+"Listen!" whispered Cora.
+
+They heard the voice of the old fisherman call:
+
+"Who's there? What do you want at this time of night?"
+
+"We've come to see you," was answered in tones Cora recognized as
+those of the young man who had raced with her.
+
+"What about?" inquired Denny. "I have no fish to sell."
+
+"And we don't want fish," was the retort. "Come, Shane, open your
+door. We want to talk to you. It's important, and there may be
+something in it for you."
+
+"Yes--trouble, more or less. I can't see anything else," was the
+grumbling response. "Wait a minute."
+
+Cora looked over the bushes. She could see the men grouped in front of
+the cabin door. Then she saw it open, and a broad beam of light shoot
+out.
+
+"Come in," invited Denny, and the plotters entered.
+
+"Now's our chance!" exclaimed Cora, her heart beating rapidly. "We
+must see what those men do. We may have to give evidence."
+
+"Oh, dear!" sighed Marita. "I never could do it. I'd faint, sure."
+
+"Do what?" asked Cora.
+
+"Give evidence."
+
+"Don't worry. You won't have to do anything hard, dear," was the
+gentle answer, as Cora slipped her arm about the timid girl.
+
+"Oh, I'll do anything you girls do," was the quick answer. "I want to
+help."
+
+"And we want your help," whispered Bess. "But, Cora, can't we go
+closer? We ought to look in and see what happens."
+
+"Brave Bess!" murmured Lottie. "You are certainly coming on finely."
+
+The plotters were now inside the cabin, so that it was safe for the
+girls to advance. This they did until they were once more in a
+position where they could look in the window of the cabin.
+
+They saw a strange sight. Old Denny Shane, brave and rugged,
+confronted the four men who had called on him. In one hand he grasped
+the red oar, while the other rested on the back of the chair from
+which he had risen.
+
+"Well, Mr. Shane," said the man Cora knew as Bruce. "We come to see
+you on business."
+
+"What kind?" asked the old man, and the girls could see him look
+around as though seeking help or a means of escape. But there was no
+fear in his eyes. Only defiance.
+
+"We might as well get to business at once," said one of the men,
+sharply. That was Kelly.
+
+"That's right," agreed Moran. "Make him an offer. If he doesn't want
+to take it then we'll talk another kind of talk. And be quick about
+it."
+
+"I want no business with you!" cried Denny, sharply. "Why do you come
+here bothering me?"
+
+"You know why!" exclaimed Bruce. "You are concerned in the Lewis land
+matter. You can testify as to who owns it."
+
+"Well, supposin' I can?" asked the old man, defiantly. "What is that
+to you?"
+
+"Lots to us, and it may mean a great deal to you, also!" snapped out
+Kelly. "You may have some papers, too."
+
+"I may," returned Denny, "but you'll not get 'em."
+
+Cora and the others, listening, knew that Denny would only be too glad
+if he did have the documents in question. But the girls had heard him
+lamenting that he did not know where they were.
+
+Why did he now let the men think he did know? It was a puzzle to the
+girls.
+
+"Not get them, eh?" cried Bruce. "That's to be seen. Now look here,
+Shane. We came here to do business, and we're going to do it. By fair
+means if we can, if not----"
+
+He paused suggestively.
+
+"Ah! I know you and your breed!" cried the old fisherman. "By fair
+means or foul! But try it on! I'm not afraid of you."
+
+He stepped back a pace, the better to defend himself in case he had
+to. The red oar was still in his firm hands.
+
+"Now wait a minute," put in Moran. "We'll try the fair means first.
+What do you say to that? Show him the bills."
+
+With a quick gesture Bruce drew out a roll of greenbacks.
+
+"Here you go, Shane!" he exclaimed. "There's a cool hundred here, and
+it's yours if you testify that the Widow Lewis has no claim on the
+land. And she hasn't any claim that she can prove. All we want you to
+testify to is that her husband's father sold the land some time before
+his death. We'll do the rest."
+
+"But he didn't sell it!" cried Denny. "It was his on his dyin' day,
+and it belongs to his son's widder and daughter now. That's the law,
+an' you know it."
+
+"She can't prove that the land is hers," sneered Kelly.
+
+"Maybe she can," returned Denny, quietly.
+
+"Well, she can't unless you tell what you know," broke in Bruce.
+"We've found out that much. Now the factory wants that land, and it's
+going to get it. Here, I'll make it a hundred and fifty if you do as
+we want you to."
+
+"An' testify to a lie?" cried Denny.
+
+"It wouldn't be exactly a lie. Besides, we're willing to pay the widow
+a small sum."
+
+"Not what the land's worth. That's valuable property," insisted Denny,
+"and it will keep her in her old age if she manages right. Be off with
+you! I'll stick to the Widder Lewis, so I will. Be off!" and he
+motioned them to the door. "You wouldn't have got this close if it
+hadn't been that my dog was dead. Be off!"
+
+"Not so fast," Cora and her chums heard Bruce say. "We haven't said
+all we intend to."
+
+"Oh, I'm sure something will happen now," quavered Bess.
+
+"Hush," cautioned Cora. "We must do something!"
+
+"Do something?" questioned Marita. "Oh, why don't the boys come?"
+
+Cora and her chums were close to the cabin now. They could look in the
+door, and through the uncurtained window, and see plainly all that
+went on. They could also hear plainly, for the men and old Denny spoke
+loudly. And, as yet, the girls had not been noticed.
+
+"Now, look here!" said Bruce, and there was a snarl in his voice.
+"This is our last offer, Shane. Either you take the hundred and fifty
+dollars, and testify the way we want you to, or we'll find means to
+make you, and you won't get the money. And I'll say this, that we'll
+treat the Widow Lewis as fair as we can."
+
+"Which won't be fair at all!" burst out Denny. "Not at all!"
+
+"Well, what's your answer?" cried Kelly. "We can't stay here all
+night. Give him the money, Bruce. When he feels it he'll hate to let
+it go."
+
+Bruce held out the roll of bills. To the surprise of Cora and the
+girls the fisherman took them. Was he going to betray Freda and her
+mother?
+
+The next instant they knew Denny for the brave-souled man he was.
+
+"That's me answer!" he cried, throwing the bills in the face of Bruce.
+"Take your evil money and get out. I'll stick to the widder!"
+
+For a moment the men were nonplussed. Then, with an angry exclamation,
+Bruce started forward.
+
+"Come, girls," said Cora, "we've got to go to the aid of Denny. For
+some reason the boys aren't here. We've got to save him!" and with
+this brave resolve she moved toward the cabin.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+
+THE RED OAR AGAIN
+
+
+"Cora Kimball, what are you going to do?" gasped Lottie, trying to
+hold back her chum.
+
+"I'm going to go to Denny's aid. Why shouldn't I? It's four to one,
+but even if we are girls we can perhaps turn the tide in his favor."
+
+"Oh, Cora, I don't dare!" admitted Belle.
+
+"Nor I," added her plump sister. "I'll faint if you go in where those
+horrid men are."
+
+"Faint if you like," returned Cora, calmly. "Somebody else will have
+to look after you, then, for I'm going."
+
+"But why?" asked Lottie. "We ought not to interfere when men are going
+to fight, and I think that's what's going to happen in there."
+
+"That is what's going to happen," said Cora, "but perhaps we can
+prevent it. For some unknown reason, though the boys promised to come
+here and defend Denny, they haven't done so. Therefore, it's our place
+to do it."
+
+"Yes, and I'm going with you!" announced Marita, determinedly.
+
+All this talk had taken but a few seconds of time, and, as it had been
+in whispers, the men in the cabin had not heard it. The situation,
+however, was rapidly becoming acute.
+
+With one accord, after Bruce had stepped toward old Denny, the others
+advanced. They were evidently going to lay violent hands on him. But
+the sturdy fisherman was not afraid.
+
+"Stand back!" he cried. "Stand back or I'll do you harm--you cowards!"
+
+"No use calling names!" sneered Kelly. "We're here to do you. We made
+you a fair offer, and you wouldn't take it. Now you'll have to abide
+by the consequences."
+
+"Get behind him," said Bruce. "I can take him from where I stand."
+
+"Get back! Get out of here!" ordered the old man.
+
+He raised the red oar over his head, threateningly.
+
+"Grab him!" cried Moran. "Grab that oar!"
+
+"You'll get it over the head before you grab it!" threatened Denny.
+"Mind that, now!"
+
+The fisherman swung his weapon, but he either had not calculated on
+the length of it, or he forgot that he was nearer to the wall than he
+had been at first. The blade of the oar caught in a hanging picture,
+and was entangled in the wire.
+
+Denny, putting all his strength into the blow he had hoped would
+disable one of his assailants, was thrown off his balance. He toppled
+and nearly fell.
+
+"Now we've got him!" yelled Kelly.
+
+The cowardly men, attacking the single fisherman with overwhelming
+numbers, made a leap forward.
+
+"Stop! Let him alone. We'll call the police!" screamed Cora, and the
+other girls added their shrill voices to hers. They rushed into the
+cabin.
+
+"The girls I raced with!" muttered Bruce. "We've no time to fool with
+them. Don't mind them. Get at Shane!"
+
+"Get at me, is it?" cried the fisherman. He had by this time
+disentangled the oar from the picture wire. Again he raised it over
+his head, intending to bring it down on Kelly.
+
+As the red weapon descended Kelly shot up his hand and caught it. He
+twisted on the oar to wrest it from Denny's grasp, and the two
+suddenly went to the floor, jarring the whole cabin.
+
+And at that instant there was a sound of splintering, breaking wood.
+Some red slivers flew out from between the two prostrate men who were
+struggling for possession of the weapon.
+
+"The red oar! It's broken!" cried Denny. "Me old red oar, that saved
+me life in the hands of Grandfather Lewis! The red oar is broken, bad
+luck to you! Cowards that you are!"
+
+The girls were screaming, but even Cora, brave as she was, dared go no
+nearer to the two desperately struggling men. Bruce and Moran were
+seeking an opening that they might get hold of Denny. The fourth man
+had gone back to the boat, seemingly. He had leaped out of the window
+as the girls entered.
+
+The cabin was a place of wild excitement.
+
+"Get that oar away from him!" cried Bruce. "Here's some rope. Tie him
+up, and then we'll get what we want out of him!"
+
+"Don't you dare hurt him!" screamed Cora.
+
+"Ah, would you?" gasped Denny, as he rolled out from under Kelly, who
+had sought to pass a rope about the old man's wrists. "I'm not down
+and out yet!" he panted. "The red oar is broken, but I've got the best
+end yet."
+
+He staggered to his feet, holding the handle of the red oar. One end
+was splintered where it had been broken from the blade.
+
+"Come on! I'm not afraid!" yelled Denny. "Come on. You girls had
+better leave----there's going to be trouble!"
+
+"We won't go! Help is on the way. The boys are coming!" cried Cora,
+though she did not know when Jack and the others would arrive.
+
+"Oh, if they were only here now! When we need them so!" gasped Lottie.
+
+Again Denny swung what was left of the red oar around his head. He
+aimed a blow at the face of Bruce, but it fell short and struck the
+man on the shoulder.
+
+Then a strange thing happened. The handle of the oar split lengthwise,
+and from a hollow place inside there flew out a roll of papers, yellow
+with age. And on one of them was a red seal--a legal-looking seal.
+
+Bruce staggered at the blow, and a strange look came over his face. It
+might have been that he was dazed, but his eyes lighted on the roll of
+papers that had fallen to the floor. There they lay--a curious roll
+that had come from the secret crevice in the red oar.
+
+The struggle had come to a sudden end. The girls ceased screaming and
+stood looking on dumbly, unable to understand what had happened.
+
+As for the men they, too, seemed startled by the strange turn of events.
+Kelly rose to his feet, and was creeping up on Denny from behind. His
+arms were outstretched, and his fingers worked convulsively, as though
+they would like to close about the fisherman's throat, and force him to
+testify as the plotters desired.
+
+Cora wanted to scream a warning, but some strange force seemed to hold
+her dumb.
+
+"The red oar--it's broken--broken! Me old red oar, that saved me
+life!" murmured Denny Shane. "But I never knew 'twas hollow. Never! I
+wonder did Grandfather Lewis----"
+
+He did not complete the sentence, for at that instant Bruce leaped
+forward and caught up the roll of yellow papers from the floor.
+
+"Give me those!" cried Denny leaping at him with the jagged piece of
+the red oar in his gnarled hands--the hands that had, so many years
+ago, grasped the same oar in what was little short of a death-grip.
+"Give me those papers!" fairly roared Denny. "I don't know what they
+are, but they're not yours. Give 'em to me!"
+
+"Give you these! I guess not!" sneered Bruce. "They are just what we
+want--the land papers. They're the only ones by which the widow could
+prove her shadowy claim to the property, and with them out of the way
+it's all clear sailing for us.
+
+"This is the luckiest thing that could have happened for us! The
+breaking of the red oar came at the right time. Kelly, give me a match
+and we'll make a little bonfire of these same papers."
+
+"Don't you dare!" cried Denny, and, making a leap forward he snatched
+from Kelly's hands the precious documents that had so strangely come
+from the secret hiding place in the red oar.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII
+
+THE DISCOVERY--CONCLUSION
+
+
+Wild with rage the three men with one accord made a leap for Denny
+Shane. But the old fisherman was not to be easily taken. Holding the
+precious papers close to him, he made a jump for a corner of the room,
+where hung an old musket.
+
+"Oh, he's going to shoot!" screamed Bess.
+
+"And small blame to him if he did," declared Cora. "Oh, those men must
+not destroy those papers, if I have to take them in charge myself!"
+
+Denny Shane had reached the corner where hung his musket. It was not
+loaded. Cora knew this, for the old fisherman had said he was always
+afraid of some accident happening, and he never kept a charge in the
+gun. It was for the effect of it, he said, that he had it hanging on
+his wall. Now it would be useful as a club, at least--more useful than
+the easily shattered red oar had been.
+
+But before Denny could reach the gun Kelly was upon him. With a fierce
+motion the desperate plotter grasped the fisherman around the neck.
+Holding him thus with one arm, he snatched the papers from him with
+his other hand.
+
+"Here you go!" Kelly cried to Bruce. "Take the papers while I hold
+him. Burn 'em if you want to, but be sure you do the job well! Then
+we'd better get out of here. I think I hear a boat coming. This place
+will soon be too hot for us!"
+
+Bruce took the papers from his crony. Hastily scanning them, to make
+sure he had the right ones, he struck a match that Moran handed him.
+
+Kelly and Denny were struggling in the corner of the room. But poor
+old Denny had not much strength left. The events of the night had been
+too much for him, and he was giving way under the cruel pressure of
+Kelly's arms.
+
+"These are the very papers we want--or don't want, rather!" exulted
+Bruce. "With them out of the way the property is ours."
+
+The match flickered in his fingers.
+
+"Don't you dare burn them!" cried Cora.
+
+One corner of the papers had caught fire.
+
+Then from without the cabin sounded a chorus of cries.
+
+"Come on, fellows!"
+
+"We're just in time!"
+
+"The girls are here ahead of us!"
+
+"What a night!"
+
+They were the voices of Jack and his chums.
+
+"Oh, the boys have come! The boys have come!" cried Lottie.
+
+"Jack! Jack! In here! Quick!" screamed Cora. "He's burning the papers!
+Get them from him!"
+
+Into the cabin, already crowded, the boys flung themselves.
+
+"Just in time!" cried Cora, motioning to Jack. "Get those papers from
+him before they burn!"
+
+Over in the corner poor Denny had fallen unconscious under the attack
+of Kelly.
+
+"Cut it and run!" advised Moran, making for the door.
+
+"No, you don't!" shouted Walter, blocking it. "Guard the windows,
+Dray--Ed!" he called.
+
+"The papers! The papers!" voiced Cora. "Get them before they burn, or
+Mrs. Lewis will lose the land!"
+
+"I'll get them!" shouted Jack.
+
+He flung himself upon Bruce as he had often flung himself upon a
+player in tackling him on the football field.
+
+"Look out for yourself!" threatened Bruce.
+
+But Jack was not afraid. He twisted himself about Bruce, and sought to
+reach the papers.
+
+Bruce, to get them out of Jack's reach, held them high in the air,
+over his head. The two were struggling. Moran and Kelly were wrestling
+with Ed and Walter, while the other girls cowered behind Dray, who had
+caught up a chair as a weapon.
+
+Cora saw her chance. She slipped around behind Bruce, and with a leap
+that had often enabled her to outwit an opponent in playing basket
+ball, the plucky motor girl snatched the papers from the man's hand.
+Full and clean was her jump, and the smouldering papers came away in
+her grasp.
+
+"I have them, Jack!" she cried. "Look out for the men!"
+
+And with that, to make sure that she would not lose the precious
+documents, Cora held them tightly under her arm and ran out of the
+cabin door, after putting out the little blaze.
+
+"All over!" cried Jack, putting out his foot, and tripping up Bruce,
+who aimed a savage blow at him. "All over!"
+
+Bruce went down heavily. At the same time, from without the cabin
+there flashed several lights, and the voices of men were heard asking:
+
+"What's going on here?"
+
+"Who's been screaming?"
+
+The plotters gathered together. Bruce leaped from the floor.
+
+"Come on!" he cried desperately. "It's all up. Get away!"
+
+He leaped out of the window, followed by the other two.
+
+"Get them!" yelled Ed.
+
+"No, let them go--it's the easiest way," advised Jack. "Cora has the
+papers."
+
+"But maybe they've hurt Denny!" said Walter.
+
+"I'm all right," asserted the fisherman, as he slowly arose. "He just
+cut off my wind for a minute. I'm all right. But where are the
+papers?" and he looked about the floor, on which were scattered pieces
+of the broken red oar.
+
+"They're safe," answered Jack. "Cora, my sister, has them. Guess we'd
+better look for her though."
+
+There was no need, as Cora, holding the papers in her hand, re-entered
+the cabin at that moment. Only one edge of the legal documents was
+burned, and no real harm had been done.
+
+While the motor girls, and the boys and the neighboring men, who had
+come to the rescue all but too late, were looking at one another there
+was heard, at the dock, the puffing of a motor boat.
+
+"There they go!" exclaimed Walter.
+
+"Well, that's the best way," said Jack. "We're glad to get rid of
+them."
+
+"How did you girls get here?" asked Ed.
+
+"How was it you boys _didn't_ get here?" demanded Cora, still panting
+from her exertions.
+
+Explanations were then in order. I will be as brief with them as I
+can. How the girls came to go to the cabin is already known. And how
+the boys, foolishly perhaps, went out on the bay while waiting for
+Denny to come back, and how they became stalled, is likewise known to
+my readers.
+
+In the meanwhile Denny came to his cabin.
+
+Then came the unexpected help in the shape of a tow from the plotters
+themselves.
+
+"They left us at Buler's," said Jack, "and then we had our own
+troubles. We tried to get a boat to come on, for the _Dixie_ still
+refused to move. But we couldn't get one for love or money, and it was
+too rough to row."
+
+"What did you do?" asked Cora, looking at Denny, who was examining the
+broken red oar.
+
+"We hired a horse and carriage, and came around the land way," replied
+Walter. "It took us a long time, too, for we missed the road."
+
+"But we finally got here," spoke Ed.
+
+"And just in time," added Cora. "We were wild about you--couldn't
+imagine what happened."
+
+"Didn't you get the note we left pinned to the door?" asked Dray of
+Denny.
+
+"Nary a note," he said.
+
+Later it was found where it had blown into a clump of bushes. So that
+accounted for Denny's not being warned in time.
+
+"But everything seems to be coming out right," said Cora, with a
+rather wintry smile. All the girls were pale, and a trifle weak. The
+boys, too, were tired.
+
+"And what are those papers?" asked Jack, taking them from Cora.
+
+"Those prove Mrs. Lewis's title to the land the plotters tried to
+get," she said. "Oh, I'm so glad we found them."
+
+"Who found them?" asked Walter, giving Cora's hand a surreptitious
+squeeze.
+
+"They were in the red oar," said Denny. "And to think I never knew it!
+They were there all these years, and all of us worrying about them and
+wondering where they were. But I understand now. Grandfather Lewis
+must have hollowed out a hole in the handle, hid the papers in it, and
+then plugged it up. Then he gave the oar to me to keep. I remember
+well at the time he said it would prove valuable some day. I often
+wondered what made the oar lighter than it had been. It was because it
+was hollowed out.
+
+"I asked him what he meant by sayin' the oar was valuable, but he kept
+puttin' me off. He said he'd tell me some time, but he never did. Then
+the day he died he sent for me, and was trying to tell me, I guess,
+but he couldn't. I remember I wondered what was on his mind, but he
+was too weak to explain. So he died with his secret, and the red oar
+had it and kept it all these years.
+
+"But the oar broke, or those men and myself broke it between us, and
+the papers fell out. Now the widder will get her rights."
+
+And the Widow Lewis did. Leaving the valuable documents with Denny,
+the motor girls and the boys went back to their stopping places--the
+girls to the bungalow, the boys to the tent.
+
+And such a time as Cora and her chums had in telling the good news to
+Mrs. Lewis and Freda! The latter could hardly believe it at first.
+
+"Oh, how can we ever thank you!" cried Freda, as, with tears in her
+eyes, she embraced Cora.
+
+"Don't try," was the whispered answer.
+
+And so everything came out right after all. The papers so oddly hidden
+in the red oar proved the widow's title to the valuable land beyond
+the shadow of a doubt. As for the plotters, they were not seen again
+in that part of the country. They realized that the sharp trick they
+had tried to play had failed, thanks to the activities of Cora and her
+friends.
+
+Mrs. Lewis easily established her claim to the land, moved back to her
+cottage, and the project of spoiling the public park was abandoned.
+The factory company was beaten in court and the members of the
+corporation were forced to pay heavy costs.
+
+Old Denny came in for his share of credit, and he was very happy. His
+one lament was that the red oar was broken, but he managed to patch it
+together, after a fashion. And the motor girls got him another dog.
+
+The opening by which the papers had been put in the hollow handle had
+been cleverly concealed, and, only for the accidental breaking of the
+oar, might never have been discovered.
+
+It had probably been the intention of Grandfather Lewis to disclose
+the secret hiding place of the land papers, but he had died before he
+could do this.
+
+"But 'all's well that ends well,'" quoted Cora the next day, at a late
+breakfast. "We have done a little good here by our vacation at Crystal
+Bay."
+
+"A _little_ good!" exclaimed Freda. "I never can thank you enough,
+Cora."
+
+"And we'll soon have to go back home--that's the worst of it!" sighed
+Lottie. "It is so lovely here!"
+
+"Oh, well, we can come back next year," spoke Bess.
+
+"And then, too, Winter's coming on--something is sure to happen then,"
+added Belle. "Something always does."
+
+And what did happen that Winter will be told of in the volume to
+follow this, which will be called "The Motor Girls on Waters Blue; Or,
+The Strange Cruise of the _Tartar_."
+
+It was the next day. The girls disposed themselves about the bungalow
+in picturesque attitudes, and the boys sat on the broad porch, telling
+over again the adventures of the night.
+
+"There's only one point we're shy on," said Jack, when everything had
+been told and retold.
+
+"And that's what?" asked Ed.
+
+"We haven't found out yet who the strange woman was who tried to get
+information out of Freda, and who sent her the 'phone message."
+
+"Oh, we're just as well off without knowing that," said Cora. "I'm
+sure she was in with the plotters. You know that man Bruce called her
+'Confidence Kate,' as if he knew her well."
+
+"You must have been terribly frightened, when you found out there was
+no way of getting home from the Junction," said Marita. "I think I
+should have gone out of my mind."
+
+"Don't believe her, Freda," laughed Cora, putting her arm around the
+timid girl. "Marita is braver than she thinks. She offered to go into
+the cabin with me when those horrid men were there, and none of the
+others would."
+
+"Come on over to Buler's and see 'em dance," proposed Jack. "The
+_Dixie_ is running again."
+
+"We'll go in the _Chelton_," spoke Cora firmly, and in that boat they
+went. And now for a time, we will take leave of the motor girls.
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Motor Girls on Crystal Bay, by Margaret Penrose
+
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+<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
+"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
+<head>
+<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" />
+<title>
+The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Motor Girls On Crystal Bay, by Margaret Penrose.
+</title>
+
+<style type="text/css">
+/*<![CDATA[  XML blockout */
+<!--
+    p                 {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;}
+    body              {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;}
+    a                 {text-decoration: none;}
+    h3                {text-align:center; font-weight: normal; font-size: 1.2em}
+    .figcenter        {margin: 2em auto 2em auto; text-align: center;}
+    div.ce p          {text-align: center; margin: auto 0;}
+    table             {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;}
+    hr.tb             {width: 35%; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both;}
+    .pagenum          {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; position: absolute; right: 2%; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; color: silver; background-color: inherit; border:1px solid #eee;}
+    hr.major          {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both;}
+    hr.silver         {width: 100%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver;}
+    h2                {text-align:center; font-weight: normal; font-size: 1.4em}
+// -->
+/* XML end  ]]>*/
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+</head>
+<body>
+
+
+<pre>
+
+Project Gutenberg's The Motor Girls on Crystal Bay, by Margaret Penrose
+
+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 www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Motor Girls on Crystal Bay
+       The Secret of the Red Oar
+
+Author: Margaret Penrose
+
+Release Date: June 22, 2008 [EBook #25873]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR GIRLS ON CRYSTAL BAY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+<hr class='silver' />
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p style=' font-size:1.8em; margin-top:2em;'>THE MOTOR GIRLS</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1.8em; margin-bottom:1em;'>ON CRYSTAL BAY</p>
+<div style='margin-top:1em'></div>
+<p style=' font-size:1em;'>Or</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1.2em;'>The Secret of the Red Oar</p>
+<div style='margin-top:1em'></div>
+<p style=' font-size:1em;'>BY</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1.4em; margin-bottom:3em;'>MARGARET PENROSE</p>
+</div>
+
+<div class='figcenter'>
+<img src='images/illus-emb.png' alt='' title='' /><br />
+</div>
+
+<hr class='silver' />
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Copyright</span>, 1914, <span style='font-variant: small-caps'>by</span></p>
+<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Cupples &amp; Leon Company</span></p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='silver' />
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p style=' font-size:1.2em;'>CONTENTS</p>
+</div>
+
+<table border='0' width='400' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin:1em auto;'>
+<tr>
+  <td align='right'><span style='font-size:small;'>CHAPTER</span></td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align='right'><span style='font-size:small;'>PAGE</span></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>I.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>A Worried Girl</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#I_A_WORRIED_GIRL'>1</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>II.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Freda&#8217;S Story</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#II_FREDA_S_STORY'>15</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>III.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Crystal Bay</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#III_CRYSTAL_BAY'>26</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>IV.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Red Oar</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IV_THE_RED_OAR'>36</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>V.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Two Men</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#V_TWO_MEN'>47</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>VI.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The &#8220;Chelton&#8221;</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VI_THE__CHELTON'>55</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>VII.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>In The Motely Mote</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VII_IN_THE_MOTELY_MOTE'>67</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>VIII.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Frights Or Fancies</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VIII_FRIGHTS_OR_FANCIES'>76</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>IX.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>A Merry Time</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IX_A_MERRY_TIME'>83</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>X.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Too Much Joy</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#X_TOO_MUCH_JOY'>93</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XI.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Rescue</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XI_THE_RESCUE'>102</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XII.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Calm</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XII_THE_CALM'>109</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XIII.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Suspicion</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIII_SUSPICION'>120</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XIV.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>An Angry Druggist</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIV_AN_ANGRY_DRUGGIST'>129</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XV.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>An Alarm</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XV_AN_ALARM'>141</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XVI.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>A Bad Case Of Nerves</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVI_A_BAD_CASE_OF_NERVES'>156</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XVII.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>A Little Race</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVII_A_LITTLE_RACE'>164</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XVIII.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>More Suspicions</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVIII_MORE_SUSPICIONS'>171</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XIX.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Odd Talk</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIX_ODD_TALK'>176</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XX.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Night Plot</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XX_THE_NIGHT_PLOT'>184</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XXI.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Breakdown</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXI_THE_BREAKDOWN'>196</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XXII.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>At The Cabin</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXII_AT_THE_CABIN'>202</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XXIII.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Unexpected Help</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXIII_UNEXPECTED_HELP'>208</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XXIV.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Denny&#8217;S Soliloquy</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXIV_DENNY_S_SOLILOQUY'>214</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XXV.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Plotters Arrive</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXV_THE_PLOTTERS_ARRIVE'>220</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XXVI.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Cora&#8217;S Brave Resolve</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXVI_CORA_S_BRAVE_RESOLVE'>227</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XXVII.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Red Oar Again</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXVII_THE_RED_OAR_AGAIN'>235</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XXVIII.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Discovery&mdash;Conclusion</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXVIII_THE_DISCOVERY_CONCLUSION'>241</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+<hr class='silver' />
+
+<div><span class='pagenum'><a id='page_1' name='page_1'></a>1</span></div>
+<div class='ce'>
+<p style=' font-size:1.8em;'>The Motor Girls On Crystal Bay</p>
+</div>
+
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 0em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='I_A_WORRIED_GIRL' id='I_A_WORRIED_GIRL'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER I</h2>
+<h3>A WORRIED GIRL</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Four girls sat on four chairs, in four different
+corners of the room. They sat on the chairs because
+they were really too tired to stand longer,
+and the reason for the occupancy of the corners
+of the apartment was self-evident. There was no
+other available space. For the center of the
+chamber was littered to overflowing with trunks,
+suitcases and valises, in various stages of being
+packed, and from them overflowed a variety of
+garments and other accessories of a journey.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, dear!&#8221; sighed Cora Kimball, as she gazed
+helplessly about, &#8220;will we ever be finished, Bess?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; was the equally discouraging
+reply. &#8220;It doesn&#8217;t seem so; does it?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure I can&#8217;t get another thing in my suitcase,&#8221;
+spoke the smallest girl of all, who seemed
+to shrink back rather timidly into her corner, as
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_2' name='page_2'></a>2</span>
+though she feared she might be put into a trunk
+by mistake.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Marita! You simply must get more in
+your suitcase!&#8221; exclaimed Cora, starting up.
+&#8220;Why, your trunk won&#8217;t begin to hold all the rest
+of your things unless you crowd more into the
+case.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The only trouble, Cora,&#8221; sighed Marita, &#8220;is
+that the sides and top aren&#8217;t made of rubber.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s an idea!&#8221; cried a plump girl, in the
+corner nearest the piano. &#8220;A rubber suitcase!
+What a boon it would be for week-ends, when one
+starts off with a Spartan resolution to take only
+one extra gown, and ends up with slipping two
+party dresses and the &#8216;fixings&#8217; into one&#8217;s trunk.
+Oh, for a rubber suitcase!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the sense in sighing after the impossible?&#8221;
+asked the girl opposite the plump one.
+&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you finish packing, Bess?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you?&#8221; and the plump one rather
+glared at her more frail questioner.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now, sisters!&#8221; cautioned Cora, as she gazed
+at the Robinson twins, &#8220;don&#8217;t get on one another&#8217;s
+nerves. Let&#8217;s have another try at it. I&#8217;m sure
+if we go at it with some sort of system we&#8217;ll be
+able to get all the things in. And really we must
+hurry!&#8221; she exclaimed, looking at the clock on the
+mantel, which pointed to the hour of four. &#8220;I
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_3' name='page_3'></a>3</span>
+promised to have all the baggage ready for the
+man at five. That only gives us an hour&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Cora Kimball!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Only an hour!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you tell us?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Thus the three girls exclaimed in startled tones
+as they fairly leaped from their chairs in their respective
+corners, and caught up various garments.
+</p>
+<p>Then, as the apparent hopelessness of the situation
+overcame them again, they looked at one another,
+at the trunks and suitcases that already held
+their fair share of articles, at the accumulation on
+the floor, and then they sighed in concert.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s no use,&#8221; spoke Bess Robinson. &#8220;I&#8217;m not
+going at all&mdash;at least not now. I&#8217;m going to take
+another day to sort out the things I really don&#8217;t
+need.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t!&#8221; exclaimed Cora. &#8220;Our tickets
+are bought, the bungalow is engaged, and we
+leave for Crystal Bay on the morning train, if we
+have to ship this whole room by freight&mdash;just as
+it is!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Perhaps that would be the easiest way,&#8221; suggested
+timid Marita Osborne.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It certainly would create a sensation in Chelton,&#8221;
+murmured Belle, as she looked at her plump
+sister. &#8220;But come, we really must help you, Cora.
+It&#8217;s too bad we took advantage of your good nature,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_4' name='page_4'></a>4</span>
+and brought our things here to pack. We
+might better have done it at our own homes.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, I think you&#8217;ll find my way best in the
+end,&#8221; said Cora, with a smile, as she looked about
+for a place in which to pack her sweater. &#8220;By
+doing this we won&#8217;t duplicate on the extras. Now,
+girls, try once more. Marita, let&#8217;s begin on your
+suitcase, for that seems to be the smallest. Oh,
+dear, Bess, what are you doing now?&#8221; she called,
+as she noted an unusual activity on the part of the
+plump girl.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m just seeing if I&#8217;m heavy enough to close
+the lid of my trunk,&#8221; was the answer. &#8220;No, I&#8217;m
+not,&#8221; she exclaimed, as she hopped on and hopped
+off again.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Look out!&#8221; called Belle. &#8220;You nearly
+stepped on my veil-box, Bess.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Sorry, Sis, but you shouldn&#8217;t leave it on the
+floor.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The plump one stood looking at the bulging
+trunk, and then drew a long breath.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Girls!&#8221; she cried, &#8220;I&#8217;m losing weight.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How do you know?&#8221; asked her sister
+promptly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Couldn&#8217;t close my trunk lid. That&#8217;s the way
+I can always tell. Problem: Given a trunk, which
+requires a force of one hundred and thirty-five
+pounds to close down the lid, and a girl of one
+hundred and fifteen, how many chocolates must
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_5' name='page_5'></a>5</span>
+the said girl eat before she is heavy enough to
+close the lid? Answer&mdash;one pound, and here&#8217;s for
+a starter,&#8221; saying which pretty, plump Bess rummaged
+in a pile of her belongings until she found
+what she was after. Then, sinking down in a
+heap of silk petticoats she began munching bonbons
+with a contented air.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Bess Robinson!&#8221; gasped Cora. &#8220;You&#8217;re
+never going to do that; are you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do what?&#8221; came with an innocent air.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Sit there and eat chocolates until you&#8217;re heavy
+enough to close down the lid of your trunk.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I might as well. I can&#8217;t check it open that
+way, and I can&#8217;t close it at my present weight. I
+need everything I&#8217;ve squeezed into it; and so what
+else can I do?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If we could only get someone to help us,&#8221;
+said Marita, innocently, seeming to take Bess
+literally. &#8220;One of the boys&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>She was interrupted by the laughter of the
+others, for Marita was a newcomer in Chelton,
+and though Cora and her chums had taken her up,
+attracted by her nice ways, Marita did not yet
+appreciate her new friends.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t mind what Bess says, my dear,&#8221; spoke
+Cora, as she saw that Marita was a little hurt at
+the laughter. &#8220;As for the boys, please don&#8217;t
+suggest such a thing. If they came in now, we&#8217;d
+never get through packing. I hope&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_6' name='page_6'></a>6</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;All hope abandon, ye who enter here!&#8221; declaimed
+a voice in the doorway, and the faces of
+two young men peered in.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Too late!&#8221; exclaimed Cora, as she saw her
+brother Jack and his chum, Walter Pennington.
+&#8220;The boys are here! Any more of you, Jack?&#8221;
+she asked, as she crowded some feminine finery
+out of sight behind her back.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No. Why?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Because I&#8217;m going to give general orders for
+you to depart at once, and I want to include everyone.
+Begone!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Heartless one!&#8221; murmured Walter, sliding
+into the room under Jack&#8217;s arm. &#8220;Just when we
+came to help you, too!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Here!&#8221; called Bess, from her position,
+Turkish fashion, amid a billowy pile of garments,
+&#8220;Help me up first, Wallie, my dear, and then sit
+on my trunk.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, is that the throne seat?&#8221; he asked, as
+he extended his hand, and pretended to find it
+extremely difficult to lift Bess to her feet.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, but the lid needs closing, and I can&#8217;t do
+it. Sit on it, that&#8217;s a good fellow,&#8221; and she extended
+to him a chocolate from the tips of her
+fingers, which fingers Walter pretended to bite.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now you really must go,&#8221; said Cora, seriously,
+when Walter had managed to close the trunk.
+&#8220;Come, Jack, we have to get through by five
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_7' name='page_7'></a>7</span>
+o&#8217;clock,&#8221; and she glanced at her brother, who was
+in earnest conversation with Marita in her corner.
+</p>
+<p>Jack paid no attention to his sister, and Walter
+was somewhat surprised to see Bess, after looking
+with satisfaction at the trunk he had closed for
+her, open it again.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, I like that!&#8221; he exclaimed, with pretended
+indignation, &#8220;after me nearly breaking
+my back to close that lid&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I just wanted the things compressed, Walter
+dear,&#8221; said Bess, sweetly. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got a lot more
+to put in, and I couldn&#8217;t squeeze in another piece
+until they had been crowded down a bit. Now
+run along, little boy.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Come on, Jack!&#8221; called Walter, as he turned
+to go. &#8220;We have been insulted!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They can&#8217;t insult me,&#8221; murmured Jack, never
+turning to look at his chum. &#8220;Don&#8217;t be so thin-skinned,
+Wal. I&#8217;m having a good time.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Cora&#8217;s girl chums looked at her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Jack, you must go!&#8221; she insisted. &#8220;Please
+do. I should think you boys would have lots to
+do to get ready, too.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All done, Sis,&#8221; murmured Jack. &#8220;We always
+travel in light marching order, and sleep on our
+arms,&#8221; and he bent closer to the blushing Marita.
+</p>
+<p>Cora bit her lip. Really she was provoked at
+Jack this time. She and her chums were in the
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_8' name='page_8'></a>8</span>
+midst of packing for their annual Summer trip,
+and to be interrupted this way, at the last critical
+moment, was provoking.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Jack!&#8221; she began. &#8220;I shall tell mother&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s he been doing now?&#8221; asked a new
+voice, and with a gesture of despair Cora turned
+to see another young man in the doorway.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Come on in, Ed,&#8221; called Jack. &#8220;Didn&#8217;t know
+you were in town. You&#8217;re just in time to assist.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s it all about?&#8221; asked the newcomer.
+&#8220;Are you going or coming?&#8221; he inquired, as he
+looked at the partially-filled suitcases and trunks.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Both,&#8221; answered Walter. &#8220;You&#8217;re coming
+and they&#8217;re going.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Good!&#8221; was the comment. &#8220;Hello, Cora&mdash;Bess&mdash;Belle&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+He paused as he nodded to
+each of the girls, and looked questioningly at
+Marita in the corner with Jack.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, excuse me,&#8221; murmured Cora. &#8220;Miss
+Osborne, let me present to you Mr. Edward Foster&mdash;just
+plain Ed, mostly.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The plainer the better,&#8221; observed the newcomer,
+as he bowed to Marita. &#8220;But what&#8217;s it all
+about, Jack?&mdash;No, there&#8217;s no use asking him,&#8221; he
+murmured as he noted Cora&#8217;s brother resuming
+his interrupted conversation with the little girl.
+&#8220;Will someone please enlighten me?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s our annual flitting,&#8221; sighed Cora. &#8220;And
+really half the pleasure is taken away with this
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_9' name='page_9'></a>9</span>
+packing. Well, as long as you boys are here you
+might as well make yourselves useful, as well as
+ornamental.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Delighted!&#8221; cried Walter, looking about.
+&#8220;Where shall I put this?&#8221; and he caught up a box
+from the floor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Be careful!&#8221; cried Belle. &#8220;You&#8217;ll spill it!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Candy?&#8221; he asked questioningly, as he rattled
+the contents.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;My manicure set, and you&#8217;ll have it all upset.
+Give it here!&#8221; went on the owner, and Walter
+surrendered it.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, but seriously, what&#8217;s it all about?&#8221; he
+asked. &#8220;I&#8217;ve just come home.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We girls have taken a bungalow at Crystal
+Bay,&#8221; explained Cora. &#8220;We&#8217;re due there to-morrow,
+leaving on the early morning train. The
+boys, that is, Jack and Walter, are to have a tent
+near us, and they&#8217;re supposed to go with us in the
+morning. But unless they&#8217;re further along with
+their packing than we are&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Cora shrugged her pretty shoulders.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, Sis, we are!&#8221; Jack threw at her,
+without turning his head.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Camping at Crystal Bay&mdash;that sounds good,&#8221;
+murmured Ed, who liked life in the open.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Can&#8217;t you come along, old man?&#8221; asked Walter.
+&#8220;We&#8217;ve got plenty of room, and we were
+counting on you later, when you got back from
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_10' name='page_10'></a>10</span>
+your trip. Now, as long as you&#8217;re here, can&#8217;t you
+come with us?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know but what I could. Yes, I will.
+I haven&#8217;t anything on. I&#8217;ll go home and pack up
+right away. You leave in the morning? I guess I
+can make it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, when you go, please take them with
+you,&#8221; and Cora indicated her brother and Walter.
+&#8220;Then we&#8217;ll be able to go on with our packing.
+Really, Jack,&#8221; and she spoke most seriously this
+time, &#8220;you must go!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All right, Sis!&#8221; he agreed. &#8220;Don&#8217;t forget,&#8221;
+he added, to Marita, as he rose.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What nonsense has he been telling you now?&#8221;
+asked Belle with a laugh. &#8220;Don&#8217;t believe him,
+Marita.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t tell!&#8221; cautioned Jack. &#8220;It&#8217;s a secret!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Somehow the boys were gotten out of the room,
+and somehow the girls managed to get through
+with their packing in time for the expressman.
+</p>
+<p>From the Kimball home driveway the expressman
+drove with the baggage, and soon the trunks
+were rattling down the main street of Chelton,
+that pretty New England town, nestling in a bend
+of the Chelton River.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, that&#8217;s over, thank goodness!&#8221; sighed
+Cora, as she saw the baggage safely off. &#8220;Now
+to get ourselves ready for morning. You girls
+will take supper with me.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, that&#8217;s too much,&#8221; protested Belle.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, really it isn&#8217;t. I&#8217;ve told mamma, and she
+is counting on you. But I&#8217;m too excited to eat
+much.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;So am I,&#8221; chorused the others.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And I&#8217;m so anxious to see our new motor
+boat!&#8221; added Bess, for the girls had purchased
+one that had been sent on ahead to Crystal Bay.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I do hope Ed can go,&#8221; murmured Belle.
+&#8220;He&#8217;s such good company.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I like him, too,&#8221; confessed Marita, with
+a blush, at which the others laughed.
+</p>
+<p>The boys came over to the Kimball home that
+evening, Jack having dined with Walter Pennington.
+Ed came also, to say that he could go, and
+then the young people talked over plans for Summer
+fun, until the chiming of the clock warned the
+girls, at least, that they must separate if they were
+to get up early the next morning.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Lottie Weaver will meet us at the station,&#8221;
+said Cora, referring to another of the party, who
+had not assisted at the packing.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s good. If we had had her trunk over
+here, with all our things, we&#8217;d never have gotten
+the baggage off,&#8221; said Bess, with a sigh.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And now, after it&#8217;s all over,&#8221; said Cora to
+her mother that night, &#8220;I think I would not again
+have all the packing done in one place. I thought
+it would save time for the girls to bring their
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span>
+things here, especially as the Robinsons are so
+upset with building that addition to the parlor.
+But it was a lot of work!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, well,&#8221; said Mrs. Kimball, &#8220;you meant it
+for the best, my dear. I&#8217;m sure you will have a
+pleasant Summer.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>They met at the station the next morning&mdash;the
+girls and boys. Lottie Weaver was there, in the
+glory of a new maroon sweater, and Ed Foster
+was also on time.
+</p>
+<p>The express for Crystal Bay was late, and as
+Cora and her motor girl chums marched up and
+down the platform, nervously waiting, Cora saw
+a girl coming from the waiting room.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, Freda Lewis!&#8221; she exclaimed, hurrying
+up and putting her arms about her. &#8220;What are
+you doing here? I thought you were going back
+to Bar Harbor for the Summer.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;So we were! Oh, Cora! I&#8217;m so glad to see
+you. I had to change cars here&mdash;I got on the
+wrong train, it seems. I&#8217;ve been traveling all
+night.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You look it, my dear! Oh, if I had only
+known you were here&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I haven&#8217;t been waiting long. I&#8217;m to take the
+Shore Express.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s our train. But, Freda, you don&#8217;t look
+at all well&mdash;not a bit as you did at school,&#8221; for
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span>
+Freda was a chum Cora had made much of a year
+or so before, but had not seen of late.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not well, Cora,&#8221; said Freda, earnestly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What is the trouble?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Anxiety, mostly. Oh, Cora, we&#8217;ve had such a
+dreadful time, mother and I!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Her voice trembled pitifully.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Freda, dear, what is the matter?&#8221; asked Cora
+in sympathetic tones, for she saw tears in the
+other&#8217;s eyes.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, it&#8217;s money matters. You know we own&mdash;or
+at least we thought we did&mdash;a large tract of
+land at Crystal Bay.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Crystal Bay!&#8221; exclaimed Cora, in surprise.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes. It was Grandfather Lewis&#8217;s homestead.
+Well, most of our income has come from that since
+father&#8217;s death, and now&mdash;Oh, I don&#8217;t know all the
+details, but some land speculators&mdash;land sharks,
+mother calls them&mdash;are disputing our title.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Mother has just worried herself sick over it,
+and I&#8217;m afraid she is going into nervous prostration.
+I&#8217;ve been to see some distant relatives about
+the matter, but I can&#8217;t do anything. I&#8217;m so sorry
+for dear little mother. If she should break
+down&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Poor, worried Freda could not go on. Cora
+held her close and the thought came to her that
+Freda herself was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span>
+The girl had changed very much from the
+happy, laughing chum of a year before.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Freda, dear, tell me more about it,&#8221; murmured
+Cora. &#8220;Perhaps I can help&mdash;I have friends&mdash;Jack
+and I&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Here comes the train!&#8221; interrupted Jack.
+&#8220;Come on, Cora!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I must see you again, Freda,&#8221; said Cora,
+hastily. &#8220;I&#8217;ll look for you on the train. I&#8217;ve
+got to get my party together. Don&#8217;t forget&mdash;I&#8217;ll
+see you again!&#8221; and, wondering what was the cause
+of her friend&#8217;s worry, Cora hastened up the platform,
+toward her companions, while the train
+steamed noisily in.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='II_FREDA_S_STORY' id='II_FREDA_S_STORY'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER II</h2>
+<h3>FREDA&#8217;S STORY</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, are we all here?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Count noses!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Did anybody lose anything?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If it&#8217;s a pocketbook it&#8217;s mine!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Especially if it has money in it!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Thus the motor girls, and their boy friends,
+sent merry quip and jest back and forth as they
+found seats in the coach, and settled down for the
+trip to Crystal Bay. Cora, after making sure that
+the girls had comfortable seats, and noting that
+Jack had pre-empted the place beside Marita,
+leaned over Bess and whispered:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going back in the next car for a little
+while.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What for?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Did you lose anything?&#8221; asked Belle, who
+overheard what Cora said.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, but you saw me talking to that girl on the
+platform; didn&#8217;t you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, and I wondered who she was,&#8221; remarked
+Bess.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;She was Freda Lewis.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Freda Lewis! Why, I never would have
+known her!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nor I!&#8221; added Belle. &#8220;How she has
+changed! Of course you were more intimate
+with her than we were, Cora; but she certainly
+doesn&#8217;t seem to be the same girl.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;She isn&#8217;t,&#8221; replied Cora. &#8220;She and her
+mother are in trouble&mdash;financial trouble. I&#8217;m
+going back and talk to her. I want to help her if
+I can.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>And while Cora is thus bent on her errand of
+good cheer, it may not be out of place, for the
+benefit of my new readers, to tell a little something
+more about the characters of this story, and
+how they figured in the preceding books of this
+series.
+</p>
+<p>To begin with the motor girls, there were three
+of them, though friends and guests added to the
+number at times. Somehow, in speaking of the
+motor girls, I always think of Cora Kimball first.
+Perhaps it is because she was rather of a commanding
+type. She was a splendid girl, tall and dark.
+Her mother was a wealthy widow, who for some
+years had made her home in the quiet New England
+town of Chelton, where she owned valuable
+property. And, while I am at it, I might mention
+that Jack was Cora&#8217;s only brother, the three forming
+the Kimball household.
+</p>
+<p>Bess and Belle Robinson were twins, the
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span>
+daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Perry Robinson. Mr.
+Robinson was a wealthy railroad man, associated
+with large metropolitan interests.
+</p>
+<p>Bess, Belle and Cora had been chums since their
+motoring days began, when Cora had been given
+a car, and, after some persuasion, Mr. Robinson
+also had bought one for his daughters.
+</p>
+<p>I think I have already intimated that Bess was
+plump and rosy&mdash;a little too plump, she herself admitted
+at times. Her sister was just the opposite&mdash;tall
+and willowy, so that the two formed quite
+a contrast.
+</p>
+<p>Marita Osborne was a newcomer in Chelton,
+who had soon won her way into the hearts of the
+motor girls, so much so that Cora had invited her
+to come to the bungalow at Crystal Bay.
+</p>
+<p>Each year Cora and her chums sought some
+new form of Summer vacation pleasure, and this
+time they had decided on the seashore, in a quiet
+rather old-fashioned resort, which the girls, on a
+preliminary inspection trip, had voted most charming.
+In fact they went into such raptures over it
+that Jack and his chums had decided to go there
+also. So the boys and girls would be together.
+</p>
+<p>Speaking of the boys, the two who will come in
+for the most consideration will be Walter Pennington
+and Ed Foster. Walter was perhaps a closer
+chum of Jack&#8217;s than was Ed, the former attending
+Exmouth College with Jack, where, of late, Ed
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span>
+had taken a post-graduate course. Ed was considered
+quite a sportsman, and was fond of hunting
+and fishing.
+</p>
+<p>The first book of this series, entitled &#8220;The
+Motor Girls,&#8221; tells how Cora became possessed of
+her car, the <i>Whirlwind</i>, and what happened after
+she got it. In that powerful machine she and her
+girls chums unraveled a mystery of the road in a
+manner satisfactory to themselves and many
+others.
+</p>
+<p>When the motor girls went on a tour, they made
+a strange promise&mdash;or rather Cora did&mdash;and
+how she kept it you will find fully set forth in the
+second volume. In the third you may read of the
+doings of the girls at Lookout Beach, where came
+two runaways whom Cora befriended. The runaways
+were two girls&mdash;but there, I must not spoil
+the story for you by telling you their secret.
+</p>
+<p>Going through New England in their cars, the
+motor girls had a strange experience with the gypsies,
+as set forth in the fourth volume. Cora was
+in dire straits for a time, but with her usual good
+luck, and her good sense, she finally turned the
+situation to the advantage of herself and her
+chums.
+</p>
+<p>Motoring so appealed to the girls that when
+they got the chance to change from the land to the
+water they eagerly took it. Cora became the owner
+of a fine motor boat, and in the story &#8220;The Motor
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span>
+Girls on Cedar Lake,&#8221; you may read of what she
+and her friends did with their craft. The hermit
+of Fern Island had much to be thankful for, after
+meeting Cora, who did him a great service.
+</p>
+<p>Longing for wider waters in which to display
+their skill as amateur motor-boatists, the girls
+went to the coast the Summer following their experiences
+on Cedar Lake, and there they found
+the waif from the sea. Again did Cora and her
+chums take advantage of an opportunity to befriend
+an unfortunate.
+</p>
+<p>The experiences of that Summer were talked of
+nearly all of the following Winter. Now warm
+weather had come again, and with it the desire to
+be flitting to a watering place. Crystal Bay, as I
+have said, was selected, and of the start for that
+place I have already told.
+</p>
+<p>Cora, walking back through the coaches, looking
+from side to side for Freda, found herself
+wondering what had caused the sudden change
+in her former companion.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;She was considered well-off at school,&#8221; murmured
+Cora, as she saw her friend half way down
+the second coach, &#8220;but she never appeared fond
+of money. Now the loss of it seems to have
+changed her terribly. I wonder if it can be&mdash;just
+money?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Cora reached the seat where Freda was, with
+her face turned toward the window.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, I am here, you see,&#8221; announced Cora,
+pleasantly. &#8220;I left them to shift for themselves a
+while. They do seem to depend so much on me.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s because you are always doing things
+for others,&#8221; said Freda, and there was a suspicious
+brightness in her eyes.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then I hope I can do something for you!&#8221;
+exclaimed Cora, earnestly. &#8220;Come, Freda, dear,
+tell me your troubles&mdash;that is, if you would like
+to,&#8221; she added quickly, not wishing to force a confidence
+for which the other might not be ready.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Cora, dear, of course you know I want
+to&mdash;it isn&#8217;t that! Only I don&#8217;t like to pile my
+worries on you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Go on&mdash;it always helps to tell someone else.
+Who knows but what I may help you. Is it a real
+worry, Freda?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;So real that sometimes I am afraid to think
+about it!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>There was no mistaking the girl&#8217;s fear. She
+looked over her shoulder as though she expected
+to see some unpleasant object, or person.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Suppose you begin at the beginning,&#8221; suggested
+Cora, with a smile. &#8220;Then I&#8217;ll know what
+we are talking of.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what the beginning was,&#8221; said
+Freda slowly, &#8220;but I can almost see the&mdash;ending,&#8221;
+and she seemed to shiver. &#8220;But where are you
+going, Cora, you and your friends?&#8221; she asked.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span>
+&#8220;I must not be selfish and talk only about myself.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We are going to Crystal Bay.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Crystal Bay! How odd, just where mother
+is, and where I am going. Then I shall see you
+often.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I hope so,&#8221; murmured Cora. &#8220;We have a
+cute little bungalow, and the boys&mdash;my brother
+and his chums&mdash;will use a tent. But I want to
+hear more about your trouble. Really, Freda, you
+do look quite ill.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Perhaps that is partly because I have been
+traveling all night. It is always so wearying. But
+my chief cause of anxiety is for mother. She is
+really on the verge of a breakdown, the doctor
+says. Oh, if anything happens to her&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t think of it,&#8221; urged Cora. &#8220;Perhaps it
+will help you if you tell me some particulars.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I will,&#8221; said Freda, bravely. &#8220;It is this way.
+My grandfather was a pioneer land-owner of a
+large tract at Crystal Bay. It came to us, after
+papa died, and we lived well on the income from
+it, for there was much farm land besides the big
+house we lived in. But a month or so ago a big
+land company, that wants to get our property for
+a factory site, filed a claim against us, saying we
+had no good title to the estate. They said certain
+deeds had not been filed, and that we were only
+trespassers, and must get off.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;And did you go?&#8221; asked Cora, with deep interest.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not yet, but I am afraid we&#8217;ll have to. You
+see these men took the matter to court. They got
+an injunction, I think it is called. Anyhow, it was
+some document that forbade the people who rent
+the land from us from paying us any more money
+until the case was settled. And, as we depend on
+the rents for our living&mdash;well, you see we haven&#8217;t
+any living now, to speak of,&#8221; and Freda tried to
+smile through her tears.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, that&#8217;s a shame!&#8221; cried Cora, impulsively.
+&#8220;And can nothing be done?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We have tried, mother and I. But we really
+have no money to hire lawyers, and neither have
+any of what few friends and relations there are
+left. I have just been on a quest of that kind, but
+it was not successful.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There are supposed to be some documents&mdash;deeds,
+mortgages, or something like that, in existence,
+and if we could only get hold of them we
+might prove our claim, and force the men to let
+us have our rent money again. But until we get
+those papers&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Freda paused suggestively.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I wish I could think of a way to help
+you!&#8221; murmured Cora. &#8220;I can see you have been
+suffering!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t mind so much about myself,&#8221; said
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span>
+Freda, bravely, &#8220;but I am really more worried
+about mother than I am about the property. If
+worst came to worst I could go to work, but
+mother has taken so to heart the actions of the
+land sharks! She never was strong, you know.
+You met her; did you not?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I think not, but perhaps I may have done so.
+Now, Freda, I am going to help you!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Cora spoke enthusiastically.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Are you? How?&#8221; asked the other, eagerly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t just know how, but I am. First I&#8217;m
+going to think this over, and then I&#8217;m going to talk
+about it with Jack. He has a friend&mdash;Ed Foster&mdash;who
+knows something about law. We may be
+able to get ahead of these land sharks yet.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I hope so!&#8221; gasped Freda, with a fond
+look at Cora. &#8220;It is so good of you to bother
+with poor me.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And why shouldn&#8217;t I?&#8221; asked Cora. &#8220;You
+look as though you needed bothering with. Take
+care that you don&#8217;t break down, too, Freda.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I shall keep up. I must, for mother&#8217;s sake.
+Oh, but those men were positively brutal when
+they told her she had no right to grandfather&#8217;s
+property! But it has done me good to talk to
+you, Cora dear.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I am glad of it. You look better already.
+Now wouldn&#8217;t you like to come forward and meet
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span>
+some of the girls? You know the Robinson twins,
+anyhow.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I know them. But I don&#8217;t want to see
+anyone just yet. Later on, perhaps. I just want
+to rest, and think. It was awfully good of you to
+come to me. We shall see each other at Crystal
+Bay.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, indeed we shall. Well, then, if you won&#8217;t
+come I&#8217;ll go back to my friends. Now don&#8217;t forget&mdash;I&#8217;m
+going to help you, Freda!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, that&#8217;s so good of you! I feel more hope
+and courage now. I&mdash;I feel like&mdash;fighting those
+land sharks!&#8221; and Freda clenched her little hands
+as though the struggle to come would be a physical
+one.
+</p>
+<p>With a reassuring pat on Freda&#8217;s shoulder
+Cora left her friend, to go to her chums in the
+other coach. She found them about to organize
+a searching party to look for her, and they clamored
+for the reason for her desertion.
+</p>
+<p>She told them something of Freda&#8217;s story, and
+Ed Foster promised to talk the matter over with
+Mrs. Lewis later, and see if he could give any legal
+aid.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s too bad!&#8221; exclaimed Bess. &#8220;There ought
+to be a law to punish such men.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There probably are laws,&#8221; said Cora, &#8220;but
+the trouble is there are so many laws that bad men
+can often use them for their own ends.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Bravo, Portia. A Daniel come to judgment!&#8221;
+cried Ed. &#8220;With you on her side, Freda is sure
+to win!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But, though the motor girls tried to be merry,
+the little cloud of Freda&#8217;s trouble overshadowed
+them all the way to Crystal Bay.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='III_CRYSTAL_BAY' id='III_CRYSTAL_BAY'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER III</h2>
+<h3>CRYSTAL BAY</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;Here we are!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Where&#8217;s the bungalow?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Me for that motor boat of Cora&#8217;s!&#8221; cried
+Jack.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, you don&#8217;t!&#8221; exclaimed his sister. &#8220;Not
+till I try her first.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>They had alighted at the station, and there was
+the confusion that always follows engaging a carriage
+and seeing that the baggage has safely
+arrived. Cora found time to slip off for a minute
+and whisper words of cheer to Freda. Then she
+rejoined her chums, and made ready for the trip
+to the bungalow.
+</p>
+<p>The boys, with a fine disregard of housekeeping
+responsibilities, were already making plans to go
+fishing that afternoon, having spied a man who
+took out parties in his launch.
+</p>
+<p>But finally order came out of chaos. The girls
+found themselves at their bungalow, surrounded
+by their belongings. The boys, after seeing that
+their possessions were piled in the tent, slipped on
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span>
+their oldest garments and began overhauling their
+fishing tackle.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Aren&#8217;t you going to do anything toward getting
+a meal?&#8221; asked Cora of Jack, as she went
+over to the tent to borrow a corkscrew with which
+to open some olives.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We thought maybe you&#8217;d ask us over,&#8221; he
+answered, craftily, as he adjusted a reel on his
+rod.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Jack!&#8221; she cried. &#8220;We can&#8217;t! We&#8217;ve
+got so much to unpack. Besides, we&#8217;re only going
+to have a light lunch now.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;A <i>light</i> lunch! Excuse me. I know&mdash;crackers,
+pickles and olives. Never! We&#8217;ll go to the town
+delicatessen, sister mine!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Thank goodness there is one,&#8221; murmured
+Cora.
+</p>
+<p>She hastened back to the bungalow. And then
+began a series of strenuous happenings.
+</p>
+<p>Somehow trunks and suitcases were unpacked;
+somehow rooms were picked out, rejected, taken
+again, and finally settled on. Then, between the
+nibblings at the crackers and pickles Jack had despised,
+the girls settled down, and at last had
+time to admire the place they had selected for their
+Summer stay.
+</p>
+<p>A woman had been engaged to open the bungalow
+for them, and she had provided most of the
+necessaries of life, aside from those the girls
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span>
+brought with them. Cora and her chums had been
+satisfied to have her attend to everything from
+buying food to providing an oil stove on which
+to cook it.
+</p>
+<p>There were a number of conveniences at Crystal
+Bay. Stores were not out of reach, and supplies
+could be procured with little trouble. A trip
+across the bay brought one to the shores of a real
+village, with school house, post-office and other
+accessories of civilization. A trip down the bay
+opened into eel pots in August, bluefishing in
+September and deep sea fishing later on, when the
+Summer colonists had departed.
+</p>
+<p>Very early in the morning after the arrival of
+the motor girls at Crystal Bay, house, tent and
+bungalow were deserted&mdash;it was all a matter of
+motor boat. Moored to the brand new dock, at
+Tangle Turn, a brand new motor craft heaved
+with the incoming waves and tugged at its ropes
+whenever a sufficiently strong motion of the water
+gave it excuse to attempt an escape.
+</p>
+<p>This was the <i>Chelton</i>, the &#8220;up-to-datest&#8221; little-big
+motor boat possible to own or acquire, according
+to the verdict of the young men from Chelton
+who had just now passed judgment, and the wise
+decision of Cora and her girl friends who had
+actually bought the boat, after having taken a
+post-graduate course in catalogs and hardware
+periodicals, to say nothing of the countless interviews
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span>
+they had found it necessary to hold with
+salesmen and yacht agents.
+</p>
+<p>They were all there, even Freda, who declared
+she ought to be busy with other matters, but that
+the call of the colony was too strong for her that
+one morning, at least.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course we know how to run her,&#8221; insisted
+Cora to Ed, the latter having expressed doubt as
+to the girls&#8217; ability to manage so important a craft.
+&#8220;Didn&#8217;t we run the <i>Pet</i>?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, yes, but this&mdash;this is a deep-sea boat,&#8221; Ed
+explained, &#8220;and you might run yourselves away to
+other shores.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And land on a desert island? What sport!&#8221;
+exclaimed Lottie, to whom motor boating was an
+entirely new experience. &#8220;I hope we make it
+Holland. I have always longed to see a real, live
+Holland boy. The kind who are all clothes and
+wooden shoes.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We might make one up for you,&#8221; suggested
+Belle. &#8220;I think Wallie would look too cute for
+anything in skirty trousers and polonaise shirts.
+Just let his locks grow a little&mdash;Look out there,
+Bess! That&#8217;s water around the boat. It only
+looks like an oil painting. It&#8217;s real&mdash;wet!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Bess was climbing over the dock edge, and of
+course the boys could not allow her that much
+exercise without pretending that she was in danger
+of going overboard. After Belle unhooked
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span>
+the hem of her sister&#8217;s skirt from an iron bolt,
+thereby giving Bess a sudden drop to the deck of
+the <i>Chelton</i>, however, Bess declared she knew
+water when she saw it, and also the difference between
+a water color and an oil painting.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What did you call her <i>Chelton</i> for?&#8221; asked
+Walter. &#8220;I thought you decided to take the
+name from the first remark the first stranger
+should make about her.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, and what do you think that was?&#8221;
+laughed Belle.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Push&#8217;!&#8221; promptly answered Freda. &#8220;An old
+fisherman came along as Jack was arranging the
+painter, and he just said &#8216;push&#8217;!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That would be a handy little name,&#8221; commented
+Walter.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Next some boys, out clamming, saw her,&#8221;
+said Jack, &#8220;and they said &#8216;peach.&#8217;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Either of which would have done nicely,&#8221; declared
+Ed. &#8220;Peach would have been the very
+name&mdash;after the girls&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;<i>Chelton</i> is dignified and appropriate,&#8221; interposed
+Cora; &#8220;besides, if we should stray off to
+Holland they would know along the Dikes that
+we belonged in Chelton.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now don&#8217;t forget that the wheel is a sea
+wheel and turns opposite to the direction you want
+to go,&#8221; cautioned Jack.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;How is that?&#8221; inquired Lottie, who had
+joined the other in examining the boat.
+</p>
+<p>She was shown with patience. The boys were
+plainly glad that one of the girls, at least, did not
+know all about running a motor boat.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And oh, what is that?&#8221; gasped Marita.
+&#8220;That cunning little playhouse!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Playhouse!&#8221; repeated Cora. &#8220;That&#8217;s our
+living room&mdash;our cabin. Those fixtures are to
+cook with, eat with, live with and do all our housekeeping
+with.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Also die with,&#8221; added Walter. &#8220;I think that
+electric toaster might be all right for fudge, but
+for real bread&mdash;Now say, Cora, can you really
+cook pork and beans on that?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;These are the very latest, most improved and
+most expensive electric attachments on the market,&#8221;
+answered Cora, with a show of dignity, &#8220;and
+when you boys take a meal here, if we ever invite
+you to, I think we can easily prove the advantage
+of electrical attachments over campfire iron pots.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The cooking apparatus was examined with interest.
+A motor boat cabin fitted up with such a
+&#8220;kitchenette&#8221; was indeed a novelty.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You see,&#8221; explained Cora, &#8220;we have two ways
+of getting power. We can take it from the storage
+battery, or from the little dynamo attached to
+the motor.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Lovely!&#8221; exclaimed Lottie, to whom a &#8220;current&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span>
+meant little, but who wanted to seem interested.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That is to provide for the various kinds of
+cooking,&#8221; Jack said, jokingly. &#8220;Now eggs are
+weak, they cook by storage; but a Welsh rabbit is
+done by the dynamo.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It means something else,&#8221; Captain Cora remarked,
+&#8220;namely, if we have company for supper,
+and the storage current gives out, we will not have
+to make it a progressive meal, extending into the
+next day. The course can be continued from the
+extra current.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;For the love of Malachi!&#8221; exclaimed Walter.
+&#8220;What&#8217;s this?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Our boiler,&#8221; said Bess, who knew something
+about the boat&#8217;s fitting up. &#8220;We have that for
+dishwater.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Dishwater!&#8221; repeated Ed. &#8220;You&#8217;ve got this
+down to domestic science all right. That rubber
+hose runs off the hot water from the cylinder jacket,
+and&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, never!&#8221; cried Jack. &#8220;They will be making
+tea with it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t it salty?&#8221; innocently asked Marita.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Likely,&#8221; said Belle, for the girls had all taken
+an interest in the housework-made-easy-plan, and
+had arranged to use the boiling water as it came
+from the motor after cooling the cylinder. &#8220;But
+it won&#8217;t hurt dishes.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Now I call that neat,&#8221; commented Ed, &#8220;and
+to think that mere girls should have thought of it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Freda gave Cora a meaning glance. &#8220;Girls
+ought to think of the housework,&#8221; she laughed
+with a wink at Belle. &#8220;Just look at the linen
+chest.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>She opened a small box and exhibited a goodly
+supply of suitable linen. No table cloths; just
+small pieces, doilies and plenty of neat, pretty
+towels.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s board here,&#8221; suggested Walter. &#8220;Our
+food was really rude this morning.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do we go out for a sail?&#8221; asked Ed, attempting
+to turn on the gasoline.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, no indeed!&#8221; Cora answered quickly.
+&#8220;Not a box is unpacked in our place yet, and perhaps,
+if you boys are all to rights, you wouldn&#8217;t
+mind giving us a hand.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, of course we&#8217;re all to rights,&#8221; replied
+Jack. &#8220;I had a bolt of mosquito netting for my
+blanket last night and Wallie&#8217;s bathrobe for my
+pillow.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And I made friends with a pretty, little, soft
+ground mole, Jack,&#8221; put in Ed, &#8220;and if the rest
+of our boxes do not arrive and unpack themselves
+in time for your slumber this eve, that mole has
+agreed to cuddle up under your left ear. I believe
+you sleep on your left.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; Jack said, &#8220;but I see no reason why
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span>
+mere household truck should keep us from a cruise.
+I am aching to try the <i>Chelton</i>, Cora.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Cora and Freda were talking in whispers in the
+other end of the boat. It was no &#8220;mere household
+truck&#8221; surely that brought the serious expression
+to their faces.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It isn&#8217;t far,&#8221; Freda was heard to say, &#8220;and
+he promised to wait for us this morning.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And I do want to be with you,&#8221; Cora answered.
+&#8220;But I won&#8217;t let them take the boat out the first
+time without me. It cost too much to run the risk
+of damaging it by sky-larking.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now what are you two up to?&#8221; demanded
+Jack. &#8220;Just because Drayton Ward has not arrived,
+we are held up for his coming. I tell you,
+Sis, that chap may not put in an appearance at all,
+here. He knows&mdash;sweller places.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, don&#8217;t you mind him, Cora,&#8221; Ed interrupted.
+&#8220;Dray is sure to come. He had his canoe
+shipped two days ago, besides sending to the cove
+for his motor boat. I expect some tall times when
+he gets here. Our own innocent little <i>Lassie</i> won&#8217;t
+know how to skip over the waves at all&mdash;she&#8217;ll be
+that flustered when the swell, gold-railed, mahogany-bound,
+carpet-floored <i>Dixie</i> gets here.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It would take more than a mere <i>Dixie</i> to
+knock out our <i>Lassie</i>,&#8221; declared Walter, &#8220;but I
+should like to know why she is not on the scene
+yet. Didn&#8217;t we plainly say Tuesday?&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;We did, plainly and emphatically. But a
+boat builder, letter or seller has a right to make
+his own day in delivering the goods. We&#8217;ll be
+lucky if we get the barge at all without taking the
+sheriff up to that shipyard.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Meanwhile we have the <i>Chelton</i>,&#8221; said Ed,
+tugging at Cora&#8217;s sleeve.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And we must get back to the bungalow,&#8221; she
+observed. &#8220;Freda and I have an important appointment
+for eleven, and if you all promise not
+to follow us or attempt to go out in the <i>Chelton</i>,
+perhaps we will have some interesting news for
+you this evening.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The boys strolled away, talking about the motor
+boat they had hired. Money, for some reason,
+was not plentiful that Summer with Jack and his
+chums, and they had to be content with a second-hand
+craft, that had been patched and re-patched
+until there was little of the original left. They
+were not even sure the <i>Lassie</i> would run, but they
+were anxious to try her.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='IV_THE_RED_OAR' id='IV_THE_RED_OAR'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2>
+<h3>THE RED OAR</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;This way, Cora. The sand is so heavy out
+there it is better to keep near the edge,&#8221; said
+Freda, as the two girls tramped along in the deep
+sand of the seashore that banded Crystal Bay.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But isn&#8217;t it perfectly beautiful along here?&#8221;
+exclaimed Cora, in rapt delight. &#8220;I had no idea
+the little place could be so charming.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, yes,&#8221; returned Freda, with a suspicion of
+a sigh. &#8220;Over there, just in that splendid green
+stretch is, or was, grandfather&#8217;s place. It runs
+all along to the island, and on the other side there
+is a stream that has been used for a mill race.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Over there!&#8221; Cora repeated. &#8220;Why, that
+looks like the very best part of the bay. And
+that house on the hill?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Grandfather&#8217;s own home and&mdash;mother&#8217;s,&#8221;
+finished Freda.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Is it rented now?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, we have rented it for three years, and it
+has brought us quite a little income,&#8221; said Freda.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;But you see that is cut off now. I am sure I do
+not know who collects the rents.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What a shame!&#8221; cried Cora. &#8220;And all because
+there is some technical proof of ownership
+missing. I should think that when your family
+had undisputed possession for years it ought to be
+sufficient to establish your rights.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, we never dreamed we could lose it,&#8221;
+Freda explained. &#8220;Mother and I have lived
+there in the Winter since father died, and we have
+rented it in Summer, as I said. Of course the
+Summer is the desirable time here. And we had
+some of the loveliest old furniture. But when we
+had to break up we sold most of it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Look out! There&#8217;s a hole there,&#8221; Cora
+warned just in time, for in the heavy sand little
+rivulets were creeping from some rollers tossed in
+by a passing boat. The bay was dotted with many
+craft, and the picture it presented gave Cora keen
+delight, for it forecasted a merry Summer for the
+motor girls.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We only have a little farther to go,&#8221; Freda
+said. &#8220;I hope old Denny has kept his word and
+stayed in. He is the queerest old fellow&mdash;you will
+be amused at him, I am sure. But he was always
+such a staunch friend of grandfather.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I am anxious to meet him,&#8221; rejoined Cora.
+&#8220;Somehow I feel we girls ought to get at the bottom
+of this. Wouldn&#8217;t it be fine if we could?&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;More than fine, it would be glorious!&#8221; Freda
+replied. &#8220;If we lose it all now, I will have to look
+for work. Not that I mind that,&#8221; she added, &#8220;but
+I intend to take a course in nursing. I have always
+longed to be a nurse.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And that would be a splendid profession for
+you,&#8221; Cora agreed. &#8220;I do hope you will not have
+to go to work in some office.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, there&#8217;s Denny! Denny!&#8221; called Freda,
+leaving Cora without further ceremony, and hurrying
+ahead as fast as the soft sand would allow.
