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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Wyn's Camping Days, by Amy Bell Marlowe
+
+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: Wyn's Camping Days
+       or, The Outing of the Go-Ahead Club
+
+Author: Amy Bell Marlowe
+
+Release Date: February 27, 2010 [EBook #31419]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WYN'S CAMPING DAYS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Roger Frank, Juliet Sutherland and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+WYN'S CAMPING DAYS
+
+
+
+
+BOOKS FOR GIRLS
+
+By AMY BELL MARLOWE
+
+12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume, 75 cents, postpaid
+
+THE OLDEST OF FOUR
+  Or Natalie's Way Out
+
+THE GIRLS OF HILLCREST FARM
+  Or the Secret of the Rocks
+
+A LITTLE MISS NOBOBY
+  Or With the Girls of Pinewood Hall
+
+THE GIRL FROM SUNSET RANCH
+  Or Alone in a Great City
+
+WYN'S CAMPING DAYS
+  Or The Outing of Go-Ahead Club
+
+FRANCES OF THE RANGES
+  Or The Old Ranchman's Treasure
+
+THE GIRLS OF RIVERCLIFF SCHOOL
+  Or Beth Baldwin's Resolve
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP
+
+PUBLISHERS--NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: IT DID SEEM, BECAUSE THEY WERE IN A HURRY, THAT
+EVERYTHING WENT WRONG. _Frontispiece (Page 80)._]
+
+
+
+
+WYN'S CAMPING DAYS
+
+OR
+
+THE OUTING OF THE GO-AHEAD CLUB
+
+BY
+
+AMY BELL MARLOWE
+
+AUTHOR OF
+THE OLDEST OF FOUR, THE GIRL FROM SUNSET RANCH,
+A LITTLE MISS NOBODY, ETC.
+
+Illustrated
+
+NEW YORK
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP
+
+PUBLISHERS
+
+
+
+
+Copyright, 1914, by
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP
+
+Wyn's Camping Days
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+  Chapter                                                     Page
+       I. THE GO-AHEAD CLUB                                      1
+      II. THE BUSTERS                                           12
+     III. POLLY                                                 20
+      IV. THE SILVER IMAGES                                     34
+       V. BESSIE LAVINE                                         49
+      VI. OFF FOR THE LAKE                                      55
+     VII. THE STORM BREAKS                                      71
+    VIII. AT WINDMILL FARM                                      83
+      IX. JOHN JARLEY, EXILE                                    94
+       X. THE "HAPPY DAY"                                      104
+      XI. WHERE THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED                          120
+     XII. AN OVERTURN                                          129
+    XIII. A SERIOUS ADVENTURE                                  144
+     XIV. THE REPULSE                                          150
+      XV. TROUBLE "BRUIN"                                      161
+     XVI. TIT FOR TAT                                          171
+    XVII. VISITORS                                             188
+   XVIII. THE REGATTA                                          198
+     XIX. UNDER WHITE WINGS                                    207
+      XX. THE CANOE RACE                                       213
+     XXI. THE WAY OF THE WIND                                  224
+    XXII. THE PRISONERS OF THE TOWER                           232
+   XXIII. WYN HITS SOMETHING                                   240
+    XXIV. THE NIGHT ALARM                                      248
+     XXV. THE STRANGE BATEAU                                   258
+    XXVI. THE BOYS TO THE RESCUE                               267
+   XXVII. IS IT THE "BRIGHT EYES"?                             278
+  XXVIII. A FRIEND IN NEED                                     288
+    XXIX. THE SUNKEN TREASURE                                  296
+     XXX. STRIKING CAMP                                        306
+
+
+
+
+WYN'S CAMPING DAYS
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+THE GO-AHEAD CLUB
+
+
+"Oh, girls! such news!" cried Wynifred Mallory, banging open the door of
+Canoe Lodge, and bringing into the living room a big breath of the cool
+May air, which drew out of the open fireplace a sudden balloon of smoke,
+setting the other members of the Go-Ahead Club there assembled coughing.
+
+Grace Hedges, who was acting as fireman that week, turned an exasperated
+face, with a bar of smut across it, exclaiming:
+
+"If another soul comes in that door and creates a back-draught until
+this fire gets to burning properly, I certainly shall have hysterics! I
+never did see such a mean old thing to burn."
+
+"Never mind, Gracie. We're all here now--all six of us. There are no
+more Go-Aheads to come," observed Bessie Lavine, yawning over her book
+in the only sunny corner of the room.
+
+"There! it's burning--finally," exclaimed Grace, with blended disgust
+and thankfulness. "I never was cut out for a fireman, girls."
+
+"Poor Gracie," purred Wyn, who had approached the blaze that was now
+beginning to curl through the hickory sticks piled more or less
+scientifically against the backlog. "Don't you know it needed just that
+back-draught to break the deadlock in the chimney and start your fire
+crackling this way?"
+
+"Bah! it was just hateful," grumbled Grace. "I hate fire making. And it
+does seem as though my week for playing fireman comes around twice as
+often as it should." Wyn had moved rather too near to the darting
+flames, and Grace suddenly pulled the captain of the club aside.
+"_Don't_ stand so near, Silly!" she cried.
+
+"Fireman! save my che-ild!" wailed "Frank" Cameron, coming forward and
+winding her long arms around Wynifred. "What's the news, Wyn, dear?
+Nobody had the politeness to ask you. Wherefore all the excitement?"
+
+"There must be a strike at the blacksmith shop," said Percy Havel, a
+curly-headed blonde girl.
+
+"No!" cried Frank, with a droll twist of her rather homely features.
+"I'll wager they've laid off one of the hands of the town clock.
+Business is dreadfully dull. I heard my father say so."
+
+She was a tall, lanky girl, was Frances Cameron, with a great mass of
+blue-black hair and flashing black eyes. She was thin, strong, and
+lacking in those soft curves of budding womanhood which girls of her age
+usually display. "Straight up and down, my dears," she often said.
+"Built upon the most approved clothespin plan, with every bone
+perfectly--not to say generously--developed."
+
+"Well," said Wyn, laughing, "if you girls will give me a chance I will
+divulge my news."
+
+"Be still!" commanded Frank. "The oracle speaks."
+
+"Oh, hurry up, Wyn!" exclaimed Percy, coming nearer the group before the
+now roaring fire. "I've been dying to tell them."
+
+"Well, girls," said Wyn, smiling, so that her brown eyes fairly danced.
+"Mrs. Havel--Percy's aunt--says she will go."
+
+"Fine!" exclaimed Frankie.
+
+"You don't mean it, Wyn?" gasped Mina Everett. "Then we really
+_can_ go camping?"
+
+"And to Lake Honotonka?" put in Bessie.
+
+"That's what we aimed to do; wasn't it?" demanded Wyn, laughing. "And
+when the Go-Ahead Club starts to do a thing, it usually arrives; doesn't
+it?"
+
+"At least, the captain arrives for them," said Frank, giving Wyn's arm a
+little squeeze. "We wouldn't get far in our 'go-ahead' plans if it
+wasn't for you, Wynnie."
+
+"Such flattery!" protested the captain.
+
+"You didn't have an easy time convincing my mother--I know that," said
+Mina, shaking _her_ head. "You know, she's so afraid of water."
+
+"And my mother is afraid of high winds," confessed Bessie. "Wyn had to
+coax to bring her around."
+
+"And of course, Gracie's mother is afraid of fire," chuckled Frank; "and
+there you have the three elements. You can plainly see that Gracie knows
+very little about fire. She never built one in her life until we formed
+our camping club."
+
+"Oh, well," observed Grace, trying to rub the smut off her face with a
+handkerchief and the aid of a pocket-mirror, "this is about the end of
+the fire season, thank goodness! If we go into camp after school closes,
+on Lake Honotonka, there won't be any fires to build."
+
+"Oh, _won't_ there?" cried Bessie. "You just wait. Instead of
+taking turns at being fireman for the week, as we do through the winter,
+we'll draw lots to see who shall build _all_ the fires. And you
+know very well, Gracie, that you always _are_ unlucky."
+
+"Sure she is," agreed Frank. "She always draws the very boobiest of all
+booby prizes out of the grab-bag."
+
+"Oh, dear me!" wailed Grace, who was big, and handsome, and not a little
+lazy, "I do so hate to work, too. If there had been another set of girls
+I liked at Denton Academy, I'd never have joined the Go-Ahead Club."
+
+"Right. Gracie is better fitted for a Fall-Behind Club," observed Wyn.
+
+"But tell us, Wynnie," begged Mina. "Is it really all arranged? Has
+everybody agreed that we can go in our canoes to Lake Honotonka?"
+
+"And stay all vacation if we like?" cried Percy.
+
+"That is the understanding," Wyn assured them. "Percy's aunt is the very
+kindest lady who ever was----"
+
+"Vote we buy her something nice," interposed Frank.
+
+"That will come in due season," Wyn continued. "But Mrs. Havel went with
+me to all our people. She knows all about the place, of course----"
+
+"So does my father," interposed Bessie.
+
+"And he wasn't hard to convince," Wyn responded. "Of course, there are
+wild nooks along Honotonka's shores; but at the upper end is Braisely
+Park, where all those rich folks live; and there's the village of
+Meade's Forge at this end of the lake. We can get supplies, or a doctor,
+or send a telephone message, easily enough. And what more does one
+want--camping out?"
+
+"We'll have just a lovely time!" sighed Bessie. "I can hardly wait for
+school to close."
+
+"A month and a half yet," said Frank Cameron. "And every day will seem
+longer than the one that preceded it. But then! when it does come----"
+
+"Just think of living under canvas--and for weeks and weeks! It almost
+makes me feel spooky," declared Grace, beginning to grow enthusiastic.
+
+These girls, all attending Denton Academy and living within the limits
+of that town, being the daughters of fairly well-to-do parents, had been
+able to enjoy many advantages as well as pleasures that poorer girls
+could not have; but none of them had chanced to experience the joys of a
+vacation in the woods.
+
+During the preceding autumn they had become immensely interested in
+canoeing. Denton was situated upon the beautiful, winding Wintinooski,
+and the six members of the Go-Ahead Club had taken several Saturday
+cruises on the river. But never had they gone as far up the stream as
+Lake Honotonka.
+
+That was a wide and beautiful sheet of water, thirty-five miles to the
+west of the town of Denton. Their boy friends had sometimes been allowed
+to go camping upon the shores of the lake; and their enthusiastic praise
+of the fun to be had under canvas had set Wynifred Mallory and her chums
+"just wild," as Frank Cameron expressed it, to try it too.
+
+Wyn was a girl of determination and physical as well as moral courage.
+If she made up her mind that a thing was right, and she wanted it, she
+usually got it.
+
+When the girls first broached their desire to spend the summer at the
+big lake, and actually live under canvas, not one of their parents
+encouraged the idea. Because the "Busters," a certain boys' club of the
+girls' friends, were going to the lake again for the long vacation, made
+no difference to the mothers and fathers--especially the mothers of Wyn
+and her chums of the Go-Ahead Club.
+
+"It's no use," Bessie Lavine had reported, at their first meeting after
+the idea was born in Canoe Lodge, as the girls called their novel
+boathouse overhanging the bank of a quiet pool of the Wintinooski. "Even
+father won't hear of it. Six girls going alone into the wilds----"
+
+"But the Busters and Professor Skillings will be near our camp," Frank
+had cried. "That's what I told mother. But she couldn't see it."
+
+Wyn had listened at that meeting to the opinions of all the other
+girls--and to their hopeless and disappointed complaints as well--and
+then she had taken the whole burden on her own shoulders.
+
+"Don't you say another word at home about it, girls--any of you," she
+said. "Leave it to me. Our idea of living for the summer in the open is
+a good one. We'll come back to school in the fall with ginger and health
+enough to keep us going like dynamos during the next school year."
+
+"But you can't make my mother see that," wailed Percy. "She only sees
+the snakes, and mosquitoes, and tramps, and big winds, and drowning, and
+I don't know but she visualizes earthquake shocks and volcanoes!"
+
+"Give me a chance," said Wyn.
+
+"Voted!" Frankie declared. "When Wyn sets out to do a thing we might as
+well give her her head. She's like Davy Crockett; and I hope all our
+folks will come down without being shot, like the historic 'coon."
+
+And this present declaration of their captain, which had so aroused the
+Go-Ahead Club, was the result of Wyn Mallory's exertions.
+
+She had first obtained the interest and cooperation of Percy's Aunt
+Evelyn, who was a widowed lady fond of outdoor life herself. Mrs. Havel
+was to act as chaperone. With this addition to their forces, the girls
+stood a much better chance to win over their parents to their plan.
+
+And finally Wyn had gained the permission of the most obdurate parent.
+The cruise of the Go-Ahead Club in their canoes to Lake Honotonka, and
+their camping for the summer at some available spot along the lake
+shore, was decided upon.
+
+"And are the Busters going?" asked Frank. "That's the next important
+matter."
+
+"Oh, we can get along without those boys, I guess," scoffed Bessie.
+
+"Yes, I know. We don't need 'em. And they are a great nuisance
+sometimes," admitted Frank, laughing. "But just the same, we'll have
+lots more fun with them around--especially Dave Shepard--eh, Wynnie?"
+
+"I don't see that you need _me_ to witness the truth of your
+statement, Frank," returned Wyn, flushing very prettily, for the girls
+sometimes teased her about Dave, who was her next-door neighbor. "Of
+course we want the boys, even if Bess is a man-hater."
+
+"I guess they'll go," Frank said. "They liked it so much last year. And
+the professor is interested in the geological specimens to be found up
+that way."
+
+"Goodness!" exclaimed Mina. "Is Professor Skillings going with them
+again? He is so odd."
+
+"He's very absent-minded," said Bessie.
+
+Frank began to laugh again. "Say!" she began, "did you hear about what
+happened to him last week? Father met him coming down Lane Street--you
+know, it's narrow and the sidewalk in places is scarcely wide enough for
+two people to pass comfortably.
+
+"There was poor Professor Skillings hobbling along with one foot
+continually in the gutter, his eyes fixed on a book he was reading as he
+walked. Father said to him:
+
+"'Good morning, Professor! How are you feeling to-day?'
+
+"'Why--why--why!' exclaimed the professor--you know his funny way of
+speaking. 'Why--why--why--I was very well when I started out, I thought.
+But I don't know what's come over me. Do you know, I've developed a
+pronounced limp since leaving the house!'"
+
+"Well, the boys like him," Wyn said, when the girls' laughter had
+subsided.
+
+"I thought I saw Dave Shepard and that 'Tubby' Blaisdell around here
+when I hurried down from school to light the fire," remarked Grace.
+
+At that moment a strange, scraping sound was heard right above the
+girls' heads. Bess and Mina jumped up.
+
+"What's that?" cried Grace.
+
+"It's something on the roof," declared Wyn.
+
+Now, Canoe Lodge was built on a high bank over the river. One stepped
+from the level sward into the living room. The roof on one side was a
+short, sharp pitch; but over the river it ran out in a long, easy slope
+to shelter the canoe landing.
+
+Suddenly there was a crash, and the very house shook. There was a wheezy
+shout of alarm, the sound of another voice in wild laughter, and some
+heavy body slid down the long side of the roof with the noise of an
+avalanche.
+
+"The Busters!" shrieked Percy, and ran to a window overlooking the
+river.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE BUSTERS
+
+
+The girls could overlook the lower slope of the long roof through the
+bay window at the end of the living room. They crowded to it after Percy
+Havel, and beheld a most amazing as well as ridiculous sight.
+
+A very fat youth, in a blue and white striped sweater and with a
+closely-cropped yellow head, was face down upon a length of plank, which
+plank was sliding like a bobsled down the incline of green-stained
+shingles.
+
+"It's Tubby!" gasped Frank Cameron.
+
+"Oh! oh! oh!" squealed Mina. "Is he doing that for _fun_?"
+
+Before any further comment could be made, the boy on the plank shot out
+over the edge of the roof and dived, with a mighty splash, into the deep
+water of the pool, adjoining which Canoe Lodge was built.
+
+"He'll be drowned!" cried Grace, wringing her plump hands.
+
+"It'll serve him right if he is!" exclaimed Bessie. "What business had
+he on our roof, I want to know?"
+
+"Poor Tubby!" cried Wyn, choked with laughter.
+
+"Isn't he the most ridiculous creature that ever was?" rejoined Frank.
+"See there! he's come up to blow like a frog."
+
+"It's a whale that comes up to blow," Wyn reminded her.
+
+"Well! isn't Tubby Blaisdell a regular whale of a boy?" returned the
+black-eyed girl.
+
+"There's Dave!" cried Mina.
+
+"I knew the two wouldn't be far apart!" sniffed Bess Lavine.
+
+"He's got a boat and is going to Tubby's rescue," cried Grace.
+
+"But see Tubby flounder around!" Frankie observed. "Why! that boy
+couldn't sink if you filled his pockets with flatirons!"
+
+"There! he _is_ going under," ejaculated the more timorous Mina.
+
+"Dave will get him, all right," declared Wyn, with confidence.
+
+She and Dave Shepard had been good chums since they were both in
+rompers. Her girl friends might tease Wyn sometimes about Dave; but the
+girl had no brothers and Dave made up the loss to her in every way.
+
+"Oh! he's going to spear him with that boathook!" gasped Mina again.
+
+And really, it looked so. Tubby Blaisdell was splashing about in the
+pool before the canoe landing like a young grampus. Tubby was always
+getting into more or less serious predicaments, and he always "lost his
+head" and usually had to be aided by his friends.
+
+In this case Dave Shepard prepared to literally spear him in the water.
+Dave--who was a tall, athletic boy, with a frank, pleasant face, if
+freckled, and close-cut brown curls in profusion--had driven the
+flat-bottomed skiff he had obtained from a neighboring landing, across
+the pool, and now, standing erect in the boat, with a single lunge
+impaled upon the boathook the tail of Tubby's coat.
+
+His chum was going down, as Dave thrust the boathook; for the
+unfortunate victim of the accident had swallowed a quantity of water
+when he dived with the plank from the eaves of the roof of Canoe Lodge.
+There was no time to lose if Dave wished to rescue Tubby before serious
+injury resulted to the unfortunate fat youth.