+&#8220;See, there he is! Just going out in his fishing
+boat.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Cora ran after her, and soon they overtook the
+old fisherman, who was deaf. Freda didn&#8217;t mind
+getting her shoes wet in order to approach the
+water&#8217;s edge.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Good morning, Denny,&#8221; she called, &#8220;come in
+here. We want to talk to you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>He took his pipe from his mouth, in order that
+his mind should not be distracted. Then he pushed
+his cap back, and dropped an oar.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Freddie, is that you?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;Sure I
+thought you was comin&#8217; up to the shack, and I&#8217;ve
+bin waitin&#8217; for you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We are on our way up there now. You are
+not going out, are you?&#8221; pleaded Freda.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, Freddie,&#8221; (he always called her Freddie),
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span>
+&#8220;I&#8217;ll come right in. I was only goin&#8217; acrost to
+get a few little things; but they can wait.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Cora now had a chance to see this quaint old
+fellow. He was Irish, with many fine humorous
+wrinkles about his eyes and mouth. He seemed to
+breathe through his pipe, so constantly did he inhale
+it, and just how he kept his sailor&#8217;s blouse so
+clean, and his worn clothes so neat, was a trick he
+had learned in his younger days in the navy.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t this a fine day?&#8221; he commented, with a
+nod to Cora.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Simply perfect,&#8221; she answered, seeing there
+was no need for a formal introduction. &#8220;I have
+been telling Freda how surprised I was at the
+beauty of this place.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Surprised, is it? Sure, there ain&#8217;t another spot
+this side of Cape Cod with as many fine points to
+it. I wouldn&#8217;t leave this little bay for a berth on
+any ocean liner.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;My friend, Cora Kimball, is from Chelton,
+Uncle Denny. Do you know where that is?&#8221;
+asked Freda.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Chelton? Chelton? Sure, I do. I went
+through there once in a parade wagon. We were
+out with the G. A. R. and I guess the parade got
+lost, for I remember at Chelton we had to put up
+for the night in an old church they were using for
+a fire house. But we had a fine time,&#8221; and he
+chuckled at the recollection. &#8220;And next day we
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span>
+finished up without the need of a wagon. It was
+like camp days to scatter ourselves about the big
+ramshackle place.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, yes, that&#8217;s out in the East End,&#8221; Cora
+said. &#8220;We have quite an up-to-date fire house in
+Chelton Center.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, that was good enough for me,&#8221; he asserted.
+&#8220;But come along and I&#8217;ll show you my
+shack. Freddie will be surprised at my new decorations.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Up the little board walk to a path through the
+woods the three tramped. Denny Shane was popular
+with young folks; even the mischievous boys
+who would occasionally untie his boat before a
+storm had no reason to fear his wrath, for such
+pranks were quickly forgotten.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And the mother, Freddie?&#8221; he asked.
+&#8220;How&#8217;s she gettin&#8217; on?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, she worries a good deal,&#8221; the girl replied.
+&#8220;But I keep telling her it must come right
+in time.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Sure it will. The rascals that would do wrong
+to a widder couldn&#8217;t prosper. &#8217;Taint lucky. But
+they&#8217;re foxy. Did you hear anything new?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, but not much that is substantial. My
+friend and I want to see you to find out all that
+you may know about it. Perhaps there is some
+clue we have been overlooking, that you could give
+us.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, you&#8217;re welcome to all I know. But here
+we are. No need to unlock my door,&#8221; he said as
+he saw Cora smile at his unceremonious entrance
+to the shack. &#8220;Them that has nothin&#8217; has nothin&#8217;
+to fear.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>A surprising little place, indeed, the girls were
+shown into. Neat and orderly, yet convenient and
+practical, was Denny Shane&#8217;s home. There was a
+stove and a mantel, a table, two chairs and a long
+bench. Pieces of rag carpet indicated the most
+favored spots&mdash;those to be lived on.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And now, Freddie,&#8221; began Denny, drawing
+out two chairs, &#8220;what do you think of my housekeeping?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, you are just as comfortable and neat as
+possible,&#8221; she replied. &#8220;But I notice one thing
+has not lost its place&mdash;your red oar.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No&mdash;indeed!&#8221; he said almost solemnly.
+&#8220;That oar will stay with me while Denny Shane
+has eyes to see it. It has a story, Freddie, and I
+often promised to tell it to you. This is as good
+a time as another.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>He put his pipe down, brought a big chair up to
+the window, opened a back door to allow the salt
+air to sweep in; then, while Cora looked with
+quickening interest at the old red oar, that hung
+over the fireplace, Denny shook his head reflectively
+and started with his story.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That oar,&#8221; he said, &#8220;seems like a link between
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span>
+me and Leonard Lewis&mdash;your grandpa, Freddie.
+And, too, it is a reminder of the night when I
+nearly went over the other sea, and would have,
+but for Leonard Lewis and his strong red oar.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>A light flashed into the old eyes. Plainly the
+recollections brought up by his story were sacred.
+He left his chair and went over to the mantel,
+climbed up on a box and touched the oar that had
+sagged a little from its position.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The wind rocks this shanty so,&#8221; he explained,
+&#8220;the oar thinks it&#8217;s out on the waves again, I
+guess. I don&#8217;t like to spoil it with nails or strings.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It looks very artistic,&#8221; Cora declared; &#8220;but
+how curious that an oar should be painted red.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, there was only one pair of them, that I
+know of. One went with the wreck, and this one
+Len Lewis held on to. Now I&#8217;ll tell you about it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Again he seated himself and this time started
+off briskly with the tale.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It was a raw January night&mdash;in fact, it seemed
+as if it had been night all day for all the chance the
+sun had to get out. A howling wind whistled and
+fairly shrieked at everything that didn&#8217;t fly fast
+enough to suit it. Len and me had been puttin&#8217;
+in a lot of time together at his house, just chinnin&#8217;&mdash;there
+wasn&#8217;t much else to do but to keep warm.
+Well, along about five o&#8217;clock, we heard a rocket!
+The wind died away for a minute or so, and we
+dashed out to the beach to get the lay of that distress
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span>
+signal. Talk about big city fires!&#8221; he
+digressed. &#8220;A fire on land ain&#8217;t what it is on sea.
+It always seems like as if death has a double
+power with the fire and the deep and nothing but
+the sky above to fan the flame.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We soon saw the smoke. It was from a point
+just over the turn, where the clouds dip down and
+touch the waves. A little tail of smoke crawled up
+and hung black and dirty, not gettin&#8217; any bigger
+nor spreadin&#8217; much. When we sighted her, we
+went to work in the way men of the sea have of
+working together and never sayin&#8217; a word. Up
+the beach we chased, and dragged out the boat we
+called our &#8216;Lifer.&#8217; It was a good, strong fishin&#8217;
+boat, and we kept her ready in the rough weather.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Wait!&#8217; yelled Len to me, just as I was pushin&#8217;
+off. &#8216;I&#8217;ve got a lucky pair of oars. They&#8217;re
+bigger and heavier than ours, and I&#8217;ll toss &#8217;em in.
+We might need &#8217;em.&#8217;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Little I thought of the need we would have!
+And I always laughed at Len&#8217;s idea of luck&mdash;and
+me an Irishman, too.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Mother always said grandfather was queer
+about such things,&#8221; Freda remarked. &#8220;I remember
+we had an old jug that he found on one of his
+birthdays. He would never allow that jug to be
+thrown out; he said it meant a jug full of good
+luck.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And it, of course, was an empty jug,&#8221; Cora
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span>
+said, with a smile. &#8220;Perhaps that is, after all,
+the luckiest kind.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Denny chuckled over that remark, and added
+he had not much use for jugs of any kind.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But I&#8217;m gettin&#8217; away from my yarn,&#8221; he said,
+presently. &#8220;We took the big thick oars and
+pulled out against the wind. By this time the hail
+was comin&#8217; down in chunks that would cut the face
+off you. Sometimes there are a lot of stragglers
+around here, but when we need a man, of course,
+there is not one in sight. But we rowed away and
+somehow managed to get close to the wreck. It
+was a little steamer, not much bigger than a tug,
+and it was burning faster than the smoke told us.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;You throw the rope and I&#8217;ll stick to the
+oars!&#8217; shouted Len, his voice sounding like a
+wheeze in the wind. There were three men on
+the steamer and they were just about tuckered out.
+They were clingin&#8217; to the rail, their hands blisterin&#8217;
+from the flames that were sweepin&#8217; up close to
+them even as they touched the water&#8217;s edge.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s an awful thing to see sufferin&#8217; like that,&#8221;
+he put in. &#8220;I won&#8217;t ever forget how those fellows
+tumbled into our boat. They just rolled in like
+dead men. But my rope got caught in the rudder
+of the steamer, and I tugged and tugged, but it
+looked as if we would have to let her burn off
+before we could free ourselves. Just when I decided
+to make a big haul at it I came near my end.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span>
+I stood up, gave the rope a yank, and with that&mdash;rip!
+She let go! And I went with it over into
+the water!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Goodness!&#8221; Cora exclaimed. &#8220;It was bad
+enough to have to rescue the other men, but for
+you to go into that roaring ocean!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It was bad, Miss,&#8221; agreed the narrator. &#8220;And
+the feel of that water as I struck it! It was like
+a bath of sword-points. Well, that&#8217;s where the
+oar comes in! Bless the bit of wood it was cut
+from, it sure was a good, strong stick.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;When I flopped into the water, like a fish
+dumped out of a net, your grandpop, Freddie,
+took nary a chance at reachin&#8217; me with the rope.
+He dropped the regular oars and took one of the
+pair he called lucky.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Here,&#8217; he yelled, &#8216;grab to that!&#8217;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I can see the red flash now as it nearly hit
+me on the head, but though I did make a stab at
+it the water was that cold and the ice so thick on
+me hands that I couldn&#8217;t hold on.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s pretty bad to be floppin&#8217; around like that,
+I can tell you. But Len kept shoutin&#8217; and when
+one of the other fellows got enough breath to
+stand up with, he took a hand at the rescuin&#8217;.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It was him who dropped the mate to that oar
+overboard. Mad! I could hear Len yell through
+the thick of it all. But he held the last red oar.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;With the effort to keep up me blood heated
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span>
+some, and the next time I saw the flash of red I
+grabbed it good an&#8217; proper. It took three of
+them to haul me up, but I clung to the red oar and
+that&#8217;s how I&#8217;m here this minute. Likewise, it&#8217;s
+why the oar is here with me.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>There was a long pause. The girls had been
+thrilled with the simple recital, so void of anything
+like conceit in the part that Denny himself had
+played in the work of rescue.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='V_TWO_MEN' id='V_TWO_MEN'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER V</h2>
+<h3>TWO MEN</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;And the red oar won out,&#8221; Cora remarked,
+looking at the old relic with something akin to
+reverence. &#8220;Perhaps, after all, there is something
+in luck.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Looked like it,&#8221; agreed Denny. &#8220;And after
+we got back Len couldn&#8217;t pay any attention to
+the half-frozen men, or to me, that had been
+pretty well chilled&mdash;all he could do was talk about
+the luck of that oar.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t blame him,&#8221; Freda put in. &#8220;Your
+rope had nearly burned, your light oar broke, one
+of the heavy pair went overboard and this one did
+most of the work getting back, I suppose.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Right,&#8221; said Denny, &#8220;for while we had
+another pair to work with, they were slim, and
+weak, but that fellow, it sure was tough then; but
+lately when I take it down it seems to have shrunk,
+for it&#8217;s gettin&#8217; lighter, somehow.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And how did you come to get it?&#8221; asked Cora.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s the end of my story,&#8221; said Denny.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span>
+&#8220;When Len was taken very sick, of course I used
+to stay with me friend as much as I could.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Freda unconsciously pushed her chair nearer
+the old man. Surely to hear of the last days of
+her good grandfather&#8217;s life was a matter too important
+to pass over lightly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Your father was livin&#8217; then, Freddie,&#8221; Denny
+went on, &#8220;and a fine healthy young man, too.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Father died so suddenly,&#8221; said Freda,
+&#8220;mother hardly ever speaks of his death. She
+always seems overcome after talking of it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That was a sad thing,&#8221; Denny digressed.
+&#8220;To go off in the morning, a-whistlin&#8217; and happy,
+and to be brought home without a word in him.
+Freddie, dear, I oughtn&#8217;t to talk of it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Freda brushed aside a tear. Her father&#8217;s
+death had been caused by apoplexy, when she was
+but a mite of a child.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But the queer part of it was that your grandfather
+seemed to think I would outlive his son,
+and John such a strappin&#8217;-lookin&#8217; fellow,&#8221; resumed
+Denny. &#8220;Len called me to him, and him sick and
+miserable, and he says: &#8216;Denny, John&#8217;s not as
+strong as he looks, and I want you to do all you
+can to help Louisa,&#8217; (your mother of course,
+Freddie), &#8216;for she has the child to raise,&#8217; he said.
+Well, he wouldn&#8217;t let me interrupt him when I
+tried to speak of John. He would have it that I
+should keep an eye to things. Your grandfather
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span>
+Lewis left me no papers, however&mdash;I supposed
+John had them&mdash;but he left me the old red oar.
+He had fairly been playin&#8217; with it for years, always
+polishin&#8217; it or shapin&#8217; it off here or there. I often
+look at the marks of his knife on it, and wonder
+why he seemed fond of it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I am sure,&#8221; said Freda, earnestly, &#8220;you have
+kept your promise, Uncle Denny. Mother often
+speaks of how good you were when I was small.
+Father never had any papers about grandfather&#8217;s
+land; all he had related to family keepsakes. The
+strange part of it all is to me that a man of
+grandfather&#8217;s intelligence should be so remiss
+about his property claims.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But, Freddie, you don&#8217;t understand. There
+seemed no need for deeds and mortgage papers
+then about here. Everybody knew everyone else,
+and things seemed to be solid forever. But now
+them plagued land fellows&mdash;well, they&#8217;ve got a
+good cheek, is all I can say.&#8221; And he emptied
+an unsmoked pipe of tobacco in his indignation.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But we are going to get after them,&#8221; Cora
+declared. &#8220;We want to go slowly, and, if possible,
+find out what their intentions are. Find
+what sort of company they claim to have, in the
+first place, and if they are an honorable set of men
+they ought to make open claims, instead of sneaking
+around, and trying to find out things that
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span>
+might cause a flaw in the title. I am suspicious,
+for one,&#8221; she finished significantly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, good luck to your spunk,&#8221; said Denny,
+&#8220;and I never knew the like of it to fail. But say,
+tell me about the boat. What did the lads think
+of the fixin&#8217;s?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, it was the greatest fun,&#8221; Freda replied.
+&#8220;They could not imagine how we ever thought of
+using the cylinder water for a dishwater supply.
+I never gave it away that you suggested it to
+Cora&#8217;s mechanic.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And I want to thank you, Mr. Shane&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Mr. Shane!&#8221; Denny interrupted. &#8220;Say, if you
+call me that I&#8217;ll think I&#8217;m reading me own death
+notice in the <i>Beacon</i>.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Cora laughed at this, and agreed he should be
+&#8220;Uncle Denny&#8221; to her as well as to the others
+of the neighborhood.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But it was splendid of you to have the boat
+all ready for us when we came. I did not suppose
+Freda had a chance to get down to it before we
+loomed up.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t know the risin&#8217; hour for us folks
+at the Bay,&#8221; returned Denny, with a sly wink.
+&#8220;Freddie couldn&#8217;t stay abed when the sun is beckonin&#8217;
+on the waves; could you, Freddie?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, the early Summer mornings are beautiful,&#8221;
+replied Freda, &#8220;and I am sorry I had to lose
+so many of them. Who&#8217;s that? The girls, looking
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span>
+for us! There&#8217;s Bess puffing, and Belle&mdash;fluffing.
+I do think they are the most attractive
+pair.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Cora smiled, for her own devotion to the Robinson
+twins was only paralleled by the twins&#8217; devotion
+to Cora.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Cora! Freda!&#8221; called youthful voices from
+the path. &#8220;Where are you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Come in&mdash;do!&#8221; answered Denny, who always
+had a spare chair for visitors.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, we can&#8217;t,&#8221; replied Belle. &#8220;Cora, the boys
+are threatening to take out the <i>Chelton</i>. And oh!
+I&#8217;m completely out of breath. It&#8217;s dreadful to try
+to hurry through the sand.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Indeed they shall not take the <i>Chelton</i> out
+without my permission,&#8221; Cora declared. &#8220;When
+we make our initial trip I intend to command it.
+For one thing, Uncle Denny is to come along; for
+another&mdash;well, that&#8217;s to be a little surprise. This
+afternoon at two exactly&mdash;will you come, Uncle
+Denny?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I will that,&#8221; the old sailor replied. &#8220;I think
+it would be a good thing to have a little weight,
+like my old head, in her when she starts out. Them
+laddies are always up to pranks.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, we are just crazy to get out on the water,&#8221;
+Bess put in, &#8220;and what do you think? That vain
+little Lottie went all the way to town to get the
+exact nautical cap. I wonder if she thinks folks
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span>
+in motor boats run slowly enough to see little
+white caps on little light girls?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;When we get going I think all that will be
+seen will be splash, and all that will be heard will
+be chug,&#8221; Cora remarked. &#8220;But come on. Let&#8217;s
+hurry along. I promised Rita to help her with
+something.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; asked Bess, curiously.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now, Bessie, that would be telling,&#8221; replied
+Cora, stopping just long enough to empty the sand
+from her tennis shoe. Denny was trudging along
+after them&mdash;he could not resist an excuse to go
+down to the shore.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8217;ll say good-bye,&#8221; said Freda. &#8220;I have
+to run back to mother. She will think I am lost.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But you are coming this afternoon?&#8221; Cora
+insisted.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I really can&#8217;t, Cora, thank you,&#8221; answered
+the other. &#8220;I have something so important to
+look after.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What are you girls up to?&#8221; demanded Belle.
+&#8220;You have been acting mysteriously ever since you
+met on the train. Freda, it is really unpardonable
+not to take the initial trip with us, but if you really
+cannot&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I really cannot,&#8221; returned Freda, decisively,
+and somehow the girls realized that Freda&#8217;s business
+was urgent.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now, I&#8217;ll show you a short cut,&#8221; said Denny.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span>
+&#8220;Take that path there&mdash;don&#8217;t be afraid of the
+sign that the owner put up&mdash;he has no right to
+the beach front; then when you get to the Lonely
+Willow&mdash;do you know where that is?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Not one of them knew, but they were anxious to
+find out.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t miss the Lonely Willow, for it
+stands all alone and looks as forlorn as the mast
+of a sunken steamer,&#8221; said Denny. &#8220;It&#8217;s in the
+deep hollow by the watercress patch. Turn around
+that tree to your left and you&#8217;ll see another path.
+But wait a minute,&#8221; he broke off, &#8220;maybe it&#8217;s a
+bit lonely.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, there are enough of us to shout if we
+see bears,&#8221; Cora laughed. &#8220;We have to hurry,
+and we will be glad to explore.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, good-bye then, and good luck. I&#8217;ll be
+at the dock ahead of you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t he the quaintest old man?&#8221; asked Belle
+as the little party hurried along. Then she added:
+&#8220;You and Freda made quite a visit. We began
+to think you were kidnapped.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We did make a stay,&#8221; agreed Cora, &#8220;but
+Denny is a very old friend of Freda&#8217;s family, and,
+to tell you the truth, we could hardly break away
+when he started in to tell sea-yarns. Ouch! The
+mud is deep. I guess we must be near the Lonely
+Willow.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There it is!&#8221; exclaimed Belle, who was somewhat
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span>
+in advance of the others. &#8220;Indeed, it does
+stand all alone.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t it scary here!&#8221; whispered Bess. &#8220;See
+those two men under the Willow.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>All eyes were turned to the big tree. Two men
+were seated on a branch that made a comfortable
+seat. As the girls approached one of the men
+wrapped some papers up and thrust them into his
+pocket. But the movement was not lost on the
+girls.
+</p>
+<p>No word was spoken for a few moments. Belle
+dropped back a little as if to allow the others to
+face the strangers first. Of course Cora, always
+being the leader, boldly made her way along.
+</p>
+<p>They had to pass almost under the tree to reach
+the path, but there was no halting once the girls
+started out.
+</p>
+<p>Finally they had passed in perfect safety, but
+as they were almost out of earshot one of the men
+said:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I thought she&#8217;d be with him&mdash;that old
+Denny!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The rest of the remark was lost, but this fragment
+served to put Cora on her guard.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='VI_THE__CHELTON' id='VI_THE__CHELTON'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2>
+<h3>THE &#8220;CHELTON&#8221;</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, isn&#8217;t it exciting?&#8221; cried Marita, who had
+managed to have Jack help her over the dunes on
+the way to the dock.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right!&#8221; replied Jack, surveying her
+&#8220;nautical&#8221; outfit. &#8220;Couldn&#8217;t beat it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Silly! I mean going for the cruise.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I thought you meant that rig you&#8217;re wearing.
+It is most becoming, but I hope it won&#8217;t get
+wet.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, the water won&#8217;t hurt it. I got it on that
+account. I think the girls&#8217; maroon sweaters look
+dandy&mdash;they can be seen for such a distance.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I suppose togs have something to do with
+a good time, although I must say Cora doesn&#8217;t
+seem to give much time to hers. Look at Marita
+in white. She looks like a French doll.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, she is the cutest thing!&#8221; replied Lottie,
+in her gushing way. &#8220;But Cora is simply stunning!
+Just see how she stands out in the crowd.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Lottie and Jack strolled through the moss-padded
+path that led to the white sands of Tangle
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span>
+Turn, talking in this vein as they went. It was indeed
+a merry crowd, and well worth noticing, as
+was evinced by the number of curious spectators
+already assembled on the dock to which the <i>Chelton</i>
+was tied.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Who&#8217;s the man?&#8221; asked Jack, espying a striking
+figure in the throng.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, that&#8217;s Uncle Denny; don&#8217;t you know him?
+He is the dearest&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now, Lottie, I can see his bald head under
+his cap at this distance without marine glasses, and
+it&#8217;s a rule of the club that &#8216;dears&#8217; have special
+advantages in the matter of healthy heads of hair.
+But, of course, if you wish to call him &#8216;dear&#8217;&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Jack, you are the greatest tease,&#8221; she pouted.
+</p>
+<p>Bess, Belle and Cora had already reached the
+motor boat. Denny was proudly &#8220;looking her
+over,&#8221; pipe in mouth and hands in pockets. The
+girls were bustling about, all enthusiasm, while the
+boys, assuming an air of importance, found many
+points to investigate.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now take seats,&#8221; called Cora, &#8220;we are ready
+to push off. Lottie, don&#8217;t lean overboard.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I am watching the cutest little fish. See,
+Bess,&#8221; she exclaimed.
+</p>
+<p>Ed was on the dock with the rope loose from
+the cleat. Cora was at the steering wheel, while
+Denny insisted on turning the fly wheel, as that
+seemed about the most difficult thing to do. The
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span>
+gasoline was turned on, Jack attending to that, and
+as Denny gave the fly wheel a vigorous turn, Ed
+pushed off and jumped into the boat. The &#8220;push&#8221;
+sent the <i>Chelton</i> out in the water, but the motor
+failed to do its duty. Again Denny tried, but still
+no response. As this is not unusual with any
+motor, whether new or old, all hands waited
+patiently.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, there&#8217;s the <i>Dixie</i>!&#8221; called Lottie, jumping
+up and waving to an approaching boat.
+</p>
+<p>At that instant the <i>Chelton</i> started with a jerk,
+and there was a chorus of screams.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Lottie&#8217;s overboard!&#8221; cried the girls.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Overboard!&#8221; repeated the boys.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Quick!&#8221; begged Cora. &#8220;She may sink!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>To bring the boat to a sudden stop was not an
+easy matter, and there were some moments of
+suspense before the <i>Chelton</i> passed safely to the
+other side of the spot where Lottie was struggling.
+</p>
+<p>The water was not so deep but that she was able
+to scramble to her feet, but the wash of the boat
+forced her to work violently to keep her head
+above water.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The rope!&#8221; called Cora, who had dashed
+from her position at the steering wheel to the side
+of the boat where the mooring rope had been
+dropped. In the excitement, of course, all crowded
+to one side of the small craft, which caused it to
+careen alarmingly.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;There! There!&#8221; shouted Ed. &#8220;Lottie, grab
+the rope!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I can&#8217;t,&#8221; came the rather weak and shaky
+reply. &#8220;I can&#8217;t reach it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>By this time the <i>Dixie</i>, the innocent cause of the
+accident, was alongside. Drayton Ward, the
+wealthy young fellow who could boast of a motor
+boat that would have aroused comment even at
+Newport, leaned over the side and grasped the
+arm of the girl in the water. The rest was a
+simple matter, for soon Lottie was assisted over
+the rail of the <i>Dixie</i>, and was in the finest boat on
+Crystal Bay.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What do you think of that?&#8221; gasped Bess into
+Cora&#8217;s ear.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Clever!&#8221; replied Cora, simply.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But the togs?&#8221; queried Jack, to whom the
+accident had seemed something of a joke.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What a pity,&#8221; returned Belle, &#8220;and she did
+look so sweet!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>All this time the drenched girl was being most
+carefully looked after by the gallant captain of the
+<i>Dixie</i>. He was seeing to it that she did not suffer
+from a chill, for a big coat had been wrapped
+around her and her pretty white cap that had
+merrily floated off was now replaced by one
+marked &#8220;Dixie.&#8221; Altogether, for a mere Summer
+dip, Lottie was having a magnificent time, as Ed
+took pains to observe.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I can&#8217;t go with you now!&#8221; called Lottie.
+&#8220;Mr. Ward has kindly offered to take me home.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>There was a pause after that remark. If Lottie
+went back to the bungalow it seemed only reasonable
+that someone should go with her. But who?
+Everyone wanted to take the trip on the <i>Chelton</i>.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Let us take you up to the point,&#8221; called Cora,
+&#8220;and we can wait for you to change and come
+back. Our trip would be spoiled with one of the
+party missing.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s shift,&#8221; suggested Drayton, with a
+gracious smile at Cora. &#8220;Mine is probably the
+faster boat. You get in here with us, Miss Cora,
+and we will run up and down the bay while your
+friends are working off the oil smoke. That&#8217;s a
+neat little boat you have, a perfect little model,&#8221;
+he finished, coming as close as possible to the
+<i>Chelton</i>.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yours is all right, too, Dray,&#8221; replied Jack,
+&#8220;but it looks too good to be true. Doesn&#8217;t shoot
+up on land for a change, does it? I have heard
+of <i>Dixies</i> doing that stunt.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, dear!&#8221; exclaimed Lottie. &#8220;I am freezing
+to death. I guess I&#8217;ll go change my dress.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Good idea,&#8221; agreed Cora, who was ready to
+leave her boat and go back to the bungalow with
+Lottie. &#8220;Come on,&#8221; and she jumped to the dock
+to which her boat had drifted. &#8220;I&#8217;ll run along
+with you.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Nice way to treat a fellow,&#8221; complained Drayton.
+&#8220;Well, fellows, I&#8217;ll race you while we are
+waiting for the ladies to return. What do you
+say, Jack?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m willing, as long as Cora has finally condescended
+to let me touch the wheel. Everybody
+sit down this time.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Without a word all hands, keen for a race as
+soon as one was suggested, took seats, and the two
+boats veered out into the bay and &#8220;lined up&#8221; for
+the start. Denny was the proudest engineer
+imaginable, and constantly looked over the fine
+mechanism.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Ready!&#8221; shouted Ed, and at the word both
+throttles were thrown wide open and the boats
+shot up the bay, emitting clouds of smoke from
+their newly oiled works, and &#8220;chugging&#8221; so rapidly
+that the sounds were drowned in a roar. It was
+a pretty sight, for in the girls&#8217; boat a line of
+colored sweaters and waving caps lent life to the
+gray of the waters, while Drayton, in his glistening,
+highly-polished <i>Dixie</i>, only needed the glint
+that the sun lent to complete the picture afforded
+by his fine craft.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, isn&#8217;t this glorious!&#8221; exclaimed Marita.
+&#8220;I thought I should be frightened, but this is&mdash;lovely.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Frightened!&#8221; repeated Belle. &#8220;I used to be
+so afraid of the water I couldn&#8217;t see anything but
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span>
+the bottom every time I came out; but now I just
+love it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Hey there, Dray!&#8221; shouted Ed. &#8220;You&#8217;re out
+of the course. Get in from shore!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s keeping his eye on those girls on the
+beach,&#8221; laughed Walter. &#8220;Those are the lassies
+who have the white canoe.&#8221; So saying he waved
+his own cap and a flutter of handkerchiefs from
+the beach came back in recognition.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Turn at the island,&#8221; ordered Denny.
+</p>
+<p>Here a white flag fluttered, the stake left from
+some recent sailing races. Gracefully the <i>Chelton</i>
+rounded the stake first. Drayton had lost time in
+running too close to shore. Only a minute later
+the <i>Dixie</i> swayed after the <i>Chelton</i>, then the final
+stretch was taken up in earnest. Spectators on the
+bank might wave now, but the motorists had no
+eyes for them. A slight miss in the <i>Chelton&#8217;s</i> explosion
+brought Denny and Ed to their feet&mdash;there
+should be no break in the rhythm of that chug.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s all right,&#8221; Ed called to the old sailor,
+&#8220;only too much oil.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Denny shook his head lest a word might interfere
+with the boat&#8217;s motion. Dray stood up
+and did something that caused the bow of his boat
+to shoot up, while the stern seemed to bury itself
+in the waves.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;His is a racer,&#8221; Walter told Bess, who was as
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span>
+intent as any of the watchers on the result of the
+trial of speed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Maybe ours will turn out to be a winner,&#8221;
+Bess responded. &#8220;We keep pretty close.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Jack never took his hand off the steering wheel,
+Denny was watching the engine, and the others
+were peering down the straight course ahead.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m getting all wet,&#8221; exclaimed Marita,
+for the spray was dashing in on all sides.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Get down in the bottom,&#8221; advised Walter,
+&#8220;we can&#8217;t slacken up now. Or go in the cabin if
+you like and close the ports.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>This was a signal for all three girls to slip down
+to the floor of the boat and while they lost the
+good view afforded from the seats, they evidently
+enjoyed the change, and craned their necks to see
+over the sides.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course Dray will win,&#8221; complained Belle.
+&#8220;We couldn&#8217;t expect to beat the <i>Dixie</i>.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We might,&#8221; encouraged Bess. &#8220;Cora said
+this boat had remarkable speed for its size.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Gee, whiz!&#8221; shouted Walter, &#8220;look at that
+spray deluge Dray!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And she&#8217;s missing,&#8221; added Ed, for the sounds
+from the <i>Dixie</i> were distinctly out of time.
+</p>
+<p>Suddenly Dray&#8217;s boat slowed down, and the
+<i>Chelton</i> shot so far ahead that it was plain something
+had happened to the <i>Dixie</i>.
+</p>
+<p>Jack stood up and looked back. &#8220;Something
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span>
+is wrong,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We had better not get too
+far ahead. Dray is fussing with the carbureter.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The race was over. The girls stood up from
+their hiding place and Jack turned the boat about.
+By this time Dray had turned off the gasoline and
+the <i>Dixie</i> merely heaved up and down on the
+swells.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter, Dray?&#8221; called Walter.
+&#8220;Something given way?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; answered Dray, &#8220;she simply
+won&#8217;t &#8216;mote.&#8217;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Let me take a look at her,&#8221; suggested Denny,
+ever eager for a new adventure.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, there are Cora and Lottie!&#8221; exclaimed
+Belle. &#8220;Can&#8217;t we go in for them, and look after
+Dray&#8217;s boat afterward?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That would be a nice way to treat a ship in
+distress,&#8221; said Denny, &#8220;but excuse me,&#8221; and he
+showed regret at his remark. &#8220;I shouldn&#8217;t be
+thinkin&#8217; of a lad when the young girls are needin&#8217;
+help.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, the girls are all right,&#8221; Jack assured the
+old seaman; &#8220;but say, Dray,&#8221; he called, &#8220;what&#8217;s
+the matter, anyhow?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Just give me a line and tow me in, then we will
+hold a post mortem,&#8221; replied Dray, good humoredly.
+&#8220;I don&#8217;t fancy taking her apart out here.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Good!&#8221; exclaimed Marita, &#8220;then we can go
+for Cora and Lottie.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span></p>
+<p>Promptly the brand new rope of the <i>Chelton</i>
+was tossed to the disabled boat and fastened, then
+the two boats started for shore.
+</p>
+<p>Cora and Lottie were waiting. The latter had
+shed her wet &#8220;garments of vanity,&#8221; as Belle described
+them, for a simple brown linen frock.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What happened?&#8221; called Cora, as the boats
+neared shore.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Mis-happened,&#8221; answered Dray. &#8220;It was
+just fate. We couldn&#8217;t expect to beat the motor
+girls.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nice of you,&#8221; acknowledged Cora, &#8220;but I am
+sorry if there is anything wrong with your beautiful
+boat.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s the boat and not the boy,&#8221; remarked Ed.
+&#8220;Well, we&#8217;ll do as much for you some day, Cora.
+Wait until we get our little <i>Lassie</i> out. She,
+being a mere girl, may have a show.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter, Lottie?&#8221; asked Bess, as
+they landed and the girls noted that Lottie was
+remarkably quiet, and even a trifle pale.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not a thing,&#8221; Cora hurriedly answered, while
+she crushed her fingers on Lottie&#8217;s arm. &#8220;We
+were detained at the bungalow, that&#8217;s all. We&#8217;ll
+tell you all about it later on.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The girls gathered around Cora and Lottie at
+this remark. But Cora, by some mysterious signal
+system, had warned Lottie not to say anything,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span>
+and she soon joined the boys, who had already
+boarded the <i>Dixie</i> to overhaul her.
+</p>
+<p>They looked at the engine, at the spark plugs,
+at the cylinder, but Cora, who happened to have
+more room at the point where the carbureter was
+situated, suddenly exclaimed:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve got it! Water in the carbureter!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Right-o!&#8221; confirmed Dray, in another moment.
+&#8220;The spray mixed with the gas&mdash;dashed
+over into the air in-take valve. Moral, go slow,
+for water sometimes is fatal, even in a good
+cause!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Shame to spoil the race,&#8221; said Ed; &#8220;we were
+just warming up.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all right,&#8221; commented Denny, &#8220;and a
+good lesson. I never knew myself that too much
+speed would do the like of that. Well, I must be
+off doin&#8217; some chores. I&#8217;ve been a-galavantin&#8217;
+most of the day, and the fishes of Crystal Bay are
+not educated to come up to me door yet. Thank
+you for the sport. It was fine,&#8221; he concluded,
+genially.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Indeed you must come along again,&#8221; Cora
+urged. &#8220;This was only a baby-trial. We will
+want to be going out on the deep soon; then you
+must come along.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Thank you, very kindly,&#8221; Denny called, as he
+started off. &#8220;The deep is a bad place for young
+&#8217;uns, I can tell you. Better stick around shore.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Tell us what is the matter, Lottie,&#8221; demanded
+Bess, for Lottie had not yet recovered her self-possession.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I guess I had a chill,&#8221; she evaded, glancing
+at Cora.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And the mere sight of a couple of strange men
+startled her,&#8221; Cora added. &#8220;I have warned her
+there may be lots of strange men around Crystal
+Bay.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But not the same strange men every time,&#8221;
+Lottie put in. This gave a clue to her fright. The
+men who had secluded themselves under the
+Lonely Willow that morning had appeared again,
+this time in the vicinity of the girls&#8217; bungalow, now
+known as the &#8220;Motely Mote.&#8221;
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='VII_IN_THE_MOTELY_MOTE' id='VII_IN_THE_MOTELY_MOTE'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2>
+<h3>IN THE MOTELY MOTE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;Do you young ladies realize that we have the
+cares of housekeeping on our shoulders?&#8221; asked
+Cora, from a mass of boxes and bags, not to mention
+trunks, in the alleged living room of the
+Mote.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, let us forget it&mdash;do,&#8221; begged Bess. &#8220;I
+always hate the summertime when it brings dishes
+and things.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s good for you,&#8221; affirmed Marita. Bess
+did know that hard work is considered &#8220;good&#8221;
+for stout persons.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Maybe, but it is not pleasant,&#8221; Bess answered,
+flinging herself upon the improvised couch, a matter
+of hammocks and blankets, still bearing baggage
+checks and tie-ropes.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But our housekeeper has given notice,&#8221; announced
+Cora. &#8220;And I don&#8217;t wonder. Not one
+has been on time for a single meal since we arrived.
+But I must say, I wish she had stayed until
+the stuff was all unpacked. It&#8217;s dreadful on the
+hands,&#8221; and she looked at hers ruefully.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Why not ask the boys to help?&#8221; asked Lottie,
+who was doing her best to press her damp
+clothes by stretching the most important of them
+over Belle&#8217;s trunk, and holding them there with
+two suitcases. &#8220;If I had not gotten these things
+wet I should have been glad to unpack, but if I
+leave them this way over night I shall never be
+able to wear them again.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If you knew the boys as well as we do,&#8221;
+Bess put in, &#8220;you would know what their help
+means. They would insist upon trying on every
+article of clothing they unpacked; wouldn&#8217;t they
+Cora?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Something like that, Bess, if they did unpack
+at all. But, seriously, if you will give me a little
+help to drag these empty trunks to the porch, I
+will tell you of a plan I have evolved. Of course
+we cannot remain this way without a chaperone.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t it perfectly silly?&#8221; complained Belle.
+&#8220;As if we were not all capable of taking care of
+ourselves.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I don&#8217;t know about that,&#8221; objected Cora.
+&#8220;I have noticed that in case of emergency, when
+some strange man happens to poke his nose in at
+the window, we are all rather glad to acknowledge
+we are mere babes.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And also when we meet them under willow
+trees,&#8221; Marita reminded the boastful ones. &#8220;I
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span>
+am sure I agree with Cora that we need a chaperone,
+and perhaps a policeman or two.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The girls paused in dragging the baggage toward
+the front door.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Just the same,&#8221; Marita went on, &#8220;Lottie was
+frightened to-day and she only heard a strange
+man say, &#8216;They call them the motor girls.&#8217; As
+if that was anything terrifying.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But it was the way they said it,&#8221; Lottie protested.
+&#8220;They just peered at us&mdash;and&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now, Lottie,&#8221; said Cora, &#8220;you have an idea
+that everyone who looks at us &#8216;peers&#8217; at us. For
+my part I was rather flattered by their attention.
+You see the fame of the motor girls is spreading.
+But let me now make my proposition,&#8221; and she
+settled down on the rug that was intended to cover
+the floor&mdash;some time.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Let her &#8216;prop&#8217;!&#8221; cried Belle.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, you know our little friend, Freda, has
+lost some property; that is, her mother and herself
+have lost a certain claim to it. This little
+colony around here is fairly bristling with the prosperity
+implanted in it by such thrifty men as was
+Freda&#8217;s grandfather, but in spite of that, strangers
+come in, make a big fuss about riparian rights,
+and government laws, and property claims and,
+in so doing, pretend to discover a flaw in a title
+that for years has been considered perfectly clear.&#8221;
+She paused, for Bess had opened her mouth twice,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span>
+and this time Cora wanted to hear what she had
+to say.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We heard some women talking about that to-day,&#8221;
+said Bess, &#8220;and they said it was a shame to
+take a homestead from Mrs. Lewis. They were
+not whispering their opinions, either.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;So it is a shame,&#8221; Cora said, &#8220;and if we can,
+in any way, help to get the truth established, we
+will surely have a good reason to remember this
+holiday.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How?&#8221; queried Marita. &#8220;We don&#8217;t understand
+anything about land, and deeds, and lawyers.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>At this everyone but Marita laughed. She was
+not acquainted with the daring deeds of the motor
+girls, as that was what they had undertaken and
+accomplished in the past.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You see, Marita dear,&#8221; Cora explained, &#8220;because
+we seem such harmless babies we are able
+to get information that others, considered more
+dangerous, might not have access to. Now, let
+me continue. There are men around here, members
+of some sort of a land company, who are
+trying to get hold of certain papers. We don&#8217;t
+know whether they exist or not, but in our own
+quiet, girlish way&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Here she was interrupted with a burst of mocking
+laughter. &#8220;Your quiet girlish way,&#8221; repeated
+Belle. &#8220;Why, Cora, I do believe if you thought
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span>
+you could get the better of that land company
+you would take the <i>Chelton</i>, and go&mdash;pirating!
+Wouldn&#8217;t it be great to go out on a dark night,
+steam up the bay, watch for other boats, listen to
+the smugglers&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Belle,&#8221; put in Lottie, &#8220;that&#8217;s not the way
+in books. We would have to go out and get kidnapped,
+and then, when in the cave, we would
+hear the plot of the men who were going to steal
+the old homestead.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Hurrah!&#8221; cried her hearers.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Lottie for captain of the kidnapped,&#8221; suggested
+Cora. &#8220;Now, Lottie, when it gets good
+and dark you are to go out under the biggest tree
+on the place and await your captors.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Hello there! Anybody home?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The boys!&#8221; gasped Belle. &#8220;Now what about
+having wasted our time? Come in!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nice of you to ask us,&#8221; groaned Jack. &#8220;Say,
+we are dead and buried, and the will is now being
+read. Somebody broke into our larder and stole
+the grub. Have you any to put out at interest?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Stole your eatables!&#8221; exclaimed Marita.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, you could scarcely call it that,&#8221; replied
+Jack, espying an undamaged orange on the window
+sill, and making a lunge for it. &#8220;We did
+intend to eat the stuff, but it was just plain grub&mdash;not
+eatables.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Jack, haven&#8217;t you boys had your supper?&#8221;
+asked Cora.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We are on a diet,&#8221; explained Jack. &#8220;Wallie
+had the crackers, Ed nabbed the dried beef&mdash;he&#8217;s
+the biggest and needs the most, you know&mdash;and I
+got the pickles. Then we followed directions, and
+each drank three sips of pure spring water. But
+the trouble arose when Dray came in. He said
+he was to have milk&mdash;doctor&#8217;s orders. We didn&#8217;t
+have any but &#8216;pretense&#8217; milk, so Dray is now out
+looking for a cow.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Just then the sound of approaching footsteps
+was heard.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They come!&#8221; announced Jack. &#8220;I was
+merely the herald. Have you made out the menu,
+Cora dear?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do you mean to say we have to feed&mdash;all you
+boys?&#8221; demanded Bess.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Feed us? No, we can eat with spoons. Just
+lead us to the eats. Really, it is serious with
+Dray. He has already gone dead white. Come
+in, fellows. We are expecting you. The girls
+are just getting out the best linen!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Dray, Walter and Ed entered, and like Jack,
+showed signs of starvation. They literally fell
+into the most convenient spot available as they
+reached the room.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Good evening, ladies,&#8221; panted Dray. &#8220;We
+are delighted to accept your kind invitation to
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span>
+dine with you. Pray pardon the togs. I feel like
+a regular &#8216;toff,&#8217; don&#8217;t you know, but my studs are
+for the moment lost. And what is a frock without
+the studs!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, if this isn&#8217;t the very utmost,&#8221; said Cora,
+laughing at the boys&#8217; predicament. &#8220;Do you mean
+to say that you are really hungry?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Shall we demonstrate?&#8221; asked Ed. &#8220;Do you
+allow us? Belle, get out the chronometer and a
+hunk of something. If you don&#8217;t soon you will
+have a case of homicide on your hands.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Finally believing that the boys were hungry,
+the girls proceeded to empty the ice box on the
+back porch. They did not find any too much food
+there, for the sudden departure of their housekeeper
+that afternoon had left the girls themselves
+almost stranded. But, being girls, they managed
+the living end a little better than the boys did.
+</p>
+<p>The boys, it seemed, had laid in a stock of
+canned stuff, in the usual hit-and-miss way, but
+some other campers found the &#8220;cave&#8221; where the
+food had been hidden. It was out of the question
+either to take or get ice, so the next best thing
+considered was the digging of a big hole in a very
+damp place. Into this the boys had sunk a nice,
+clean, galvanized tub, and in it the victuals had
+been placed. On top was a cover, made of boards
+and oil cloth, and over this was placed the limb
+from a tree, this last to detract attention.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Now, wouldn&#8217;t you think,&#8221; said Jack, as he
+fortified himself with a sandwich, &#8220;that any decent
+chap would know that we belonged to the
+union? We are going to form a housewives&#8217;
+league at dawn to-morrow, and then we will find
+the culprits. They will be offering us our own
+grub at exorbitant rates.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Bright little Jackie,&#8221; commented Bess, who
+was devouring cheese and macaroons. &#8220;When
+you find the culprits you will have a perfectly good
+movie act in your camp. It will be entitled &#8216;The
+Fate of the Kid Grubber.&#8217;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>While the boys were thus engaged in the delightful
+task of keeping off starvation, the girls
+were anxious to hear what was the proposition
+Cora had offered to lay before them.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s just the way,&#8221; grumbled Belle; &#8220;we
+never can get at the interesting things!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I am going to tell the boys this minute,&#8221;
+threatened Marita. &#8220;We notice, Belle, that you
+brought out that lemon pie that was hidden.
+Looks as if you found the boys rather interesting.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now you know exactly what I mean,&#8221; insisted
+Belle. &#8220;Cora said we had to have a chaperone
+and we all agreed. Instead, we have a crowd of
+noisy boys.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;When you boys have finished,&#8221; Cora remarked,
+&#8220;we would like to clear up the debris.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span>
+Also, we have a sad announcement to make. We
+have lost our housekeeper!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Good!&#8221; almost shouted Ed. &#8220;I apply at
+once. I can give every qualification, even to a
+civil service examination. Cora, I never tasted
+such food before&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Mutiny!&#8221; yelled Jack, making a spring at
+Ed, which ended in such a mixup that the girls
+fled to the kitchen.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We really cannot stay alone here to-night,&#8221;
+Cora said.
+</p>
+<p>But the boys had come to their feet again, and
+evidently to terms. Jack was hugging Walter and
+Dray was smoothing Ed&#8217;s black hair.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Will the boys go and leave us?&#8221; asked the
+timid Marita.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course they will, and that right now,&#8221; declared
+Cora. &#8220;We have no time to spare to get
+someone else to stay with us, however. Bess, do
+you want to come with me? I am going out for
+our new companion.&#8221;
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='VIII_FRIGHTS_OR_FANCIES' id='VIII_FRIGHTS_OR_FANCIES'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2>
+<h3>FRIGHTS OR FANCIES</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, do hurry,&#8221; pleaded Cora. &#8220;I had no
+idea it was so late. And it is awfully dark.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;A nice way to scare me when you have got
+me out,&#8221; objected Bess. &#8220;Cora Kimball, I have
+a great mind to run back. I never saw lights look
+so attractive as they do just now in the Mote.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Run back if you like,&#8221; returned Cora, &#8220;but I
+will run on. It was unfortunate that the boys
+came in just as they did. I really have a good
+reason for not wanting to stay alone to-night.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You have?&#8221; asked Bess. &#8220;I knew you and
+Lottie had had some adventure.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, don&#8217;t be silly, Bess,&#8221; and Cora laughed
+lightly. &#8220;Everything is perfectly safe and sane
+at the bay, but what I want is to get over to the
+little cottage where Freda and her mother are
+living before they retire. It is Mrs. Lewis I hope
+to get as our housekeeper.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Mrs. Lewis!&#8221; exclaimed Bess in surprise.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, but we won&#8217;t call her housekeeper. I
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span>
+haven&#8217;t thought it all out yet; in fact, I am not
+sure they will come, but I hope so.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, so do I; that would be fine,&#8221; and Bess
+almost forgot how black the night was. &#8220;I met
+Mrs. Lewis the day we came, and I could not help
+thinking what a fine, wholesome mother Freda
+had.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I have been talking to her and I think
+she is just that&mdash;fine and wholesome. And goodness
+knows,&#8221; added Cora fervently, &#8220;we need some
+weight at the Mote. But they may not consent.
+I happened to overhear a remark this afternoon
+that set me to thinking. I am afraid poor Freda
+and her mother are in for further trouble.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>They hurried along, making their way with difficulty
+in the deep sand that covered road and path
+alike. Once or twice they paused, startled at the
+sound of men&#8217;s voices, then hurried the more to
+make up for lost time.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t we have one of the boys come
+with us?&#8221; asked Bess.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Because I am not ready yet to have the boys
+know all our plans, and to trust one of them&mdash;Bess
+Robinson, you know our boys. What one
+knows the rest can guess.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s so,&#8221; mused Bess. &#8220;Is that the cottage?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, right over there,&#8221; and Cora indicated a
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span>
+light through the trees. &#8220;I am glad they are still
+up!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>It was only a few steps further, and this space
+was rapidly covered. As the two girls reached
+the porch, and before they had a chance to touch
+the knocker, the door was opened by Freda.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Who is it?&#8221; she asked in a frightened voice.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Only Cora and Bess,&#8221; Cora replied, noting
+the fear in Freda&#8217;s tone. &#8220;Are we too late to
+come in?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, indeed,&#8221; Freda replied, reassured. &#8220;I
+was afraid it might be unwelcome visitors, but you
+are heartily welcome.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The living room of the cottage was typical of
+the seashore&mdash;a long apartment, with field-stone
+fireplace and fumed fir trim. The stairway led
+up from the room and gave it an air of even
+greater spaciousness. Altogether it was most attractive.
+Mrs. Lewis, a slim, fine-featured woman,
+rose from her rocker as the girls entered.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It is late to call,&#8221; began Cora, &#8220;but our business
+is really urgent. We have been left all alone
+suddenly&mdash;our housekeeper says she received a
+hurried call to go back to her family in the city.
+I don&#8217;t question the call, I know how often and
+faithfully they follow maids who find a country
+place lonely; but the fact is we girls do not fancy
+staying alone to-night.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, of course not,&#8221; replied Mrs. Lewis,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span>
+briskly. &#8220;You must have some older person with
+you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>It was plain, now that the girls had become
+accustomed to the lights, that Freda and her
+mother had both been crying. Their eyes were
+red and their cheeks swollen. Freda saw that the
+girls observed this.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, we have been weeping,&#8221; she said, with
+an attempt at a smile. &#8220;It seems as though we
+have new troubles daily.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I am so sorry,&#8221; Cora returned. &#8220;I wish we
+could help you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I am sure you have done so,&#8221; replied Mrs.
+Lewis. &#8220;Freda has great hopes that you girls
+will do for us what perhaps lawyers might not be
+able to do.&#8221; She hesitated and Freda went on:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Those horrid men from the land company
+were here again this afternoon. They say we have
+no right even to this little cottage.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No right here!&#8221; exclaimed Cora. &#8220;I believe
+they are just trying to get you to leave the
+place so that they can go on with their plans without
+being watched.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I never thought of that,&#8221; replied Mrs. Lewis,
+as though the idea was novel to her. &#8220;Then, indeed,
+they will have more trouble than brow-beating
+to get us to leave Crystal Bay.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I must hurry with my errand,&#8221; said Cora.
+&#8220;I came to see if it would be possible for you and
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span>
+Freda to lock up and come over with us to-night.
+I am afraid those land sharks have our little place
+marked, too, for they have been loitering around
+all day. I don&#8217;t want to tell the boys. They are
+hasty and so apt to resent any intrusion that would
+worry us.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why should the men bother you?&#8221; asked
+Mrs. Lewis.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I suppose because they know that Freda is a
+friend of ours,&#8221; replied Cora. &#8220;But don&#8217;t worry
+about them bothering us, all we want is to be able
+to meet them fairly. Of course if they knew we
+were alone at night they might be mean enough to
+frighten us, and some of the girls are rather
+timid.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Indeed, we will lock up at once,&#8221; declared
+Mrs. Lewis, &#8220;and go right over with you. We
+have not many treasures now to be afraid of
+losing.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, that is splendid!&#8221; Cora cried. Freda immediately
+went about fastening the windows and
+seeing to the general locking up, while Mrs. Lewis
+hurried up stairs to pack a small bag. It seemed
+as though they were ready almost instantly, much
+to the relief of Bess, who kept wondering if the
+boys would remain at the bungalow with the girls
+until her own and Cora&#8217;s return.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now we are off,&#8221; said Mrs. Lewis, looking
+back at her home with a wistful sigh. She seemed
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span>
+to have a premonition that leaving it meant more
+than appeared at the moment.
+</p>
+<p>Freda walked with Bess while Mrs. Lewis and
+Cora kept close behind them. They had not more
+than reached the turn that led to the direct path
+when shouts and laughter were heard.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There are the girls,&#8221; Bess exclaimed. &#8220;They
+are looking for us.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The surmise was correct, for directly the answer
+came back to the familiar camp call.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Here we are!&#8221; cried Cora. &#8220;On the pine
+path.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; gasped Belle. &#8220;We have had the
+greatest fright! Where have you been?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Making a call,&#8221; replied Cora, calmly. &#8220;What
+was your fright?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Come along and I&#8217;ll tell you,&#8221; Belle replied.
+Then she saw Freda and Mrs. Lewis.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We have brought protectors,&#8221; Cora said.
+&#8220;Mrs. Lewis and Freda are going to spend the
+night with us.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, splendid!&#8221; exclaimed Marita. &#8220;I was
+so afraid we would have to stay alone.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Where are the boys?&#8221; Cora asked.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Someone from the beach came up and said
+Dray&#8217;s boat was loose, and of course, they had to
+all go at once to tie it up.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Better than to let it drift,&#8221; Cora said, &#8220;but I
+am sorry if you were timid.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, we were not,&#8221; declared Belle, stoutly.
+&#8220;Only we distinctly heard someone on the back
+porch.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;At our ice box!&#8221; gasped Cora.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, we never thought of that!&#8221; exclaimed
+Belle.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then likely we will be without breakfast,&#8221;
+responded Cora. &#8220;But here we are. Who has
+the key?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Belle opened the door. &#8220;The light is out!&#8221;
+she whispered. &#8220;Cora,&#8221; she said, aside, &#8220;I left
+it burning!&#8221;
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='IX_A_MERRY_TIME' id='IX_A_MERRY_TIME'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2>
+<h3>A MERRY TIME</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I say it&#8217;s a shame!&#8221; cried Jack, indignantly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Perfectly awful,&#8221; confirmed Dray.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Our meeting is at nine,&#8221; announced Walter,
+&#8220;and when I went on the soup shift, I did not
+agree to do the waiting. That&#8217;s not my part.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Ed tucked an end of white mosquito netting
+in his belt, draped it jauntily, and appeared ready
+to do the &#8220;waiting.&#8221; Walter was frying bacon
+and eggs on the oil stove. Jack threw dishes at
+the oilcloth-covered table in imitation of a game
+of quoits, and he rarely missed the mark. They
+were about to have breakfast, and in spite of the
+difficulties encountered in the way of modern improvements
+omitted in the arrangement of Camp
+Couldn&#8217;t (the camp got that name for a million
+reasons), the boys were having a fine time.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That coffee will be cold,&#8221; protested Dray,
+&#8220;and my doctor says cold coffee is slow poison.
+I prefer my poison quick.&#8221; The joke about Dray&#8217;s
+doctor was that Dray never knew a doctor other
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span>
+than the medical inspector at school. He had such
+astonishingly good health that they used the idea
+of sickness in reference to him as a &#8220;counter irritant.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But this stove is a trifle small,&#8221; said Walter.
+&#8220;What do you say we buy that one from Camp
+Cattle? It&#8217;s a peach.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If the Cattle crowd have a good stove they
+won&#8217;t sell it,&#8221; replied Jack. &#8220;You will likely find
+a second-hand flue in it, or a rubber hose leader.
+Those boys are brilliant. If we need a new stove
+let it be from Duke&#8217;s, with a cast-iron guarantee.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Right-o,&#8221; seconded Dray. &#8220;The cast-iron
+is always useful about a camp. But I say, what
+about the racket at the Mote last night? That
+sister of yours, Jack, is wasting her talents. She
+ought to be chief of a detective bureau.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Cora is all right,&#8221; Jack returned, proudly.
+&#8220;And while we are on the subject, and not to brag,
+of course, I might say that some of the other girls
+are in the same class. First few years they came
+out to the woods I used to be rather doubtful, but
+now we often find that the maids can take care of
+the masters; don&#8217;t we, Wallie? More of that
+odor, please. I wonder why bacon turns all to
+odor when it&#8217;s cooked up!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There are only two more pieces of odor left,&#8221;
+complained Walter, &#8220;and I&#8217;d like the smell myself.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, all right. I have had more than enough.&#8221;
+Jack waved a disdainful hand loftily. &#8220;I believe,
+as it is, I should be more careful what I eat.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>A huge, very hard bun, the sort found only in
+bakeries near Summer resorts, hit Jack squarely
+in the face. Without any comment he caught it,
+cut it in half, and with a tin spoon plastered it with
+butter. Then he put &#8220;the lid on it,&#8221; and tried
+to get it between his teeth. It was heroic exercise,
+but Jack had been trained at a reputable college,
+and had learned to eat what he wanted.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But those duffers, the land men,&#8221; continued
+Dray, &#8220;what are they after the girls for? I had
+an idea one of them must be trying to claim relationship
+with the fair Freda. He kept so close to
+her when she was out after Denny.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Relationship!&#8221; Jack repeated, with a laugh.
+&#8220;You almost hit it, Dray. I guess the bear would
+like to be her first cousin, for he is trying to get
+her goods and chattels from her.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, we must not go into that; at least not just
+yet. I promised Cora not to be hasty with Moran.
+He&#8217;s the &#8216;gent&#8217; who is supposed to be president
+of the company.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The one who wears the Panama? I wonder
+if anyone would think of haste in connection with
+that duffer. It took him just one hour to buy
+three soft crabs from some kids at the dock yesterday,&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span>
+said Walter. &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t like to be his
+messmate. But I don&#8217;t like his eye; it&#8217;s made on
+the bias.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, always looks as if it were going to slip
+out of the socket,&#8221; confirmed Jack. &#8220;Well, I
+hope the girls won&#8217;t go in too deep with their
+schemes. Those fellows are from little old
+N&#8217;Yawk.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Quick!&#8221; whispered Walter. &#8220;There&#8217;s that
+Black. If he lays eyes on your plates he&#8217;ll lick
+them.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The last morsels of food were crammed into
+mouths before the call from the neighboring camper
+was answered.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Come right in,&#8221; Ed said, finally, &#8220;and help
+yourself. Have you had your grape fruit?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, no,&#8221; sighed Tom Black, &#8220;I didn&#8217;t feel
+exactly right this morning.&#8221; (He brushed a brown
+hand across his brow.) &#8220;Nerves, I guess.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nerves? Grub!&#8221; shouted Jack. &#8220;Didn&#8217;t I
+see a can marked &#8216;soup&#8217; in your back yard this
+a. m.?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Might have, but I didn&#8217;t. Else I would have
+had soup.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There were grubbers around last night,&#8221; went
+on Jack, &#8220;and we thought we found a thread that
+matches your sweater, sticking to a nail in our
+grub box.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;My sweater is not ripped that I can see,&#8221; replied
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span>
+Tom, innocently, &#8220;but if you are so kind I
+might take it. Don&#8217;t think we put our sewing
+boxes in the kit, come to think of it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It will be ripped presently,&#8221; announced Ed.
+&#8220;We have reason to suspect the Cattle; in fact,
+we have engaged counsel.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The motor girls, I fancy, will defend you,&#8221;
+said Tom, nonchalantly, &#8220;but I assure you, you
+will have no case. We are absolutely without
+grub; in fact, our case is pitiable.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And you had a &#8216;Doins&#8217; last night,&#8221; Dray reminded
+him. &#8220;Now, Tom, we want to be fair,
+but we have arranged to form a housewives&#8217;
+league for the purpose of swiping systematically.
+For instance,&#8221; (here he got a burnt match and
+tried to trace something on the oilcloth), &#8220;if we
+have company, and no olives, we could go over to
+your cupboard, take a bottle and deposit in its
+stead, say, a can of beans.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Great!&#8221; shouted Tom, tossing up his cap,
+that landed on the flaming oil stove. &#8220;You should
+not waste oil,&#8221; he said, as he rescued the cap.
+&#8220;It&#8217;s always wise to turn out the stove when you
+take off the pan.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The meeting is to be held in our living room,&#8221;
+Ed said, pointing outside to a bench made of a
+tree limb <i>au naturel</i>. &#8220;When we have formed
+our committees and settled on our constitution&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span></p>
+<p>This last word seemed to give every boy present
+a sort of agony, for each began to &#8220;feel for his
+constitution,&#8221; as if that important part of his
+physique had been lost in the camp woods.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I wish you could settle my constitution,&#8221; remarked
+Tom. &#8220;Once I get that settled, I don&#8217;t
+care what happens.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now, quit your fooling,&#8221; returned Walter. &#8220;I
+have an engagement and I would like to get my
+housework done. Tom, help yourself to a towel,
+and be careful not to wipe the plates on a glass
+towel. You can tell the difference by the border.
+The dish towel is all border, the center or hole
+went up on the oil stove, a little trick our stove
+has&mdash;it does not like towels. The proper towel
+for the glasses is that one with the black line drawn
+through the middle. The black line is not important,
+it was put there with a single wipe of the
+spark plug from the <i>Lassie</i>. Ed did it, very
+neatly.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom took the towel tossed to him, and, as only
+a boy can, began to dry the dishes that Walter
+was piling in front of him. First he patted and
+rubbed the towel on one side of the dish that lay
+before him; then he turned the same dish over
+with a bang and repeated the patting and rubbing
+on the other side. After that he gave the plate
+a spin. If it landed right side up he left it so; if
+the trade-mark showed he counted it a &#8220;foul,&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span>
+and tried the trick again. How boys can get work
+done that way is always a mystery to girls, who
+find the same play labor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do I stay for lunch?&#8221; Tom asked. &#8220;I suppose
+when a fellow helps with the general housework
+he is entitled to his &#8216;keep.&#8217;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, we would just love to have you,&#8221; replied
+Jack, with mock seriousness, &#8220;but the fact is, we
+are all invited out. We lunch on the <i>Chelton</i> to-day,&#8221;
+and he strutted around with such wide
+sweeping curves, and twists, that he knocked from
+the narrow board table every last bit of butter
+the &#8220;Couldn&#8217;ts&#8221; had in their camp. Gingerly he
+scooped up the top lump, that lay on the store
+dish, but the scraps had to be scraped up with the
+egg turner, and the spot on the floor (they had a
+board floor in the camp) had to be washed up
+with the dish water, when Walter finally relinquished
+that important commodity.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;More careful next time,&#8221; commanded Dray.
+&#8220;I&#8217;m off to call the meeting. Where&#8217;s that dinner
+bell?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The &#8220;bell,&#8221; a very old and very large tray,
+was found outside under the bench, and with a
+good strong stick Dray beat it furiously, until it
+might easily be heard by every camper on the
+grounds. At the first signal boys came scampering
+from all directions. Some carried towels&mdash;too
+much excited to drop them in their camps;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span>
+others dashed through the woods with sweaters on
+their arms, and reluctant neckties in their fists,
+for it was early and the campers had scarcely
+time to make &#8220;careful&#8221; toilets.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Grub?&#8221; they asked in chorus. &#8220;Let us see
+it? Lead us to it!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Grub nothing!&#8221; replied Walter. &#8220;You just
+get outside on that bench, the overflow can take
+the reserved seats on the nice green moss. This
+meeting has been called for the purpose of organizing
+the Housewives&#8217; League of Crystal Bay.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Aoo-oo-ou&mdash;oh!&#8221; came a groaning reply
+from those who felt able to groan. &#8220;And I left
+sugar in my coffee cup,&#8221; wailed he with the dish
+towel.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And there were perfectly good crumbs at my
+place,&#8221; sighed Teddy, a boy with so many colors
+in his face that they called him &#8220;Rainbow.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Come to order!&#8221; called Jack, banging on the
+tent table, which was to serve as the chairman&#8217;s
+desk. &#8220;Every camp must qualify.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We do! We do!&#8221; shouted the majority, the
+rest being engaged in a rough and tumble for
+places near the &#8220;door.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The purpose of this meeting,&#8221; went on Jack,
+ducking a lump of moss tossed in lieu of a bouquet,
+&#8220;is to formulate plans, whereby the humans of
+Prowlers&#8217; Paradise may continue to defy the birds
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span>
+of the air, and the beasts of the field, and live in
+a perfectly human way.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Hurrah for the humans!&#8221; shouted Rainbow,
+and the cheers that followed did more than merely
+consume time.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Let me explain,&#8221; interrupted Dray, pushing
+Jack from his place, and taking the stand pompously.
+&#8220;We have been the victims of prowlers.
+We have lost our soup; we also lost our cans of
+milk&mdash;in fact, the cruel ones took everything but
+our appetites, and now we propose to put a stop
+to such depredations. We will form a league to
+borrow and to lend, also to pay back, but he who
+taketh his brother&#8217;s soup and returneth not a can
+of beans shall be expelled from the Prowlers&#8217;
+Paradise!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We did lose five small cans of milk,&#8221; reiterated
+Walter to Dave, the head or chief of a big
+camp called &#8220;We-like-it,&#8221; &#8220;and if we find the
+rowdy who took that he shall be court-martialed.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>A commotion then started that broke up the
+meeting. The boys, in rolling and tumbling about,
+rolled Dainty, so-called because he never could
+get enough to eat, and because his quest showed
+in unweighable pounds of fat, deliberately down
+the small hill at the side of Camp Couldn&#8217;t. Two
+of the Cattle did the rolling, and as Dainty made
+one full turn a can of milk squirmed out of his
+pocket.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Robber! Thief! Traitor!&#8221; screamed the
+rollers, and then poor Dainty was lugged back to
+the camp.
+</p>
+<p>Making the charge against him, and making an
+example of him would be too sad a tale for words;
+sufficient to say that the meeting adjourned at the
+request of a peace commission.
+</p>
+<p>When the last visitor had been &#8220;shooed&#8221; away
+and the Couldn&#8217;ts had carefully prepared for the
+lunch to be taken on the <i>Chelton</i> (although Ed
+claimed that Walter had appropriated his most
+becoming tie, and that the shade of tan rather
+marred Wallie&#8217;s own &#8220;tannery&#8221; effect), the boys
+finally put the camp flap down good and tight, and
+were off to the bay.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='X_TOO_MUCH_JOY' id='X_TOO_MUCH_JOY'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER X</h2>
+<h3>TOO MUCH JOY</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Far out in the pretty bay the <i>Chelton</i> was anchored.
+It was arranged that the luncheon should
+be given too far from land to get anything in supplies
+that might have been forgotten. In fact, it
+was to be a test meal, such as might be a necessity
+in case of &#8220;shipwreck&#8221; or accident.
+</p>
+<p>It was such a day as sometimes makes early
+Summer copy Spring, when the mists of morning
+mingle with the sun&#8217;s rays, and send up shafts of
+haze to pillar the sky from land or water.
+</p>
+<p>There had been great preparations for this salt
+water lunch. The girls, enthusiastic over the
+possibilities, had vied with one another in arranging
+the affair.
+</p>
+<p>Dray ran his boat, the <i>Dixie</i>, alongside, and together
+the fleet of two comprised what the boys
+termed a &#8220;White House Lunch.&#8221; The cooking
+was all done on the <i>Chelton</i> and the eatables were
+handed over the brass rail to Lottie and Marita,
+who served as waitresses on the <i>Dixie</i>. First there
+were lettuce sandwiches, rolled. Any girl who
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span>
+can successfully roll bread and lettuce is termed
+proficient by the cooking teachers, and it was a tie
+between Belle and Cora as to who did the most
+and best of the rolling.
+</p>
+<p>With the lettuce came the greatest treat to the
+boys&mdash;homemade crab salad&mdash;home caught crabs
+and handmade dressing thereon.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I caught the biggest crab,&#8221; declared Lottie,
+handing the wooden plate to Belle. &#8220;Isn&#8217;t that
+fine!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Finest!&#8221; she repeated, enthusiastically. &#8220;But
+say! Why don&#8217;t the boys catch crabs?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The boys did not waste time asking questions.
+Lettuce sandwiches! Crab salad! They would
+be serving frappé next!
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Eat plenty of salad,&#8221; Cora ordered. &#8220;We
+spent all yesterday evening crabbing.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Will&mdash;we&mdash;eat&mdash;it?&#8221; exclaimed Walter. &#8220;I
+won&#8217;t dare look at a frying pan again this week,
+and my term ends with the week,&#8221; he said, between
+bites.
+</p>
+<p>Next came baked potatoes. These had been
+done on the electric toaster, right aboard the <i>Chelton</i>,
+and while scarcely a correct following for salad,
+the first was given as an appetizer, and the
+potatoes as food.
+</p>
+<p>The latter were served on the smallest of
+wooden plates, with the most extravagant little
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span>
+butter plates&mdash;really sauce or cream &#8220;thimbles,&#8221;
+all fluted and shaped from white paper.
+</p>
+<p>A dozen of these cups had been Belle&#8217;s contribution
+to the feast. She spied them at the news
+stand, over at the point, and could not leave
+them.
+</p>
+<p>Dried beef went with the potatoes, also dill
+pickles, and while Cora kept the electric toaster
+going, and saw to it that the &#8220;kitchen&#8221; did not
+run out of hot water from a reserve tank, the other
+girls took turns eating their own lunches. Of
+course, as the boys were guests, it was important
+their wants should be first supplied, a matter not
+easily managed, as the girls soon found out.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;More! More!&#8221; called Ed, who was eating
+the browned potato skin, or bark, with unmistakable
+relish. &#8220;Potatoes are good for the nerves!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Robber!&#8221; shouted Jack, grabbing a second
+supply that had just been adjusted on Ed&#8217;s plate.
+&#8220;Potatoes are good for the lungs, and I am&mdash;winded.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I should like just a tiny bit more crab,&#8221; simpered
+Dray. &#8220;Fish is good for&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We have something more,&#8221; Cora announced,
+&#8220;don&#8217;t each too much solid stuff.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We couldn&#8217;t,&#8221; declared Belle, &#8220;not if we kept
+eating for the rest of our mortal lives, it wouldn&#8217;t
+be too much.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There are the &#8216;Likes&#8217;!&#8221; announced Lottie, indicating
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span>
+a canoe gliding up the bay, in which were
+two members of the &#8220;We-like-it&#8221; camp. &#8220;Now
+we will have to hide things.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Hide things!&#8221; Belle tossed her sweater over
+her plate as she saw the canoe. &#8220;We are lost!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, let us invite them alongside,&#8221; suggested
+Lottie, who, up to that moment had been so busy
+with setting out plates that she had scarcely spoken
+to the visitors. &#8220;We have plenty of stuff.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nix, nary, not much!&#8221; cried Ed, in protest.
+&#8220;That&#8217;s &#8216;Dainty&#8217; there, the stroke, and if he
+gets in here he&#8217;ll eat the dish pan and the cooker.
+I say, young ladies should be most careful what
+sort of fellows they associate with.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But in spite of this the &#8220;Likes&#8221; were invited.
+Possibly they smelled the eatables, for they came
+up to the side of the <i>Chelton</i> as nicely as if they
+had set out from shore with that intention.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; called Dainty, the fat one, &#8220;we
+would be pleased to,&#8221; although no one had asked
+him to do anything.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Delighted,&#8221; affirmed Kent, the other of the
+party. &#8220;We sent our cards by messenger.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The canoe bobbed up and down, until Cora took
+an extra rope from the <i>Chelton</i> and threw it to
+Dainty, who in turn tied it to a small hook in the
+green <i>Snake</i>. This served to keep the canoe from
+capsizing as Dainty and Kent crept into the <i>Chelton</i>.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span></p>
+<p>Just what saved all three boats from being
+turned upside down in the racket that followed
+only Neptune knows, for in their delight at seeing
+real food the boys from the &#8220;Likes&#8221; grew so impetuous
+that the &#8220;Couldn&#8217;ts&#8221; felt called upon to
+interfere.
+</p>
+<p>Crabs, sandwiches, potatoes&mdash;each in turn were
+hailed with gales of glee, until the girls fell back
+exhausted with the strain of providing and cooking.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Let me, let me,&#8221; begged Dray, &#8220;I know exactly
+how to handle electric appliances. I press
+my neckties&mdash;with an electric iron.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>He was over into the <i>Chelton</i>, and piling more
+potatoes under the little tin cover on the toaster,
+before anyone had time to answer.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Turned or unturned?&#8221; he asked, surveying a
+smoking potato critically.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Both or neither,&#8221; answered the famished
+Dainty between gasps.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll take my coffee now,&#8221; announced Jack, sitting
+back in the cushions, and flicking an imaginary
+speck from his sweater.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now, you must wait,&#8221; Cora ordered. &#8220;We
+have not caught up to you yet. We are only at
+the entree.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Lottie declared she never had such a splendid
+time in her life, and the brightness of her cheeks
+catching the flame from her eyes bore out this
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span>
+statement. Marita, too, seemed to have &#8220;shook
+her cocoon,&#8221; Jack said, his economy of language
+scarcely making up for the little difference in
+&#8220;shook&#8221; and &#8220;shaken.&#8221; Certainly she managed
+to climb from one boat to another with remarkable
+alertness, while Bess, Belle and Cora acted like
+up-to-date society maidens, only they acted a little
+in advance of the &#8220;date&#8221; usually adhered to.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And do we have to leave these shores?&#8221;
+wailed Ed, sipping a real good cup of coffee.
+&#8220;Why not anchor here for now and for eternity!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I thought you liked camping,&#8221; said Belle.
+&#8220;Surely you are not tired of housekeeping.
+Doesn&#8217;t it run smoothly?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Sure,&#8221; replied Ed, &#8220;but the grub is the
+trouble. I wonder why mammas, with good moral
+intentions, train little boys to eat?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do you see those clouds,&#8221; remarked Cora,
+&#8220;they are just swooping down on us, and we are
+miles from home. My, but it is going to be a
+quick shower!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The young people had been enjoying themselves
+so much that not until Cora spoke did they realize
+that the sky had become overcast.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m scared to death,&#8221; cried Marita.
+&#8220;Those clouds are so near&mdash;you would think they
+would touch the water!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, aren&#8217;t they black!&#8221; gasped Belle.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Come, get everything under cover,&#8221; called
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span>
+Jack, thinking first of the danger to the girls and
+their boat. &#8220;Dray can get his awning up quickly
+enough, but this one has not been opened yet.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You boys just tie your canoe tight to us,&#8221; Cora
+said, as the two visitors were about to climb into
+their frail skiff. &#8220;You would be washed out during
+the storm that&#8217;s coming. Here, Bess, hold
+this,&#8221; handing Bess one end of the awning tie.
+&#8220;Belle, can you keep that rope taut?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>It was astonishing how quickly the scene of enjoyment
+turned to one of alarm. Those of the
+girls who were active and eager to assist in making
+things safe, did not suffer so much from fright as
+did they who took time to watch the clouds. The
+first severe storm of Summer usually has a more
+terrifying effect upon the timid ones than those that
+may follow, and this one certainly was a &#8220;star&#8221;
+for a starter.
+</p>
+<p>The lightning soon began to flash intermittently
+and the thunder to rumble. The clear expanse
+of horizon afforded such a wide view of the storm
+that it was small wonder those out in the bay
+feared for their safety.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; wailed Marita, as one flash of lightning
+seemed to dart directly at the brass rail of Dray&#8217;s
+boat. &#8220;I thought I was struck!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Her words had not been uttered before the clap
+of thunder followed. This had that queer, deep
+sound peculiar to the water, and certainly the
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span>
+heart of the storm seemed to hover over the little
+fleet.
+</p>
+<p>All over the bay sail boats, canoes, motor
+boats, row boats and every sort of craft were making
+for shore, but in most of these there were little
+or no goods that might be damaged by rain or
+waves, while both the <i>Dixie</i> and the <i>Chelton</i> would
+have suffered severely had they encountered a
+down-pour uncovered.
+</p>
+<p>The awnings were up at last, and Jack had
+started the <i>Chelton</i>. Directly after that the chug
+of the <i>Dixie</i> was heard.
+</p>
+<p>Then it was all storm! Raging! Roaring!
+Which way could two small motor boats hope to
+plough their way in such a fury of wind, rain and
+lightning?
+</p>
+<p>The waves had assumed the proportions of
+billows, and every time a boat lifted with the
+crest, a huge bank of water would break over it.
+</p>
+<p>Jack clung to the steering wheel, and Cora
+never took her eyes off the engine. But how they
+whirled and twirled! There was the <i>Dixie!</i> It
+was keeping near&mdash;one good thing. The canoe
+had broken loose and was soon lost to sight. No
+one bewailed it; there was too serious work at
+hand for that.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Let me look after the gas!&#8221; begged Kent of
+Cora. He was at her elbow, but she had insisted
+on personally attending to the machine.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;I know it better, perhaps,&#8221; she shrieked back,
+&#8220;but stay close. If I cannot manage I will let
+you know!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>One terrific clap, then a roar sounded in the
+ears of all, but seemed to paralyze Lottie.
+</p>
+<p>She fell in a heap and lay speechless. Up to
+this time she had been half sitting in the bottom of
+the boat.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s struck!&#8221; shrieked Belle. Then Cora
+left the engine to Kent and took charge of the
+senseless girl.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XI_THE_RESCUE' id='XI_THE_RESCUE'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2>
+<h3>THE RESCUE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The coffee that stood on the still warm electric
+stove proved a valuable aid in restoring the
+stunned Lottie. She had not been struck; her
+nerves had simply given out, and she had collapsed.
+</p>
+<p>Finally she opened her eyes.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m all right now,&#8221; she said faintly, and it was
+evident the shock had dulled her terror, at least.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Just lie still,&#8221; whispered Cora, encouragingly.
+&#8220;The storm will soon be over.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The storm?&#8221; Lottie repeated. Then she
+closed her eyes again, but this time it was only exhaustion,
+not faintness.
+</p>
+<p>The other girls had been roused to activity by
+Lottie&#8217;s condition. They could now see a rift in
+the clouds, and one after another hurried to say
+that the storm was breaking, and it was not so
+bad; that boats could be seen, and perhaps they
+would soon sight land.
+</p>
+<p>But those at the wheels of the boats knew how
+little they could do in the way of steering. Every
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span>
+time the wheel was turned one way the force of the
+rollers would wash it completely around. In fact
+they were making absolutely no progress, and
+might almost as well have allowed the powerless
+craft to submit to the fury of the waters.
+</p>
+<p>Cora realized this, as did the boys, but the other
+girls, except perhaps Bess, felt more secure as the
+sound of the motor indicated motion. The clouds
+were lifting, but the force of the storm seemed to
+be coming in from sea, and had little to do with
+the appearance of the sky.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, if help would only come!&#8221; Cora whispered
+to Bess. &#8220;I&#8217;m afraid another and worse
+storm is gathering!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t give up,&#8221; replied the girl, her own face
+gray in the mist and spray that covered the deck
+even under the awnings.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&mdash;see&mdash;something bobbing up and down over
+there!&#8221; Cora continued. &#8220;See! It is&mdash;a big,
+strong boat, perhaps a lifeboat!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Let us hope so,&#8221; answered Bess, fervently.
+</p>
+<p>Not one word could Cora exchange with Jack,
+he was too far from her to hear her voice. The
+<i>Dixie</i> was still near enough to be sighted, but how
+the boys managed to keep her so was as remarkable
+to themselves as to those on the <i>Chelton</i>.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s a boat, all right,&#8221; said Bess with more
+vigor in her voice, &#8220;and it looks like one from the
+life-saving station.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span></p>
+<p>Cora peered anxiously in the direction of the
+speck that played upon the waves.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Hey!&#8221; yelled Jack, &#8220;there comes Denny!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Denny!&#8221; repeated Cora wonderingly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, there&#8217;s Freda!&#8221; called Belle, jumping up
+from the bottom of the boat and promptly falling
+back again.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s Freda and Denny, and someone else?&#8221;
+asked Bess, breathlessly. &#8220;Oh, what a mercy!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a boy,&#8221; declared Kent. &#8220;See the rain-hat
+and slicker?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, and see Freda&#8217;s hair floating out from
+under that rubber hat!&#8221; insisted Bess. &#8220;Oh, I
+know it&#8217;s Freda, and I can see Denny plainly!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The boat was coming nearer. On the crest of
+a roller it fairly soared towards them. Then Cora
+saw it was Denny and Freda, with another man
+whom they did not know.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Head up into it!&#8221; came a voice from the dory,
+for even in a storm Denny knew how to make his
+voice carry over the water.
+</p>
+<p>Jack heard, and swung the wheel toward the
+left. That would put them &#8220;into the storm,&#8221; instead
+of on the edge of it.
+</p>
+<p>At that moment the <i>Dixie</i> shot past and dashed
+right up to the dory.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Here,&#8221; called Jack, &#8220;can you make it to get
+in here?&#8221; This was called to those in Denny&#8217;s
+boat.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Not now!&#8221; shouted back the man. &#8220;Keep
+close!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The roar of the storm increased. Just as Cora
+had predicted, the new squall was worse than the
+first. For some moments all three boats tossed
+and tumbled as if they had neither master nor
+man, but it was the <i>Chelton</i> that righted herself
+first.
+</p>
+<p>By an ungiven signal the three boats got into
+line. The dory was directly in the center and the
+two motor boats served to shield it from the
+waves that lashed them on either side.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Quick! Freda!&#8221; yelled Cora, grasping the
+line Denny tossed to her. &#8220;You can climb in! We
+can hold it tight!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Like a sprite, the girl in the yellow slicker and
+rubber hat made for the highest end of the boat,
+measured her distance to the <i>Chelton</i>, and while
+Kent and Cora strained to hold the rope steady,
+sprang.
+</p>
+<p>It was not the distance, which was but a few
+feet, but the uncertainty of the boats&#8217; motion that
+made the leap perilous. But Freda landed safely
+in the <i>Chelton</i>.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;None too soon!&#8221; gasped Cora, pressing her
+arms around the wet oilskin coat. &#8220;See where
+they have gotten to now!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The boats had drifted apart again. The girls
+clung to Freda as if she had really brought them
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span>
+safely to shore, instead of adding her own weight
+to their burden, but it was the message from land
+that reassured them.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t it dreadful!&#8221; moaned Lottie, still trembling
+from her collapse.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; replied Freda, cheerfully. &#8220;It isn&#8217;t
+so bad out there. But we knew what it was on this
+bar, and could tell by the wind just about where
+you were drifting. If Jack will let me take the
+wheel I will follow Denny&#8217;s orders and ride into
+it. Then we can go around the island&mdash;and see
+a blue sky!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Blue sky!&#8221; came the exclamation from the
+girls in unison.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Certainly. But I must have the wheel, Jack.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Having satisfied them that she could run the
+boat, Freda changed places with Jack, while Cora
+let her brother take up her watch beside Kent.
+Then Cora went to the steering wheel with Freda.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be afraid,&#8221; the latter said. &#8220;I have
+ridden out worse storms than this with Denny.
+They have a way of turning things upside down,
+but you are all right as long as you can keep well
+on top.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>She was driving directly into the smother. The
+girls shut their eyes, and it must be admitted that
+more than one put their fingers in their ears, for
+indeed the roar was deafening.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There are Denny and the man getting into the
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span>
+<i>Dixie</i>!&#8221; breathed Cora. &#8220;Oh, I am so glad, for
+it must have been dreadful to row that boat.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It <i>was</i> no joke, but Denny likes hard work,&#8221;
+Freda answered. &#8220;Now here is where we ride it
+out!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Every bit of power was turned on and with one
+well directed plunge the <i>Chelton</i> was shot through
+what seemed to be a &#8220;comber&#8221; as if she had been
+a submarine.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; gasped Cora. Freda dropped into the
+&#8220;V&#8221; space at the base of the wheel. Still, she did
+not take her hands from the spokes. It was a
+serious moment. What if the boat could not ride
+those waves? The time it took to get out of the
+harder waves could not be estimated by the hands
+of a clock or watch; but in gasping breaths, thumping
+hearts, pale faces and fears&mdash;for boys as well
+as for girls&mdash;it must have been a long, long time.
+</p>
+<p>Finally Freda stood up.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There!&#8221; she exclaimed. &#8220;What did I tell
+you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Sky!&#8221; they all shouted, clapping their hands
+like children.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And&mdash;it&mdash;took a girl&mdash;to&mdash;do it!&#8221; exclaimed
+Jack, who would not have been blamed
+for hugging Freda had the opportunity offered.
+Instead, however, he made his way back to the
+wheel and allowed Freda and Cora a chance to
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span>
+look at their blistered hands, for both girls had
+been tugging at the spokes.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Who would believe a storm would end like
+that?&#8221; said Belle, with the relief that comes so
+quickly upon intense strain.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We have got to keep in out of the rain for a
+while,&#8221; Cora cautioned. &#8220;There are enough
+water-loaded clouds over there yet to dampen our
+enthusiasm.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>This proved to be true, for torrents of rain followed
+in the wake of the vanishing thunder clouds.
+</p>
+<p>But the wind had ceased, and the waves soon
+quieted. With more than a sigh of relief the <i>Chelton</i>
+girls and boys fell into the course made now
+by the <i>Dixie</i>, for in that boat Denny Shane was
+at the wheel.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XII_THE_CALM' id='XII_THE_CALM'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2>
+<h3>THE CALM</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>A more delightful scene than Crystal Bay presented,
+two hours after the squall, could scarcely
+be imagined. To the motor girls it was particularly
+effective, as may easily be imagined. Coming
+back around the island the <i>Dixie</i> picked up the
+lost canoe, so this left nothing to be worried over
+in the record of adventure.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How do you feel, Lottie?&#8221; Cora asked, when
+all had landed safely and stood looking over the
+waters that could be so deceptive.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I am all right, really,&#8221; answered Lottie,
+a little ashamed that she should have allowed herself
+to give way.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But be careful,&#8221; cautioned Cora. &#8220;Take it
+easy for the rest of the day, at least. It doesn&#8217;t
+do to try too much.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Grandmother!&#8221; Lottie answered, with an affectionate
+squeeze of Cora&#8217;s arm. &#8220;What about
+you? Who did all the engineering in the storm?
+And who is still &#8216;on deck&#8217; giving orders?&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I am strong,&#8221; replied Cora, though strong
+as she was the last few hours had told in the paler
+tint of her cheeks.
+</p>
+<p>The return of the storm-stricken ones attracted
+crowds of bungalowers and campers to the beach;
+for, of course, craft of all sorts had been caught
+in the gale. The center of interest, however, was
+the <i>Chelton</i>, for that boat had already gained a
+reputation at Crystal Bay.
+</p>
+<p>Not one person came in from the bay in dry
+clothes; in fact, many were drenched, and naturally
+the girls showed the effects of the storm more
+conspicuously than did the boys. Bess happened
+to be the one &#8220;who got the worst of it,&#8221; among the
+motor girls&mdash;perhaps because there was more of
+her for the waves to hit.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You are certainly a beauty,&#8221; commented Belle,
+who had been more fortunate in dodging the
+water. &#8220;You look like a swimming lesson in the
+first stage.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I feel as if I needed artificial respiration,&#8221; replied
+Bess, good-humoredly, &#8220;but I want to forget
+it all&mdash;all but this. Isn&#8217;t this wonderful?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Almost enough to make up for the danger,&#8221;
+Belle returned. &#8220;But wasn&#8217;t Freda splendid?
+What good training she must have had to be able
+to manage that boat. No one else except Cora
+could have done it, and she was unfamiliar with
+the tricks of the bay. I do feel so sorry for Freda
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span>
+and her mother!&#8221; This last was said with a wistful
+sigh, for all the members of the Mote were
+now much attached to the motherly Mrs. Lewis.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Cora must have known those men were going
+to put the &#8216;for sale&#8217; sign on the cottage, when she
+hurried so to get Freda and her mother over to
+our place the other night,&#8221; went on Bess. &#8220;I knew
+there was something more important than merely
+taking care of us.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, of course, that&#8217;s just like Cora. Fancy
+Mrs. Lewis never hearing a word about it. If
+she had been in the house when they tacked that
+sign on&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It must be perfectly awful to lose everything
+that way; to feel it is all an injustice, yet not to
+be able to prove one&#8217;s own claim,&#8221; said Belle.
+&#8220;Tricky business men are worse to watch than
+spiteful girls, and we always thought <i>they</i> were
+about all that we could handle. There&#8217;s Ted and
+Jean. Just look at their boat!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Among the last of the storm-bound ones to
+&#8220;enter port&#8221; were Ted and Jean, members of
+&#8220;Camp All Alone.&#8221; They certainly presented a
+sorry spectacle, as they came up to the dock.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How do you feel?&#8221; asked Lottie, who was
+down near the water&#8217;s edge, in spite of Cora&#8217;s admonition.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I feel like playing a spaghetti obligato on a
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span>
+big hot bowl of soup,&#8221; replied Jean. &#8220;That would
+be the song to reach my heart.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The sun is clucking, girls,&#8221; announced Walter.
+&#8220;She may set at any time. Is there aught to
+eat at the Mote? Let us thither. We intended
+to go to the store before tea.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;After giving you your lunch!&#8221; exclaimed
+Cora, in surprise.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But, don&#8217;t you see, that is why we didn&#8217;t get
+to the store. You are really liable for our suppers.
+Don&#8217;t you think so, fellows?&#8221; he asked.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not only liable, but accountable,&#8221; added Ed.
+&#8220;Of course we will go home and dress. I wonder
+what on earth the squall did to headquarters?&#8221;
+he asked, suddenly realizing that the camp had
+had need of secure moorings during the last two
+hours.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s look,&#8221; suggested Dray, who had now
+moored the <i>Dixie</i> securely, while Jack and Cora
+had attended to the <i>Chelton</i>.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, you ought to see your tent,&#8221; sang out a
+little fellow, who wore little beside a shirt and
+bathing trunks. He had been out in the squall
+and had, very likely, enjoyed it immensely.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter with it?&#8221; inquired Jack.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, it&#8217;s all flippy-floppy,&#8221; replied the urchin.
+&#8220;But some lady saw it goin&#8217; and she tied it back
+to the stakes.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Some lady?&#8221; repeated Jack.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Mrs. Lewis, likely,&#8221; suggested Cora. &#8220;I
+hope she did not go out in that down-pour to tie
+the tents.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I rather hope she did,&#8221; admitted her brother.
+&#8220;I had some things in that tent not warranted
+rainproof. Hey, fellows!&#8221; he called to the other
+members of Camp Couldn&#8217;t. &#8220;Hurry up. Our
+tent was struck, they say.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>At the word the crowd from the beach ran helter-skelter
+through the woods toward the camp
+colony. Surely there was enough excitement
+around Crystal Bay that afternoon to last for some
+time, and there was every prospect now of new
+adventures developing.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Any tents down?&#8221; asked Dainty, as he puffed
+along.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Thinking of spilled grub?&#8221; queried Walter.
+&#8220;Nothing doing. We have a salvage corps
+department to our housewives&#8217; league, you know,
+and they are bound to protect the members from
+bandits. So you may just run along and see what
+is going on at the Cattle.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The storm had played havoc in the woods.
+Pine branches had scratched deep furrows in the
+white sand paths, beautiful bushes of blooming
+mountain laurel and mountain pinks were shorn
+of every bloom, and the wild roses were scattered
+like pink butterflies on the catch leaves of shrubs.
+</p>
+<p>The first camp to be met by the boys was Camp
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span>
+Hyphen. This was quite a pretentious establishment
+with a smaller tent adjunct. The adjunct
+stood for the hyphen, and it now lay in a heap like
+a discarded potato sack, its store of supplies settled
+uncertainly in nearby bushes.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;My, and they had just joined the League,&#8221;
+wailed Jack. &#8220;I suppose we will all have to put
+up for the reinforcements.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We are not an insurance company,&#8221; Ed objected.
+&#8220;Why should we make good for a
+storm?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Because we have a calamity clause. You had
+better look up your rules and regulations, young
+man. The last time I saw them they were pasted
+with a daub of good family flour on our back
+door.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Thank goodness the rain will have suspended
+our constitution,&#8221; Ed replied. &#8220;That back door
+never could have gone dry through the torrent.
+Don&#8217;t you remember how the small showers
+doused it?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We do,&#8221; Walter answered, &#8220;and as we have
+the only written rules, that same fact of the back
+door may stand us in well.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Pikers!&#8221; Jack called them with a laugh. &#8220;But
+will you observe the Hys! They are going to rebuild!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>A hyphenated name seemed the worst of luck
+for this camp, for there was no strong pole or
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span>
+cast iron bar to hold the two tents together, and
+the &#8220;hy&#8221; was merely a strip of ground that gave
+extra play to the wind. The smaller tent was now
+being dragged from the bed of wet sand into which
+it had partly buried itself, and the campers were
+struggling heroically to get it back to its pegs.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Too bad!&#8221; called Walter, sympathetically.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Worse than that,&#8221; replied one fellow, who
+looked as if he might have been shipwrecked.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But we are insured&mdash;in the league, you know,&#8221;
+shouted another member of the demolished camp.
+&#8220;We are coming up for supper.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You are?&#8221; returned Dray. &#8220;Say, fellows,&#8221;
+to his own camp company, &#8220;the best thing we can
+do is to take what stuff we find left and hide up at
+the Mote. Those fellows will come down on us
+and won&#8217;t believe about the washed-away constitution.
+Who on earth put that indemnity clause in,
+anyhow?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Clem did. He&#8217;s studying engineering,
+and I suppose he is lonesome for his math. We
+ought to make him pay the assessment. But I
+agree with Dray,&#8221; continued Walter. &#8220;We ought
+to &#8216;beat it&#8217; up to the Mote, quick. There are
+other tents flopping around, and everybody will be
+good and hungry, you can be sure.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Queer how old Denny made for his shack as
+soon as we got in,&#8221; Ed remarked. &#8220;I wonder
+if he thought that would be demolished?&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;No, not likely,&#8221; Jack said, &#8220;but the old fellow
+was pretty wet and played out. He&#8217;s plucky, all
+right, and I don&#8217;t believe we would be in yet but
+for him and Freda. But he is old, just the same,
+and only his pluck keeps him up to it. I would like
+to have been more decent to him, but he won&#8217;t give
+one a chance. We must fix it up some way,
+though.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We sure must,&#8221; agreed the others.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s another,&#8221; announced Jack, as a perfectly
+flat tent almost blocked their way. This was
+evidently deserted, for not a boy was to be seen,
+either lamenting or trying to right the canvas.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Funny,&#8221; commented Ed. &#8220;They must have
+gone to the hotel.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Hotel!&#8221; exclaimed Jack. &#8220;Why, they borrowed
+a pint of our kerosene this morning. They
+may have gone to jail.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s run,&#8221; suggested Ed. &#8220;This funeral
+march is getting on my nerves. Besides, I am anxious
+to see the Couldn&#8217;t.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>In a few minutes the boys sighted their own
+tent. It looked all right.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Thank goodness!&#8221; breathed Dray, fervently.
+&#8220;I really couldn&#8217;t stand any more nerve-racking
+experiences.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We look intact,&#8221; said Walter. &#8220;I wonder if
+my dress suit is still unwrinkled.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Your overalls?&#8221; asked Jack, mimicking Walter&#8217;s
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span>
+tone of voice. &#8220;Oh, I am sure they are perfectly
+all right, for I saw them in the wood box
+just before we left.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Brute!&#8221; responded Walter. &#8220;But I say!
+What&#8217;s that? We are inhabited!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Sounds of voices issued from inside the tent.
+Jack dashed ahead and raised the flap.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Robbers! Thieves! Police!&#8221; he yelled, then
+he had to dodge something.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We are here for our rights,&#8221; sang out a strong
+voice. &#8220;We demand our insurance!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Seems to me the demand is rather violent,&#8221; replied
+Ed, as the Couldn&#8217;ts saw what was going on.
+The entire tent was filled with boys from the
+wrecked camps, and they were making away with
+practically everything in the line of eatables they
+could lay their hands on.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Clear out!&#8221; ordered Dray, &#8220;or we will call
+the police. What sort of way is this to keep law
+and order?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The only way,&#8221; replied Hal, a boy from the
+&#8220;Mist.&#8221; &#8220;We couldn&#8217;t even keep up in starvation,
+but with something to sustain us we might be able
+to keep the law. As a matter of fact, it was civic
+pride that compelled us to come in here and eat.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>There was no help for it now, the Couldn&#8217;ts had
+been robbed. Even their party paper napkins
+were being made into balls.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t it awful!&#8221; moaned Jack, falling into the
+one dry spot on the sandy floor. &#8220;And we were
+the real benefactors of this ranch. That&#8217;s the
+way goodness is repaid in this hard, cruel world.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Nobody noticed the sermon&mdash;everyone was too
+busy looking for food. Finally Walter and Ed,
+after a private conference with Dray and Jack, decided
+to give to the unfortunates all the food they
+possessed, &#8220;in order to avert worse damage to
+their property.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But we are dining out,&#8221; Ed put in, &#8220;and it&#8217;s
+only fair that you should take the provender
+home. We want to wash our little faces, you
+know. We dine with ladies.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, we will pay it all back,&#8221; declared Clem,
+who was scooping up empty boxes in the hope of
+being agreeably disappointed in their contents as
+compared with their weight.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes&mdash;you&mdash;will!&#8221; mocked Jack, &#8220;when we
+can skate on the sand of the desert. But hustle.
+There&#8217;s not another scrap around. Land that oil
+can, Ted. It&#8217;s empty.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>After considerable urging, ordering and coaxing,
+the Couldn&#8217;ts rid themselves of their uninvited
+guests, and were once again in possession
+of their own tents.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Did the girls invite us?&#8221; asked Dray. &#8220;I hate
+to intrude.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They did not,&#8221; replied Jack, &#8220;and we are not
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span>
+going to intrude. We are just going over to thank
+Mrs. Lewis for saving this camp from destruction.
+She hammered down those stakes. Look at
+them!&#8221; he ordered. &#8220;Ed, did you ever wield a
+hammer as truthfully as that?&#8221;
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XIII_SUSPICION' id='XIII_SUSPICION'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2>
+<h3>SUSPICION</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;Of course we can get supper for everyone,&#8221;
+declared Mrs. Lewis, cordially, when Cora spoke
+of the determination of the boys to come down
+upon the Mote for tea. &#8220;We have plenty of
+food.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You are a wonder, Mrs. Lewis,&#8221; declared
+Cora. &#8220;You always have a full larder. I don&#8217;t
+see where it comes from, for you don&#8217;t even use
+up the budget.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a matter of experience,&#8221; answered Mrs.
+Lewis. &#8220;When one has to do things, my dear,
+one learns how. I am so glad we have macaroni
+cooked. Boys love big, steaming dishes.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Cora gave a sigh of relief. What a blessing
+Mrs. Lewis had proven to be! After finding themselves
+shut out of their house by a trick of the
+land agents she and her daughter had taken up a
+permanent residence in the girls&#8217; camp. Freda,
+in spite of all opposition, had installed herself as
+&#8220;maid.&#8221; She insisted on waiting on the table, and
+attending to rooms, and helping her mother generally,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span>
+although the girls wanted her to be one of
+them. Everyone declared that her mother, with
+her wonderful management and activity, more
+than made up for Freda being a visitor at the
+Mote.
+</p>
+<p>Freda seemed happier now than when she
+shared the little cottage with her mother, but this
+was easily understood. Under the new arrangement
+Mrs. Lewis was earning an honest and comfortable
+living, and Freda was more than willing
+to assist her in every way possible. Before, they
+had lived in constant dread of the land agents
+putting them out of their home. Even the fact that
+the sign &#8220;For Sale&#8221; had been placed on the cottage
+did not seem so unbearable, for the girls and
+boys had insisted that that was only a &#8220;scare&#8221; on
+the part of the land agents, and that while the town
+constable would not interfere to the extent of taking
+down the sign, he had promised to investigate
+the rights of those who put it up.
+</p>
+<p>But town constables are slow and timid when
+strangers, with big-brimmed hats, and plenty of
+cigars, come from the city, and order papers
+signed at so much per sign&mdash;for the constable.
+</p>
+<p>The boys had come, and the supper was almost
+ready. Lottie looked as pretty and as well as ever,
+for she had dressed in a chic pink frock, and with
+a pink snood binding her brow looked as fresh
+as though she had just come from the hands of
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span>
+a beauty specialist. After all, such vigorous
+treatment and baths of spray as the girls had encountered
+all that afternoon amounted to just
+that&mdash;beauty treatment; and Lottie was not the
+only one whose cheeks glowed, and in whose eyes
+shone the light that comes only from youth and
+health.
+</p>
+<p>The rumpus that always followed the boys&#8217; arrival
+was in full sway, Jack and Ed chasing Bess
+around the bungalow to make her give up an
+imaginary lost scarf pin, while Dray and Walter
+contented themselves with the less violent exercise
+of rocking on the front porch, where the other
+girls were scattered. They certainly were &#8220;scattered,&#8221;
+for there was so much to tell and hear of
+the afternoon&#8217;s adventure that each girl chose her
+own listener and her own corner.
+</p>
+<p>Everyone seemed deeply absorbed in this when
+Freda appeared at the door with the warning bell.
+That meant that in five minutes the tea bell would
+ring&mdash;only it was going to be dinner to-night.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That sounds fine,&#8221; Dray told Freda, who in
+her blue linen sailor suit looked quite as well as the
+young ladies who put in most of their time &#8220;leisuring.&#8221;
+&#8220;Our Belle is not nearly as aristocratic as
+that.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I hope dinner will bear out the reputation,&#8221;
+Freda replied, a bit shyly, for Dray was somewhat
+of a stranger to her.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Dinner will make that reputation immortal,&#8221;
+Jack declared, as he and Ed gave up their chase
+and joined the others on the porch. &#8220;But hello!
+Here comes Denny! And he has no pipe! Something
+surely is wrong.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Everyone ceased chattering as Denny Shane appeared
+on the tan bark path.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Hello, there, Denny!&#8221; called Jack, getting up
+from his porch chair. &#8220;What&#8217;s up?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;A-plenty,&#8221; answered Denny with a sweep of
+his cap that took everyone in the greeting.
+&#8220;Where&#8217;s the Widder Lewis?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, what&#8217;s the matter, Denny?&#8221; asked Freda,
+aghast. &#8220;Can&#8217;t you tell me first? You know how
+weak mother is.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;&#8217;Tis nothing bad,&#8221; replied Denny, as he sat
+down on the bottom step of the porch, in spite of
+all invitations to come up and have a chair. He
+settled his cap more securely on his gray head. &#8220;I
+just want to&mdash;tell her something.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But what?&#8221; insisted Freda, who now sat beside
+the old sailor on the step. &#8220;I know all about
+the business, you know.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do come in, Denny,&#8221; pleaded Cora. &#8220;It will
+be easier to talk in the living room. We young
+folks can go into the dining room and start our
+dinner while you settle it all quietly among yourselves.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Thank you, Miss,&#8221; Denny replied, promptly
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span>
+accepting Cora&#8217;s invitation. &#8220;That will be the
+best way, I guess.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Famished as everyone seemed to be, the visit
+of Denny somewhat shifted the interest from appetites,
+and curiosity strayed from the dining room
+toward the living room.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What can have happened?&#8221; whispered Belle
+to Marita. &#8220;Denny looks positively&mdash;angry.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Doesn&#8217;t he?&#8221; Marita replied. &#8220;I suppose it
+is something about Freda&#8217;s property; don&#8217;t you
+think so?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Likely.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The voices from the other room, that had been
+subdued, now rose in tones of surprise. Freda and
+her mother were both trying to talk at the same
+time, evidently.
+</p>
+<p>Cora was serving the dinner and endeavoring
+not to spoil it. The boys were too hungry and
+too glad to eat to allow any interruption to interfere
+with their pleasure, but the girls were prone to
+whisper, and even to listen when a voice penetrated
+the room.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It was them!&#8221; they heard Denny exclaim,
+&#8220;and I&#8217;ll have the law on them!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Then Freda said something like: &#8220;Can&#8217;t be
+sure!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Sure as me name&#8217;s Dinny Shane!&#8221; exclaimed
+the old man. &#8220;Who else would have tied up
+little Brian, the dog that was never tied before in
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span>
+his life! Sure I&#8217;d like to &#8217;a caught them at it,&#8221; and
+he brought his fist down hard on something.
+</p>
+<p>The boys and girls exchanged glances.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Something doing,&#8221; ventured Jack. &#8220;I&#8217;ll bet
+Denny has seen the witches.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No&mdash;banshees,&#8221; corrected Ed. &#8220;Witches
+aren&#8217;t ripe this time of year. But Cora, don&#8217;t let
+us keep you. Really, Walter would love to take
+your place up head there, when you have finished.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Cora was anxious to join in the conversation
+with Freda and her mother, Freda having whispered
+to her that they would like to have her do so
+as soon as the dinner was over.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then I will be excused,&#8221; she said, &#8220;although I
+hope you won&#8217;t hurry.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be alarmed,&#8221; said Walter. &#8220;It&#8217;s very
+bad to eat in a hurry.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll serve,&#8221; proposed Bess, &#8220;I know just how
+much everyone has had, and how much more they
+<i>ought</i> to have. Dray, you cannot have another bit
+of pudding.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Dray was stretching far out for the dish. He
+did love apple slump. And Mrs. Lewis knew just
+the right amount of cinnamon to season with.
+</p>
+<p>A hush followed Cora&#8217;s entrance to the living
+room. Not a single word or exclamation escaped
+through the Summer hangings that hid the narrow
+door.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do you think it&#8217;s a conspiracy?&#8221; remarked
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span>
+Walter. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad we had dinner first. I had no
+idea that a hurricane went straight to the hunger
+zone like that.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You would be a star to go up North,&#8221; commented
+Ed. &#8220;Just fancy carrying stuff in your
+pockets and starving because the exact latitude for
+grub had not been reached&mdash;wow!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I would insist upon being made chairman of
+the latitude committee,&#8221; replied Walter, &#8220;and my
+moves would be swift and certain.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The door opened and Freda entered. She was
+not exactly all smiles, but the serious look on her
+face was not deep enough to cause comment.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I came to fetch your coffee,&#8221; she announced,
+cheerfully. &#8220;You must think we are planning to
+dynamite something,&#8221; she added.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, worse than that,&#8221; replied Dray, getting
+one more spoonful of slump on the sly. &#8220;We
+thought you were taking a negative vote on the
+coffee. Nerves, at night, you know.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Let me help you,&#8221; insisted Belle. &#8220;I am almost
+stiff from sitting, or maybe it is from the
+way I <i>wasn&#8217;t</i> sitting in the bottom of the boat.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Very likely,&#8221; affirmed Jack. &#8220;I would not be
+surprised if we had to come around in the morning
+with nippers to get the kinks out. I see one
+forming, right now, in Lottie&#8217;s cheek.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We will be stiff, I am sure,&#8221; added Bess, &#8220;although
+our muscles ought to be in good form.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;When you have finished,&#8221; Freda whispered to
+Belle, &#8220;we want to give Denny something.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course,&#8221; Belle replied. &#8220;How selfish we
+are, sitting here &#8216;gabbing,&#8217; and neither you nor
+your mother has had supper yet. I&#8217;ll serve coffee
+at once.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t hurry,&#8221; Freda said. &#8220;We have time
+enough.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Everyone, however, seemed to guess at once
+that they should make room for the next &#8220;table,&#8221;
+and the coffee was swallowed, hastily.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; Lottie ventured to ask Freda.
+&#8220;We are just dying of curiosity. What has happened?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I can&#8217;t tell you now,&#8221; Freda answered,
+evasively. &#8220;I guess everyone knew we were shipwrecked
+this afternoon.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Cora appeared at the door. &#8220;May we come to
+eat now?&#8221; she asked. &#8220;I have only succeeded in
+making Denny stay with the understanding that we
+won&#8217;t keep him long. He is anxious to get back
+to his cabin.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I am that,&#8221; said Denny, following Cora into
+the dining room. &#8220;Can&#8217;t tell what&#8217;ll happen now.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then something <i>did</i> happen,&#8221; Bess said aside,
+to Marita. &#8220;I can&#8217;t imagine what.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now you must eat a good meal,&#8221; Mrs. Lewis
+insisted to Denny. &#8220;I remember well how you
+always loved macaroni and cheese.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;And I remember well how you fixed it up,&#8221; answered
+Denny, gallantly. &#8220;This is a bit like the
+old days; isn&#8217;t it? When I used to eat you out of
+house and home, when Len would fetch me into
+your house to tempt me appetite,&#8221; and he chuckled
+at the recollection. &#8220;Freddie, you were only a
+tot then, but you could climb on my knee right
+smart. I guess you were always a romp.&#8221; This
+last was plainly intended as a compliment, for
+Denny smiled at Freda as she handed him his
+steaming coffee.
+</p>
+<p>If the young folks thought that by special attention
+to Denny and his wants at the table they
+might get an inkling of the mystery that had so
+excited the old man they were disappointed, for
+he never betrayed a word of it, and only an occasional
+absent look in his sober gray eyes betokened
+anything unusual.
+</p>
+<p>He scarcely took time to swallow the tempting
+food, however, when he jumped up and declared
+he could not stay another minute, although Cora,
+Freda, and Mrs. Lewis urged him to remain.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I must run&mdash;I really must,&#8221; he insisted, &#8220;and
+mind what I tell you,&#8221; to Freda and Cora, &#8220;look
+out for yourselves!&#8221;
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XIV_AN_ANGRY_DRUGGIST' id='XIV_AN_ANGRY_DRUGGIST'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2>
+<h3>AN ANGRY DRUGGIST</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;We didn&#8217;t want to make a fuss over it before
+the boys,&#8221; Cora explained to a number of the
+girls, who, next morning, were seated about the
+bungalow side porch, trying to get in a few
+stitches of embroidery. &#8220;They would be sure to
+go straight at those land fellows, and we think&mdash;Denny
+and all of us&mdash;that the best way to do is
+to watch them carefully for a while.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But what happened?&#8221; demanded Lottie, impatiently.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t know exactly what, but it appears
+that while Denny was out, fishing us in, someone
+entered his shack and ransacked it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Burglars! What for? In that hut!&#8221; exclaimed
+Belle.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t know that, either,&#8221; continued Cora.
+&#8220;We can only surmise. They must have been
+after something that was neither money nor table
+silver.&#8221; She laughed a little at the idea of anyone
+trying to rob the humble cabin of a fisherman.
+&#8220;The little terrier is never tied up and never
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span>
+troubles anybody, but it seems he did object to the
+intrusion, for he has a cut on one leg, made, possibly,
+by a heavy shoe, and when Denny found
+him he was tied tight to a hook in the woodshed.
+Denny will never forgive whoever tied Brian.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But did the thieves take anything?&#8221; Bess
+wanted to know.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not a thing. Of course there was nothing an
+ordinary thief would have any use for; but it looks
+as if they were searching for something in particular,
+for everything was turned inside out. Every
+strip of carpet was pulled up and loose boards in
+the floor pried away. It really is too bad for
+Denny. He will have a lot of trouble getting
+things in order again, and you know he is neat,
+for a lone fisherman.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t that outrageous!&#8221; exclaimed Belle. &#8220;I
+think, Cora, we should have told the boys and had
+them make a charge against whoever may be
+guilty. They will be ransacking here next.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, goodness! I hope not,&#8221; cried Marita.
+&#8220;I think we should have police protection.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And have officers ringing our door bell all
+hours of the night because someone forgot to turn
+out the dining room light, or the side window was
+found unlocked,&#8221; said Cora. &#8220;They have very
+few officers here, I should imagine, and if we
+really gave them something to do they might insist
+on doing it.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Tell us more about it,&#8221; begged Marita, who
+was naturally fascinated with the &#8220;scary&#8221; part.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I only know that his shack was entered and
+all but torn down,&#8221; said Cora. &#8220;As to who did it,
+or why it was done, we can only surmise. But
+don&#8217;t talk too much about it. We want to keep it
+quiet.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221; demanded Marita.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Because by letting other people talk about it
+we may be able to trace the perpetrators. We
+could easily find out who knew it had happened, in
+that way.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I see,&#8221; Marita answered vaguely, although
+her tone did not indicate comprehension.
+&#8220;Freda and Mrs. Lewis are going out; aren&#8217;t
+they?&#8221; This question implied &#8220;why&#8221; also.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Cora answered again. &#8220;They have
+some business to attend to. I told them not to
+hurry back for lunch&mdash;we would attend to it. We
+really need the exercise.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But I am going canoeing directly after lunch,&#8221;
+Lottie objected.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;After lunch?&#8221; repeated Belle. &#8220;This will be
+before lunch&mdash;the getting ready.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, you know what I mean,&#8221; Lottie grumbled.
+&#8220;It makes one&#8217;s hands so horrid to handle cooking
+things.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Were you going to paddle?&#8221; asked Cora, innocently.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;I was going to try,&#8221; admitted Lottie.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then your hands will be in better shape from
+some active work,&#8221; Cora added, mischievously.
+&#8220;It is awful to try to paddle with soft hands.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I guess mine are not any too soft,&#8221; Lottie
+retorted, a bit abashed that she should have fallen
+into the trap.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Where are you going, Lottie?&#8221; asked Marita.
+&#8220;You know it is only safe to canoe near the shore.
+The water can be very rough sometimes.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think you ought to go in a canoe until
+you can swim,&#8221; said Cora. &#8220;You know a canoe
+is the most uncertain of craft, except that it is absolutely
+certain to upset if you draw a breath in,
+when you should send a breath out. Jack says a
+canoe is more than human, but I won&#8217;t shock your
+ears by saying what he thinks it is.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I am sure there is no danger when one sits
+still,&#8221; Lottie insisted, &#8220;but if you don&#8217;t want me
+to go, Cora&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course I want you to go, and have a nice
+time,&#8221; Cora explained, &#8220;but I don&#8217;t want you to
+upset. You should wear a bathing suit and be
+ready to swim in case of a spill.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I couldn&#8217;t do that!&#8221; exclaimed Lottie,
+rather shocked. &#8220;I am going with Clem.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, I hope Clem will put you in the very
+bottom of the boat, and not trust to a seat. Even
+a big cushion is wobbly,&#8221; finished Cora. &#8220;Now,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span>
+young ladies, are you ready for a tramp? We
+have to walk to the old village this morning to
+shop, unless you want to go to the dock and take
+Frank&#8217;s ferry. He will take us across for ten
+cents each, and we need things to eat.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, do let us walk,&#8221; begged Bess. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t
+seen half the things that grow around here.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do <i>you</i> grow around here?&#8221; asked Belle,
+maliciously, inferring that the desired walk was
+needed to &#8220;reduce.&#8221; A withering look was the
+answer she received from her twin sister. Just
+the same the walk was decided upon, and a little
+later the wintergreen path was alive with voices.
+It was one of the delights of Summer to tramp and
+ramble; and in spite of the joys of motor boating
+the girls were not slow to appreciate the pleasures
+of dry land decked in various shades of foliage
+green and floral tints.
+</p>
+<p>The mountain laurel was at its best&mdash;that little
+tasselled thing we call &#8220;pfingster,&#8221; but which
+looks quite aristocratic enough to belong to the
+orchid family, made bouquets of itself in every appropriate
+spot, while the glorious rhododendrons
+put forth a display sufficiently beautiful and courageous
+to last all Summer.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, my, look at the style!&#8221; Lottie exclaimed
+as a party of young folks appeared before them.
+They were evidently coming from the Cliff Hotel,
+and made the most of that fact.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s Hilda Hastings!&#8221; Cora said, in surprise.
+&#8220;I didn&#8217;t know she was down here.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>A remarkably pretty girl, light-haired and wearing
+lilac shades, with a parasol that reflected that
+becoming tint, was Hilda. She evidently saw, and
+recognized Cora just as the latter spied her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Cora Kimball!&#8221; cried Hilda, in the delighted
+way that usually marks a meeting with a home
+friend in the midst of vacation time. &#8220;Where did
+you come from?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Hilda!&#8221; answered Cora, advancing to
+meet the girl who almost ran to greet her, &#8220;I am
+so glad to see you. We are stopping at our own
+little bunk&mdash;the Motely Mote&mdash;on Pine Shade
+Way. And where do you put up?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Introductions followed, and girls from the
+Mote were plainly delighted to meet the others
+from a fashionable hotel. The meeting also resulted
+in a general invitation from the Cliff girls
+to the Motes to attend a hop to be given the next
+evening at the hotel.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And do bring every boy you can scrape up,&#8221;
+Hilda enjoined. &#8220;We shall be sure to need them.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What dress?&#8221; asked Lottie the Vain.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Linen or lace, doesn&#8217;t matter in the least,&#8221; declared
+a young girl whom they called Madge.
+&#8220;We will wear whatever we fall into for dinner.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; answered Lottie for all, fluttering
+at the prospect of a real hotel hop. &#8220;We will
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span>
+wear whatever we may find pressable&mdash;we have
+the awfullest time with wrinkles down here.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t mind them,&#8221; answered Hilda. &#8220;Wrinkled
+clothes are a seaside fad, you know. If you
+have none you will be suspected of being the Press
+Club Trust. That&#8217;s a clothing club&mdash;not literary.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>With other pleasantries the two sets parted,
+but not until all sorts of invitations to come and
+visit had been extended and accepted.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What nice girls,&#8221; the timid Marita remarked
+as the fashionable ones turned into the lane.
+&#8220;Isn&#8217;t Hilda pretty? Are they from Chelton?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;She is and they are,&#8221; answered Cora. &#8220;But
+I do not see how we are going to that hop. The
+boys were going to take us out in a sail boat, you
+know.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I would be frightened to death in a sail
+boat,&#8221; objected Lottie.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And perfectly safe in a canoe,&#8221; observed
+Belle. &#8220;Charlotte, that is scarcely understandable.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; said Lottie, turning a deeper shade of
+pink, &#8220;I am afraid of that big pole in a sail boat.
+It looks as if it would sweep one&#8217;s head off every
+time it veers around.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Just duck,&#8221; advised Belle. &#8220;It&#8217;s a great
+teacher of the proper mode of ducking; and that
+is not to be despised, Lottie, whether one has to
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span>
+duck harsh words, or big poles. But I want to go
+sailing. I can&#8217;t see what fun there is in going into
+a stuffy hotel on a beautiful moonlight evening
+when we can go out on the water and see something.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you think we would see something in
+the Cliff ball room?&#8221; challenged Lottie.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Peace!&#8221; called Cora, good-naturedly. &#8220;It
+looks as if we might have to take a vote on the
+question. But I can&#8217;t say that the boys would be
+willing to accept a negative answer.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, won&#8217;t they come?&#8221; Lottie asked in surprise.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe they will forego the sail,&#8221; replied
+Cora. &#8220;However, we won&#8217;t decide until we
+ask them. If they want to postpone the water
+sport we may take in the hop.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>This was looked upon as a reasonable solution
+of the problem, and while some of the girls hoped
+for the sail, perhaps an equal number wished to
+go to the dance.
+</p>
+<p>It was a delightful morning, and the woods
+were fairly alive with young folk. It seemed
+there could be very few mothers or chaperones at
+Crystal Bay, for even in marketing hours it was
+always the girls with baskets, or the boys with
+huge paper bags, who were encountered. On
+benches along the beach, to be sure, &#8220;elders&#8221;
+might be found sunning themselves and ruining
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span>
+their fading sight with alleged art embroideries,
+but in the matter of housekeeping it was youth
+that prevailed at the bay.
+</p>
+<p>It was a long walk to the general store at the
+point, but there was a resting place there, and if
+one wanted to tarry and felt like dancing, a very
+accommodating young man sat near the piano
+ready to play at the shortest notice. Belle and
+Lottie usually took a twirl while Bess and Cora
+did the shopping, but to-day having walked instead
+of coming by motor boat they sank into a seat at
+the water&#8217;s edge and watched others try the newest
+steps.
+</p>
+<p>Around the drug counter a number of men were
+engaged in earnest conversation with the salesman.
+Belle needed cold cream and was waiting
+her turn to tell the clerk so.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We just about have it,&#8221; said one man to the
+man behind the counter. &#8220;There is no question
+about the legal right; it is only a matter of a lost
+document. We may get along without it, but we
+understood you were a life-long resident, knew the
+people, and thought perhaps you could tell us
+something about it. Of course we don&#8217;t want anyone&#8217;s
+time for nothing.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The clerk scratched his head and looked over
+his glasses. The scale was tipping with white
+stuff and a customer was waiting.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That may be so,&#8221; he replied, slowly, &#8220;but I
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span>
+should think, young fellow, that them folks themselves
+would know more about their own business
+than anyone else. Why don&#8217;t you go to them?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do you think for a moment that anyone is
+going to do themselves out of house and home like
+that?&#8221; asked the taller man, angrily.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, that&#8217;s the game; is it? Well, see here!
+Do you think for one moment that I, Bill Sparks,
+am going to do a poor widow out of house and
+home to suit you!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>He had raised his voice to angry tones, a remarkable
+thing for Bill to do in business hours,
+but those around who heard had no blame for
+him. The strangers left without taking up their
+cigars or paying for them. Bill looked after them
+quizzically.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s the way to answer that sort,&#8221; he remarked
+to no one in particular. &#8220;Too many of
+them speculators around the bay, lately. Cold
+cream?&#8221; he inquired of Bess.
+</p>
+<p>Cora had seen the men, although she was in
+the grocery department, and when Bess told her
+what she had overheard she looked troubled.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We must not put that off another day,&#8221; she
+told Bess. &#8220;I am convinced that those men are
+dishonest, for why should they go sneaking around
+that way? Why not ask for information from the
+proper persons?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Scarcely had she spoken than Mrs. Lewis and
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span>
+Freda appeared in the doorway that led from the
+boat landing. Freda&#8217;s face was flushed, and Mrs.
+Lewis&#8217;s was pale.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; Cora asked, hurrying up to
+them.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They have started a mill dam across the
+creek,&#8221; replied Freda. &#8220;If they turn that water
+into use for mill purposes the whole shore of the
+bay will be ruined!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t go so fast, daughter,&#8221; urged Mrs.
+Lewis. &#8220;We can stop them; we must get a lawyer
+at once.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course,&#8221; answered Cora, &#8220;I think they
+call it an injunction, or restraining papers. Who
+is your lawyer, Mrs. Lewis?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We haven&#8217;t any,&#8221; Freda replied for her
+mother. &#8220;We were told if we engaged counsel
+they would eat up the whole thing. Oh, isn&#8217;t it
+dreadful!&#8221; and the brave Freda was on the verge
+of tears.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll see Jack at once,&#8221; declared Cora, &#8220;and
+if there are not trustworthy lawyers here we will
+fetch our own down from Chelton. The senior
+member of the firm would do anything reasonable
+for our family, and when mother is away she
+leaves Jack and me full discretion. Let us hurry
+back before the boys get out on the water. Bess,
+call Belle and Lottie.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The look of relief that spread over the widow&#8217;s
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span>
+face was a more eloquent form of thanks
+than words could have been, so without further
+delay they all hurried to the motor boat in which
+Mrs. Lewis and Freda had come over. It was
+from a bay front hotel and had come over for the
+eleven o&#8217;clock mail.
+</p>
+<p>The boy at the wheel started up as soon as all
+were seated, and as the launch was a good-sized
+one the trip across the bay was both comfortable
+and enjoyable. Of course Belle and Lottie wanted
+to know more than they could be told about the
+coming of Freda and Mrs. Lewis, so they had to
+content themselves with a word and a look from
+Cora.
+</p>
+<p>The boys were at the landing as the boat came
+in. This was exactly what Cora had wished for.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XV_AN_ALARM' id='XV_AN_ALARM'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2>
+<h3>AN ALARM</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;I will go to Lamberton this afternoon,&#8221; declared
+Mrs. Lewis, after having conferred with
+Cora and Jack. &#8220;I know a man there who was
+a great friend of my husband. He told me to
+come to him any time I needed advice, and he is
+a prominent lawyer. I have never troubled him&mdash;had
+no good cause to until now.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I think that would be a good plan,&#8221; Jack
+agreed. &#8220;I fancy as soon as we come down on
+those fellows good and hard, they will be forced
+to show their hand.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>So it was arranged that Mrs. Lewis should go
+to the town, some twenty-five miles away.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And Freda,&#8221; she said, &#8220;don&#8217;t worry if I am
+not back until the last train, for if he should happen
+to be in New York I will wait for him.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Be careful of that cut in the old road,&#8221; Freda
+warned. &#8220;Mother, you know it is always dark
+through there, even in broad daylight, and after
+dark it is pitchy.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t get any train until one o&#8217;clock,&#8221; went
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span>
+on Mrs. Lewis, &#8220;so, Freda, we will hurry back to
+the bungalow and leave everything ready for tea.
+We can prepare things while the girls are lunching.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now, you needn&#8217;t do anything of the kind,&#8221;
+objected Cora, &#8220;we girls can well enough take
+care of ourselves once in a while. Why, Mrs.
+Lewis, you have us all spoiled. We are supposed
+to do most of our own housekeeping in Summer
+camp, you know.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Indeed, you do that now,&#8221; returned Mrs.
+Lewis, who was more than grateful for the opportunity
+for work that Cora had afforded to her.
+&#8220;I like housekeeping when there is someone to
+keep for.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You had Freda,&#8221; Jack reminded her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And she wouldn&#8217;t let me do enough to keep
+in practice,&#8221; replied Mrs. Lewis. &#8220;Here we are,
+and the young ladies are stringing beans!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now that is what I call sweet of you,&#8221; Jack
+observed as he greeted the four girls, all seated
+around a low porch table with knives and beans
+plying from basket to pan. &#8220;Who told you we
+were coming to dine?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You positively are not, Brother Jack,&#8221; Cora
+declared. &#8220;You boys think our place is an elastic
+delicatessen. Why, we never know whether we
+are going to have enough for another meal or not,
+and we can&#8217;t go to the point again to-day.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;All right, Little Sister. If you have the heart
+to eat good string beans from old Henry&#8217;s garden,
+and know that your brother is starving for a single
+spoonful, just go ahead. They will rest heavy
+on your heart, though. I warn you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You may help!&#8221; offered Lottie. &#8220;Just take
+that paper bag and scoop up the ends. Bess spilled
+them.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I absolutely refuse,&#8221; replied Jack, haughtily,
+&#8220;to be a scraper-up for such mean people. No,
+sir! I have just been manicured,&#8221; and he gazed
+lovingly at his much-neglected hands.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It does seem as if all we do is to get ready
+to eat and then eat,&#8221; said Belle with a sigh. &#8220;I
+would never keep house for myself if I starved.
+At least, I would manage on fewer meals. We
+have only been to the point since breakfast and
+now it is time to eat again.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Cora had gone in with Freda and Mrs. Lewis
+and very soon afterward luncheon was announced&mdash;the
+beans were laid over for the evening meal.
+Jack stayed, of course, and wondered (so he said)
+why the other fellows did not come in search of
+him.
+</p>
+<p>An hour or two later Mrs. Lewis hurried off to
+the little station, after promising Freda that she
+would be most careful of the dark road known as
+the &#8220;Cut.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;For, Mother dear,&#8221; warned Freda, &#8220;I do
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span>
+believe those land sharks would do almost anything
+to scare the information out of us. They
+have threatened to have it at any cost, you know.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh! I am surprised at you being so nervous,
+dear,&#8221; replied the mother, kissing Freda reassuringly.
+&#8220;I never felt less nervous. In fact, I think
+now things will soon be righted. Good-bye, dear.
+And have a good time with your friends.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Freda watched the little woman step lightly
+away over the white path. Then, with a sigh, she
+turned back to the bungalow.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Freda! Freda!&#8221; called Bess. &#8220;You have not
+eaten yet, and I&#8217;m to do the dishes. Hurry this
+minute and just fill up! I must be finished in
+time for a nap, for I am nearly dead.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Freda did eat, though somehow she felt unusually
+depressed. Even Cora&#8217;s encouraging words,
+given into Freda&#8217;s ear when no one else was at
+hand, did not seem to cheer her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Just come down to the bay and go out with
+me,&#8221; urged Cora. &#8220;I want to try the boat with
+the new control, and I don&#8217;t want to go out
+alone!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course I will go with you,&#8221; assented Freda.
+&#8220;I have only to change my blouse.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The motor trip was delightful. The <i>Chelton</i>
+seemed to have missed the guiding hand of its
+fair owner, for while the new piece of mechanism
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span>
+was being put in Cora had not been using the
+boat.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How different from the one we rode in this
+morning,&#8221; Freda remarked. &#8220;I always feel as if
+something were going to explode when I sit near
+a noise such as that old engine made. I wonder
+that a big house like the Laurel can keep such a
+tub.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Guests are always glad to get on the water,&#8221;
+answered Cora, &#8220;and I suppose they are not particular
+as long as they do not have to pay extra
+for the sail. Most of the hotels down here hire
+out their launches, I believe.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>They headed straight for the island, and then
+ran around it to come back on the east shore. In
+many of the passing boats were young friends of
+Cora, and all sorts of messages were shouted back
+and forth.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I guess I had better go in early,&#8221; Cora remarked,
+&#8220;as we really have not decided on this
+evening&#8217;s plans. Some want the hop and others
+want the sail.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And I have a lot to do, too,&#8221; Freda said.
+&#8220;Mother and I have to take so much time from
+what we would like to do for you girls.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Cora protested against this, of course, declaring
+that the girls never had such help before, and
+regretting that Freda should take the matter so
+seriously.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;I cannot get over the attempt to rob Denny,&#8221;
+Cora went on, as they neared the bungalow. &#8220;I
+am glad they chose a time when he was not
+around, for he would certainly fight. He thinks
+he has the same strength he enjoyed years ago,
+and I hate to think what might have happened
+had he met those fellows.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Wasn&#8217;t it awful?&#8221; commented Freda. &#8220;And
+to think that it must have been on our account, for
+I am convinced that those men were searching for
+papers they believe Denny has.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No doubt about it,&#8221; said Cora. &#8220;But he has
+none; has he?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He has never mentioned such a thing, and
+with us worrying as we are, I am sure that if he
+had any of our papers he would show them to
+mother. I know my grandfather trusted him more
+than he even trusted my father, his own son; but
+that is easy to understand, for Denny had settled
+for life here, near the property, while father was
+likely to go to any part of the world, had he
+lived. He always wanted to travel.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;This is a splendid afternoon to write letters,&#8221;
+Cora remarked, &#8220;and I owe a very long one to
+mother. That, at least, I will get off on the last
+mail.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I have some to write, too,&#8221; Freda rejoined.
+&#8220;I had that very task in mind. I have to write to
+those &#8216;in-laws&#8217; I interviewed last week. They
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span>
+will think I am very ungrateful not to have written
+since my return. So long,&#8221; she called out cheerily.
+&#8220;I hope when mother comes back we will all have
+cause to rejoice. That friend of father&#8217;s is a very
+good lawyer.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But he may not be able to say much until
+he has had a chance to look into the case,&#8221; said
+prudent Cora. &#8220;We must not expect results so
+soon.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I do,&#8221; persisted Freda. &#8220;I know when
+he hears all that mother has to tell him he will
+be able to say something quite definite.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>So the girls parted, Cora to go to her letter
+writing, and Freda to hers. It seemed the entire
+household at the Mote was very busy that afternoon,
+some resting for the evening, others arranging
+the fussy trifles so important to young
+girls.
+</p>
+<p>It was getting dark when Freda came out at
+the side porch and looked anxiously down the
+road.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Mother should have come on that train,&#8221; she
+told herself. Then she waited to hear the train
+pass at the second crossing. &#8220;She would be on
+her way up now if she came,&#8221; Freda reflected,
+&#8220;I&#8217;ll get my things on and go to meet her.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Coming down the stairs she called Cora, but
+receiving no reply she did not wait to find her.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span>
+She expected to be gone only a few minutes and it
+was not worth while to wait to tell Cora where
+she was going.
+</p>
+<p>The dusk came down quickly. Even as Freda
+passed under the big elm tree she could not see
+the moss at its trunk.
+</p>
+<p>She hastened on, and was almost startled into
+a scream as she heard a noise. It was but the
+tinkle of a bell.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Someone on a bicycle!&#8221; exclaimed Freda, in
+relief.
+</p>
+<p>The bell tinkled again, and through an opening
+in the trees she caught a glimpse of the messenger
+boy from the railroad station. He saw her and
+called:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;A message for you!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;A message for me?&#8221; she repeated in surprise.
+&#8220;Who can it be from?&#8221; At once she thought of
+her mother.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; answered the lad. &#8220;Mr.
+Burke, at the station, took it over the telephone,
+and wrote it out. Here it is,&#8221; and he held up an
+envelope. &#8220;It&#8217;s all paid, and you don&#8217;t have to
+sign the book; it isn&#8217;t a regular telegram.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>With trembling fingers Freda tore open the envelope.
+There was a single slip of paper inside
+and on it was written in the hand of the station
+agent:
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;If you would do your mother a service come
+to Wickford Junction at once.&#8221;
+</p>
+<hr class='tb' />
+
+<p>&#8220;Wickford Junction!&#8221; gasped Freda, as the
+messenger boy rode away. &#8220;Why, how did
+mother get there? That&#8217;s in the opposite direction
+from Lamberton. Oh, there must have been
+some accident, and she has been taken there! I
+must go to her!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Hastily Freda looked in her purse. She had
+barely money enough for the ticket, but she would
+go. On eager and anxious feet she sped toward
+the railroad depot. It was getting much darker.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Mr. Burke!&#8221; Freda gasped, when she
+saw the agent behind his little wicket gate, &#8220;I&#8217;ve
+got to go to Wickford Junction. Mother is there.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;She is, Freda? Why I sold her a ticket to
+Lamberton this morning.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I know. But there must have been some accident.
+I just got a message from Wickford
+Junction.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I know, for I wrote it down. The person
+wouldn&#8217;t give any name, but I&#8217;m sure it wasn&#8217;t
+your mother.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, it couldn&#8217;t have been! She&#8217;s hurt!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Hurt?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, of course I&#8217;m not sure, but I fear she
+is. She must have told someone to send it. I&#8217;ve
+got to go. How much is a ticket?&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Eighty-five cents. The train&#8217;s due now.
+There she comes,&#8221; he added, as a distant whistle
+sounded.
+</p>
+<p>Freda had barely time to get her ticket and hurry
+aboard.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry,&#8221; the agent called out to her.
+&#8220;There hasn&#8217;t been any accident, or I&#8217;d have
+heard of it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But Freda did worry. All the way in the train
+she was a prey to nervous fears, and when the
+Junction was finally reached she was hardly able
+to keep up.
+</p>
+<p>But there was no sign of an accident, and her
+mother was not there when she alighted&mdash;the only
+passenger to get off.
+</p>
+<p>Wickford Junction was hardly more than a
+flag station, and there was an agent there only
+part of the time. He was not there now, but in
+the dingy waiting room, where Freda went to
+make inquiries, she found a shabbily dressed
+woman.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Are you Freda Lewis?&#8221; the latter asked,
+starting forward.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I am. But how did you know? Where
+is my mother? Did you send me a message? Oh,
+tell me quickly, please!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now, dearie, don&#8217;t get excited,&#8221; soothed the
+woman in accents that only made Freda worry
+more. &#8220;It will be all right. I sent for you to
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span>
+come here because I wanted to have a chance to
+talk to you alone. Now if you&#8217;ll sit down&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; asked Freda, quickly.
+&#8220;I don&#8217;t know you. What do you want?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Just to have a little talk with you. I thought
+it better to take this means than to go to your
+house. Sit down. You and your mother are trying
+to establish a claim to some property; aren&#8217;t
+you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, that is well known. But what do
+you&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Never mind about that. I will tell you all in
+due time. Have you any papers to prove your
+claim?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Any papers?&#8221; asked Freda, suspiciously.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes&mdash;deeds, mortgages or the like. I have
+studied law, and I may be able to help you. I
+have had experience in many disputed claims.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t know where&mdash;&mdash;&#8221; Freda was about
+to say that they did not know where the papers
+were, when she thought better of it. Was it right
+to confide thus in a stranger?
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now, dearie, tell me everything,&#8221; said the
+woman. &#8220;You can trust me. Or, better still, if
+you will come with me to the country hotel where
+I am stopping we will not be disturbed. Better
+come with me,&#8221; and in her eagerness she caught
+Freda by the arm.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, no! I&#8217;ll not go!&#8221; gasped the girl. &#8220;I
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span>
+want to find my mother. Who are you, and why
+do you ask me these questions? Did you send me
+that false message? What was your purpose in
+so deceiving me?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I did not deceive you!&#8221; replied the woman,
+sharply. &#8220;It was for the good of your mother
+that I asked you to meet me here. I will explain
+all to you later, but not here. I can do you good.
+Only trust me. Come with me. I have a carriage
+waiting outside.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Again she caught Freda&#8217;s arm.
+</p>
+<p>Then the harassed and nervous girl burst into
+tears. A kindly-faced hack driver, waiting outside
+in the hope of having some belated traveler
+hire him, heard. Dick Bently was a benevolent
+sort of chap, with daughters of his own. Hearing
+a girl crying he went into the depot.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter, Miss?&#8221; he asked, and his
+tone was reassuring.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, it&#8217;s my mother!&#8221; gasped Freda. &#8220;She
+isn&#8217;t here, and this&mdash;this person sent me a message&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It was for your good, my dear,&#8221; interrupted
+the strange woman, with an evil smile. &#8220;I&#8217;m trying
+to settle that property matter for you, my
+dearie!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Who are you, anyhow?&#8221; asked Dick belligerently.
+He did not like the appearance of the
+woman, nor her tone.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;It is not necessary for me to tell you anything,&#8221;
+she replied, with assumed dignity. &#8220;If
+I am not wanted, I will go.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Maybe it would be better,&#8221; said the hackman.
+&#8220;Now, can I help you, young lady?&#8221; he asked
+kindly, as the woman hurried off.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I only want to go home to Crystal Bay, and
+to my mother,&#8221; said Freda, and she briefly explained
+the circumstances.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, it&#8217;s too bad, but I&#8217;m afraid you can&#8217;t get
+back to Crystal Bay to-night,&#8221; declared the hackman.
+&#8220;The last train has gone.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The last train gone!&#8221; gasped Freda. &#8220;Oh,
+what am I to do?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now don&#8217;t you worry a mite,&#8221; replied Dick.
+&#8220;I&#8217;ll just take you home to my wife, and she&#8217;ll
+look after you. Don&#8217;t you worry,&#8221; and, after
+some persuasion he prevailed on Freda to go in
+his ramshackle rig to his home, where she was
+kindly received by his wife.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll go back to the station to meet the express
+that sometimes stops at the Junction,&#8221; explained
+Dick, &#8220;and, Miss, if there come any inquiries for
+you I&#8217;ll tell where you are. But you&#8217;ll have to stay
+with us till mornin&#8217;, I reckon.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Freda&#8217;s mind was easier now, but she could not
+imagine what had been the object of the strange
+woman, nor why she had sent the telegram.
+</p>
+<p>Meanwhile, back in the bungalow, there was
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span>
+much alarm when Freda was missed. And when
+her mother came home safely, and found her
+daughter gone, she almost collapsed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Where can she have gone?&#8221; she wailed.
+</p>
+<p>Hasty inquiries were made, and one of the boatmen
+told of having seen Freda start out through
+the woods, and meet the station messenger boy.
+After that it was easy to trace her.
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Burke told of the &#8217;phone message, and of
+having seen Freda board the train for the Junction.
+</p>
+<p>And then a new difficulty arose. There was no
+train to the Junction that night; but Mrs. Lewis
+was in such a state that nothing short of a visit to
+the place would satisfy her. There was no telephone
+available then, the Junction station being
+closed.
+</p>
+<p>Cora solved the trouble.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We can go to Hartford in our boat,&#8221; she said,
+&#8220;and from there it is only a short trip to the
+Junction. We could hire an auto.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>This was done. In the <i>Chelton</i>, the motor girls
+and the boys went to Hartford, making good
+time in getting there. A neighbor came over to
+the bungalow to stay with Mrs. Lewis, who grew
+more alarmed as the night deepened.
+</p>
+<p>The trip by auto, which was taken only by Jack,
+Cora and the chauffeur, was marked by the mishap
+of a blown-out tire, but that was all. When the
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span>
+Junction was finally reached, there, true to his
+promise, was the hackman, and to Cora&#8217;s excited
+inquiries he gave reassuring answers.
+</p>
+<p>Yes, Freda was all right, and safe at his house.
+He directed Jack and Cora there, and soon all
+were reunited. Then explanations were offered,
+Freda&#8217;s fears about her mother were quieted, and
+the trip back to Hartford made, where the motor
+boat party was anxiously waiting.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And now for the bungalow!&#8221; sighed Cora, as
+she took her place at the familiar wheel. A little
+later it was reached, and mother and daughter
+were together again telling their stories, and speculating
+much about Freda&#8217;s strange message and
+the mysterious woman. But the puzzle could not
+be solved.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XVI_A_BAD_CASE_OF_NERVES' id='XVI_A_BAD_CASE_OF_NERVES'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2>
+<h3>A BAD CASE OF NERVES</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;Would the boys have anything in their camp,
+do you suppose?&#8221; asked Bess, with a long sigh.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Anything for what?&#8221; asked Lottie, as she
+looked surreptitiously into the mirror of her vanity
+box. Lottie was always worried about the effect
+of late hours.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Is it something to eat?&#8221; asked Marita in her
+timid way. &#8220;If you want that, Bess, I&#8217;ll go over
+and help you carry it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Gracious, I hope we don&#8217;t need anything in
+the food line,&#8221; said Cora. &#8220;I thought we stocked
+up with enough to last the rest of the week.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I want something for my nerves,&#8221; went on
+Bess. &#8220;They&#8217;re on the ragged edge, and I jump
+at every sound.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And no wonder,&#8221; agreed Belle, as she went
+over to a hammock suspended between two trees.
+&#8220;Get something for mine, while you&#8217;re at it, Bess.
+I think they use bromide, or something like that.
+But I doubt if the boys would have any. They
+don&#8217;t seem to have a nerve in their bodies, though
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span>
+goodness knows they&#8217;re &#8216;nervy&#8217; enough at other
+times. Pardon the colloquialism,&#8221; she murmured
+as she sank back.
+</p>
+<p>It was the morning after Freda&#8217;s return, and
+the night had been rather a troubled one. No
+one in the girls&#8217; camp felt much like eating breakfast,
+though they managed to nibble at a bit of
+toast and drink some coffee.
+</p>
+<p>The alarm about Freda had giver the motor
+girls the keenest anxiety, and while Jack and the
+boys tried to make Freda and the girls believe the
+woman and the telephone message had been a
+joke, it looked to be too serious a matter to be
+lightly passed off.
+</p>
+<p>The odd woman who had met Freda at the
+country junction had shown, by her questions, that
+she knew much about the disputed property. And
+her manner had been, in a way, rather threatening.
+It was too unusual to have been accidental, at any
+rate.
+</p>
+<p>But Freda had reached home in safety. The
+motor girls were glad of that, but they were all
+suffering from a bad case of nerves, though, so
+far, Bess and Belle had been the only ones to
+admit it openly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t take any of that bromide, if I
+were you, Bess,&#8221; said Cora, as she straightened
+out some of the things in the living room. The
+usually homelike apartment had taken on a most
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span>
+woebegone appearance since the previous night.
+Everyone had left everything just where she had
+happened to let it fall.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But I&#8217;ve got to do something!&#8221; declared the
+plump twin. &#8220;My hand shakes&mdash;see, I can&#8217;t hold
+it still,&#8221; and in proof she held it out.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It does shake,&#8221; spoke Marita, in an awed
+whisper. &#8220;Maybe she had better have a doctor.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Doctor! Nonsense!&#8221; laughed Belle. &#8220;Her
+hand trembles because she had her arm up so long
+this morning, trying to do her hair up that new
+way. Sit down, Bess, and you&#8217;ll be all right in a
+few minutes.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But I can&#8217;t sit still, that&#8217;s the trouble. I&#8217;m
+so nervous!&#8221; and Bess hastily arose from a chair
+in which she had seated herself, and began pacing
+up and down the broad bungalow porch.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I have an idea!&#8221; exclaimed Cora.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t let it die of lonesomeness,&#8221; suggested
+Belle, with a laugh. &#8220;Think up another and have
+a pair of ideas.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I will,&#8221; replied Cora, promptly. &#8220;I think if
+we go out for a little spin in the boat it will do us
+all good. It&#8217;s a lovely day&mdash;too lovely to let our
+nerves get the best of us. What do you say?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll do anything rather than sit here and think
+of what might have happened,&#8221; sighed Bess.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, you&#8217;re taking it entirely too seriously,&#8221;
+put in Lottie, as she used a buffer on her already
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span>
+pink and polished nails. &#8220;What could have happened?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, they might have taken Freda away!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Who would?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Those persons&mdash;men or women&mdash;or both&mdash;who
+are trying to get possession of the Lewis
+property. And, in a way, we might have been involved,&#8221;
+went on Bess.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t see how,&#8221; observed Cora.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, we&#8217;ve given advice to Freda and her
+mother, and if things went wrong some persons
+might say we had an object in it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nonsense!&#8221; exclaimed Belle. &#8220;You&#8217;ve surely
+got a case of nerves, all right. Come on, let&#8217;s do
+as Cora says and take a trip on the water.&#8221; She
+got out of the hammock&mdash;Belle could accomplish
+this difficult feat more gracefully than anyone else,
+Cora always said.
+</p>
+<p>Then they all went down to the little dock where
+the <i>Chelton</i> was tied, and Cora, with a quickness
+born of long experience, ascertained that there
+was plenty of gasoline and oil in the craft. She
+tested the vibrator and found the current good,
+though at times, when not suffering from a fit of
+stubbornness, the engine had been known to start
+with the magneto. But it was not safe to depend
+on it.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Are you all ready?&#8221; asked Cora.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I guess so,&#8221; answered Bess. &#8220;I guess I won&#8217;t
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span>
+have to have bromide, after all. I feel better
+already.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I thought you would,&#8221; laughed Cora.
+&#8220;Marita, just straighten out that stern flag, will
+you? Thank you. You&#8217;re a dear!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Look out!&#8221; laughed Belle. &#8220;When Cora
+begins calling names there is no telling when she
+will stop.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry,&#8221; was Cora&#8217;s answer, as she
+stooped over to crank the motor. It started on
+the first turn and soon the <i>Chelton</i> was chugging
+a course over the sun-lit waters of Crystal Bay.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do you see anything of the boys?&#8221; asked
+Cora, as she turned to the others from her place
+at the steering wheel.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, there&#8217;s their boat&mdash;at least Jack&#8217;s
+apology for one&mdash;tied to the stake,&#8221; said Lottie.
+&#8220;Does that boat ever go out two days in succession,
+Cora?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe it does,&#8221; answered Jack&#8217;s sister.
+&#8220;It was a sort of makeshift, anyhow. Jack only
+got her running because someone said it couldn&#8217;t
+be done&mdash;it was a sort of dare. But the poor old
+boat seems to suffer from some intermittent fever.
+It runs one day and rests the next.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And the <i>Dixie</i>&mdash;she&#8217;s resting, too,&#8221; went on
+Bess, as she looked down the bay to where Dray
+Ward&#8217;s fine racing craft was moored. &#8220;The boys
+are not around yet.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Probably sleeping,&#8221; murmured Belle. &#8220;The
+indolent creatures!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Folks who live in glass houses&mdash;and all the
+rest of it,&#8221; said Cora. &#8220;It&#8217;s nearly eleven, and we
+haven&#8217;t been long away from the breakfast table
+ourselves.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a case of carrying coals to Newcastle;
+isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; asked Lottie, drying with her filmy handkerchief
+a drop of water on her dress.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You mean the pot calling the kettle black,&#8221;
+laughed Cora. Lottie never could get her proverbs
+just right.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, well, it&#8217;s all the same as long as there&#8217;s
+black in it,&#8221; responded Lottie. &#8220;I knew I had
+part of it right.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>On went the <i>Chelton</i>, and she had that part of
+the bay all to herself for the time being. A little
+breeze ruffled the water, and the sun shone
+brightly. Under these calming influences of
+nature the girls&mdash;even nervous Bess&mdash;felt themselves
+growing calm, and at peace with the world.