+
+It was something of a feat to bring Tubby Blaisdell alongside the skiff
+and haul him inboard without overturning the boat. But Dave accomplished
+it to the admiration of the girls--even to Bessie's satisfaction.
+
+"Well, I'm glad he got Tubby out," said that damsel, nodding her head.
+
+"Glad to know that you are so humane, Bess," laughed Frank.
+
+The girls trooped out to learn at closer range if the Blaisdell youth
+was really injured or only exhausted.
+
+He lay panting like a big fish in the bottom of the skiff. It was
+altogether too cold an evening for him to be exposed in his wet
+clothing. When the skiff's nose bumped into the shore, Dave Shepard
+leaped out with alacrity and secured the painter to a post.
+
+"Get up out of there, Tubby!" he commanded. "You'll get your death of
+dampness. Come on!"
+
+"Oh--oh--oh! I can't," chattered the fat youth. "I--I'm fr-roze to the
+ve-ry mar-row of m-m-my bones!"
+
+"The chill has struck in awful deep, then, Tubby," cried Frank Cameron,
+from the river bank.
+
+"Come on out of that!" commanded Dave. "I'm going to run you home so
+that you will not get cold."
+
+"Me?" chattered Blaisdell, rising like a turtle out of its shell. "Run
+me home? Wh-wh-why, I c-c-couldn't do it. You know I couldn't r-r-run
+that far, Dave."
+
+"He must go right in by our fire and get warm," declared Wyn, quickly.
+"Get your things, girls, and we'll all go home and leave Dave and Tubby
+to enjoy that nice fire Grace built."
+
+"That wet boy all over our nice rug!" exclaimed Bessie. "I object."
+
+"Don't be hateful, Bess," admonished Grace.
+
+"But what was he doing on our roof?" demanded the girl who claimed that
+she did not like boys.
+
+At this Dave burst into a great laugh and was scarcely able to drag
+Tubby ashore.
+
+"It's a wonder he didn't come right through on our heads," complained
+Frank. "He's so heavy."
+
+"But he _would_ do it," declared Dave, still laughing as he helped
+his fat friend up the bank to the door of Canoe Lodge. "It would have
+been a real good trick, too, if Tubby hadn't slipped."
+
+"Always up to mischief!" sniffed Bessie Lavine. "That's why I dislike
+boys so."
+
+"I don't see what he could do on our roof," said Wyn, wonderingly.
+
+"And he had no business there!" cried Grace.
+
+"Why," explained Dave, for Tubby could not defend himself. "We saw Grace
+making the fire, and we knew the wood was green. It made a big smudge
+coming out of the chimney, and Tubby thought he had a brilliant idea."
+
+"I know!" exclaimed Frankie. "He had that plank to put over the top of
+our chimney. We'd have been smoked out, sure enough."
+
+"That's it," chuckled Dave. "Tubby got up all right, and he got the
+plank up all right. But just as he tried to lift the plank to the top of
+the chimney his foot slipped, the board dropped, he fell on it as if he
+was coasting down hill, and--you saw the rest!"
+
+"Oh--oh!" chattered Tubby. "Come on in and let me get--get to--to
+th-that f-f-fire. I'm _frozen_!"
+
+"Here's the key, Dave," said Wyn, laughing (for the fat youth _did_
+look so funny), "and you can lock up when you go home and bring the key
+to my house. Don't you boys make a mess in here for us to clean up," she
+added.
+
+"But they will. Boys always do," declared Bessie Lavine.
+
+"Well, thank goodness, it won't be _my_ turn to clean up after
+them, or make another fire," declared Grace.
+
+"They will do no damage," returned Wyn, with assurance, as the girls
+trooped away from the boathouse toward the town.
+
+"They have to keep their camp clean," declared Frank. "I know that.
+Professor Skillings may be forgetful; but he is very particular about
+_that_. Ferdinand Roberts told me so."
+
+"I expect those horrid Busters _do_ know a lot more than we do
+about camping."
+
+"Indeed they do," sighed Grace. "How'll we ever put up a tent big enough
+to house seven?"
+
+"The boys will help us," declared Wyn.
+
+"I expect we'll have to let them," grumbled Bess. "Or else pay a man to
+do it for us."
+
+"My goodness me!" laughed Frances Cameron. "It must be a dreadful thing
+to hate boys like Bess does! They're awfully bad sometimes, I know----"
+
+"Look at what those two boys tried to do to us this very evening,"
+exclaimed Bessie.
+
+"Oh, Tubby's always up to some foolishness," said Percy, laughing.
+
+"And that Dave Shepard is just as bad!" cried Bess Lavine, tossing her
+head.
+
+"Wyn won't agree with that statement," chuckled Frank.
+
+"And all six of the Busters are full of mischief," went on the
+complaining one. "I wish they were not going to the same place we are to
+camp."
+
+"Why, Bess!" exclaimed Mina.
+
+"I _do_ wish that. They'll be around under foot all the time. And
+they'll play tricks, and be rough and rude, and I know they will spoil
+the summer for us."
+
+"You go on!" came from Frank, with some scorn. "I guess I can hold up my
+end against the Busters."
+
+"Just wait and see," prophesied Bessie, shaking her head. "I feel very
+sure that, the Busters and the Go-Ahead Club will not get along well
+together at Lake Honotonka."
+
+"It takes two parties for an argument," said Wyn Mallory, quietly. "And
+in spite of their mischief I believe in the Busters."
+
+"Wait and see if what I say isn't true!" snapped Bessie, and turned off
+into a side street toward her own home.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+POLLY
+
+
+Wyn Mallory was one of those girls whom people called "different."
+
+Not that there was a thing really odd about her. She was happy, healthy,
+more than a little athletic, of a sanguine temperament, and possessed a
+deal of tact for a girl of her age.
+
+But there was a quality in her character that balanced her better than
+most girls are. That foundation of good sense on which only can be
+erected a lasting character, was Wyn's. She was just as girlish and
+"fly-away" at times, as Frances Cameron herself, or Percy Havel; but she
+always stopped short of hurting another person's feelings and she seemed
+to really enjoy doing things for others, which her mates sometimes
+acclaimed as "tiresome."
+
+And don't think there was a mite of self-consciousness about all this in
+Wyn Mallory's make-up, for there wasn't. She enjoyed being helpful and
+kind because that was her nature--not for the praise she might receive
+from her older friends.
+
+Wyn was a natural leader. Such girls always are. Without asserting
+themselves, other girls will look up to them, and copy them, and follow
+them. Whereas a bad, or ill-natured, or haughty girl must have some
+means of bribing the weak-minded ones to gain a following at all.
+
+The Mallory family was a small one. Wyn had a little sister; but there
+was a difference of twelve years between them. The family was a very
+affectionate one, and Papa Mallory, Mamma Mallory, and Wyn all
+worshipped at the shrine of little May.
+
+So when at supper that Friday evening something was said about certain
+drygoods needed for the little one, Wyn offered at once to spend her
+Saturday forenoon shopping.
+
+She had plenty to do that morning; Saturday morning is always a busy
+time for any school girl in the upper grades, and Wyn was well advanced
+at Denton Academy. But she hastened out by nine o'clock and went down
+town.
+
+Denton was a pretty town, with good stores, a courthouse, well stocked
+library and several churches of various denominations. In the center was
+an ancient Parade Ground--a broad, well-shaped public park, with a huge
+flagstaff in the middle of the main field, and Civil War cannon flanking
+the entrances.
+
+Denton had a history. On this open field the Minute Men had marched and
+counter-marched; and before Revolutionary days, even, the so-called
+"train-bands" had paraded here. Like Boston Common, Denton's Parade
+Ground was a plot devoted for all time to the people, and could be used
+for no other purpose but that of a public park.
+
+The streets that bordered the three sides of the Parade Ground (for it
+was of flat-iron shape) were the best residential streets of the town;
+yet Market Street--the main business thoroughfare--was only a square
+away from one side of the park.
+
+Wyn Mallory on this bright May morning walked briskly along the shaded
+side of the park and turned off at Archer Street to reach the main stem
+of the town, where the shops stood in rows and the electric cars to
+Maynbury had the right of way in the middle of the street.
+
+Her very first call was at Mr. Erad's drygoods and notion store. His
+shop was much smaller than some of the modern "department" stores that
+had of late appeared in Denton; but the old store held the conservative
+trade. Mr. Erad had been in trade, at this very corner, from the time he
+was a smooth-faced young man; and now his hair and beard were almost
+white.
+
+He was a pleasant, cheerful--and usually charitable--gentleman, with
+rosy cheeks and gold-rimmed spectacles. He spent most of his time "on
+the floor," greeting old customers, attracting new ones with his
+courtesy, and generally overseeing the salesmen.
+
+He usually had a pleasant word and a hand-shake for Wyn when she entered
+his store; but this morning the old gentleman did not even notice her as
+she came through one of the turnstile doors.
+
+He stood near, however, speaking with a girl of about Wyn's age--a girl
+who was a total stranger to the captain of the Go-Ahead Club. The
+stranger was rather poorly dressed. She wore shabby gloves, and a shabby
+hat, and shabby shoes. Besides, both her dark frock and the hat were
+"ages and ages" behind the fashion.
+
+Her clothes were really so ugly that the girl herself did not have a
+chance to look her best. Wyn realized that after the second glance. And
+she saw that the strange girl was almost handsome.
+
+She was as big as Grace Hedges; but she was dark. Her hair was
+beautifully crinkled where it lay flat against the sides of her head
+over her ears. At the back there was a great roll, and it was glossy and
+well cared-for. Even a girl who cannot afford to dress in the mode can
+make her hair beautiful by a little effort.
+
+This girl had made that effort and, furthermore, she had made herself as
+neat as anyone need be.
+
+In addition to her beautiful hair, the stranger's other attractions can
+be enumerated as a long, well formed nose, well defined eyebrows and
+long lashes, and deep gray eyes that looked almost black in the shade of
+her broad brow. Her skin was lovely, although she was very much bronzed
+by the sun. A rose-flush showed through this tan and aided her red, full
+lips to give color to her face. Her teeth were two splendid, perfect
+rows of dazzling white; her chin was beautifully molded. This fully
+developed countenance was lit by intelligence, as well, and, with her
+well rounded figure and gentle, deprecating manner, Wyn thought of her
+instantly as a big helpless child.
+
+Mr. Erad was speaking very sternly to her, and that, alone, made Wyn
+desire to take her part. She could not bear to hear anybody scold a
+person so timid and humble. And at every decisive phrase Mr. Erad
+uttered, Wyn could see her wince.
+
+"I cannot do it. I do not see why I should," declared the storekeeper.
+"Indeed, there are many reasons why I should not. Yes--I know. I
+employed John Jarley at one time. But that was years ago. He would not
+stay with me. He was always trying something new. And he never stuck to
+a thing long enough for either he--or anybody else--to find out whether
+he was fitted for it or not.
+
+"Hold on! I take that back. I guess there's _one_ man in town,"
+said Mr. Erad, with almost a snarl, "who thinks John Jarley stuck long
+enough on one job."
+
+Wyn, frankly listening, but watching the girl and Mr. Erad covertly, saw
+the former's face flame hotly at the shot. But her murmured reply was
+too low for Wyn to hear.
+
+"Ha! I know nothing was ever proved against him. But decent people know
+the other party, and know that he is square. John Jarley got out of town
+and stayed out of town. That was enough to show everybody that he felt
+guilty."
+
+"You are wrong, sir," said the dark girl, her voice trembling, but
+audible now in her strong emotion. "You are wrong. It was my mother's
+ill health that took us into the woods. And the ill-natured gossip of
+the neighbors--just such things as you have now repeated--troubled my
+mother, too. So father took us away from it all."
+
+"If he was honest, he made a great mistake in running away at that
+time," asserted Mr. Erad.
+
+"No, he made no mistake," returned the girl, her fine eyes flashing. "He
+did the right thing. He saved my mother agony, and made her last years
+beautiful. My father did no wrong in either case, sir."
+
+"Well, well, well!" snapped Mr. Erad. "I cannot discuss the matter with
+you. We should not agree, I am sure. And I can do nothing for you."
+
+"Wait, please! give me a chance! Let me work for you to pay for these
+things we need. I will work faithfully----"
+
+"I have no place for you."
+
+"Oh, sir----"
+
+"My goodness, girl! _No_, I tell you. Isn't that enough? Beside,
+you are not well dressed enough to wait upon my customers. And you could
+not earn enough here to pay your board, dress decently, and pay for any
+bill of goods that you--or your father--may want."
+
+The girl turned away. There was a bit of dingy veiling attached to the
+front of her old-fashioned hat, and Wyn saw her pull this down quickly
+over her face. The listener knew _why_, and she had to wink her own
+eyes hard to keep back the tears.
+
+She deliberately turned her back upon old Mr. Erad, whom she was usually
+so glad to see, and went hastily down the aisle. From her distant
+station by the notion counter she saw the drooping figure of the strange
+girl leave the store.
+
+Wyn Mallory was worried. She could not see a forlorn cat on the street,
+or a homeless dog shivering beside a garbage can, that she was not
+tempted to "do something for it."
+
+Dave Shepard often laughingly said that it was an adventure to go
+walking with Wyn Mallory, One never knew what she was going to see that
+needed "fixing." And Dave might have added, that if Wyn had him for
+escort, she usually got these wrong things "fixed."
+
+She now hastened through her purchasing, not with any definite object in
+view, save that she wanted to get out of the store. Mr. Erad was not at
+all the nice, charitable man whom she had always supposed him to be.
+That is, it looked so now to the impulsive, warm-hearted girl.
+
+Her mind was fixed upon the strange girl and her troubles. Wyn did not
+neglect the errand her mother had given her to do, although she hurried
+her shopping.
+
+When she was out of the store, she drew a long breath. "I couldn't
+breathe in that place--not well," she told herself. "I wonder where that
+poor girl has gone now?"
+
+There was nobody to answer her, nor was the strange girl in sight. Wyn
+felt rather remorseful that she had not let her shopping wait and
+followed the strange girl out of the store immediately.
+
+The stranger might have been in desperate straits. Wyn could not imagine
+anybody begging for goods, and for work, especially after the way Mr.
+Erad had spoken, unless in great trouble.
+
+Wyn began to take herself seriously to task. The strange girl had
+disappeared and she had not even tried to help her, or comfort her.
+
+"I might have gone out and offered some little help, or sympathy. How do
+I know what will become of her? And she may have no friends in town. At
+least, it is evident that she does not live here."
+
+There were several other errands to do. All the time, especially while
+she was on the street, she kept her eye open for the strange girl whose
+name she presumed must be "Jarley."
+
+[Illustration: "MY DEAR, I WILL BE YOUR FRIEND." _Page 30._]
+But Wyn did not see her anywhere, and it seemed useless to wander down
+Market Street looking for her. So, when she had completed her purchases,
+she turned her face homeward.
+
+She went up past Mr. Erad's store again and turned through Archer
+Street. As she crossed into the park she looked for a settee to rest on,
+for unconsciously she had walked more briskly than usual.
+
+There, under a wide-limbed oak, was a green-painted seat, removed from
+any other settee; but there was a figure on it.
+
+"There's room for two, I guess," thought Wyn; and then she made a
+discovery that almost made her cry out aloud. Its occupant was the very
+girl for whom she was in search!
+
+Wyn controlled her impulse to run forward, and approached the bench
+quite casually. Before she reached it, however, she realized that the
+dark girl was crying softly.
+
+Natural delicacy would have restrained Wyn from approaching the girl so
+abruptly. Only, she was deeply interested, and already knowing the
+occasion for her tears, the captain of the Go-Ahead Club could not
+ignore the forlorn figure on the bench.
+
+Without speaking, she dropped into the seat beside the strange girl, and
+put her hand on the other's shoulder.
+
+"My dear!" she said, when the startled gray eyes--all a-flood with
+tears--were raised to her own. "My dear, tell me all about
+it--_do_! If I can't help you, I will be your friend, and it will
+make you feel lots better to tell it all to somebody who sympathizes."
+
+"Bu-but you ca-can't sympathize with me!" gasped the other, looking into
+Wyn's steady, brown eyes and finding friendliness and commiseration
+there. "You--you see, you never knew the lack of anything good; you're
+not poor."
+
+"No, I am not poor," admitted Wyn.
+
+"And I don't want charity!" cried the strange girl quickly.
+
+"I am not going to offer it to you. But I'd dearly love to be your
+friend," Wyn said. "You know--you're so pretty!" she added, impulsively.
+
+The girl flushed charmingly again. "I--I guess I'm not very pretty in my
+old duds, and with my nose and eyes red from crying."
+
+But she was really one of those few persons who are not made ugly by
+crying. She had neither red eyes nor a red nose.
+
+"Do tell me what troubles you," urged Wyn, patting her firm, calloused
+hand.
+
+Those hands were no soft, useless members--no, indeed! Pretty as she
+was, the stranger had evidently been in the habit of performing arduous
+manual labor.
+
+"Where do you live, my dear?" asked Wyn, again, as her first question
+was not answered.
+
+"Up beyond Meade's Forge," said the strange girl.
+
+"Oh, my! On Lake Honotonka?"
+
+"Yes, ma'am."
+
+"Please don't _ma'am_ me!" cried the captain of the Go-Ahead Club.
+"My name is Wynifred Mallory. My friends all call me Wyn. Now, I want
+you to be my friend, so you must commence calling me Wyn right away."
+
+"But--but you don't know me," said the other girl, hesitatingly.
+
+"I am going to; am I not?" demanded Wyn, with her frank smile. "Surely,
+now that I have confided in you, you will confide in me to the same
+extent? Or, don't you like me?"
+
+"Of course I like you!" exclaimed the still sobbing girl. "But--but I do
+not know that I have any right to allow you to be my friend."
+
+"Goodness me! why not?" exclaimed Wyn.
+
+"Why--why, we have a bad name in this town, it seems," said the other.
+
+"Who have?" snapped Wyn, hating Mr. Erad harder than ever now.
+
+"My father and I."
+
+"What have you done that makes you a pariah?" exclaimed Wyn, fairly
+laughing now. "Aren't you foolish?"
+
+"No. People say my father was not honest I am Polly Jarley," said the
+girl, desperately.
+
+"Polly Jolly?" cried Wyn. "Not much you are! You are anything but jolly.