+The trouble of the night before seemed to melt
+away, and assume a less sinister aspect. But Cora
+could not get over the feeling that something akin
+to a tragedy had nearly happened.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And it may again,&#8221; she thought. &#8220;I do wish
+we could help Freda and her mother, but I don&#8217;t
+see how. Land troubles are always so complicated.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span></p>
+<p>As Cora turned the wheel and swung the boat
+about in a wide circle, she was aware of another
+craft coming toward her. She did not remember
+having seen it before, and as it drew nearer she
+noted that it contained but a single occupant&mdash;a
+young man, who, as Lottie said afterward, was not
+at all bad-looking.
+</p>
+<p>The young fellow guided his boat closer to the
+<i>Chelton</i>, and after she had done making mental
+notes of the new craft&#8217;s characteristics, Cora had
+an idea that the stranger wanted to speak to them.
+Such evidently was his intention, for he slowed
+down his engine, so as to muffle the noise of the
+exhaust, and called out:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;On which point is Bayhead, if you please?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Over there,&#8221; answered Cora, pointing to a
+promontory that jutted out into the bay. &#8220;But be
+careful and go well out when you round it. There
+are some dangerous rocks at low tide. How much
+do you draw?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Thirty-four inches.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s too much to try the short cut.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Thank you for telling me,&#8221; went on the young
+man. He certainly was good-looking. Even
+Cora, conservative as she always was, had to
+admit that.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We are going over that way,&#8221; went on Cora.
+&#8220;If you like, I will pilot you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You are very good,&#8221; returned the young man.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span>
+&#8220;If it will not be too much trouble, and not take
+you out of your way, I would like very much to
+have you show me the course. I&#8217;m a stranger
+here.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Cora and the motor girls had been on so many
+trips on land and water that they had learned how
+to meet and accept the advances of strangers, even
+when they were good-looking young men. There
+was, too, a sort of comradeship about a motor
+boat that lent a chaperonage to the effect of girls
+talking to men to whom they had never been introduced.
+Cora&#8217;s chums realized this and thought
+nothing of her offer.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Follow me,&#8221; Cora called, as she opened the
+throttle a little wider, and the <i>Chelton</i> shot ahead.
+The other boat came right after, with a promptness
+that caused Cora to think it had more speed
+than she at first suspected.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;My nerves are much better&mdash;now,&#8221; said Bess
+in a whisper to Lottie, as she stole a surreptitious
+glance at the young man.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XVII_A_LITTLE_RACE' id='XVII_A_LITTLE_RACE'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2>
+<h3>A LITTLE RACE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>For some time Cora held the lead in her boat,
+with the other following in her wake. The girls
+talked among themselves, speculation being rife
+as to what the young man wanted in Bayhead.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s an awfully swell place,&#8221; said Lottie. &#8220;I
+spent one Summer there, and it was nothing but
+dress, dress, dress all the while! Either for motoring,
+tennis or bridge. Oh, I got so weary of it!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But you liked it&mdash;especially the dressing,&#8221; put
+in Belle.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I should have, my dear, I don&#8217;t mind admitting
+that, if only I had had enough gowns,&#8221; went
+on Lottie, with a sigh. &#8220;But I didn&#8217;t have half
+enough. Papa was dreadfully poor that year. I
+believe he said there had been a &#8216;slump in the
+market,&#8217; whatever that means.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Anyhow I know I couldn&#8217;t begin to dress as
+those in my set did. So that&#8217;s how I remember
+Bayhead. I should like to go there again. It&#8217;s
+perfectly stunning.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;That young fellow doesn&#8217;t look to be any too
+well dressed,&#8221; remarked Bess.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Naturally he wouldn&#8217;t&mdash;going out in a boat,&#8221;
+said Cora. &#8220;Something seems to be the matter
+with his engine,&#8221; she added, for the stranger was
+bending over it.
+</p>
+<p>Whatever it was did not seem to be serious, for
+the lone motorboatist straightened up again presently.
+He increased his speed, and came alongside
+the <i>Chelton</i>.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We seem to be some distance from the point,&#8221;
+he said, with a smile. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you want a little
+race? You can call it off before we get near the
+danger spot.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Cora was rather taken aback by the proposal.
+It was one thing to direct a stranger, even when
+he was a youth good to look at, and it was all
+right, too, to even pilot him on his way in strange
+waters; but it was quite another matter to have the
+aforesaid stranger invite himself to a race. It
+was like having a beggar apply at your front door,
+and when given a sandwich, calmly ask for soup.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe&mdash;&mdash;&#8221; began Cora, but Bess
+slid up to her on the long seat and whispered:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, do, Cora! It won&#8217;t do any harm, and it
+will complete the nerve cure you have begun so
+well. Besides, we need a little practice in racing.
+We may take part in the water carnival down
+here.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, if the rest of you are willing, I&#8217;m not
+going to be the one to object,&#8221; returned Cora,
+smilingly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Will&mdash;will it be dangerous?&#8221; faltered timid
+Marita.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not a bit&mdash;you dear little goose!&#8221; exclaimed
+Belle, putting her arm about the shrinking one.
+&#8220;We&#8217;ve raced lots of times&mdash;and won, too!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Against such appealing strangers?&#8221; asked
+Lottie, raising her eyebrows in a rather affected
+way.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, it&#8217;s all in the game!&#8221; laughed Bess. Certainly
+her nerves seemed all right now.
+</p>
+<p>The young man&mdash;he had refrained from
+giving his name, either by accident or design&mdash;had
+been bending over his motor during the whispered
+talk among the girls. Now he looked up
+again.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; he asked, pleasantly, &#8220;is it to be a
+race?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If you like,&#8221; answered Cora, calmly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I certainly do like. I&#8217;m going to enter some
+of the Bayhead races, and I&#8217;d like to see how my
+boat will go.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But it&#8217;s a lighter boat than ours,&#8221; returned
+Cora, who was not willing to give nor take an
+unfair advantage. &#8220;And we have five passengers.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve thought of that,&#8221; the young man went on.
+&#8220;I&#8217;m willing to accept a handicap. I&#8217;ll drop back
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span>
+about five hundred feet and allow you that much.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That would be fair,&#8221; assented Cora, who,
+from having taken part in various races knew
+what would be about right.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then here goes!&#8221; cried the stranger, as he
+throttled down his motor. &#8220;I&#8217;ll give you a hail
+when I&#8217;m coming on.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The <i>Chelton</i> at once began drawing away from
+the <i>Pickerel</i>, which was the name of the stranger&#8217;s
+boat.
+</p>
+<p>This craft, it seemed, had a clutch arrangement,
+so that the motor could be allowed to run without
+the propeller revolving. Cora&#8217;s boat was likewise
+equipped.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Are you going to beat him?&#8221; asked Lottie, as
+she moved back where no drop of spray could spot
+her blue dress.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I am certainly going to try,&#8221; said Cora with a
+smile. &#8220;What does a race amount to if you don&#8217;t
+try to win?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, of course, but then I thought this was
+only in fun.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a race for keeps,&#8221; announced Cora. &#8220;And
+I think we&#8217;ll win. That last gasoline we got is the
+best we ever had. It gives us more power, and the
+<i>Chelton</i> is running like a sewing machine, as Jack
+says. I think we&#8217;re going to win!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>She opened the throttle a little wider and the
+<i>Chelton</i> responded instantly.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span></p>
+<p>A moment later there came a hail from the rear.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Distance enough! I&#8217;m coming!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Cora glanced back.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He certainly was generous,&#8221; she said. &#8220;That&#8217;s
+a good five hundred feet.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He looks like a generous chap,&#8221; murmured
+Lottie. She was again polishing her nails. Possibly
+she thought she might be introduced to the
+stranger, later on.
+</p>
+<p>There was the sound of a louder exhaust from
+the boat astern. The young man evidently was
+going to try his best to win.
+</p>
+<p>But Cora had no intention of letting him do so.
+She had shrewdly estimated the ability of his boat,
+as well as she could, though of course it was difficult,
+in the case of a craft she had never before
+seen.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Sit on the other side; will you, Lottie dear?&#8221;
+asked Cora, as, grasping the steering wheel with
+firmer fingers she looked at the course ahead of
+her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m so comfortable here,&#8221; objected Lottie.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I know, but the boat isn&#8217;t trimmed properly,
+and she can&#8217;t do her best unless she is.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Like us girls,&#8221; remarked Belle. &#8220;We, too,
+must be properly trimmed to do our best.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Trimmed!&#8221; exclaimed Lottie. &#8220;I don&#8217;t see
+any frills on the <i>Chelton</i>.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You may later, if we win the race,&#8221; said Bess.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span>
+&#8220;But what Cora means is that the boat isn&#8217;t properly
+balanced. There is too much weight on the
+starboard side.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, then I&#8217;m on the starboard side,&#8221; said
+Lottie.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, or on the right, according to the new
+navy rules,&#8221; agreed Cora. &#8220;But, really, someone
+must shift.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But if I go over there I&#8217;m afraid the spray
+will get on my dress,&#8221; objected Lottie. &#8220;And it
+spots terribly, especially with salt water.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll change over,&#8221; said Marita. &#8220;I don&#8217;t mind
+if my dress does get wet.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a dear,&#8221; sighed Lottie, as she settled
+back among the cushions.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And you&#8217;re a bit selfish,&#8221; thought Cora.
+</p>
+<p>The <i>Chelton</i>, now in better trim, skimmed
+over the bay. Behind her came the <i>Pickerel</i>.
+And, as Cora looked back she noted that the
+young man&#8217;s craft was slowly overtaking her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He has more speed than I thought he had,&#8221;
+she mused.
+</p>
+<p>Foot by foot the young man urged his boat onward.
+Clearly he was not of that false chivalrous
+type that permits a lady to win whether she has
+the ability or not. To a really athletic girl, pitted
+against a man in an equal contest, nothing is more
+humiliating than to realize that her opponent is
+not putting forth all his powers. There are some
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span>
+men who will never try too hard to win from a
+woman. This stranger was evidently not of that
+type, and Cora valued him accordingly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Can you get up any more speed?&#8221; asked Belle,
+anxiously.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve got a bit left,&#8221; said Cora, as she opened
+the throttle a little wider. &#8220;And I think I&#8217;ll need
+it,&#8221; she added.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He certainly is coming on,&#8221; added Belle in a
+low voice. &#8220;Are we getting too near the rocks,
+Cora?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, it&#8217;s safe so far. But I think I&#8217;ll go out
+a bit. I want to win this race.&#8221;
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XVIII_MORE_SUSPICIONS' id='XVIII_MORE_SUSPICIONS'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2>
+<h3>MORE SUSPICIONS</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Cora Kimball well knew the capabilities of
+the <i>Chelton</i>. She had steered other motor craft
+in many races, and was aware, almost to a revolution,
+just how much speed was available in a boat
+of this kind. And while she did not know what
+the rival boat could do, she was too expert at
+water sports to use up her last reserve of speed.
+</p>
+<p>So, even while she watched the other boat creep
+up on her, she did not open the throttle to its
+fullest extent, nor did she advance the timer, which
+controlled the spark, to the limit.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to be in shape to spurt if I have
+to,&#8221; reasoned Cora.
+</p>
+<p>Foot by foot the other boat crept on.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s going to win!&#8221; exclaimed Bess, in disappointed
+tones.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be so sure,&#8221; laughed Cora. &#8220;Remember,
+we have been in races before, and in many a
+seeming hopeless one we have come out ahead.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You girls are just&mdash;wonderful!&#8221; breathed
+Marita, as she crouched on the seat she had taken.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t know us yet,&#8221; laughed Bess. &#8220;Wait
+until you see some of the things Cora can do.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t believe her!&#8221; exclaimed Cora, turning
+for an instant to smile at the girl who always
+seemed to be effacing herself for others. Then as
+she saw the spray coming up against the bows, and
+dashing over Marita, she added:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, you poor child! Why didn&#8217;t you say you
+were getting wet?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I don&#8217;t mind,&#8221; was the brave answer.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But you must,&#8221; insisted Cora. &#8220;Here, put
+this on,&#8221; and from a forward locker she pulled an
+oilskin coat, flinging it back to Marita, as at that
+moment the boat yawed when a big wave hit the
+bows, necessitating a firm hand on the wheel.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, it&#8217;s getting rough!&#8221; exclaimed Lottie,
+apprehensively.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Put away your nail-buffer and hang on,&#8221; advised
+Bess. &#8220;It may be rougher before it&#8217;s
+calmer.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&mdash;I wish I hadn&#8217;t come,&#8221; mourned Lottie.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You aren&#8217;t going to be ill, I hope,&#8221; said Cora,
+quickly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, but my dress may be all spotted&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Here, take this,&#8221; offered Marita.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, indeed, you keep that,&#8221; said Cora,
+quickly. &#8220;There are more in the lockers. Belle,
+will you get them out? It is a bit rough out here.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>They had gotten beyond the protection of the
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span>
+arm of land that enclosed the bay, and with a
+strong tide running there were more waves than
+there had been at first.
+</p>
+<p>But the girls did not mind, save perhaps Lottie,
+and her chief anxiety was for her dress. An oilskin
+coat, however, averted this danger, and she
+settled back in her place.
+</p>
+<p>Cora looked back at the oncoming boat of the
+young man. It was within ten feet of her now,
+and as she opened the throttle of the <i>Chelton</i> a
+trifle more, she tried to get a glimpse of the controlling
+mechanism of her rival&#8217;s craft.
+</p>
+<p>She stood up to do this, and, as she did so there
+came a slapping wave against the bow of her boat.
+Cora staggered at the wheel, and Lottie screamed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Be quiet!&#8221; commanded Cora. &#8220;It&#8217;s all
+right.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But we roll so!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There <i>is</i> a bit of a sea on,&#8221; admitted Cora,
+calmly. &#8220;It will be over in a few minutes, though.
+I&#8217;ll have to tell him we&#8217;re close to the danger point,
+and will have to slow down.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Determining to end the race in good style, Cora
+opened up the throttle full, and advanced the
+spark to the limit. The <i>Chelton</i> responded with
+a sudden burst of speed that carried her some
+distance ahead of the rival craft.
+</p>
+<p>But the young man was evidently not going to
+take his defeat easily. The louder exhaust from
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span>
+his engine told that he, too, had put on more
+power.
+</p>
+<p>But it was not enough, for as Cora raised her
+hand, in automobile-signal fashion, to warn her
+follower of an impending stop, the end of the impromptu
+race course was reached.
+</p>
+<p>The girls had won.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; called the young man as he
+stood up at his wheel.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The rocks,&#8221; answered Cora. &#8220;We can&#8217;t race
+any more.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t need to,&#8221; he replied. &#8220;You won.
+I congratulate you!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>His tone was sincere, his manner courteous, but,
+as Cora looked into his boat, when it rushed up
+alongside her slowed-down craft, she noted that
+his throttle was still partly closed.
+</p>
+<p>Instantly a suspicion came to her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He did not try to win!&#8221; was the suggestion
+that flashed to her mind. &#8220;He didn&#8217;t try!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>For a moment her brain was in a whirl, and she
+had an idea that she ought to tell her chums what
+she had in mind. Then she decided to be cautious&mdash;to
+wait and watch a little longer. She wanted
+to find out his reason.
+</p>
+<p>Who was this strange young man who seemed
+so friendly? What did he want in Bayhead?
+Why had he proposed a race? And then, after
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span>
+proposing it, why had he not won it when, clearly,
+he might have done so?
+</p>
+<p>These were the questions that Cora asked herself
+as she slowed down her motor.
+</p>
+<p>She had used up her limit of power in an honest
+endeavor to win, but the young man had not. He
+had held back purposely.
+</p>
+<p>Why had he done it?
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XIX_ODD_TALK' id='XIX_ODD_TALK'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2>
+<h3>ODD TALK</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sorry I couldn&#8217;t beat you!&#8221; called the young
+man, waving his hand to the girls in Cora&#8217;s boat.
+&#8220;You had more speed than I thought.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Are you sure it was a fair race?&#8221; asked Cora,
+looking at him sharply. Her tone was peculiar.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;A fair race? What do you mean?&#8221; he asked,
+wonderingly. &#8220;Do you think I should have given
+myself more of a handicap?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, no indeed!&#8221; exclaimed Cora, blushing
+that he should have mistaken her meaning. &#8220;You
+were generous&mdash;too generous, I think.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, that&#8217;s all right. I&#8217;m not complaining. Of
+course it was a fair race. The faster boat won.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad you think so,&#8221; spoke Cora, meaningly,
+as she thought of the partly-closed throttle.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, yes indeed. I&#8217;m satisfied!&#8221; he exclaimed
+in generous tones. &#8220;But is the dangerous place
+you spoke of near here?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Right ahead,&#8221; answered Cora, pointing to
+where the water was swirling in over some partly-hidden
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span>
+rocks. &#8220;Keep well out, and when you
+round the point you&#8217;ll be at Bayhead.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m greatly obliged to you,&#8221; was his reply.
+But Cora did not look at him, nor return his bow.
+She swung her boat around and started back for
+the bungalow. The young man, with a curious
+glance at her, bent over his motor to make some
+adjustment. In another instant his craft shot
+ahead, seemingly at greater speed than it had
+made at any time during the race.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think much of him,&#8221; observed Lottie,
+as she took a more comfortable position on the
+cushions.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why not?&#8221; Belle asked.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Because he didn&#8217;t even invite us to a tennis
+game, to say nothing of ice cream sodas, and
+there&#8217;s a place in Bayhead where they have the
+most delicious chocolate!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Lottie!&#8221; gasped Marita. &#8220;Would you have
+gone with him?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, well,&#8221; with a shrug of her shoulders, &#8220;I
+don&#8217;t know as I would, only&mdash;he might have asked
+us.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, he wouldn&#8217;t,&#8221; said Cora, and the manner
+in which she spoke caused her chums to look curiously
+at her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What makes you think so?&#8221; inquired Bess,
+merely for the sake of argument. She had stopped
+eating sweets&mdash;for the time being.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Because he had a special object in view in
+asking us to race, and once that was accomplished
+he had no further use for us.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, Cora Kimball!&#8221; cried Belle. &#8220;What
+makes you say that?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Because I think it. You didn&#8217;t see all that I
+did.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What did you see?&#8221; asked Bess, eagerly.
+&#8220;Did he have some sort of weapon? Or do you
+think he tried to get us over this way, hoping we
+would be wrecked on the rocks? Maybe he was
+a wrecker, Cora. I&#8217;ve heard that there are some
+of those terrible people in this section.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nonsense!&#8221; exclaimed Cora. &#8220;I only mean
+that his boat is a very powerful one. He did not
+&#8216;let her out,&#8217; as Jack says, to the limit. He could
+easily have beaten us if he had wanted to.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The idea!&#8221; cried Belle. &#8220;I don&#8217;t like that
+kind of young man.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nor I,&#8221; agreed Cora. &#8220;Not because he refused
+to win when he could, but because of what
+may be his object. That he had one I&#8217;m certain.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The girls turned to look at the other motor
+boat. It was rounding the point to Bayhead now,
+and seemed to be going at remarkable speed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How fast it goes!&#8221; exclaimed Lottie.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, much faster than the <i>Chelton</i>,&#8221; responded
+Cora. &#8220;I told you he was holding back.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;What could have been his object?&#8221; asked
+Belle.
+</p>
+<p>And that was a question all the girls asked
+themselves.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, my nerves are better, anyhow,&#8221; observed
+Bess, as she threw back the clustering hair
+from her face so that the wind might caress her
+cheeks, now flushed with excitement.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s good,&#8221; spoke Cora.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The antidote of the race and the excitement
+of the mystery, as to why the nice young man
+didn&#8217;t want to win, are guaranteed to cure nerves
+or money refunded,&#8221; said Lottie with a laugh.
+&#8220;Where are you going, Cora?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Back to the bungalow, of course. Mrs. Lewis
+may be anxious about us. It is nearly lunch time,
+anyhow.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then it is time for us to be anxious about ourselves,&#8221;
+said Bess. &#8220;But I don&#8217;t believe Mrs.
+Lewis will worry. You know she went away right
+after doing up the breakfast things. She said she
+was going to consult some friends, for those she
+saw last night could not help her, and she may not
+be back yet. So there&#8217;s no need to hurry.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then I have an idea!&#8221; cried Cora. &#8220;We
+have our tea outfit with us, and some crackers.
+Why not go ashore and have a little picnic? It
+will complete the nerve treatment, perhaps,&#8221; and
+she smiled at Bess.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Good!&#8221; cried that girl. &#8220;It will be just the
+thing. Are you sure you have enough crackers,
+Cora? If not we could stop at the store on the
+point and get some.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, there are more than are good for you,&#8221;
+was the answer.
+</p>
+<p>Cora changed the course of the boat to send the
+craft over toward a pretty little wooded cove
+where the girls had often gone ashore for
+luncheon. They always carried in the boat an
+alcohol stove, with the necessary ingredients for
+tea.
+</p>
+<p>Soon the <i>Chelton</i> was beached at a place where
+the small waves would do her no damage, and the
+girls were preparing luncheon.
+</p>
+<p>They carried their own fresh water with them,
+not depending on finding a spring. Condensed
+milk, sugar and some tins of sweet crackers completed
+the meal, which was served on the grass for
+a table, paper napkins adding to the luxury of the
+occasion.
+</p>
+<p>The picnic place was on a spit of land that
+jutted out into Crystal Bay. It could be approached
+from either side, and on one side there
+was some dense shrubbery that hid the water from
+sight.
+</p>
+<p>It was when Cora and her chums were in the
+midst of their impromptu luncheon that they heard
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span>
+a boat grate on the beach that was hidden from
+view by the bushes.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Someone is coming!&#8221; exclaimed Bess.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Maybe it&#8217;s the boys,&#8221; remarked Belle.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s about time they followed us,&#8221; suggested
+Lottie. &#8220;They don&#8217;t give us a moment&#8217;s peace.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do you want it?&#8221; asked Cora pointedly, for
+Lottie had been rather taken up with Jack, of late.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; answered the girl. &#8220;Of
+course the boys are nice, and&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Handsome is as handsome does,&#8217;&#8221; quoted
+Belle. &#8220;But that doesn&#8217;t happen to be the boys.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How do you know?&#8221; asked Bess.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I just had a glimpse of them through the
+bushes. It&#8217;s a strange motor boat&mdash;neither the
+<i>Dixie</i> nor the <i>Lassie</i>.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Who is in her?&#8221; asked Cora.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t make out. Listen!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>She raised her hand for silence, but there was
+no need. The girls ceased chatting at once, and
+silently followed Cora toward a hedge of underbrush,
+some little distance from where their luncheon
+was spread.
+</p>
+<p>Then they heard some odd talk&mdash;at least it
+seemed odd until they understood the meaning of
+it.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;So you had a race with them?&#8221; one voice
+asked.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; replied another, who had just landed
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span>
+on the spit of the land. &#8220;I raced &#8217;em, but I didn&#8217;t
+beat &#8217;em!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Couldn&#8217;t you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Couldn&#8217;t I? Say, you know what the <i>Pickerel</i>
+can do when she&#8217;s pushed to it. I held back the
+throttle.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Cora started. Her suspicions were unexpectedly
+confirmed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You can see them from over here,&#8221; whispered
+Belle, pulling Cora&#8217;s sleeve. Cora moved to
+where an opening in the bushes afforded a glimpse
+of the strangers.
+</p>
+<p>She saw three men, and one of them she knew
+in an instant to be the young chap who had raced
+with her. His boat, too, was on the beach. It
+was from her that the men had come.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, you know how fast the <i>Chelton</i> can go
+now, that&#8217;s sure,&#8221; spoke a voice.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; answered the young man, &#8220;I know.
+We needn&#8217;t fear her if it comes to a chase. That&#8217;s
+what I wanted to make sure of.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then all we have to do is to get the rest of
+the evidence, and the property is ours.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes. We can turn the widow and the daughter
+out, all right, if we get the necessary papers.
+Then we can go ahead and build the dam across
+the brook.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s going to arouse a lot of opposition!&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span>
+exclaimed the third member of the trio. &#8220;It will
+spoil the park.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, we can&#8217;t help it. We need the dam for
+power for our factory, and the people don&#8217;t really
+need the park. We&#8217;ll do it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You mean we&#8217;ll make Shane do it!&#8221; exclaimed
+the young man who had raced with Cora.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XX_THE_NIGHT_PLOT' id='XX_THE_NIGHT_PLOT'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2>
+<h3>THE NIGHT PLOT</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The girls looked at one another with startled
+glances. Cora bent forward eagerly in order to
+better hear what else was said. She had no compunctions
+as to eavesdropping, feeling that it was
+justified under the circumstances.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They must mean Denny Shane, the old fisherman,&#8221;
+whispered Bess.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Hush!&#8221; cautioned Cora. Not only did she
+want to listen, but she was fearful lest the men on
+the other side of the hedge discover the presence
+of herself and her chums.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; resumed the speaker, &#8220;we must make
+old Shane do it. Once we get him in the proper
+frame of mind he&#8217;ll testify just as we want him to.
+And we need some testimony to offset that of the
+widow and her girl. Otherwise we&#8217;ll never get
+the property without a long delay.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But how can we get Shane in the proper frame
+of mind to testify as we want him to?&#8221; asked
+another of the trio.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Leave that to me,&#8221; answered the one who had
+been in the fast motor boat. And Cora started as
+she noted the difference in his tone now. It was
+hard and cruel, while, in speaking to her, his accents
+had been those of a cultured gentleman, used
+to polite society. There was a metallic ring to his
+voice now that boded no good to Denny Shane.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I guess we&#8217;ll leave it to you, Bruce,&#8221; said
+a voice, &#8220;though maybe Kelly could put it over
+him with a bit of blarney. You know Shane is
+Irish.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Hush! No names, and not so loud!&#8221;
+cautioned the one who had been addressed as
+Bruce.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Who&#8217;d be listening?&#8221; asked the other.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You never can tell, Moran,&#8221; was the retort.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There you go!&#8221; exclaimed Bruce, fretfully,
+and the girls knew it must have been the one
+called Kelly who spoke that time.
+</p>
+<p>There was a movement on the other side of
+the bush, and Cora, with a sudden motion,
+crouched down, signalling the others to do the
+same. It was only just in time, too. Fortunately
+for the girls they were in a sort of depression, and
+by crouching down they got out of sight, as one of
+the men came forward to peer through the underbrush.
+He saw nothing, as was evidenced by his
+report a moment later.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s not a soul here,&#8221; he said. &#8220;There&#8217;s
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span>
+been some picnic party around, but they&#8217;ve gone.
+It&#8217;s as deserted as a graveyard.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad we came away from our luncheon,&#8221;
+whispered Cora, as the men resumed their talk.
+The wind sprang up, for a moment, and carried
+their tones away from the girls, so that only an
+indistinct murmur could be heard. Then there
+came clear talk again.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, what&#8217;s the program, then?&#8221; asked one
+whom the girls could tell was Moran. He was
+the same man they had seen before in the drug
+store.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Get at Shane first of all,&#8221; decided Kelly.
+&#8220;I&#8217;m willing to let Bruce do it, even if I am Irish.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll all have to call on him,&#8221; said Bruce,
+grimly, &#8220;but only one need actually do the business.
+We&#8217;ve got to deal with him in two ways.
+We&#8217;ve got to make him tell what we want brought
+out in court, and we&#8217;ve got to scare him so that
+he won&#8217;t tell what we don&#8217;t want known. And
+there are two ways of doing that.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How?&#8221; asked Kelly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;First we can offer him a reward. It will be
+worth it, even if we have to pay something to have
+him testify as we wish. The committee allowed
+us a certain sum for&mdash;well, let us say for witness
+fees. I&#8217;d rather pay him a hundred dollars and
+have it all over with. It&#8217;s better to have a friend
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span>
+than an enemy, and you never can tell which way
+a thing like this is going to swing.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Sposin&#8217; he won&#8217;t take the cash?&#8221; asked
+Moran.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then I have another plan,&#8221; and Bruce laughed
+bitterly. &#8220;I guess I don&#8217;t need to say what it is.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m wise,&#8221; remarked Kelly. &#8220;Only&mdash;not too
+rough, you understand. He&#8217;s a feeble old man.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No rougher than&#8217;s necessary,&#8221; agreed Bruce.
+</p>
+<p>Cora clasped her hands, and looked with fear
+in her eyes at her chums.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&mdash;&mdash;we mustn&#8217;t let them harm dear old
+Denny!&#8221; whispered Belle, shivering with nervousness.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Hush!&#8221; cautioned Cora. &#8220;Don&#8217;t talk&mdash;think!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>There was a movement on the other side of the
+screen of bushes, as indicating that the men were
+about to leave.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, we&#8217;ll let it go until to-night then,&#8221; said
+Kelly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Until to-night,&#8221; agreed Bruce. &#8220;And we
+know, in case of a slip-up, that there&#8217;s no motor
+boat around here that can catch us when we make
+our get-away.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s the <i>Dixie</i>,&#8221; suggested Moran.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s out of commission, I heard,&#8221; responded
+Bruce. &#8220;And she won&#8217;t be in shape for a day or
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span>
+so. The <i>Chelton</i>&mdash;well, I gave her a try-out a
+while ago, and I know what she can do.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, do you?&#8221; thought Cora. &#8220;Perhaps you
+don&#8217;t.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I have to laugh when I think how I took those
+girls in,&#8221; went on Bruce. &#8220;I pretending that I was
+a stranger in these waters, and they kindly offering
+to pilot me. I guess they took me for some society
+swell of Bayhead.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The mean thing!&#8221; hissed Lottie.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, you can do the society act when you
+have to,&#8221; said Kelly. &#8220;Only I guess we won&#8217;t
+need that now. Shane doesn&#8217;t move in society circles.
+How&#8217;d the game with the widow&#8217;s daughter
+work out?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It didn&#8217;t work at all. &#8216;Confidence Kate&#8217; didn&#8217;t
+gain her confidence. That&#8217;s why I&#8217;m switching to
+Shane,&#8221; answered Bruce. &#8220;But we&#8217;d better be
+going. There&#8217;s lots to be done.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Cora and the motor girls listened in silence as
+the men crunched their way down the beach to
+their boat.
+</p>
+<p>A little later they were chugging away in the
+speedy <i>Pickerel</i>.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t that just awful!&#8221; gasped Belle.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a villainous plot!&#8221; exclaimed Bess. &#8220;Oh,
+I&#8217;m so nervous! I know I&#8217;m going to cry&mdash;or
+laugh&mdash;or do both.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Bess Robinson, if you do anything foolish, or
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span>
+faint, you shan&#8217;t do a thing toward helping to save
+Denny Shane!&#8221; exclaimed Cora, vigorously.
+&#8220;And I know you do want to help him.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I certainly do. I&#8217;ll behave. Oh, let me have
+a cup of tea.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I think we&#8217;ll all be better for it,&#8221; assented
+Cora. &#8220;Come, girls, let&#8217;s eat and then we&#8217;ll get
+back. We, too, have a great deal to do.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do you mean that you girls are going to try
+to&mdash;&mdash;to outwit those desperate men?&#8221; asked
+Marita, her eyes opened wide.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We certainly do mean to!&#8221; insisted Cora.
+&#8220;Who else would do it?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, the police.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There are only constables in a place like this.
+We can do better than they&mdash;especially with the
+boys to help.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, of course, the boys!&#8221; agreed Marita, and
+she seemed relieved.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I must say it was most providential that we
+heard what they said,&#8221; spoke Lottie, looking to
+see if there were any grass stains on her dress.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Indeed it was,&#8221; assented Cora.
+</p>
+<p>It was rather an excited little luncheon, but the
+hot tea did them all good, and then, rapidly talking
+over what they had just gone through, and making
+all sorts of plans to outwit the schemers, the girls
+got into their boat again, and headed for the
+bungalow.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course we must warn Denny at once,&#8221;
+said Cora, and to this the girls agreed. &#8220;Then
+we&#8217;ll tell the boys, and see what they suggest.
+But I almost know what Jack will say!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; asked Lottie. She was very much
+interested in Jack.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, he&#8217;ll want to hide and capture the villains
+&#8216;red-handed,&#8217; as he calls it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And I don&#8217;t know but what that&#8217;s as good a
+plan as any,&#8221; remarked Belle. &#8220;I&#8217;d like to see
+them do it!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Cora and her chums found Mrs. Lewis rather
+worried over their absence from the bungalow.
+She had returned, unsuccessful, from seeing her
+friends. Freda was recovering from the shock
+and fright of the day before.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Where have you been?&#8221; Mrs. Lewis asked
+Cora.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, just off on a little picnic,&#8221; was the answer,
+and Cora motioned to her chums to say nothing
+of what they had heard. They had agreed that it
+would be better for the widow not to know, at
+least for the present.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Dinner will be ready soon,&#8221; suggested Mrs.
+Lewis.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll have it a little late to-day,&#8221; replied
+Cora. &#8220;We have had some tea, and I want to
+go over and see Jack. They haven&#8217;t been around
+here since we left; have they?&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, yes,&#8221; answered Freda. &#8220;They were all
+here, wanting to know where you&#8217;d gone; but of
+course I couldn&#8217;t say. Then they went out in your
+brother&#8217;s boat, but they didn&#8217;t get far before they
+had a breakdown.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s the <i>Lassie</i>&#8217;s day off again,&#8221; laughed Belle.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why didn&#8217;t they take the <i>Dixie</i>?&#8221; asked Bess.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Something is the matter with her, too,&#8221; replied
+Freda.
+</p>
+<p>Cora and her chums exchanged meaning glances.
+The talk of the men was confirmed. Evidently
+they had their own way of getting information.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, we&#8217;ll go over to Camp Couldn&#8217;t,&#8221; suggested
+Cora, after a pause. &#8220;They&#8217;re probably
+there now.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>They found the boys grouped about, in and out
+of the tent.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Here they come!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Where have you been, girls?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve been lonesome for you!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How bright the day seems now, to what it was
+before!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Thus chanted Jack, Walter, Ed and Dray Ward,
+as they saw the advancing girls.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, stop that nonsense, Jack!&#8221; exclaimed
+Cora, as her brother waltzed forward to do a
+two-step on the moss with timid Marita.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, what is wrong?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Lots!&#8221; she exclaimed, and her manner must
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span>
+have impressed Jack, for he grew grave at once.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Has anything more happened since last
+night?&#8221; he asked.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There has. We&#8217;ve discovered the meanest
+plot to harm Denny Shane. Listen.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We list!&#8221; recited Walter, but Cora quieted
+him with a look.
+</p>
+<p>Then began the telling of the overheard conversation.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, what do you know about that?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The nerve of that chap wanting a race!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll race <i>him</i>, all right!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And so they&#8217;re going to do up old Denny,
+eh?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, I guess we&#8217;ll have a hand in that!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>These were the comments of Jack and his
+chums.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now don&#8217;t do anything rash,&#8221; begged Cora.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve got to do <i>something</i>,&#8221; insisted Jack.
+</p>
+<p>After some consultation it was agreed that the
+boys should go over and have a talk with the fisherman,
+and then, among themselves, they would
+decide on what was best to be done.
+</p>
+<p>Meanwhile the girls would go back to the
+bungalow, there to await the report of the boys.
+Nothing would be said to Mrs. Lewis, for she had
+had alarm enough.
+</p>
+<p>It was anxious waiting for the girls, and they
+were so nervous that they did not enjoy the dinner
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span>
+Mrs. Lewis had prepared, at which lack of appetite
+she wondered much. But she ascribed their
+distraction, and their rather strange comments, to
+the alarm of the day before.
+</p>
+<p>Finally the <i>Lassie</i>, which had somehow been induced
+to &#8220;mote,&#8221; was descried coming across the
+bay from the direction of the old fisherman&#8217;s cabin.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Come on, girls!&#8221; called Cora as she saw the
+boys. &#8220;We&#8217;ll go down and meet them.&#8221; She did
+not want Mrs. Lewis to hear the talk.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, Jack?&#8221; asked Cora, as the boat came in.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not well&mdash;bad,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Denny wasn&#8217;t at
+home, and no one knew where he had gone. So
+we left a note for him, and we&#8217;ll be on hand to-night.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What about us?&#8221; asked Bess.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;d better stay here,&#8221; said Jack. &#8220;No telling
+what sort of a row we may run into, and you&#8217;re
+better at home.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I think so, too,&#8221; agreed Cora, but the look
+she gave her chums had more meaning in it than
+the mere words indicated. Bess and the others
+understood.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And now,&#8221; went on Jack, &#8220;we&#8217;ll proceed to
+find out why the <i>Dixie</i> won&#8217;t mote. We want her
+in shape to-night.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right,&#8221; assented Dray. &#8220;I think it&#8217;s
+the carbureter. I&#8217;ll get a man from the garage to
+look it over.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_194' name='page_194'></a>194</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll want a fast boat if the one those fellows
+have is as speedy as you girls say,&#8221; remarked
+Walter.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Couldn&#8217;t we take the <i>Chelton</i>?&#8221; asked Ed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The <i>Pickerel</i> beat us to-day,&#8221; said Cora. &#8220;Besides,
+it might be good to have her in reserve.
+Try and have the <i>Dixie</i> fixed up.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We will!&#8221; promised her owner.
+</p>
+<p>The remainder of the day seemed like a dream
+to the girls. Never had time passed so slowly.
+They were waiting for what the night might bring.
+</p>
+<p>The boys made several other trips to the fisherman&#8217;s
+cabin, going afoot through the woods, as
+the <i>Lassie</i> had again gone on a strike, and a man
+from the garage was working over the <i>Dixie</i>.
+</p>
+<p>The fisherman&#8217;s cabin could be reached in two
+ways, but the water route was preferred by the
+young people, even though it was longer.
+</p>
+<p>The boys could not find Denny at home, however,
+and planned to be at his cabin just at dusk,
+and to remain there until something happened.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;So we&#8217;ll be sure to be there when the men
+arrive,&#8221; said Jack.
+</p>
+<p>Finally twilight came, and with the falling of
+night the repairs to the <i>Dixie</i> were completed.
+She seemed to be running better than in some time.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, here we go!&#8221; remarked Walter, as the
+boys took their places in the swift craft. &#8220;We&#8217;ll
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span>
+let you girls know what happens&mdash;as soon as it
+happens.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;d better!&#8221; laughed Cora. &#8220;We&#8217;ll be
+very anxious.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>She and her chums had come down to the dock
+to see the boys leave on their trip to save Denny
+from an unknown danger.
+</p>
+<p>Then came more anxious waiting.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XXI_THE_BREAKDOWN' id='XXI_THE_BREAKDOWN'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2>
+<h3>THE BREAKDOWN</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, he hasn&#8217;t come back yet.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No. It&#8217;s sort of queer, too. I wonder where
+he can be keeping himself, all day?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Maybe those fellows have got to him after
+all.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Jack Kimball and his chums, landing at the
+fisherman&#8217;s dock from the <i>Dixie</i>, thus commented
+when they paid another visit to Denny&#8217;s cabin, and
+found him still absent.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, I don&#8217;t imagine anything has happened,&#8221;
+said Jack. &#8220;You know he often goes off and stays
+a long time in his boat. He&#8217;s got a crazy sort of
+motor in it, that runs about as often as the one
+does in the <i>Lassie</i>. He may be stuck somewhere.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Or else waiting the turn of the tide,&#8221; suggested
+Ed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right,&#8221; chimed in Dray. &#8220;I&#8217;ve heard
+him say that certain fish won&#8217;t bite when the tide&#8217;s
+running out, and that you can catch others only
+when it&#8217;s coming in. Maybe he is hanging around
+for that.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Then he ought to be back soon,&#8221; declared
+Jack, &#8220;for the tide turned a half-hour ago.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If he&#8217;s far out in the bay it will take him a
+long while to come in. His boat doesn&#8217;t make
+very good time,&#8221; observed Walter.
+</p>
+<p>The boys walked around the cabin. It was
+closed and locked, and the warning note they had
+left for the fisherman was still pinned to the door.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Which shows that those men haven&#8217;t been
+here,&#8221; said Jack. &#8220;That makes me fear that they
+may have gotten to him before us.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why so?&#8221; asked Ed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, it&#8217;s evident that the men haven&#8217;t been
+here since the girls gave us the alarm. If they
+had they&#8217;d have torn up that note. Then, too,
+you&#8217;d think, if they were going to try to make
+Denny do what they wanted in the way of giving
+testimony, they&#8217;d be getting at it. He goes to bed
+early, as everybody around here knows, and locks
+up. If those fellows wanted to get at him without
+breaking in they&#8217;d come early. All of which
+makes me think that they may already have had
+a serious interview with him.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I hope not,&#8221; observed Walter. &#8220;I&#8217;m more inclined
+to believe that he&#8217;s out on the bay somewhere.
+If he is he&#8217;s all right.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Say, fellows, I&#8217;ve got an idea!&#8221; cried Jack.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Hold fast to it&mdash;they&#8217;re scarce,&#8221; remarked
+Ed.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;No, but seriously. Suppose we cruise about a
+bit. We needn&#8217;t go far from the shore, and we
+can have an eye on the cabin. In case Denny is out
+on the water we may pick him up. Then we could
+tell him what was on, and warn him. We could
+do it even better than on shore here, for there&#8217;s
+no telling but what some of those fellows may be in
+hiding around here,&#8221; and Jack cast a look about.
+It was dark, but a full moon was coming up to
+make a light that revealed most objects.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then if there is a possibility that someone
+may be in ambush here,&#8221; said Walter, &#8220;we&#8217;d better
+keep a bit more mum. But I think Jack&#8217;s plan is a
+good one. Let&#8217;s cruise about a bit, but keep
+within sight of the cabin.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>No one had any objections so, after making a
+casual search about the cabin, and not finding anyone
+in hiding, the boys again got aboard the <i>Dixie</i>
+and started to cruise on the bay, that was now
+sparkling in the moonlight.
+</p>
+<p>Jack and his chums kept a careful watch for
+Denny Shane&#8217;s boat. There were several motor
+craft out, for the night was one that invited trips
+on the water&mdash;calm and still, with a gentle breeze
+that had in it the tang of salt mingled with the
+sweet odors of Summer.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I feel just like singing,&#8221; remarked Ed, after a
+pause during which the <i>Dixie</i> cruised about, not
+too far from the cabin.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Have some regard for our feelings,&#8221; begged
+Jack. &#8220;Remember that we are under a great
+strain.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And Ed would be, too, if he sang,&#8221; said Walter.
+&#8220;At least I would feel constrained to remonstrate
+with him.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Huh! Think no one can sing but yourself!&#8221;
+retorted Ed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Moonlight always did have a queer effect on
+him,&#8221; remarked Jack.
+</p>
+<p>Round about they cruised, and they were thinking
+of returning to make sure that Denny had not
+reached his cabin by some other route, unseen by
+them, when the motor of the <i>Dixie</i> gave a combined
+cough, groan and sneeze, and stopped short.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There she goes!&#8221; exclaimed Ed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You mean there she <i>doesn&#8217;t</i> go!&#8221; corrected
+Walter.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Get the talcum powder,&#8221; suggested Jack.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure Dray didn&#8217;t use the tooth brush on
+her before we came out,&#8221; spoke Jack, accusingly.
+</p>
+<p>The boys had a way of doing the most absurd
+things, from a mechanical standpoint, whenever
+their motors refused to mote. They would dust
+talcum powder on the cylinder tops, or tie a piece
+of baby-blue ribbon on the pet-cock when they had
+exhausted every other means of making a rebellious
+motor operate.
+</p>
+<p>And the odd part of it was that, often, when
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span>
+they had done these seemingly silly things, the boat
+would start. So they were rather superstitious
+about it, and they did carry a tin of talcum powder
+with them, much to the amusement of the girls.
+</p>
+<p>In turn the usual sources of trouble were
+looked for and eliminated one after the other.
+</p>
+<p>No wires seemed to have broken, the current
+was good, the vibrator buzzed when the contact
+was made and there was plenty of gasoline in the
+tank.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Put in a new spark plug,&#8221; suggested Jack.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;New ones went in to-day,&#8221; answered Dray.
+&#8220;They can&#8217;t have sooted already. It isn&#8217;t there.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Give her a little more air,&#8221; proposed Walter.
+&#8220;I think she&#8217;s getting too rich a gasoline mixture.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not going to touch the carbureter!&#8221; declared
+the young owner of the <i>Dixie</i>. &#8220;It was
+trouble enough to get her fixed before. Hand me
+that talcum.&#8221; Gravely he dusted some on the
+pump rod.
+</p>
+<p>Then another attempt was made to start the
+motor, but it only sighed dismally, and refused to
+do its duty.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I say!&#8221; cried Jack, looking up from where he
+had been examining the carbureter with an electrical
+pocket flash, &#8220;we&#8217;re drifting out to sea!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;So we are!&#8221; agreed Ed. &#8220;Say, can&#8217;t you get
+her going?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Can&#8217;t seem to,&#8221; replied Drayton. &#8220;I&#8217;ll sell
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span>
+this boat and get another as soon as I can. She&#8217;s
+a nuisance!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, we sure are broken down,&#8221; sighed Jack,
+&#8220;and how we are going to get back to the cabin
+is more than I can figure out.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s whistle for help,&#8221; suggested Walter.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Look!&#8221; exclaimed Jack, pointing in the direction
+of shore. &#8220;There&#8217;s a light in Denny&#8217;s
+cabin!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>They all looked, and saw a flickering gleam of
+fire near the shack that had been deserted all day.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Something&#8217;s doing!&#8221; cried Ed. &#8220;And we&#8217;re
+stuck out here!&#8221;
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XXII_AT_THE_CABIN' id='XXII_AT_THE_CABIN'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2>
+<h3>AT THE CABIN</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;Girls,&#8221; declared Cora Kimball, &#8220;I can&#8217;t
+stand it any longer! I&#8217;ve got to do something&mdash;or
+have nervous prostration.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And that&#8217;s just the way I feel!&#8221; said Bess.
+&#8220;Waiting is the most nervous thing in the world.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Have another chocolate,&#8221; suggested Lottie,
+helping herself from the box on a table near her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How dare you suggest such a thing?&#8221; demanded
+Bess. &#8220;As if I wasn&#8217;t trying to do all I
+could to reduce.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, well, I was thinking of your nerves,&#8221; observed
+Lottie.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But what is it you want to do, Cora, dear?&#8221;
+asked Marita.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I want to go to Denny&#8217;s cabin, and see what
+has happened,&#8221; was the answer.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What!&#8221; cried Belle, with an exclamation of
+surprise and alarm. &#8220;Tramp through the woods
+at this hour of night?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It isn&#8217;t any such great, or late, hour of night,&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span>
+replied Cora, calmly, &#8220;and the woods are not
+dark. There&#8217;s a lovely moon. But I don&#8217;t propose
+to go through the woods. What is the <i>Chelton</i>
+for if we can&#8217;t use her?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Cora Kimball, do you mean to say that you&#8217;d
+go out on the bay, and over to Denny&#8217;s cabin, after
+dark, with the prospect that some desperate men
+are going to attack him?&#8221; asked Bess.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The boys are going to be there,&#8221; answered
+Cora, still refusing to become excited. &#8220;Besides,
+they may need our help. We could take a prisoner
+or two in our boat.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>There was a chorus of screams.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Cora Kimball&mdash;how dare you?&#8221; demanded
+Belle.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I meant if he was tied hand and foot,&#8221;
+went on the leader of the motor girls. &#8220;Villains
+are always tied hand and foot, you know. They
+can&#8217;t move. They&#8217;re gagged, too. I think I should
+insist on having our villain gagged. It might happen
+to be that young man who raced with us to-day,
+and he might get sarcastic if he could talk.
+Yes, I think he must be gagged.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Cora, you&#8217;re hopeless,&#8221; sighed Lottie.
+&#8220;What would my mother say if she could see me
+now.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;She&#8217;d tell you to stop eating chocolates and
+come with me,&#8221; returned Cora, firmly. &#8220;I&#8217;m going
+to the cabin.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;I&mdash;I&#8217;ll go with you,&#8221; volunteered Marita, and
+then she blushed at the attention she attracted.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, if Marita isn&#8217;t afraid to go, I&#8217;m not,&#8221;
+announced Lottie, with spirit. &#8220;Come on, Cora.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; gasped Bess.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, dear!&#8221; echoed Belle. &#8220;Do we have to
+stay here all alone?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Either that, or come with us,&#8221; invited Cora.
+&#8220;I&#8217;m going over to the cabin in our boat.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>There was a step at the door of the living room,
+and Mrs. Lewis looked in.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Did I hear you girls say you were going out?&#8221;
+she inquired.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Just for a little trip on the water,&#8221; replied
+Cora, signing to her chums to keep silent. &#8220;It is
+so lovely with the moon, and we won&#8217;t go far.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>It was not a great way to Denny&#8217;s cabin.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, don&#8217;t be gone too long,&#8221; cautioned the
+widow. &#8220;You must remember that I am, in a
+way, responsible for you girls.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, we&#8217;ll be careful,&#8221; Cora promised. &#8220;We&#8217;d
+take Freda with us, but perhaps she had better
+stay with you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I think so. Besides, she is so nervous
+after what nearly happened last night, that I&#8217;d
+rather she wouldn&#8217;t go out. Oh, if only things
+were settled! If only we were sure we could get
+that property back, and not have to worry about it
+being taken away from us!&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Have they been annoying you of late?&#8221; asked
+Cora, thinking perhaps there had been some developments
+of which she was unaware.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, nothing special, since that horrid woman.
+But it is a constant worry to me.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It must be,&#8221; returned Cora, sympathetically.
+&#8220;Well, we will hope for the best.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Cora did not say so&mdash;even to her chums, but she
+had great hopes that something might develop
+from the events of this night. If the unscrupulous
+men could only be caught in some wrong-doing a
+hold might be obtained over them that would enable
+them to be defeated in court. Thus their
+claim to the property&mdash;which claim Cora felt sure
+was a false one&mdash;might be disproved.
+</p>
+<p>That there were papers in existence which
+would show the widow and her daughter to be
+the rightful owners Cora did not doubt. Freda&#8217;s
+grandfather, from all accounts, was a careful business
+man, if eccentric in some ways. He would
+not have come into possession of property without
+having the papers to prove his claim. And he was
+not a man to put them in some safe deposit vault
+and leave no memorandum as to finding the key.
+</p>
+<p>Perhaps they were concealed in some nook or
+cranny in the widow&#8217;s home. Cora made up her
+mind to have a search made after this night was
+over.
+</p>
+<p>Then, too, Denny might be able to come upon
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span>
+them. Eccentric in some ways, as Freda&#8217;s grandfather
+had been, he might have hidden the papers
+in Denny&#8217;s cabin.
+</p>
+<p>That was a new thought. Perhaps the scheming
+men knew this, and that is why they wanted
+to attack the old fisherman.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We simply must go to his cabin,&#8221; decided
+Cora, &#8220;and find out what has happened. I can&#8217;t
+wait any longer.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Wraps were quickly donned, and down to the
+dock went the girls. The <i>Chelton</i> was in running
+order, and soon they were out on the moonlit
+waters of the bay.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s a light in his cabin,&#8221; said Cora, as
+they came out from behind a point, and had a view
+of the little cove where nestled Denny&#8217;s cottage.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I hope the boys are there,&#8221; remarked Bess,
+&#8220;and that they have the villains all tied up and
+ready for delivery.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Ugh!&#8221; exclaimed Belle. &#8220;If they have I
+wish they&#8217;d send them by parcel post instead of
+asking us to take charge of them.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They&#8217;ll be harmless,&#8221; guaranteed Cora. &#8220;Besides,
+the <i>Dixie</i> can&#8217;t hold more than the boys;
+our boat is larger.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We could let the boys run this one, after the
+men are tied in her,&#8221; suggested Lottie, &#8220;and we
+could come home in the <i>Dixie</i>.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Never!&#8221; exclaimed Cora. &#8220;You can&#8217;t rely on
+her. I&#8217;ll stick to the <i>Chelton</i>.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But if the girls had only known that, at that
+moment, far out on Crystal Bay, was the ill-fated
+<i>Dixie</i>, drifting to sea, while the boys tooted hopelessly
+for aid on the compressed air whistles!
+</p>
+<p>The <i>Chelton</i> made a quick and uneventful trip
+to the fisherman&#8217;s cabin. From it a light peacefully
+glowed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s no one here,&#8221; announced Bess. &#8220;Not
+even the boys.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Be careful,&#8221; warned Cora. &#8220;It may be a
+trap. Let us go up softly.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But what about those men?&#8221; asked Belle.
+&#8220;Maybe they have taken Denny away with them,
+and the boys, too.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be silly,&#8221; advised Cora. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go up
+and look in.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>As they peered in the cabin window they saw
+Denny seated in an easy chair. He was alone, and
+across his knees was the red oar of which he
+seemed so fond.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XXIII_UNEXPECTED_HELP' id='XXIII_UNEXPECTED_HELP'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2>
+<h3>UNEXPECTED HELP</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, we certainly are up against it&mdash;good
+and proper!&#8221; exclaimed Jack. &#8220;And I&#8217;m glad the
+girls aren&#8217;t along!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221; asked Walter, leaning back against
+the gunwale to rest after laboring over the refractory
+engine of the <i>Dixie</i>.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Because they can&#8217;t call me down for my slang.
+And believe muh&mdash;as the telephone girls say&mdash;I
+can use slang now and then&mdash;some!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It is aggravating; isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; asked Dray.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Aggravating, my dear chap, is hardly the
+word,&#8221; drawled Ed. &#8220;It&#8217;s humiliating!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>He brought that out in such a droll way that the
+others laughed.
+</p>
+<p>For the engine of the motor boat still refused
+to be coaxed into going. They were being carried
+out toward the mouth of the bay on the outgoing
+tide, which was now running strongly. Soon they
+would be out to sea, and though the moon still
+shone brightly there was a haze in the sky that betokened
+a coming storm.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span></p>
+<p>But it was not so much the fact of the stalled
+engine, nor that they were being carried out to sea,
+and were in some danger, that worried the boys.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re falling down on what we said we&#8217;d
+do,&#8221; declared Jack. &#8220;We promised the girls that
+we&#8217;d save Denny from those fellows, and we can&#8217;t
+do it. They may be at him now.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We certainly saw a light at his cabin,&#8221; ventured
+Ed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But we can&#8217;t see it now,&#8221; added Jack, straining
+his eyes for a glimpse of the spot where the fisherman&#8217;s
+shack stood.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, there&#8217;s no use worrying over what can&#8217;t
+be helped,&#8221; observed Walter, philosophically.
+&#8220;We&#8217;re here and not there. Denny will have to
+look out for himself&mdash;I guess he&#8217;s able.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That isn&#8217;t the point,&#8221; rejoined Jack. &#8220;There
+we took the case out of the girls&#8217; hands, so to
+speak. We said we were the big noise, and that
+we&#8217;d look after things. Then we go and get stuck
+miles from shore where we can&#8217;t do a thing.
+They&#8217;ll laugh at us when we do get back, if they
+don&#8217;t do any worse.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But we didn&#8217;t know we were going to get
+stuck when we came out for a little run, after we
+found Denny wasn&#8217;t home,&#8221; said Dray.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s no excuse,&#8221; returned Jack. &#8220;It&#8217;s like
+a child breaking the looking glass and then saying
+he didn&#8217;t mean to. Well, I know one thing Cora
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span>
+will say when we get back&mdash;if we ever do&mdash;and
+own up that we weren&#8217;t on hand when the play
+came off.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What will she say?&#8221; asked Dray. He was
+not well acquainted with the doings and sayings of
+the motor girls, as yet.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;She&#8217;ll say that she and Bess and Belle and the
+rest of them could have done better themselves, if
+we&#8217;d left it to them. And I guess she&#8217;d be more
+than half right,&#8221; sighed Jack.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, there&#8217;s no use crying over a bridge before
+you come to it,&#8221; observed Dray. &#8220;Let&#8217;s
+have another go at that engine.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>They began their labors all over again. They
+even took out the spark plugs, though they had
+been new that afternoon.
+</p>
+<p>Nothing could be found wrong there. The feed
+pipe from the gasoline tank was examined, but it
+seemed to provide a good flow. The timer was
+adjusted and readjusted. The coil was looked to.
+Everything, in short, that the boys could think of,
+or that previous trouble had taught them to look
+for, was tried, and all with no effect.
+</p>
+<p>They even did more absurd things, such as the
+talcum powder act, while Jack spouted some Latin
+verses at the forward cylinder. But the motor
+refused to mote.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And, all the while, we&#8217;re going out to sea,&#8221;
+remarked Walter.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Out to sea to see what we can see,&#8221; said Jack.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, hush-a-bye-baby on the jokes,&#8221; exclaimed
+Dray, a bit petulantly. &#8220;If ever I buy a speed
+boat again you&#8217;ll know it! A good old-fashioned
+make-and-break motor for mine after this&mdash;one
+you can depend on.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Haven&#8217;t you an oar or a paddle?&#8221; asked Ed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not a thing that we could use to work against
+the tide,&#8221; answered Dray, gloomily. &#8220;There&#8217;s a
+boat hook, but that isn&#8217;t any better than a straw.
+I left the oars out after the man got through fixing
+the motor to-day. He said I wouldn&#8217;t need them.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The regard that individual has for the truth
+is something scandalous!&#8221; said Walter, grimly.
+&#8220;I shall acquaint him with the fact on my return.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;When we <i>do</i> return,&#8221; returned Jack, gloomily.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, we&#8217;re bound to be picked up&mdash;sooner or
+later,&#8221; declared Walter.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Mostly later,&#8221; went on Jack, more gloomily.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, here goes for another try,&#8221; said Dray.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right. Maybe the machine has just
+been giving us a try-out,&#8221; suggested Ed. &#8220;We
+certainly have said mean things about you, old
+Mote!&#8221; he went on sarcastically. &#8220;Kindly forgive
+us and go. &#8216;See by moonlight &#8217;tis &#8217;most midnight,
+time boat and us were home hour-and-a-half
+ago,&#8217;&#8221; he said, quoting from the old nursery
+rhyme.
+</p>
+<p>But the motor only coughed and sighed and
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_212' name='page_212'></a>212</span>
+wheezed like an old man with the asthma, and
+the boat still drifted.
+</p>
+<p>They called, they blew on the compressed air
+whistle until all the reserve supply of oxygen was
+exhausted from the tank, and then they had to
+resort to their voices again.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, there&#8217;s one thing left,&#8221; answered Jack,
+tragically.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; begged Ed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We can swim for it. That&#8217;s better than being
+carried out to sea. Let&#8217;s swim before it is too
+late.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what I say!&#8221; exclaimed Dray. &#8220;Let
+the <i>Dixie</i> go&mdash;she&#8217;s no good!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The others were considering Jack&#8217;s startling
+proposal, when Ed looked up, and exclaimed:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Hark! Don&#8217;t you hear something?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The others listened. Faintly from the direction
+of the sea came a sound&mdash;unmistakable.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;A boat!&#8221; cried Jack. &#8220;I&#8217;ll not take off my
+coat yet.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;A motor boat, too,&#8221; added Ed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And coming this way,&#8221; went on Walter.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Come on, fellows, give &#8217;em a hail!&#8221; suggested
+Dray.
+</p>
+<p>Up to now, with all their shouting and blowing
+of the whistle, they had neither seen nor heard of
+a craft. They had drifted too far out. If any
+had come within hearing distance the occupants
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span>
+had paid no heed to the calls for help. Now
+there was one approaching, that was evident.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All together, now!&#8221; called Jack, and they
+united their voices in a shout.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There are her lights!&#8221; called Dray.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, and she&#8217;s heading right over here,&#8221;
+agreed Ed.
+</p>
+<p>A little later the red and green lights came
+nearer.
+</p>
+<p>Then, as the craft surged up to the stalled
+Dixie, and came to a stop, the engine still running
+with the clutch thrown out, a voice asked:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do you fellows want a tow?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do we?&#8221; came in a chorus. &#8220;We don&#8217;t want
+anything any more.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Fling us your rope,&#8221; was the curt order.
+</p>
+<p>Unexpected help had arrived. But it was too
+late.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XXIV_DENNY_S_SOLILOQUY' id='XXIV_DENNY_S_SOLILOQUY'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_214' name='page_214'></a>214</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2>
+<h3>DENNY&#8217;S SOLILOQUY</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;What shall we do?&#8221; asked Cora, in a
+whisper.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It <i>is</i> rather a puzzle,&#8221; admitted Bess.
+</p>
+<p>The motor girls were standing outside Denny
+Shane&#8217;s cabin, looking in on him as he sat at his
+ease, with the red oar over his knees.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He doesn&#8217;t seem to be in any danger,&#8221; went
+on Cora.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, those men either haven&#8217;t harmed him, or
+they haven&#8217;t arrived yet,&#8221; returned Belle.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, but suppose they should come while we
+are here?&#8221; suggested Marita, shrinking against
+Cora.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t go to supposing such uncanny things,&#8221;
+objected Cora, as she put her arm about the other.
+&#8220;Are you afraid?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; was the hesitating answer. &#8220;I
+suppose one ought to be afraid, coming at night
+to a cabin where some horrible men are expected.
+And yet, somehow, I don&#8217;t seem to be,&#8221; replied
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_215' name='page_215'></a>215</span>
+Marita. &#8220;I know I would have been a few
+months ago, but since I have met you girls, and
+seen the things you do, why it&#8217;s queer, but really
+I&mdash;I rather like it!&#8221; and she laughed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;See what your influence has done,&#8221; whispered
+Cora.
+</p>
+<p>They had all spoken in low tones, for Denny
+was sometimes sharp of hearing, and they did not
+want to arouse him.
+</p>
+<p>The girls were really puzzled, not only at the
+peaceful surroundings at Denny&#8217;s cabin, but at the
+absence of the boys. Of course they could not
+know that Jack and the others had been there and
+gone, not finding Denny at home. Nor did they
+know anything of the note left pinned to the door.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do you suppose it could all be over?&#8221; asked
+Lottie.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All over? What do you mean?&#8221; asked Cora.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I mean could the men have been here, and
+been captured by the boys and taken to jail?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, it&#8217;s possible, but not very probable,&#8221; returned
+Cora. &#8220;They surely would have managed
+to get some word to us if anything like that had
+happened.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But what are we going to do?&#8221; asked Bess.
+&#8220;We ought not to stay here.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, I suppose not,&#8221; admitted Cora, slowly.
+&#8220;It might be a good thing, though, just to stop
+and speak to Denny. Then we&#8217;d know, soon
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_216' name='page_216'></a>216</span>
+enough, what had happened. Suppose we do
+that?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The others agreed. They had stepped away
+from the window for a moment, but now Cora
+walked toward it again. Denny was still holding
+the oar, but he must have gotten up, for the window
+was now partly open, and it had not been so
+at first.
+</p>
+<p>Denny was talking to himself. He was indulging
+in a soliloquy, apparently addressing himself
+to the oar.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If you could only talk,&#8221; he said, &#8220;if you could
+only talk, what a tale you could tell. Yes, indeed!&#8221;
+and he sighed. &#8220;A tale of the sea and the land&mdash;of
+calm and storms.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s very poetical; isn&#8217;t he?&#8221; whispered Bess.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Hush!&#8221; cautioned Cora. &#8220;Listen to what he
+says.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Denny was evidently in a talking mood, and
+was living the past over again.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If only Grandfather Lewis were here, what
+tales he could tell, too,&#8221; Denny went on. &#8220;And
+there&#8217;s one tale I&#8217;d be glad to listen to. He could
+tell where the land papers were. If only I could
+find &#8217;em everything would be all right, and the
+factory men&mdash;ha! we could laugh in our sleeves
+at &#8217;em. Laugh in our sleeves! Ha! Ha! No,
+we could laugh in their faces, so we could; couldn&#8217;t
+we?&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_217' name='page_217'></a>217</span></p>
+<p>He held up the oar, speaking to it as one might
+to a favorite dog.
+</p>
+<p>Denny swung it above his head, as though testing
+its weight as a club.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;&#8217;Twas so he swung it the night of the storm&mdash;the
+night he saved my life!&#8221; murmured Denny.
+&#8220;My, what a night that was! What a night!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>He seemed lost in recollection for a moment,
+and then resumed his self-communion.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;&#8217;Twas so he held it&mdash;held it out to me in the
+smother of foam and spray when I was goin&#8217; under.
+And what was it he said?
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Grab holt!&#8217; says he. &#8216;Grab holt and I&#8217;ll pull
+you in. Don&#8217;t be afraid, the oar is strong!&#8217; And
+so it is&mdash;a grand, strong oar. As strong as old
+Len Lewis himself. What a grand old man he
+was! A fine old man!
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But he&#8217;s gone, and we all have to go. I&#8217;ll
+have to go with the rest, I suppose. But before I
+do go I wish I could find them land papers. What
+in the world did Grandfather Lewis do with &#8217;em
+anyhow?
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They must be around here. He ought to have
+kept &#8217;em in the bank, or in a strong box; but he
+was always like that. Hidin&#8217; his things away in
+curious places. He even did it with his tobaccy.
+A strange man!
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But I&#8217;ll wager the papers aren&#8217;t far from the
+land. That would be his way&mdash;to keep the papers
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_218' name='page_218'></a>218</span>
+near the land. &#8216;A place for everything and everything
+in its place,&#8217; he used to say. What more
+natural than that he&#8217;d have the papers near the
+land?
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I wonder, though, did he stick &#8217;em anywhere
+around me cabin? He come over here often
+enough to sit and chat. Ah, many&#8217;s the good old
+talk we used to have&mdash;a talk of the old days.
+Often I&#8217;d come in from me boat, and find him
+here. He might have brought the papers an&#8217; hid
+&#8217;em here when I was out. I wonder if he did?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Denny looked around his simple cabin. He
+laid the oar down gently, as a thing revered. He
+walked about the room, looking in various places.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, the papers wouldn&#8217;t be here,&#8221; he mused.
+&#8220;I&#8217;d have found them before this. And those
+fellows, who came and upset my place when I
+wasn&#8217;t home&mdash;they&#8217;d have found &#8217;em if they was
+here. I wonder what Grandfather Lewis did with
+them papers?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>It was a puzzle that others than Denny Shane
+would have given much to solve.
+</p>
+<p>Cora and her chums looked at one another in
+the moonlight outside Denny&#8217;s cabin. His talk
+had revealed something to them, but there was no
+clue to the missing papers which could prove the
+title of Mrs. Lewis to the valuable land.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, there&#8217;s one thing sure, Denny hasn&#8217;t
+been attacked as yet,&#8221; whispered Bess. &#8220;And the
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_219' name='page_219'></a>219</span>
+boys haven&#8217;t been here to warn him, or he&#8217;d show
+some signs of it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I think you&#8217;re right,&#8221; agreed Cora. &#8220;What
+had we better do? Tell him ourselves?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what I say&mdash;let&#8217;s warn him,&#8221; suggested
+Belle.
+</p>
+<p>The girls started for the cabin door, but paused
+midway as they heard the approach of a motor
+boat near the fisherman&#8217;s little dock.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Wait,&#8221; suggested Cora. &#8220;That may be the
+boys now.&#8221;
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XXV_THE_PLOTTERS_ARRIVE' id='XXV_THE_PLOTTERS_ARRIVE'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_220' name='page_220'></a>220</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2>
+<h3>THE PLOTTERS ARRIVE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the trouble?&#8221; asked one of the four
+men in the boat that had come to the rescue of
+Jack and his chums. &#8220;Engine broken, or are you
+out of gasoline?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve got gas, but there may be water in it,&#8221;
+replied Dray. &#8220;I watched the fellow when he
+filled the tank, though, and he used the chamois
+all right.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t always go by that,&#8221; said another of
+the accommodating strangers. &#8220;There&#8217;s an awful
+sight of poor gasoline being palmed off nowadays.
+Have you got a long rope?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We sure have,&#8221; answered Jack. &#8220;It&#8217;s mighty
+good of you to stop and give us a tow.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s all right,&#8221; laughed one of the men.
+&#8220;We never can tell when we might want a helping
+hand ourselves. Pass us the rope.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>It was flung over. The two boats were now
+bobbing side by side, for they were well out in the
+bay, and the sea was quite choppy. The tide was
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_221' name='page_221'></a>221</span>
+running out, and help had come to the boys not
+any too soon.
+</p>
+<p>The rope, passing from the bow of the <i>Dixie</i>,
+where it was made fast to a ring bolt in the deck,
+was caught on to a cleat in the stern of the other
+boat.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll look after the steering; will you?&#8221;
+asked one of the men.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Surely,&#8221; answered Dray.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Because there&#8217;s nothing harder than towing a
+boat that yaws from side to side,&#8221; the man went
+on.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll keep a straight course,&#8221; declared the
+owner of the speedy boat that had proved such a
+disappointment of late. &#8220;We know something
+about gasoline craft.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Glad to hear it,&#8221; remarked one of the occupants
+of the rescuing boat, in a grumbling sort of
+voice. &#8220;There&#8217;s so many launched on the bay now,
+with a lot of chaps running them who don&#8217;t know
+any more than to turn on the gasoline and switch
+on the spark.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And girls, too,&#8221; added another of the men.
+&#8220;Though I must say there are some girls here
+who&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Easy there!&#8221; called one of the rescuers
+sharply.
+</p>
+<p>He might have been speaking to his companion,
+who was attending to the fastening of the towing
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_222' name='page_222'></a>222</span>
+rope, but to Jack it seemed as though there was an
+injunction to be careful of what was said.
+</p>
+<p>Somehow or other, though why he could not
+tell, Jack&#8217;s suspicions were aroused. He tried to
+get a good look at the faces of the men, but the
+moon was hidden behind some clouds just then,
+and it was out of the question. The light was
+too baffling.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, I guess we&#8217;re ready,&#8221; announced the
+man who was making fast the towing rope. &#8220;Now
+where do you fellows want to go? We can&#8217;t
+promise to take you home, as we have some business
+of our own to attend to.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Jack always said, afterward, that nothing could
+have been more providential than the way the
+moon shone out brightly just as he was about to
+reply.
+</p>
+<p>He had it on the tip of his tongue to ask that,
+if possible, they be landed near Denny&#8217;s cabin,
+when a ray of moonlight glinted on the name of
+the rescuing boat, painted on her stern. There
+Jack read the word:
+</p>
+<p><i>Pickerel.</i>
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Great Scott!&#8221; he almost ejaculated aloud.
+&#8220;The boat that raced with Cora! The same men
+who are after old Denny!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Jack made up his mind in a flash. It would
+never do for the men to know that he and his
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_223' name='page_223'></a>223</span>
+friends were on their way to save Denny from the
+very fate the men had in store for him.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, if you can land us anywhere near Buler&#8217;s
+Pavilion, it will answer,&#8221; said Jack, naming a place
+not far from the entrance to the bay, and not far
+from where they were at that moment.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Buler&#8217;s Pavilion!&#8221; cried Ed. &#8220;Why
+that&#8217;s&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s probably closed, by this time, I know
+that!&#8221; answered Jack, quickly, giving Ed a sly
+kick. &#8220;But we can get somebody up, I guess.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Then, in a tense whisper he hissed into Ed&#8217;s
+ear:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;These are the men after Denny. I know them
+by their boat. Don&#8217;t let on who we are. We&#8217;re
+going to Buler&#8217;s.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Sure, we can rouse somebody up if they are
+closed,&#8221; answered Ed, quickly falling in with
+Jack&#8217;s scheme. &#8220;That will do us, all right,&#8221; he
+added to the men. &#8220;That is, if it won&#8217;t be too
+much out of your way.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not at all,&#8221; said one. &#8220;We&#8217;ll be glad to leave
+you there. Maybe you can find somebody to fix
+your boat. All ready?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Let her go,&#8221; said Jack. He wanted the
+<i>Pickerel</i> to get far enough ahead so that he could
+talk to his chums without the danger of being overheard.
+</p>
+<p>The engine of the rescuing boat was set going
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_224' name='page_224'></a>224</span>
+more rapidly, and the clutch was thrown in. The
+craft forged ahead, and soon the <i>Dixie</i> was under
+way again. She was being brought back from the
+sea which had so nearly claimed her, and in a
+strange manner.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why did you want to say we&#8217;d like to be
+landed at Buler&#8217;s?&#8221; asked Dray of Jack.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Because I want to fool these fellows,&#8221; and
+Jack quickly told how he had seen the name of the
+boat that had raced with his sister&#8217;s. &#8220;If we do
+land there,&#8221; he went on, &#8220;they won&#8217;t know who
+we are. We can tell them to cut us off before we
+get to the dock, in case the place should happen
+to be open and lighted up. Then they can&#8217;t see
+us.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Good idea,&#8221; said Dray. &#8220;You&#8217;re a wise boy,
+Jack.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I just saw that name in time,&#8221; went on Cora&#8217;s
+brother. &#8220;Otherwise it would have been all up
+with us.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But what about Denny?&#8221; asked Ed. &#8220;How
+are we going to save him if we land at Buler&#8217;s,
+and let these fellows go on?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve thought of that,&#8221; answered Jack. &#8220;We&#8217;ll
+have to get another boat, if we can, and go to
+Denny&#8217;s cabin in her. The <i>Dixie</i> is no good.
+Oh, excuse me!&#8221; he said quickly to Dray. &#8220;I
+didn&#8217;t mean that&mdash;exactly.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all right, old man, the <i>Dixie</i> is certainly
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_225' name='page_225'></a>225</span>
+no good to-night. Say all you please about her,
+you can&#8217;t hurt my feelings.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If only the <i>Reliance</i> is at Buler&#8217;s we can get
+her and go to the cabin flying,&#8221; went on Jack. &#8220;If
+not, we&#8217;ll do the best we can. Maybe Denny can
+stand them off until we arrive.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Say, what&#8217;s the matter with up and telling
+these fellows we know who they are, and who we
+are,&#8221; suggested Walter. &#8220;We can tell them we
+know what they&#8217;re up to, and threaten them.