+You are Polly Miserrimus."
+
+"I don't know what that means, ma'am----"
+
+"Wyn!" exclaimed the other girl, quickly.
+
+"M--Miss Wyn."
+
+"Not right. Just Wyn. Plain Wyn----"
+
+"Oh, I couldn't call you plain," cried the poorly dressed girl, with
+some spontaneity now. "For you are very pretty. But I don't really know
+what Mis--Mis----"
+
+"'Miserrimus'?'"
+
+"That is it."
+
+"It's Latin, and it means miserable, all right," laughed Wyn. "And you
+act more to fit the name of 'Polly Miserrimus' than that of 'Polly
+Jolly.'"
+
+"It's Jarley, Miss Wyn."
+
+"But now tell me all about it, Polly," urged Wyn, having by this means
+stopped the flow of Polly's tears. "Surely it will help you just to free
+your mind. And don't be foolish enough to think that I wouldn't want to
+know you and be your friend if your poor father was the biggest criminal
+on earth."
+
+"He isn't! He is unfortunate. He has been accused wrongfully, and
+everybody is against him," exclaimed Polly, with some heat.
+
+"All right. Then let's hear about it," urged Wyn, capturing both of the
+other girl's hands in her own, and smiling into her tear-drenched gray
+eyes.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+THE SILVER IMAGES
+
+
+"Didn't you ever hear of us Jarleys?" Polly first of all demanded.
+
+"Only as being interested in the wax-work business," replied Wyn, with
+twinkling eyes.
+
+"I--I guess father never made wax-work," said Polly, hesitatingly.
+
+She was an innocent sort of girl, who evidently lacked many advantages
+of education and reading that Wyn and her friends had enjoyed as a
+matter of course.
+
+"Well, I never heard the name before to-day--not _your_ name, nor
+your father's," Wyn said.
+
+"Well, we used to live here."
+
+"In Denton?"
+
+"Yes, ma'am----"
+
+"Will you stop that?" cried Wyn. "I am Wyn Mallory, I tell you."
+
+"All right, Wyn. It's a pretty name. I'll be glad to use it," returned
+Polly.
+
+"Prove it by using it altogether," commanded Wyn. "Now, what about your
+father?"
+
+"I--I can't tell you much about it--much of the particulars, I mean,"
+said the girl from Lake Honotonka, diffidently. "I don't really know
+them. Father never speaks of it much. But even as a tiny girl mother
+explained to me that when folks said father had done wrong I must deny
+it. That it was not so. It was only circumstances that made him appear
+in the wrong. And--you know, Wyn--your mother wouldn't lie to you!"
+
+"Of course not!" cried Wyn, warmly. "Of course not!"
+
+"Well, then, you'll have to believe just what I tell you. Father was in
+some business deal with a man here in Denton, and something went wrong.
+The other man accused father of being dishonest. Father could not defend
+himself. Circumstances were dead against him. And it worried mother so
+that it made her sick.
+
+"So we all left town. Father had very little money, and he built a shack
+up there in the woods near Honotonka. We're just 'squatters' up there.
+But gradually father got a few boats, and built a float, and made enough
+in the summer from fishermen and campers to support us. Of course,
+mother being sick so many years before she died, kept us very poor. I
+only go to the district school winters. Then I have to walk four miles
+each way, for we own no horse. Summers I help father with the boats."
+
+"That's where you got such palms! cried Wyn, touching her new friend's
+calloused hands again.
+
+"It's rowing does it. But I don't mind. I love the water, you see."
+
+"So do I. I've got a canoe. I'm captain of a girls' canoe club."
+
+"That's nice," said Polly. "I suppose when you take up boating for just
+a sport it's lots better than trying to make one's living out of it."
+
+"Well, tell me more," urged Wyn. "What are you in town for now? Why did
+I find you crying here on the bench?"
+
+"A man hurt me by talking harshly about poor father," said the girl from
+Lake Honotonka.
+
+"Come on! tell me," urged Wyn, giving her a little shake. Polly suddenly
+threw an arm about the town girl and hugged her tightly.
+
+"I _do_ love you, Wyn Mallory," she sobbed. "I--I wish you were my
+sister. I get so lonely sometimes up there in the woods, for there's
+only father and me now. And this past winter he was very sick with
+rheumatic fever. You see, there was an accident."
+
+"He met with an accident, you mean?"
+
+"Yes. It was awful--or it might have been awful for him if he and I had
+not had signals that we use when there's a fog on the lake. I'll tell
+you.
+
+"You see, there is a man named Shelton--Dr. Shelton--who lives in one of
+the grand houses at Braisely Park--you know, that is the rich people's
+summer colony at the upper end of the lake?"
+
+"I know about it," said Wyn. "Although I never was there."
+
+"Well, Dr. Shelton had his motor boat down at our float. He left it
+there himself, and he told father to go to the express office at Meade's
+Forge on a certain day and get a box that would be there addressed to
+Dr. Shelton. It was a valuable box.
+
+"When father went for it the expressman would not give it up until he
+had telephoned to Dr. Shelton and recognized the doctor's voice over the
+wire. It seems that that box was packed with ancient silver images that
+had been found in a ruined temple in Yucatan, and had been sent to Dr.
+Shelton by the man who found them. They claim they were worth at the
+least five thousand dollars.
+
+"The doctor had a party at his house right then, he said over the
+telephone, and he wanted father to come up the lake with the box. He
+wanted to display his antique treasures to his friends.
+
+"Now, it was a dreadfully bad day. After father had started down to the
+Forge in the motor boat he knew that a storm was coming. And ahead of it
+was a thick fog. He told Dr. Shelton over the 'phone that it was a bad
+time to make the trip the whole length of Lake Honotonka.
+
+"The doctor would not listen to any excuses, however; and it was his
+boat that was being risked. And his silver images, too! Those rich
+people don't care much about a poor man's life, and if father had
+refused to risk his on the lake in the storm Dr. Shelton would have
+given his trade to some other boatkeeper after that.
+
+"So father started in the _Bright Eyes_. He did not shoot right up
+the middle of the lake, as he would have done had the day been fair. The
+lake is twenty miles broad, you know, in the middle. So he kept near our
+side--the south side it is--and did not lose sight of the shore at
+first.
+
+"But at Gannet Island he knew he had better run outside. You see, the
+strait between the island and the shore is narrow and, when the wind is
+high, it sometimes is dangerous in there. Why, ten years ago, one of the
+little excursion steamers that used to ply the lake then, got caught in
+that strait and was wrecked!
+
+"So father _had_ to go outside of Gannet Island. The fog shut down
+as thick as a blanket before he more than sighted the end of the island.
+He kept on, remembering what Dr. Shelton had said, and that is where he
+made a mistake," said Polly, shaking her head. "He ought to have turned
+right around and come back to our landing."
+
+"Oh, dear me! what happened to him?" cried Wyn, eagerly.
+
+"The fog came down, thicker and thicker," proceeded the boatman's
+daughter. "And the wind rode down upon father, too. Wind and fog
+together are not usual; but when the two combine it is much worse than
+either alone. You see, the thick mist swirling into father's eyes,
+driven head-on by the wind, blinded him. He steered a shade too near the
+shore.
+
+"Suddenly the _Bright Eyes_ struck. A motor boat, going head-on
+upon a snag, can be easily wrecked. The boat struck and stuck, and
+father leaped up to shut off the engine.
+
+"As he did so, something swished through the blinding fog and struck
+him, carrying him backward over the stern of the boat. Perhaps it was
+the loss of his weight that allowed the _Bright Eyes_ to scrape
+over the snag. At least, she did so as father plunged into the lake, and
+as he sank he knew that the boat, with her engine at half speed, was
+tearing away across the lake.
+
+"It was the drooping limb of a tree that had torn father from the stern
+of the motor boat," continued Polly Jarley. "It may have been a big root
+of the same tree, under water, that had proved the finish of the boat.
+For nobody ever saw the _Bright Eyes_ again. She just ran off at a
+tangent, into the middle of the lake, somewhere, we suppose, and filled
+and sank."
+
+"Oh, dear me! And your father?" asked Wyn, anxiously.
+
+"He got ashore on the island. Then he signalled to me, and I went off
+during a lull in the storm, and got him. He went to bed, and it was
+three months before he was up and around again.
+
+"He suffered dreadfully with rheumatic fever," continued Polly, sadly.
+"And all the time Dr. Shelton was talking just as mean about him as he
+could. He didn't believe his story. He even said that he thought my
+father took the motor boat down the river somewhere and sold it. And the
+way he talked about that box of silver images----"
+
+"Oh, oh!" cried Wyn. "I'd forgotten about them. Of course they were
+lost, too?"
+
+"Sunk somewhere in Lake Honotonka," declared Polly. "Father knows no
+more about where the boat lies than Dr. Shelton himself. But there are
+always people ready and willing to pick up the evil that is said about a
+person and help circulate it.
+
+"While father was flat on his back, folks were talking about him. We had
+to raise money on the boats to pay for our food and father's medicine.
+If we don't have a good season this summer we will be unable to pay off
+the chattel mortgage next winter, and will lose the boats. I tell you,
+Miss Wyn, it is _hard_."
+
+"You poor, dear girl!" exclaimed Wyn. "I should think it _was_
+hard. And that mean man accuses your father----"
+
+"Well, you see, there was father's past record against him. The story of
+his trouble here in Denton followed him into the woods, of course. If
+anybody gets mad at us up at the Forge, they throw the whole thing up to
+us. I--I _hate_ it there," sobbed the boatkeeper's daughter.
+
+"And yet, it is harder on poor father. He is straight, but everything
+has been against him. I saw he felt dreadfully these past few days
+because I need some decent clothes. And there is no money to buy any.
+
+"So I thought I would come to town and see some old friends of mother's
+who used to come and see us years ago. Yes, there were a few people who
+stuck to mother, even if they did not quite approve of poor father. But,
+when I paddled 'way down here----"
+
+"Not in a canoe?" cried Wyn.
+
+"Yes, I came down very easily yesterday evening and stopped at a
+boatman's house on the edge of town. I shall go back again to-day. The
+Wintinooski isn't kicking up much of a rumpus just now. The spring
+floods are about all over."
+
+"But you must be a splendid hand with a paddle," said Wyn. "It's a long
+way to the lake."
+
+"Oh! I don't mind it," said Polly. "Or, I _wouldn't_ mind it if it
+had done me the least good to come down here," and she sighed.
+
+"You are disappointed?" queried Wyn.
+
+"Dreadfully! I did not find mother's old friends. I had not heard from
+them for two or three years, and found that they were away--nobody knows
+where. I did not know but I might get work here in town for a few weeks,
+and live with these old friends, and so earn some money. I am so shabby!
+And father isn't fit to be seen.
+
+"And then--then there was a man in town who used to befriend mother. I
+know when I was quite a little girl, the year after we had gone to the
+woods to live, father was ill for a long time and mother had to have
+things. She went to this storekeeper in Denton and he let her have
+things on account and we paid him afterward. Oh, we paid him--every
+cent!" declared Polly, again wiping her eyes.
+
+"And I hoped he would--for mother's sake--help us again. I went to him.
+I--I reminded him of how father once worked for him, and that he knew
+mother. But he was angry about something--he would not listen--he would
+neither give me work nor let me have goods charged. I--I--well, it just
+broke me down, Wyn Mallory, and I came here to cry it out."
+
+"It's a shame!" exclaimed Wyn. "I am just as sorry for you as I can be.
+And I believe that your father is perfectly honest and that he never in
+his life intended to defraud anybody."
+
+It was that blessed _tact_ that made Wynifred Mallory say that. It
+was the sure way to Polly Jarley's heart; and Wyn's words and way opened
+the door wide and Polly took her in.
+
+"You--you _blessed_ creature!" cried the boatman's daughter. "I
+know you must have been 'specially sent to comfort me. I _was_ so
+miserable."
+
+"Of course I was sent," declared Wyn. She did not propose to tell her
+new acquaintance that she had observed her in Erad's store and had
+looked for her all over Market Street.
+
+"Such things are meant to be. If we trust to God we surely shall have
+release from our difficulties. That is just as sure as the day follows
+the night," declared Wyn, with simple, straight-forward faith.
+
+"And just see how it is proved in this case. You were in trouble, and
+sat here crying, and needed somebody to help you. And I came along
+perfectly willing and able to help you, and you are going to be helped."
+
+"I _am_ helped!" declared Polly. "You just put the courage back
+into me. I didn't know what to do----"
+
+"Do you know any better now?" demanded Wyn, quickly.
+
+"We--ell, I----"
+
+"That doesn't sound as though you had _quite_ made up your mind,"
+said Wyn, with a little laugh.
+
+"Never mind. I can stand even going back home with my hands empty,
+better than before I met you," declared Polly, bravely.
+
+"But you won't go back home empty-handed."
+
+"Oh, Wyn! Can you get me work?"
+
+"No, not here. Nor do I believe you ought to leave your father alone up
+there for so long. I expect he is not very well yet?"
+
+"No. He is not," admitted Polly.
+
+"Then, you go home. That is the best place for you, anyway. But before
+you go you shall make such purchases as you may need----"
+
+Polly drew away from her along the seat, and her gray eyes grew
+brighter. "Oh, Miss Mallory!" she murmured. "Don't do _that_."
+
+"Don't do what?" demanded Wyn.
+
+"Don't spoil it all."
+
+"Spoil what-all?" cried Wyn, in exasperation. "I'm not going to spoil
+anything. But you listen to me. This is sense."
+
+"I--I couldn't take charity from _you_--a stranger."
+
+"I offer to lend you twenty dollars. You can pay it back when you
+choose."
+
+"Twenty dollars! You lend me twenty dollars?"
+
+"Yes. I have quite some spending money given to me, and I have been
+saving nearly all of it for some time. So I can easily spare it."
+
+"But I don't know when I can repay you."
+
+"I can tell you, then. You can pay me back this very summer."
+
+"This summer, miss?"
+
+"Don't call me 'miss'!" cried Wyn, in greater exasperation. "I have told
+you my name is 'Wyn'! And I mean exactly what I say. This is a perfectly
+straight business proposition," and she laughed her full-throated laugh
+that made even Polly Jarley, in her trouble, smile.
+
+"Then your business, Wyn Mallory, must be the saving of people from
+trouble--is that it? For there is no reason in what you say you will
+do--Oh, I can't accept it. It would be charity!" cried Polly, again
+clasping Wyn's hands.
+
+"It is not charity," said Wyn, firmly, opening her purse. "And I'll
+quickly show you why it is not. You see, Polly Jolly--and I want you to
+smile at me and look as though you fitted that name. You see, I am
+captain of the Go-Ahead Club."
+
+"The Go-Ahead Club?"
+
+"Yes. We are six girls. We each own canoes. And we are just _crazy_
+to spend next summer under canvas."
+
+"You are going camping?"
+
+"That is our intention," Wyn said, nodding.
+
+"Oh, then! come up to Lake Honotonka," cried Polly. "I can show you
+beautiful places to camp, and we can have lots of fun----"
+
+"That likewise is our intention," broke in Wyn. "We have just decided to
+camp for the summer on the shore of the lake. Rather, our parents,
+guardians, and the cat, have finally agreed to our plans. We shall come
+up there the week after the Academy closes."
+
+"Now, we want you, Polly, to find us the very best camping place, to
+arrange everything for us, and don't have it too far from your place,
+and from Meade's Forge. I expect the Busters will camp on one of the
+islands. The Busters, you see, are our boy friends who are likewise
+going to the lake. They were there last year with Professor Skillings."
+
+"I remember them," said Polly, wonderingly. "And you and your girl
+friends are coming?"
+
+"Just the surest thing you know, Polly," declared Wyn. "So you are going
+to take this twenty dollars," and she suddenly thrust the bill into the
+other girl's hand and closed her fingers over it. "Then, next summer, we
+shall let you pay it back in perfectly legitimate charges, for we'll
+want you and your father to help us a good deal.
+
+"Now, what say, Polly Jolly? Will you please let your face fit your
+name--as I have rechristened you? Smile, my dear--smile!"
+
+"I could cry again, Wyn--you are so kind!" half sobbed the other girl.
+
+"Now, you stop all that foolishness--a great, big girl like you!"
+exclaimed Wyn. "Turn off the sprinkler, as Dave Shepard says. Get right
+up now and go briskly about your buying. And write to me when you get
+home and write just as often as you can till we meet at the lake this
+summer."
+
+"You dear!" ejaculated Polly.
+
+"You're another. How will I address you--at the Forge?"
+
+"Yes, and you must give me your address," said the boatman's daughter,
+eagerly.
+
+Wyn did so. The two girls, such recent but already such warm friends,
+kissed each other and Polly Jarley went briskly away toward Market
+Street. Wyn stopped on the bench for several minutes and watched the
+girl from Lake Honotonka walk away, while a smile wreathed her lips and
+a warm light lingered in her brown eyes.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+BESSIE LAVINE
+
+
+Suddenly a gay voice hailed Wyn.
+
+"Hi, Captain of the Go-Aheads! What are you doing, mooning here?"
+
+"Why, Bess!" returned Wyn, turning to greet Bessie Lavine. "I didn't see
+you coming along."
+
+"No; but I saw you, my noble captain."
+
+"Going shopping?"
+
+"Aye, aye, Captain!" cried the other member of the Go-Ahead club. "But
+who was that I saw you with? Didn't I see you talking to that girl who
+just crossed Benefit Street?"
+
+"Oh, yes."
+
+"Who was she?"
+
+"Polly Jarley. She is daughter of a boatman up at the lake. And wasn't
+it fortunate that I met her? She can find us a camping place and get
+everything fixed up there for our coming."
+
+"What's her name?" asked Bess, sharply.
+
+"Polly Jarley."
+
+"And she lives up there by the lake?"
+
+"So she says."
+
+"Her father is John Jarley, of course?" queried Bessie, looking down at
+Wyn, darkly.
+
+"Yes. That is her father's name," said Wyn, beginning to wonder at her
+friend's manner.
+
+"Well! I guess you don't know those Jarleys very well; do you?"
+
+"Why--I----"
+
+Wyn hesitated to tell Bessie that she had only just now met the
+unfortunate boatman's daughter. She remembered Polly's story, and what
+she had overheard Mr. Erad say in the drygoods store.
+
+"You surely _can't_ know what and who they are, and still be
+friendly with that girl?" repeated Bessie, her eyes flashing with anger.
+
+"Why, my dear," said Wyn, soothingly. "Don't speak that way. Sit down
+and tell me what you mean. I certainly have not known Polly long; and I
+never met her father----"
+
+"Oh, they left this town a long time ago."
+
+"So she told me. And she said something about her father having been
+accused of dishonesty----"
+
+"I should say so!" gasped Bessie. "Why, John Jarley almost ruined
+_my_ father. He was a traitor to him. They were in a deal
+together--it was when my father first tried to get into the real estate
+business here in Denton--and this John Jarley sold him out. Why,
+everybody knows it! It crippled father for a long time, and what Jarley
+got out of playing traitor never did him any good, I guess, for they
+were soon as poor as Job's turkey, and they went to live in the woods
+there. He's a poor, miserable wretch. Father says he's never had a
+stroke of luck since he played him such a mean trick--and serves him
+right!"
+
+Wyn stared at her in amazement, for Bessie had gone on quite
+breathlessly and had spoken with much heat. Finally Wyn observed:
+
+"Well, dear, _your_ father has done well since those days. They say
+he is one of our richest citizens. Surely you can forgive what poor John
+Jarley did, for he and his daughter are now very miserable."
+
+"I don't see why we should forgive them," cried Bessie, hotly.
+
+"Why, Bess! This poor girl had nothing to do with her father wronging
+your father----"
+
+"I don't care. She's his daughter. It's in the blood. I wouldn't trust
+her a single bit. I wouldn't speak to her. And no girl can be _her_
+friend and mine, too!"
+
+"Why, Bess! don't say that," urged Wyn. "You and I have been friends for
+years and years. We wouldn't want to have a falling out."
+
+"I see no need for us to fall out," exclaimed Bessie, her eyes still
+flashing. "But I just won't associate with girls who associate with
+those low people--there now!"
+
+"Now do you feel better, Bess?" asked Wyn, laughing.
+
+That was the worst of Wyn Mallory! All the girls said so. One couldn't
+"fight" with her. For, you see, it takes two at least to keep a quarrel
+alive, although but one to start it.
+
+"Well, you don't know how mean that man, Jarley, was to my father. And
+years ago they were the very best of friends. Why! they went to school
+together, and were chums--just as thick as you and I are, Wynnie--just
+as thick. And for him to be a traitor----"
+
+"If he was, don't you think he has been paying for it?" asked Wyn,
+sensibly. "According to what I hear he is poor, and ill, and
+unfortunate----"
+
+"I don't know whether he is or not. It was only a few weeks ago we heard
+of his stealing a motor boat up there at the lake and some other
+valuables, and selling them----"
+
+"He wouldn't be poor if he had done that; would he?" interrupted Wyn.
+"For I know for a fact that he is very, very poor."
+
+She did not want to tell Bessie that she had given Polly Jarley money;
+but she did not believe that the boatman's daughter would be in need as
+she was if Mr. Jarley were guilty of the crime of which he had been so
+recently accused.
+
+"Well, I haven't a mite of sympathy for them," declared Bessie.
+
+"Perhaps you cannot be expected to have sympathy for the Jarleys,"
+admitted Wyn, in her wholesome way. "But you won't mind, will you, dear,
+if _I_ have a little for poor Polly?" and she hugged Bessie, who
+had sat down, close to her. "Come on, Bessie--don't be mad at
+_me_."
+
+"Oh, dear! nobody can be mad at you, Wyn Mallory. You do blarney so."
+
+"Ah, now, my dear; it isn't blarneying at all!" laughed Wyn. "It's just
+showing you the sensible way. We girls don't want to be flighty, and
+have 'mads on,' as Frank says, for no real reason. And this poor girl
+will never trouble you in the world----"
+
+"I wish she wasn't up at that lake," declared Bessie.
+
+"Why, Bess! the lake's plenty big enough," said Wyn, chuckling. "We
+won't have to see much of the Jarleys. Although----"
+
+"I sha'n't go if she is to be on hand," asserted Bessie, with vehemence.
+
+"One would think poor Polly Jarley had an infectious disease. She won't
+hurt you, Bess."
+
+"I don't care. I feel just as papa does about it. He and Jarley were
+closer than brothers. But he wouldn't speak to Jarley now--no, sir! And
+I don't want anything to do with that girl."
+
+With this Bess jumped up, preparing to go on her way to the stores. Wyn
+was going home, and she gathered up her packages.
+
+"You'll think differently about it some day, Bess," she said,
+thoughtfully, as her friend tripped away. "How foolish to hold rancor so
+long! For years and years those two men have hated each other. And I
+expect Polly would dislike Bess just as Bess dislikes her--and for no
+real reason!
+
+"And it seems too bad. Mr. Lavine is very rich while John Jarley is very
+poor. Usually it is the wicked man who prospers--for a time, at least I
+really don't understand this," sighed Wyn, traveling homeward. "If
+Polly's father is guilty as they believe he is, what did he do with the
+money he must have made by his crimes?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+OFF FOR THE LAKE
+
+
+Although the members of the Go-Ahead Club--some of them, at least--had
+expressed the wish that the time to start for Lake Honotonka was already
+at hand, the remaining days of May and the busy month of June slipped
+away speedily. At odd hours there was a deal to do to prepare for the
+outing which the girl canoeists longed to enjoy.
+
+Wyn received several letters from Polly Jarley, more hopeful letters
+than she might have expected considering the situation in which the
+boatman's daughter was placed. Evidently Polly was trying to live up to
+her "rechristening."
+
+In reply Wyn made several arrangements for the big outing which she
+confided only in a general way to the club. Polly had selected a
+beautiful spot just east of the rough water behind Gannet Island, and
+not half a mile from her father's boathouse, for the camping place of
+the Go-Ahead Club, and she wrote Wyn that she had stuck up a sign
+pre-empting the spot for the girls from Denton.
+
+It was arranged with the Busters, who would go up to Lake Honotonka the
+same day as the Go-Aheads, to send the stores together by bateau. Wyn
+arranged to have the girls' stores housed by the Jarleys, for she did
+not think that the canvas of either the sleeping or the cook-tent would
+be sufficient protection if there came a heavy storm.
+
+The boys had picked their camping place the year before. They would go
+to the far end of Gannet Island, where there was a cave which promised a
+fairly good storehouse for their goods and chattels. They proposed to
+erect their one big tent right in front of this cavity in the rock--in
+conjunction therewith, in fact. There was a backbone of rock through the
+center of the island in which Professor Skillings, as a geologist, was
+very much interested, and had been for a long time.
+
+To purchase the stores cost considerable money. The girls had to do it
+all out of their own pockets, and to tell the truth some of them had to
+mortgage their spending allowance for the entire summer to "put up"
+their pro rata sum for these supplies.
+
+"Papa says it is going to cost me as much as though I were spending the
+summer at Newport," Percy Havel said, with a sigh.
+
+"_My_ folks have expressed some surprise," admitted Mina Everett.
+"They thought we were going to camp out _al fresco_; but they can
+scarcely believe now that we are not going to live upon _pâté de foie
+gras_ and have a French chef to get up the meals."
+
+"My father began to say something about the cost the other night,"
+giggled Frank Cameron. "But I put the stopper on poor pa very quickly. I
+told him that I'd willingly give up the camping-out scheme if he'd buy a
+touring car. I said:
+
+"'Pa, I've figured the whole thing out, and we can do it easily enough.
+The car, to begin with, will cost $5,000, which at six per cent, is only
+$300 a year. If we charge ten per cent, off for depreciation it will
+come to $500 more. A good chauffeur can be had for $125 per month, or
+$1,500 per year. I have allowed $10 per week for gasoline and $5 for
+repairs. The chauffeur's uniform and furs will come to about $200. Now,
+let's see what it comes to. Three hundred, plus five hundred, and then
+the chauffeur's salary at----'
+
+"'Don't bother me any more, my dear,' says pa. 'I know what it comes
+to.'
+
+"'What _does_ it come to, Pa?' I asked. 'How quick you are at
+figures!'
+
+"'My dear,' he said, impressively, 'it comes to a standstill right here
+and now. We will have no touring car. I'll say no more about the
+Go-Ahead Club.'
+
+"Oh, you can manage the grown-ups," concluded Frank, with a laugh, "if
+you go about it right."
+
+The bateau of stores went up the Wintinooski two days before the girls
+and boys were to start; yet for fear that all might not have gone right
+with the provisions, Wyn insisted that each member of the Go-Ahead. Club
+pack in her canoe the usual "day's ration" that they had been taught
+should always be carried for an emergency.
+
+"It only adds to the weight," grumbled Grace. "And dear knows, the old
+blankets and things that you make us paddle about, makes the going hard
+enough."
+
+"That's it--kick!" exclaimed Frank. "You'd kick if your feet were tied,
+Gracie."
+
+"Assuredly!" returned the big girl.
+
+"Now, don't fuss at the rules of the club that have long ago been voted
+upon and adopted," said Wyn, cheerfully. "We do not know what is going
+to happen. Somebody might hit a snag. It would take hours to make
+repairs--perhaps we would have to camp for the night somewhere on the
+way. We want to be prepared for all such emergencies."
+
+"Well, the Busters aren't loading themselves down with all this truck,"
+declared Grace, with, vigor.
+
+"That's all right. Let us be the wise ones," laughed Wynifred. "The boys
+may want to borrow of us before we get to Lake Honotonka."
+
+"Why, Wynnie!" cried Bess Lavine, "if you are expecting all sorts of
+breakdowns and misfortunes, I shall be afraid to start at all."
+
+"Guess I'll go on with Aunt Evelyn to the Forge, and send my canoe by
+train," laughed Percy Havel. "Wyn's got us drowned already."
+
+But on the morning of the departure not one of the girls prophesied
+misfortune. As for the boys, they were bubbling over with fun.
+
+Professor Skillings was going to paddle up the river with them, although
+Mrs. Havel would take the afternoon train to the lake. The professor had
+gone on ahead; but Dave Shepard arranged the two clubs in line and boys
+and girls marched through the streets and down to the river, being
+hailed by their friends and bidden good-bye by their less fortunate
+mates.
+
+Somebody started singing, and the twelve young voices were soon in the
+rhythm of "This is the Life!" Dave and Tubby were ahead, their paddles
+over their shoulders, each carrying his blanket-roll in approved scout
+fashion. The roll made Tubby Blaisdell look twice his real size.
+
+As the party struck across the sward toward the boathouses Dave suddenly
+dropped his paraphernalia and started on a run for the river.
+
+"Hi, there!" he shouted. "The professor is in trouble, boys!"
+
+The Busters bounded away after him, and the girls, catching the
+excitement, followed along the bank of the swiftly-flowing Wintinooski.
+There was Professor Skillings in his canoe, drifting rapidly into the
+middle of the current, and plainly without his paddle. Indeed, that
+useful--not to say necessary--instrument, capped the pile of Professor
+Skillings' impedimenta on the bank. He had evidently--in his usual
+absent-minded manner--stepped into his canoe and pushed off from shore
+without getting his cargo aboard.
+
+Amid much laughter Dave and Ferd Roberts got a skiff and went after
+their teacher. Professor Skillings chuckled at his own troubles.
+Although he was well past the meridian of life, he had neither lost his
+sense of the ridiculous nor his ability to laugh at a joke when it was
+on himself.
+
+While the boys were rescuing their friend and mentor, the Go-Ahead Club
+proceeded to get out their own canoes and load them. The weight had to
+be distributed in bow and stern of the light, cedar craft; but Wyn and
+her mates had practised loading and launching their boats so frequently
+that there was little danger of an overset now.
+
+Grace was still growling about the food and cooking apparatus
+distributed among the canoeists. Wyn said, laughing:
+
+"That is still the bone of contention; is it, Gracie?"
+
+"What _is_ a 'bone of contention'?" demanded Mina, innocently.
+
+"Why, the jawbone, of course, silly!" cried Frank.
+
+"Don't you mind about my jawbone, miss!" snapped Grace.
+
+"Oh, don't let's fight, girls," Mina said, soothingly.
+
+"Better a dinner of herbs with contentment than a stalled ox and trouble
+on the side," misquoted Frank.
+
+The six girls quickly shot their canoes out into the stream. At this
+point the current was swift; but above Denton the river broadened into
+wide pools through which the current flowed sluggishly and it would be
+easier paddling.
+
+The girls set into a steady stroke, led by their captain, and passed the
+pretty town in a few minutes. Wyn could see the upper windows of her
+home and noted a white cloth fluttering from one. She knew that her
+mother was standing there with the field-glasses and Baby May. Perhaps
+the little one was trying to see "sister" through the strong glasses.
+
+So Wyn pulled off her cap and swung it over her head and the six canoes
+immediately fell out of alignment.
+
+"Don't do that, Wyn!" shouted Bess. "Those boys will catch up with us."
+
+"Well, we want them to; don't we?" asked the captain of the Go-Aheads,
+good-naturedly. "We're going to lunch together, and if we make the poor
+boys work too hard they'll eat every crumb we've got and leave nothing
+for poor little we-uns."
+
+"So _that's_ why you made us bring all this food?" demanded Bess,
+in disgust. "Can't those boys feed themselves?"
+
+"Oh, they'll do their share," Wyn replied, laughing. "You'll see. Don't
+you see how heavily laden Tubby's canoe is? I warrant he has enough
+luncheon aboard for a small army."
+
+"I can't look over my shoulder--I never can," quoth Bessie. "Paddling a
+canoe takes more of my attention than riding a bicycle."
+
+"Or a motorcycle. Those things are just awful," cried Mina Everett.
+
+"Shucks!" exclaimed the lively Frankie. "A motorcycle is only an
+ordinary bicycle driven crazy by over-indulgence in gasoline."
+
+"How smart!" cried Bessie. "But you'd better save your breath to cool
+your porridge----"
+
+"Or, better still, to work your paddle," commented Grace, with a swift
+glance behind. "Those Busters are coming up the river, hand over fist."
+
+"With poor Tubby in the rear, of course," said Frank, glancing back.
+"The tide is certainly against _him_."
+
+"Oh, dear me!" giggled Percy, "poor Tubby was more than 'tide' last week
+when he took Annabel Craven out on the river. Did you hear about it? You
+know--the night before graduation."
+
+"I believe that fat youth is sweet on Annabel," announced Bessie,
+shaking her head seriously.
+
+"What do you suppose Ann thinks of Tubby?" cried Grace.
+
+"You know how it is," chuckled Frank. "Nobody loves a fat boy. Go on,
+Percy. What happened to poor old Tubby?"
+
+"Why, he inveigled Annabel down to the river and got her into a boat and
+was going to row her around in the moonlight. You know it was just a
+scrumptious night."
+
+"M-m-m! wasn't it?" agreed Frank.
+
+"Well," said Percy, "Tubby got in without overturning the boat and
+settled to work. The current was pretty swift and he struck right out
+into it and headed up stream.
+
+"And there he tugged, and tugged, and tugged, giving all his attention
+to the oars and having none to spare for Annabel. By and by, after Tubby
+had tugged, and grunted, and perspired for half an hour, he said:
+
+"'Say, I never saw anything like this current to-night--not in all my
+born days! I've been pulling like a horse for half an hour and I don't
+see that we've made as much as a dozen feet!'
+
+"And then Annabel spoke up real pretty, and says she:
+
+"'Oh, Mr. Blaisdell! I've just thought of something. The anchor fell
+overboard some time ago and I forgot to tell you. Do you suppose it
+could have caught on something?'"
+
+The other girls were intensely amused at this, for they all appreciated
+Annabel Craven's character as well as poor Tubby's good-natured
+blundering. But while they laughed and chattered in this way the Busters
+crept steadily up on them.
+
+"I told you how it would be," said Bess, tartly, "if we didn't hurry
+up."
+
+"What's the matter with you girls?" demanded Dave Shepard. "One would
+think you were sent for and couldn't come, by the way you paddle. You'll
+get to the lake before noon at this rate."
+
+"Not much danger of that, Davie," returned Wyn. "And you know we agreed
+to stop at Ware's Island for lunch."
+
+"Oh, I wish that was right here!" grunted a voice from the rear, where
+Tubby Blaisdell was paddling away with almost as much splashing as a
+small side-wheel steamer.
+
+"My goodness, boy!" cried Ferd Roberts. "You're not hungry so soon, are
+you?"
+
+"Soon?" repeated Tubby, with disgust "It's so long since breakfast that
+I've forgotten what I had to eat."
+
+"What do you want to eat, Tubby?" asked Frank, giggling.
+
+"Not particular. Anything--from a marshmallow cake to a tough steak,"
+grunted the fat boy.
+
+"Tubby wouldn't be as particular as the grouchy gentleman who went into
+the restaurant out West and ordered a steak," chuckled Dave. "After the
+waiter brought it the customer tried his knife on it and then called the
+waiter back.
+
+"'Say!' he objected. 'This steak isn't tender enough.'
+
+"'Not tender enough, stranger?' returned the cowboy waiter. 'What d'you
+expect? Want it to hug an' kiss yer?'"
+
+When the laugh on Tubby had subsided Professor Skillings said, with a
+twinkle in his eye:
+
+"Our friend, Blaisdell, should be able to exist some time on his
+accumulation of fat. He ought not to seriously suffer from hunger as
+yet."
+
+"Like a camel living on its hump--eh?" said Wyn. "How about that,
+Tubby?"
+
+"I'm no relation to a camel--I tell you that," snorted the fat boy, with
+disgust.
+
+"Then Mr. Blaisdell might imitate some insects; mightn't he, Professor
+Skillings?" suggested Frank, with a sly look. "You know there are
+insects that live on nothing."
+
+"On nothing?" exclaimed the professor, quickly. "Oh, no, young lady, you
+are mistaken. That is quite impossible."
+
+"But, Professor! A moth lives on nothing; doesn't it?"
+
+"No, indeed. How could that be?" cried the scientific gentleman, greatly
+perturbed by Frank's apparent display of ignorance.
+
+"Why, moths eat holes; don't they?" chortled Frank. "Surely 'holes' are
+a pretty slim diet."
+
+Professor Skillings led the laughter himself over this simple joke. But
+he added:
+
+"I fear I should not be able to interest you in science, Frances."