+Won&#8217;t that stop them from bothering Denny&mdash;at
+least to-night?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not a bit of it,&#8221; returned Jack, quickly. &#8220;Do
+you know what they&#8217;d do as soon as they found out
+who we were?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; asked Ed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They&#8217;d know at once we were working against
+them, and they&#8217;d cut us adrift. Then we would
+be out of it. And I haven&#8217;t any desire,&#8221; added
+Jack, with a shrug of his shoulders, &#8220;to go out to
+sea again.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We land at Buler&#8217;s,&#8221; said Walter, decidedly.
+</p>
+<p>And a little later they landed at that resort,
+which had closed unusually early, for some reason.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All right&mdash;cast off!&#8221; Jack had called as they
+neared the dock, and the <i>Dixie</i>, with trailing rope,
+ran up to it under her own momentum, while the
+other craft swung off into the darkness, the boys
+calling their thanks to the men.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_226' name='page_226'></a>226</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;And if they only knew who it was they had
+given a tow to!&#8221; chuckled Walter.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They&#8217;ll know, soon enough,&#8221; replied Jack.
+&#8220;We&#8217;ve got to look up a boat to take us to Denny
+Shane&#8217;s. We&#8217;ve simply got to get there.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>And while the boys were thus looking for a
+boat to take the place of the disabled <i>Dixie</i>, the
+plotters, in their swift <i>Pickerel</i>, were hastening
+toward the little cove where the fisherman&#8217;s cabin
+stood.
+</p>
+<p>The men in the boat were Moran, the slow-moving
+character whom Cora had seen in the
+store; Bruce, the &#8220;society&#8221; chap; Kelly, a blunt
+and unscrupulous Irishman, who handled the
+money for the factory interests, and a man to run
+the boat. He had been brought in at the last
+minute.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We lost a lot of time, towing those chumps,&#8221;
+grumbled Moran, as the <i>Pickerel</i> forged ahead.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, we were early,&#8221; said Bruce. &#8220;I&#8217;ve had
+a man keeping watch on Shane&#8217;s shack, and he was
+late getting in. He telephoned to me. It&#8217;s just
+as well to let Shane get a bit settled before we
+tackle him. He was out fishing until long after
+dark.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Then the engineer slowed down the powerful
+motor as they came up to the dock.
+</p>
+<p>It was this sound that Cora and her chums
+heard.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XXVI_CORA_S_BRAVE_RESOLVE' id='XXVI_CORA_S_BRAVE_RESOLVE'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_227' name='page_227'></a>227</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXVI</h2>
+<h3>CORA&#8217;S BRAVE RESOLVE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>When the girls heard Cora&#8217;s remark, that the
+approaching motor boat might contain the boys,
+Lottie said:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, we&#8217;re all right now!&#8221; and she sighed in
+relief.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How much you depend on them!&#8221; observed
+Belle, in a low voice. &#8220;When you&#8217;ve been with
+us a little longer you&#8217;ll learn that we can do almost
+as well by ourselves.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But I am glad the boys have arrived,&#8221; agreed
+Cora. &#8220;I never was so pleased to know that they
+were on hand.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But a moment later, as they saw the forms of
+four men leaving the motor boat, which had been
+made fast to the dock, Cora shrank back, at the
+same time whispering a warning.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Girls, something is wrong! Those aren&#8217;t the
+boys. Quick, get out of sight!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>She pulled Bess behind a row of bushes, and the
+others followed silently. They had started down
+to the beach from the cabin, but fortunately managed
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_228' name='page_228'></a>228</span>
+to conceal themselves in time. The men,
+walking up the little slope toward the cabin, had
+not seen them.
+</p>
+<p>Trembling with nervousness, Cora and her
+chums awaited the new turn of events. That it
+would come soon seemed likely, for the men appeared
+bent on something. They had made fast
+their boat, and came up the slope openly, as
+though their errand was the most innocent in the
+world. The light still glowed in the cabin.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Cora!&#8221; gasped Marita. &#8220;Suppose they
+do&mdash;&mdash;do something!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Which is very likely they will do,&#8221; replied
+Cora. &#8220;But don&#8217;t talk&mdash;I want to watch.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>From behind the screen of bushes Cora watched
+the men coming forward. The moon still gave a
+good light, though it was declining in the west.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Is he there?&#8221; Cora heard one of the men ask.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He seems to be&mdash;there&#8217;s a light going, anyhow,&#8221;
+was the answer. &#8220;I&#8217;d rather found him in
+bed, but we can&#8217;t have all we want.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, where are the boys!&#8221; cried Bess, frantically.
+&#8220;Why don&#8217;t they come?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; answered Cora. &#8220;Surely
+they should have been here. But there must be a
+good reason why they are not. Jack wouldn&#8217;t
+disappoint us.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you include Walter and the
+others?&#8221; asked Belle.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_229' name='page_229'></a>229</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course you know I meant them,&#8221; Cora retorted.
+&#8220;I can&#8217;t understand it&mdash;really I can&#8217;t.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Perhaps they are in hiding,&#8221; ventured Lottie.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They&#8217;d have been out before this, if they
+were,&#8221; declared Cora.
+</p>
+<p>There came a sudden knock. It was one of
+the men striking on the door of Denny&#8217;s cabin.
+From their hiding place in the bushes the girls
+heard it plainly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Listen!&#8221; whispered Cora.
+</p>
+<p>They heard the voice of the old fisherman call:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Who&#8217;s there? What do you want at this time
+of night?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve come to see you,&#8221; was answered in
+tones Cora recognized as those of the young man
+who had raced with her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What about?&#8221; inquired Denny. &#8220;I have no
+fish to sell.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And we don&#8217;t want fish,&#8221; was the retort.
+&#8220;Come, Shane, open your door. We want to talk
+to you. It&#8217;s important, and there may be something
+in it for you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes&mdash;trouble, more or less. I can&#8217;t see anything
+else,&#8221; was the grumbling response. &#8220;Wait
+a minute.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Cora looked over the bushes. She could see
+the men grouped in front of the cabin door. Then
+she saw it open, and a broad beam of light shoot
+out.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_230' name='page_230'></a>230</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Come in,&#8221; invited Denny, and the plotters entered.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now&#8217;s our chance!&#8221; exclaimed Cora, her
+heart beating rapidly. &#8220;We must see what those
+men do. We may have to give evidence.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, dear!&#8221; sighed Marita. &#8220;I never could
+do it. I&#8217;d faint, sure.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do what?&#8221; asked Cora.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Give evidence.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t worry. You won&#8217;t have to do anything
+hard, dear,&#8221; was the gentle answer, as Cora
+slipped her arm about the timid girl.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;ll do anything you girls do,&#8221; was the
+quick answer. &#8220;I want to help.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And we want your help,&#8221; whispered Bess.
+&#8220;But, Cora, can&#8217;t we go closer? We ought to
+look in and see what happens.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Brave Bess!&#8221; murmured Lottie. &#8220;You are
+certainly coming on finely.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The plotters were now inside the cabin, so that
+it was safe for the girls to advance. This they
+did until they were once more in a position where
+they could look in the window of the cabin.
+</p>
+<p>They saw a strange sight. Old Denny Shane,
+brave and rugged, confronted the four men who
+had called on him. In one hand he grasped the
+red oar, while the other rested on the back of the
+chair from which he had risen.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, Mr. Shane,&#8221; said the man Cora knew
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_231' name='page_231'></a>231</span>
+as Bruce. &#8220;We come to see you on business.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What kind?&#8221; asked the old man, and the girls
+could see him look around as though seeking help
+or a means of escape. But there was no fear in
+his eyes. Only defiance.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We might as well get to business at once,&#8221;
+said one of the men, sharply. That was Kelly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right,&#8221; agreed Moran. &#8220;Make him
+an offer. If he doesn&#8217;t want to take it then we&#8217;ll
+talk another kind of talk. And be quick about it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I want no business with you!&#8221; cried Denny,
+sharply. &#8220;Why do you come here bothering me?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You know why!&#8221; exclaimed Bruce. &#8220;You
+are concerned in the Lewis land matter. You can
+testify as to who owns it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, supposin&#8217; I can?&#8221; asked the old man,
+defiantly. &#8220;What is that to you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Lots to us, and it may mean a great deal to
+you, also!&#8221; snapped out Kelly. &#8220;You may have
+some papers, too.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I may,&#8221; returned Denny, &#8220;but you&#8217;ll not get
+&#8217;em.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Cora and the others, listening, knew that Denny
+would only be too glad if he did have the documents
+in question. But the girls had heard him
+lamenting that he did not know where they were.
+</p>
+<p>Why did he now let the men think he did know?
+It was a puzzle to the girls.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not get them, eh?&#8221; cried Bruce. &#8220;That&#8217;s to
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_232' name='page_232'></a>232</span>
+be seen. Now look here, Shane. We came here
+to do business, and we&#8217;re going to do it. By fair
+means if we can, if not&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>He paused suggestively.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Ah! I know you and your breed!&#8221; cried the
+old fisherman. &#8220;By fair means or foul! But
+try it on! I&#8217;m not afraid of you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>He stepped back a pace, the better to defend
+himself in case he had to. The red oar was still
+in his firm hands.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now wait a minute,&#8221; put in Moran. &#8220;We&#8217;ll
+try the fair means first. What do you say to that?
+Show him the bills.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>With a quick gesture Bruce drew out a roll of
+greenbacks.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Here you go, Shane!&#8221; he exclaimed. &#8220;There&#8217;s
+a cool hundred here, and it&#8217;s yours if you testify
+that the Widow Lewis has no claim on the land.
+And she hasn&#8217;t any claim that she can prove. All
+we want you to testify to is that her husband&#8217;s
+father sold the land some time before his death.
+We&#8217;ll do the rest.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But he didn&#8217;t sell it!&#8221; cried Denny. &#8220;It was
+his on his dyin&#8217; day, and it belongs to his son&#8217;s
+widder and daughter now. That&#8217;s the law, an&#8217;
+you know it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;She can&#8217;t prove that the land is hers,&#8221; sneered
+Kelly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Maybe she can,&#8221; returned Denny, quietly.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_233' name='page_233'></a>233</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, she can&#8217;t unless you tell what you
+know,&#8221; broke in Bruce. &#8220;We&#8217;ve found out that
+much. Now the factory wants that land, and it&#8217;s
+going to get it. Here, I&#8217;ll make it a hundred and
+fifty if you do as we want you to.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;An&#8217; testify to a lie?&#8221; cried Denny.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It wouldn&#8217;t be exactly a lie. Besides, we&#8217;re
+willing to pay the widow a small sum.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not what the land&#8217;s worth. That&#8217;s valuable
+property,&#8221; insisted Denny, &#8220;and it will keep her
+in her old age if she manages right. Be off with
+you! I&#8217;ll stick to the Widder Lewis, so I will. Be
+off!&#8221; and he motioned them to the door. &#8220;You
+wouldn&#8217;t have got this close if it hadn&#8217;t been that
+my dog was dead. Be off!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not so fast,&#8221; Cora and her chums heard
+Bruce say. &#8220;We haven&#8217;t said all we intend to.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m sure something will happen now,&#8221;
+quavered Bess.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Hush,&#8221; cautioned Cora. &#8220;We must do something!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do something?&#8221; questioned Marita. &#8220;Oh,
+why don&#8217;t the boys come?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Cora and her chums were close to the cabin
+now. They could look in the door, and through
+the uncurtained window, and see plainly all that
+went on. They could also hear plainly, for the
+men and old Denny spoke loudly. And, as yet,
+the girls had not been noticed.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_234' name='page_234'></a>234</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Now, look here!&#8221; said Bruce, and there was
+a snarl in his voice. &#8220;This is our last offer, Shane.
+Either you take the hundred and fifty dollars, and
+testify the way we want you to, or we&#8217;ll find means
+to make you, and you won&#8217;t get the money. And
+I&#8217;ll say this, that we&#8217;ll treat the Widow Lewis as
+fair as we can.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Which won&#8217;t be fair at all!&#8221; burst out Denny.
+&#8220;Not at all!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, what&#8217;s your answer?&#8221; cried Kelly.
+&#8220;We can&#8217;t stay here all night. Give him the
+money, Bruce. When he feels it he&#8217;ll hate to let
+it go.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Bruce held out the roll of bills. To the surprise
+of Cora and the girls the fisherman took
+them. Was he going to betray Freda and her
+mother?
+</p>
+<p>The next instant they knew Denny for the
+brave-souled man he was.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s me answer!&#8221; he cried, throwing the
+bills in the face of Bruce. &#8220;Take your evil money
+and get out. I&#8217;ll stick to the widder!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>For a moment the men were nonplussed. Then,
+with an angry exclamation, Bruce started forward.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Come, girls,&#8221; said Cora, &#8220;we&#8217;ve got to go
+to the aid of Denny. For some reason the boys
+aren&#8217;t here. We&#8217;ve got to save him!&#8221; and with
+this brave resolve she moved toward the cabin.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XXVII_THE_RED_OAR_AGAIN' id='XXVII_THE_RED_OAR_AGAIN'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_235' name='page_235'></a>235</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXVII</h2>
+<h3>THE RED OAR AGAIN</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;Cora Kimball, what are you going to do?&#8221;
+gasped Lottie, trying to hold back her chum.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to go to Denny&#8217;s aid. Why
+shouldn&#8217;t I? It&#8217;s four to one, but even if we are
+girls we can perhaps turn the tide in his favor.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Cora, I don&#8217;t dare!&#8221; admitted Belle.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nor I,&#8221; added her plump sister. &#8220;I&#8217;ll faint
+if you go in where those horrid men are.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Faint if you like,&#8221; returned Cora, calmly.
+&#8220;Somebody else will have to look after you, then,
+for I&#8217;m going.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But why?&#8221; asked Lottie. &#8220;We ought not to
+interfere when men are going to fight, and I think
+that&#8217;s what&#8217;s going to happen in there.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That is what&#8217;s going to happen,&#8221; said Cora,
+&#8220;but perhaps we can prevent it. For some unknown
+reason, though the boys promised to come
+here and defend Denny, they haven&#8217;t done so.
+Therefore, it&#8217;s our place to do it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, and I&#8217;m going with you!&#8221; announced
+Marita, determinedly.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_236' name='page_236'></a>236</span></p>
+<p>All this talk had taken but a few seconds of
+time, and, as it had been in whispers, the men in
+the cabin had not heard it. The situation, however,
+was rapidly becoming acute.
+</p>
+<p>With one accord, after Bruce had stepped toward
+old Denny, the others advanced. They were
+evidently going to lay violent hands on him. But
+the sturdy fisherman was not afraid.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Stand back!&#8221; he cried. &#8220;Stand back or I&#8217;ll
+do you harm&mdash;you cowards!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No use calling names!&#8221; sneered Kelly.
+&#8220;We&#8217;re here to do you. We made you a fair
+offer, and you wouldn&#8217;t take it. Now you&#8217;ll have
+to abide by the consequences.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Get behind him,&#8221; said Bruce. &#8220;I can take him
+from where I stand.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Get back! Get out of here!&#8221; ordered the old
+man.
+</p>
+<p>He raised the red oar over his head, threateningly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Grab him!&#8221; cried Moran. &#8220;Grab that oar!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll get it over the head before you grab
+it!&#8221; threatened Denny. &#8220;Mind that, now!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The fisherman swung his weapon, but he either
+had not calculated on the length of it, or he forgot
+that he was nearer to the wall than he had been at
+first. The blade of the oar caught in a hanging
+picture, and was entangled in the wire.
+</p>
+<p>Denny, putting all his strength into the blow
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_237' name='page_237'></a>237</span>
+he had hoped would disable one of his assailants,
+was thrown off his balance. He toppled and nearly
+fell.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now we&#8217;ve got him!&#8221; yelled Kelly.
+</p>
+<p>The cowardly men, attacking the single fisherman
+with overwhelming numbers, made a leap
+forward.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Stop! Let him alone. We&#8217;ll call the police!&#8221;
+screamed Cora, and the other girls added their
+shrill voices to hers. They rushed into the cabin.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The girls I raced with!&#8221; muttered Bruce.
+&#8220;We&#8217;ve no time to fool with them. Don&#8217;t mind
+them. Get at Shane!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Get at me, is it?&#8221; cried the fisherman. He
+had by this time disentangled the oar from the
+picture wire. Again he raised it over his head,
+intending to bring it down on Kelly.
+</p>
+<p>As the red weapon descended Kelly shot up his
+hand and caught it. He twisted on the oar to
+wrest it from Denny&#8217;s grasp, and the two suddenly
+went to the floor, jarring the whole cabin.
+</p>
+<p>And at that instant there was a sound of splintering,
+breaking wood. Some red slivers flew out
+from between the two prostrate men who were
+struggling for possession of the weapon.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The red oar! It&#8217;s broken!&#8221; cried Denny.
+&#8220;Me old red oar, that saved me life in the hands
+of Grandfather Lewis! The red oar is broken,
+bad luck to you! Cowards that you are!&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_238' name='page_238'></a>238</span></p>
+<p>The girls were screaming, but even Cora, brave
+as she was, dared go no nearer to the two desperately
+struggling men. Bruce and Moran were
+seeking an opening that they might get hold of
+Denny. The fourth man had gone back to the
+boat, seemingly. He had leaped out of the window
+as the girls entered.
+</p>
+<p>The cabin was a place of wild excitement.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Get that oar away from him!&#8221; cried Bruce.
+&#8220;Here&#8217;s some rope. Tie him up, and then we&#8217;ll
+get what we want out of him!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you dare hurt him!&#8221; screamed Cora.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Ah, would you?&#8221; gasped Denny, as he rolled
+out from under Kelly, who had sought to pass a
+rope about the old man&#8217;s wrists. &#8220;I&#8217;m not down
+and out yet!&#8221; he panted. &#8220;The red oar is broken,
+but I&#8217;ve got the best end yet.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>He staggered to his feet, holding the handle of
+the red oar. One end was splintered where it had
+been broken from the blade.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Come on! I&#8217;m not afraid!&#8221; yelled Denny.
+&#8220;Come on. You girls had better leave&mdash;&mdash;there&#8217;s
+going to be trouble!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We won&#8217;t go! Help is on the way. The boys
+are coming!&#8221; cried Cora, though she did not know
+when Jack and the others would arrive.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, if they were only here now! When we
+need them so!&#8221; gasped Lottie.
+</p>
+<p>Again Denny swung what was left of the red
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_239' name='page_239'></a>239</span>
+oar around his head. He aimed a blow at the
+face of Bruce, but it fell short and struck the man
+on the shoulder.
+</p>
+<p>Then a strange thing happened. The handle
+of the oar split lengthwise, and from a hollow
+place inside there flew out a roll of papers, yellow
+with age. And on one of them was a red seal&mdash;a
+legal-looking seal.
+</p>
+<p>Bruce staggered at the blow, and a strange look
+came over his face. It might have been that he was
+dazed, but his eyes lighted on the roll of papers
+that had fallen to the floor. There they lay&mdash;a
+curious roll that had come from the secret crevice
+in the red oar.
+</p>
+<p>The struggle had come to a sudden end. The
+girls ceased screaming and stood looking on
+dumbly, unable to understand what had happened.
+</p>
+<p>As for the men they, too, seemed startled by
+the strange turn of events. Kelly rose to his feet,
+and was creeping up on Denny from behind. His
+arms were outstretched, and his fingers worked
+convulsively, as though they would like to close
+about the fisherman&#8217;s throat, and force him to
+testify as the plotters desired.
+</p>
+<p>Cora wanted to scream a warning, but some
+strange force seemed to hold her dumb.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The red oar&mdash;it&#8217;s broken&mdash;broken! Me old
+red oar, that saved me life!&#8221; murmured Denny
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_240' name='page_240'></a>240</span>
+Shane. &#8220;But I never knew &#8217;twas hollow. Never!
+I wonder did Grandfather Lewis&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>He did not complete the sentence, for at that
+instant Bruce leaped forward and caught up the
+roll of yellow papers from the floor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Give me those!&#8221; cried Denny leaping at him
+with the jagged piece of the red oar in his gnarled
+hands&mdash;the hands that had, so many years ago,
+grasped the same oar in what was little short of
+a death-grip. &#8220;Give me those papers!&#8221; fairly
+roared Denny. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what they are, but
+they&#8217;re not yours. Give &#8217;em to me!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Give you these! I guess not!&#8221; sneered Bruce.
+&#8220;They are just what we want&mdash;the land papers.
+They&#8217;re the only ones by which the widow could
+prove her shadowy claim to the property, and with
+them out of the way it&#8217;s all clear sailing for us.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;This is the luckiest thing that could have happened
+for us! The breaking of the red oar came
+at the right time. Kelly, give me a match and
+we&#8217;ll make a little bonfire of these same papers.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you dare!&#8221; cried Denny, and, making a
+leap forward he snatched from Kelly&#8217;s hands the
+precious documents that had so strangely come
+from the secret hiding place in the red oar.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XXVIII_THE_DISCOVERY_CONCLUSION' id='XXVIII_THE_DISCOVERY_CONCLUSION'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_241' name='page_241'></a>241</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2>
+<h3>THE DISCOVERY&mdash;CONCLUSION</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Wild with rage the three men with one accord
+made a leap for Denny Shane. But the old fisherman
+was not to be easily taken. Holding the precious
+papers close to him, he made a jump for a
+corner of the room, where hung an old musket.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, he&#8217;s going to shoot!&#8221; screamed Bess.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And small blame to him if he did,&#8221; declared
+Cora. &#8220;Oh, those men must not destroy those
+papers, if I have to take them in charge myself!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Denny Shane had reached the corner where
+hung his musket. It was not loaded. Cora knew
+this, for the old fisherman had said he was always
+afraid of some accident happening, and he never
+kept a charge in the gun. It was for the effect of
+it, he said, that he had it hanging on his wall.
+Now it would be useful as a club, at least&mdash;more
+useful than the easily shattered red oar had
+been.
+</p>
+<p>But before Denny could reach the gun Kelly
+was upon him. With a fierce motion the desperate
+plotter grasped the fisherman around the neck.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_242' name='page_242'></a>242</span>
+Holding him thus with one arm, he snatched the
+papers from him with his other hand.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Here you go!&#8221; Kelly cried to Bruce. &#8220;Take
+the papers while I hold him. Burn &#8217;em if you
+want to, but be sure you do the job well! Then
+we&#8217;d better get out of here. I think I hear a boat
+coming. This place will soon be too hot for us!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Bruce took the papers from his crony. Hastily
+scanning them, to make sure he had the right ones,
+he struck a match that Moran handed him.
+</p>
+<p>Kelly and Denny were struggling in the corner
+of the room. But poor old Denny had not much
+strength left. The events of the night had been
+too much for him, and he was giving way under the
+cruel pressure of Kelly&#8217;s arms.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;These are the very papers we want&mdash;or don&#8217;t
+want, rather!&#8221; exulted Bruce. &#8220;With them out
+of the way the property is ours.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The match flickered in his fingers.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you dare burn them!&#8221; cried Cora.
+</p>
+<p>One corner of the papers had caught fire.
+</p>
+<p>Then from without the cabin sounded a chorus
+of cries.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Come on, fellows!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re just in time!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The girls are here ahead of us!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What a night!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>They were the voices of Jack and his chums.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_243' name='page_243'></a>243</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, the boys have come! The boys have
+come!&#8221; cried Lottie.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Jack! Jack! In here! Quick!&#8221; screamed
+Cora. &#8220;He&#8217;s burning the papers! Get them
+from him!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Into the cabin, already crowded, the boys flung
+themselves.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Just in time!&#8221; cried Cora, motioning to Jack.
+&#8220;Get those papers from him before they burn!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Over in the corner poor Denny had fallen unconscious
+under the attack of Kelly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Cut it and run!&#8221; advised Moran, making for
+the door.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, you don&#8217;t!&#8221; shouted Walter, blocking it.
+&#8220;Guard the windows, Dray&mdash;Ed!&#8221; he called.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The papers! The papers!&#8221; voiced Cora.
+&#8220;Get them before they burn, or Mrs. Lewis will
+lose the land!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll get them!&#8221; shouted Jack.
+</p>
+<p>He flung himself upon Bruce as he had often
+flung himself upon a player in tackling him on the
+football field.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Look out for yourself!&#8221; threatened Bruce.
+</p>
+<p>But Jack was not afraid. He twisted himself
+about Bruce, and sought to reach the papers.
+</p>
+<p>Bruce, to get them out of Jack&#8217;s reach, held
+them high in the air, over his head. The two
+were struggling. Moran and Kelly were wrestling
+with Ed and Walter, while the other girls
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_244' name='page_244'></a>244</span>
+cowered behind Dray, who had caught up a chair
+as a weapon.
+</p>
+<p>Cora saw her chance. She slipped around behind
+Bruce, and with a leap that had often enabled
+her to outwit an opponent in playing basket ball,
+the plucky motor girl snatched the papers from
+the man&#8217;s hand. Full and clean was her jump,
+and the smouldering papers came away in her
+grasp.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I have them, Jack!&#8221; she cried. &#8220;Look out
+for the men!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>And with that, to make sure that she would not
+lose the precious documents, Cora held them
+tightly under her arm and ran out of the cabin
+door, after putting out the little blaze.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All over!&#8221; cried Jack, putting out his foot,
+and tripping up Bruce, who aimed a savage blow
+at him. &#8220;All over!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Bruce went down heavily. At the same time,
+from without the cabin there flashed several lights,
+and the voices of men were heard asking:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s going on here?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Who&#8217;s been screaming?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The plotters gathered together. Bruce leaped
+from the floor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Come on!&#8221; he cried desperately. &#8220;It&#8217;s all
+up. Get away!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>He leaped out of the window, followed by the
+other two.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_245' name='page_245'></a>245</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Get them!&#8221; yelled Ed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, let them go&mdash;it&#8217;s the easiest way,&#8221; advised
+Jack. &#8220;Cora has the papers.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But maybe they&#8217;ve hurt Denny!&#8221; said Walter.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m all right,&#8221; asserted the fisherman, as he
+slowly arose. &#8220;He just cut off my wind for a
+minute. I&#8217;m all right. But where are the
+papers?&#8221; and he looked about the floor, on which
+were scattered pieces of the broken red oar.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re safe,&#8221; answered Jack. &#8220;Cora, my
+sister, has them. Guess we&#8217;d better look for her
+though.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>There was no need, as Cora, holding the papers
+in her hand, re-entered the cabin at that moment.
+Only one edge of the legal documents was burned,
+and no real harm had been done.
+</p>
+<p>While the motor girls, and the boys and the
+neighboring men, who had come to the rescue all
+but too late, were looking at one another there
+was heard, at the dock, the puffing of a motor
+boat.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There they go!&#8221; exclaimed Walter.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, that&#8217;s the best way,&#8221; said Jack. &#8220;We&#8217;re
+glad to get rid of them.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How did you girls get here?&#8221; asked Ed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How was it you boys <i>didn&#8217;t</i> get here?&#8221; demanded
+Cora, still panting from her exertions.
+</p>
+<p>Explanations were then in order. I will be as
+brief with them as I can. How the girls came to
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_246' name='page_246'></a>246</span>
+go to the cabin is already known. And how the
+boys, foolishly perhaps, went out on the bay while
+waiting for Denny to come back, and how they
+became stalled, is likewise known to my readers.
+</p>
+<p>In the meanwhile Denny came to his cabin.
+</p>
+<p>Then came the unexpected help in the shape of
+a tow from the plotters themselves.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They left us at Buler&#8217;s,&#8221; said Jack, &#8220;and then
+we had our own troubles. We tried to get a boat
+to come on, for the <i>Dixie</i> still refused to move.
+But we couldn&#8217;t get one for love or money, and it
+was too rough to row.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What did you do?&#8221; asked Cora, looking at
+Denny, who was examining the broken red oar.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We hired a horse and carriage, and came
+around the land way,&#8221; replied Walter. &#8220;It took
+us a long time, too, for we missed the road.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But we finally got here,&#8221; spoke Ed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And just in time,&#8221; added Cora. &#8220;We were
+wild about you&mdash;couldn&#8217;t imagine what happened.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Didn&#8217;t you get the note we left pinned to the
+door?&#8221; asked Dray of Denny.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nary a note,&#8221; he said.
+</p>
+<p>Later it was found where it had blown into a
+clump of bushes. So that accounted for Denny&#8217;s
+not being warned in time.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But everything seems to be coming out right,&#8221;
+said Cora, with a rather wintry smile. All the
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_247' name='page_247'></a>247</span>
+girls were pale, and a trifle weak. The boys, too,
+were tired.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And what are those papers?&#8221; asked Jack, taking
+them from Cora.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Those prove Mrs. Lewis&#8217;s title to the land
+the plotters tried to get,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m so
+glad we found them.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Who found them?&#8221; asked Walter, giving
+Cora&#8217;s hand a surreptitious squeeze.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They were in the red oar,&#8221; said Denny. &#8220;And
+to think I never knew it! They were there all
+these years, and all of us worrying about them and
+wondering where they were. But I understand
+now. Grandfather Lewis must have hollowed out
+a hole in the handle, hid the papers in it, and then
+plugged it up. Then he gave the oar to me to
+keep. I remember well at the time he said it would
+prove valuable some day. I often wondered what
+made the oar lighter than it had been. It was
+because it was hollowed out.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I asked him what he meant by sayin&#8217; the oar
+was valuable, but he kept puttin&#8217; me off. He said
+he&#8217;d tell me some time, but he never did. Then
+the day he died he sent for me, and was trying to
+tell me, I guess, but he couldn&#8217;t. I remember I
+wondered what was on his mind, but he was too
+weak to explain. So he died with his secret, and
+the red oar had it and kept it all these years.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But the oar broke, or those men and myself
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_248' name='page_248'></a>248</span>
+broke it between us, and the papers fell out. Now
+the widder will get her rights.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>And the Widow Lewis did. Leaving the valuable
+documents with Denny, the motor girls and
+the boys went back to their stopping places&mdash;the
+girls to the bungalow, the boys to the tent.
+</p>
+<p>And such a time as Cora and her chums had in
+telling the good news to Mrs. Lewis and Freda!
+The latter could hardly believe it at first.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, how can we ever thank you!&#8221; cried Freda,
+as, with tears in her eyes, she embraced Cora.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t try,&#8221; was the whispered answer.
+</p>
+<p>And so everything came out right after all. The
+papers so oddly hidden in the red oar proved the
+widow&#8217;s title to the valuable land beyond the
+shadow of a doubt. As for the plotters, they were
+not seen again in that part of the country. They
+realized that the sharp trick they had tried to
+play had failed, thanks to the activities of Cora
+and her friends.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Lewis easily established her claim to the
+land, moved back to her cottage, and the project
+of spoiling the public park was abandoned. The
+factory company was beaten in court and the members
+of the corporation were forced to pay heavy
+costs.
+</p>
+<p>Old Denny came in for his share of credit, and
+he was very happy. His one lament was that the
+red oar was broken, but he managed to patch it
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_249' name='page_249'></a>249</span>
+together, after a fashion. And the motor girls
+got him another dog.
+</p>
+<p>The opening by which the papers had been put
+in the hollow handle had been cleverly concealed,
+and, only for the accidental breaking of the oar,
+might never have been discovered.
+</p>
+<p>It had probably been the intention of Grandfather
+Lewis to disclose the secret hiding place of
+the land papers, but he had died before he could
+do this.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But &#8216;all&#8217;s well that ends well,&#8217;&#8221; quoted Cora
+the next day, at a late breakfast. &#8220;We have done
+a little good here by our vacation at Crystal Bay.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;A <i>little</i> good!&#8221; exclaimed Freda. &#8220;I never
+can thank you enough, Cora.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And we&#8217;ll soon have to go back home&mdash;that&#8217;s
+the worst of it!&#8221; sighed Lottie. &#8220;It is so lovely
+here!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, well, we can come back next year,&#8221; spoke
+Bess.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And then, too, Winter&#8217;s coming on&mdash;something
+is sure to happen then,&#8221; added Belle.
+&#8220;Something always does.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>And what did happen that Winter will be told
+of in the volume to follow this, which will be
+called &#8220;The Motor Girls on Waters Blue; Or,
+The Strange Cruise of the <i>Tartar</i>.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>It was the next day. The girls disposed themselves
+about the bungalow in picturesque attitudes,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_250' name='page_250'></a>250</span>
+and the boys sat on the broad porch, telling over
+again the adventures of the night.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s only one point we&#8217;re shy on,&#8221; said
+Jack, when everything had been told and retold.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And that&#8217;s what?&#8221; asked Ed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We haven&#8217;t found out yet who the strange
+woman was who tried to get information out of
+Freda, and who sent her the &#8217;phone message.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, we&#8217;re just as well off without knowing
+that,&#8221; said Cora. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure she was in with the
+plotters. You know that man Bruce called her
+&#8216;Confidence Kate,&#8217; as if he knew her well.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You must have been terribly frightened, when
+you found out there was no way of getting home
+from the Junction,&#8221; said Marita. &#8220;I think I
+should have gone out of my mind.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t believe her, Freda,&#8221; laughed Cora, putting
+her arm around the timid girl. &#8220;Marita is
+braver than she thinks. She offered to go into the
+cabin with me when those horrid men were there,
+and none of the others would.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Come on over to Buler&#8217;s and see &#8217;em dance,&#8221;
+proposed Jack. &#8220;The <i>Dixie</i> is running again.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll go in the <i>Chelton</i>,&#8221; spoke Cora firmly,
+and in that boat they went. And now for a time,
+we will take leave of the motor girls.
+</p>
+<div class='ce'>
+<p style=' font-size:0.8em; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:2em;'>THE END</p>
+</div>
+
+<!-- generated by ppgen.rb version: 2.07 -->
+<!-- timestamp: Sat Jun 21 07:21:01 -0600 2008 -->
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Motor Girls on Crystal Bay, by Margaret Penrose
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+</body>
+</html>
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+Project Gutenberg's The Motor Girls on Crystal Bay, by Margaret Penrose
+
+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 www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Motor Girls on Crystal Bay
+       The Secret of the Red Oar
+
+Author: Margaret Penrose
+
+Release Date: June 22, 2008 [EBook #25873]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR GIRLS ON CRYSTAL BAY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+THE MOTOR GIRLS
+ON CRYSTAL BAY
+
+Or
+The Secret of the Red Oar
+
+By
+MARGARET PENROSE
+
+----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Copyright, 1914, by
+Cupples & Leon Company
+
+----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+CONTENTS
+
+CHAPTER                             PAGE
+     I.  A Worried Girl                1
+    II.  Freda'S Story                15
+   III.  Crystal Bay                  26
+    IV.  The Red Oar                  36
+     V.  Two Men                      47
+    VI.  The "Chelton"                55
+   VII.  In The Motely Mote           67
+  VIII.  Frights Or Fancies           76
+    IX.  A Merry Time                 83
+     X.  Too Much Joy                 93
+    XI.  The Rescue                  102
+   XII.  The Calm                    109
+  XIII.  Suspicion                   120
+   XIV.  An Angry Druggist           129
+    XV.  An Alarm                    141
+   XVI.  A Bad Case Of Nerves        156
+  XVII.  A Little Race               164
+ XVIII.  More Suspicions             171
+   XIX.  Odd Talk                    176
+    XX.  The Night Plot              184
+   XXI.  The Breakdown               196
+  XXII.  At The Cabin                202
+ XXIII.  Unexpected Help             208
+  XXIV.  Denny'S Soliloquy           214
+   XXV.  The Plotters Arrive         220
+  XXVI.  Cora'S Brave Resolve        227
+ XXVII.  The Red Oar Again           235
+XXVIII.  The Discovery--Conclusion   241
+
+----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+
+THE MOTOR GIRLS ON CRYSTAL BAY
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+A WORRIED GIRL
+
+
+Four girls sat on four chairs, in four different corners of the room.
+They sat on the chairs because they were really too tired to stand
+longer, and the reason for the occupancy of the corners of the
+apartment was self-evident. There was no other available space. For
+the center of the chamber was littered to overflowing with trunks,
+suitcases and valises, in various stages of being packed, and from
+them overflowed a variety of garments and other accessories of a
+journey.
+
+"Oh, dear!" sighed Cora Kimball, as she gazed helplessly about, "will
+we ever be finished, Bess?"
+
+"I don't know," was the equally discouraging reply. "It doesn't seem
+so; does it?"
+
+"I'm sure I can't get another thing in my suitcase," spoke the
+smallest girl of all, who seemed to shrink back rather timidly into
+her corner, as though she feared she might be put into a trunk by
+mistake.
+
+"Oh, Marita! You simply must get more in your suitcase!" exclaimed
+Cora, starting up. "Why, your trunk won't begin to hold all the rest
+of your things unless you crowd more into the case."
+
+"The only trouble, Cora," sighed Marita, "is that the sides and top
+aren't made of rubber."
+
+"There's an idea!" cried a plump girl, in the corner nearest the
+piano. "A rubber suitcase! What a boon it would be for week-ends, when
+one starts off with a Spartan resolution to take only one extra gown,
+and ends up with slipping two party dresses and the 'fixings' into
+one's trunk. Oh, for a rubber suitcase!"
+
+"What's the sense in sighing after the impossible?" asked the girl
+opposite the plump one. "Why don't you finish packing, Bess?"
+
+"Why don't you?" and the plump one rather glared at her more frail
+questioner.
+
+"Now, sisters!" cautioned Cora, as she gazed at the Robinson twins,
+"don't get on one another's nerves. Let's have another try at it. I'm
+sure if we go at it with some sort of system we'll be able to get all
+the things in. And really we must hurry!" she exclaimed, looking at
+the clock on the mantel, which pointed to the hour of four. "I
+promised to have all the baggage ready for the man at five. That only
+gives us an hour----"
+
+"Cora Kimball!"
+
+"Only an hour!"
+
+"Why didn't you tell us?"
+
+Thus the three girls exclaimed in startled tones as they fairly leaped
+from their chairs in their respective corners, and caught up various
+garments.
+
+Then, as the apparent hopelessness of the situation overcame them
+again, they looked at one another, at the trunks and suitcases that
+already held their fair share of articles, at the accumulation on the
+floor, and then they sighed in concert.
+
+"It's no use," spoke Bess Robinson. "I'm not going at all--at least
+not now. I'm going to take another day to sort out the things I really
+don't need."
+
+"You can't!" exclaimed Cora. "Our tickets are bought, the bungalow is
+engaged, and we leave for Crystal Bay on the morning train, if we have
+to ship this whole room by freight--just as it is!"
+
+"Perhaps that would be the easiest way," suggested timid Marita
+Osborne.
+
+"It certainly would create a sensation in Chelton," murmured Belle, as
+she looked at her plump sister. "But come, we really must help you,
+Cora. It's too bad we took advantage of your good nature, and brought
+our things here to pack. We might better have done it at our own
+homes."
+
+"No, I think you'll find my way best in the end," said Cora, with a
+smile, as she looked about for a place in which to pack her sweater.
+"By doing this we won't duplicate on the extras. Now, girls, try once
+more. Marita, let's begin on your suitcase, for that seems to be the
+smallest. Oh, dear, Bess, what are you doing now?" she called, as she
+noted an unusual activity on the part of the plump girl.
+
+"I'm just seeing if I'm heavy enough to close the lid of my trunk,"
+was the answer. "No, I'm not," she exclaimed, as she hopped on and
+hopped off again.
+
+"Look out!" called Belle. "You nearly stepped on my veil-box, Bess."
+
+"Sorry, Sis, but you shouldn't leave it on the floor."
+
+The plump one stood looking at the bulging trunk, and then drew a long
+breath.
+
+"Girls!" she cried, "I'm losing weight."
+
+"How do you know?" asked her sister promptly.
+
+"Couldn't close my trunk lid. That's the way I can always tell.
+Problem: Given a trunk, which requires a force of one hundred and
+thirty-five pounds to close down the lid, and a girl of one hundred
+and fifteen, how many chocolates must the said girl eat before she is
+heavy enough to close the lid? Answer--one pound, and here's for a
+starter," saying which pretty, plump Bess rummaged in a pile of her
+belongings until she found what she was after. Then, sinking down in a
+heap of silk petticoats she began munching bonbons with a contented
+air.
+
+"Bess Robinson!" gasped Cora. "You're never going to do that; are
+you?"
+
+"Do what?" came with an innocent air.
+
+"Sit there and eat chocolates until you're heavy enough to close down
+the lid of your trunk."
+
+"I might as well. I can't check it open that way, and I can't close it
+at my present weight. I need everything I've squeezed into it; and so
+what else can I do?"
+
+"If we could only get someone to help us," said Marita, innocently,
+seeming to take Bess literally. "One of the boys----"
+
+She was interrupted by the laughter of the others, for Marita was a
+newcomer in Chelton, and though Cora and her chums had taken her up,
+attracted by her nice ways, Marita did not yet appreciate her new
+friends.
+
+"Don't mind what Bess says, my dear," spoke Cora, as she saw that
+Marita was a little hurt at the laughter. "As for the boys, please
+don't suggest such a thing. If they came in now, we'd never get
+through packing. I hope----"
+
+"All hope abandon, ye who enter here!" declaimed a voice in the
+doorway, and the faces of two young men peered in.
+
+"Too late!" exclaimed Cora, as she saw her brother Jack and his chum,
+Walter Pennington. "The boys are here! Any more of you, Jack?" she
+asked, as she crowded some feminine finery out of sight behind her
+back.
+
+"No. Why?"
+
+"Because I'm going to give general orders for you to depart at once,
+and I want to include everyone. Begone!"
+
+"Heartless one!" murmured Walter, sliding into the room under Jack's
+arm. "Just when we came to help you, too!"
+
+"Here!" called Bess, from her position, Turkish fashion, amid a
+billowy pile of garments, "Help me up first, Wallie, my dear, and then
+sit on my trunk."
+
+"Why, is that the throne seat?" he asked, as he extended his hand, and
+pretended to find it extremely difficult to lift Bess to her feet.
+
+"No, but the lid needs closing, and I can't do it. Sit on it, that's a
+good fellow," and she extended to him a chocolate from the tips of her
+fingers, which fingers Walter pretended to bite.
+
+"Now you really must go," said Cora, seriously, when Walter had
+managed to close the trunk. "Come, Jack, we have to get through by
+five o'clock," and she glanced at her brother, who was in earnest
+conversation with Marita in her corner.
+
+Jack paid no attention to his sister, and Walter was somewhat
+surprised to see Bess, after looking with satisfaction at the trunk he
+had closed for her, open it again.
+
+"Well, I like that!" he exclaimed, with pretended indignation, "after
+me nearly breaking my back to close that lid----"
+
+"I just wanted the things compressed, Walter dear," said Bess,
+sweetly. "I've got a lot more to put in, and I couldn't squeeze in
+another piece until they had been crowded down a bit. Now run along,
+little boy."
+
+"Come on, Jack!" called Walter, as he turned to go. "We have been
+insulted!"
+
+"They can't insult me," murmured Jack, never turning to look at his
+chum. "Don't be so thin-skinned, Wal. I'm having a good time."
+
+Cora's girl chums looked at her.
+
+"Jack, you must go!" she insisted. "Please do. I should think you boys
+would have lots to do to get ready, too."
+
+"All done, Sis," murmured Jack. "We always travel in light marching
+order, and sleep on our arms," and he bent closer to the blushing
+Marita.
+
+Cora bit her lip. Really she was provoked at Jack this time. She and
+her chums were in the midst of packing for their annual Summer trip,
+and to be interrupted this way, at the last critical moment, was
+provoking.
+
+"Jack!" she began. "I shall tell mother----"
+
+"What's he been doing now?" asked a new voice, and with a gesture of
+despair Cora turned to see another young man in the doorway.
+
+"Come on in, Ed," called Jack. "Didn't know you were in town. You're
+just in time to assist."
+
+"What's it all about?" asked the newcomer. "Are you going or coming?"
+he inquired, as he looked at the partially-filled suitcases and
+trunks.
+
+"Both," answered Walter. "You're coming and they're going."
+
+"Good!" was the comment. "Hello, Cora--Bess--Belle----" He paused as
+he nodded to each of the girls, and looked questioningly at Marita in
+the corner with Jack.
+
+"Oh, excuse me," murmured Cora. "Miss Osborne, let me present to you
+Mr. Edward Foster--just plain Ed, mostly."
+
+"The plainer the better," observed the newcomer, as he bowed to
+Marita. "But what's it all about, Jack?--No, there's no use asking
+him," he murmured as he noted Cora's brother resuming his interrupted
+conversation with the little girl. "Will someone please enlighten me?"
+
+"It's our annual flitting," sighed Cora. "And really half the pleasure
+is taken away with this packing. Well, as long as you boys are here
+you might as well make yourselves useful, as well as ornamental."
+
+"Delighted!" cried Walter, looking about. "Where shall I put this?"
+and he caught up a box from the floor.
+
+"Be careful!" cried Belle. "You'll spill it!"
+
+"Candy?" he asked questioningly, as he rattled the contents.
+
+"My manicure set, and you'll have it all upset. Give it here!" went on
+the owner, and Walter surrendered it.
+
+"No, but seriously, what's it all about?" he asked. "I've just come
+home."
+
+"We girls have taken a bungalow at Crystal Bay," explained Cora.
+"We're due there to-morrow, leaving on the early morning train. The
+boys, that is, Jack and Walter, are to have a tent near us, and
+they're supposed to go with us in the morning. But unless they're
+further along with their packing than we are----"
+
+Cora shrugged her pretty shoulders.
+
+"Don't worry, Sis, we are!" Jack threw at her, without turning his
+head.
+
+"Camping at Crystal Bay--that sounds good," murmured Ed, who liked
+life in the open.
+
+"Can't you come along, old man?" asked Walter. "We've got plenty of
+room, and we were counting on you later, when you got back from your
+trip. Now, as long as you're here, can't you come with us?"
+
+"I don't know but what I could. Yes, I will. I haven't anything on.
+I'll go home and pack up right away. You leave in the morning? I guess
+I can make it."
+
+"Well, when you go, please take them with you," and Cora indicated her
+brother and Walter. "Then we'll be able to go on with our packing.
+Really, Jack," and she spoke most seriously this time, "you must go!"
+
+"All right, Sis!" he agreed. "Don't forget," he added, to Marita, as
+he rose.
+
+"What nonsense has he been telling you now?" asked Belle with a laugh.
+"Don't believe him, Marita."
+
+"Don't tell!" cautioned Jack. "It's a secret!"
+
+Somehow the boys were gotten out of the room, and somehow the girls
+managed to get through with their packing in time for the expressman.
+
+From the Kimball home driveway the expressman drove with the baggage,
+and soon the trunks were rattling down the main street of Chelton,
+that pretty New England town, nestling in a bend of the Chelton River.
+
+"Well, that's over, thank goodness!" sighed Cora, as she saw the
+baggage safely off. "Now to get ourselves ready for morning. You girls
+will take supper with me."
+
+"Oh, that's too much," protested Belle.
+
+"No, really it isn't. I've told mamma, and she is counting on you. But
+I'm too excited to eat much."
+
+"So am I," chorused the others.
+
+"And I'm so anxious to see our new motor boat!" added Bess, for the
+girls had purchased one that had been sent on ahead to Crystal Bay.
+
+"I do hope Ed can go," murmured Belle. "He's such good company."
+
+"Yes, I like him, too," confessed Marita, with a blush, at which the
+others laughed.
+
+The boys came over to the Kimball home that evening, Jack having dined
+with Walter Pennington. Ed came also, to say that he could go, and
+then the young people talked over plans for Summer fun, until the
+chiming of the clock warned the girls, at least, that they must
+separate if they were to get up early the next morning.
+
+"Lottie Weaver will meet us at the station," said Cora, referring to
+another of the party, who had not assisted at the packing.
+
+"That's good. If we had had her trunk over here, with all our things,
+we'd never have gotten the baggage off," said Bess, with a sigh.
+
+"And now, after it's all over," said Cora to her mother that night, "I
+think I would not again have all the packing done in one place. I
+thought it would save time for the girls to bring their things here,
+especially as the Robinsons are so upset with building that addition
+to the parlor. But it was a lot of work!"
+
+"Oh, well," said Mrs. Kimball, "you meant it for the best, my dear.
+I'm sure you will have a pleasant Summer."
+
+They met at the station the next morning--the girls and boys. Lottie
+Weaver was there, in the glory of a new maroon sweater, and Ed Foster
+was also on time.
+
+The express for Crystal Bay was late, and as Cora and her motor girl
+chums marched up and down the platform, nervously waiting, Cora saw a
+girl coming from the waiting room.
+
+"Why, Freda Lewis!" she exclaimed, hurrying up and putting her arms
+about her. "What are you doing here? I thought you were going back to
+Bar Harbor for the Summer."
+
+"So we were! Oh, Cora! I'm so glad to see you. I had to change cars
+here--I got on the wrong train, it seems. I've been traveling all
+night."
+
+"You look it, my dear! Oh, if I had only known you were here----"
+
+"I haven't been waiting long. I'm to take the Shore Express."
+
+"That's our train. But, Freda, you don't look at all well--not a bit
+as you did at school," for Freda was a chum Cora had made much of a
+year or so before, but had not seen of late.
+
+"I'm not well, Cora," said Freda, earnestly.
+
+"What is the trouble?"
+
+"Anxiety, mostly. Oh, Cora, we've had such a dreadful time, mother and
+I!"
+
+Her voice trembled pitifully.
+
+"Freda, dear, what is the matter?" asked Cora in sympathetic tones,
+for she saw tears in the other's eyes.
+
+"Oh, it's money matters. You know we own--or at least we thought we
+did--a large tract of land at Crystal Bay."
+
+"Crystal Bay!" exclaimed Cora, in surprise.
+
+"Yes. It was Grandfather Lewis's homestead. Well, most of our income
+has come from that since father's death, and now--Oh, I don't know all
+the details, but some land speculators--land sharks, mother calls
+them--are disputing our title.
+
+"Mother has just worried herself sick over it, and I'm afraid she is
+going into nervous prostration. I've been to see some distant
+relatives about the matter, but I can't do anything. I'm so sorry for
+dear little mother. If she should break down----"
+
+Poor, worried Freda could not go on. Cora held her close and the
+thought came to her that Freda herself was on the verge of a nervous
+breakdown. The girl had changed very much from the happy, laughing
+chum of a year before.
+
+"Freda, dear, tell me more about it," murmured Cora. "Perhaps I can
+help--I have friends--Jack and I----"
+
+"Here comes the train!" interrupted Jack. "Come on, Cora!"
+
+"I must see you again, Freda," said Cora, hastily. "I'll look for you
+on the train. I've got to get my party together. Don't forget--I'll
+see you again!" and, wondering what was the cause of her friend's
+worry, Cora hastened up the platform, toward her companions, while the
+train steamed noisily in.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+FREDA'S STORY
+
+
+"Well, are we all here?"
+
+"Count noses!"
+
+"Did anybody lose anything?"
+
+"If it's a pocketbook it's mine!"
+
+"Especially if it has money in it!"
+
+Thus the motor girls, and their boy friends, sent merry quip and jest
+back and forth as they found seats in the coach, and settled down for
+the trip to Crystal Bay. Cora, after making sure that the girls had
+comfortable seats, and noting that Jack had pre-empted the place
+beside Marita, leaned over Bess and whispered:
+
+"I'm going back in the next car for a little while."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"Did you lose anything?" asked Belle, who overheard what Cora said.
+
+"No, but you saw me talking to that girl on the platform; didn't you?"
+
+"Yes, and I wondered who she was," remarked Bess.
+
+"She was Freda Lewis."
+
+"Freda Lewis! Why, I never would have known her!"
+
+"Nor I!" added Belle. "How she has changed! Of course you were more
+intimate with her than we were, Cora; but she certainly doesn't seem
+to be the same girl."
+
+"She isn't," replied Cora. "She and her mother are in trouble--financial
+trouble. I'm going back and talk to her. I want to help her if I can."
+
+And while Cora is thus bent on her errand of good cheer, it may not be
+out of place, for the benefit of my new readers, to tell a little
+something more about the characters of this story, and how they
+figured in the preceding books of this series.
+
+To begin with the motor girls, there were three of them, though
+friends and guests added to the number at times. Somehow, in speaking
+of the motor girls, I always think of Cora Kimball first. Perhaps it
+is because she was rather of a commanding type. She was a splendid
+girl, tall and dark. Her mother was a wealthy widow, who for some
+years had made her home in the quiet New England town of Chelton,
+where she owned valuable property. And, while I am at it, I might
+mention that Jack was Cora's only brother, the three forming the
+Kimball household.
+
+Bess and Belle Robinson were twins, the daughters of Mr. and Mrs.
+Perry Robinson. Mr. Robinson was a wealthy railroad man, associated
+with large metropolitan interests.
+
+Bess, Belle and Cora had been chums since their motoring days began,
+when Cora had been given a car, and, after some persuasion, Mr.
+Robinson also had bought one for his daughters.
+
+I think I have already intimated that Bess was plump and rosy--a
+little too plump, she herself admitted at times. Her sister was just
+the opposite--tall and willowy, so that the two formed quite a
+contrast.
+
+Marita Osborne was a newcomer in Chelton, who had soon won her way
+into the hearts of the motor girls, so much so that Cora had invited
+her to come to the bungalow at Crystal Bay.
+
+Each year Cora and her chums sought some new form of Summer vacation
+pleasure, and this time they had decided on the seashore, in a quiet
+rather old-fashioned resort, which the girls, on a preliminary
+inspection trip, had voted most charming. In fact they went into such
+raptures over it that Jack and his chums had decided to go there also.
+So the boys and girls would be together.
+
+Speaking of the boys, the two who will come in for the most
+consideration will be Walter Pennington and Ed Foster. Walter was
+perhaps a closer chum of Jack's than was Ed, the former attending
+Exmouth College with Jack, where, of late, Ed had taken a
+post-graduate course. Ed was considered quite a sportsman, and was
+fond of hunting and fishing.
+
+The first book of this series, entitled "The Motor Girls," tells how
+Cora became possessed of her car, the _Whirlwind_, and what happened
+after she got it. In that powerful machine she and her girls chums
+unraveled a mystery of the road in a manner satisfactory to themselves
+and many others.
+
+When the motor girls went on a tour, they made a strange promise--or
+rather Cora did--and how she kept it you will find fully set forth in
+the second volume. In the third you may read of the doings of the
+girls at Lookout Beach, where came two runaways whom Cora befriended.
+The runaways were two girls--but there, I must not spoil the story for
+you by telling you their secret.
+
+Going through New England in their cars, the motor girls had a strange
+experience with the gypsies, as set forth in the fourth volume. Cora
+was in dire straits for a time, but with her usual good luck, and her
+good sense, she finally turned the situation to the advantage of
+herself and her chums.
+
+Motoring so appealed to the girls that when they got the chance to
+change from the land to the water they eagerly took it. Cora became
+the owner of a fine motor boat, and in the story "The Motor Girls on
+Cedar Lake," you may read of what she and her friends did with their
+craft. The hermit of Fern Island had much to be thankful for, after
+meeting Cora, who did him a great service.
+
+Longing for wider waters in which to display their skill as amateur
+motor-boatists, the girls went to the coast the Summer following their
+experiences on Cedar Lake, and there they found the waif from the sea.
+Again did Cora and her chums take advantage of an opportunity to
+befriend an unfortunate.
+
+The experiences of that Summer were talked of nearly all of the
+following Winter. Now warm weather had come again, and with it the
+desire to be flitting to a watering place. Crystal Bay, as I have
+said, was selected, and of the start for that place I have already
+told.
+
+Cora, walking back through the coaches, looking from side to side for
+Freda, found herself wondering what had caused the sudden change in
+her former companion.
+
+"She was considered well-off at school," murmured Cora, as she saw her
+friend half way down the second coach, "but she never appeared fond of
+money. Now the loss of it seems to have changed her terribly. I wonder
+if it can be--just money?"
+
+Cora reached the seat where Freda was, with her face turned toward the
+window.
+
+"Well, I am here, you see," announced Cora, pleasantly. "I left them
+to shift for themselves a while. They do seem to depend so much on
+me."
+
+"That's because you are always doing things for others," said Freda,
+and there was a suspicious brightness in her eyes.
+
+"Then I hope I can do something for you!" exclaimed Cora, earnestly.
+"Come, Freda, dear, tell me your troubles--that is, if you would like
+to," she added quickly, not wishing to force a confidence for which
+the other might not be ready.
+
+"Oh, Cora, dear, of course you know I want to--it isn't that! Only I
+don't like to pile my worries on you."
+
+"Go on--it always helps to tell someone else. Who knows but what I may
+help you. Is it a real worry, Freda?"
+
+"So real that sometimes I am afraid to think about it!"
+
+There was no mistaking the girl's fear. She looked over her shoulder
+as though she expected to see some unpleasant object, or person.
+
+"Suppose you begin at the beginning," suggested Cora, with a smile.
+"Then I'll know what we are talking of."
+
+"I don't know what the beginning was," said Freda slowly, "but I can
+almost see the--ending," and she seemed to shiver. "But where are you
+going, Cora, you and your friends?" she asked. "I must not be selfish
+and talk only about myself."
+
+"We are going to Crystal Bay."
+
+"Crystal Bay! How odd, just where mother is, and where I am going.
+Then I shall see you often."
+
+"I hope so," murmured Cora. "We have a cute little bungalow, and the
+boys--my brother and his chums--will use a tent. But I want to hear
+more about your trouble. Really, Freda, you do look quite ill."
+
+"Perhaps that is partly because I have been traveling all night. It is
+always so wearying. But my chief cause of anxiety is for mother. She
+is really on the verge of a breakdown, the doctor says. Oh, if
+anything happens to her----"
+
+"Don't think of it," urged Cora. "Perhaps it will help you if you tell
+me some particulars."
+
+"I will," said Freda, bravely. "It is this way. My grandfather was a
+pioneer land-owner of a large tract at Crystal Bay. It came to us,
+after papa died, and we lived well on the income from it, for there
+was much farm land besides the big house we lived in. But a month or
+so ago a big land company, that wants to get our property for a
+factory site, filed a claim against us, saying we had no good title to
+the estate. They said certain deeds had not been filed, and that we
+were only trespassers, and must get off."
+
+"And did you go?" asked Cora, with deep interest.
+
+"Not yet, but I am afraid we'll have to. You see these men took the
+matter to court. They got an injunction, I think it is called. Anyhow,
+it was some document that forbade the people who rent the land from us
+from paying us any more money until the case was settled. And, as we
+depend on the rents for our living--well, you see we haven't any
+living now, to speak of," and Freda tried to smile through her tears.
+
+"Oh, that's a shame!" cried Cora, impulsively. "And can nothing be
+done?"
+
+"We have tried, mother and I. But we really have no money to hire
+lawyers, and neither have any of what few friends and relations there
+are left. I have just been on a quest of that kind, but it was not
+successful.
+
+"There are supposed to be some documents--deeds, mortgages, or
+something like that, in existence, and if we could only get hold of
+them we might prove our claim, and force the men to let us have our
+rent money again. But until we get those papers----"
+
+Freda paused suggestively.
+
+"Oh, I wish I could think of a way to help you!" murmured Cora. "I can
+see you have been suffering!"
+
+"I don't mind so much about myself," said Freda, bravely, "but I am
+really more worried about mother than I am about the property. If
+worst came to worst I could go to work, but mother has taken so to
+heart the actions of the land sharks! She never was strong, you know.
+You met her; did you not?"
+
+"I think not, but perhaps I may have done so. Now, Freda, I am going
+to help you!"
+
+Cora spoke enthusiastically.
+
+"Are you? How?" asked the other, eagerly.
+
+"I don't just know how, but I am. First I'm going to think this over,
+and then I'm going to talk about it with Jack. He has a friend--Ed
+Foster--who knows something about law. We may be able to get ahead of
+these land sharks yet."
+
+"Oh, I hope so!" gasped Freda, with a fond look at Cora. "It is so
+good of you to bother with poor me."
+
+"And why shouldn't I?" asked Cora. "You look as though you needed
+bothering with. Take care that you don't break down, too, Freda."
+
+"I shall keep up. I must, for mother's sake. Oh, but those men were
+positively brutal when they told her she had no right to grandfather's
+property! But it has done me good to talk to you, Cora dear."
+
+"I am glad of it. You look better already. Now wouldn't you like to
+come forward and meet some of the girls? You know the Robinson twins,
+anyhow."
+
+"Yes, I know them. But I don't want to see anyone just yet. Later on,
+perhaps. I just want to rest, and think. It was awfully good of you to
+come to me. We shall see each other at Crystal Bay."
+
+"Oh, indeed we shall. Well, then, if you won't come I'll go back to my
+friends. Now don't forget--I'm going to help you, Freda!"
+
+"Oh, that's so good of you! I feel more hope and courage now. I--I
+feel like--fighting those land sharks!" and Freda clenched her little
+hands as though the struggle to come would be a physical one.
+
+With a reassuring pat on Freda's shoulder Cora left her friend, to go
+to her chums in the other coach. She found them about to organize a
+searching party to look for her, and they clamored for the reason for
+her desertion.
+
+She told them something of Freda's story, and Ed Foster promised to
+talk the matter over with Mrs. Lewis later, and see if he could give
+any legal aid.
+
+"It's too bad!" exclaimed Bess. "There ought to be a law to punish
+such men."
+
+"There probably are laws," said Cora, "but the trouble is there are so
+many laws that bad men can often use them for their own ends."
+
+"Bravo, Portia. A Daniel come to judgment!" cried Ed. "With you on her
+side, Freda is sure to win!"
+
+But, though the motor girls tried to be merry, the little cloud of
+Freda's trouble overshadowed them all the way to Crystal Bay.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+CRYSTAL BAY
+
+
+"Here we are!"
+
+"Where's the bungalow?"
+
+"Me for that motor boat of Cora's!" cried Jack.
+
+"No, you don't!" exclaimed his sister. "Not till I try her first."
+
+They had alighted at the station, and there was the confusion that
+always follows engaging a carriage and seeing that the baggage has
+safely arrived. Cora found time to slip off for a minute and whisper
+words of cheer to Freda. Then she rejoined her chums, and made ready
+for the trip to the bungalow.
+
+The boys, with a fine disregard of housekeeping responsibilities, were
+already making plans to go fishing that afternoon, having spied a man
+who took out parties in his launch.
+
+But finally order came out of chaos. The girls found themselves at
+their bungalow, surrounded by their belongings. The boys, after seeing
+that their possessions were piled in the tent, slipped on their oldest
+garments and began overhauling their fishing tackle.
+
+"Aren't you going to do anything toward getting a meal?" asked Cora of
+Jack, as she went over to the tent to borrow a corkscrew with which to
+open some olives.
+
+"We thought maybe you'd ask us over," he answered, craftily, as he
+adjusted a reel on his rod.
+
+"Oh, Jack!" she cried. "We can't! We've got so much to unpack.
+Besides, we're only going to have a light lunch now."
+
+"A _light_ lunch! Excuse me. I know--crackers, pickles and olives.
+Never! We'll go to the town delicatessen, sister mine!"
+
+"Thank goodness there is one," murmured Cora.
+
+She hastened back to the bungalow. And then began a series of
+strenuous happenings.
+
+Somehow trunks and suitcases were unpacked; somehow rooms were picked
+out, rejected, taken again, and finally settled on. Then, between the
+nibblings at the crackers and pickles Jack had despised, the girls
+settled down, and at last had time to admire the place they had
+selected for their Summer stay.
+
+A woman had been engaged to open the bungalow for them, and she had
+provided most of the necessaries of life, aside from those the girls
+brought with them. Cora and her chums had been satisfied to have her
+attend to everything from buying food to providing an oil stove on
+which to cook it.
+
+There were a number of conveniences at Crystal Bay. Stores were not
+out of reach, and supplies could be procured with little trouble. A
+trip across the bay brought one to the shores of a real village, with
+school house, post-office and other accessories of civilization. A
+trip down the bay opened into eel pots in August, bluefishing in
+September and deep sea fishing later on, when the Summer colonists had
+departed.
+
+Very early in the morning after the arrival of the motor girls at
+Crystal Bay, house, tent and bungalow were deserted--it was all a
+matter of motor boat. Moored to the brand new dock, at Tangle Turn, a
+brand new motor craft heaved with the incoming waves and tugged at its
+ropes whenever a sufficiently strong motion of the water gave it
+excuse to attempt an escape.
+
+This was the _Chelton_, the "up-to-datest" little-big motor boat
+possible to own or acquire, according to the verdict of the young men
+from Chelton who had just now passed judgment, and the wise decision
+of Cora and her girl friends who had actually bought the boat, after
+having taken a post-graduate course in catalogs and hardware
+periodicals, to say nothing of the countless interviews they had found
+it necessary to hold with salesmen and yacht agents.
+
+They were all there, even Freda, who declared she ought to be busy
+with other matters, but that the call of the colony was too strong for
+her that one morning, at least.
+
+"Of course we know how to run her," insisted Cora to Ed, the latter
+having expressed doubt as to the girls' ability to manage so important
+a craft. "Didn't we run the _Pet_?"
+
+"Oh, yes, but this--this is a deep-sea boat," Ed explained, "and you
+might run yourselves away to other shores."
+
+"And land on a desert island? What sport!" exclaimed Lottie, to whom
+motor boating was an entirely new experience. "I hope we make it
+Holland. I have always longed to see a real, live Holland boy. The
+kind who are all clothes and wooden shoes."
+
+"We might make one up for you," suggested Belle. "I think Wallie would
+look too cute for anything in skirty trousers and polonaise shirts.
+Just let his locks grow a little--Look out there, Bess! That's water
+around the boat. It only looks like an oil painting. It's real--wet!"
+
+Bess was climbing over the dock edge, and of course the boys could not
+allow her that much exercise without pretending that she was in danger
+of going overboard. After Belle unhooked the hem of her sister's skirt
+from an iron bolt, thereby giving Bess a sudden drop to the deck of
+the _Chelton_, however, Bess declared she knew water when she saw it,
+and also the difference between a water color and an oil painting.
+
+"What did you call her _Chelton_ for?" asked Walter. "I thought you
+decided to take the name from the first remark the first stranger
+should make about her."
+
+"Yes, and what do you think that was?" laughed Belle.
+
+"'Push'!" promptly answered Freda. "An old fisherman came along as
+Jack was arranging the painter, and he just said 'push'!"
+
+"That would be a handy little name," commented Walter.
+
+"Next some boys, out clamming, saw her," said Jack, "and they said
+'peach.'"
+
+"Either of which would have done nicely," declared Ed. "Peach would
+have been the very name--after the girls----"
+
+"_Chelton_ is dignified and appropriate," interposed Cora; "besides,
+if we should stray off to Holland they would know along the Dikes that
+we belonged in Chelton."
+
+"Now don't forget that the wheel is a sea wheel and turns opposite to
+the direction you want to go," cautioned Jack.
+
+"How is that?" inquired Lottie, who had joined the other in examining
+the boat.
+
+She was shown with patience. The boys were plainly glad that one of
+the girls, at least, did not know all about running a motor boat.
+
+"And oh, what is that?" gasped Marita. "That cunning little playhouse!"
+
+"Playhouse!" repeated Cora. "That's our living room--our cabin. Those
+fixtures are to cook with, eat with, live with and do all our
+housekeeping with."
+
+"Also die with," added Walter. "I think that electric toaster might be
+all right for fudge, but for real bread--Now say, Cora, can you really
+cook pork and beans on that?"
+
+"These are the very latest, most improved and most expensive electric
+attachments on the market," answered Cora, with a show of dignity,
+"and when you boys take a meal here, if we ever invite you to, I think
+we can easily prove the advantage of electrical attachments over
+campfire iron pots."
+
+The cooking apparatus was examined with interest. A motor boat cabin
+fitted up with such a "kitchenette" was indeed a novelty.
+
+"You see," explained Cora, "we have two ways of getting power. We can
+take it from the storage battery, or from the little dynamo attached
+to the motor."
+
+"Lovely!" exclaimed Lottie, to whom a "current" meant little, but who
+wanted to seem interested.
+
+"That is to provide for the various kinds of cooking," Jack said,
+jokingly. "Now eggs are weak, they cook by storage; but a Welsh rabbit
+is done by the dynamo."
+
+"It means something else," Captain Cora remarked, "namely, if we have
+company for supper, and the storage current gives out, we will not
+have to make it a progressive meal, extending into the next day. The
+course can be continued from the extra current."
+
+"For the love of Malachi!" exclaimed Walter. "What's this?"
+
+"Our boiler," said Bess, who knew something about the boat's fitting
+up. "We have that for dishwater."
+
+"Dishwater!" repeated Ed. "You've got this down to domestic science
+all right. That rubber hose runs off the hot water from the cylinder
+jacket, and----"
+
+"Oh, never!" cried Jack. "They will be making tea with it."
+
+"Isn't it salty?" innocently asked Marita.
+
+"Likely," said Belle, for the girls had all taken an interest in the
+housework-made-easy-plan, and had arranged to use the boiling water as
+it came from the motor after cooling the cylinder. "But it won't hurt
+dishes."
+
+"Now I call that neat," commented Ed, "and to think that mere girls
+should have thought of it."
+
+Freda gave Cora a meaning glance. "Girls ought to think of the
+housework," she laughed with a wink at Belle. "Just look at the linen
+chest."
+
+She opened a small box and exhibited a goodly supply of suitable
+linen. No table cloths; just small pieces, doilies and plenty of neat,
+pretty towels.
+
+"Let's board here," suggested Walter. "Our food was really rude this
+morning."
+
+"Do we go out for a sail?" asked Ed, attempting to turn on the
+gasoline.
+
+"Oh, no indeed!" Cora answered quickly. "Not a box is unpacked in our
+place yet, and perhaps, if you boys are all to rights, you wouldn't
+mind giving us a hand."
+
+"Oh, of course we're all to rights," replied Jack. "I had a bolt of
+mosquito netting for my blanket last night and Wallie's bathrobe for
+my pillow."
+
+"And I made friends with a pretty, little, soft ground mole, Jack,"
+put in Ed, "and if the rest of our boxes do not arrive and unpack
+themselves in time for your slumber this eve, that mole has agreed to
+cuddle up under your left ear. I believe you sleep on your left."
+
+"Thanks," Jack said, "but I see no reason why mere household truck
+should keep us from a cruise. I am aching to try the _Chelton_, Cora."
+
+Cora and Freda were talking in whispers in the other end of the boat.
+It was no "mere household truck" surely that brought the serious
+expression to their faces.
+
+"It isn't far," Freda was heard to say, "and he promised to wait for
+us this morning."
+
+"And I do want to be with you," Cora answered. "But I won't let them
+take the boat out the first time without me. It cost too much to run
+the risk of damaging it by sky-larking."
+
+"Now what are you two up to?" demanded Jack. "Just because Drayton
+Ward has not arrived, we are held up for his coming. I tell you, Sis,
+that chap may not put in an appearance at all, here. He knows--sweller
+places."
+
+"Oh, don't you mind him, Cora," Ed interrupted. "Dray is sure to come.
+He had his canoe shipped two days ago, besides sending to the cove
+for his motor boat. I expect some tall times when he gets here. Our
+own innocent little _Lassie_ won't know how to skip over the waves
+at all--she'll be that flustered when the swell, gold-railed,
+mahogany-bound, carpet-floored _Dixie_ gets here."
+
+"It would take more than a mere _Dixie_ to knock out our _Lassie_,"
+declared Walter, "but I should like to know why she is not on the
+scene yet. Didn't we plainly say Tuesday?"
+
+"We did, plainly and emphatically. But a boat builder, letter or
+seller has a right to make his own day in delivering the goods. We'll
+be lucky if we get the barge at all without taking the sheriff up to
+that shipyard."
+
+"Meanwhile we have the _Chelton_," said Ed, tugging at Cora's sleeve.
+
+"And we must get back to the bungalow," she observed. "Freda and I
+have an important appointment for eleven, and if you all promise not
+to follow us or attempt to go out in the _Chelton_, perhaps we will
+have some interesting news for you this evening."
+
+The boys strolled away, talking about the motor boat they had hired.
+Money, for some reason, was not plentiful that Summer with Jack and
+his chums, and they had to be content with a second-hand craft, that
+had been patched and re-patched until there was little of the original
+left. They were not even sure the _Lassie_ would run, but they were
+anxious to try her.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+THE RED OAR
+
+
+"This way, Cora. The sand is so heavy out there it is better to keep
+near the edge," said Freda, as the two girls tramped along in the deep
+sand of the seashore that banded Crystal Bay.
+
+"But isn't it perfectly beautiful along here?" exclaimed Cora, in rapt
+delight. "I had no idea the little place could be so charming."
+
+"Oh, yes," returned Freda, with a suspicion of a sigh. "Over there,
+just in that splendid green stretch is, or was, grandfather's place.
+It runs all along to the island, and on the other side there is a
+stream that has been used for a mill race."
+
+"Over there!" Cora repeated. "Why, that looks like the very best part
+of the bay. And that house on the hill?"
+
+"Grandfather's own home and--mother's," finished Freda.
+
+"Is it rented now?"
+
+"Yes, we have rented it for three years, and it has brought us quite a
+little income," said Freda.
+
+"But you see that is cut off now. I am sure I do not know who collects
+the rents."
+
+"What a shame!" cried Cora. "And all because there is some technical
+proof of ownership missing. I should think that when your family had
+undisputed possession for years it ought to be sufficient to establish
+your rights."
+
+"Yes, we never dreamed we could lose it," Freda explained. "Mother and
+I have lived there in the Winter since father died, and we have rented
+it in Summer, as I said. Of course the Summer is the desirable time
+here. And we had some of the loveliest old furniture. But when we had
+to break up we sold most of it."