+
+"Not in summer, sir--oh, never!" cried Frank. "I refuse to learn a
+single, living thing until school opens again next fall."
+
+In spite of Tubby's complaints, the canoeing party sighted Ware Island
+in good season for luncheon. This was a low, wooded spot around which
+the Wintinooski--split in two streams--flowed very quietly. The country
+on both sides was cut up into farms, with intervening patches of woods,
+dotted with ferns, and was very beautiful.
+
+There was a little beach on one side of the island, with a green, shaded
+bank above. This was a favorite picnicking spot for parties from Denton;
+but our friends had the island all to themselves this day.
+
+The girls had been as far as this island before in their canoes; but
+never beyond. From this spot on the journey up the Wintinooski would be
+all new to Wyn Mallory and her chums.
+
+The canoes were hauled up out of the water and the boys skirmished for
+fuel while the girls got out the luncheon. Ferd Roberts was
+fire-builder, and Grace, who hated that work, watched him closely,
+marveling how quickly and well he constructed the pyre and had a blaze
+merrily dancing among the sticks.
+
+"Doesn't that beat all!" cried Grace. "You must love fires as much as
+Nero did."
+
+"Nero? Let's see--he was the chap that always was cold; wasn't he?"
+queried Ferd, grinning.
+
+"Nope!" broke in Frank. "That was Zero. You _will_ get your ancient
+history mixed, Ferd!"
+
+The luncheon was quickly laid, and Tubby was not the only one who did it
+justice. But Bessie Lavine continued to act disagreeably toward the
+boys. She was "forever nagging," as Dave said; and sometimes there was a
+spark of fire when she managed to get one or another of the boys "mad."
+
+Professor Skillings wandered off with his bag and little geological
+hammer and Tubby rolled over on his back under a shady bush and went to
+sleep.
+
+"Pig!" ejaculated Bess, in disgust. "That's all boys think of--their
+stomachs."
+
+"Oh, don't be so hateful, Bess," advised Frank. "Come on; the rest of us
+are going to walk around a little to settle our luncheon, before
+tackling the paddles again."
+
+"Humph! with the boys?" snapped Bess, seeing Wyn start off with Dave by
+her side. "Not me, thank you!"
+
+"All right," chuckled Frank Cameron. "You can keep Tubby company."
+
+But that suggestion made Bess even more angry, and she went off with her
+nose in the air, and all alone. But as the crowd of young folk came
+around the east end of Ware Island, they, saw Bess standing upon the
+brink of a steep bank, under a small tree, where the water had washed
+out a good deal of the earth in a sort of cave beneath where she stood.
+
+"Hi, Bessie! get back from there!" shouted Dave, warningly. "That place
+is likely to cave in."
+
+"Then you certainly _would_ get a ducking," added Frank.
+
+"Pooh! I guess I know what I'm about," said the girl. "I'm no baby."
+
+"You're acting like one," growled Dave. "That place is dangerous."
+
+"It's not, Mr. Smartie!" cried Bess, and she stamped her foot in anger.
+
+And just as though that had been the signal for which it had been
+waiting, several square yards of the steep bank, with the tree she was
+clinging to, slumped down into the river.
+
+The girls screamed, while the boys bounded forward toward the spot where
+Bessie had disappeared.
+
+"Oh, Dave!" cried Wyn. "Save her! save her! She can't swim very well.
+She will be drowned!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+THE STORM BREAKS
+
+
+Dave Shepard, followed by the other "Busters," leaped down to the edge
+of the water before they came to the spot where the bank had caved. They
+feared that by tramping along the edge they might bring down even a
+greater avalanche than had fallen with the unfortunate Bessie.
+
+"There she is, fellows!" cried Dave. "She's hanging to the tree!"
+
+"I see her!" returned Ferd Roberts.
+
+"Oh, Dave! we can't reach her," cried another of the Busters.
+
+"I wish the professor was here," cried Ferd. "He'd know what to do."
+
+"My goodness!" returned Dave, throwing off his coat and cap. "I don't
+need anybody to tell me what to do. _We've got to go after her!_"
+
+He tore off the low shoes he wore, pitched them after his cap and coat,
+and leaped into the water. The current tugged hard at the end of the
+island, and Bessie and the uprooted sapling were being carried out
+farther and farther into the stream.
+
+The girl had not screamed. Indeed, she had been startled to such a
+degree when she went down that she had really not breath enough for
+speech as yet.
+
+The boys were "right on the job," and only a few seconds elapsed from
+the moment the bank gave away until that in which Dave Shepard sprang
+into the river.
+
+Some of the roots of the tree still clung to the shore. A part of the
+loosened earth had fallen upon these roots and so the tree was anchored.
+But Bessie was clinging to the hole of the sapling quite fifteen feet
+from the edge of the solid beach.
+
+"Catch hold of hands, boys!" commanded Dave. "Make a chain! Give me one
+hand, Ferd! The current is tugging me right off my feet!"
+
+His four mates obeyed orders promptly. Dave was captain of the Busters,
+as Wyn was of the Go-Ahead Club; and the boys had learned to obey their
+captain promptly--all but Tubby, at least. But Tubby was not in this
+exciting adventure at all, being asleep under the bush at their lunching
+place.
+
+The fat boy was not even aroused when the crowd trooped back to the
+spot, boys and girls alike chattering like magpies. Dave and Ferd
+carried the dripping Bessie in "arm-chair" fashion and the girl who so
+disliked boys clung to her two chief rescuers with abandon.
+
+They had hauled her out of the river just as she was losing her grasp on
+the tree. A moment later she might have been whirled down stream by the
+current and her life endangered. As it was, she had swallowed much
+water, and was just as wet inside and out as she would ever be in her
+life.
+
+All the boys were more or less wet--Dave was saturated to his arm-pits.
+But the day was warm, and the boys were used to such duckings. It was
+another matter, however, with the girl. She was already shaking with an
+incipient chill.
+
+"Wood on the fire, boys--get a lot of it," commanded Dave. "And get our
+blankets and let's put up a makeshift tent for Bess to use. She must get
+off her wet duds and wring them out and dry them. Hi! wake up that Tubby
+Blaisdell. We want his help."
+
+Ferd proceeded to walk right over the fat youth on his way for more fuel
+and that effectually aroused the lad.
+
+"Hey--you! what are you about?" yawned Tubby. "Can't you find another
+place to walk on but _me_, Ferd Roberts?"
+
+"I've got to walk _some_where," quoth Ferd.
+
+"Why! you're all wet," gasped Tubby. "And so are you, Dave! And those
+other fellows--I declare!"
+
+"Wake up and do something, Tubby," commanded Dave. "We want to get a
+tent up, There's been an accident, and Bessie Lavine is wetter than any
+of us. Let's have your knife."
+
+"My--my knife?" yawned Tubby, rolling over slowly to reach into his
+breeches pocket.
+
+This was too good a chance for Ferd to resist. Tubby was rolling near
+the edge of the bank as Ferd came back with his arms full of broken
+branches. Ferd put his foot against Tubby's back and pushed with all his
+might.
+
+"Hi! Stop that! Ugh!"
+
+Tubby rolled over once--he rolled over twice; then, with many
+ejaculations and bumps rolled completely down the slope, amid the
+laughter of the boys and girls above him.
+
+Tubby missed the canoes--by good luck--and rolled with a splash into a
+shallow pool at the river's edge.
+
+"You mean thing!" he yelled, getting up with some alacrity and shaking
+his fist at Ferd. "I--I'm all wet."
+
+"So are we, Tubby," Dave said. "You belong to our lodge now. Come on up
+here with that knife of yours. Didn't I tell you I wanted to use it?"
+
+The other boys were scurrying after stakes and blankets, while the girls
+fed the fire till it roared high, and Bessie stood in the heat of the
+flames.
+
+"What do you think of the boys _now_, Bess?" Frank Cameron
+whispered in the victim's ear. "Some good--at times--eh?"
+
+"Now, don't worry her, Frank," commanded Mina, the tender-hearted. "The
+poor, dear girl! See--she's just as wet as she can possibly be."
+
+"Oh, and wasn't I scared!" gasped Bess, honestly. "When that bank went
+down I thought I was right on my way through to China! I did, indeed."
+
+"I was so thankful Dave was there," said Wyn Mallory, thoughtfully. "You
+see, Dave is one of those dependable boys."
+
+"I've got to admit it," gasped Bess. "He's some good. Why! he caught me
+just as I was slipping off that tree. I _can't_ thank him!"
+
+"Never mind," said Wyn, cheerfully. "It is decided, I guess, that the
+boys may be of some use to us this summer, after all."
+
+"That's so, if we're all going to run the risk of drowning," Grace
+Hedges observed.
+
+"I am going to learn to swim better," declared Bess. "I'll just put my
+t--time all in on _that_. But, oh, girls! I am so wet!"
+
+"Tent's ready, ladies!" shouted Dave Shepard. "Make her take her
+clothing off, Wyn. We fellows will get the professor and go over to the
+other side of the island for a swim. Ferd and I have got to strip off
+and wring out our trousers, anyway. And I reckon Tubby is some wet."
+
+"That's all right," grumbled the fat youth, waddling after his mates.
+"I'll pay Ferd out for that--you see!"
+
+The boys were back in an hour and a half. By that time Bess had been
+made quite presentable, for her garments had been dried over the fire.
+However, the girls were dressed in a way to stand--as well as might
+be--such accidents as Bessie had met.
+
+The girl who had declared boys no good frankly shook hands with Dave
+before they embarked again, and thanked him very prettily for his help
+in time of need.
+
+"Go ahead! get a medal for me," said Dave. "Pin it right _there_,"
+and he pointed to the lapel of his jacket. "I'm a hero. Keep on praising
+me, Miss Lavine, and I'll grow as tall as a giraffe."
+
+"And that's the highest form of animal life--ask the professor if it
+isn't," chuckled Frank Cameron.
+
+But they were all very thankful that nothing serious had resulted from
+the accident. There was an after-result, however, that promised to be
+unpleasant. They had been so delayed at the island that it was half-past
+three before they got off. There was still a long stretch to paddle to
+Meade's Forge at the foot of Honotonka Lake.
+
+And, swiftly as they paddled, the sun was setting when they arrived at
+the Forge. Besides, a heavy cloud was coming up, threatening a storm.
+Indeed, lightning was already playing around the horizon behind them.
+
+There was no hotel at the Forge, and no good place to stop for the
+night. Mrs. Havel was out in her canoe waiting for them. Gannet Island,
+where the boys were to camp, was in sight, and the camping place the
+girls had had selected for them was even nearer.
+
+"We had better go at once," said the professor, earnestly. "We will stop
+and help you erect your tents first----"
+
+"No, you will not," returned Mrs. Havel. "The girls and I have got to
+learn to be independent. Besides, your stores are waiting for you over
+there on the island, and I understand from the boatmen that the things
+are not yet under cover. You must hurry. We'll get along all right;
+won't we, girls?"
+
+"Sure!" agreed Frank.
+
+"We haven't come up here to be a burden on the boys, I hope," said Wyn,
+sturdily.
+
+Wyn was captain, and as both she and Mrs. Havel thought they could get
+along all right, it was not for the other girls to object. The professor
+and the boys bade them good-bye and paddled away as fast as possible for
+the distant island. Even Tubby put forth some effort, for the
+thunderstorm was surely coming.
+
+Tired as they were, the girls of the Go-Ahead Club made their paddles
+fly for another half-hour. Then they were in sight of a white birch, to
+the top of which was fastened a long streamer, like a pennant.
+
+"There's the place!" cried Wyn, recognizing the signal that Polly Jarley
+had written to her about.
+
+"And yonder is the boatman's place where our stores were left?" asked
+Mrs. Havel.
+
+"Yes, ma'am."
+
+"We cannot stop for anything now, and must depend for the night upon
+what we have with us. I don't like the look of that cloud," said the
+lady.
+
+None of the girls liked the look of it, either. It had now rolled up to
+the zenith--a leaden mass, looming over them most threateningly. And
+there was a rumble of thunder in the summer air.
+
+"Oh! what a beautiful spot!" cried Percy.
+
+"See that reach of lawn--and the thick grove behind it. Goodness me!"
+exclaimed Mina Everett, "do you suppose there are bears in that woods?"
+
+"If there are, we'll catch 'em and eat 'em," said Frank, practically.
+"Now you know, Mina, there hasn't been a bear shot in this state since
+your grandfather's time."
+
+"Well, then, if there's been none shot, maybe there are a lot grown up
+here in the woods," objected Mina.
+
+"Don't scare a fellow to death with your croaking," admonished Percy.
+
+Bessie had known that Polly Jarley had chosen the site for the camp; and
+she was secretly prepared to find fault with it. But as they drove their
+canoes ashore on the little, silvery beach below the green knoll where
+the pennant fluttered, Bess could find in her heart no complaint.
+
+It seemed an ideal spot. On three sides the thick woods sheltered the
+knoll of green. In front the lake lay like a mirror--its surface
+whitened in ridges 'way out toward the middle now, for the wind was
+coming.
+
+"Hurry ashore, girls," said Mrs. Havel. "And pull your canoes well up on
+the sand. We must hurry to get our shelter up first of all. It will rain
+before dark, and the night is coming fast."
+
+"Wish the boys had stopped to help us," wailed Grace.
+
+"And let their own stores get all wet--eh?" cried Wyn. "For shame! Come
+on, girls. To the tent!"
+
+There was a pile of canvas which had been dropped here by the bateau men
+on their way to Gannet Island that forenoon. There were stakes and poles
+with the canvas, and the girls had practised putting up the shelter and
+striking it for some weeks in Wyn's back yard.
+
+They were not so clumsy at this work, therefore; but it did seem,
+because they were in a hurry, that everything went wrong.
+
+Mina pounded her thumb with a stake-mallet, and the ridge pole fell once
+and struck Grace on the side of the head. Poor Grace was always
+unfortunate.
+
+"Oh, dear me! I wish I was home!" wailed the big girl. "And ouch! it's
+going to thunder and lightning just awful!"
+
+"Now, keep at work!" admonished their captain. "Fasten those pegs down
+well, Frankie," she added, to the girl, who had taken the mallet. "Never
+mind crying over your poor thumb, Mina. Wait till the tent's up and all
+our things brought up from the canoes."
+
+"Here come the first drops, girls!" shrieked Frankie.
+
+Drops! It was a deluge! It came across the lake in a perfect wall of
+water, shutting out their view of Gannet Island and everything else.
+
+The girls scuttled for the canoes, emptied them, turned the boats keel
+upward, and then retreated to the big tent, Wyn even dragging the canvas
+of the cook tent inside to keep it from becoming saturated.
+
+Fortunately the last peg had been secured. The flap was laced down
+quickly. In the semi-darkness of the sudden twilight the girls and Mrs.
+Havel stood together and listened to the rain drum upon the taut canvas.
+
+How it sounded! Worse than the rain on a tin roof! Peering out through
+the slit in the middle of the tent-flap they could see nothing but a
+gray wall of water.
+
+Suddenly there was a glaring blue flash, followed soon by the roar of
+the thunder. Several of the girls cried out and crouched upon the
+ground.
+
+"Oh, dear me! this is awful!" groaned Grace again.
+
+Mina Everett was sobbing with the pain in her thumb and her fear of the
+lightning.
+
+"Now, this will never do, girls," admonished Wyn Mallory. "Come! we can
+set up the alcohol lamp and make tea. That will help some. There are
+crackers and some ham, and a whole big bottle of olives. Why! we sha'n't
+starve for supper, that's sure."
+
+"I--I don't know as I want to eat," quavered Mina.
+
+"Pshaw! We Go-Aheads must not be afraid of a little storm----"
+
+Wyn's voice was drowned in the clap of thunder which accompanied an
+awful flash of lightning. With both came a splintering crash, the tent
+seemed to rock, and for a moment its interior was vividly illuminated by
+the electric bolt. The lightning had struck near at hand.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+AT WINDMILL FARM
+
+
+Both Wyn and Mrs. Havel--the bravest of the seven gathered in the big
+tent--were frightened by this awful shock. The other girls clung to
+them, Mina and Grace sobbing aloud.
+
+"I--I feel as though that bolt fairly seared my eyeballs," groaned Frank
+Cameron. "Oh, dear! Here's another!"
+
+But this flash was not so severe. The girls peered out of the slit in
+the front of the tent and screamed again in alarm. The rain had passed
+for the moment. There, not many rods away, stood an old, half-dead oak
+with its top all ablaze.
+
+"That is where the lightning struck," cried Wyn.
+
+"It is fortunate our tent was no nearer to that side of the plateau,"
+observed Mrs. Havel.
+
+Then the rain commenced again, and the thudding on the canvas drowned
+out their voices for a time.
+
+Somehow Wyn managed to get supper. The thunder and lightning gradually
+subsided; but for an hour the rain came in intermittent dashes and it
+was nine o'clock before they could venture forth into the cool, damp
+air.
+
+They had eaten their simple meal and set up the sleeping cots (which
+were likewise of canvas) before that. There was a flooring of matched
+planks to be laid, too; but the rain had wet them and the girls would
+have to wait for to-morrow's sun to dry them.
+
+"Oh! I don't believe living under canvas is going to be half so nice as
+we thought," complained Mina. "I never _did_ think about its
+storming."
+
+"A bad beginning makes a good ending," quoted Mrs. Havel, brightly.
+"This is only for one night."
+
+"Excuse me! I don't want another like it, Auntie," declared her niece.
+
+They could have no lamp to see to go to bed by, save Wyn's pocket
+electric flash.
+
+"And it's so plaguey awkward!" cried Frankie. "Here one of us has to
+hold the snapper shut so the others can see. Here, Mina! I've played
+Goddess of Liberty long enough; _you_ hold the lamp awhile."
+
+Wyn slung a line from one end of the tent to the other, and on this they
+hung their clothes. All the girls were provided with warm pajamas as
+being safer night garments under canvas than the muslin robes they wore
+at home.
+
+"I _do_ feel so funny," cried Percy, hopping into her own nest. "I
+can't curl my toes up in my nightgown--they stick right out at the
+bottom of these trousers!"
+
+"And doesn't the grass tickle your feet?" cried Frank, dancing about
+between the cots. "My, my! this _is_ camping out in real earnest.
+O-o-o! Here's a trickle of water running under the side of the tent,
+Wyn."
+
+"You can thank your stars it isn't running through a hole in the tent
+right upon your heads," responded the captain. "Do get into bed, Frank."
+
+Even Frank was quiet at last. The day had been a strenuous one. The
+muttering thunder in the distance lulled them to sleep. Soon the big
+white tent upon the knoll by the lake was silent save for the soft
+breathing of the girls and their chaperone.
+
+And--odd as it may seem, considering the strangeness of their
+surroundings--all the girls slept soundly through the night. It was Wyn
+Mallory herself who first opened her eyes and knew, by the light
+outside, that it must be near sunrise.
+
+Up she popped, stepping lightly over the cold grass so as not to arouse
+her mates and Mrs. Havel, and reached the opening. She peered through.
+To the east the horizon was aglow with melting shades of pink, amber,
+turquoise and rose. The sun was coming!
+
+Wyn snapped open the flap and ran out to welcome His Majesty. Then,
+however, she remembered that she was in pajamas, and glanced around
+swiftly to see if she was observed.
+
+Not a soul was in sight. At that moment the first chorus of the
+feathered choir that welcomes the day in the wilds, had ceased. Silence
+had fallen upon the forest and upon the lake.
+
+Only the lap, lap, lap of the little waves upon the shore was audible.
+The wind did not stir the tree branches. There was a little chill in the
+air after the storm, and the ground was saturated.
+
+Wyn was doubtful about that "early morning plunge" in the lake that she
+had heard the boys talk about, and which she had secretly determined to
+emulate. But the boys' camp was at the far end of Gannet Island and she
+could not see it at all. She wondered if Dave and his friends would
+plunge into that awfully cold-looking water on this chilly morning?
+
+To assure herself that the water _was_ cold she ran down to where
+the canoes lay and poked one big toe into the edge of the pool. Ouch! it
+was just like ice!
+
+"No, no!" whispered Wyn, and scuttled up the bank again, hugging herself
+tight in both arms to counteract the chill.
+
+But she couldn't go back to bed. It was too beautiful a morning. And all
+the others were sleeping soundly.
+
+Wyn decided that she would not awaken them. But she slipped inside,
+selected her own clothing, and in ten minutes was dressed. Then she ran
+down to the pool again, palmed the water all over her face, rubbing her
+cheeks and forehead and ears till they tingled, and then wiped dry upon
+the towel she had brought with her.
+
+Another five minutes and her hair was braided Indian fashion, and tied
+neatly. Then the sun popped up--broadly agrin and with the promise in
+his red countenance of a very warm day.
+
+"Good-morning, Mr. Sun!" quoth Wyn, dancing a little dance of her own
+invention upon the summit of the green knoll that overhung the lake
+before the tent. "I hope you give us a fine day, and that we all enjoy
+it."
+
+With a final pirouette she ran back to the tent. Still Mrs. Havel and
+the others slept.
+
+"What lazy folk!" she told them, in a whisper, and then caught up a
+six-quart pail and ran back through the open place and found the wood
+road that Polly had written her about.
+
+She knew that to her left lay the way to the landing where Mr. Jarley
+kept his boats, and where their stores were under cover in a shed. But
+breakfast was the first consideration, and in the other direction lay
+Windmill Farm, at which Polly told her she had arranged for the
+Go-Aheads to get milk, fresh eggs, and garden vegetables.
+
+So Wyn tripped along this right hand extension of the wood path and,
+within half an hour, came out of the forest upon the edge of the cleared
+farm. Before her lay sloping fields up, up, up to a high knoll, on the
+top of which stood a windmill, painted red.
+
+The long arms of the mill, canvas-covered, rose much higher in the air
+than the gilt vane that glistened on the very peak of the roof. The
+rising sun shone full upon the windmill and made it a brilliant spot of
+color against the blue sky; but the wind was still and the sails did not
+cause the arms to revolve.
+
+Just below the mill, upon the leisurely slope of the knoll, was set the
+white-painted farmhouse, with well-kept stables and out-buildings and
+poultry yards and piggery at the rear.
+
+"What a pretty spot!" cried Wyn, aloud. "And the woods are so thick
+between it and the lake that one would never know it was here."
+
+She hurried on, for she knew by the smoke rising from the house chimney
+and the bustle of sound from the barnyard that the farmer and his family
+were astir.
+
+Before she reached the side porch a number of cows, one with a bell on
+her neck leading the herd, filed out through the side yard and took a
+lane for the distant pasture. Horses neighed for their breakfasts, the
+pigs squealed in their sties and there was a pretty young woman singing
+at the well curb as she drew a great, splashing bucket of water.
+
+"Oh! you're one of the girls Polly Jarley told us were coming to the
+lake to camp?" said the farmer's wife, graciously. "And did you get here
+in the storm last night? How do you all like it?"
+
+"I can only answer for myself," declared Wyn, laughing. "They were all
+asleep when I came away. But I guess if we have nothing worse to trouble
+us than that shower we shall get along all right."
+
+"You're a plucky girl--for a city one," said the woman. "Now, do you
+want milk and eggs?"
+
+Wyn told her what she wanted, and paid for the things. Then she started
+back to camp, laden with the brimming milk pail and a basket which the
+farmer's wife had let her have.
+
+The sun was now mounting swiftly in his course across the sky. Faintly
+she heard the sawmill at the Forge blowing a whistle to call the hands,
+and knew that it was six o'clock. She hurried her steps and reached the
+opening where the tent was pitched just as the first sleepy Go-Ahead was
+creeping out to see what manner of day it might be.
+
+"For goodness' sake, Wyn Mallory!" cried this yawning nymph in blue
+pajamas. "Have you been up all night?"
+
+"Aren't you cute in those things, Percy?" returned Wyn. "You look just
+like a doll in a store window. Come on and dress. It's time you were all
+up. Why! the day will be gone before you know it."
+
+"Oh--ow--ouch!" yawned Percy, and then jumped quickly through the
+opening of the tent because Grace Hedges pushed her.
+
+"Why! the sun's up!" cried the big girl. "Why! and there's Wyn with
+milk--and eggs--and pretty red radishes--and _peas_. Mercy me! Look
+at all the things in this basket. Whose garden have you been robbing,
+Wyn?"
+
+"Come on!" commanded the captain of the Go-Ahead Club. "I brought a bag
+of meal in _my_ canoe. And there is salt, and aluminum bowls, and
+spoons. We can make a good breakfast of eggs and mush. Hurry up, all you
+lazy folk, and help get breakfast."
+
+"O-o-o! isn't the grass cold!" exclaimed one girl who had just stepped
+out from between woolen blankets.
+
+"I--I feel as though I were dressing outdoors," gasped another, with
+chattering teeth. "D-don't you suppose anybody can see through this
+tent?"
+
+"Nonsense, goosey!" ejaculated Frank. "Hurry up and get into your
+clothes. You take up more room than an elephant."
+
+"Did you ever share a dressing room with an elephant, Frank?" demanded
+Bess.
+
+"Not before," returned the thin girl, grimly. "But I am preparing for
+that experience when I try to dress in the same tent with Gracie."
+
+But they were all eager to get outside when they sniffed the smoke of
+the campfire, and, a little later, the odor of eggs "frying in the pan."
+Despite the saturated condition of most of the underbrush Wyn knew where
+to get dry wood for fuel, Dave had long ago taught her that bit of
+woodcraft.
+
+With a small camp hatchet she had attacked the under branches of the
+spruce and low pine trees, and soon had a good heap of these dead sticks
+near the tent. She turned over a flat stone that lay near by for a
+hearth. Before the other girls and Mrs. Havel were dressed and had
+washed their faces at the lakeside, Captain Wyn was stirring mush in a
+kettle and frying eggs in pork fat in a big aluminum pan.
+
+"Sunny side up; or with a veil of brown drawn over their beautiful
+faces, Frankie?" asked Wyn, referring to the sizzling eggs. "How do you
+like 'em?"
+
+"I like 'em on toast--'Adam and Eve on a raft' Brother Ed calls 'em. And
+when he wants 'em scrambled he says, 'Wreck 'em!'"
+
+"You'll get no toast this morning," declared Wyn. "You'll be satisfied
+with crackers--or go without."
+
+"Cruel lady!" quoth Frank. "I expect I'll have to accept my yoke of
+eggs----"
+
+"Only the _yolk_ of the eggs, Frank?"
+
+"No, I mean the pair I want," laughed Frankie. "And I'll take 'em
+without the toast and--'sunny side up.'"
+
+"Good! I can't turn an egg without breaking it--never could. Now, girls!
+bring your plates. I'll flop a pair of eggs onto each plate. There's
+crackers in the box. Hand around your bowls. The cornmeal mush is nice,
+and there is lovely milk and sugar if you want it. For 'them that likes'
+there is coffee."
+
+"M-m-m! Doesn't it smell good?" cried Grace, as the party came trooping
+to the fire with their kits.
+
+"I--I thought I'd miss the sweet butter," said Bess, sitting down
+cross-legged on the already dry grass. "But somehow I've got _such_
+an appetite."
+
+"I hope the boys are having as good a time," sighed Wyn, sitting back
+upon her heels and spooning up her mush, flooded with the new milk.
+"Isn't this just scrumptious, Mrs. Havel?"
+
+"It is the simple life," replied that lady, smiling. "Plenty of fresh
+air, no frills, plain food--that ought to do much for you girls this
+summer. I am sure if you can endure plain food and simple living for
+these several weeks before us, you will all be improved in both health
+and mind."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+JOHN JARLEY, EXILE
+
+
+This could be no day of leisure for the Go-Ahead Club. To get settled in
+camp was the first task--and that no small one.
+
+There was the plank flooring to be laid in the big tent, the cook-tent
+to be erected, and the floor laid in that. There was a sheet-iron stove
+to erect, with a smoke pipe to the outside, and an asbestos "blanket" to
+wrap around the pipe to keep the canvas of the tent-top from scorching.
+
+There were the swinging shelves to put up, fastened to the ridge-pole of
+the cook-tent, on which certain supplies could be kept out of the reach
+of the wood mice and other small vermin. Indeed, there were a dozen and
+one things of moment to see about, beside bringing over to the camp a
+selection of the stores--and their extra clothes--from John Jarley's
+shack by the boat landing.
+
+Wyn was a competent girl and knew something about using a hammer and a
+saw. The flooring planks for both tents had been assembled at Denton,
+and were numbered; but after they got the sleepers laid Wyn realized
+that she and her mates had tackled more of a task than they had
+expected.
+
+"And the boys will be just as busy as they can be to-day," she said to
+the other girls. "It's a wonder if everything they owned didn't get
+soaked last evening.
+
+"Now, we can't depend upon the Busters to give us any assistance just
+now. Doubt if we see 'hide nor hair' of them to-day. But we need
+somebody to make these floors properly. There! Bess has stuck a splinter
+into her hand already."
+
+"Plague take the old board!" snapped Bess, dropping it and sucking on a
+ragged little wound in her hand.
+
+"You see," Wyn said, quickly. "I'm going to get some help. Anybody want
+to walk over to Jarley's with me?"
+
+"Are you going to get that man to come here?" demanded Bess, sharply.
+
+"Don't see what else there is to do--do you, Bessie?"
+
+"Isn't there anybody else to help us around here? There must be other
+squatters."
+
+"I do not know of any. We chance to know the Jarleys----"
+
+"Not I!" cried Bess, shaking her head. "_I_ don't know them--and I
+won't know them."
+
+"All right. You and Grace and Percy take the pails and try for some
+berries in the woods yonder. I saw some ripe ones this morning. Fresh
+picked berries will add nicely to our bill-of-fare; isn't that so, Mrs.
+Havel?"
+
+"Quite so, my dear," replied the widow, and buried herself in her book
+again, for, as she had told the girls, she had not come here to work;
+they must treat her as a guest.
+
+"Are you going to stop with Mrs. Havel, Mina?" continued Wyn. "Then come
+along with me, Frank. We'll go over and see if the Jarleys bite. Bess is
+afraid they will!"
+
+"She was telling us all about John Jarley," said Wyn's chum, as the two
+left the camp on the green knoll. "Do you suppose he stole that motor
+boat and the box of silver statuettes?"
+
+                   *       *       *       *       *
+
+"I don't _know_ anything about it," said Wyn, briskly. "But I know
+that he and Polly are very poor, and with a motor boat and five thousand
+dollars' worth of silver, it looks to me as though they would be very
+foolish to suffer the privations they do. It's nasty gossip, that's all
+it is."
+
+"Well, Bess says the man stole from her father years ago----"
+
+"I don't know much about _that_, either," interrupted Wynifred.
+"But I think Bess is overstepping the line of exact truth when she says
+John Jarley stole from her father. They were doing business together,
+and Mr. Lavine accused Jarley of 'selling him out' in a real estate
+deal.
+
+"I asked my father about it. Father says the whole business was a little
+misty, at best. If Jarley did all Lavine said, he merely was guilty of
+being false to his friend and partner. It is doubtful if he made much
+out of it. But Lavine talked loudly and long; he had lots of friends
+even then. The talk and all fairly hounded the Jarleys out of town.
+
+"And now," said Wyn, warmly, "the Lavines are rich and the Jarleys have
+always been poor. Mr. Jarley is an exile from his old home and such
+friends as he had in Denton. It is really a shame, I think--and you'll
+say so, too, when you see what a splendid girl Polly is."
+
+The two girls had followed the edge of the lake toward the landing,
+instead of taking the path through the wood. Suddenly they came in sight
+of the float and shack, with the several boats in Mr. Jarley's keeping.
+
+Back from the shore was a tiny cottage, painted red, its window sash and
+door striped with yellow. It was a gay little cot, and everything about
+it was as neat and as gaily painted as a Dutch picture.
+
+As Wyn and Frank came down the hill they saw Polly Jarley run out of the
+house and down to the landing. Her father was busy there at an
+overturned boat--evidently caulking the seams.
+
+The boatman's girl did not see her visitors coming; but Wyn and Frank
+got a good view of her, and the latter exclaimed to Wyn:
+
+"Why! she's as pretty as a picture! She's handsome! If she only had on
+nice clothes she would be a perfect beauty."
+
+"Wouldn't she?" returned Wyn, happily. "I think my Polly Jolly is just
+the _dearest_ looking creature. Isn't she brown? And what pretty
+feet and hands she has!"
+
+Polly wore a very short skirt, patched and stained. Her blouse was open
+at the throat, so that the soft roundness of the curve of her shoulder
+was plainly visible.
+
+Out of the open neck of the blouse her deeply tanned throat rose like a
+bronze column; the roses in her cheeks and on her lips relieved the
+sun-darkened skin. Her hair was in two great plaits and it was evident
+that she seldom troubled about a hat. She was lithe, graceful as she
+could be, and bubbling over with good health if not good spirits.
+
+And this was a morning--after the rain--to make even a lachrymose person
+lively. The smell of all growing things was in the nostrils--the warmth
+of the sun lapped one about like a mantle--it was a beautiful, beautiful
+day,--one to be remembered.
+
+Wyn shouted and started running down the hill. Polly heard her, turned
+to see who it might be who called, and recognizing her friend, set out
+to meet her quite as eagerly.
+
+"Oh, Miss Wynifred!" cried the boatman's daughter.
+
+"Polly Jolly! This is Frank Cameron." She kissed Polly warmly. "How fine
+you look, Polly! Tell me! will all we girls look as healthy and be as
+strong as you are, by the autumn? You're a picture!"
+
+"A pretty shabby one, I fear, Miss Wyn," protested Polly, yet smiling.
+"I am in the very oldest clothes I have, for there is much dirty work to
+be done around here. We have hardly got ready for the summer yet. Father
+has been so lame."
+
+"And you must introduce me to your father, Polly," Wyn said, quickly.
+"We have something for him to do--if he will be so kind."
+
+"All you need to do is to say what it is, Wynifred," responded Polly,
+warmly. "If either of us can do anything for you we will only be too
+glad."
+
+The three girls walked to the spot where Mr. Jarley was engaged upon his
+boat. He was not at all the sort of a person whom the girls from town
+had expected to see. The boatmen and woodsmen who sometimes drifted into
+Denton were rough characters. This man, after being ten years and more
+in the woods, savored little of the rough life he had followed.
+
+He was a small man, very neat in his suit of brown overalls, with
+grizzled hair, a short-cropped gray mustache, and without color in his
+face save the coat of tan his out-of-door life had given him.
+
+There was a gentle, deprecatory air about him that reminded Wyn strongly
+of Polly herself. But this manner was almost the only characteristic
+that father and daughter had in common.
+
+Mr. Jarley was low-spoken, too; he listened quietly and with an air of
+deference to what Wyn had to propose.
+
+"Surely I will come around and do all I can to aid you, Miss Mallory,"
+he said. "You shall pick out the stores you think you will need, and we
+will take a boat around to your camp. Your stores will be perfectly safe
+here--if you wish to risk them in my care," he added.
+
+"Of course, sir. And we expect to pay you for keeping them. If we have a
+long spell of rainy weather the dampness would be bound to spoil things
+in our tents."
+
+"True. This corrugated iron shack will keep the stores dry, and the door
+has a good padlock," returned Mr. Jarley. "Now, you young ladies pick
+out what you wish carried over to the camp and I will soon be at your
+service."
+
+"Isn't he nice?" whispered Wyn to Frank, when Polly had run into the
+house for something, and Mr. Jarley himself was out of hearing.
+
+"Why! he is a perfect gentleman!" exclaimed Frank. "How can Bess talk as
+she does about him? I am surprised at her."
+
+"And these other people about here, too!" declared Wyn, warmly. "What an
+evil tongue Gossip has! That man--Shelton, is his name?--at the other
+end of the lake, who has accused Mr. Jarley of stealing his boat and the
+silver statues, ought to be punished."
+
+"Well--of course--we don't _know_ anything more about the Jarleys
+than these other people," observed Frank, doubtfully.
+
+"I judge people by their appearance a good deal, I suppose," admitted
+Wyn. "And mother tells me that is a poor way to judge. Just the same, I
+_feel_ that the Jarleys are being maligned. And I would love to
+help them."
+
+"Well! there isn't much chance to do that unless you can prove that he
+_is_ honest, after all," remarked Frank.