+
+"Look out! There's a hole there," Cora warned just in time, for in the
+heavy sand little rivulets were creeping from some rollers tossed in
+by a passing boat. The bay was dotted with many craft, and the picture
+it presented gave Cora keen delight, for it forecasted a merry Summer
+for the motor girls.
+
+"We only have a little farther to go," Freda said. "I hope old Denny
+has kept his word and stayed in. He is the queerest old fellow--you
+will be amused at him, I am sure. But he was always such a staunch
+friend of grandfather."
+
+"I am anxious to meet him," rejoined Cora. "Somehow I feel we girls
+ought to get at the bottom of this. Wouldn't it be fine if we could?"
+
+"More than fine, it would be glorious!" Freda replied. "If we lose it
+all now, I will have to look for work. Not that I mind that," she
+added, "but I intend to take a course in nursing. I have always longed
+to be a nurse."
+
+"And that would be a splendid profession for you," Cora agreed. "I do
+hope you will not have to go to work in some office."
+
+"Oh, there's Denny! Denny!" called Freda, leaving Cora without further
+ceremony, and hurrying ahead as fast as the soft sand would allow.
+"See, there he is! Just going out in his fishing boat."
+
+Cora ran after her, and soon they overtook the old fisherman, who was
+deaf. Freda didn't mind getting her shoes wet in order to approach the
+water's edge.
+
+"Good morning, Denny," she called, "come in here. We want to talk to
+you."
+
+He took his pipe from his mouth, in order that his mind should not be
+distracted. Then he pushed his cap back, and dropped an oar.
+
+"Freddie, is that you?" he asked. "Sure I thought you was comin' up to
+the shack, and I've bin waitin' for you."
+
+"We are on our way up there now. You are not going out, are you?"
+pleaded Freda.
+
+"No, Freddie," (he always called her Freddie), "I'll come right in. I
+was only goin' acrost to get a few little things; but they can wait."
+
+Cora now had a chance to see this quaint old fellow. He was Irish,
+with many fine humorous wrinkles about his eyes and mouth. He seemed
+to breathe through his pipe, so constantly did he inhale it, and just
+how he kept his sailor's blouse so clean, and his worn clothes so
+neat, was a trick he had learned in his younger days in the navy.
+
+"Isn't this a fine day?" he commented, with a nod to Cora.
+
+"Simply perfect," she answered, seeing there was no need for a formal
+introduction. "I have been telling Freda how surprised I was at the
+beauty of this place."
+
+"Surprised, is it? Sure, there ain't another spot this side of Cape
+Cod with as many fine points to it. I wouldn't leave this little bay
+for a berth on any ocean liner."
+
+"My friend, Cora Kimball, is from Chelton, Uncle Denny. Do you know
+where that is?" asked Freda.
+
+"Chelton? Chelton? Sure, I do. I went through there once in a parade
+wagon. We were out with the G. A. R. and I guess the parade got lost,
+for I remember at Chelton we had to put up for the night in an old
+church they were using for a fire house. But we had a fine time," and
+he chuckled at the recollection. "And next day we finished up without
+the need of a wagon. It was like camp days to scatter ourselves about
+the big ramshackle place."
+
+"Oh, yes, that's out in the East End," Cora said. "We have quite an
+up-to-date fire house in Chelton Center."
+
+"Well, that was good enough for me," he asserted. "But come along and
+I'll show you my shack. Freddie will be surprised at my new decorations."
+
+Up the little board walk to a path through the woods the three tramped.
+Denny Shane was popular with young folks; even the mischievous boys who
+would occasionally untie his boat before a storm had no reason to fear
+his wrath, for such pranks were quickly forgotten.
+
+"And the mother, Freddie?" he asked. "How's she gettin' on?"
+
+"Well, she worries a good deal," the girl replied. "But I keep telling
+her it must come right in time."
+
+"Sure it will. The rascals that would do wrong to a widder couldn't
+prosper. 'Taint lucky. But they're foxy. Did you hear anything new?"
+
+"Yes, but not much that is substantial. My friend and I want to see
+you to find out all that you may know about it. Perhaps there is some
+clue we have been overlooking, that you could give us."
+
+"Well, you're welcome to all I know. But here we are. No need to
+unlock my door," he said as he saw Cora smile at his unceremonious
+entrance to the shack. "Them that has nothin' has nothin' to fear."
+
+A surprising little place, indeed, the girls were shown into. Neat and
+orderly, yet convenient and practical, was Denny Shane's home. There
+was a stove and a mantel, a table, two chairs and a long bench. Pieces
+of rag carpet indicated the most favored spots--those to be lived on.
+
+"And now, Freddie," began Denny, drawing out two chairs, "what do you
+think of my housekeeping?"
+
+"Why, you are just as comfortable and neat as possible," she replied.
+"But I notice one thing has not lost its place--your red oar."
+
+"No--indeed!" he said almost solemnly. "That oar will stay with me
+while Denny Shane has eyes to see it. It has a story, Freddie, and I
+often promised to tell it to you. This is as good a time as another."
+
+He put his pipe down, brought a big chair up to the window, opened a
+back door to allow the salt air to sweep in; then, while Cora looked
+with quickening interest at the old red oar, that hung over the
+fireplace, Denny shook his head reflectively and started with his
+story.
+
+"That oar," he said, "seems like a link between me and Leonard
+Lewis--your grandpa, Freddie. And, too, it is a reminder of the night
+when I nearly went over the other sea, and would have, but for Leonard
+Lewis and his strong red oar."
+
+A light flashed into the old eyes. Plainly the recollections brought
+up by his story were sacred. He left his chair and went over to the
+mantel, climbed up on a box and touched the oar that had sagged a
+little from its position.
+
+"The wind rocks this shanty so," he explained, "the oar thinks it's
+out on the waves again, I guess. I don't like to spoil it with nails
+or strings."
+
+"It looks very artistic," Cora declared; "but how curious that an oar
+should be painted red."
+
+"Yes, there was only one pair of them, that I know of. One went with
+the wreck, and this one Len Lewis held on to. Now I'll tell you about
+it."
+
+Again he seated himself and this time started off briskly with the
+tale.
+
+"It was a raw January night--in fact, it seemed as if it had been
+night all day for all the chance the sun had to get out. A howling
+wind whistled and fairly shrieked at everything that didn't fly fast
+enough to suit it. Len and me had been puttin' in a lot of time
+together at his house, just chinnin'--there wasn't much else to do but
+to keep warm. Well, along about five o'clock, we heard a rocket! The
+wind died away for a minute or so, and we dashed out to the beach to
+get the lay of that distress signal. Talk about big city fires!" he
+digressed. "A fire on land ain't what it is on sea. It always seems
+like as if death has a double power with the fire and the deep and
+nothing but the sky above to fan the flame.
+
+"We soon saw the smoke. It was from a point just over the turn, where
+the clouds dip down and touch the waves. A little tail of smoke
+crawled up and hung black and dirty, not gettin' any bigger nor
+spreadin' much. When we sighted her, we went to work in the way men of
+the sea have of working together and never sayin' a word. Up the beach
+we chased, and dragged out the boat we called our 'Lifer.' It was a
+good, strong fishin' boat, and we kept her ready in the rough weather.
+
+"'Wait!' yelled Len to me, just as I was pushin' off. 'I've got a
+lucky pair of oars. They're bigger and heavier than ours, and I'll
+toss 'em in. We might need 'em.'
+
+"Little I thought of the need we would have! And I always laughed at
+Len's idea of luck--and me an Irishman, too."
+
+"Mother always said grandfather was queer about such things," Freda
+remarked. "I remember we had an old jug that he found on one of his
+birthdays. He would never allow that jug to be thrown out; he said it
+meant a jug full of good luck."
+
+"And it, of course, was an empty jug," Cora said, with a smile.
+"Perhaps that is, after all, the luckiest kind."
+
+Denny chuckled over that remark, and added he had not much use for
+jugs of any kind.
+
+"But I'm gettin' away from my yarn," he said, presently. "We took the
+big thick oars and pulled out against the wind. By this time the hail
+was comin' down in chunks that would cut the face off you. Sometimes
+there are a lot of stragglers around here, but when we need a man, of
+course, there is not one in sight. But we rowed away and somehow
+managed to get close to the wreck. It was a little steamer, not much
+bigger than a tug, and it was burning faster than the smoke told us.
+
+"'You throw the rope and I'll stick to the oars!' shouted Len, his
+voice sounding like a wheeze in the wind. There were three men on the
+steamer and they were just about tuckered out. They were clingin' to
+the rail, their hands blisterin' from the flames that were sweepin' up
+close to them even as they touched the water's edge.
+
+"It's an awful thing to see sufferin' like that," he put in. "I won't
+ever forget how those fellows tumbled into our boat. They just rolled
+in like dead men. But my rope got caught in the rudder of the steamer,
+and I tugged and tugged, but it looked as if we would have to let her
+burn off before we could free ourselves. Just when I decided to make a
+big haul at it I came near my end. I stood up, gave the rope a yank,
+and with that--rip! She let go! And I went with it over into the
+water!"
+
+"Goodness!" Cora exclaimed. "It was bad enough to have to rescue the
+other men, but for you to go into that roaring ocean!"
+
+"It was bad, Miss," agreed the narrator. "And the feel of that water
+as I struck it! It was like a bath of sword-points. Well, that's where
+the oar comes in! Bless the bit of wood it was cut from, it sure was a
+good, strong stick.
+
+"When I flopped into the water, like a fish dumped out of a net, your
+grandpop, Freddie, took nary a chance at reachin' me with the rope. He
+dropped the regular oars and took one of the pair he called lucky.
+
+"'Here,' he yelled, 'grab to that!'
+
+"I can see the red flash now as it nearly hit me on the head, but
+though I did make a stab at it the water was that cold and the ice so
+thick on me hands that I couldn't hold on.
+
+"It's pretty bad to be floppin' around like that, I can tell you. But
+Len kept shoutin' and when one of the other fellows got enough breath
+to stand up with, he took a hand at the rescuin'.
+
+"It was him who dropped the mate to that oar overboard. Mad! I could
+hear Len yell through the thick of it all. But he held the last red
+oar.
+
+"With the effort to keep up me blood heated some, and the next time I
+saw the flash of red I grabbed it good an' proper. It took three of
+them to haul me up, but I clung to the red oar and that's how I'm here
+this minute. Likewise, it's why the oar is here with me."
+
+There was a long pause. The girls had been thrilled with the simple
+recital, so void of anything like conceit in the part that Denny
+himself had played in the work of rescue.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+TWO MEN
+
+
+"And the red oar won out," Cora remarked, looking at the old relic
+with something akin to reverence. "Perhaps, after all, there is
+something in luck."
+
+"Looked like it," agreed Denny. "And after we got back Len couldn't
+pay any attention to the half-frozen men, or to me, that had been
+pretty well chilled--all he could do was talk about the luck of that
+oar."
+
+"I don't blame him," Freda put in. "Your rope had nearly burned, your
+light oar broke, one of the heavy pair went overboard and this one did
+most of the work getting back, I suppose."
+
+"Right," said Denny, "for while we had another pair to work with, they
+were slim, and weak, but that fellow, it sure was tough then; but
+lately when I take it down it seems to have shrunk, for it's gettin'
+lighter, somehow."
+
+"And how did you come to get it?" asked Cora.
+
+"That's the end of my story," said Denny. "When Len was taken very
+sick, of course I used to stay with me friend as much as I could."
+
+Freda unconsciously pushed her chair nearer the old man. Surely to
+hear of the last days of her good grandfather's life was a matter too
+important to pass over lightly.
+
+"Your father was livin' then, Freddie," Denny went on, "and a fine
+healthy young man, too."
+
+"Father died so suddenly," said Freda, "mother hardly ever speaks of
+his death. She always seems overcome after talking of it."
+
+"That was a sad thing," Denny digressed. "To go off in the morning,
+a-whistlin' and happy, and to be brought home without a word in him.
+Freddie, dear, I oughtn't to talk of it."
+
+Freda brushed aside a tear. Her father's death had been caused by
+apoplexy, when she was but a mite of a child.
+
+"But the queer part of it was that your grandfather seemed to think I
+would outlive his son, and John such a strappin'-lookin' fellow,"
+resumed Denny. "Len called me to him, and him sick and miserable, and
+he says: 'Denny, John's not as strong as he looks, and I want you to
+do all you can to help Louisa,' (your mother of course, Freddie), 'for
+she has the child to raise,' he said. Well, he wouldn't let me
+interrupt him when I tried to speak of John. He would have it that I
+should keep an eye to things. Your grandfather Lewis left me no
+papers, however--I supposed John had them--but he left me the old red
+oar. He had fairly been playin' with it for years, always polishin' it
+or shapin' it off here or there. I often look at the marks of his
+knife on it, and wonder why he seemed fond of it."
+
+"I am sure," said Freda, earnestly, "you have kept your promise, Uncle
+Denny. Mother often speaks of how good you were when I was small.
+Father never had any papers about grandfather's land; all he had
+related to family keepsakes. The strange part of it all is to me that
+a man of grandfather's intelligence should be so remiss about his
+property claims."
+
+"But, Freddie, you don't understand. There seemed no need for deeds
+and mortgage papers then about here. Everybody knew everyone else, and
+things seemed to be solid forever. But now them plagued land
+fellows--well, they've got a good cheek, is all I can say." And he
+emptied an unsmoked pipe of tobacco in his indignation.
+
+"But we are going to get after them," Cora declared. "We want to go
+slowly, and, if possible, find out what their intentions are. Find
+what sort of company they claim to have, in the first place, and if
+they are an honorable set of men they ought to make open claims,
+instead of sneaking around, and trying to find out things that might
+cause a flaw in the title. I am suspicious, for one," she finished
+significantly.
+
+"Well, good luck to your spunk," said Denny, "and I never knew the
+like of it to fail. But say, tell me about the boat. What did the lads
+think of the fixin's?"
+
+"Oh, it was the greatest fun," Freda replied. "They could not imagine
+how we ever thought of using the cylinder water for a dishwater
+supply. I never gave it away that you suggested it to Cora's
+mechanic."
+
+"And I want to thank you, Mr. Shane----"
+
+"Mr. Shane!" Denny interrupted. "Say, if you call me that I'll think
+I'm reading me own death notice in the _Beacon_."
+
+Cora laughed at this, and agreed he should be "Uncle Denny" to her as
+well as to the others of the neighborhood.
+
+"But it was splendid of you to have the boat all ready for us when we
+came. I did not suppose Freda had a chance to get down to it before we
+loomed up."
+
+"You don't know the risin' hour for us folks at the Bay," returned
+Denny, with a sly wink. "Freddie couldn't stay abed when the sun is
+beckonin' on the waves; could you, Freddie?"
+
+"Oh, the early Summer mornings are beautiful," replied Freda, "and I
+am sorry I had to lose so many of them. Who's that? The girls, looking
+for us! There's Bess puffing, and Belle--fluffing. I do think they are
+the most attractive pair."
+
+Cora smiled, for her own devotion to the Robinson twins was only
+paralleled by the twins' devotion to Cora.
+
+"Cora! Freda!" called youthful voices from the path. "Where are you?"
+
+"Come in--do!" answered Denny, who always had a spare chair for
+visitors.
+
+"Oh, we can't," replied Belle. "Cora, the boys are threatening to take
+out the _Chelton_. And oh! I'm completely out of breath. It's dreadful
+to try to hurry through the sand."
+
+"Indeed they shall not take the _Chelton_ out without my permission,"
+Cora declared. "When we make our initial trip I intend to command it.
+For one thing, Uncle Denny is to come along; for another--well, that's
+to be a little surprise. This afternoon at two exactly--will you come,
+Uncle Denny?"
+
+"I will that," the old sailor replied. "I think it would be a good
+thing to have a little weight, like my old head, in her when she
+starts out. Them laddies are always up to pranks."
+
+"Oh, we are just crazy to get out on the water," Bess put in, "and
+what do you think? That vain little Lottie went all the way to town to
+get the exact nautical cap. I wonder if she thinks folks in motor
+boats run slowly enough to see little white caps on little light
+girls?"
+
+"When we get going I think all that will be seen will be splash, and
+all that will be heard will be chug," Cora remarked. "But come on.
+Let's hurry along. I promised Rita to help her with something."
+
+"What?" asked Bess, curiously.
+
+"Now, Bessie, that would be telling," replied Cora, stopping just long
+enough to empty the sand from her tennis shoe. Denny was trudging
+along after them--he could not resist an excuse to go down to the
+shore.
+
+"Well, I'll say good-bye," said Freda. "I have to run back to mother.
+She will think I am lost."
+
+"But you are coming this afternoon?" Cora insisted.
+
+"Oh, I really can't, Cora, thank you," answered the other. "I have
+something so important to look after."
+
+"What are you girls up to?" demanded Belle. "You have been acting
+mysteriously ever since you met on the train. Freda, it is really
+unpardonable not to take the initial trip with us, but if you really
+cannot----"
+
+"I really cannot," returned Freda, decisively, and somehow the girls
+realized that Freda's business was urgent.
+
+"Now, I'll show you a short cut," said Denny. "Take that path
+there--don't be afraid of the sign that the owner put up--he has no
+right to the beach front; then when you get to the Lonely Willow--do
+you know where that is?"
+
+Not one of them knew, but they were anxious to find out.
+
+"You can't miss the Lonely Willow, for it stands all alone and looks
+as forlorn as the mast of a sunken steamer," said Denny. "It's in the
+deep hollow by the watercress patch. Turn around that tree to your
+left and you'll see another path. But wait a minute," he broke off,
+"maybe it's a bit lonely."
+
+"Oh, there are enough of us to shout if we see bears," Cora laughed.
+"We have to hurry, and we will be glad to explore."
+
+"Well, good-bye then, and good luck. I'll be at the dock ahead of
+you."
+
+"Isn't he the quaintest old man?" asked Belle as the little party
+hurried along. Then she added: "You and Freda made quite a visit. We
+began to think you were kidnapped."
+
+"We did make a stay," agreed Cora, "but Denny is a very old friend of
+Freda's family, and, to tell you the truth, we could hardly break away
+when he started in to tell sea-yarns. Ouch! The mud is deep. I guess
+we must be near the Lonely Willow."
+
+"There it is!" exclaimed Belle, who was somewhat in advance of the
+others. "Indeed, it does stand all alone."
+
+"Isn't it scary here!" whispered Bess. "See those two men under the
+Willow."
+
+All eyes were turned to the big tree. Two men were seated on a branch
+that made a comfortable seat. As the girls approached one of the men
+wrapped some papers up and thrust them into his pocket. But the
+movement was not lost on the girls.
+
+No word was spoken for a few moments. Belle dropped back a little as
+if to allow the others to face the strangers first. Of course Cora,
+always being the leader, boldly made her way along.
+
+They had to pass almost under the tree to reach the path, but there
+was no halting once the girls started out.
+
+Finally they had passed in perfect safety, but as they were almost out
+of earshot one of the men said:
+
+"I thought she'd be with him--that old Denny!"
+
+The rest of the remark was lost, but this fragment served to put Cora
+on her guard.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+THE "CHELTON"
+
+
+"Oh, isn't it exciting?" cried Marita, who had managed to have Jack
+help her over the dunes on the way to the dock.
+
+"You're right!" replied Jack, surveying her "nautical" outfit.
+"Couldn't beat it."
+
+"Silly! I mean going for the cruise."
+
+"Oh, I thought you meant that rig you're wearing. It is most becoming,
+but I hope it won't get wet."
+
+"Oh, the water won't hurt it. I got it on that account. I think the
+girls' maroon sweaters look dandy--they can be seen for such a
+distance."
+
+"Yes, I suppose togs have something to do with a good time, although I
+must say Cora doesn't seem to give much time to hers. Look at Marita
+in white. She looks like a French doll."
+
+"Oh, she is the cutest thing!" replied Lottie, in her gushing way.
+"But Cora is simply stunning! Just see how she stands out in the
+crowd."
+
+Lottie and Jack strolled through the moss-padded path that led to the
+white sands of Tangle Turn, talking in this vein as they went. It was
+indeed a merry crowd, and well worth noticing, as was evinced by the
+number of curious spectators already assembled on the dock to which
+the _Chelton_ was tied.
+
+"Who's the man?" asked Jack, espying a striking figure in the throng.
+
+"Oh, that's Uncle Denny; don't you know him? He is the dearest----"
+
+"Now, Lottie, I can see his bald head under his cap at this distance
+without marine glasses, and it's a rule of the club that 'dears' have
+special advantages in the matter of healthy heads of hair. But, of
+course, if you wish to call him 'dear'----"
+
+"Jack, you are the greatest tease," she pouted.
+
+Bess, Belle and Cora had already reached the motor boat. Denny was
+proudly "looking her over," pipe in mouth and hands in pockets. The
+girls were bustling about, all enthusiasm, while the boys, assuming an
+air of importance, found many points to investigate.
+
+"Now take seats," called Cora, "we are ready to push off. Lottie,
+don't lean overboard."
+
+"Oh, I am watching the cutest little fish. See, Bess," she exclaimed.
+
+Ed was on the dock with the rope loose from the cleat. Cora was at the
+steering wheel, while Denny insisted on turning the fly wheel, as that
+seemed about the most difficult thing to do. The gasoline was turned
+on, Jack attending to that, and as Denny gave the fly wheel a vigorous
+turn, Ed pushed off and jumped into the boat. The "push" sent the
+_Chelton_ out in the water, but the motor failed to do its duty. Again
+Denny tried, but still no response. As this is not unusual with any
+motor, whether new or old, all hands waited patiently.
+
+"Oh, there's the _Dixie_!" called Lottie, jumping up and waving to an
+approaching boat.
+
+At that instant the _Chelton_ started with a jerk, and there was a
+chorus of screams.
+
+"Lottie's overboard!" cried the girls.
+
+"Overboard!" repeated the boys.
+
+"Quick!" begged Cora. "She may sink!"
+
+To bring the boat to a sudden stop was not an easy matter, and there
+were some moments of suspense before the _Chelton_ passed safely to
+the other side of the spot where Lottie was struggling.
+
+The water was not so deep but that she was able to scramble to her
+feet, but the wash of the boat forced her to work violently to keep
+her head above water.
+
+"The rope!" called Cora, who had dashed from her position at the
+steering wheel to the side of the boat where the mooring rope had been
+dropped. In the excitement, of course, all crowded to one side of the
+small craft, which caused it to careen alarmingly.
+
+"There! There!" shouted Ed. "Lottie, grab the rope!"
+
+"Oh, I can't," came the rather weak and shaky reply. "I can't reach
+it."
+
+By this time the _Dixie_, the innocent cause of the accident, was
+alongside. Drayton Ward, the wealthy young fellow who could boast of a
+motor boat that would have aroused comment even at Newport, leaned
+over the side and grasped the arm of the girl in the water. The rest
+was a simple matter, for soon Lottie was assisted over the rail of the
+_Dixie_, and was in the finest boat on Crystal Bay.
+
+"What do you think of that?" gasped Bess into Cora's ear.
+
+"Clever!" replied Cora, simply.
+
+"But the togs?" queried Jack, to whom the accident had seemed
+something of a joke.
+
+"What a pity," returned Belle, "and she did look so sweet!"
+
+All this time the drenched girl was being most carefully looked after
+by the gallant captain of the _Dixie_. He was seeing to it that she
+did not suffer from a chill, for a big coat had been wrapped around
+her and her pretty white cap that had merrily floated off was now
+replaced by one marked "Dixie." Altogether, for a mere Summer dip,
+Lottie was having a magnificent time, as Ed took pains to observe.
+
+"Oh, I can't go with you now!" called Lottie. "Mr. Ward has kindly
+offered to take me home."
+
+There was a pause after that remark. If Lottie went back to the
+bungalow it seemed only reasonable that someone should go with her.
+But who? Everyone wanted to take the trip on the _Chelton_.
+
+"Let us take you up to the point," called Cora, "and we can wait for
+you to change and come back. Our trip would be spoiled with one of the
+party missing."
+
+"Let's shift," suggested Drayton, with a gracious smile at Cora. "Mine
+is probably the faster boat. You get in here with us, Miss Cora, and
+we will run up and down the bay while your friends are working off the
+oil smoke. That's a neat little boat you have, a perfect little
+model," he finished, coming as close as possible to the _Chelton_.
+
+"Yours is all right, too, Dray," replied Jack, "but it looks too good
+to be true. Doesn't shoot up on land for a change, does it? I have
+heard of _Dixies_ doing that stunt."
+
+"Oh, dear!" exclaimed Lottie. "I am freezing to death. I guess I'll go
+change my dress."
+
+"Good idea," agreed Cora, who was ready to leave her boat and go back
+to the bungalow with Lottie. "Come on," and she jumped to the dock to
+which her boat had drifted. "I'll run along with you."
+
+"Nice way to treat a fellow," complained Drayton. "Well, fellows, I'll
+race you while we are waiting for the ladies to return. What do you
+say, Jack?"
+
+"I'm willing, as long as Cora has finally condescended to let me touch
+the wheel. Everybody sit down this time."
+
+Without a word all hands, keen for a race as soon as one was
+suggested, took seats, and the two boats veered out into the bay and
+"lined up" for the start. Denny was the proudest engineer imaginable,
+and constantly looked over the fine mechanism.
+
+"Ready!" shouted Ed, and at the word both throttles were thrown wide
+open and the boats shot up the bay, emitting clouds of smoke from
+their newly oiled works, and "chugging" so rapidly that the sounds
+were drowned in a roar. It was a pretty sight, for in the girls' boat
+a line of colored sweaters and waving caps lent life to the gray of
+the waters, while Drayton, in his glistening, highly-polished _Dixie_,
+only needed the glint that the sun lent to complete the picture
+afforded by his fine craft.
+
+"Oh, isn't this glorious!" exclaimed Marita. "I thought I should be
+frightened, but this is--lovely."
+
+"Frightened!" repeated Belle. "I used to be so afraid of the water I
+couldn't see anything but the bottom every time I came out; but now I
+just love it."
+
+"Hey there, Dray!" shouted Ed. "You're out of the course. Get in from
+shore!"
+
+"He's keeping his eye on those girls on the beach," laughed Walter.
+"Those are the lassies who have the white canoe." So saying he waved
+his own cap and a flutter of handkerchiefs from the beach came back in
+recognition.
+
+"Turn at the island," ordered Denny.
+
+Here a white flag fluttered, the stake left from some recent sailing
+races. Gracefully the _Chelton_ rounded the stake first. Drayton had
+lost time in running too close to shore. Only a minute later the
+_Dixie_ swayed after the _Chelton_, then the final stretch was taken
+up in earnest. Spectators on the bank might wave now, but the
+motorists had no eyes for them. A slight miss in the _Chelton's_
+explosion brought Denny and Ed to their feet--there should be no break
+in the rhythm of that chug.
+
+"She's all right," Ed called to the old sailor, "only too much oil."
+
+Denny shook his head lest a word might interfere with the boat's
+motion. Dray stood up and did something that caused the bow of his
+boat to shoot up, while the stern seemed to bury itself in the waves.
+
+"His is a racer," Walter told Bess, who was as intent as any of the
+watchers on the result of the trial of speed.
+
+"Maybe ours will turn out to be a winner," Bess responded. "We keep
+pretty close."
+
+Jack never took his hand off the steering wheel, Denny was watching
+the engine, and the others were peering down the straight course
+ahead.
+
+"Oh, I'm getting all wet," exclaimed Marita, for the spray was dashing
+in on all sides.
+
+"Get down in the bottom," advised Walter, "we can't slacken up now. Or
+go in the cabin if you like and close the ports."
+
+This was a signal for all three girls to slip down to the floor of the
+boat and while they lost the good view afforded from the seats, they
+evidently enjoyed the change, and craned their necks to see over the
+sides.
+
+"Of course Dray will win," complained Belle. "We couldn't expect to
+beat the _Dixie_."
+
+"We might," encouraged Bess. "Cora said this boat had remarkable speed
+for its size."
+
+"Gee, whiz!" shouted Walter, "look at that spray deluge Dray!"
+
+"And she's missing," added Ed, for the sounds from the _Dixie_ were
+distinctly out of time.
+
+Suddenly Dray's boat slowed down, and the _Chelton_ shot so far ahead
+that it was plain something had happened to the _Dixie_.
+
+Jack stood up and looked back. "Something is wrong," he said. "We had
+better not get too far ahead. Dray is fussing with the carbureter."
+
+The race was over. The girls stood up from their hiding place and Jack
+turned the boat about. By this time Dray had turned off the gasoline
+and the _Dixie_ merely heaved up and down on the swells.
+
+"What's the matter, Dray?" called Walter. "Something given way?"
+
+"I don't know," answered Dray, "she simply won't 'mote.'"
+
+"Let me take a look at her," suggested Denny, ever eager for a new
+adventure.
+
+"Oh, there are Cora and Lottie!" exclaimed Belle. "Can't we go in for
+them, and look after Dray's boat afterward?"
+
+"That would be a nice way to treat a ship in distress," said Denny,
+"but excuse me," and he showed regret at his remark. "I shouldn't be
+thinkin' of a lad when the young girls are needin' help."
+
+"Oh, the girls are all right," Jack assured the old seaman; "but say,
+Dray," he called, "what's the matter, anyhow?"
+
+"Just give me a line and tow me in, then we will hold a post mortem,"
+replied Dray, good humoredly. "I don't fancy taking her apart out
+here."
+
+"Good!" exclaimed Marita, "then we can go for Cora and Lottie."
+
+Promptly the brand new rope of the _Chelton_ was tossed to the
+disabled boat and fastened, then the two boats started for shore.
+
+Cora and Lottie were waiting. The latter had shed her wet "garments of
+vanity," as Belle described them, for a simple brown linen frock.
+
+"What happened?" called Cora, as the boats neared shore.
+
+"Mis-happened," answered Dray. "It was just fate. We couldn't expect
+to beat the motor girls."
+
+"Nice of you," acknowledged Cora, "but I am sorry if there is anything
+wrong with your beautiful boat."
+
+"It's the boat and not the boy," remarked Ed. "Well, we'll do as much
+for you some day, Cora. Wait until we get our little _Lassie_ out.
+She, being a mere girl, may have a show."
+
+"What's the matter, Lottie?" asked Bess, as they landed and the girls
+noted that Lottie was remarkably quiet, and even a trifle pale.
+
+"Not a thing," Cora hurriedly answered, while she crushed her fingers
+on Lottie's arm. "We were detained at the bungalow, that's all. We'll
+tell you all about it later on."
+
+The girls gathered around Cora and Lottie at this remark. But Cora, by
+some mysterious signal system, had warned Lottie not to say anything,
+and she soon joined the boys, who had already boarded the _Dixie_ to
+overhaul her.
+
+They looked at the engine, at the spark plugs, at the cylinder, but
+Cora, who happened to have more room at the point where the carbureter
+was situated, suddenly exclaimed:
+
+"I've got it! Water in the carbureter!"
+
+"Right-o!" confirmed Dray, in another moment. "The spray mixed with
+the gas--dashed over into the air in-take valve. Moral, go slow, for
+water sometimes is fatal, even in a good cause!"
+
+"Shame to spoil the race," said Ed; "we were just warming up."
+
+"It's all right," commented Denny, "and a good lesson. I never knew
+myself that too much speed would do the like of that. Well, I must be
+off doin' some chores. I've been a-galavantin' most of the day, and
+the fishes of Crystal Bay are not educated to come up to me door yet.
+Thank you for the sport. It was fine," he concluded, genially.
+
+"Indeed you must come along again," Cora urged. "This was only a
+baby-trial. We will want to be going out on the deep soon; then you
+must come along."
+
+"Thank you, very kindly," Denny called, as he started off. "The deep
+is a bad place for young 'uns, I can tell you. Better stick around
+shore."
+
+"Tell us what is the matter, Lottie," demanded Bess, for Lottie had
+not yet recovered her self-possession.
+
+"Oh, I guess I had a chill," she evaded, glancing at Cora.
+
+"And the mere sight of a couple of strange men startled her," Cora
+added. "I have warned her there may be lots of strange men around
+Crystal Bay."
+
+"But not the same strange men every time," Lottie put in. This gave a
+clue to her fright. The men who had secluded themselves under the
+Lonely Willow that morning had appeared again, this time in the
+vicinity of the girls' bungalow, now known as the "Motely Mote."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+IN THE MOTELY MOTE
+
+
+"Do you young ladies realize that we have the cares of housekeeping on
+our shoulders?" asked Cora, from a mass of boxes and bags, not to
+mention trunks, in the alleged living room of the Mote.
+
+"Oh, let us forget it--do," begged Bess. "I always hate the summertime
+when it brings dishes and things."
+
+"It's good for you," affirmed Marita. Bess did know that hard work is
+considered "good" for stout persons.
+
+"Maybe, but it is not pleasant," Bess answered, flinging herself upon
+the improvised couch, a matter of hammocks and blankets, still bearing
+baggage checks and tie-ropes.
+
+"But our housekeeper has given notice," announced Cora. "And I don't
+wonder. Not one has been on time for a single meal since we arrived.
+But I must say, I wish she had stayed until the stuff was all
+unpacked. It's dreadful on the hands," and she looked at hers
+ruefully.
+
+"Why not ask the boys to help?" asked Lottie, who was doing her best
+to press her damp clothes by stretching the most important of them
+over Belle's trunk, and holding them there with two suitcases. "If I
+had not gotten these things wet I should have been glad to unpack, but
+if I leave them this way over night I shall never be able to wear them
+again."
+
+"If you knew the boys as well as we do," Bess put in, "you would know
+what their help means. They would insist upon trying on every article
+of clothing they unpacked; wouldn't they Cora?"
+
+"Something like that, Bess, if they did unpack at all. But, seriously,
+if you will give me a little help to drag these empty trunks to the
+porch, I will tell you of a plan I have evolved. Of course we cannot
+remain this way without a chaperone."
+
+"Isn't it perfectly silly?" complained Belle. "As if we were not all
+capable of taking care of ourselves."
+
+"Oh, I don't know about that," objected Cora. "I have noticed that in
+case of emergency, when some strange man happens to poke his nose in
+at the window, we are all rather glad to acknowledge we are mere
+babes."
+
+"And also when we meet them under willow trees," Marita reminded the
+boastful ones. "I am sure I agree with Cora that we need a chaperone,
+and perhaps a policeman or two."
+
+The girls paused in dragging the baggage toward the front door.
+
+"Just the same," Marita went on, "Lottie was frightened to-day and she
+only heard a strange man say, 'They call them the motor girls.' As if
+that was anything terrifying."
+
+"But it was the way they said it," Lottie protested. "They just peered
+at us--and----"
+
+"Now, Lottie," said Cora, "you have an idea that everyone who looks at
+us 'peers' at us. For my part I was rather flattered by their
+attention. You see the fame of the motor girls is spreading. But let
+me now make my proposition," and she settled down on the rug that was
+intended to cover the floor--some time.
+
+"Let her 'prop'!" cried Belle.
+
+"Well, you know our little friend, Freda, has lost some property; that
+is, her mother and herself have lost a certain claim to it. This
+little colony around here is fairly bristling with the prosperity
+implanted in it by such thrifty men as was Freda's grandfather, but in
+spite of that, strangers come in, make a big fuss about riparian
+rights, and government laws, and property claims and, in so doing,
+pretend to discover a flaw in a title that for years has been
+considered perfectly clear." She paused, for Bess had opened her mouth
+twice, and this time Cora wanted to hear what she had to say.
+
+"We heard some women talking about that to-day," said Bess, "and they
+said it was a shame to take a homestead from Mrs. Lewis. They were not
+whispering their opinions, either."
+
+"So it is a shame," Cora said, "and if we can, in any way, help to get
+the truth established, we will surely have a good reason to remember
+this holiday."
+
+"How?" queried Marita. "We don't understand anything about land, and
+deeds, and lawyers."
+
+At this everyone but Marita laughed. She was not acquainted with the
+daring deeds of the motor girls, as that was what they had undertaken
+and accomplished in the past.
+
+"You see, Marita dear," Cora explained, "because we seem such harmless
+babies we are able to get information that others, considered more
+dangerous, might not have access to. Now, let me continue. There are
+men around here, members of some sort of a land company, who are
+trying to get hold of certain papers. We don't know whether they exist
+or not, but in our own quiet, girlish way----"
+
+Here she was interrupted with a burst of mocking laughter. "Your quiet
+girlish way," repeated Belle. "Why, Cora, I do believe if you thought
+you could get the better of that land company you would take the
+_Chelton_, and go--pirating! Wouldn't it be great to go out on a dark
+night, steam up the bay, watch for other boats, listen to the
+smugglers----"
+
+"Oh, Belle," put in Lottie, "that's not the way in books. We would
+have to go out and get kidnapped, and then, when in the cave, we would
+hear the plot of the men who were going to steal the old homestead."
+
+"Hurrah!" cried her hearers.
+
+"Lottie for captain of the kidnapped," suggested Cora. "Now, Lottie,
+when it gets good and dark you are to go out under the biggest tree on
+the place and await your captors."
+
+"Hello there! Anybody home?"
+
+"The boys!" gasped Belle. "Now what about having wasted our time? Come
+in!"
+
+"Nice of you to ask us," groaned Jack. "Say, we are dead and buried,
+and the will is now being read. Somebody broke into our larder and
+stole the grub. Have you any to put out at interest?"
+
+"Stole your eatables!" exclaimed Marita.
+
+"Well, you could scarcely call it that," replied Jack, espying an
+undamaged orange on the window sill, and making a lunge for it. "We
+did intend to eat the stuff, but it was just plain grub--not
+eatables."
+
+"Jack, haven't you boys had your supper?" asked Cora.
+
+"We are on a diet," explained Jack. "Wallie had the crackers, Ed
+nabbed the dried beef--he's the biggest and needs the most, you
+know--and I got the pickles. Then we followed directions, and each
+drank three sips of pure spring water. But the trouble arose when Dray
+came in. He said he was to have milk--doctor's orders. We didn't have
+any but 'pretense' milk, so Dray is now out looking for a cow."
+
+Just then the sound of approaching footsteps was heard.
+
+"They come!" announced Jack. "I was merely the herald. Have you made
+out the menu, Cora dear?"
+
+"Do you mean to say we have to feed--all you boys?" demanded Bess.
+
+"Feed us? No, we can eat with spoons. Just lead us to the eats.
+Really, it is serious with Dray. He has already gone dead white. Come
+in, fellows. We are expecting you. The girls are just getting out the
+best linen!"
+
+Dray, Walter and Ed entered, and like Jack, showed signs of starvation.
+They literally fell into the most convenient spot available as they
+reached the room.
+
+"Good evening, ladies," panted Dray. "We are delighted to accept your
+kind invitation to dine with you. Pray pardon the togs. I feel like a
+regular 'toff,' don't you know, but my studs are for the moment lost.
+And what is a frock without the studs!"
+
+"Well, if this isn't the very utmost," said Cora, laughing at the
+boys' predicament. "Do you mean to say that you are really hungry?"
+
+"Shall we demonstrate?" asked Ed. "Do you allow us? Belle, get out the
+chronometer and a hunk of something. If you don't soon you will have a
+case of homicide on your hands."
+
+Finally believing that the boys were hungry, the girls proceeded to
+empty the ice box on the back porch. They did not find any too much
+food there, for the sudden departure of their housekeeper that
+afternoon had left the girls themselves almost stranded. But, being
+girls, they managed the living end a little better than the boys did.
+
+The boys, it seemed, had laid in a stock of canned stuff, in the usual
+hit-and-miss way, but some other campers found the "cave" where the
+food had been hidden. It was out of the question either to take or get
+ice, so the next best thing considered was the digging of a big hole
+in a very damp place. Into this the boys had sunk a nice, clean,
+galvanized tub, and in it the victuals had been placed. On top was a
+cover, made of boards and oil cloth, and over this was placed the limb
+from a tree, this last to detract attention.
+
+"Now, wouldn't you think," said Jack, as he fortified himself with a
+sandwich, "that any decent chap would know that we belonged to the
+union? We are going to form a housewives' league at dawn to-morrow,
+and then we will find the culprits. They will be offering us our own
+grub at exorbitant rates."
+
+"Bright little Jackie," commented Bess, who was devouring cheese and
+macaroons. "When you find the culprits you will have a perfectly good
+movie act in your camp. It will be entitled 'The Fate of the Kid
+Grubber.'"
+
+While the boys were thus engaged in the delightful task of keeping off
+starvation, the girls were anxious to hear what was the proposition
+Cora had offered to lay before them.
+
+"That's just the way," grumbled Belle; "we never can get at the
+interesting things!"
+
+"I am going to tell the boys this minute," threatened Marita. "We
+notice, Belle, that you brought out that lemon pie that was hidden.
+Looks as if you found the boys rather interesting."
+
+"Now you know exactly what I mean," insisted Belle. "Cora said we had
+to have a chaperone and we all agreed. Instead, we have a crowd of
+noisy boys."
+
+"When you boys have finished," Cora remarked, "we would like to clear
+up the debris. Also, we have a sad announcement to make. We have lost
+our housekeeper!"
+
+"Good!" almost shouted Ed. "I apply at once. I can give every
+qualification, even to a civil service examination. Cora, I never
+tasted such food before----"
+
+"Mutiny!" yelled Jack, making a spring at Ed, which ended in such a
+mixup that the girls fled to the kitchen.
+
+"We really cannot stay alone here to-night," Cora said.
+
+But the boys had come to their feet again, and evidently to terms.
+Jack was hugging Walter and Dray was smoothing Ed's black hair.
+
+"Will the boys go and leave us?" asked the timid Marita.
+
+"Of course they will, and that right now," declared Cora. "We have no
+time to spare to get someone else to stay with us, however. Bess, do
+you want to come with me? I am going out for our new companion."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+FRIGHTS OR FANCIES
+
+
+"Oh, do hurry," pleaded Cora. "I had no idea it was so late. And it is
+awfully dark."
+
+"A nice way to scare me when you have got me out," objected Bess.
+"Cora Kimball, I have a great mind to run back. I never saw lights
+look so attractive as they do just now in the Mote."
+
+"Run back if you like," returned Cora, "but I will run on. It was
+unfortunate that the boys came in just as they did. I really have a
+good reason for not wanting to stay alone to-night."
+
+"You have?" asked Bess. "I knew you and Lottie had had some adventure."
+
+"Oh, don't be silly, Bess," and Cora laughed lightly. "Everything is
+perfectly safe and sane at the bay, but what I want is to get over to
+the little cottage where Freda and her mother are living before they
+retire. It is Mrs. Lewis I hope to get as our housekeeper."
+
+"Mrs. Lewis!" exclaimed Bess in surprise.
+
+"Yes, but we won't call her housekeeper. I haven't thought it all out
+yet; in fact, I am not sure they will come, but I hope so."
+
+"Oh, so do I; that would be fine," and Bess almost forgot how black
+the night was. "I met Mrs. Lewis the day we came, and I could not help
+thinking what a fine, wholesome mother Freda had."
+
+"Yes, I have been talking to her and I think she is just that--fine
+and wholesome. And goodness knows," added Cora fervently, "we need
+some weight at the Mote. But they may not consent. I happened to
+overhear a remark this afternoon that set me to thinking. I am afraid
+poor Freda and her mother are in for further trouble."
+
+They hurried along, making their way with difficulty in the deep sand
+that covered road and path alike. Once or twice they paused, startled
+at the sound of men's voices, then hurried the more to make up for
+lost time.
+
+"Why didn't we have one of the boys come with us?" asked Bess.
+
+"Because I am not ready yet to have the boys know all our plans, and
+to trust one of them--Bess Robinson, you know our boys. What one knows
+the rest can guess."
+
+"That's so," mused Bess. "Is that the cottage?"
+
+"Yes, right over there," and Cora indicated a light through the trees.
+"I am glad they are still up!"
+
+It was only a few steps further, and this space was rapidly covered.
+As the two girls reached the porch, and before they had a chance to
+touch the knocker, the door was opened by Freda.
+
+"Who is it?" she asked in a frightened voice.
+
+"Only Cora and Bess," Cora replied, noting the fear in Freda's tone.
+"Are we too late to come in?"
+
+"No, indeed," Freda replied, reassured. "I was afraid it might be
+unwelcome visitors, but you are heartily welcome."
+
+The living room of the cottage was typical of the seashore--a long
+apartment, with field-stone fireplace and fumed fir trim. The stairway
+led up from the room and gave it an air of even greater spaciousness.
+Altogether it was most attractive. Mrs. Lewis, a slim, fine-featured
+woman, rose from her rocker as the girls entered.
+
+"It is late to call," began Cora, "but our business is really urgent.
+We have been left all alone suddenly--our housekeeper says she
+received a hurried call to go back to her family in the city. I don't
+question the call, I know how often and faithfully they follow maids
+who find a country place lonely; but the fact is we girls do not fancy
+staying alone to-night."
+
+"Why, of course not," replied Mrs. Lewis, briskly. "You must have some
+older person with you."
+
+It was plain, now that the girls had become accustomed to the lights,
+that Freda and her mother had both been crying. Their eyes were red
+and their cheeks swollen. Freda saw that the girls observed this.
+
+"Yes, we have been weeping," she said, with an attempt at a smile. "It
+seems as though we have new troubles daily."
+
+"I am so sorry," Cora returned. "I wish we could help you."
+
+"I am sure you have done so," replied Mrs. Lewis. "Freda has great
+hopes that you girls will do for us what perhaps lawyers might not be
+able to do." She hesitated and Freda went on:
+
+"Those horrid men from the land company were here again this
+afternoon. They say we have no right even to this little cottage."
+
+"No right here!" exclaimed Cora. "I believe they are just trying to
+get you to leave the place so that they can go on with their plans
+without being watched."
+
+"I never thought of that," replied Mrs. Lewis, as though the idea was
+novel to her. "Then, indeed, they will have more trouble than
+brow-beating to get us to leave Crystal Bay."
+
+"I must hurry with my errand," said Cora. "I came to see if it would
+be possible for you and Freda to lock up and come over with us
+to-night. I am afraid those land sharks have our little place marked,
+too, for they have been loitering around all day. I don't want to tell
+the boys. They are hasty and so apt to resent any intrusion that would
+worry us."
+
+"Why should the men bother you?" asked Mrs. Lewis.
+
+"I suppose because they know that Freda is a friend of ours," replied
+Cora. "But don't worry about them bothering us, all we want is to be
+able to meet them fairly. Of course if they knew we were alone at
+night they might be mean enough to frighten us, and some of the girls
+are rather timid."
+
+"Indeed, we will lock up at once," declared Mrs. Lewis, "and go right
+over with you. We have not many treasures now to be afraid of losing."
+
+"Oh, that is splendid!" Cora cried. Freda immediately went about
+fastening the windows and seeing to the general locking up, while Mrs.
+Lewis hurried up stairs to pack a small bag. It seemed as though they
+were ready almost instantly, much to the relief of Bess, who kept
+wondering if the boys would remain at the bungalow with the girls
+until her own and Cora's return.
+
+"Now we are off," said Mrs. Lewis, looking back at her home with a
+wistful sigh. She seemed to have a premonition that leaving it meant
+more than appeared at the moment.
+
+Freda walked with Bess while Mrs. Lewis and Cora kept close behind
+them. They had not more than reached the turn that led to the direct
+path when shouts and laughter were heard.
+
+"There are the girls," Bess exclaimed. "They are looking for us."
+
+The surmise was correct, for directly the answer came back to the
+familiar camp call.
+
+"Here we are!" cried Cora. "On the pine path."
+
+"Oh!" gasped Belle. "We have had the greatest fright! Where have you
+been?"
+
+"Making a call," replied Cora, calmly. "What was your fright?"
+
+"Come along and I'll tell you," Belle replied. Then she saw Freda and
+Mrs. Lewis.
+
+"We have brought protectors," Cora said. "Mrs. Lewis and Freda are
+going to spend the night with us."
+
+"Oh, splendid!" exclaimed Marita. "I was so afraid we would have to
+stay alone."
+
+"Where are the boys?" Cora asked.
+
+"Someone from the beach came up and said Dray's boat was loose, and of
+course, they had to all go at once to tie it up."
+
+"Better than to let it drift," Cora said, "but I am sorry if you were
+timid."
+
+"Oh, we were not," declared Belle, stoutly. "Only we distinctly heard
+someone on the back porch."
+
+"At our ice box!" gasped Cora.
+
+"Oh, we never thought of that!" exclaimed Belle.
+
+"Then likely we will be without breakfast," responded Cora. "But here
+we are. Who has the key?"
+
+Belle opened the door. "The light is out!" she whispered. "Cora," she
+said, aside, "I left it burning!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+A MERRY TIME
+
+
+"Yes, I say it's a shame!" cried Jack, indignantly.
+
+"Perfectly awful," confirmed Dray.
+
+"Our meeting is at nine," announced Walter, "and when I went on the
+soup shift, I did not agree to do the waiting. That's not my part."
+
+Ed tucked an end of white mosquito netting in his belt, draped it
+jauntily, and appeared ready to do the "waiting." Walter was frying
+bacon and eggs on the oil stove. Jack threw dishes at the
+oilcloth-covered table in imitation of a game of quoits, and he rarely
+missed the mark. They were about to have breakfast, and in spite of
+the difficulties encountered in the way of modern improvements omitted
+in the arrangement of Camp Couldn't (the camp got that name for a
+million reasons), the boys were having a fine time.
+
+"That coffee will be cold," protested Dray, "and my doctor says cold
+coffee is slow poison. I prefer my poison quick." The joke about
+Dray's doctor was that Dray never knew a doctor other than the medical
+inspector at school. He had such astonishingly good health that they
+used the idea of sickness in reference to him as a "counter irritant."
+
+"But this stove is a trifle small," said Walter. "What do you say we
+buy that one from Camp Cattle? It's a peach."
+
+"If the Cattle crowd have a good stove they won't sell it," replied
+Jack. "You will likely find a second-hand flue in it, or a rubber hose
+leader. Those boys are brilliant. If we need a new stove let it be
+from Duke's, with a cast-iron guarantee."
+
+"Right-o," seconded Dray. "The cast-iron is always useful about a
+camp. But I say, what about the racket at the Mote last night? That
+sister of yours, Jack, is wasting her talents. She ought to be chief
+of a detective bureau."
+
+"Cora is all right," Jack returned, proudly. "And while we are on the
+subject, and not to brag, of course, I might say that some of the
+other girls are in the same class. First few years they came out to
+the woods I used to be rather doubtful, but now we often find that the
+maids can take care of the masters; don't we, Wallie? More of that
+odor, please. I wonder why bacon turns all to odor when it's cooked
+up!"
+
+"There are only two more pieces of odor left," complained Walter, "and
+I'd like the smell myself."
+
+"Oh, all right. I have had more than enough." Jack waved a disdainful
+hand loftily. "I believe, as it is, I should be more careful what I
+eat."
+
+A huge, very hard bun, the sort found only in bakeries near Summer
+resorts, hit Jack squarely in the face. Without any comment he caught
+it, cut it in half, and with a tin spoon plastered it with butter.
+Then he put "the lid on it," and tried to get it between his teeth. It
+was heroic exercise, but Jack had been trained at a reputable college,
+and had learned to eat what he wanted.
+
+"But those duffers, the land men," continued Dray, "what are they
+after the girls for? I had an idea one of them must be trying to claim
+relationship with the fair Freda. He kept so close to her when she was
+out after Denny."
+
+"Relationship!" Jack repeated, with a laugh. "You almost hit it, Dray.
+I guess the bear would like to be her first cousin, for he is trying
+to get her goods and chattels from her."
+
+"How?"
+
+"Oh, we must not go into that; at least not just yet. I promised Cora
+not to be hasty with Moran. He's the 'gent' who is supposed to be
+president of the company."
+
+"The one who wears the Panama? I wonder if anyone would think of haste
+in connection with that duffer. It took him just one hour to buy three
+soft crabs from some kids at the dock yesterday," said Walter. "I
+wouldn't like to be his messmate. But I don't like his eye; it's made
+on the bias."
+
+"Yes, always looks as if it were going to slip out of the socket,"
+confirmed Jack. "Well, I hope the girls won't go in too deep with
+their schemes. Those fellows are from little old N'Yawk."
+
+"Quick!" whispered Walter. "There's that Black. If he lays eyes on
+your plates he'll lick them."
+
+The last morsels of food were crammed into mouths before the call from
+the neighboring camper was answered.
+
+"Come right in," Ed said, finally, "and help yourself. Have you had
+your grape fruit?"
+
+"Oh, no," sighed Tom Black, "I didn't feel exactly right this
+morning." (He brushed a brown hand across his brow.) "Nerves, I
+guess."
+
+"Nerves? Grub!" shouted Jack. "Didn't I see a can marked 'soup' in
+your back yard this a. m.?"
+
+"Might have, but I didn't. Else I would have had soup."
+
+"There were grubbers around last night," went on Jack, "and we thought
+we found a thread that matches your sweater, sticking to a nail in our
+grub box."
+
+"My sweater is not ripped that I can see," replied Tom, innocently,
+"but if you are so kind I might take it. Don't think we put our sewing
+boxes in the kit, come to think of it."
+
+"It will be ripped presently," announced Ed. "We have reason to
+suspect the Cattle; in fact, we have engaged counsel."
+
+"The motor girls, I fancy, will defend you," said Tom, nonchalantly,
+"but I assure you, you will have no case. We are absolutely without
+grub; in fact, our case is pitiable."
+
+"And you had a 'Doins' last night," Dray reminded him. "Now, Tom, we
+want to be fair, but we have arranged to form a housewives' league for
+the purpose of swiping systematically. For instance," (here he got a
+burnt match and tried to trace something on the oilcloth), "if we have
+company, and no olives, we could go over to your cupboard, take a
+bottle and deposit in its stead, say, a can of beans."
+
+"Great!" shouted Tom, tossing up his cap, that landed on the flaming
+oil stove. "You should not waste oil," he said, as he rescued the cap.
+"It's always wise to turn out the stove when you take off the pan."
+
+"The meeting is to be held in our living room," Ed said, pointing
+outside to a bench made of a tree limb _au naturel_. "When we have
+formed our committees and settled on our constitution----"
+
+This last word seemed to give every boy present a sort of agony, for
+each began to "feel for his constitution," as if that important part
+of his physique had been lost in the camp woods.
+
+"I wish you could settle my constitution," remarked Tom. "Once I get
+that settled, I don't care what happens."
+
+"Now, quit your fooling," returned Walter. "I have an engagement and I
+would like to get my housework done. Tom, help yourself to a towel,
+and be careful not to wipe the plates on a glass towel. You can tell
+the difference by the border. The dish towel is all border, the center
+or hole went up on the oil stove, a little trick our stove has--it
+does not like towels. The proper towel for the glasses is that one
+with the black line drawn through the middle. The black line is not
+important, it was put there with a single wipe of the spark plug from
+the _Lassie_. Ed did it, very neatly."
+
+Tom took the towel tossed to him, and, as only a boy can, began to dry
+the dishes that Walter was piling in front of him. First he patted and
+rubbed the towel on one side of the dish that lay before him; then he
+turned the same dish over with a bang and repeated the patting and
+rubbing on the other side. After that he gave the plate a spin. If it
+landed right side up he left it so; if the trade-mark showed he
+counted it a "foul," and tried the trick again. How boys can get work
+done that way is always a mystery to girls, who find the same play
+labor.
+
+"Do I stay for lunch?" Tom asked. "I suppose when a fellow helps with
+the general housework he is entitled to his 'keep.'"
+
+"Oh, we would just love to have you," replied Jack, with mock
+seriousness, "but the fact is, we are all invited out. We lunch on the
+_Chelton_ to-day," and he strutted around with such wide sweeping
+curves, and twists, that he knocked from the narrow board table every
+last bit of butter the "Couldn'ts" had in their camp. Gingerly he
+scooped up the top lump, that lay on the store dish, but the scraps
+had to be scraped up with the egg turner, and the spot on the floor
+(they had a board floor in the camp) had to be washed up with the dish
+water, when Walter finally relinquished that important commodity.
+
+"More careful next time," commanded Dray. "I'm off to call the
+meeting. Where's that dinner bell?"
+
+The "bell," a very old and very large tray, was found outside under
+the bench, and with a good strong stick Dray beat it furiously, until
+it might easily be heard by every camper on the grounds. At the first
+signal boys came scampering from all directions. Some carried
+towels--too much excited to drop them in their camps; others dashed
+through the woods with sweaters on their arms, and reluctant neckties
+in their fists, for it was early and the campers had scarcely time to
+make "careful" toilets.
+
+"Grub?" they asked in chorus. "Let us see it? Lead us to it!"
+
+"Grub nothing!" replied Walter. "You just get outside on that bench,
+the overflow can take the reserved seats on the nice green moss. This
+meeting has been called for the purpose of organizing the Housewives'
+League of Crystal Bay."
+
+"Aoo-oo-ou--oh!" came a groaning reply from those who felt able to
+groan. "And I left sugar in my coffee cup," wailed he with the dish
+towel.
+
+"And there were perfectly good crumbs at my place," sighed Teddy, a
+boy with so many colors in his face that they called him "Rainbow."
+
+"Come to order!" called Jack, banging on the tent table, which was to
+serve as the chairman's desk. "Every camp must qualify."
+
+"We do! We do!" shouted the majority, the rest being engaged in a
+rough and tumble for places near the "door."
+
+"The purpose of this meeting," went on Jack, ducking a lump of moss
+tossed in lieu of a bouquet, "is to formulate plans, whereby the
+humans of Prowlers' Paradise may continue to defy the birds of the
+air, and the beasts of the field, and live in a perfectly human way."
+
+"Hurrah for the humans!" shouted Rainbow, and the cheers that followed
+did more than merely consume time.
+
+"Let me explain," interrupted Dray, pushing Jack from his place, and
+taking the stand pompously. "We have been the victims of prowlers. We
+have lost our soup; we also lost our cans of milk--in fact, the cruel
+ones took everything but our appetites, and now we propose to put a
+stop to such depredations. We will form a league to borrow and to
+lend, also to pay back, but he who taketh his brother's soup and
+returneth not a can of beans shall be expelled from the Prowlers'
+Paradise!"
+
+"We did lose five small cans of milk," reiterated Walter to Dave, the
+head or chief of a big camp called "We-like-it," "and if we find the
+rowdy who took that he shall be court-martialed."
+
+A commotion then started that broke up the meeting. The boys, in
+rolling and tumbling about, rolled Dainty, so-called because he never
+could get enough to eat, and because his quest showed in unweighable
+pounds of fat, deliberately down the small hill at the side of Camp
+Couldn't. Two of the Cattle did the rolling, and as Dainty made one
+full turn a can of milk squirmed out of his pocket.
+
+"Robber! Thief! Traitor!" screamed the rollers, and then poor Dainty
+was lugged back to the camp.
+
+Making the charge against him, and making an example of him would be
+too sad a tale for words; sufficient to say that the meeting adjourned
+at the request of a peace commission.
+
+When the last visitor had been "shooed" away and the Couldn'ts had
+carefully prepared for the lunch to be taken on the _Chelton_
+(although Ed claimed that Walter had appropriated his most becoming
+tie, and that the shade of tan rather marred Wallie's own "tannery"
+effect), the boys finally put the camp flap down good and tight, and
+were off to the bay.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+TOO MUCH JOY
+
+
+Far out in the pretty bay the _Chelton_ was anchored. It was arranged
+that the luncheon should be given too far from land to get anything in
+supplies that might have been forgotten. In fact, it was to be a test
+meal, such as might be a necessity in case of "shipwreck" or accident.
+
+It was such a day as sometimes makes early Summer copy Spring, when
+the mists of morning mingle with the sun's rays, and send up shafts of
+haze to pillar the sky from land or water.
+
+There had been great preparations for this salt water lunch. The
+girls, enthusiastic over the possibilities, had vied with one another
+in arranging the affair.
+
+Dray ran his boat, the _Dixie_, alongside, and together the fleet of
+two comprised what the boys termed a "White House Lunch." The cooking
+was all done on the _Chelton_ and the eatables were handed over the
+brass rail to Lottie and Marita, who served as waitresses on the
+_Dixie_. First there were lettuce sandwiches, rolled. Any girl who can
+successfully roll bread and lettuce is termed proficient by the
+cooking teachers, and it was a tie between Belle and Cora as to who
+did the most and best of the rolling.
+
+With the lettuce came the greatest treat to the boys--homemade crab
+salad--home caught crabs and handmade dressing thereon.
+
+"I caught the biggest crab," declared Lottie, handing the wooden plate
+to Belle. "Isn't that fine!"
+
+"Finest!" she repeated, enthusiastically. "But say! Why don't the boys
+catch crabs?"
+
+The boys did not waste time asking questions. Lettuce sandwiches! Crab
+salad! They would be serving frappe next!
+
+"Eat plenty of salad," Cora ordered. "We spent all yesterday evening
+crabbing."
+
+"Will--we--eat--it?" exclaimed Walter. "I won't dare look at a frying
+pan again this week, and my term ends with the week," he said, between
+bites.
+
+Next came baked potatoes. These had been done on the electric toaster,
+right aboard the _Chelton_, and while scarcely a correct following for
+salad, the first was given as an appetizer, and the potatoes as food.
+
+The latter were served on the smallest of wooden plates, with the most
+extravagant little butter plates--really sauce or cream "thimbles,"
+all fluted and shaped from white paper.
+
+A dozen of these cups had been Belle's contribution to the feast. She
+spied them at the news stand, over at the point, and could not leave
+them.
+
+Dried beef went with the potatoes, also dill pickles, and while Cora
+kept the electric toaster going, and saw to it that the "kitchen" did
+not run out of hot water from a reserve tank, the other girls took
+turns eating their own lunches. Of course, as the boys were guests, it
+was important their wants should be first supplied, a matter not
+easily managed, as the girls soon found out.
+
+"More! More!" called Ed, who was eating the browned potato skin, or
+bark, with unmistakable relish. "Potatoes are good for the nerves!"
+
+"Robber!" shouted Jack, grabbing a second supply that had just been
+adjusted on Ed's plate. "Potatoes are good for the lungs, and I
+am--winded."
+
+"I should like just a tiny bit more crab," simpered Dray. "Fish is
+good for----"
+
+"We have something more," Cora announced, "don't each too much solid
+stuff."
+
+"We couldn't," declared Belle, "not if we kept eating for the rest of
+our mortal lives, it wouldn't be too much."
+
+"There are the 'Likes'!" announced Lottie, indicating a canoe gliding
+up the bay, in which were two members of the "We-like-it" camp. "Now
+we will have to hide things."
+
+"Hide things!" Belle tossed her sweater over her plate as she saw the
+canoe. "We are lost!"
+
+"Oh, let us invite them alongside," suggested Lottie, who, up to that
+moment had been so busy with setting out plates that she had scarcely
+spoken to the visitors. "We have plenty of stuff."
+
+"Nix, nary, not much!" cried Ed, in protest. "That's 'Dainty' there,
+the stroke, and if he gets in here he'll eat the dish pan and the
+cooker. I say, young ladies should be most careful what sort of
+fellows they associate with."
+
+But in spite of this the "Likes" were invited. Possibly they smelled
+the eatables, for they came up to the side of the _Chelton_ as nicely
+as if they had set out from shore with that intention.
+
+"Thanks," called Dainty, the fat one, "we would be pleased to,"
+although no one had asked him to do anything.
+
+"Delighted," affirmed Kent, the other of the party. "We sent our cards
+by messenger."
+
+The canoe bobbed up and down, until Cora took an extra rope from the
+_Chelton_ and threw it to Dainty, who in turn tied it to a small hook
+in the green _Snake_. This served to keep the canoe from capsizing as
+Dainty and Kent crept into the _Chelton_.
+
+Just what saved all three boats from being turned upside down in the
+racket that followed only Neptune knows, for in their delight at
+seeing real food the boys from the "Likes" grew so impetuous that the
+"Couldn'ts" felt called upon to interfere.
+
+Crabs, sandwiches, potatoes--each in turn were hailed with gales of
+glee, until the girls fell back exhausted with the strain of providing
+and cooking.
+
+"Let me, let me," begged Dray, "I know exactly how to handle electric
+appliances. I press my neckties--with an electric iron."
+
+He was over into the _Chelton_, and piling more potatoes under the
+little tin cover on the toaster, before anyone had time to answer.
+
+"Turned or unturned?" he asked, surveying a smoking potato critically.
+
+"Both or neither," answered the famished Dainty between gasps.
+
+"I'll take my coffee now," announced Jack, sitting back in the
+cushions, and flicking an imaginary speck from his sweater.
+
+"Now, you must wait," Cora ordered. "We have not caught up to you yet.
+We are only at the entree."
+
+Lottie declared she never had such a splendid time in her life, and
+the brightness of her cheeks catching the flame from her eyes bore out
+this statement. Marita, too, seemed to have "shook her cocoon," Jack
+said, his economy of language scarcely making up for the little
+difference in "shook" and "shaken." Certainly she managed to climb
+from one boat to another with remarkable alertness, while Bess, Belle
+and Cora acted like up-to-date society maidens, only they acted a
+little in advance of the "date" usually adhered to.
+
+"And do we have to leave these shores?" wailed Ed, sipping a real good
+cup of coffee. "Why not anchor here for now and for eternity!"
+
+"I thought you liked camping," said Belle. "Surely you are not tired
+of housekeeping. Doesn't it run smoothly?"
+
+"Sure," replied Ed, "but the grub is the trouble. I wonder why mammas,
+with good moral intentions, train little boys to eat?"
+
+"Do you see those clouds," remarked Cora, "they are just swooping down
+on us, and we are miles from home. My, but it is going to be a quick
+shower!"
+
+The young people had been enjoying themselves so much that not until
+Cora spoke did they realize that the sky had become overcast.
+
+"Oh, I'm scared to death," cried Marita. "Those clouds are so
+near--you would think they would touch the water!"
+
+"Oh, aren't they black!" gasped Belle.
+
+"Come, get everything under cover," called Jack, thinking first of the
+danger to the girls and their boat. "Dray can get his awning up
+quickly enough, but this one has not been opened yet."
+
+"You boys just tie your canoe tight to us," Cora said, as the two
+visitors were about to climb into their frail skiff. "You would be
+washed out during the storm that's coming. Here, Bess, hold this,"
+handing Bess one end of the awning tie. "Belle, can you keep that rope
+taut?"
+
+It was astonishing how quickly the scene of enjoyment turned to one of
+alarm. Those of the girls who were active and eager to assist in
+making things safe, did not suffer so much from fright as did they who
+took time to watch the clouds. The first severe storm of Summer
+usually has a more terrifying effect upon the timid ones than those
+that may follow, and this one certainly was a "star" for a starter.
+
+The lightning soon began to flash intermittently and the thunder to
+rumble. The clear expanse of horizon afforded such a wide view of the
+storm that it was small wonder those out in the bay feared for their
+safety.
+
+"Oh!" wailed Marita, as one flash of lightning seemed to dart directly
+at the brass rail of Dray's boat. "I thought I was struck!"
+
+Her words had not been uttered before the clap of thunder followed.
+This had that queer, deep sound peculiar to the water, and certainly
+the heart of the storm seemed to hover over the little fleet.
+
+All over the bay sail boats, canoes, motor boats, row boats and every
+sort of craft were making for shore, but in most of these there were
+little or no goods that might be damaged by rain or waves, while both
+the _Dixie_ and the _Chelton_ would have suffered severely had they
+encountered a down-pour uncovered.
+
+The awnings were up at last, and Jack had started the _Chelton_.
+Directly after that the chug of the _Dixie_ was heard.
+
+Then it was all storm! Raging! Roaring! Which way could two small
+motor boats hope to plough their way in such a fury of wind, rain and
+lightning?
+
+The waves had assumed the proportions of billows, and every time a
+boat lifted with the crest, a huge bank of water would break over it.
+
+Jack clung to the steering wheel, and Cora never took her eyes off the
+engine. But how they whirled and twirled! There was the _Dixie!_ It
+was keeping near--one good thing. The canoe had broken loose and was
+soon lost to sight. No one bewailed it; there was too serious work at
+hand for that.
+
+"Let me look after the gas!" begged Kent of Cora. He was at her elbow,
+but she had insisted on personally attending to the machine.
+
+"I know it better, perhaps," she shrieked back, "but stay close. If I
+cannot manage I will let you know!"
+
+One terrific clap, then a roar sounded in the ears of all, but seemed
+to paralyze Lottie.
+
+She fell in a heap and lay speechless. Up to this time she had been
+half sitting in the bottom of the boat.
+
+"She's struck!" shrieked Belle. Then Cora left the engine to Kent and
+took charge of the senseless girl.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE RESCUE
+
+
+The coffee that stood on the still warm electric stove proved a
+valuable aid in restoring the stunned Lottie. She had not been struck;
+her nerves had simply given out, and she had collapsed.
+
+Finally she opened her eyes.
+
+"I'm all right now," she said faintly, and it was evident the shock
+had dulled her terror, at least.
+
+"Just lie still," whispered Cora, encouragingly. "The storm will soon
+be over."
+
+"The storm?" Lottie repeated. Then she closed her eyes again, but this
+time it was only exhaustion, not faintness.
+
+The other girls had been roused to activity by Lottie's condition.
+They could now see a rift in the clouds, and one after another hurried
+to say that the storm was breaking, and it was not so bad; that boats
+could be seen, and perhaps they would soon sight land.
+
+But those at the wheels of the boats knew how little they could do in
+the way of steering. Every time the wheel was turned one way the force
+of the rollers would wash it completely around. In fact they were
+making absolutely no progress, and might almost as well have allowed
+the powerless craft to submit to the fury of the waters.
+
+Cora realized this, as did the boys, but the other girls, except
+perhaps Bess, felt more secure as the sound of the motor indicated
+motion. The clouds were lifting, but the force of the storm seemed to
+be coming in from sea, and had little to do with the appearance of the
+sky.
+
+"Oh, if help would only come!" Cora whispered to Bess. "I'm afraid
+another and worse storm is gathering!"
+
+"Don't give up," replied the girl, her own face gray in the mist and
+spray that covered the deck even under the awnings.
+
+"I--see--something bobbing up and down over there!" Cora continued.
+"See! It is--a big, strong boat, perhaps a lifeboat!"
+
+"Let us hope so," answered Bess, fervently.
+
+Not one word could Cora exchange with Jack, he was too far from her to
+hear her voice. The _Dixie_ was still near enough to be sighted, but
+how the boys managed to keep her so was as remarkable to themselves as
+to those on the _Chelton_.
+
+"That's a boat, all right," said Bess with more vigor in her voice,
+"and it looks like one from the life-saving station."
+
+Cora peered anxiously in the direction of the speck that played upon
+the waves.
+
+"Hey!" yelled Jack, "there comes Denny!"
+
+"Denny!" repeated Cora wonderingly.
+
+"Oh, there's Freda!" called Belle, jumping up from the bottom of the
+boat and promptly falling back again.
+
+"It's Freda and Denny, and someone else?" asked Bess, breathlessly.
+"Oh, what a mercy!"
+
+"It's a boy," declared Kent. "See the rain-hat and slicker?"
+
+"Yes, and see Freda's hair floating out from under that rubber hat!"
+insisted Bess. "Oh, I know it's Freda, and I can see Denny plainly!"
+
+The boat was coming nearer. On the crest of a roller it fairly soared
+towards them. Then Cora saw it was Denny and Freda, with another man
+whom they did not know.
+
+"Head up into it!" came a voice from the dory, for even in a storm
+Denny knew how to make his voice carry over the water.
+
+Jack heard, and swung the wheel toward the left. That would put them
+"into the storm," instead of on the edge of it.
+
+At that moment the _Dixie_ shot past and dashed right up to the dory.
+
+"Here," called Jack, "can you make it to get in here?" This was called
+to those in Denny's boat.
+
+"Not now!" shouted back the man. "Keep close!"
+
+The roar of the storm increased. Just as Cora had predicted, the new
+squall was worse than the first. For some moments all three boats
+tossed and tumbled as if they had neither master nor man, but it was
+the _Chelton_ that righted herself first.
+
+By an ungiven signal the three boats got into line. The dory was
+directly in the center and the two motor boats served to shield it
+from the waves that lashed them on either side.
+
+"Quick! Freda!" yelled Cora, grasping the line Denny tossed to her.
+"You can climb in! We can hold it tight!"
+
+Like a sprite, the girl in the yellow slicker and rubber hat made for
+the highest end of the boat, measured her distance to the _Chelton_,
+and while Kent and Cora strained to hold the rope steady, sprang.
+
+It was not the distance, which was but a few feet, but the uncertainty
+of the boats' motion that made the leap perilous. But Freda landed
+safely in the _Chelton_.
+
+"None too soon!" gasped Cora, pressing her arms around the wet oilskin
+coat. "See where they have gotten to now!"
+
+The boats had drifted apart again. The girls clung to Freda as if she
+had really brought them safely to shore, instead of adding her own
+weight to their burden, but it was the message from land that
+reassured them.
+
+"Isn't it dreadful!" moaned Lottie, still trembling from her collapse.
+
+"No!" replied Freda, cheerfully. "It isn't so bad out there. But we
+knew what it was on this bar, and could tell by the wind just about
+where you were drifting. If Jack will let me take the wheel I will
+follow Denny's orders and ride into it. Then we can go around the
+island--and see a blue sky!"
+
+"Blue sky!" came the exclamation from the girls in unison.
+
+"Certainly. But I must have the wheel, Jack."
+
+Having satisfied them that she could run the boat, Freda changed
+places with Jack, while Cora let her brother take up her watch beside
+Kent. Then Cora went to the steering wheel with Freda.
+
+"Don't be afraid," the latter said. "I have ridden out worse storms
+than this with Denny. They have a way of turning things upside down,
+but you are all right as long as you can keep well on top."
+
+She was driving directly into the smother. The girls shut their eyes,
+and it must be admitted that more than one put their fingers in their
+ears, for indeed the roar was deafening.
+
+"There are Denny and the man getting into the _Dixie_!" breathed Cora.
+"Oh, I am so glad, for it must have been dreadful to row that boat."
+
+"It _was_ no joke, but Denny likes hard work," Freda answered. "Now
+here is where we ride it out!"
+
+Every bit of power was turned on and with one well directed plunge the
+_Chelton_ was shot through what seemed to be a "comber" as if she had
+been a submarine.
+
+"Oh!" gasped Cora. Freda dropped into the "V" space at the base of the
+wheel. Still, she did not take her hands from the spokes. It was a
+serious moment. What if the boat could not ride those waves? The time
+it took to get out of the harder waves could not be estimated by the
+hands of a clock or watch; but in gasping breaths, thumping hearts,
+pale faces and fears--for boys as well as for girls--it must have been
+a long, long time.
+
+Finally Freda stood up.
+
+"There!" she exclaimed. "What did I tell you?"
+
+"Sky!" they all shouted, clapping their hands like children.
+
+"And--it--took a girl--to--do it!" exclaimed Jack, who would not have
+been blamed for hugging Freda had the opportunity offered. Instead,
+however, he made his way back to the wheel and allowed Freda and Cora
+a chance to look at their blistered hands, for both girls had been
+tugging at the spokes.
+
+"Who would believe a storm would end like that?" said Belle, with the
+relief that comes so quickly upon intense strain.
+
+"We have got to keep in out of the rain for a while," Cora cautioned.
+"There are enough water-loaded clouds over there yet to dampen our
+enthusiasm."
+
+This proved to be true, for torrents of rain followed in the wake of
+the vanishing thunder clouds.
+
+But the wind had ceased, and the waves soon quieted. With more than a
+sigh of relief the _Chelton_ girls and boys fell into the course made
+now by the _Dixie_, for in that boat Denny Shane was at the wheel.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+THE CALM
+
+
+A more delightful scene than Crystal Bay presented, two hours after
+the squall, could scarcely be imagined. To the motor girls it was
+particularly effective, as may easily be imagined. Coming back around
+the island the _Dixie_ picked up the lost canoe, so this left nothing
+to be worried over in the record of adventure.
+
+"How do you feel, Lottie?" Cora asked, when all had landed safely and
+stood looking over the waters that could be so deceptive.
+
+"Oh, I am all right, really," answered Lottie, a little ashamed that
+she should have allowed herself to give way.
+
+"But be careful," cautioned Cora. "Take it easy for the rest of the
+day, at least. It doesn't do to try too much."
+
+"Grandmother!" Lottie answered, with an affectionate squeeze of Cora's
+arm. "What about you? Who did all the engineering in the storm? And
+who is still 'on deck' giving orders?"
+
+"Oh, I am strong," replied Cora, though strong as she was the last few
+hours had told in the paler tint of her cheeks.
+
+The return of the storm-stricken ones attracted crowds of bungalowers
+and campers to the beach; for, of course, craft of all sorts had been
+caught in the gale. The center of interest, however, was the
+_Chelton_, for that boat had already gained a reputation at Crystal
+Bay.
+
+Not one person came in from the bay in dry clothes; in fact, many were
+drenched, and naturally the girls showed the effects of the storm more
+conspicuously than did the boys. Bess happened to be the one "who got
+the worst of it," among the motor girls--perhaps because there was
+more of her for the waves to hit.
+
+"You are certainly a beauty," commented Belle, who had been more
+fortunate in dodging the water. "You look like a swimming lesson in
+the first stage."
+
+"I feel as if I needed artificial respiration," replied Bess,
+good-humoredly, "but I want to forget it all--all but this. Isn't this
+wonderful?"
+
+"Almost enough to make up for the danger," Belle returned. "But wasn't
+Freda splendid? What good training she must have had to be able to
+manage that boat. No one else except Cora could have done it, and she
+was unfamiliar with the tricks of the bay. I do feel so sorry for
+Freda and her mother!" This last was said with a wistful sigh, for all
+the members of the Mote were now much attached to the motherly Mrs.
+Lewis.
+
+"Cora must have known those men were going to put the 'for sale' sign
+on the cottage, when she hurried so to get Freda and her mother over
+to our place the other night," went on Bess. "I knew there was
+something more important than merely taking care of us."
+
+"Oh, of course, that's just like Cora. Fancy Mrs. Lewis never hearing
+a word about it. If she had been in the house when they tacked that
+sign on----"
+
+"It must be perfectly awful to lose everything that way; to feel it is
+all an injustice, yet not to be able to prove one's own claim," said
+Belle. "Tricky business men are worse to watch than spiteful girls,
+and we always thought _they_ were about all that we could handle.
+There's Ted and Jean. Just look at their boat!"
+
+Among the last of the storm-bound ones to "enter port" were Ted and
+Jean, members of "Camp All Alone." They certainly presented a sorry
+spectacle, as they came up to the dock.
+
+"How do you feel?" asked Lottie, who was down near the water's edge,
+in spite of Cora's admonition.
+
+"I feel like playing a spaghetti obligato on a big hot bowl of soup,"
+replied Jean. "That would be the song to reach my heart."
+
+"The sun is clucking, girls," announced Walter. "She may set at any
+time. Is there aught to eat at the Mote? Let us thither. We intended
+to go to the store before tea."
+
+"After giving you your lunch!" exclaimed Cora, in surprise.
+
+"But, don't you see, that is why we didn't get to the store. You are
+really liable for our suppers. Don't you think so, fellows?" he asked.
+
+"Not only liable, but accountable," added Ed. "Of course we will go
+home and dress. I wonder what on earth the squall did to headquarters?"
+he asked, suddenly realizing that the camp had had need of secure
+moorings during the last two hours.
+
+"Let's look," suggested Dray, who had now moored the _Dixie_ securely,
+while Jack and Cora had attended to the _Chelton_.
+
+"Oh, you ought to see your tent," sang out a little fellow, who wore
+little beside a shirt and bathing trunks. He had been out in the
+squall and had, very likely, enjoyed it immensely.
+
+"What's the matter with it?" inquired Jack.
+
+"Oh, it's all flippy-floppy," replied the urchin. "But some lady saw
+it goin' and she tied it back to the stakes."
+
+"Some lady?" repeated Jack.
+
+"Mrs. Lewis, likely," suggested Cora. "I hope she did not go out in
+that down-pour to tie the tents."
+
+"I rather hope she did," admitted her brother. "I had some things in
+that tent not warranted rainproof. Hey, fellows!" he called to the
+other members of Camp Couldn't. "Hurry up. Our tent was struck, they
+say."
+
+At the word the crowd from the beach ran helter-skelter through the
+woods toward the camp colony. Surely there was enough excitement
+around Crystal Bay that afternoon to last for some time, and there was
+every prospect now of new adventures developing.
+
+"Any tents down?" asked Dainty, as he puffed along.
+
+"Thinking of spilled grub?" queried Walter. "Nothing doing. We have a
+salvage corps department to our housewives' league, you know, and they
+are bound to protect the members from bandits. So you may just run
+along and see what is going on at the Cattle."
+
+The storm had played havoc in the woods. Pine branches had scratched
+deep furrows in the white sand paths, beautiful bushes of blooming
+mountain laurel and mountain pinks were shorn of every bloom, and the
+wild roses were scattered like pink butterflies on the catch leaves of
+shrubs.
+
+The first camp to be met by the boys was Camp Hyphen. This was quite a
+pretentious establishment with a smaller tent adjunct. The adjunct
+stood for the hyphen, and it now lay in a heap like a discarded potato
+sack, its store of supplies settled uncertainly in nearby bushes.
+
+"My, and they had just joined the League," wailed Jack. "I suppose we
+will all have to put up for the reinforcements."
+
+"We are not an insurance company," Ed objected. "Why should we make
+good for a storm?"
+
+"Because we have a calamity clause. You had better look up your rules
+and regulations, young man. The last time I saw them they were pasted
+with a daub of good family flour on our back door."
+
+"Thank goodness the rain will have suspended our constitution," Ed
+replied. "That back door never could have gone dry through the
+torrent. Don't you remember how the small showers doused it?"
+
+"We do," Walter answered, "and as we have the only written rules, that
+same fact of the back door may stand us in well."
+
+"Pikers!" Jack called them with a laugh. "But will you observe the
+Hys! They are going to rebuild!"
+
+A hyphenated name seemed the worst of luck for this camp, for there
+was no strong pole or cast iron bar to hold the two tents together,
+and the "hy" was merely a strip of ground that gave extra play to the
+wind. The smaller tent was now being dragged from the bed of wet sand
+into which it had partly buried itself, and the campers were
+struggling heroically to get it back to its pegs.
+
+"Too bad!" called Walter, sympathetically.
+
+"Worse than that," replied one fellow, who looked as if he might have
+been shipwrecked.
+
+"But we are insured--in the league, you know," shouted another member
+of the demolished camp. "We are coming up for supper."
+
+"You are?" returned Dray. "Say, fellows," to his own camp company,
+"the best thing we can do is to take what stuff we find left and hide
+up at the Mote. Those fellows will come down on us and won't believe
+about the washed-away constitution. Who on earth put that indemnity
+clause in, anyhow?"
+
+"Oh, Clem did. He's studying engineering, and I suppose he is lonesome
+for his math. We ought to make him pay the assessment. But I agree
+with Dray," continued Walter. "We ought to 'beat it' up to the Mote,
+quick. There are other tents flopping around, and everybody will be
+good and hungry, you can be sure."
+
+"Queer how old Denny made for his shack as soon as we got in," Ed
+remarked. "I wonder if he thought that would be demolished?"
+
+"No, not likely," Jack said, "but the old fellow was pretty wet and
+played out. He's plucky, all right, and I don't believe we would be in
+yet but for him and Freda. But he is old, just the same, and only his
+pluck keeps him up to it. I would like to have been more decent to
+him, but he won't give one a chance. We must fix it up some way,
+though."
+
+"We sure must," agreed the others.
+
+"There's another," announced Jack, as a perfectly flat tent almost
+blocked their way. This was evidently deserted, for not a boy was to
+be seen, either lamenting or trying to right the canvas.
+
+"Funny," commented Ed. "They must have gone to the hotel."
+
+"Hotel!" exclaimed Jack. "Why, they borrowed a pint of our kerosene
+this morning. They may have gone to jail."
+
+"Let's run," suggested Ed. "This funeral march is getting on my
+nerves. Besides, I am anxious to see the Couldn't."
+
+In a few minutes the boys sighted their own tent. It looked all right.
+
+"Thank goodness!" breathed Dray, fervently. "I really couldn't stand
+any more nerve-racking experiences."
+
+"We look intact," said Walter. "I wonder if my dress suit is still
+unwrinkled."
+
+"Your overalls?" asked Jack, mimicking Walter's tone of voice. "Oh, I
+am sure they are perfectly all right, for I saw them in the wood box
+just before we left."
+
+"Brute!" responded Walter. "But I say! What's that? We are inhabited!"
+
+Sounds of voices issued from inside the tent. Jack dashed ahead and
+raised the flap.
+
+"Robbers! Thieves! Police!" he yelled, then he had to dodge something.
+
+"We are here for our rights," sang out a strong voice. "We demand our
+insurance!"
+
+"Seems to me the demand is rather violent," replied Ed, as the
+Couldn'ts saw what was going on. The entire tent was filled with boys
+from the wrecked camps, and they were making away with practically
+everything in the line of eatables they could lay their hands on.
+
+"Clear out!" ordered Dray, "or we will call the police. What sort of
+way is this to keep law and order?"
+
+"The only way," replied Hal, a boy from the "Mist." "We couldn't even
+keep up in starvation, but with something to sustain us we might be
+able to keep the law. As a matter of fact, it was civic pride that
+compelled us to come in here and eat."
+
+There was no help for it now, the Couldn'ts had been robbed. Even
+their party paper napkins were being made into balls.
+
+"Isn't it awful!" moaned Jack, falling into the one dry spot on the
+sandy floor. "And we were the real benefactors of this ranch. That's
+the way goodness is repaid in this hard, cruel world."
+
+Nobody noticed the sermon--everyone was too busy looking for food.
+Finally Walter and Ed, after a private conference with Dray and Jack,
+decided to give to the unfortunates all the food they possessed, "in
+order to avert worse damage to their property."
+
+"But we are dining out," Ed put in, "and it's only fair that you
+should take the provender home. We want to wash our little faces, you
+know. We dine with ladies."
+
+"Oh, we will pay it all back," declared Clem, who was scooping up
+empty boxes in the hope of being agreeably disappointed in their
+contents as compared with their weight.
+
+"Yes--you--will!" mocked Jack, "when we can skate on the sand of the
+desert. But hustle. There's not another scrap around. Land that oil
+can, Ted. It's empty."
+
+After considerable urging, ordering and coaxing, the Couldn'ts rid
+themselves of their uninvited guests, and were once again in
+possession of their own tents.
+
+"Did the girls invite us?" asked Dray. "I hate to intrude."
+
+"They did not," replied Jack, "and we are not going to intrude. We are
+just going over to thank Mrs. Lewis for saving this camp from
+destruction. She hammered down those stakes. Look at them!" he
+ordered. "Ed, did you ever wield a hammer as truthfully as that?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+SUSPICION
+
+
+"Of course we can get supper for everyone," declared Mrs. Lewis,
+cordially, when Cora spoke of the determination of the boys to come
+down upon the Mote for tea. "We have plenty of food."
+
+"You are a wonder, Mrs. Lewis," declared Cora. "You always have a full
+larder. I don't see where it comes from, for you don't even use up the
+budget."
+
+"It's a matter of experience," answered Mrs. Lewis. "When one has to
+do things, my dear, one learns how. I am so glad we have macaroni
+cooked. Boys love big, steaming dishes."
+
+Cora gave a sigh of relief. What a blessing Mrs. Lewis had proven to
+be! After finding themselves shut out of their house by a trick of the
+land agents she and her daughter had taken up a permanent residence in
+the girls' camp. Freda, in spite of all opposition, had installed
+herself as "maid." She insisted on waiting on the table, and attending
+to rooms, and helping her mother generally, although the girls wanted
+her to be one of them. Everyone declared that her mother, with her
+wonderful management and activity, more than made up for Freda being a
+visitor at the Mote.
+
+Freda seemed happier now than when she shared the little cottage with
+her mother, but this was easily understood. Under the new arrangement
+Mrs. Lewis was earning an honest and comfortable living, and Freda was
+more than willing to assist her in every way possible. Before, they
+had lived in constant dread of the land agents putting them out of
+their home. Even the fact that the sign "For Sale" had been placed on
+the cottage did not seem so unbearable, for the girls and boys had
+insisted that that was only a "scare" on the part of the land agents,
+and that while the town constable would not interfere to the extent of
+taking down the sign, he had promised to investigate the rights of
+those who put it up.
+
+But town constables are slow and timid when strangers, with big-brimmed
+hats, and plenty of cigars, come from the city, and order papers signed
+at so much per sign--for the constable.
+
+The boys had come, and the supper was almost ready. Lottie looked as
+pretty and as well as ever, for she had dressed in a chic pink frock,
+and with a pink snood binding her brow looked as fresh as though she
+had just come from the hands of a beauty specialist. After all, such
+vigorous treatment and baths of spray as the girls had encountered all
+that afternoon amounted to just that--beauty treatment; and Lottie was
+not the only one whose cheeks glowed, and in whose eyes shone the
+light that comes only from youth and health.
+
+The rumpus that always followed the boys' arrival was in full sway,
+Jack and Ed chasing Bess around the bungalow to make her give up an
+imaginary lost scarf pin, while Dray and Walter contented themselves
+with the less violent exercise of rocking on the front porch, where
+the other girls were scattered. They certainly were "scattered," for
+there was so much to tell and hear of the afternoon's adventure that
+each girl chose her own listener and her own corner.
+
+Everyone seemed deeply absorbed in this when Freda appeared at the
+door with the warning bell. That meant that in five minutes the tea
+bell would ring--only it was going to be dinner to-night.
+
+"That sounds fine," Dray told Freda, who in her blue linen sailor suit
+looked quite as well as the young ladies who put in most of their time
+"leisuring." "Our Belle is not nearly as aristocratic as that."
+
+"I hope dinner will bear out the reputation," Freda replied, a bit
+shyly, for Dray was somewhat of a stranger to her.
+
+"Dinner will make that reputation immortal," Jack declared, as he and
+Ed gave up their chase and joined the others on the porch. "But hello!
+Here comes Denny! And he has no pipe! Something surely is wrong."
+
+Everyone ceased chattering as Denny Shane appeared on the tan bark
+path.
+
+"Hello, there, Denny!" called Jack, getting up from his porch chair.
+"What's up?"
+
+"A-plenty," answered Denny with a sweep of his cap that took everyone
+in the greeting. "Where's the Widder Lewis?"
+
+"Oh, what's the matter, Denny?" asked Freda, aghast. "Can't you tell
+me first? You know how weak mother is."
+
+"'Tis nothing bad," replied Denny, as he sat down on the bottom step
+of the porch, in spite of all invitations to come up and have a chair.
+He settled his cap more securely on his gray head. "I just want
+to--tell her something."
+
+"But what?" insisted Freda, who now sat beside the old sailor on the
+step. "I know all about the business, you know."
+
+"Do come in, Denny," pleaded Cora. "It will be easier to talk in the
+living room. We young folks can go into the dining room and start our
+dinner while you settle it all quietly among yourselves."
+
+"Thank you, Miss," Denny replied, promptly accepting Cora's invitation.
+"That will be the best way, I guess."
+
+Famished as everyone seemed to be, the visit of Denny somewhat shifted
+the interest from appetites, and curiosity strayed from the dining
+room toward the living room.
+
+"What can have happened?" whispered Belle to Marita. "Denny looks
+positively--angry."
+
+"Doesn't he?" Marita replied. "I suppose it is something about Freda's
+property; don't you think so?"
+
+"Likely."
+
+The voices from the other room, that had been subdued, now rose in
+tones of surprise. Freda and her mother were both trying to talk at
+the same time, evidently.
+
+Cora was serving the dinner and endeavoring not to spoil it. The boys
+were too hungry and too glad to eat to allow any interruption to
+interfere with their pleasure, but the girls were prone to whisper,
+and even to listen when a voice penetrated the room.
+
+"It was them!" they heard Denny exclaim, "and I'll have the law on
+them!"
+
+Then Freda said something like: "Can't be sure!"
+
+"Sure as me name's Dinny Shane!" exclaimed the old man. "Who else
+would have tied up little Brian, the dog that was never tied before in
+his life! Sure I'd like to 'a caught them at it," and he brought his
+fist down hard on something.
+
+The boys and girls exchanged glances.
+
+"Something doing," ventured Jack. "I'll bet Denny has seen the
+witches."
+
+"No--banshees," corrected Ed. "Witches aren't ripe this time of year.
+But Cora, don't let us keep you. Really, Walter would love to take
+your place up head there, when you have finished."
+
+Cora was anxious to join in the conversation with Freda and her
+mother, Freda having whispered to her that they would like to have her
+do so as soon as the dinner was over.
+
+"Then I will be excused," she said, "although I hope you won't hurry."
+
+"Don't be alarmed," said Walter. "It's very bad to eat in a hurry."
+
+"I'll serve," proposed Bess, "I know just how much everyone has had,
+and how much more they _ought_ to have. Dray, you cannot have another
+bit of pudding."
+
+Dray was stretching far out for the dish. He did love apple slump. And
+Mrs. Lewis knew just the right amount of cinnamon to season with.
+
+A hush followed Cora's entrance to the living room. Not a single word
+or exclamation escaped through the Summer hangings that hid the narrow
+door.
+
+"Do you think it's a conspiracy?" remarked Walter. "I'm glad we had
+dinner first. I had no idea that a hurricane went straight to the
+hunger zone like that."
+
+"You would be a star to go up North," commented Ed. "Just fancy
+carrying stuff in your pockets and starving because the exact latitude
+for grub had not been reached--wow!"
+
+"I would insist upon being made chairman of the latitude committee,"
+replied Walter, "and my moves would be swift and certain."
+
+The door opened and Freda entered. She was not exactly all smiles, but
+the serious look on her face was not deep enough to cause comment.
+
+"I came to fetch your coffee," she announced, cheerfully. "You must
+think we are planning to dynamite something," she added.
+
+"Oh, worse than that," replied Dray, getting one more spoonful of
+slump on the sly. "We thought you were taking a negative vote on the
+coffee. Nerves, at night, you know."
+
+"Let me help you," insisted Belle. "I am almost stiff from sitting, or
+maybe it is from the way I _wasn't_ sitting in the bottom of the
+boat."
+
+"Very likely," affirmed Jack. "I would not be surprised if we had to
+come around in the morning with nippers to get the kinks out. I see
+one forming, right now, in Lottie's cheek."
+
+"We will be stiff, I am sure," added Bess, "although our muscles ought
+to be in good form."
+
+"When you have finished," Freda whispered to Belle, "we want to give
+Denny something."
+
+"Of course," Belle replied. "How selfish we are, sitting here
+'gabbing,' and neither you nor your mother has had supper yet. I'll
+serve coffee at once."
+
+"Don't hurry," Freda said. "We have time enough."
+
+Everyone, however, seemed to guess at once that they should make room
+for the next "table," and the coffee was swallowed, hastily.
+
+"What is it?" Lottie ventured to ask Freda. "We are just dying of
+curiosity. What has happened?"
+
+"Oh, I can't tell you now," Freda answered, evasively. "I guess
+everyone knew we were shipwrecked this afternoon."
+
+Cora appeared at the door. "May we come to eat now?" she asked. "I
+have only succeeded in making Denny stay with the understanding that
+we won't keep him long. He is anxious to get back to his cabin."
+
+"I am that," said Denny, following Cora into the dining room. "Can't
+tell what'll happen now."
+
+"Then something _did_ happen," Bess said aside, to Marita. "I can't
+imagine what."
+
+"Now you must eat a good meal," Mrs. Lewis insisted to Denny. "I
+remember well how you always loved macaroni and cheese."
+
+"And I remember well how you fixed it up," answered Denny, gallantly.
+"This is a bit like the old days; isn't it? When I used to eat you out
+of house and home, when Len would fetch me into your house to tempt me
+appetite," and he chuckled at the recollection. "Freddie, you were
+only a tot then, but you could climb on my knee right smart. I guess
+you were always a romp." This last was plainly intended as a
+compliment, for Denny smiled at Freda as she handed him his steaming
+coffee.
+
+If the young folks thought that by special attention to Denny and his
+wants at the table they might get an inkling of the mystery that had
+so excited the old man they were disappointed, for he never betrayed a
+word of it, and only an occasional absent look in his sober gray eyes
+betokened anything unusual.
+
+He scarcely took time to swallow the tempting food, however, when he
+jumped up and declared he could not stay another minute, although
+Cora, Freda, and Mrs. Lewis urged him to remain.
+
+"I must run--I really must," he insisted, "and mind what I tell you,"
+to Freda and Cora, "look out for yourselves!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+AN ANGRY DRUGGIST
+
+
+"We didn't want to make a fuss over it before the boys," Cora
+explained to a number of the girls, who, next morning, were seated
+about the bungalow side porch, trying to get in a few stitches of
+embroidery. "They would be sure to go straight at those land fellows,
+and we think--Denny and all of us--that the best way to do is to watch
+them carefully for a while."
+
+"But what happened?" demanded Lottie, impatiently.
+
+"We don't know exactly what, but it appears that while Denny was out,
+fishing us in, someone entered his shack and ransacked it."
+
+"Burglars! What for? In that hut!" exclaimed Belle.
+
+"We don't know that, either," continued Cora. "We can only surmise.
+They must have been after something that was neither money nor table
+silver." She laughed a little at the idea of anyone trying to rob the
+humble cabin of a fisherman. "The little terrier is never tied up and
+never troubles anybody, but it seems he did object to the intrusion,
+for he has a cut on one leg, made, possibly, by a heavy shoe, and when
+Denny found him he was tied tight to a hook in the woodshed. Denny
+will never forgive whoever tied Brian."
+
+"But did the thieves take anything?" Bess wanted to know.
+
+"Not a thing. Of course there was nothing an ordinary thief would have
+any use for; but it looks as if they were searching for something in
+particular, for everything was turned inside out. Every strip of
+carpet was pulled up and loose boards in the floor pried away. It
+really is too bad for Denny. He will have a lot of trouble getting
+things in order again, and you know he is neat, for a lone fisherman."
+
+"Isn't that outrageous!" exclaimed Belle. "I think, Cora, we should
+have told the boys and had them make a charge against whoever may be
+guilty. They will be ransacking here next."
+
+"Oh, goodness! I hope not," cried Marita. "I think we should have
+police protection."
+
+"And have officers ringing our door bell all hours of the night
+because someone forgot to turn out the dining room light, or the side
+window was found unlocked," said Cora. "They have very few officers
+here, I should imagine, and if we really gave them something to do
+they might insist on doing it."
+
+"Tell us more about it," begged Marita, who was naturally fascinated
+with the "scary" part.
+
+"I only know that his shack was entered and all but torn down," said
+Cora. "As to who did it, or why it was done, we can only surmise. But
+don't talk too much about it. We want to keep it quiet."
+
+"Why?" demanded Marita.
+
+"Because by letting other people talk about it we may be able to trace
+the perpetrators. We could easily find out who knew it had happened,
+in that way."
+
+"Oh, I see," Marita answered vaguely, although her tone did not
+indicate comprehension. "Freda and Mrs. Lewis are going out; aren't
+they?" This question implied "why" also.
+
+"Yes," Cora answered again. "They have some business to attend to. I
+told them not to hurry back for lunch--we would attend to it. We
+really need the exercise."
+
+"But I am going canoeing directly after lunch," Lottie objected.
+
+"After lunch?" repeated Belle. "This will be before lunch--the getting
+ready."
+
+"Oh, you know what I mean," Lottie grumbled. "It makes one's hands so
+horrid to handle cooking things."
+
+"Were you going to paddle?" asked Cora, innocently.
+
+"I was going to try," admitted Lottie.
+
+"Then your hands will be in better shape from some active work," Cora
+added, mischievously. "It is awful to try to paddle with soft hands."
+
+"Oh, I guess mine are not any too soft," Lottie retorted, a bit
+abashed that she should have fallen into the trap.
+
+"Where are you going, Lottie?" asked Marita. "You know it is only safe
+to canoe near the shore. The water can be very rough sometimes."
+
+"I don't think you ought to go in a canoe until you can swim," said
+Cora. "You know a canoe is the most uncertain of craft, except that it
+is absolutely certain to upset if you draw a breath in, when you
+should send a breath out. Jack says a canoe is more than human, but I
+won't shock your ears by saying what he thinks it is."
+
+"I am sure there is no danger when one sits still," Lottie insisted,
+"but if you don't want me to go, Cora----"
+
+"Of course I want you to go, and have a nice time," Cora explained,
+"but I don't want you to upset. You should wear a bathing suit and be
+ready to swim in case of a spill."
+
+"Oh, I couldn't do that!" exclaimed Lottie, rather shocked. "I am
+going with Clem."
+
+"Well, I hope Clem will put you in the very bottom of the boat, and
+not trust to a seat. Even a big cushion is wobbly," finished Cora.
+"Now, young ladies, are you ready for a tramp? We have to walk to the
+old village this morning to shop, unless you want to go to the dock
+and take Frank's ferry. He will take us across for ten cents each, and
+we need things to eat."
+
+"Oh, do let us walk," begged Bess. "I haven't seen half the things
+that grow around here."
+
+"Do _you_ grow around here?" asked Belle, maliciously, inferring that
+the desired walk was needed to "reduce." A withering look was the
+answer she received from her twin sister. Just the same the walk was
+decided upon, and a little later the wintergreen path was alive with
+voices. It was one of the delights of Summer to tramp and ramble; and
+in spite of the joys of motor boating the girls were not slow to
+appreciate the pleasures of dry land decked in various shades of
+foliage green and floral tints.
+
+The mountain laurel was at its best--that little tasselled thing we
+call "pfingster," but which looks quite aristocratic enough to belong
+to the orchid family, made bouquets of itself in every appropriate
+spot, while the glorious rhododendrons put forth a display sufficiently
+beautiful and courageous to last all Summer.
+
+"Oh, my, look at the style!" Lottie exclaimed as a party of young
+folks appeared before them. They were evidently coming from the Cliff
+Hotel, and made the most of that fact.
+
+"There's Hilda Hastings!" Cora said, in surprise. "I didn't know she
+was down here."
+
+A remarkably pretty girl, light-haired and wearing lilac shades, with
+a parasol that reflected that becoming tint, was Hilda. She evidently
+saw, and recognized Cora just as the latter spied her.
+
+"Cora Kimball!" cried Hilda, in the delighted way that usually marks a
+meeting with a home friend in the midst of vacation time. "Where did
+you come from?"
+
+"Oh, Hilda!" answered Cora, advancing to meet the girl who almost ran
+to greet her, "I am so glad to see you. We are stopping at our own
+little bunk--the Motely Mote--on Pine Shade Way. And where do you put
+up?"
+
+Introductions followed, and girls from the Mote were plainly delighted
+to meet the others from a fashionable hotel. The meeting also resulted
+in a general invitation from the Cliff girls to the Motes to attend a
+hop to be given the next evening at the hotel.
+
+"And do bring every boy you can scrape up," Hilda enjoined. "We shall
+be sure to need them."
+
+"What dress?" asked Lottie the Vain.
+
+"Linen or lace, doesn't matter in the least," declared a young girl
+whom they called Madge. "We will wear whatever we fall into for
+dinner."
+
+"All right," answered Lottie for all, fluttering at the prospect of a
+real hotel hop. "We will wear whatever we may find pressable--we have
+the awfullest time with wrinkles down here."
+
+"Don't mind them," answered Hilda. "Wrinkled clothes are a seaside
+fad, you know. If you have none you will be suspected of being the
+Press Club Trust. That's a clothing club--not literary."
+
+With other pleasantries the two sets parted, but not until all sorts
+of invitations to come and visit had been extended and accepted.
+
+"What nice girls," the timid Marita remarked as the fashionable ones
+turned into the lane. "Isn't Hilda pretty? Are they from Chelton?"
+
+"She is and they are," answered Cora. "But I do not see how we are
+going to that hop. The boys were going to take us out in a sail boat,
+you know."
+
+"Oh, I would be frightened to death in a sail boat," objected Lottie.
+
+"And perfectly safe in a canoe," observed Belle. "Charlotte, that is
+scarcely understandable."
+
+"Well," said Lottie, turning a deeper shade of pink, "I am afraid of
+that big pole in a sail boat. It looks as if it would sweep one's head
+off every time it veers around."
+
+"Just duck," advised Belle. "It's a great teacher of the proper mode
+of ducking; and that is not to be despised, Lottie, whether one has to
+duck harsh words, or big poles. But I want to go sailing. I can't see
+what fun there is in going into a stuffy hotel on a beautiful
+moonlight evening when we can go out on the water and see something."
+
+"Don't you think we would see something in the Cliff ball room?"
+challenged Lottie.
+
+"Peace!" called Cora, good-naturedly. "It looks as if we might have to
+take a vote on the question. But I can't say that the boys would be
+willing to accept a negative answer."
+
+"Oh, won't they come?" Lottie asked in surprise.
+
+"I don't believe they will forego the sail," replied Cora. "However,
+we won't decide until we ask them. If they want to postpone the water
+sport we may take in the hop."
+
+This was looked upon as a reasonable solution of the problem, and
+while some of the girls hoped for the sail, perhaps an equal number
+wished to go to the dance.
+
+It was a delightful morning, and the woods were fairly alive with young
+folk. It seemed there could be very few mothers or chaperones at Crystal
+Bay, for even in marketing hours it was always the girls with baskets,
+or the boys with huge paper bags, who were encountered. On benches along
+the beach, to be sure, "elders" might be found sunning themselves and
+ruining their fading sight with alleged art embroideries, but in the
+matter of housekeeping it was youth that prevailed at the bay.
+
+It was a long walk to the general store at the point, but there was a
+resting place there, and if one wanted to tarry and felt like dancing,
+a very accommodating young man sat near the piano ready to play at the
+shortest notice. Belle and Lottie usually took a twirl while Bess and
+Cora did the shopping, but to-day having walked instead of coming by
+motor boat they sank into a seat at the water's edge and watched
+others try the newest steps.
+
+Around the drug counter a number of men were engaged in earnest
+conversation with the salesman. Belle needed cold cream and was
+waiting her turn to tell the clerk so.
+
+"We just about have it," said one man to the man behind the counter.
+"There is no question about the legal right; it is only a matter of a
+lost document. We may get along without it, but we understood you were
+a life-long resident, knew the people, and thought perhaps you could
+tell us something about it. Of course we don't want anyone's time for
+nothing."
+
+The clerk scratched his head and looked over his glasses. The scale
+was tipping with white stuff and a customer was waiting.
+
+"That may be so," he replied, slowly, "but I should think, young
+fellow, that them folks themselves would know more about their own
+business than anyone else. Why don't you go to them?"
+
+"Do you think for a moment that anyone is going to do themselves out
+of house and home like that?" asked the taller man, angrily.
+
+"Oh, that's the game; is it? Well, see here! Do you think for one
+moment that I, Bill Sparks, am going to do a poor widow out of house
+and home to suit you!"
+
+He had raised his voice to angry tones, a remarkable thing for Bill to
+do in business hours, but those around who heard had no blame for him.
+The strangers left without taking up their cigars or paying for them.
+Bill looked after them quizzically.
+
+"That's the way to answer that sort," he remarked to no one in
+particular. "Too many of them speculators around the bay, lately. Cold
+cream?" he inquired of Bess.
+
+Cora had seen the men, although she was in the grocery department, and
+when Bess told her what she had overheard she looked troubled.
+
+"We must not put that off another day," she told Bess. "I am convinced
+that those men are dishonest, for why should they go sneaking around
+that way? Why not ask for information from the proper persons?"
+
+Scarcely had she spoken than Mrs. Lewis and Freda appeared in the
+doorway that led from the boat landing. Freda's face was flushed, and
+Mrs. Lewis's was pale.
+
+"What is it?" Cora asked, hurrying up to them.
+
+"They have started a mill dam across the creek," replied Freda. "If
+they turn that water into use for mill purposes the whole shore of the
+bay will be ruined!"
+
+"Don't go so fast, daughter," urged Mrs. Lewis. "We can stop them; we
+must get a lawyer at once."
+
+"Of course," answered Cora, "I think they call it an injunction, or
+restraining papers. Who is your lawyer, Mrs. Lewis?"
+
+"We haven't any," Freda replied for her mother. "We were told if we
+engaged counsel they would eat up the whole thing. Oh, isn't it
+dreadful!" and the brave Freda was on the verge of tears.
+
+"I'll see Jack at once," declared Cora, "and if there are not
+trustworthy lawyers here we will fetch our own down from Chelton. The
+senior member of the firm would do anything reasonable for our family,
+and when mother is away she leaves Jack and me full discretion. Let us
+hurry back before the boys get out on the water. Bess, call Belle and
+Lottie."
+
+The look of relief that spread over the widow's face was a more
+eloquent form of thanks than words could have been, so without further
+delay they all hurried to the motor boat in which Mrs. Lewis and Freda
+had come over. It was from a bay front hotel and had come over for the
+eleven o'clock mail.
+
+The boy at the wheel started up as soon as all were seated, and as the
+launch was a good-sized one the trip across the bay was both
+comfortable and enjoyable. Of course Belle and Lottie wanted to know
+more than they could be told about the coming of Freda and Mrs. Lewis,
+so they had to content themselves with a word and a look from Cora.
+
+The boys were at the landing as the boat came in. This was exactly
+what Cora had wished for.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+AN ALARM
+
+
+"I will go to Lamberton this afternoon," declared Mrs. Lewis, after
+having conferred with Cora and Jack. "I know a man there who was a
+great friend of my husband. He told me to come to him any time I
+needed advice, and he is a prominent lawyer. I have never troubled
+him--had no good cause to until now."
+
+"I think that would be a good plan," Jack agreed. "I fancy as soon as
+we come down on those fellows good and hard, they will be forced to
+show their hand."
+
+So it was arranged that Mrs. Lewis should go to the town, some
+twenty-five miles away.
+
+"And Freda," she said, "don't worry if I am not back until the last
+train, for if he should happen to be in New York I will wait for him."
+
+"Be careful of that cut in the old road," Freda warned. "Mother, you
+know it is always dark through there, even in broad daylight, and
+after dark it is pitchy."
+
+"I can't get any train until one o'clock," went on Mrs. Lewis, "so,
+Freda, we will hurry back to the bungalow and leave everything ready
+for tea. We can prepare things while the girls are lunching."
+
+"Now, you needn't do anything of the kind," objected Cora, "we girls
+can well enough take care of ourselves once in a while. Why, Mrs.
+Lewis, you have us all spoiled. We are supposed to do most of our own
+housekeeping in Summer camp, you know."
+
+"Indeed, you do that now," returned Mrs. Lewis, who was more than
+grateful for the opportunity for work that Cora had afforded to her.
+"I like housekeeping when there is someone to keep for."
+
+"You had Freda," Jack reminded her.
+
+"And she wouldn't let me do enough to keep in practice," replied Mrs.
+Lewis. "Here we are, and the young ladies are stringing beans!"
+
+"Now that is what I call sweet of you," Jack observed as he greeted
+the four girls, all seated around a low porch table with knives and
+beans plying from basket to pan. "Who told you we were coming to
+dine?"
+
+"You positively are not, Brother Jack," Cora declared. "You boys think
+our place is an elastic delicatessen. Why, we never know whether we
+are going to have enough for another meal or not, and we can't go to
+the point again to-day."
+
+"All right, Little Sister. If you have the heart to eat good string
+beans from old Henry's garden, and know that your brother is starving
+for a single spoonful, just go ahead. They will rest heavy on your
+heart, though. I warn you."
+
+"You may help!" offered Lottie. "Just take that paper bag and scoop up
+the ends. Bess spilled them."
+
+"I absolutely refuse," replied Jack, haughtily, "to be a scraper-up
+for such mean people. No, sir! I have just been manicured," and he
+gazed lovingly at his much-neglected hands.
+
+"It does seem as if all we do is to get ready to eat and then eat,"
+said Belle with a sigh. "I would never keep house for myself if I
+starved. At least, I would manage on fewer meals. We have only been to
+the point since breakfast and now it is time to eat again."
+
+Cora had gone in with Freda and Mrs. Lewis and very soon afterward
+luncheon was announced--the beans were laid over for the evening meal.
+Jack stayed, of course, and wondered (so he said) why the other
+fellows did not come in search of him.
+
+An hour or two later Mrs. Lewis hurried off to the little station,
+after promising Freda that she would be most careful of the dark road
+known as the "Cut."
+
+"For, Mother dear," warned Freda, "I do believe those land sharks
+would do almost anything to scare the information out of us. They have
+threatened to have it at any cost, you know."
+
+"Oh! I am surprised at you being so nervous, dear," replied the
+mother, kissing Freda reassuringly. "I never felt less nervous. In
+fact, I think now things will soon be righted. Good-bye, dear. And
+have a good time with your friends."
+
+Freda watched the little woman step lightly away over the white path.
+Then, with a sigh, she turned back to the bungalow.
+
+"Freda! Freda!" called Bess. "You have not eaten yet, and I'm to do
+the dishes. Hurry this minute and just fill up! I must be finished in
+time for a nap, for I am nearly dead."
+
+Freda did eat, though somehow she felt unusually depressed. Even
+Cora's encouraging words, given into Freda's ear when no one else was
+at hand, did not seem to cheer her.
+
+"Just come down to the bay and go out with me," urged Cora. "I want to
+try the boat with the new control, and I don't want to go out alone!"
+
+"Of course I will go with you," assented Freda. "I have only to change
+my blouse."
+
+The motor trip was delightful. The _Chelton_ seemed to have missed the
+guiding hand of its fair owner, for while the new piece of mechanism
+was being put in Cora had not been using the boat.
+
+"How different from the one we rode in this morning," Freda remarked.
+"I always feel as if something were going to explode when I sit near a
+noise such as that old engine made. I wonder that a big house like the
+Laurel can keep such a tub."
+
+"Guests are always glad to get on the water," answered Cora, "and I
+suppose they are not particular as long as they do not have to pay
+extra for the sail. Most of the hotels down here hire out their
+launches, I believe."
+
+They headed straight for the island, and then ran around it to come
+back on the east shore. In many of the passing boats were young
+friends of Cora, and all sorts of messages were shouted back and
+forth.
+
+"I guess I had better go in early," Cora remarked, "as we really have
+not decided on this evening's plans. Some want the hop and others want
+the sail."
+
+"And I have a lot to do, too," Freda said. "Mother and I have to take
+so much time from what we would like to do for you girls."
+
+Cora protested against this, of course, declaring that the girls never
+had such help before, and regretting that Freda should take the matter
+so seriously.
+
+"I cannot get over the attempt to rob Denny," Cora went on, as they
+neared the bungalow. "I am glad they chose a time when he was not
+around, for he would certainly fight. He thinks he has the same
+strength he enjoyed years ago, and I hate to think what might have
+happened had he met those fellows."
+
+"Wasn't it awful?" commented Freda. "And to think that it must have
+been on our account, for I am convinced that those men were searching
+for papers they believe Denny has."
+
+"No doubt about it," said Cora. "But he has none; has he?"
+
+"He has never mentioned such a thing, and with us worrying as we are,
+I am sure that if he had any of our papers he would show them to
+mother. I know my grandfather trusted him more than he even trusted my
+father, his own son; but that is easy to understand, for Denny had
+settled for life here, near the property, while father was likely to
+go to any part of the world, had he lived. He always wanted to
+travel."
+
+"This is a splendid afternoon to write letters," Cora remarked, "and I
+owe a very long one to mother. That, at least, I will get off on the
+last mail."
+
+"I have some to write, too," Freda rejoined. "I had that very task in
+mind. I have to write to those 'in-laws' I interviewed last week. They
+will think I am very ungrateful not to have written since my return.
+So long," she called out cheerily. "I hope when mother comes back we
+will all have cause to rejoice. That friend of father's is a very good
+lawyer."
+
+"But he may not be able to say much until he has had a chance to look
+into the case," said prudent Cora. "We must not expect results so
+soon."
+
+"Oh, I do," persisted Freda. "I know when he hears all that mother has
+to tell him he will be able to say something quite definite."
+
+So the girls parted, Cora to go to her letter writing, and Freda to
+hers. It seemed the entire household at the Mote was very busy that
+afternoon, some resting for the evening, others arranging the fussy
+trifles so important to young girls.
+
+It was getting dark when Freda came out at the side porch and looked
+anxiously down the road.
+
+"Mother should have come on that train," she told herself. Then she
+waited to hear the train pass at the second crossing. "She would be on
+her way up now if she came," Freda reflected, "I'll get my things on
+and go to meet her."
+
+Coming down the stairs she called Cora, but receiving no reply she did
+not wait to find her. She expected to be gone only a few minutes and
+it was not worth while to wait to tell Cora where she was going.
+
+The dusk came down quickly. Even as Freda passed under the big elm
+tree she could not see the moss at its trunk.
+
+She hastened on, and was almost startled into a scream as she heard a
+noise. It was but the tinkle of a bell.
+
+"Someone on a bicycle!" exclaimed Freda, in relief.
+
+The bell tinkled again, and through an opening in the trees she caught
+a glimpse of the messenger boy from the railroad station. He saw her
+and called:
+
+"A message for you!"
+
+"A message for me?" she repeated in surprise. "Who can it be from?" At
+once she thought of her mother.
+
+"I don't know," answered the lad. "Mr. Burke, at the station, took it
+over the telephone, and wrote it out. Here it is," and he held up an
+envelope. "It's all paid, and you don't have to sign the book; it
+isn't a regular telegram."
+
+With trembling fingers Freda tore open the envelope. There was a
+single slip of paper inside and on it was written in the hand of the
+station agent:
+
+"If you would do your mother a service come to Wickford Junction at
+once."
+
+                  *       *       *       *       *
+
+"Wickford Junction!" gasped Freda, as the messenger boy rode away.
+"Why, how did mother get there? That's in the opposite direction from
+Lamberton. Oh, there must have been some accident, and she has been
+taken there! I must go to her!"
+
+Hastily Freda looked in her purse. She had barely money enough for the
+ticket, but she would go. On eager and anxious feet she sped toward
+the railroad depot. It was getting much darker.
+
+"Oh, Mr. Burke!" Freda gasped, when she saw the agent behind his
+little wicket gate, "I've got to go to Wickford Junction. Mother is
+there."
+
+"She is, Freda? Why I sold her a ticket to Lamberton this morning."
+
+"I know. But there must have been some accident. I just got a message
+from Wickford Junction."
+
+"I know, for I wrote it down. The person wouldn't give any name, but
+I'm sure it wasn't your mother."
+
+"No, it couldn't have been! She's hurt!"
+
+"Hurt?"
+
+"Well, of course I'm not sure, but I fear she is. She must have told
+someone to send it. I've got to go. How much is a ticket?"
+
+"Eighty-five cents. The train's due now. There she comes," he added,
+as a distant whistle sounded.
+
+Freda had barely time to get her ticket and hurry aboard.
+
+"Don't worry," the agent called out to her. "There hasn't been any
+accident, or I'd have heard of it."
+
+But Freda did worry. All the way in the train she was a prey to
+nervous fears, and when the Junction was finally reached she was
+hardly able to keep up.
+
+But there was no sign of an accident, and her mother was not there
+when she alighted--the only passenger to get off.
+
+Wickford Junction was hardly more than a flag station, and there was
+an agent there only part of the time. He was not there now, but in the
+dingy waiting room, where Freda went to make inquiries, she found a
+shabbily dressed woman.
+
+"Are you Freda Lewis?" the latter asked, starting forward.
+
+"Yes, I am. But how did you know? Where is my mother? Did you send me
+a message? Oh, tell me quickly, please!"
+
+"Now, dearie, don't get excited," soothed the woman in accents that
+only made Freda worry more. "It will be all right. I sent for you to
+come here because I wanted to have a chance to talk to you alone. Now
+if you'll sit down----"
+
+"What do you mean?" asked Freda, quickly. "I don't know you. What do
+you want?"
+
+"Just to have a little talk with you. I thought it better to take this
+means than to go to your house. Sit down. You and your mother are
+trying to establish a claim to some property; aren't you?"
+
+"Yes, that is well known. But what do you----"
+
+"Never mind about that. I will tell you all in due time. Have you any
+papers to prove your claim?"
+
+"Any papers?" asked Freda, suspiciously.
+
+"Yes--deeds, mortgages or the like. I have studied law, and I may be
+able to help you. I have had experience in many disputed claims."
+
+"We don't know where----" Freda was about to say that they did not
+know where the papers were, when she thought better of it. Was it
+right to confide thus in a stranger?
+
+"Now, dearie, tell me everything," said the woman. "You can trust me.
+Or, better still, if you will come with me to the country hotel where
+I am stopping we will not be disturbed. Better come with me," and in
+her eagerness she caught Freda by the arm.
+
+"No, no! I'll not go!" gasped the girl. "I want to find my mother. Who
+are you, and why do you ask me these questions? Did you send me that
+false message? What was your purpose in so deceiving me?"
+
+"I did not deceive you!" replied the woman, sharply. "It was for the
+good of your mother that I asked you to meet me here. I will explain
+all to you later, but not here. I can do you good. Only trust me. Come
+with me. I have a carriage waiting outside."
+
+Again she caught Freda's arm.
+
+Then the harassed and nervous girl burst into tears. A kindly-faced
+hack driver, waiting outside in the hope of having some belated
+traveler hire him, heard. Dick Bently was a benevolent sort of chap,
+with daughters of his own. Hearing a girl crying he went into the
+depot.
+
+"What's the matter, Miss?" he asked, and his tone was reassuring.
+
+"Oh, it's my mother!" gasped Freda. "She isn't here, and this--this
+person sent me a message----"
+
+"It was for your good, my dear," interrupted the strange woman, with
+an evil smile. "I'm trying to settle that property matter for you, my
+dearie!"
+
+"Who are you, anyhow?" asked Dick belligerently. He did not like the
+appearance of the woman, nor her tone.
+
+"It is not necessary for me to tell you anything," she replied, with
+assumed dignity. "If I am not wanted, I will go."
+
+"Maybe it would be better," said the hackman. "Now, can I help you,
+young lady?" he asked kindly, as the woman hurried off.
+
+"I only want to go home to Crystal Bay, and to my mother," said Freda,
+and she briefly explained the circumstances.
+
+"Well, it's too bad, but I'm afraid you can't get back to Crystal Bay
+to-night," declared the hackman. "The last train has gone."
+
+"The last train gone!" gasped Freda. "Oh, what am I to do?"
+
+"Now don't you worry a mite," replied Dick. "I'll just take you home
+to my wife, and she'll look after you. Don't you worry," and, after
+some persuasion he prevailed on Freda to go in his ramshackle rig to
+his home, where she was kindly received by his wife.
+
+"I'll go back to the station to meet the express that sometimes stops
+at the Junction," explained Dick, "and, Miss, if there come any
+inquiries for you I'll tell where you are. But you'll have to stay
+with us till mornin', I reckon."
+
+Freda's mind was easier now, but she could not imagine what had been
+the object of the strange woman, nor why she had sent the telegram.
+
+Meanwhile, back in the bungalow, there was much alarm when Freda was
+missed. And when her mother came home safely, and found her daughter
+gone, she almost collapsed.
+
+"Where can she have gone?" she wailed.
+
+Hasty inquiries were made, and one of the boatmen told of having seen
+Freda start out through the woods, and meet the station messenger boy.
+After that it was easy to trace her.
+
+Mr. Burke told of the 'phone message, and of having seen Freda board
+the train for the Junction.
+
+And then a new difficulty arose. There was no train to the Junction
+that night; but Mrs. Lewis was in such a state that nothing short of a
+visit to the place would satisfy her. There was no telephone available
+then, the Junction station being closed.
+
+Cora solved the trouble.
+
+"We can go to Hartford in our boat," she said, "and from there it is
+only a short trip to the Junction. We could hire an auto."
+
+This was done. In the _Chelton_, the motor girls and the boys went to
+Hartford, making good time in getting there. A neighbor came over to
+the bungalow to stay with Mrs. Lewis, who grew more alarmed as the
+night deepened.
+
+The trip by auto, which was taken only by Jack, Cora and the
+chauffeur, was marked by the mishap of a blown-out tire, but that was
+all. When the Junction was finally reached, there, true to his
+promise, was the hackman, and to Cora's excited inquiries he gave
+reassuring answers.
+
+Yes, Freda was all right, and safe at his house. He directed Jack and
+Cora there, and soon all were reunited. Then explanations were
+offered, Freda's fears about her mother were quieted, and the trip
+back to Hartford made, where the motor boat party was anxiously
+waiting.
+
+"And now for the bungalow!" sighed Cora, as she took her place at the
+familiar wheel. A little later it was reached, and mother and daughter
+were together again telling their stories, and speculating much about
+Freda's strange message and the mysterious woman. But the puzzle could
+not be solved.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+A BAD CASE OF NERVES
+
+
+"Would the boys have anything in their camp, do you suppose?" asked
+Bess, with a long sigh.
+
+"Anything for what?" asked Lottie, as she looked surreptitiously into
+the mirror of her vanity box. Lottie was always worried about the
+effect of late hours.
+
+"Is it something to eat?" asked Marita in her timid way. "If you want
+that, Bess, I'll go over and help you carry it."
+
+"Gracious, I hope we don't need anything in the food line," said Cora.
+"I thought we stocked up with enough to last the rest of the week."
+
+"I want something for my nerves," went on Bess. "They're on the ragged
+edge, and I jump at every sound."
+
+"And no wonder," agreed Belle, as she went over to a hammock suspended
+between two trees. "Get something for mine, while you're at it, Bess.
+I think they use bromide, or something like that. But I doubt if the
+boys would have any. They don't seem to have a nerve in their bodies,
+though goodness knows they're 'nervy' enough at other times. Pardon
+the colloquialism," she murmured as she sank back.
+
+It was the morning after Freda's return, and the night had been rather
+a troubled one. No one in the girls' camp felt much like eating
+breakfast, though they managed to nibble at a bit of toast and drink
+some coffee.
+
+The alarm about Freda had giver the motor girls the keenest anxiety,
+and while Jack and the boys tried to make Freda and the girls believe
+the woman and the telephone message had been a joke, it looked to be
+too serious a matter to be lightly passed off.
+
+The odd woman who had met Freda at the country junction had shown, by
+her questions, that she knew much about the disputed property. And her
+manner had been, in a way, rather threatening. It was too unusual to
+have been accidental, at any rate.
+
+But Freda had reached home in safety. The motor girls were glad of
+that, but they were all suffering from a bad case of nerves, though,
+so far, Bess and Belle had been the only ones to admit it openly.
+
+"I wouldn't take any of that bromide, if I were you, Bess," said Cora,
+as she straightened out some of the things in the living room. The
+usually homelike apartment had taken on a most woebegone appearance
+since the previous night. Everyone had left everything just where she
+had happened to let it fall.
+
+"But I've got to do something!" declared the plump twin. "My hand
+shakes--see, I can't hold it still," and in proof she held it out.
+
+"It does shake," spoke Marita, in an awed whisper. "Maybe she had
+better have a doctor."
+
+"Doctor! Nonsense!" laughed Belle. "Her hand trembles because she had
+her arm up so long this morning, trying to do her hair up that new
+way. Sit down, Bess, and you'll be all right in a few minutes."
+
+"But I can't sit still, that's the trouble. I'm so nervous!" and Bess
+hastily arose from a chair in which she had seated herself, and began
+pacing up and down the broad bungalow porch.
+
+"I have an idea!" exclaimed Cora.
+
+"Don't let it die of lonesomeness," suggested Belle, with a laugh.
+"Think up another and have a pair of ideas."
+
+"I will," replied Cora, promptly. "I think if we go out for a little
+spin in the boat it will do us all good. It's a lovely day--too lovely
+to let our nerves get the best of us. What do you say?"
+
+"I'll do anything rather than sit here and think of what might have
+happened," sighed Bess.
+
+"Oh, you're taking it entirely too seriously," put in Lottie, as she
+used a buffer on her already pink and polished nails. "What could have
+happened?"
+
+"Why, they might have taken Freda away!"
+
+"Who would?"
+
+"Those persons--men or women--or both--who are trying to get
+possession of the Lewis property. And, in a way, we might have been
+involved," went on Bess.
+
+"I don't see how," observed Cora.
+
+"Why, we've given advice to Freda and her mother, and if things went
+wrong some persons might say we had an object in it."
+
+"Nonsense!" exclaimed Belle. "You've surely got a case of nerves, all
+right. Come on, let's do as Cora says and take a trip on the water."
+She got out of the hammock--Belle could accomplish this difficult feat
+more gracefully than anyone else, Cora always said.
+
+Then they all went down to the little dock where the _Chelton_ was
+tied, and Cora, with a quickness born of long experience, ascertained
+that there was plenty of gasoline and oil in the craft. She tested the
+vibrator and found the current good, though at times, when not
+suffering from a fit of stubbornness, the engine had been known to
+start with the magneto. But it was not safe to depend on it.
+
+"Are you all ready?" asked Cora.
+
+"I guess so," answered Bess. "I guess I won't have to have bromide,
+after all. I feel better already."
+
+"I thought you would," laughed Cora. "Marita, just straighten out that
+stern flag, will you? Thank you. You're a dear!"
+
+"Look out!" laughed Belle. "When Cora begins calling names there is no
+telling when she will stop."
+
+"Don't worry," was Cora's answer, as she stooped over to crank the
+motor. It started on the first turn and soon the _Chelton_ was
+chugging a course over the sun-lit waters of Crystal Bay.
+
+"Do you see anything of the boys?" asked Cora, as she turned to the
+others from her place at the steering wheel.
+
+"No, there's their boat--at least Jack's apology for one--tied to the
+stake," said Lottie. "Does that boat ever go out two days in
+succession, Cora?"
+
+"I don't believe it does," answered Jack's sister. "It was a sort of
+makeshift, anyhow. Jack only got her running because someone said it
+couldn't be done--it was a sort of dare. But the poor old boat seems
+to suffer from some intermittent fever. It runs one day and rests the
+next."
+
+"And the _Dixie_--she's resting, too," went on Bess, as she looked
+down the bay to where Dray Ward's fine racing craft was moored. "The
+boys are not around yet."
+
+"Probably sleeping," murmured Belle. "The indolent creatures!"
+
+"Folks who live in glass houses--and all the rest of it," said Cora.
+"It's nearly eleven, and we haven't been long away from the breakfast
+table ourselves."
+
+"It's a case of carrying coals to Newcastle; isn't it?" asked Lottie,
+drying with her filmy handkerchief a drop of water on her dress.
+
+"You mean the pot calling the kettle black," laughed Cora. Lottie
+never could get her proverbs just right.
+
+"Oh, well, it's all the same as long as there's black in it,"
+responded Lottie. "I knew I had part of it right."
+
+On went the _Chelton_, and she had that part of the bay all to herself
+for the time being. A little breeze ruffled the water, and the sun
+shone brightly. Under these calming influences of nature the
+girls--even nervous Bess--felt themselves growing calm, and at peace
+with the world. The trouble of the night before seemed to melt away,
+and assume a less sinister aspect. But Cora could not get over the
+feeling that something akin to a tragedy had nearly happened.
+
+"And it may again," she thought. "I do wish we could help Freda and
+her mother, but I don't see how. Land troubles are always so
+complicated."
+
+As Cora turned the wheel and swung the boat about in a wide circle,
+she was aware of another craft coming toward her. She did not remember
+having seen it before, and as it drew nearer she noted that it
+contained but a single occupant--a young man, who, as Lottie said
+afterward, was not at all bad-looking.
+
+The young fellow guided his boat closer to the _Chelton_, and after
+she had done making mental notes of the new craft's characteristics,
+Cora had an idea that the stranger wanted to speak to them. Such
+evidently was his intention, for he slowed down his engine, so as to
+muffle the noise of the exhaust, and called out:
+
+"On which point is Bayhead, if you please?"
+
+"Over there," answered Cora, pointing to a promontory that jutted out
+into the bay. "But be careful and go well out when you round it. There
+are some dangerous rocks at low tide. How much do you draw?"
+
+"Thirty-four inches."
+
+"That's too much to try the short cut."
+
+"Thank you for telling me," went on the young man. He certainly was
+good-looking. Even Cora, conservative as she always was, had to admit
+that.
+
+"We are going over that way," went on Cora. "If you like, I will pilot
+you."
+
+"You are very good," returned the young man. "If it will not be too
+much trouble, and not take you out of your way, I would like very much
+to have you show me the course. I'm a stranger here."
+
+Cora and the motor girls had been on so many trips on land and water
+that they had learned how to meet and accept the advances of
+strangers, even when they were good-looking young men. There was, too,
+a sort of comradeship about a motor boat that lent a chaperonage to
+the effect of girls talking to men to whom they had never been
+introduced. Cora's chums realized this and thought nothing of her
+offer.
+
+"Follow me," Cora called, as she opened the throttle a little wider,
+and the _Chelton_ shot ahead. The other boat came right after, with a
+promptness that caused Cora to think it had more speed than she at
+first suspected.
+
+"My nerves are much better--now," said Bess in a whisper to Lottie, as
+she stole a surreptitious glance at the young man.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+A LITTLE RACE
+
+
+For some time Cora held the lead in her boat, with the other following
+in her wake. The girls talked among themselves, speculation being rife
+as to what the young man wanted in Bayhead.
+
+"It's an awfully swell place," said Lottie. "I spent one Summer there,
+and it was nothing but dress, dress, dress all the while! Either for
+motoring, tennis or bridge. Oh, I got so weary of it!"
+
+"But you liked it--especially the dressing," put in Belle.
+
+"I should have, my dear, I don't mind admitting that, if only I had
+had enough gowns," went on Lottie, with a sigh. "But I didn't have
+half enough. Papa was dreadfully poor that year. I believe he said
+there had been a 'slump in the market,' whatever that means.
+
+"Anyhow I know I couldn't begin to dress as those in my set did. So
+that's how I remember Bayhead. I should like to go there again. It's
+perfectly stunning."
+
+"That young fellow doesn't look to be any too well dressed," remarked
+Bess.
+
+"Naturally he wouldn't--going out in a boat," said Cora. "Something
+seems to be the matter with his engine," she added, for the stranger
+was bending over it.
+
+Whatever it was did not seem to be serious, for the lone motorboatist
+straightened up again presently. He increased his speed, and came
+alongside the _Chelton_.
+
+"We seem to be some distance from the point," he said, with a smile.
+"Don't you want a little race? You can call it off before we get near
+the danger spot."
+
+Cora was rather taken aback by the proposal. It was one thing to
+direct a stranger, even when he was a youth good to look at, and it
+was all right, too, to even pilot him on his way in strange waters;
+but it was quite another matter to have the aforesaid stranger invite
+himself to a race. It was like having a beggar apply at your front
+door, and when given a sandwich, calmly ask for soup.
+
+"I don't believe----" began Cora, but Bess slid up to her on the long
+seat and whispered:
+
+"Oh, do, Cora! It won't do any harm, and it will complete the nerve
+cure you have begun so well. Besides, we need a little practice in
+racing. We may take part in the water carnival down here."
+
+"Well, if the rest of you are willing, I'm not going to be the one to
+object," returned Cora, smilingly.
+
+"Will--will it be dangerous?" faltered timid Marita.
+
+"Not a bit--you dear little goose!" exclaimed Belle, putting her arm
+about the shrinking one. "We've raced lots of times--and won, too!"
+
+"Against such appealing strangers?" asked Lottie, raising her eyebrows
+in a rather affected way.
+
+"Oh, it's all in the game!" laughed Bess. Certainly her nerves seemed
+all right now.
+
+The young man--he had refrained from giving his name, either by
+accident or design--had been bending over his motor during the
+whispered talk among the girls. Now he looked up again.
+
+"Well," he asked, pleasantly, "is it to be a race?"
+
+"If you like," answered Cora, calmly.
+
+"I certainly do like. I'm going to enter some of the Bayhead races,
+and I'd like to see how my boat will go."
+
+"But it's a lighter boat than ours," returned Cora, who was not
+willing to give nor take an unfair advantage. "And we have five
+passengers."
+
+"I've thought of that," the young man went on. "I'm willing to accept
+a handicap. I'll drop back about five hundred feet and allow you that
+much."
+
+"That would be fair," assented Cora, who, from having taken part in
+various races knew what would be about right.
+
+"Then here goes!" cried the stranger, as he throttled down his motor.
+"I'll give you a hail when I'm coming on."
+
+The _Chelton_ at once began drawing away from the _Pickerel_, which
+was the name of the stranger's boat.
+
+This craft, it seemed, had a clutch arrangement, so that the motor
+could be allowed to run without the propeller revolving. Cora's boat
+was likewise equipped.
+
+"Are you going to beat him?" asked Lottie, as she moved back where no
+drop of spray could spot her blue dress.
+
+"I am certainly going to try," said Cora with a smile. "What does a
+race amount to if you don't try to win?"
+
+"Oh, of course, but then I thought this was only in fun."
+
+"It's a race for keeps," announced Cora. "And I think we'll win. That
+last gasoline we got is the best we ever had. It gives us more power,
+and the _Chelton_ is running like a sewing machine, as Jack says. I
+think we're going to win!"
+
+She opened the throttle a little wider and the _Chelton_ responded
+instantly.
+
+A moment later there came a hail from the rear.
+
+"Distance enough! I'm coming!"
+
+Cora glanced back.
+
+"He certainly was generous," she said. "That's a good five hundred
+feet."
+
+"He looks like a generous chap," murmured Lottie. She was again
+polishing her nails. Possibly she thought she might be introduced to
+the stranger, later on.
+
+There was the sound of a louder exhaust from the boat astern. The
+young man evidently was going to try his best to win.
+
+But Cora had no intention of letting him do so. She had shrewdly
+estimated the ability of his boat, as well as she could, though of
+course it was difficult, in the case of a craft she had never before
+seen.
+
+"Sit on the other side; will you, Lottie dear?" asked Cora, as,
+grasping the steering wheel with firmer fingers she looked at the
+course ahead of her.
+
+"Oh, I'm so comfortable here," objected Lottie.
+
+"I know, but the boat isn't trimmed properly, and she can't do her
+best unless she is."
+
+"Like us girls," remarked Belle. "We, too, must be properly trimmed to
+do our best."
+
+"Trimmed!" exclaimed Lottie. "I don't see any frills on the _Chelton_."
+
+"You may later, if we win the race," said Bess. "But what Cora means
+is that the boat isn't properly balanced. There is too much weight on
+the starboard side."
+
+"Oh, then I'm on the starboard side," said Lottie.
+
+"Yes, or on the right, according to the new navy rules," agreed Cora.
+"But, really, someone must shift."
+
+"But if I go over there I'm afraid the spray will get on my dress,"
+objected Lottie. "And it spots terribly, especially with salt water."
+
+"I'll change over," said Marita. "I don't mind if my dress does get
+wet."
+
+"You're a dear," sighed Lottie, as she settled back among the
+cushions.
+
+"And you're a bit selfish," thought Cora.
+
+The _Chelton_, now in better trim, skimmed over the bay. Behind her
+came the _Pickerel_. And, as Cora looked back she noted that the young
+man's craft was slowly overtaking her.
+
+"He has more speed than I thought he had," she mused.
+
+Foot by foot the young man urged his boat onward. Clearly he was not
+of that false chivalrous type that permits a lady to win whether she
+has the ability or not. To a really athletic girl, pitted against a
+man in an equal contest, nothing is more humiliating than to realize
+that her opponent is not putting forth all his powers. There are some
+men who will never try too hard to win from a woman. This stranger was
+evidently not of that type, and Cora valued him accordingly.
+
+"Can you get up any more speed?" asked Belle, anxiously.
+
+"I've got a bit left," said Cora, as she opened the throttle a little
+wider. "And I think I'll need it," she added.
+
+"He certainly is coming on," added Belle in a low voice. "Are we
+getting too near the rocks, Cora?"
+
+"No, it's safe so far. But I think I'll go out a bit. I want to win
+this race."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+MORE SUSPICIONS
+
+
+Cora Kimball well knew the capabilities of the _Chelton_. She had
+steered other motor craft in many races, and was aware, almost to a
+revolution, just how much speed was available in a boat of this kind.
+And while she did not know what the rival boat could do, she was too
+expert at water sports to use up her last reserve of speed.
+
+So, even while she watched the other boat creep up on her, she did not
+open the throttle to its fullest extent, nor did she advance the
+timer, which controlled the spark, to the limit.
+
+"I'm going to be in shape to spurt if I have to," reasoned Cora.
+
+Foot by foot the other boat crept on.
+
+"He's going to win!" exclaimed Bess, in disappointed tones.
+
+"Don't be so sure," laughed Cora. "Remember, we have been in races
+before, and in many a seeming hopeless one we have come out ahead."
+
+"You girls are just--wonderful!" breathed Marita, as she crouched on
+the seat she had taken.
+
+"You don't know us yet," laughed Bess. "Wait until you see some of the
+things Cora can do."
+
+"Don't believe her!" exclaimed Cora, turning for an instant to smile
+at the girl who always seemed to be effacing herself for others. Then
+as she saw the spray coming up against the bows, and dashing over
+Marita, she added:
+
+"Oh, you poor child! Why didn't you say you were getting wet?"
+
+"Oh, I don't mind," was the brave answer.
+
+"But you must," insisted Cora. "Here, put this on," and from a forward
+locker she pulled an oilskin coat, flinging it back to Marita, as at
+that moment the boat yawed when a big wave hit the bows, necessitating
+a firm hand on the wheel.
+
+"Oh, it's getting rough!" exclaimed Lottie, apprehensively.
+
+"Put away your nail-buffer and hang on," advised Bess. "It may be
+rougher before it's calmer."
+
+"I--I wish I hadn't come," mourned Lottie.
+
+"You aren't going to be ill, I hope," said Cora, quickly.
+
+"No, but my dress may be all spotted----"
+
+"Here, take this," offered Marita.
+
+"No, indeed, you keep that," said Cora, quickly. "There are more in
+the lockers. Belle, will you get them out? It is a bit rough out
+here."
+
+They had gotten beyond the protection of the arm of land that enclosed
+the bay, and with a strong tide running there were more waves than
+there had been at first.
+
+But the girls did not mind, save perhaps Lottie, and her chief anxiety
+was for her dress. An oilskin coat, however, averted this danger, and
+she settled back in her place.
+
+Cora looked back at the oncoming boat of the young man. It was within
+ten feet of her now, and as she opened the throttle of the _Chelton_ a
+trifle more, she tried to get a glimpse of the controlling mechanism
+of her rival's craft.
+
+She stood up to do this, and, as she did so there came a slapping wave
+against the bow of her boat. Cora staggered at the wheel, and Lottie
+screamed.
+
+"Be quiet!" commanded Cora. "It's all right."
+
+"But we roll so!"
+
+"There _is_ a bit of a sea on," admitted Cora, calmly. "It will be
+over in a few minutes, though. I'll have to tell him we're close to
+the danger point, and will have to slow down."
+
+Determining to end the race in good style, Cora opened up the throttle
+full, and advanced the spark to the limit. The _Chelton_ responded
+with a sudden burst of speed that carried her some distance ahead of
+the rival craft.
+
+But the young man was evidently not going to take his defeat easily.
+The louder exhaust from his engine told that he, too, had put on more
+power.
+
+But it was not enough, for as Cora raised her hand, in automobile-signal
+fashion, to warn her follower of an impending stop, the end of the
+impromptu race course was reached.
+
+The girls had won.
+
+"What is it?" called the young man as he stood up at his wheel.
+
+"The rocks," answered Cora. "We can't race any more."
+
+"We don't need to," he replied. "You won. I congratulate you!"
+
+His tone was sincere, his manner courteous, but, as Cora looked into
+his boat, when it rushed up alongside her slowed-down craft, she noted
+that his throttle was still partly closed.
+
+Instantly a suspicion came to her.
+
+"He did not try to win!" was the suggestion that flashed to her mind.
+"He didn't try!"
+
+For a moment her brain was in a whirl, and she had an idea that she
+ought to tell her chums what she had in mind. Then she decided to be
+cautious--to wait and watch a little longer. She wanted to find out
+his reason.
+
+Who was this strange young man who seemed so friendly? What did he
+want in Bayhead? Why had he proposed a race? And then, after proposing
+it, why had he not won it when, clearly, he might have done so?
+
+These were the questions that Cora asked herself as she slowed down
+her motor.
+
+She had used up her limit of power in an honest endeavor to win, but
+the young man had not. He had held back purposely.
+
+Why had he done it?
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+ODD TALK
+
+
+"Sorry I couldn't beat you!" called the young man, waving his hand to
+the girls in Cora's boat. "You had more speed than I thought."
+
+"Are you sure it was a fair race?" asked Cora, looking at him sharply.
+Her tone was peculiar.
+
+"A fair race? What do you mean?" he asked, wonderingly. "Do you think
+I should have given myself more of a handicap?"
+
+"Oh, no indeed!" exclaimed Cora, blushing that he should have mistaken
+her meaning. "You were generous--too generous, I think."
+
+"Oh, that's all right. I'm not complaining. Of course it was a fair
+race. The faster boat won."
+
+"I'm glad you think so," spoke Cora, meaningly, as she thought of the
+partly-closed throttle.
+
+"Oh, yes indeed. I'm satisfied!" he exclaimed in generous tones. "But
+is the dangerous place you spoke of near here?"
+
+"Right ahead," answered Cora, pointing to where the water was swirling
+in over some partly-hidden rocks. "Keep well out, and when you round
+the point you'll be at Bayhead."
+
+"I'm greatly obliged to you," was his reply. But Cora did not look at
+him, nor return his bow. She swung her boat around and started back
+for the bungalow. The young man, with a curious glance at her, bent
+over his motor to make some adjustment. In another instant his craft
+shot ahead, seemingly at greater speed than it had made at any time
+during the race.
+
+"I don't think much of him," observed Lottie, as she took a more
+comfortable position on the cushions.
+
+"Why not?" Belle asked.
+
+"Because he didn't even invite us to a tennis game, to say nothing of
+ice cream sodas, and there's a place in Bayhead where they have the
+most delicious chocolate!"
+
+"Lottie!" gasped Marita. "Would you have gone with him?"
+
+"Oh, well," with a shrug of her shoulders, "I don't know as I would,
+only--he might have asked us."
+
+"No, he wouldn't," said Cora, and the manner in which she spoke caused
+her chums to look curiously at her.
+
+"What makes you think so?" inquired Bess, merely for the sake of
+argument. She had stopped eating sweets--for the time being.
+
+"Because he had a special object in view in asking us to race, and
+once that was accomplished he had no further use for us."
+
+"Why, Cora Kimball!" cried Belle. "What makes you say that?"
+
+"Because I think it. You didn't see all that I did."
+
+"What did you see?" asked Bess, eagerly. "Did he have some sort of
+weapon? Or do you think he tried to get us over this way, hoping we
+would be wrecked on the rocks? Maybe he was a wrecker, Cora. I've
+heard that there are some of those terrible people in this section."
+
+"Nonsense!" exclaimed Cora. "I only mean that his boat is a very
+powerful one. He did not 'let her out,' as Jack says, to the limit. He
+could easily have beaten us if he had wanted to."
+
+"The idea!" cried Belle. "I don't like that kind of young man."
+
+"Nor I," agreed Cora. "Not because he refused to win when he could,
+but because of what may be his object. That he had one I'm certain."
+
+The girls turned to look at the other motor boat. It was rounding the
+point to Bayhead now, and seemed to be going at remarkable speed.
+
+"How fast it goes!" exclaimed Lottie.
+
+"Yes, much faster than the _Chelton_," responded Cora. "I told you he
+was holding back."
+
+"What could have been his object?" asked Belle.
+
+And that was a question all the girls asked themselves.