+
+"I know it. Everything is going to tell against him unless the lost boat
+and the images can be found. I wonder where it was sunk? Do you suppose
+Polly would tell us just where the accident happened?"
+
+"Ask her."
+
+"I will, if I get a chance," declared Wyn. "And wouldn't it be fine if
+we girls could find the sunken boat and the box belonging to Dr.
+Shelton, and clear up the whole trouble?"
+
+"Even _that_ would not satisfy Bessie Lavine," said Frankie, with a
+little laugh. "You know--Bess is 'awful sot in her ways.' When she has
+made up her mind that a thing is so, you can't shake it out of her with
+a charge of dynamite!"
+
+"You never tried the dynamite; did you, Frank?" queried Wyn, smiling.
+
+"No! But I've wanted to--at times."
+
+"Bessie is like her father--obstinate. It is a family trait Yet, once
+get her turned around--show her that she has been wrong and unfair to
+anybody--and she can't do too much for her to prove how sorry she is."
+
+"That's right! look how she talked against the boys--especially against
+Dave Shepard. And now you can just wager she won't be able to do enough
+for him to show how grateful she is for being pulled out of the water,"
+laughed Frank.
+
+Mr. Jarley was ready to load the boat for them, and Polly came back with
+the key to the shack. Polly could not go over to the camp, for both she
+and her father could not leave the landing at once. Some fishermen might
+come along at any time to hire a boat. The season was opening now, and
+after the "lean months" that had gone by, the Jarleys had to be on the
+watch for every dollar that might come their way.
+
+"It seems an awfully hard life for such a man--and for Polly," whispered
+Wyn to her companion. "I'd just _love_ to have Polly for a member
+of our club."
+
+"So would I," agreed Frank. "She's just as sweet as she can be. But Bess
+would go right up in the air!"
+
+"Oh, I know it," sighed Wyn. "Somehow we have got to make Bessie Lavine
+see the error of her ways. Oh, dear! why can't people be nice to each
+other all the time?"
+
+"Goodness me, Wyn Mallory!" exclaimed Frank. "What do you expect while
+there still remains 'original sin' in the world? That seems to have been
+left out of _your_ constitution; but most of the rest of us have
+our share."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+THE "HAPPY DAY"
+
+
+That day the camp upon the hill overlooking Lake Honotonka was
+completed. Mr. Jarley was very helpful, for beside laying the floors of
+the two tents, and setting up the stove, he built for the girls an
+open-air fireplace of flat rocks, dragged up from the shore; set up
+their plank dining table, cut and set three posts for their clothes-line
+(for they were to do their own laundry work), dug shallow ditches all
+around the tents, with a drain to carry off any water that might
+collect; built an "overlook-seat" at the foot of a big birch which
+overhung the water, and did countless other little services which most
+of the Go-Ahead Club appreciated.
+
+Bessie Lavine did not come back from the berrying expedition until Mr.
+Jarley had gone back to the landing; and of course she hadn't much to
+say about the change in the appearance of things. But the other girls
+were enthusiastic.
+
+"And now we must have a name for the camp," said Mrs. Havel, as they sat
+down to the oilcloth-covered table to dinner.
+
+The arrangements for cooking and eating were of the simplest; yet
+everything was neat. Using oilcloth saved laundry, and using paper
+napkins was likewise a help. The food was served daintily, if simply,
+and although all the girls were used to much finer table service at
+home, the hearty appetites engendered by the pure air of lake and forest
+made even coarse food taste delicious.
+
+They were all instantly enthusiastic over their chaperone's suggestion.
+Half a dozen names were suggested on the spur of the moment; but no
+particular one met the approval of all the girls, immediately.
+
+"We'll have to draw lots," suggested Mina.
+
+"No! let's each write down the best names we can think of, and then vote
+on them," said Bess.
+
+"Goody!" cried Frank. "We must have a name that fits, but is pretty and
+not too 'hifalutin',' as my grandmother would say."
+
+"Naming the camp is all very well, girls," said Wyn, seriously, rapping
+on the table for order. "But there are more important things to decide.
+The work of the camp is to be properly apportioned----"
+
+"Oh, dear me!" groaned Grace. "Have we _got_ to work? After
+traipsing over four miles of huckleberry pasture all the morning I feel
+as though I had done my share for to-day."
+
+"And she ate as many as she picked!" cried Bess. "Oh, I'm going to tell
+on you, Miss! You're not going to crawl out of your fair share."
+
+"I didn't enlist to work," declared Grace, with some sullenness. "What's
+the fun of camping out if one has to work like a slave all the time?"
+
+"And we haven't even begun!" cried Frank. "For shame, Gracie!"
+
+"Now, none of the members of the Go-Aheads, I feel sure," quoth Wyn,
+quietly, "will try to escape her just burden. To have the fun of camping
+out under canvas we must each do our share of the work quickly and
+cheerfully. We will divide up the tasks, and change them about weekly.
+Of course, Mrs. Havel is not supposed to lift her hand. She is our
+guest."
+
+"Oh, but auntie is going to show us how to make pancakes," cried Percy.
+
+"I'll learn to do _that_," said Grace, brightening up. "For I love
+'em."
+
+"Of course--piggy-wiggy!" scoffed Bess. "Come, Wyn, you set us our tasks
+and any girl who kicks about 'em shall be fined."
+
+"We'll do better than that. We will use Mina's idea of drawing lots
+about the work. There are certain things to be done each week--each day,
+of course. Two girls must 'tend fires and cook; two girls must air and
+make beds, clean up about the tents, and wait on table if needed; the
+other two must get up early and go for the milk and vegetables, gather
+berries, and do odd jobs. The girls who do the 'chamber work' should
+wash the dishes, too, for the cooks will be too tired and heated after
+preparing the meals to clean up the tables and mess with the
+dishwashing.
+
+"Now are those three divisions satisfactory? Every third week, you see,
+the two who go for the milk, etcetera, will have an easy job. Is it
+agreed?"
+
+There was no objection raised to this plan, and the girls paired off as
+they usually did--Wyn and Frank together, Grace and Percy, and Bess and
+Mina.
+
+Then they drew straws--really grass blades of three lengths--to see
+which couple should do which. It fell to the lot of Bess and Mina to
+cook for a week. Grace and Percy Havel were "chambermaids," and Wyn and
+Frank Cameron had the good luck to get the shortest blade of grass.
+
+"Of course, _I'd_ have to work hard two weeks before getting a
+chance to rest," grumbled Grace. "Probably something will happen after
+we're here a fortnight, and we'll all have to go home."
+
+"It would take something _awful_ to send me home from this
+beautiful spot in a fortnight," cried Mina.
+
+"Just my luck if you all got smallpox, or something equally contagious,"
+growled Grace.
+
+"Then you certainly would be fortunate for once--if you escaped it,"
+chuckled Wyn.
+
+"Not a bit of it. They'd quarantine you here, and have nurses, and lots
+of nice jellies and ices for you; while poor unlucky me would be packed
+back to Denton for the rest of the summer--and after working like a
+slave, dishwashing, and sweeping, and making beds, and cooking, and the
+like, for two whole weeks."
+
+Despite Grace's complaints, the club as a whole was satisfied with the
+arrangements for taking care of the camp. There had been a secondary
+consideration in the minds of all their mothers when permission was
+obtained for the Go-Aheads to spend the summer under canvas. Mrs. Evelyn
+Havel was a wondrously good housekeeper. She had been trained in
+domestic science, too. And she had promised to have an oversight of each
+girl's work and to teach them, from time to time, many helpful domestic
+things.
+
+This phase of the camping-out plan Wyn had "played up" in getting the
+consent of all the parents; and for one, Wyn was determined to carry the
+scheme through. When they went back to Denton in the fall she proposed
+to be a good "plain cook" herself, and she hoped the other girls would
+fall in cheerfully with the project also. She knew Mrs. Havel would do
+all she could toward teaching them.
+
+The work once apportioned to them, the girls' minds could be given more
+particularly to the naming of the camp. But they would not decide upon
+it until bedtime. However, all six cudgeled their brains to invent
+striking names.
+
+It was decided that only one name could be suggested by each girl, and
+this would give them a list of six to choose from. Oddly enough both
+Mina and Grace chose the same--Camp Pleasant. It looked as though
+_that_ name had a lead at the start.
+
+Frank suggested Birch Tree Camp--for there was an enormous birch on the
+knoll at the foot of which Mr. Jarley had set up a bench for them.
+
+"Now you, Bess?" said Wyn, as mistress of ceremonies.
+
+"Camp Pleasant is all right," admitted Miss Lavine; "only it is not very
+distinctive. I expect there are thousands of Camp Pleasants--don't you
+think so?"
+
+"What's the matter with _my_ name?" demanded Frank Cameron.
+
+"I find the same fault with it," replied Bess. "It is not distinctive
+enough. Now, I don't know that I have the right idea; but I believe that
+calling the camp after our club wouldn't be so bad. And it would mean
+something."
+
+"Go-Ahead Camp? Or Camp Go-Ahead?" cried Grace.
+
+"There's nothing romantic about it, that's sure," objected Mina.
+
+"Goodness me! we're not looking for romance, I hope," cried the
+strong-minded Bess.
+
+"Bess is a suffragette in embryo--I declare!" cried Frank, laughing.
+
+"How does Camp Cheer sound?" suggested Percy. "Now, that's real nice,
+_I_ think."
+
+"Say, we've got to vote on them, anyway," said Grace. "_We've_ got
+two votes for Camp Pleasant, Mina."
+
+"But hold on!" cried Frank. "Here's one hasn't been heard from. The
+shrinking violet of all our crew! What's the matter, Wynnie? Can't you
+decide on a name?"
+
+"I thought of one last evening when we were paddling over here from the
+Forge--before the rain," admitted the captain.
+
+"Well! for pity's sake!" gasped Grace. "That's before we even knew it
+was to have a name."
+
+"I didn't think particularly about naming the camp," said Wyn,
+reflectively, "but from the water, with the squall working up behind us,
+and the last light of the day lingering on this little hill, the name
+flashed into my mind."
+
+"What is it?" chorused the others. "Do tell us, Wyn!"
+
+"Green Knoll."
+
+"Just _that_?" cried Grace. "'Green Knoll'? Why! It _was_
+green; wasn't it?"
+
+"I remember how green it seemed from the lake," added Bess. "It's not a
+silly name, either. It means something."
+
+"I take it all back about 'Birch Tree Camp,'" declared Frank. "'Green
+Knoll.' There's a dignity about that--as our assistant principal, Miss
+Hutchins, would say."
+
+"It's a fine name, _I_ think," admitted Percy Havel, slowly. "I
+withdraw Camp Cheer. It may not be so cheerful here all the
+time--especially if we catch smallpox, as Grace says. But it will
+_always_ be green up here on the knoll."
+
+"As long as we are here to see it, at least," agreed Frankie, nodding.
+
+"Say! our Camp Pleasant is swamped!" cried Grace. "What say, Mina? Shall
+we surrender?"
+
+"Green Knoll sounds very pretty," agreed the sweet-tempered Mina
+Everett.
+
+"Oh, girls! do you really all like it?" Wyn cried.
+
+"I vote aye!" said Frank, with emphasis. The other four followed in
+quick succession.
+
+"Why, that's lovely of you!" cried the captain of the club. "I--I was
+afraid nobody would like it but myself."
+
+"It's so appropriate," said Bess.
+
+"It's all _right_," Frank declared. "I wonder what the Busters will
+call their camp?"
+
+"They named it last fall," said Wyn. "Dave told me. It is
+Cave-in-the-Wood Camp. Not so bad--eh?"
+
+"Pretty good for a parcel of boys," observed Bess.
+
+"Well, I'm glad the worry's over," yawned Grace. "Let's go to bed. You
+know, Percy, we've got to work like slaves to-morrow, so it behooves us
+to get to bed betimes."
+
+"Mercy!" cried Frankie, "they'll be wanting to make up the cots before
+we are out of them in the morning. Come on! let's all turn in."
+
+There was a general roll-call at daybreak the next morning. Wynifred and
+Frank were not the only ones to get up as soon as day approached,
+although to them had been allotted the task of going to Windmill Farm
+for the milk and the day's supply of vegetables.
+
+They had agreed the night before to venture into the water. The boys
+always bragged about this early morning dip, which was a rule of their
+camp.
+
+"I don't see why we shouldn't be able to do anything those boys do,"
+declared Bess, with her usual contempt for the vaunted superiority of
+the other sex. "If they can run down and plunge right into the water,
+right out of bed, why can't _we_?"
+
+So even Grace--who had her doubts about it--ventured on this second
+morning. They slipped out of their sleeping clothes and into bathing
+suits. There _was_ a little chill in the air; but Wyn assured them
+the water would be warmer than the air and--if they remained in half an
+hour, or so--the sun would be up and his rays would warm them when they
+came out.
+
+And Wyn's prophecy was proven right. The six girls disported in the lake
+like a flock of ducks. Mrs. Havel, however, would not let them remain
+more than twenty minutes. The sun had shot up, then, and already the
+green knoll was warm in his first rays.
+
+Wyn and Frank scurried into their clothes and hurried away to the farm
+for the milk and vegetables. Frank saw the windmill on the summit of the
+hill, and nothing would do but she must run up and inspect it. The
+breeze was rising and the farmer, who was likewise the miller, was
+preparing to "grind a grist."
+
+"We've got a good bit of grain on hand; but we've not had wind enough of
+daytimes lately to grind a handful," he said. "I can't invite you
+inside, young ladies, because when they set up this mill for me they
+made the door, as you see, right behind the sails. When the arms are in
+motion I am shut in till the grist is ground; or I stop the sails with
+this lever just inside the door--d'ye see?"
+
+As the girls went back toward the house the arms began turning with a
+groaning sound. The wind became fresher. Round and round the long arms
+turned, while the canvas bellied like the sails on a boat.
+
+Louder and louder grew the hum of the mill. The miller threw in the
+clutch and the stones began to grind. They heard the corn poured into
+the hopper, and then the shriek of the kernels as they were ground
+between the stones. The whole building began to shake.
+
+"What a ponderous thing it is!" exclaimed Frank. "And see! there's a
+tiny window in the roof facing the lake. I imagine you could see clear
+to Meade's Forge from that window."
+
+"Farther than that, my dear--much farther," said the farmer's wife,
+handing Frank the basket of fresh vegetables over the garden fence. "On
+a clear day you can see 'way across the lake to Braisely Park. The tower
+of Dr. Shelton's fine house is visible from that window. And the whole
+spread of the lake. But the air must be very clear."
+
+"Goody! We'll bring the other girls up here some day when the mill is
+not running and climb to the top of the mill for the view," declared
+Frank.
+
+Bess and Mina, with some advice from Mrs. Havel, made a very good
+breakfast. Although neither was very domestic in her tastes, the two
+young cooks were on their mettle, and did the best they could. If the
+hot biscuits were not quite so flaky as their mothers' own cooks made
+them at home, and some of the poached eggs broke in the poacher, and the
+broiled bacon got afire several time and "fussed them all up," as Mina
+said, the general opinion of the occupants of Green Knoll Camp was that
+"there was no kick coming"--of course, expressed thus by the slangy
+Frank Cameron.
+
+Grace _would_ dawdle over the dishwashing, and Percy was a good
+second. Therefore, those two still had work on their hands when Bess
+sighted a motor boat coming swiftly toward their camp from the direction
+of Gannet Island.
+
+"Now somebody's going to butt in and bother us," declared Bess. "It
+can't be the Busters, I s'pose?"
+
+"That's exactly who it is!" cried Wyn, delightedly. "That's the _Happy
+Day_. Dave said if his cousin, Frank Dumont, could come up here, he
+would bring his father's motor boat. And he must have come yesterday
+when we were busy and did not see him."
+
+"Hurrah!" cried Frank. "A motor boat beats a canoe all to pieces."
+
+"The Busters are aboard, all right," sighed Bess, after another look.
+"Now we'll have a noisy time."
+
+"Now there'll be something doing!" quoth Frank. "That's the trouble with
+a crowd of girls. After they have played 'Ring Around the Rosy' and
+'London Bridge is Falling Down' they don't know another living thing to
+do except to sit down and look prim and be prosy. But with boys it's
+different. There's something doing all the time."
+
+"You should have been a boy, Frank," declared Bess, with some disgust.
+
+"If I was one, I'd be hanging around your house all the time, Bessie
+mine," laughed the other, hugging the boy-hater.
+
+"Get away! I'd have Patrick turn the hose on you if you did!" cried
+Bess, in mock wrath.
+
+But secretly, Miss Lavine, as well as her mates, was glad of the break
+in the quiet affairs of Green Knoll Camp made by the appearance of Dave
+Shepard and his spirited chums.
+
+"Oh, crackey, girls! you ought to see our camp! We've got a regular
+pirates' cave," declared Ferdinand Roberts.
+
+"Did your stores get wet in that awful storm?" demanded Wyn from the top
+of the knoll.
+
+"Not much. We managed to cover them with the canvas. And now we've
+cleaned out the cave and it's great. All we need is some captives to
+take over there and chain to the rocks," laughed Dave.
+
+"And fatten 'em up till they're fit to eat," drawled Tubby Blaisdell.
+
+"Stop it, Tub!" cried one of his mates. "We're not going to play
+cannibals, but pirates."
+
+"Well, in either case," declared Bess, "you will not get captives at
+Green Knoll Camp."
+
+"Is that what you call this pretty hillock?" cried Dave. "Well, it
+_is_ a beauty spot! And how nice you girls have made everything.
+Why! you don't need any boys around at all."
+
+"That's what I've always told them," murmured Bess. "They're only a
+nuisance."
+
+"We came over to see if we could help you," continued Dave. "Here's my
+cousin, Frank Dumont, girls. Some of you know him, anyway. This is his
+motor boat, and if there really is nothing we can do to help you here,
+why, Frank wants to take you all--with Mrs. Havel, if she is
+agreeable--for a trip around the lake. We've got supplies aboard and
+we'll stop somewhere and make a picnic dinner."
+
+"Goody!" cried Mina. "Then we will not have to make dinner here, Bess."
+
+"Agreed!" announced Grace. "There will be no more dishes to wash until
+evening, then."