+
+"Well, my nerves are better, anyhow," observed Bess, as she threw back
+the clustering hair from her face so that the wind might caress her
+cheeks, now flushed with excitement.
+
+"That's good," spoke Cora.
+
+"The antidote of the race and the excitement of the mystery, as to why
+the nice young man didn't want to win, are guaranteed to cure nerves
+or money refunded," said Lottie with a laugh. "Where are you going,
+Cora?"
+
+"Back to the bungalow, of course. Mrs. Lewis may be anxious about us.
+It is nearly lunch time, anyhow."
+
+"Then it is time for us to be anxious about ourselves," said Bess.
+"But I don't believe Mrs. Lewis will worry. You know she went away
+right after doing up the breakfast things. She said she was going to
+consult some friends, for those she saw last night could not help her,
+and she may not be back yet. So there's no need to hurry."
+
+"Then I have an idea!" cried Cora. "We have our tea outfit with us,
+and some crackers. Why not go ashore and have a little picnic? It will
+complete the nerve treatment, perhaps," and she smiled at Bess.
+
+"Good!" cried that girl. "It will be just the thing. Are you sure you
+have enough crackers, Cora? If not we could stop at the store on the
+point and get some."
+
+"Oh, there are more than are good for you," was the answer.
+
+Cora changed the course of the boat to send the craft over toward a
+pretty little wooded cove where the girls had often gone ashore for
+luncheon. They always carried in the boat an alcohol stove, with the
+necessary ingredients for tea.
+
+Soon the _Chelton_ was beached at a place where the small waves would
+do her no damage, and the girls were preparing luncheon.
+
+They carried their own fresh water with them, not depending on finding
+a spring. Condensed milk, sugar and some tins of sweet crackers
+completed the meal, which was served on the grass for a table, paper
+napkins adding to the luxury of the occasion.
+
+The picnic place was on a spit of land that jutted out into Crystal
+Bay. It could be approached from either side, and on one side there
+was some dense shrubbery that hid the water from sight.
+
+It was when Cora and her chums were in the midst of their impromptu
+luncheon that they heard a boat grate on the beach that was hidden
+from view by the bushes.
+
+"Someone is coming!" exclaimed Bess.
+
+"Maybe it's the boys," remarked Belle.
+
+"It's about time they followed us," suggested Lottie. "They don't give
+us a moment's peace."
+
+"Do you want it?" asked Cora pointedly, for Lottie had been rather
+taken up with Jack, of late.
+
+"Oh, I don't know," answered the girl. "Of course the boys are nice,
+and----"
+
+"'Handsome is as handsome does,'" quoted Belle. "But that doesn't
+happen to be the boys."
+
+"How do you know?" asked Bess.
+
+"I just had a glimpse of them through the bushes. It's a strange motor
+boat--neither the _Dixie_ nor the _Lassie_."
+
+"Who is in her?" asked Cora.
+
+"I can't make out. Listen!"
+
+She raised her hand for silence, but there was no need. The girls
+ceased chatting at once, and silently followed Cora toward a hedge of
+underbrush, some little distance from where their luncheon was spread.
+
+Then they heard some odd talk--at least it seemed odd until they
+understood the meaning of it.
+
+"So you had a race with them?" one voice asked.
+
+"Yes," replied another, who had just landed on the spit of the land.
+"I raced 'em, but I didn't beat 'em!"
+
+"Couldn't you?"
+
+"Couldn't I? Say, you know what the _Pickerel_ can do when she's
+pushed to it. I held back the throttle."
+
+Cora started. Her suspicions were unexpectedly confirmed.
+
+"You can see them from over here," whispered Belle, pulling Cora's
+sleeve. Cora moved to where an opening in the bushes afforded a
+glimpse of the strangers.
+
+She saw three men, and one of them she knew in an instant to be the
+young chap who had raced with her. His boat, too, was on the beach. It
+was from her that the men had come.
+
+"Well, you know how fast the _Chelton_ can go now, that's sure," spoke
+a voice.
+
+"Yes," answered the young man, "I know. We needn't fear her if it
+comes to a chase. That's what I wanted to make sure of."
+
+"Then all we have to do is to get the rest of the evidence, and the
+property is ours."
+
+"Yes. We can turn the widow and the daughter out, all right, if we get
+the necessary papers. Then we can go ahead and build the dam across
+the brook."
+
+"That's going to arouse a lot of opposition!" exclaimed the third
+member of the trio. "It will spoil the park."
+
+"Well, we can't help it. We need the dam for power for our factory,
+and the people don't really need the park. We'll do it."
+
+"You mean we'll make Shane do it!" exclaimed the young man who had
+raced with Cora.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+THE NIGHT PLOT
+
+
+The girls looked at one another with startled glances. Cora bent
+forward eagerly in order to better hear what else was said. She had no
+compunctions as to eavesdropping, feeling that it was justified under
+the circumstances.
+
+"They must mean Denny Shane, the old fisherman," whispered Bess.
+
+"Hush!" cautioned Cora. Not only did she want to listen, but she was
+fearful lest the men on the other side of the hedge discover the
+presence of herself and her chums.
+
+"Yes," resumed the speaker, "we must make old Shane do it. Once we get
+him in the proper frame of mind he'll testify just as we want him to.
+And we need some testimony to offset that of the widow and her girl.
+Otherwise we'll never get the property without a long delay."
+
+"But how can we get Shane in the proper frame of mind to testify as we
+want him to?" asked another of the trio.
+
+"Leave that to me," answered the one who had been in the fast motor
+boat. And Cora started as she noted the difference in his tone now. It
+was hard and cruel, while, in speaking to her, his accents had been
+those of a cultured gentleman, used to polite society. There was a
+metallic ring to his voice now that boded no good to Denny Shane.
+
+"Yes, I guess we'll leave it to you, Bruce," said a voice, "though
+maybe Kelly could put it over him with a bit of blarney. You know
+Shane is Irish."
+
+"Hush! No names, and not so loud!" cautioned the one who had been
+addressed as Bruce.
+
+"Who'd be listening?" asked the other.
+
+"You never can tell, Moran," was the retort.
+
+"There you go!" exclaimed Bruce, fretfully, and the girls knew it must
+have been the one called Kelly who spoke that time.
+
+There was a movement on the other side of the bush, and Cora, with a
+sudden motion, crouched down, signalling the others to do the same. It
+was only just in time, too. Fortunately for the girls they were in a
+sort of depression, and by crouching down they got out of sight, as
+one of the men came forward to peer through the underbrush. He saw
+nothing, as was evidenced by his report a moment later.
+
+"There's not a soul here," he said. "There's been some picnic party
+around, but they've gone. It's as deserted as a graveyard."
+
+"I'm glad we came away from our luncheon," whispered Cora, as the men
+resumed their talk. The wind sprang up, for a moment, and carried
+their tones away from the girls, so that only an indistinct murmur
+could be heard. Then there came clear talk again.
+
+"Well, what's the program, then?" asked one whom the girls could tell
+was Moran. He was the same man they had seen before in the drug store.
+
+"Get at Shane first of all," decided Kelly. "I'm willing to let Bruce
+do it, even if I am Irish."
+
+"We'll all have to call on him," said Bruce, grimly, "but only one
+need actually do the business. We've got to deal with him in two ways.
+We've got to make him tell what we want brought out in court, and
+we've got to scare him so that he won't tell what we don't want known.
+And there are two ways of doing that."
+
+"How?" asked Kelly.
+
+"First we can offer him a reward. It will be worth it, even if we have
+to pay something to have him testify as we wish. The committee allowed
+us a certain sum for--well, let us say for witness fees. I'd rather
+pay him a hundred dollars and have it all over with. It's better to
+have a friend than an enemy, and you never can tell which way a thing
+like this is going to swing."
+
+"Sposin' he won't take the cash?" asked Moran.
+
+"Then I have another plan," and Bruce laughed bitterly. "I guess I
+don't need to say what it is."
+
+"I'm wise," remarked Kelly. "Only--not too rough, you understand. He's
+a feeble old man."
+
+"No rougher than's necessary," agreed Bruce.
+
+Cora clasped her hands, and looked with fear in her eyes at her chums.
+
+"We----we mustn't let them harm dear old Denny!" whispered Belle,
+shivering with nervousness.
+
+"Hush!" cautioned Cora. "Don't talk--think!"
+
+There was a movement on the other side of the screen of bushes, as
+indicating that the men were about to leave.
+
+"Well, we'll let it go until to-night then," said Kelly.
+
+"Until to-night," agreed Bruce. "And we know, in case of a slip-up,
+that there's no motor boat around here that can catch us when we make
+our get-away."
+
+"There's the _Dixie_," suggested Moran.
+
+"She's out of commission, I heard," responded Bruce. "And she won't be
+in shape for a day or so. The _Chelton_--well, I gave her a try-out a
+while ago, and I know what she can do."
+
+"Oh, do you?" thought Cora. "Perhaps you don't."
+
+"I have to laugh when I think how I took those girls in," went on
+Bruce. "I pretending that I was a stranger in these waters, and they
+kindly offering to pilot me. I guess they took me for some society
+swell of Bayhead."
+
+"The mean thing!" hissed Lottie.
+
+"Well, you can do the society act when you have to," said Kelly. "Only
+I guess we won't need that now. Shane doesn't move in society circles.
+How'd the game with the widow's daughter work out?"
+
+"It didn't work at all. 'Confidence Kate' didn't gain her confidence.
+That's why I'm switching to Shane," answered Bruce. "But we'd better
+be going. There's lots to be done."
+
+Cora and the motor girls listened in silence as the men crunched their
+way down the beach to their boat.
+
+A little later they were chugging away in the speedy _Pickerel_.
+
+"Isn't that just awful!" gasped Belle.
+
+"It's a villainous plot!" exclaimed Bess. "Oh, I'm so nervous! I know
+I'm going to cry--or laugh--or do both."
+
+"Bess Robinson, if you do anything foolish, or faint, you shan't do a
+thing toward helping to save Denny Shane!" exclaimed Cora, vigorously.
+"And I know you do want to help him."
+
+"I certainly do. I'll behave. Oh, let me have a cup of tea."
+
+"I think we'll all be better for it," assented Cora. "Come, girls,
+let's eat and then we'll get back. We, too, have a great deal to do."
+
+"Do you mean that you girls are going to try to----to outwit those
+desperate men?" asked Marita, her eyes opened wide.
+
+"We certainly do mean to!" insisted Cora. "Who else would do it?"
+
+"Why, the police."
+
+"There are only constables in a place like this. We can do better than
+they--especially with the boys to help."
+
+"Oh, of course, the boys!" agreed Marita, and she seemed relieved.
+
+"I must say it was most providential that we heard what they said,"
+spoke Lottie, looking to see if there were any grass stains on her
+dress.
+
+"Indeed it was," assented Cora.
+
+It was rather an excited little luncheon, but the hot tea did them all
+good, and then, rapidly talking over what they had just gone through,
+and making all sorts of plans to outwit the schemers, the girls got
+into their boat again, and headed for the bungalow.
+
+"Of course we must warn Denny at once," said Cora, and to this the
+girls agreed. "Then we'll tell the boys, and see what they suggest.
+But I almost know what Jack will say!"
+
+"What?" asked Lottie. She was very much interested in Jack.
+
+"Oh, he'll want to hide and capture the villains 'red-handed,' as he
+calls it."
+
+"And I don't know but what that's as good a plan as any," remarked
+Belle. "I'd like to see them do it!"
+
+Cora and her chums found Mrs. Lewis rather worried over their absence
+from the bungalow. She had returned, unsuccessful, from seeing her
+friends. Freda was recovering from the shock and fright of the day
+before.
+
+"Where have you been?" Mrs. Lewis asked Cora.
+
+"Oh, just off on a little picnic," was the answer, and Cora motioned
+to her chums to say nothing of what they had heard. They had agreed
+that it would be better for the widow not to know, at least for the
+present.
+
+"Dinner will be ready soon," suggested Mrs. Lewis.
+
+"We'll have it a little late to-day," replied Cora. "We have had some
+tea, and I want to go over and see Jack. They haven't been around here
+since we left; have they?"
+
+"Oh, yes," answered Freda. "They were all here, wanting to know where
+you'd gone; but of course I couldn't say. Then they went out in your
+brother's boat, but they didn't get far before they had a breakdown."
+
+"It's the _Lassie_'s day off again," laughed Belle.
+
+"Why didn't they take the _Dixie_?" asked Bess.
+
+"Something is the matter with her, too," replied Freda.
+
+Cora and her chums exchanged meaning glances. The talk of the men was
+confirmed. Evidently they had their own way of getting information.
+
+"Well, we'll go over to Camp Couldn't," suggested Cora, after a pause.
+"They're probably there now."
+
+They found the boys grouped about, in and out of the tent.
+
+"Here they come!"
+
+"Where have you been, girls?"
+
+"We've been lonesome for you!"
+
+"How bright the day seems now, to what it was before!"
+
+Thus chanted Jack, Walter, Ed and Dray Ward, as they saw the advancing
+girls.
+
+"Oh, stop that nonsense, Jack!" exclaimed Cora, as her brother waltzed
+forward to do a two-step on the moss with timid Marita.
+
+"Why, what is wrong?"
+
+"Lots!" she exclaimed, and her manner must have impressed Jack, for he
+grew grave at once.
+
+"Has anything more happened since last night?" he asked.
+
+"There has. We've discovered the meanest plot to harm Denny Shane.
+Listen."
+
+"We list!" recited Walter, but Cora quieted him with a look.
+
+Then began the telling of the overheard conversation.
+
+"Well, what do you know about that?"
+
+"The nerve of that chap wanting a race!"
+
+"We'll race _him_, all right!"
+
+"And so they're going to do up old Denny, eh?"
+
+"Well, I guess we'll have a hand in that!"
+
+These were the comments of Jack and his chums.
+
+"Now don't do anything rash," begged Cora.
+
+"We've got to do _something_," insisted Jack.
+
+After some consultation it was agreed that the boys should go over and
+have a talk with the fisherman, and then, among themselves, they would
+decide on what was best to be done.
+
+Meanwhile the girls would go back to the bungalow, there to await the
+report of the boys. Nothing would be said to Mrs. Lewis, for she had
+had alarm enough.
+
+It was anxious waiting for the girls, and they were so nervous that
+they did not enjoy the dinner Mrs. Lewis had prepared, at which lack
+of appetite she wondered much. But she ascribed their distraction, and
+their rather strange comments, to the alarm of the day before.
+
+Finally the _Lassie_, which had somehow been induced to "mote," was
+descried coming across the bay from the direction of the old
+fisherman's cabin.
+
+"Come on, girls!" called Cora as she saw the boys. "We'll go down and
+meet them." She did not want Mrs. Lewis to hear the talk.
+
+"Well, Jack?" asked Cora, as the boat came in.
+
+"Not well--bad," he said. "Denny wasn't at home, and no one knew where
+he had gone. So we left a note for him, and we'll be on hand
+to-night."
+
+"What about us?" asked Bess.
+
+"You'd better stay here," said Jack. "No telling what sort of a row we
+may run into, and you're better at home."
+
+"I think so, too," agreed Cora, but the look she gave her chums had
+more meaning in it than the mere words indicated. Bess and the others
+understood.
+
+"And now," went on Jack, "we'll proceed to find out why the _Dixie_
+won't mote. We want her in shape to-night."
+
+"That's right," assented Dray. "I think it's the carbureter. I'll get
+a man from the garage to look it over."
+
+"We'll want a fast boat if the one those fellows have is as speedy as
+you girls say," remarked Walter.
+
+"Couldn't we take the _Chelton_?" asked Ed.
+
+"The _Pickerel_ beat us to-day," said Cora. "Besides, it might be good
+to have her in reserve. Try and have the _Dixie_ fixed up."
+
+"We will!" promised her owner.
+
+The remainder of the day seemed like a dream to the girls. Never had
+time passed so slowly. They were waiting for what the night might
+bring.
+
+The boys made several other trips to the fisherman's cabin, going
+afoot through the woods, as the _Lassie_ had again gone on a strike,
+and a man from the garage was working over the _Dixie_.
+
+The fisherman's cabin could be reached in two ways, but the water
+route was preferred by the young people, even though it was longer.
+
+The boys could not find Denny at home, however, and planned to be at
+his cabin just at dusk, and to remain there until something happened.
+
+"So we'll be sure to be there when the men arrive," said Jack.
+
+Finally twilight came, and with the falling of night the repairs to
+the _Dixie_ were completed. She seemed to be running better than in
+some time.
+
+"Well, here we go!" remarked Walter, as the boys took their places in
+the swift craft. "We'll let you girls know what happens--as soon as it
+happens."
+
+"You'd better!" laughed Cora. "We'll be very anxious."
+
+She and her chums had come down to the dock to see the boys leave on
+their trip to save Denny from an unknown danger.
+
+Then came more anxious waiting.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+THE BREAKDOWN
+
+
+"Well, he hasn't come back yet."
+
+"No. It's sort of queer, too. I wonder where he can be keeping
+himself, all day?"
+
+"Maybe those fellows have got to him after all."
+
+Jack Kimball and his chums, landing at the fisherman's dock from the
+_Dixie_, thus commented when they paid another visit to Denny's cabin,
+and found him still absent.
+
+"No, I don't imagine anything has happened," said Jack. "You know he
+often goes off and stays a long time in his boat. He's got a crazy
+sort of motor in it, that runs about as often as the one does in the
+_Lassie_. He may be stuck somewhere."
+
+"Or else waiting the turn of the tide," suggested Ed.
+
+"That's right," chimed in Dray. "I've heard him say that certain fish
+won't bite when the tide's running out, and that you can catch others
+only when it's coming in. Maybe he is hanging around for that."
+
+"Then he ought to be back soon," declared Jack, "for the tide turned a
+half-hour ago."
+
+"If he's far out in the bay it will take him a long while to come in.
+His boat doesn't make very good time," observed Walter.
+
+The boys walked around the cabin. It was closed and locked, and the
+warning note they had left for the fisherman was still pinned to the
+door.
+
+"Which shows that those men haven't been here," said Jack. "That makes
+me fear that they may have gotten to him before us."
+
+"Why so?" asked Ed.
+
+"Well, it's evident that the men haven't been here since the girls
+gave us the alarm. If they had they'd have torn up that note. Then,
+too, you'd think, if they were going to try to make Denny do what they
+wanted in the way of giving testimony, they'd be getting at it. He
+goes to bed early, as everybody around here knows, and locks up. If
+those fellows wanted to get at him without breaking in they'd come
+early. All of which makes me think that they may already have had a
+serious interview with him."
+
+"I hope not," observed Walter. "I'm more inclined to believe that he's
+out on the bay somewhere. If he is he's all right."
+
+"Say, fellows, I've got an idea!" cried Jack.
+
+"Hold fast to it--they're scarce," remarked Ed.
+
+"No, but seriously. Suppose we cruise about a bit. We needn't go far
+from the shore, and we can have an eye on the cabin. In case Denny is
+out on the water we may pick him up. Then we could tell him what was
+on, and warn him. We could do it even better than on shore here, for
+there's no telling but what some of those fellows may be in hiding
+around here," and Jack cast a look about. It was dark, but a full moon
+was coming up to make a light that revealed most objects.
+
+"Then if there is a possibility that someone may be in ambush here,"
+said Walter, "we'd better keep a bit more mum. But I think Jack's plan
+is a good one. Let's cruise about a bit, but keep within sight of the
+cabin."
+
+No one had any objections so, after making a casual search about the
+cabin, and not finding anyone in hiding, the boys again got aboard the
+_Dixie_ and started to cruise on the bay, that was now sparkling in
+the moonlight.
+
+Jack and his chums kept a careful watch for Denny Shane's boat. There
+were several motor craft out, for the night was one that invited trips
+on the water--calm and still, with a gentle breeze that had in it the
+tang of salt mingled with the sweet odors of Summer.
+
+"I feel just like singing," remarked Ed, after a pause during which
+the _Dixie_ cruised about, not too far from the cabin.
+
+"Have some regard for our feelings," begged Jack. "Remember that we
+are under a great strain."
+
+"And Ed would be, too, if he sang," said Walter. "At least I would
+feel constrained to remonstrate with him."
+
+"Huh! Think no one can sing but yourself!" retorted Ed.
+
+"Moonlight always did have a queer effect on him," remarked Jack.
+
+Round about they cruised, and they were thinking of returning to make
+sure that Denny had not reached his cabin by some other route, unseen
+by them, when the motor of the _Dixie_ gave a combined cough, groan
+and sneeze, and stopped short.
+
+"There she goes!" exclaimed Ed.
+
+"You mean there she _doesn't_ go!" corrected Walter.
+
+"Get the talcum powder," suggested Jack.
+
+"I'm sure Dray didn't use the tooth brush on her before we came out,"
+spoke Jack, accusingly.
+
+The boys had a way of doing the most absurd things, from a mechanical
+standpoint, whenever their motors refused to mote. They would dust
+talcum powder on the cylinder tops, or tie a piece of baby-blue ribbon
+on the pet-cock when they had exhausted every other means of making a
+rebellious motor operate.
+
+And the odd part of it was that, often, when they had done these
+seemingly silly things, the boat would start. So they were rather
+superstitious about it, and they did carry a tin of talcum powder with
+them, much to the amusement of the girls.
+
+In turn the usual sources of trouble were looked for and eliminated
+one after the other.
+
+No wires seemed to have broken, the current was good, the vibrator
+buzzed when the contact was made and there was plenty of gasoline in
+the tank.
+
+"Put in a new spark plug," suggested Jack.
+
+"New ones went in to-day," answered Dray. "They can't have sooted
+already. It isn't there."
+
+"Give her a little more air," proposed Walter. "I think she's getting
+too rich a gasoline mixture."
+
+"I'm not going to touch the carbureter!" declared the young owner of
+the _Dixie_. "It was trouble enough to get her fixed before. Hand me
+that talcum." Gravely he dusted some on the pump rod.
+
+Then another attempt was made to start the motor, but it only sighed
+dismally, and refused to do its duty.
+
+"I say!" cried Jack, looking up from where he had been examining the
+carbureter with an electrical pocket flash, "we're drifting out to
+sea!"
+
+"So we are!" agreed Ed. "Say, can't you get her going?"
+
+"Can't seem to," replied Drayton. "I'll sell this boat and get another
+as soon as I can. She's a nuisance!"
+
+"Well, we sure are broken down," sighed Jack, "and how we are going to
+get back to the cabin is more than I can figure out."
+
+"Let's whistle for help," suggested Walter.
+
+"Look!" exclaimed Jack, pointing in the direction of shore. "There's a
+light in Denny's cabin!"
+
+They all looked, and saw a flickering gleam of fire near the shack
+that had been deserted all day.
+
+"Something's doing!" cried Ed. "And we're stuck out here!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+AT THE CABIN
+
+
+"Girls," declared Cora Kimball, "I can't stand it any longer! I've got
+to do something--or have nervous prostration."
+
+"And that's just the way I feel!" said Bess. "Waiting is the most
+nervous thing in the world."
+
+"Have another chocolate," suggested Lottie, helping herself from the
+box on a table near her.
+
+"How dare you suggest such a thing?" demanded Bess. "As if I wasn't
+trying to do all I could to reduce."
+
+"Oh, well, I was thinking of your nerves," observed Lottie.
+
+"But what is it you want to do, Cora, dear?" asked Marita.
+
+"I want to go to Denny's cabin, and see what has happened," was the
+answer.
+
+"What!" cried Belle, with an exclamation of surprise and alarm. "Tramp
+through the woods at this hour of night?"
+
+"It isn't any such great, or late, hour of night," replied Cora,
+calmly, "and the woods are not dark. There's a lovely moon. But I
+don't propose to go through the woods. What is the _Chelton_ for if we
+can't use her?"
+
+"Cora Kimball, do you mean to say that you'd go out on the bay, and
+over to Denny's cabin, after dark, with the prospect that some
+desperate men are going to attack him?" asked Bess.
+
+"The boys are going to be there," answered Cora, still refusing to
+become excited. "Besides, they may need our help. We could take a
+prisoner or two in our boat."
+
+There was a chorus of screams.
+
+"Cora Kimball--how dare you?" demanded Belle.
+
+"Oh, I meant if he was tied hand and foot," went on the leader of the
+motor girls. "Villains are always tied hand and foot, you know. They
+can't move. They're gagged, too. I think I should insist on having our
+villain gagged. It might happen to be that young man who raced with us
+to-day, and he might get sarcastic if he could talk. Yes, I think he
+must be gagged."
+
+"Oh, Cora, you're hopeless," sighed Lottie. "What would my mother say
+if she could see me now."
+
+"She'd tell you to stop eating chocolates and come with me," returned
+Cora, firmly. "I'm going to the cabin."
+
+"I--I'll go with you," volunteered Marita, and then she blushed at the
+attention she attracted.
+
+"Well, if Marita isn't afraid to go, I'm not," announced Lottie, with
+spirit. "Come on, Cora."
+
+"Oh!" gasped Bess.
+
+"Oh, dear!" echoed Belle. "Do we have to stay here all alone?"
+
+"Either that, or come with us," invited Cora. "I'm going over to the
+cabin in our boat."
+
+There was a step at the door of the living room, and Mrs. Lewis looked
+in.
+
+"Did I hear you girls say you were going out?" she inquired.
+
+"Just for a little trip on the water," replied Cora, signing to her
+chums to keep silent. "It is so lovely with the moon, and we won't go
+far."
+
+It was not a great way to Denny's cabin.
+
+"Well, don't be gone too long," cautioned the widow. "You must
+remember that I am, in a way, responsible for you girls."
+
+"Oh, we'll be careful," Cora promised. "We'd take Freda with us, but
+perhaps she had better stay with you."
+
+"Yes, I think so. Besides, she is so nervous after what nearly
+happened last night, that I'd rather she wouldn't go out. Oh, if only
+things were settled! If only we were sure we could get that property
+back, and not have to worry about it being taken away from us!"
+
+"Have they been annoying you of late?" asked Cora, thinking perhaps
+there had been some developments of which she was unaware.
+
+"No, nothing special, since that horrid woman. But it is a constant
+worry to me."
+
+"It must be," returned Cora, sympathetically. "Well, we will hope for
+the best."
+
+Cora did not say so--even to her chums, but she had great hopes that
+something might develop from the events of this night. If the
+unscrupulous men could only be caught in some wrong-doing a hold might
+be obtained over them that would enable them to be defeated in court.
+Thus their claim to the property--which claim Cora felt sure was a
+false one--might be disproved.
+
+That there were papers in existence which would show the widow and her
+daughter to be the rightful owners Cora did not doubt. Freda's
+grandfather, from all accounts, was a careful business man, if
+eccentric in some ways. He would not have come into possession of
+property without having the papers to prove his claim. And he was not
+a man to put them in some safe deposit vault and leave no memorandum
+as to finding the key.
+
+Perhaps they were concealed in some nook or cranny in the widow's
+home. Cora made up her mind to have a search made after this night was
+over.
+
+Then, too, Denny might be able to come upon them. Eccentric in some
+ways, as Freda's grandfather had been, he might have hidden the papers
+in Denny's cabin.
+
+That was a new thought. Perhaps the scheming men knew this, and that
+is why they wanted to attack the old fisherman.
+
+"We simply must go to his cabin," decided Cora, "and find out what has
+happened. I can't wait any longer."
+
+Wraps were quickly donned, and down to the dock went the girls. The
+_Chelton_ was in running order, and soon they were out on the moonlit
+waters of the bay.
+
+"There's a light in his cabin," said Cora, as they came out from
+behind a point, and had a view of the little cove where nestled
+Denny's cottage.
+
+"I hope the boys are there," remarked Bess, "and that they have the
+villains all tied up and ready for delivery."
+
+"Ugh!" exclaimed Belle. "If they have I wish they'd send them by
+parcel post instead of asking us to take charge of them."
+
+"They'll be harmless," guaranteed Cora. "Besides, the _Dixie_ can't
+hold more than the boys; our boat is larger."
+
+"We could let the boys run this one, after the men are tied in her,"
+suggested Lottie, "and we could come home in the _Dixie_."
+
+"Never!" exclaimed Cora. "You can't rely on her. I'll stick to the
+_Chelton_."
+
+But if the girls had only known that, at that moment, far out on
+Crystal Bay, was the ill-fated _Dixie_, drifting to sea, while the
+boys tooted hopelessly for aid on the compressed air whistles!
+
+The _Chelton_ made a quick and uneventful trip to the fisherman's
+cabin. From it a light peacefully glowed.
+
+"There's no one here," announced Bess. "Not even the boys."
+
+"Be careful," warned Cora. "It may be a trap. Let us go up softly."
+
+"But what about those men?" asked Belle. "Maybe they have taken Denny
+away with them, and the boys, too."
+
+"Don't be silly," advised Cora. "Let's go up and look in."
+
+As they peered in the cabin window they saw Denny seated in an easy
+chair. He was alone, and across his knees was the red oar of which he
+seemed so fond.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+UNEXPECTED HELP
+
+
+"Well, we certainly are up against it--good and proper!" exclaimed
+Jack. "And I'm glad the girls aren't along!"
+
+"Why?" asked Walter, leaning back against the gunwale to rest after
+laboring over the refractory engine of the _Dixie_.
+
+"Because they can't call me down for my slang. And believe muh--as the
+telephone girls say--I can use slang now and then--some!"
+
+"It is aggravating; isn't it?" asked Dray.
+
+"Aggravating, my dear chap, is hardly the word," drawled Ed. "It's
+humiliating!"
+
+He brought that out in such a droll way that the others laughed.
+
+For the engine of the motor boat still refused to be coaxed into
+going. They were being carried out toward the mouth of the bay on the
+outgoing tide, which was now running strongly. Soon they would be out
+to sea, and though the moon still shone brightly there was a haze in
+the sky that betokened a coming storm.
+
+But it was not so much the fact of the stalled engine, nor that they
+were being carried out to sea, and were in some danger, that worried
+the boys.
+
+"We're falling down on what we said we'd do," declared Jack. "We
+promised the girls that we'd save Denny from those fellows, and we
+can't do it. They may be at him now."
+
+"We certainly saw a light at his cabin," ventured Ed.
+
+"But we can't see it now," added Jack, straining his eyes for a
+glimpse of the spot where the fisherman's shack stood.
+
+"Well, there's no use worrying over what can't be helped," observed
+Walter, philosophically. "We're here and not there. Denny will have to
+look out for himself--I guess he's able."
+
+"That isn't the point," rejoined Jack. "There we took the case out of
+the girls' hands, so to speak. We said we were the big noise, and that
+we'd look after things. Then we go and get stuck miles from shore
+where we can't do a thing. They'll laugh at us when we do get back, if
+they don't do any worse."
+
+"But we didn't know we were going to get stuck when we came out for a
+little run, after we found Denny wasn't home," said Dray.
+
+"That's no excuse," returned Jack. "It's like a child breaking the
+looking glass and then saying he didn't mean to. Well, I know one
+thing Cora will say when we get back--if we ever do--and own up that
+we weren't on hand when the play came off."
+
+"What will she say?" asked Dray. He was not well acquainted with the
+doings and sayings of the motor girls, as yet.
+
+"She'll say that she and Bess and Belle and the rest of them could
+have done better themselves, if we'd left it to them. And I guess
+she'd be more than half right," sighed Jack.
+
+"Well, there's no use crying over a bridge before you come to it,"
+observed Dray. "Let's have another go at that engine."
+
+They began their labors all over again. They even took out the spark
+plugs, though they had been new that afternoon.
+
+Nothing could be found wrong there. The feed pipe from the gasoline
+tank was examined, but it seemed to provide a good flow. The timer was
+adjusted and readjusted. The coil was looked to. Everything, in short,
+that the boys could think of, or that previous trouble had taught them
+to look for, was tried, and all with no effect.
+
+They even did more absurd things, such as the talcum powder act, while
+Jack spouted some Latin verses at the forward cylinder. But the motor
+refused to mote.
+
+"And, all the while, we're going out to sea," remarked Walter.
+
+"Out to sea to see what we can see," said Jack.
+
+"Oh, hush-a-bye-baby on the jokes," exclaimed Dray, a bit petulantly.
+"If ever I buy a speed boat again you'll know it! A good old-fashioned
+make-and-break motor for mine after this--one you can depend on."
+
+"Haven't you an oar or a paddle?" asked Ed.
+
+"Not a thing that we could use to work against the tide," answered
+Dray, gloomily. "There's a boat hook, but that isn't any better than a
+straw. I left the oars out after the man got through fixing the motor
+to-day. He said I wouldn't need them."
+
+"The regard that individual has for the truth is something scandalous!"
+said Walter, grimly. "I shall acquaint him with the fact on my return."
+
+"When we _do_ return," returned Jack, gloomily.
+
+"Oh, we're bound to be picked up--sooner or later," declared Walter.
+
+"Mostly later," went on Jack, more gloomily.
+
+"Well, here goes for another try," said Dray.
+
+"That's right. Maybe the machine has just been giving us a try-out,"
+suggested Ed. "We certainly have said mean things about you, old Mote!"
+he went on sarcastically. "Kindly forgive us and go. 'See by moonlight
+'tis 'most midnight, time boat and us were home hour-and-a-half ago,'"
+he said, quoting from the old nursery rhyme.
+
+But the motor only coughed and sighed and wheezed like an old man with
+the asthma, and the boat still drifted.
+
+They called, they blew on the compressed air whistle until all the
+reserve supply of oxygen was exhausted from the tank, and then they
+had to resort to their voices again.
+
+"Well, there's one thing left," answered Jack, tragically.
+
+"What is it?" begged Ed.
+
+"We can swim for it. That's better than being carried out to sea.
+Let's swim before it is too late."
+
+"That's what I say!" exclaimed Dray. "Let the _Dixie_ go--she's no
+good!"
+
+The others were considering Jack's startling proposal, when Ed looked
+up, and exclaimed:
+
+"Hark! Don't you hear something?"
+
+The others listened. Faintly from the direction of the sea came a
+sound--unmistakable.
+
+"A boat!" cried Jack. "I'll not take off my coat yet."
+
+"A motor boat, too," added Ed.
+
+"And coming this way," went on Walter.
+
+"Come on, fellows, give 'em a hail!" suggested Dray.
+
+Up to now, with all their shouting and blowing of the whistle, they
+had neither seen nor heard of a craft. They had drifted too far out.
+If any had come within hearing distance the occupants had paid no heed
+to the calls for help. Now there was one approaching, that was
+evident.
+
+"All together, now!" called Jack, and they united their voices in a
+shout.
+
+"There are her lights!" called Dray.
+
+"Yes, and she's heading right over here," agreed Ed.
+
+A little later the red and green lights came nearer.
+
+Then, as the craft surged up to the stalled Dixie, and came to a stop,
+the engine still running with the clutch thrown out, a voice asked:
+
+"Do you fellows want a tow?"
+
+"Do we?" came in a chorus. "We don't want anything any more."
+
+"Fling us your rope," was the curt order.
+
+Unexpected help had arrived. But it was too late.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+DENNY'S SOLILOQUY
+
+
+"What shall we do?" asked Cora, in a whisper.
+
+"It _is_ rather a puzzle," admitted Bess.
+
+The motor girls were standing outside Denny Shane's cabin, looking in
+on him as he sat at his ease, with the red oar over his knees.
+
+"He doesn't seem to be in any danger," went on Cora.
+
+"No, those men either haven't harmed him, or they haven't arrived
+yet," returned Belle.
+
+"Oh, but suppose they should come while we are here?" suggested
+Marita, shrinking against Cora.
+
+"Don't go to supposing such uncanny things," objected Cora, as she put
+her arm about the other. "Are you afraid?"
+
+"I don't know," was the hesitating answer. "I suppose one ought to be
+afraid, coming at night to a cabin where some horrible men are
+expected. And yet, somehow, I don't seem to be," replied Marita. "I
+know I would have been a few months ago, but since I have met you
+girls, and seen the things you do, why it's queer, but really I--I
+rather like it!" and she laughed.
+
+"See what your influence has done," whispered Cora.
+
+They had all spoken in low tones, for Denny was sometimes sharp of
+hearing, and they did not want to arouse him.
+
+The girls were really puzzled, not only at the peaceful surroundings
+at Denny's cabin, but at the absence of the boys. Of course they could
+not know that Jack and the others had been there and gone, not finding
+Denny at home. Nor did they know anything of the note left pinned to
+the door.
+
+"Do you suppose it could all be over?" asked Lottie.
+
+"All over? What do you mean?" asked Cora.
+
+"I mean could the men have been here, and been captured by the boys
+and taken to jail?"
+
+"Oh, it's possible, but not very probable," returned Cora. "They
+surely would have managed to get some word to us if anything like that
+had happened."
+
+"But what are we going to do?" asked Bess. "We ought not to stay
+here."
+
+"No, I suppose not," admitted Cora, slowly. "It might be a good thing,
+though, just to stop and speak to Denny. Then we'd know, soon enough,
+what had happened. Suppose we do that?"
+
+The others agreed. They had stepped away from the window for a moment,
+but now Cora walked toward it again. Denny was still holding the oar,
+but he must have gotten up, for the window was now partly open, and it
+had not been so at first.
+
+Denny was talking to himself. He was indulging in a soliloquy,
+apparently addressing himself to the oar.
+
+"If you could only talk," he said, "if you could only talk, what a
+tale you could tell. Yes, indeed!" and he sighed. "A tale of the sea
+and the land--of calm and storms."
+
+"He's very poetical; isn't he?" whispered Bess.
+
+"Hush!" cautioned Cora. "Listen to what he says."
+
+Denny was evidently in a talking mood, and was living the past over
+again.
+
+"If only Grandfather Lewis were here, what tales he could tell, too,"
+Denny went on. "And there's one tale I'd be glad to listen to. He
+could tell where the land papers were. If only I could find 'em
+everything would be all right, and the factory men--ha! we could laugh
+in our sleeves at 'em. Laugh in our sleeves! Ha! Ha! No, we could
+laugh in their faces, so we could; couldn't we?"
+
+He held up the oar, speaking to it as one might to a favorite dog.
+
+Denny swung it above his head, as though testing its weight as a club.
+
+"'Twas so he swung it the night of the storm--the night he saved my
+life!" murmured Denny. "My, what a night that was! What a night!"
+
+He seemed lost in recollection for a moment, and then resumed his
+self-communion.
+
+"'Twas so he held it--held it out to me in the smother of foam and
+spray when I was goin' under. And what was it he said?
+
+"'Grab holt!' says he. 'Grab holt and I'll pull you in. Don't be
+afraid, the oar is strong!' And so it is--a grand, strong oar. As
+strong as old Len Lewis himself. What a grand old man he was! A fine
+old man!
+
+"But he's gone, and we all have to go. I'll have to go with the rest,
+I suppose. But before I do go I wish I could find them land papers.
+What in the world did Grandfather Lewis do with 'em anyhow?
+
+"They must be around here. He ought to have kept 'em in the bank, or
+in a strong box; but he was always like that. Hidin' his things away
+in curious places. He even did it with his tobaccy. A strange man!
+
+"But I'll wager the papers aren't far from the land. That would be his
+way--to keep the papers near the land. 'A place for everything and
+everything in its place,' he used to say. What more natural than that
+he'd have the papers near the land?
+
+"I wonder, though, did he stick 'em anywhere around me cabin? He come
+over here often enough to sit and chat. Ah, many's the good old talk
+we used to have--a talk of the old days. Often I'd come in from me
+boat, and find him here. He might have brought the papers an' hid 'em
+here when I was out. I wonder if he did?"
+
+Denny looked around his simple cabin. He laid the oar down gently, as
+a thing revered. He walked about the room, looking in various places.
+
+"No, the papers wouldn't be here," he mused. "I'd have found them
+before this. And those fellows, who came and upset my place when I
+wasn't home--they'd have found 'em if they was here. I wonder what
+Grandfather Lewis did with them papers?"
+
+It was a puzzle that others than Denny Shane would have given much to
+solve.
+
+Cora and her chums looked at one another in the moonlight outside
+Denny's cabin. His talk had revealed something to them, but there was
+no clue to the missing papers which could prove the title of Mrs.
+Lewis to the valuable land.
+
+"Well, there's one thing sure, Denny hasn't been attacked as yet,"
+whispered Bess. "And the boys haven't been here to warn him, or he'd
+show some signs of it."
+
+"I think you're right," agreed Cora. "What had we better do? Tell him
+ourselves?"
+
+"That's what I say--let's warn him," suggested Belle.
+
+The girls started for the cabin door, but paused midway as they heard
+the approach of a motor boat near the fisherman's little dock.
+
+"Wait," suggested Cora. "That may be the boys now."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+THE PLOTTERS ARRIVE
+
+
+"What's the trouble?" asked one of the four men in the boat that had
+come to the rescue of Jack and his chums. "Engine broken, or are you
+out of gasoline?"
+
+"We've got gas, but there may be water in it," replied Dray. "I
+watched the fellow when he filled the tank, though, and he used the
+chamois all right."
+
+"You can't always go by that," said another of the accommodating
+strangers. "There's an awful sight of poor gasoline being palmed off
+nowadays. Have you got a long rope?"
+
+"We sure have," answered Jack. "It's mighty good of you to stop and
+give us a tow."
+
+"That's all right," laughed one of the men. "We never can tell when we
+might want a helping hand ourselves. Pass us the rope."
+
+It was flung over. The two boats were now bobbing side by side, for
+they were well out in the bay, and the sea was quite choppy. The tide
+was running out, and help had come to the boys not any too soon.
+
+The rope, passing from the bow of the _Dixie_, where it was made fast
+to a ring bolt in the deck, was caught on to a cleat in the stern of
+the other boat.
+
+"You'll look after the steering; will you?" asked one of the men.
+
+"Surely," answered Dray.
+
+"Because there's nothing harder than towing a boat that yaws from side
+to side," the man went on.
+
+"We'll keep a straight course," declared the owner of the speedy boat
+that had proved such a disappointment of late. "We know something
+about gasoline craft."
+
+"Glad to hear it," remarked one of the occupants of the rescuing boat,
+in a grumbling sort of voice. "There's so many launched on the bay
+now, with a lot of chaps running them who don't know any more than to
+turn on the gasoline and switch on the spark."
+
+"And girls, too," added another of the men. "Though I must say there
+are some girls here who----"
+
+"Easy there!" called one of the rescuers sharply.
+
+He might have been speaking to his companion, who was attending to the
+fastening of the towing rope, but to Jack it seemed as though there
+was an injunction to be careful of what was said.
+
+Somehow or other, though why he could not tell, Jack's suspicions were
+aroused. He tried to get a good look at the faces of the men, but the
+moon was hidden behind some clouds just then, and it was out of the
+question. The light was too baffling.
+
+"Well, I guess we're ready," announced the man who was making fast the
+towing rope. "Now where do you fellows want to go? We can't promise to
+take you home, as we have some business of our own to attend to."
+
+Jack always said, afterward, that nothing could have been more
+providential than the way the moon shone out brightly just as he was
+about to reply.
+
+He had it on the tip of his tongue to ask that, if possible, they be
+landed near Denny's cabin, when a ray of moonlight glinted on the name
+of the rescuing boat, painted on her stern. There Jack read the word:
+
+_Pickerel._
+
+"Great Scott!" he almost ejaculated aloud. "The boat that raced with
+Cora! The same men who are after old Denny!"
+
+Jack made up his mind in a flash. It would never do for the men to
+know that he and his friends were on their way to save Denny from the
+very fate the men had in store for him.
+
+"Oh, if you can land us anywhere near Buler's Pavilion, it will
+answer," said Jack, naming a place not far from the entrance to the
+bay, and not far from where they were at that moment.
+
+"Buler's Pavilion!" cried Ed. "Why that's----"
+
+"It's probably closed, by this time, I know that!" answered Jack,
+quickly, giving Ed a sly kick. "But we can get somebody up, I guess."
+
+Then, in a tense whisper he hissed into Ed's ear:
+
+"These are the men after Denny. I know them by their boat. Don't let
+on who we are. We're going to Buler's."
+
+"Sure, we can rouse somebody up if they are closed," answered Ed,
+quickly falling in with Jack's scheme. "That will do us, all right,"
+he added to the men. "That is, if it won't be too much out of your
+way."
+
+"Not at all," said one. "We'll be glad to leave you there. Maybe you
+can find somebody to fix your boat. All ready?"
+
+"Let her go," said Jack. He wanted the _Pickerel_ to get far enough
+ahead so that he could talk to his chums without the danger of being
+overheard.
+
+The engine of the rescuing boat was set going more rapidly, and the
+clutch was thrown in. The craft forged ahead, and soon the _Dixie_ was
+under way again. She was being brought back from the sea which had so
+nearly claimed her, and in a strange manner.
+
+"Why did you want to say we'd like to be landed at Buler's?" asked
+Dray of Jack.
+
+"Because I want to fool these fellows," and Jack quickly told how he
+had seen the name of the boat that had raced with his sister's. "If we
+do land there," he went on, "they won't know who we are. We can tell
+them to cut us off before we get to the dock, in case the place should
+happen to be open and lighted up. Then they can't see us."
+
+"Good idea," said Dray. "You're a wise boy, Jack."
+
+"I just saw that name in time," went on Cora's brother. "Otherwise it
+would have been all up with us."
+
+"But what about Denny?" asked Ed. "How are we going to save him if we
+land at Buler's, and let these fellows go on?"
+
+"I've thought of that," answered Jack. "We'll have to get another
+boat, if we can, and go to Denny's cabin in her. The _Dixie_ is no
+good. Oh, excuse me!" he said quickly to Dray. "I didn't mean
+that--exactly."
+
+"It's all right, old man, the _Dixie_ is certainly no good to-night.
+Say all you please about her, you can't hurt my feelings."
+
+"If only the _Reliance_ is at Buler's we can get her and go to the
+cabin flying," went on Jack. "If not, we'll do the best we can. Maybe
+Denny can stand them off until we arrive."
+
+"Say, what's the matter with up and telling these fellows we know who
+they are, and who we are," suggested Walter. "We can tell them we know
+what they're up to, and threaten them. Won't that stop them from
+bothering Denny--at least to-night?"
+
+"Not a bit of it," returned Jack, quickly. "Do you know what they'd do
+as soon as they found out who we were?"
+
+"What?" asked Ed.
+
+"They'd know at once we were working against them, and they'd cut us
+adrift. Then we would be out of it. And I haven't any desire," added
+Jack, with a shrug of his shoulders, "to go out to sea again."
+
+"We land at Buler's," said Walter, decidedly.
+
+And a little later they landed at that resort, which had closed
+unusually early, for some reason.
+
+"All right--cast off!" Jack had called as they neared the dock, and
+the _Dixie_, with trailing rope, ran up to it under her own momentum,
+while the other craft swung off into the darkness, the boys calling
+their thanks to the men.
+
+"And if they only knew who it was they had given a tow to!" chuckled
+Walter.
+
+"They'll know, soon enough," replied Jack. "We've got to look up a
+boat to take us to Denny Shane's. We've simply got to get there."
+
+And while the boys were thus looking for a boat to take the place of
+the disabled _Dixie_, the plotters, in their swift _Pickerel_, were
+hastening toward the little cove where the fisherman's cabin stood.
+
+The men in the boat were Moran, the slow-moving character whom Cora
+had seen in the store; Bruce, the "society" chap; Kelly, a blunt and
+unscrupulous Irishman, who handled the money for the factory
+interests, and a man to run the boat. He had been brought in at the
+last minute.
+
+"We lost a lot of time, towing those chumps," grumbled Moran, as the
+_Pickerel_ forged ahead.
+
+"Well, we were early," said Bruce. "I've had a man keeping watch on
+Shane's shack, and he was late getting in. He telephoned to me. It's
+just as well to let Shane get a bit settled before we tackle him. He
+was out fishing until long after dark."
+
+Then the engineer slowed down the powerful motor as they came up to
+the dock.
+
+It was this sound that Cora and her chums heard.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+CORA'S BRAVE RESOLVE
+
+
+When the girls heard Cora's remark, that the approaching motor boat
+might contain the boys, Lottie said:
+
+"Oh, we're all right now!" and she sighed in relief.
+
+"How much you depend on them!" observed Belle, in a low voice. "When
+you've been with us a little longer you'll learn that we can do almost
+as well by ourselves."
+
+"But I am glad the boys have arrived," agreed Cora. "I never was so
+pleased to know that they were on hand."
+
+But a moment later, as they saw the forms of four men leaving the
+motor boat, which had been made fast to the dock, Cora shrank back, at
+the same time whispering a warning.
+
+"Girls, something is wrong! Those aren't the boys. Quick, get out of
+sight!"
+
+She pulled Bess behind a row of bushes, and the others followed
+silently. They had started down to the beach from the cabin, but
+fortunately managed to conceal themselves in time. The men, walking up
+the little slope toward the cabin, had not seen them.
+
+Trembling with nervousness, Cora and her chums awaited the new turn of
+events. That it would come soon seemed likely, for the men appeared
+bent on something. They had made fast their boat, and came up the
+slope openly, as though their errand was the most innocent in the
+world. The light still glowed in the cabin.
+
+"Oh, Cora!" gasped Marita. "Suppose they do----do something!"
+
+"Which is very likely they will do," replied Cora. "But don't talk--I
+want to watch."
+
+From behind the screen of bushes Cora watched the men coming forward.
+The moon still gave a good light, though it was declining in the west.
+
+"Is he there?" Cora heard one of the men ask.
+
+"He seems to be--there's a light going, anyhow," was the answer. "I'd
+rather found him in bed, but we can't have all we want."
+
+"Oh, where are the boys!" cried Bess, frantically. "Why don't they
+come?"
+
+"I don't know," answered Cora. "Surely they should have been here. But
+there must be a good reason why they are not. Jack wouldn't disappoint
+us."
+
+"Why don't you include Walter and the others?" asked Belle.
+
+"Of course you know I meant them," Cora retorted. "I can't understand
+it--really I can't."
+
+"Perhaps they are in hiding," ventured Lottie.
+
+"They'd have been out before this, if they were," declared Cora.
+
+There came a sudden knock. It was one of the men striking on the door
+of Denny's cabin. From their hiding place in the bushes the girls
+heard it plainly.
+
+"Listen!" whispered Cora.
+
+They heard the voice of the old fisherman call:
+
+"Who's there? What do you want at this time of night?"
+
+"We've come to see you," was answered in tones Cora recognized as
+those of the young man who had raced with her.
+
+"What about?" inquired Denny. "I have no fish to sell."
+
+"And we don't want fish," was the retort. "Come, Shane, open your
+door. We want to talk to you. It's important, and there may be
+something in it for you."
+
+"Yes--trouble, more or less. I can't see anything else," was the
+grumbling response. "Wait a minute."
+
+Cora looked over the bushes. She could see the men grouped in front of
+the cabin door. Then she saw it open, and a broad beam of light shoot
+out.
+
+"Come in," invited Denny, and the plotters entered.
+
+"Now's our chance!" exclaimed Cora, her heart beating rapidly. "We
+must see what those men do. We may have to give evidence."
+
+"Oh, dear!" sighed Marita. "I never could do it. I'd faint, sure."
+
+"Do what?" asked Cora.
+
+"Give evidence."
+
+"Don't worry. You won't have to do anything hard, dear," was the
+gentle answer, as Cora slipped her arm about the timid girl.
+
+"Oh, I'll do anything you girls do," was the quick answer. "I want to
+help."
+
+"And we want your help," whispered Bess. "But, Cora, can't we go
+closer? We ought to look in and see what happens."
+
+"Brave Bess!" murmured Lottie. "You are certainly coming on finely."
+
+The plotters were now inside the cabin, so that it was safe for the
+girls to advance. This they did until they were once more in a
+position where they could look in the window of the cabin.
+
+They saw a strange sight. Old Denny Shane, brave and rugged,
+confronted the four men who had called on him. In one hand he grasped
+the red oar, while the other rested on the back of the chair from
+which he had risen.
+
+"Well, Mr. Shane," said the man Cora knew as Bruce. "We come to see
+you on business."
+
+"What kind?" asked the old man, and the girls could see him look
+around as though seeking help or a means of escape. But there was no
+fear in his eyes. Only defiance.
+
+"We might as well get to business at once," said one of the men,
+sharply. That was Kelly.
+
+"That's right," agreed Moran. "Make him an offer. If he doesn't want
+to take it then we'll talk another kind of talk. And be quick about
+it."
+
+"I want no business with you!" cried Denny, sharply. "Why do you come
+here bothering me?"
+
+"You know why!" exclaimed Bruce. "You are concerned in the Lewis land
+matter. You can testify as to who owns it."
+
+"Well, supposin' I can?" asked the old man, defiantly. "What is that
+to you?"
+
+"Lots to us, and it may mean a great deal to you, also!" snapped out
+Kelly. "You may have some papers, too."
+
+"I may," returned Denny, "but you'll not get 'em."
+
+Cora and the others, listening, knew that Denny would only be too glad
+if he did have the documents in question. But the girls had heard him
+lamenting that he did not know where they were.
+
+Why did he now let the men think he did know? It was a puzzle to the
+girls.
+
+"Not get them, eh?" cried Bruce. "That's to be seen. Now look here,
+Shane. We came here to do business, and we're going to do it. By fair
+means if we can, if not----"
+
+He paused suggestively.
+
+"Ah! I know you and your breed!" cried the old fisherman. "By fair
+means or foul! But try it on! I'm not afraid of you."
+
+He stepped back a pace, the better to defend himself in case he had
+to. The red oar was still in his firm hands.
+
+"Now wait a minute," put in Moran. "We'll try the fair means first.
+What do you say to that? Show him the bills."
+
+With a quick gesture Bruce drew out a roll of greenbacks.
+
+"Here you go, Shane!" he exclaimed. "There's a cool hundred here, and
+it's yours if you testify that the Widow Lewis has no claim on the
+land. And she hasn't any claim that she can prove. All we want you to
+testify to is that her husband's father sold the land some time before
+his death. We'll do the rest."
+
+"But he didn't sell it!" cried Denny. "It was his on his dyin' day,
+and it belongs to his son's widder and daughter now. That's the law,
+an' you know it."
+
+"She can't prove that the land is hers," sneered Kelly.
+
+"Maybe she can," returned Denny, quietly.
+
+"Well, she can't unless you tell what you know," broke in Bruce.
+"We've found out that much. Now the factory wants that land, and it's
+going to get it. Here, I'll make it a hundred and fifty if you do as
+we want you to."
+
+"An' testify to a lie?" cried Denny.
+
+"It wouldn't be exactly a lie. Besides, we're willing to pay the widow
+a small sum."
+
+"Not what the land's worth. That's valuable property," insisted Denny,
+"and it will keep her in her old age if she manages right. Be off with
+you! I'll stick to the Widder Lewis, so I will. Be off!" and he
+motioned them to the door. "You wouldn't have got this close if it
+hadn't been that my dog was dead. Be off!"
+
+"Not so fast," Cora and her chums heard Bruce say. "We haven't said
+all we intend to."
+
+"Oh, I'm sure something will happen now," quavered Bess.
+
+"Hush," cautioned Cora. "We must do something!"
+
+"Do something?" questioned Marita. "Oh, why don't the boys come?"
+
+Cora and her chums were close to the cabin now. They could look in the
+door, and through the uncurtained window, and see plainly all that
+went on. They could also hear plainly, for the men and old Denny spoke
+loudly. And, as yet, the girls had not been noticed.
+
+"Now, look here!" said Bruce, and there was a snarl in his voice.
+"This is our last offer, Shane. Either you take the hundred and fifty
+dollars, and testify the way we want you to, or we'll find means to
+make you, and you won't get the money. And I'll say this, that we'll
+treat the Widow Lewis as fair as we can."
+
+"Which won't be fair at all!" burst out Denny. "Not at all!"
+
+"Well, what's your answer?" cried Kelly. "We can't stay here all
+night. Give him the money, Bruce. When he feels it he'll hate to let
+it go."
+
+Bruce held out the roll of bills. To the surprise of Cora and the
+girls the fisherman took them. Was he going to betray Freda and her
+mother?
+
+The next instant they knew Denny for the brave-souled man he was.
+
+"That's me answer!" he cried, throwing the bills in the face of Bruce.
+"Take your evil money and get out. I'll stick to the widder!"
+
+For a moment the men were nonplussed. Then, with an angry exclamation,
+Bruce started forward.
+
+"Come, girls," said Cora, "we've got to go to the aid of Denny. For
+some reason the boys aren't here. We've got to save him!" and with
+this brave resolve she moved toward the cabin.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+
+THE RED OAR AGAIN
+
+
+"Cora Kimball, what are you going to do?" gasped Lottie, trying to
+hold back her chum.
+
+"I'm going to go to Denny's aid. Why shouldn't I? It's four to one,
+but even if we are girls we can perhaps turn the tide in his favor."
+
+"Oh, Cora, I don't dare!" admitted Belle.
+
+"Nor I," added her plump sister. "I'll faint if you go in where those
+horrid men are."
+
+"Faint if you like," returned Cora, calmly. "Somebody else will have
+to look after you, then, for I'm going."
+
+"But why?" asked Lottie. "We ought not to interfere when men are going
+to fight, and I think that's what's going to happen in there."
+
+"That is what's going to happen," said Cora, "but perhaps we can
+prevent it. For some unknown reason, though the boys promised to come
+here and defend Denny, they haven't done so. Therefore, it's our place
+to do it."
+
+"Yes, and I'm going with you!" announced Marita, determinedly.
+
+All this talk had taken but a few seconds of time, and, as it had been
+in whispers, the men in the cabin had not heard it. The situation,
+however, was rapidly becoming acute.
+
+With one accord, after Bruce had stepped toward old Denny, the others
+advanced. They were evidently going to lay violent hands on him. But
+the sturdy fisherman was not afraid.
+
+"Stand back!" he cried. "Stand back or I'll do you harm--you cowards!"
+
+"No use calling names!" sneered Kelly. "We're here to do you. We made
+you a fair offer, and you wouldn't take it. Now you'll have to abide
+by the consequences."
+
+"Get behind him," said Bruce. "I can take him from where I stand."
+
+"Get back! Get out of here!" ordered the old man.
+
+He raised the red oar over his head, threateningly.
+
+"Grab him!" cried Moran. "Grab that oar!"
+
+"You'll get it over the head before you grab it!" threatened Denny.
+"Mind that, now!"
+
+The fisherman swung his weapon, but he either had not calculated on
+the length of it, or he forgot that he was nearer to the wall than he
+had been at first. The blade of the oar caught in a hanging picture,
+and was entangled in the wire.
+
+Denny, putting all his strength into the blow he had hoped would
+disable one of his assailants, was thrown off his balance. He toppled
+and nearly fell.
+
+"Now we've got him!" yelled Kelly.
+
+The cowardly men, attacking the single fisherman with overwhelming
+numbers, made a leap forward.
+
+"Stop! Let him alone. We'll call the police!" screamed Cora, and the
+other girls added their shrill voices to hers. They rushed into the
+cabin.
+
+"The girls I raced with!" muttered Bruce. "We've no time to fool with
+them. Don't mind them. Get at Shane!"
+
+"Get at me, is it?" cried the fisherman. He had by this time
+disentangled the oar from the picture wire. Again he raised it over
+his head, intending to bring it down on Kelly.
+
+As the red weapon descended Kelly shot up his hand and caught it. He
+twisted on the oar to wrest it from Denny's grasp, and the two
+suddenly went to the floor, jarring the whole cabin.
+
+And at that instant there was a sound of splintering, breaking wood.
+Some red slivers flew out from between the two prostrate men who were
+struggling for possession of the weapon.
+
+"The red oar! It's broken!" cried Denny. "Me old red oar, that saved
+me life in the hands of Grandfather Lewis! The red oar is broken, bad
+luck to you! Cowards that you are!"
+
+The girls were screaming, but even Cora, brave as she was, dared go no
+nearer to the two desperately struggling men. Bruce and Moran were
+seeking an opening that they might get hold of Denny. The fourth man
+had gone back to the boat, seemingly. He had leaped out of the window
+as the girls entered.
+
+The cabin was a place of wild excitement.
+
+"Get that oar away from him!" cried Bruce. "Here's some rope. Tie him
+up, and then we'll get what we want out of him!"
+
+"Don't you dare hurt him!" screamed Cora.
+
+"Ah, would you?" gasped Denny, as he rolled out from under Kelly, who
+had sought to pass a rope about the old man's wrists. "I'm not down
+and out yet!" he panted. "The red oar is broken, but I've got the best
+end yet."
+
+He staggered to his feet, holding the handle of the red oar. One end
+was splintered where it had been broken from the blade.
+
+"Come on! I'm not afraid!" yelled Denny. "Come on. You girls had
+better leave----there's going to be trouble!"
+
+"We won't go! Help is on the way. The boys are coming!" cried Cora,
+though she did not know when Jack and the others would arrive.
+
+"Oh, if they were only here now! When we need them so!" gasped Lottie.
+
+Again Denny swung what was left of the red oar around his head. He
+aimed a blow at the face of Bruce, but it fell short and struck the
+man on the shoulder.
+
+Then a strange thing happened. The handle of the oar split lengthwise,
+and from a hollow place inside there flew out a roll of papers, yellow
+with age. And on one of them was a red seal--a legal-looking seal.
+
+Bruce staggered at the blow, and a strange look came over his face. It
+might have been that he was dazed, but his eyes lighted on the roll of
+papers that had fallen to the floor. There they lay--a curious roll
+that had come from the secret crevice in the red oar.
+
+The struggle had come to a sudden end. The girls ceased screaming and
+stood looking on dumbly, unable to understand what had happened.
+
+As for the men they, too, seemed startled by the strange turn of events.
+Kelly rose to his feet, and was creeping up on Denny from behind. His
+arms were outstretched, and his fingers worked convulsively, as though
+they would like to close about the fisherman's throat, and force him to
+testify as the plotters desired.
+
+Cora wanted to scream a warning, but some strange force seemed to hold
+her dumb.
+
+"The red oar--it's broken--broken! Me old red oar, that saved me
+life!" murmured Denny Shane. "But I never knew 'twas hollow. Never! I
+wonder did Grandfather Lewis----"
+
+He did not complete the sentence, for at that instant Bruce leaped
+forward and caught up the roll of yellow papers from the floor.
+
+"Give me those!" cried Denny leaping at him with the jagged piece of
+the red oar in his gnarled hands--the hands that had, so many years
+ago, grasped the same oar in what was little short of a death-grip.
+"Give me those papers!" fairly roared Denny. "I don't know what they
+are, but they're not yours. Give 'em to me!"
+
+"Give you these! I guess not!" sneered Bruce. "They are just what we
+want--the land papers. They're the only ones by which the widow could
+prove her shadowy claim to the property, and with them out of the way
+it's all clear sailing for us.
+
+"This is the luckiest thing that could have happened for us! The
+breaking of the red oar came at the right time. Kelly, give me a match
+and we'll make a little bonfire of these same papers."
+
+"Don't you dare!" cried Denny, and, making a leap forward he snatched
+from Kelly's hands the precious documents that had so strangely come
+from the secret hiding place in the red oar.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII
+
+THE DISCOVERY--CONCLUSION
+
+
+Wild with rage the three men with one accord made a leap for Denny
+Shane. But the old fisherman was not to be easily taken. Holding the
+precious papers close to him, he made a jump for a corner of the room,
+where hung an old musket.
+
+"Oh, he's going to shoot!" screamed Bess.
+
+"And small blame to him if he did," declared Cora. "Oh, those men must
+not destroy those papers, if I have to take them in charge myself!"
+
+Denny Shane had reached the corner where hung his musket. It was not
+loaded. Cora knew this, for the old fisherman had said he was always
+afraid of some accident happening, and he never kept a charge in the
+gun. It was for the effect of it, he said, that he had it hanging on
+his wall. Now it would be useful as a club, at least--more useful than
+the easily shattered red oar had been.
+
+But before Denny could reach the gun Kelly was upon him. With a fierce
+motion the desperate plotter grasped the fisherman around the neck.
+Holding him thus with one arm, he snatched the papers from him with
+his other hand.
+
+"Here you go!" Kelly cried to Bruce. "Take the papers while I hold
+him. Burn 'em if you want to, but be sure you do the job well! Then
+we'd better get out of here. I think I hear a boat coming. This place
+will soon be too hot for us!"
+
+Bruce took the papers from his crony. Hastily scanning them, to make
+sure he had the right ones, he struck a match that Moran handed him.
+
+Kelly and Denny were struggling in the corner of the room. But poor
+old Denny had not much strength left. The events of the night had been
+too much for him, and he was giving way under the cruel pressure of
+Kelly's arms.
+
+"These are the very papers we want--or don't want, rather!" exulted
+Bruce. "With them out of the way the property is ours."
+
+The match flickered in his fingers.
+
+"Don't you dare burn them!" cried Cora.
+
+One corner of the papers had caught fire.
+
+Then from without the cabin sounded a chorus of cries.
+
+"Come on, fellows!"
+
+"We're just in time!"
+
+"The girls are here ahead of us!"
+
+"What a night!"
+
+They were the voices of Jack and his chums.
+
+"Oh, the boys have come! The boys have come!" cried Lottie.
+
+"Jack! Jack! In here! Quick!" screamed Cora. "He's burning the papers!
+Get them from him!"
+
+Into the cabin, already crowded, the boys flung themselves.
+
+"Just in time!" cried Cora, motioning to Jack. "Get those papers from
+him before they burn!"
+
+Over in the corner poor Denny had fallen unconscious under the attack
+of Kelly.
+
+"Cut it and run!" advised Moran, making for the door.
+
+"No, you don't!" shouted Walter, blocking it. "Guard the windows,
+Dray--Ed!" he called.
+
+"The papers! The papers!" voiced Cora. "Get them before they burn, or
+Mrs. Lewis will lose the land!"
+
+"I'll get them!" shouted Jack.
+
+He flung himself upon Bruce as he had often flung himself upon a
+player in tackling him on the football field.
+
+"Look out for yourself!" threatened Bruce.
+
+But Jack was not afraid. He twisted himself about Bruce, and sought to
+reach the papers.
+
+Bruce, to get them out of Jack's reach, held them high in the air,
+over his head. The two were struggling. Moran and Kelly were wrestling
+with Ed and Walter, while the other girls cowered behind Dray, who had
+caught up a chair as a weapon.
+
+Cora saw her chance. She slipped around behind Bruce, and with a leap
+that had often enabled her to outwit an opponent in playing basket
+ball, the plucky motor girl snatched the papers from the man's hand.
+Full and clean was her jump, and the smouldering papers came away in
+her grasp.
+
+"I have them, Jack!" she cried. "Look out for the men!"
+
+And with that, to make sure that she would not lose the precious
+documents, Cora held them tightly under her arm and ran out of the
+cabin door, after putting out the little blaze.
+
+"All over!" cried Jack, putting out his foot, and tripping up Bruce,
+who aimed a savage blow at him. "All over!"
+
+Bruce went down heavily. At the same time, from without the cabin
+there flashed several lights, and the voices of men were heard asking:
+
+"What's going on here?"
+
+"Who's been screaming?"
+
+The plotters gathered together. Bruce leaped from the floor.
+
+"Come on!" he cried desperately. "It's all up. Get away!"
+
+He leaped out of the window, followed by the other two.
+
+"Get them!" yelled Ed.
+
+"No, let them go--it's the easiest way," advised Jack. "Cora has the
+papers."
+
+"But maybe they've hurt Denny!" said Walter.
+
+"I'm all right," asserted the fisherman, as he slowly arose. "He just
+cut off my wind for a minute. I'm all right. But where are the
+papers?" and he looked about the floor, on which were scattered pieces
+of the broken red oar.
+
+"They're safe," answered Jack. "Cora, my sister, has them. Guess we'd
+better look for her though."
+
+There was no need, as Cora, holding the papers in her hand, re-entered
+the cabin at that moment. Only one edge of the legal documents was
+burned, and no real harm had been done.
+
+While the motor girls, and the boys and the neighboring men, who had
+come to the rescue all but too late, were looking at one another there
+was heard, at the dock, the puffing of a motor boat.
+
+"There they go!" exclaimed Walter.
+
+"Well, that's the best way," said Jack. "We're glad to get rid of
+them."
+
+"How did you girls get here?" asked Ed.
+
+"How was it you boys _didn't_ get here?" demanded Cora, still panting
+from her exertions.
+
+Explanations were then in order. I will be as brief with them as I
+can. How the girls came to go to the cabin is already known. And how
+the boys, foolishly perhaps, went out on the bay while waiting for
+Denny to come back, and how they became stalled, is likewise known to
+my readers.
+
+In the meanwhile Denny came to his cabin.
+
+Then came the unexpected help in the shape of a tow from the plotters
+themselves.
+
+"They left us at Buler's," said Jack, "and then we had our own
+troubles. We tried to get a boat to come on, for the _Dixie_ still
+refused to move. But we couldn't get one for love or money, and it was
+too rough to row."
+
+"What did you do?" asked Cora, looking at Denny, who was examining the
+broken red oar.
+
+"We hired a horse and carriage, and came around the land way," replied
+Walter. "It took us a long time, too, for we missed the road."
+
+"But we finally got here," spoke Ed.
+
+"And just in time," added Cora. "We were wild about you--couldn't
+imagine what happened."
+
+"Didn't you get the note we left pinned to the door?" asked Dray of
+Denny.
+
+"Nary a note," he said.
+
+Later it was found where it had blown into a clump of bushes. So that
+accounted for Denny's not being warned in time.
+
+"But everything seems to be coming out right," said Cora, with a
+rather wintry smile. All the girls were pale, and a trifle weak. The
+boys, too, were tired.
+
+"And what are those papers?" asked Jack, taking them from Cora.
+
+"Those prove Mrs. Lewis's title to the land the plotters tried to
+get," she said. "Oh, I'm so glad we found them."
+
+"Who found them?" asked Walter, giving Cora's hand a surreptitious
+squeeze.
+
+"They were in the red oar," said Denny. "And to think I never knew it!
+They were there all these years, and all of us worrying about them and
+wondering where they were. But I understand now. Grandfather Lewis
+must have hollowed out a hole in the handle, hid the papers in it, and
+then plugged it up. Then he gave the oar to me to keep. I remember
+well at the time he said it would prove valuable some day. I often
+wondered what made the oar lighter than it had been. It was because it
+was hollowed out.
+
+"I asked him what he meant by sayin' the oar was valuable, but he kept
+puttin' me off. He said he'd tell me some time, but he never did. Then
+the day he died he sent for me, and was trying to tell me, I guess,
+but he couldn't. I remember I wondered what was on his mind, but he
+was too weak to explain. So he died with his secret, and the red oar
+had it and kept it all these years.
+
+"But the oar broke, or those men and myself broke it between us, and
+the papers fell out. Now the widder will get her rights."
+
+And the Widow Lewis did. Leaving the valuable documents with Denny,
+the motor girls and the boys went back to their stopping places--the
+girls to the bungalow, the boys to the tent.
+
+And such a time as Cora and her chums had in telling the good news to
+Mrs. Lewis and Freda! The latter could hardly believe it at first.
+
+"Oh, how can we ever thank you!" cried Freda, as, with tears in her
+eyes, she embraced Cora.
+
+"Don't try," was the whispered answer.
+
+And so everything came out right after all. The papers so oddly hidden
+in the red oar proved the widow's title to the valuable land beyond
+the shadow of a doubt. As for the plotters, they were not seen again
+in that part of the country. They realized that the sharp trick they
+had tried to play had failed, thanks to the activities of Cora and her
+friends.
+
+Mrs. Lewis easily established her claim to the land, moved back to her
+cottage, and the project of spoiling the public park was abandoned.
+The factory company was beaten in court and the members of the
+corporation were forced to pay heavy costs.
+
+Old Denny came in for his share of credit, and he was very happy. His
+one lament was that the red oar was broken, but he managed to patch it
+together, after a fashion. And the motor girls got him another dog.
+
+The opening by which the papers had been put in the hollow handle had
+been cleverly concealed, and, only for the accidental breaking of the
+oar, might never have been discovered.
+
+It had probably been the intention of Grandfather Lewis to disclose
+the secret hiding place of the land papers, but he had died before he
+could do this.
+
+"But 'all's well that ends well,'" quoted Cora the next day, at a late
+breakfast. "We have done a little good here by our vacation at Crystal
+Bay."
+
+"A _little_ good!" exclaimed Freda. "I never can thank you enough,
+Cora."
+
+"And we'll soon have to go back home--that's the worst of it!" sighed
+Lottie. "It is so lovely here!"
+
+"Oh, well, we can come back next year," spoke Bess.
+
+"And then, too, Winter's coming on--something is sure to happen then,"
+added Belle. "Something always does."
+
+And what did happen that Winter will be told of in the volume to
+follow this, which will be called "The Motor Girls on Waters Blue; Or,
+The Strange Cruise of the _Tartar_."
+
+It was the next day. The girls disposed themselves about the bungalow
+in picturesque attitudes, and the boys sat on the broad porch, telling
+over again the adventures of the night.
+
+"There's only one point we're shy on," said Jack, when everything had
+been told and retold.
+
+"And that's what?" asked Ed.
+
+"We haven't found out yet who the strange woman was who tried to get
+information out of Freda, and who sent her the 'phone message."
+
+"Oh, we're just as well off without knowing that," said Cora. "I'm
+sure she was in with the plotters. You know that man Bruce called her
+'Confidence Kate,' as if he knew her well."
+
+"You must have been terribly frightened, when you found out there was
+no way of getting home from the Junction," said Marita. "I think I
+should have gone out of my mind."
+
+"Don't believe her, Freda," laughed Cora, putting her arm around the
+timid girl. "Marita is braver than she thinks. She offered to go into
+the cabin with me when those horrid men were there, and none of the
+others would."
+
+"Come on over to Buler's and see 'em dance," proposed Jack. "The
+_Dixie_ is running again."
+
+"We'll go in the _Chelton_," spoke Cora firmly, and in that boat they
+went. And now for a time, we will take leave of the motor girls.
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Motor Girls on Crystal Bay, by Margaret Penrose
+
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