+
+"Well, I don't know," Dave said, slowly. "Of course we like to have you
+girls go along; but usually girls do the grub-getting and dishwashing on
+a picnic."
+
+"Nothing doing, then," declared Frank, laughing at him. "This crowd of
+girls are going as invited guests, or not at all. We promise to be
+ornamental, but not useful."
+
+"You're ornamental, all right, in those blouses and bloomers," declared
+Ferd, for the girls had discarded skirts about the camp, and felt much
+more free and comfortable than they usually did.
+
+"If worse comes to worst," said Mrs. Havel, smiling, "_I_ will be
+the camp drudge, boys, for I want to see the lake shore in panorama."
+
+"Oh, let 'em come," drawled Tubby, still lying on his back on the little
+deck of the _Happy Day_. "They'll get hungry some time and
+_have_ to cook for us."
+
+And so, amid much bustle, and laughter, and raillery, the girls of Green
+Knoll Camp joined the boys of Cave-in-the-Wood Camp in the motor boat
+for a trip around the big lake.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+WHERE THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED
+
+
+"And where is Professor Skillings?" asked Mrs. Havel, as the well-laden
+launch drew away from the little natural landing which defended one end
+of the girls' bathing beach at Green Knoll Camp.
+
+"Bless your heart, ma'am," said Ferdinand Roberts, laughing, "the old
+gentleman is trying to figure out one of Tubby's unanswerable
+arguments--that is, I believe, what you'd call it."
+
+"One of Tubby's unanswerable arguments?" cried Wyn. "For pity's sake!
+what can that be?"
+
+"Why, at breakfast this morning the professor got to 'dreaming,' as he
+sometimes does. He tells us lots of interesting things when he begins
+talking that way; but sometimes, if we are in a hurry to get away, we
+have to put the stopper in," chuckled Ferd.
+
+"Tubby usually does it. Tubby really _is_ good for something beside
+eating and sleeping, girls--you wouldn't believe it!"
+
+"You _do_ surprise us," admitted Bess Lavine, cuttingly.
+
+"All right. But just wait and listen. We wanted to get away early and
+come over here after you," said Ferd. "And the professor began to give
+us one of his talks. This time it was on literature. By and by he says:
+
+"'We are told that it took, Gray, author of 'An Elegy Written in a
+Country Churchyard,' seven years to write that famous poem."
+
+"'Gee!' exclaimed Tubby. 'If he'd only known stenography how much better
+off he'd been.'
+
+"'Ahem! how do you prove that, Mr. Blaisdell?' inquired the professor,
+quite amazed.
+
+"'Why, we took that as a lesson in the shorthand class of the Commercial
+Department last spring,' said Tubby, 'and some of the real good ones
+could do Gray's Elegy, from dictation, in seven minutes. See what Gray
+would have saved if he'd known shorthand!'
+
+"And that completely shut up the professor," said Ferd, as the laughter
+broke out. "He hasn't recovered from the shock yet."
+
+The _Happy Day_ was turned toward the Forge first, skirting the
+shore all the way. That brought them, of course, close to Jarley's
+Landing. Polly was just pushing out in a little skiff.
+
+Wyn and Frank waved to her; but the other girls did not know her, of
+course, and only watched the boatman's daughter curiously.
+
+"How well she rows!" exclaimed Percy.
+
+"Say! but she's a fine looking girl," said Dave, earnestly. "What
+handsome arms she's got."
+
+"Handsome is as handsome does," remarked Bess, snappishly.
+
+"She's as brown as an Indian," observed Mina.
+
+"That doesn't hurt her," declared Dave, stoutly. "Is _she_ the girl
+you were speaking about, Wyn?"
+
+"She is Polly Jarley, and she is my friend," responded Wynifred,
+quietly. "And I believe her to be as good as she is beautiful."
+
+"Then there are wings sprouting under her blouse," laughed Frank; "for
+there's no girl _I_ ever saw who could hold a candle to Polly for
+right down beauty."
+
+"She looks so sad," said Mina, softly.
+
+"Why shouldn't she be sad?" Wyn demanded, "with everybody talking about
+her father the way they do?"
+
+"Come, girls!" commanded Mrs. Havel. "Don't gossip. Find some other
+topic of conversation."
+
+"Ha! quite so," cried Frank, with a grimace upon her own homely face. "A
+girl may be as pretty as a picture and spoil it all by an ugly frame of
+mind. How's _that_ for a spark thrown from the wheel?"
+
+"Stand back, audience!" exclaimed Dave. "Something like that is likely
+to happen any minute."
+
+"I don't really see how the old professor gets on with you boys at all,"
+remarked Bessie Lavine, with a sigh. "You'd worry the life out of an
+angel."
+
+"But Professor Skillings is _not_ an angel--thanks be!" exclaimed
+Dave.
+
+"He's a good old scout!" drawled Tubby.
+
+"He just hasn't forgotten what it is to be a boy," began Ferd.
+
+"But, goodness me!" cried Frankie. "He's forgotten about everything
+else, at some time or other; hasn't he?"
+
+"Not what he's learned out of books and from observation," declared
+Dave. "But my goodness! he _is_ absent-minded. Yesterday a couple
+of us fellows chopped up a good heap of firewood. We don't have a fancy
+stove like you girls, but just an out-of-doors fireplace. After supper
+the dear old prof, said he'd wash the dishes, and we dumped all the pots
+and pans together and--what do you think?"
+
+"Couldn't think," drawled Frank. "I'm too lazy. Tell us without making
+your story so complicated."
+
+"Why, we found he had carried an armful of firewood down to the shore
+and was industriously swashing the sticks up and down in the water,
+thinking he was washing the supper dishes."
+
+With similar conversation, and merry badinage, the journey around Lake
+Honotonka progressed. The shores of the lake, in full summer dress, were
+beautiful. There was an awning upon the motor boat, so the rapidly
+mounting sun did not trouble the party. But it _was_ hot at
+noonday, and through Dave's glasses they could see that the sails on the
+mill behind Windmill Farm were still. There wasn't air enough stirring,
+even at that height, to keep the arms in motion, and down here on the
+water the temperature grew baking.
+
+They ran into a cool cove and went ashore for dinner. Nobody wanted
+anything hot, and so, as there was a splendid spring at hand, they made
+lemonade and ate sandwiches of potted chicken and hard-boiled eggs which
+the boys had been thoughtful enough to bring along. The girls had crisp
+salad leaves to go with the chicken, too, and some nice mayonnaise.
+Altogether even Tubby was willing to pronounce the "cold bite"
+satisfying.
+
+"And I'm no hypocrite," declared the fat youth, earnestly. "When I say a
+thing I mean it."
+
+"What _is_ your idea of a hypocrite, Tubby?" demanded Wyn,
+laughing.
+
+"A boy who comes to school smiling," replied Tubby, promptly.
+
+After a while a little breeze ruffled the surface of the lake again and
+the _Happy Day_ was made ready for departure. They continued then
+toward the west, where lay the preserve known as Braisely Park, in which
+there were at least a dozen rich men's lodges. They were all in sight
+from the lake--at some point, at least. Each beautiful place had a water
+privilege, and the landings and boathouses were very picturesque. There
+was a whole fleet of craft here, too, ranging in size from a cedar canoe
+to a steam yacht. The latter belonged to Dr. Shelton, the man who had
+accused John Jarley of stealing the motor boat _Bright Eyes_ and
+the five thousand dollars' worth of silver images from the ruined
+temples of Yucatan.
+
+"And of course," said Wyn, warmly, "that is nonsense. For if Polly and
+her father had done such a thing, they would turn the silver into money;
+wouldn't they, and stop living in poverty?"
+
+"Well, it looks mighty funny where that boat and all could have gone,"
+Bessie remarked.
+
+"If she sank as quickly as he says, the wreck must lie off Gannet Island
+somewhere," remarked Dave, reflectively.
+
+"Oh! I wish we could find it," commented Wyn.
+
+"If it ever sank at all," sneered Bessie.
+
+But it was almost impossible to quarrel with Wyn Mallory. Frank would
+have "got hot" a dozen times at Bess while the party chanced to discuss
+the Jarleys and their troubles. But the captain of the Go-Ahead Club was
+patient.
+
+Bye and bye--and after mid-afternoon--the _Happy Day_ came around
+to the west end of Gannet Island. Up among the trees a glint of white
+betrayed the presence of the boys' tent. In a little sheltered cove
+below the site of Cave-in-the-Wood Camp, danced the fleet of canoes.
+
+Nothing would do but the girls and Mrs. Havel must go ashore and see the
+cave and the camp.
+
+"And we can have tea," said Ferd. "How's that, girls? Professor
+Skillings has got a whole canister of best gunpowder in his private
+stores--and there he is on that log, examining specimens."
+
+"Oh, dear me!" cried Frankie, "tea isn't going to satisfy the gnawing of
+_my_ appetite."
+
+"How about a fish-fry?" demanded Dave, swerving the motor boat suddenly
+away from the landing.
+
+"Where'll you get your fish?" cried Percy Havel.
+
+"In the fish store at Meade's Forge," scoffed Ferdinand Roberts.
+
+"That's too far to run for supper--and back again--this afternoon,
+boys," said Mrs. Havel.
+
+"Just you wait," cried Dave. "I caught sight of something just
+now--there she is!"
+
+The _Happy Day_ rounded a wooded point of the island. Near the
+shore floated Polly Jarley's skiff and Polly was just getting up her
+anchor.
+
+"She's been fishing all day!" exclaimed Wyn.
+
+"And I'll wager she's got a fine mess of perch," said Dave. "Hi, Miss
+Jarley!" he shouted. "Hold on a minute."
+
+Polly had heard the chugging of the motor boat. Now she stood up
+suddenly and waved both hands in some excitement.
+
+"What does she want?" demanded Bess.
+
+"Get out! farther out!" the boatman's daughter shouted, her clear voice
+echoing from the wooded heights of the island. "Danger here!"
+
+"What's the matter with her?" demanded Bess again. "Is there a submarine
+mine sunk here?"
+
+But Dave veered off, taking a wider course from the shore.
+
+"What is the matter, Polly?" shouted Wyn, standing up and making a
+megaphone of her hands.
+
+"Snags!" replied the other girl. "Here's where father ran Dr. Shelton's
+boat on a root. The shallow water here is full of them. Look out"
+
+"Say!" cried Frank Dumont "We don't want to sink the old _Happy
+Day_."
+
+"So _this_ is where the accident happened; is it?" observed Wyn,
+looking around at the shores of the little cove and the contour of the
+island's outline.
+
+"Humph!" snapped Bessie Lavine, sitting down quickly. "I don't believe
+there was any accident at all. It was all a story."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+AN OVERTURN
+
+
+Dave Shepard had stopped the motor boat land now he hailed the pretty
+girl in the skiff.
+
+"I say, Miss Jarley! did you have any luck?"
+
+"I've got a good string of white perch. They love to feed among these
+stumps," returned Polly.
+
+"Oh, Polly Jolly! sell us some; will you?" cried Wyn, eagerly. "We're so
+hungry."
+
+"Do, do!" chorused several of the other girls and boys aboard the
+_Happy Day_.
+
+Polly, smiling, held up a long withe on which wriggled at least two
+dozen silvery fish. "Aren't they beauties?" she demanded. "Wait! I'll
+row out."
+
+She had already raised her anchor. Now she sat down, seized the short
+oars, and plunged them into the water. How she could row! Even Bessie
+Lavine murmured some enthusiastic praise of the boatman's daughter.
+
+Her skiff shot alongside the motor boat. She caught the gunwale, and
+then held up the string of fish again.
+
+"How much, Miss Jarley?" asked Dave.
+
+"Half a dollar. Is that too much?"
+
+"It looks too little; but I suppose you know what you can get for them
+at the Forge," he said.
+
+"And this saves me rowing down there," returned the brown girl, smiling
+and blushing under the scrutiny of so many eyes.
+
+Wyn leaned over the rail, took the fish, and kissed Polly on her brown
+cheek.
+
+"Dreadfully glad to see you, dear," she declared. "Won't you come over
+to the camp to-morrow and show us girls where--and how--to fish, too?
+We're crazy for a fishing trip."
+
+"Why--if you want me?" said Polly, her fine eyes slowly taking in the
+group of girls aboard the motor boat.
+
+All looked at her in a friendly way save Bessie, and she had her back to
+the girl.
+
+"I'll come," said Polly, blushing again; and then she pocketed, the
+piece of money Dave gave her, and pushed off a bit.
+
+"Is this really where your father came so near losing his life, Polly?"
+asked Wyn, seriously.
+
+"Yes, Miss Wyn. Right yonder. It was so thick he could not see the
+shore. A limb of that tree yonder--you can see where it was broken off;
+see the scar?"
+
+There was a long yellow mark high up on the tree trunk overhanging the
+pool where Polly had been fishing.
+
+"That limb brushed father out of the boat just as she struck. The snag
+must have torn a big hole in the bottom of the _Bright Eyes_.
+Lightened by his going overboard, she shot away--somewhere--toward the
+middle of the lake, perhaps. He knows that he gave the wheel a twirl
+just as he went overboard and that must have driven the nose of the boat
+around.
+
+"She shot away into the fog. He never saw or heard of her again. We
+paddled about for a week afterward--the bateau men and I--and we
+couldn't find it. Poor father was abed, you see, for a long time and
+could not help."
+
+"All a story, _I_ believe," whispered Bess, to Mina.
+
+"Oh, don't!" begged the tender-hearted girl.
+
+Perhaps Polly heard this aside. She plunged her oars into the water
+again and the skiff shot away. She only nodded when they sang out
+"Good-bye" to her.
+
+The _Happy Day_ carried the party quickly back to the cove under
+the hill on which Cave-in-the-Wood Camp had been established. The girls
+and boys landed and were met by Professor Skillings--who could be a very
+gallant man indeed, where ladies were concerned. He helped Mrs. Havel
+out of the motor boat, which Dave had brought alongside of a steep bank,
+where the water was deep, and which made a good landing place.
+
+"My dear Mrs. Havel! I am charmed to see you again," said the professor.
+"You are comfortably situated over there on the shore, I hope?"
+
+"My girls are as successful in making me comfortable as are your boys in
+looking after you, I believe, Professor Skillings," returned the lady,
+laughing.
+
+"More so--I have no doubt! More so," admitted the professor.
+
+"Treason! treason!" shouted Dave Shepard.
+
+"What's the matter with you?" demanded Wyn, who had hopped ashore behind
+the chaperone.
+
+"Professor Skillings is going back on us, boys," declared Dave.
+
+"Why, Professor!" cried Ferdinand. "Where would you find in all the five
+zones such a set of boys as we-uns?"
+
+"Five zones? Correct, my boy," declared the professor, seriously. "But
+name those five zones; will you, please?"
+
+"Sure!" wheezed Tubby, before Ferd could reply. "Temperate, Intemperate,
+Canal, Torrid, and Ozone."
+
+"Goodness gracious, Agnes!" gasped Dave. "Can you beat Tubby when he
+lays himself out to be real erudite?" while the others--even the
+professor and Mrs. Havel--could not forbear to chuckle.
+
+But Dave and Ferd got busy at once while the others laughed, and
+chaffed, and looked over the boys' camping arrangements. Dave was cook
+and Ferd made and fed the fire. These boys had all the approved Scout
+tricks for making fire and preparing food--they could have qualified as
+first-class scouts.
+
+Ferd started for an armful of wood he had cut down at the bottom of the
+steep bank and suddenly, without any warning whatsoever, he slipped, his
+feet pointed heavenward, and he skated down the bank upon the small of
+his back.
+
+"My goodness me!" exclaimed Frank Cameron. "Did you see that?"
+
+"Sure," said Dave, amid the laughter of the crowd. "Poor Ferdy! the
+whole world is against him!"
+
+"You bet it is," growled Ferd, picking himself up slowly at the bottom
+of the bank. "And it's an awful hard world at that."
+
+"Come on! Come on!" whined Tubby Blaisdell. "Aren't you ever going to
+get supper? You're wasting time."
+
+Dave was expertly cleaning fish. Wyn ran to his help, finding the flour,
+cracker-crumbs, and salt pork. The pan was already heating over the
+blaze that the unfortunate Ferdinand had started in the fireplace.
+
+"If you're so blamed hungry," said Dumont to the wailing Tubby, "start
+on the raw flour. It's filling, I'll be bound."
+
+"Say! I don't just want to get filled. I want to enjoy what I eat. I
+could be another Nebuchadnezzar and eat grass, if it was just
+_filling_ I wanted."
+
+"Ha!" cried Dave. "Tubby is as particular as the Western lawyer--a
+perfectly literal man--who entered a restaurant where the waiter came to
+him and said:
+
+"'What'll you 'ave, sir? I 'ave frogs' legs, deviled kidneys, pigs'
+feet, and calves' brains.'
+
+"'You look it,' declared the lawyer man. 'But what is that to me? I have
+come here to eat--don't tell me your misfortunes.'"
+
+Amid much laughter and chaffing they finally sat down to the
+fish-fry--and if there is anything more toothsome than perch, fresh from
+the water, and fried crisply in a pan with salt pork over the hot coals
+of a campfire, "the deponent knoweth not," as Frank Cameron put it.
+
+Then Tubby got his banjo, Dumont his mandolin, Dave his ocarina, and
+they sang, and played, and told jokes, until a silver crescent moon
+rising over the lake warned them that the hour was growing late. The
+feminine visitors then boarded the _Happy Day_ and under the escort
+of Dave and Ferdinand to work the boat, the girls and their chaperone
+made the run back to Green Knoll Camp, giving the cove where Polly
+Jarley had caught the perch a wide berth.
+
+Dave insisted upon going ashore at Green Knoll and searching the camp
+"for possible burglars," as he laughingly said.
+
+"Do, _do_ look under my bed, Dave!" squealed Frank, in mock
+distraction. "I've always expected to find a man under my bed."
+
+"But it was real nice of him, just the same," admitted Mina Everett,
+when the _Happy Day_ had chugged away. "I feel a whole lot better
+now that he has beaten up the camp."
+
+On the next morning Grace and Percy were not allowed to lag over the
+breakfast dishes till all hours.
+
+"This shall be no lazy girls' camp," declared Mrs. Havel. "The quicker
+you all get your tasks done, the better. Then you can have games, and go
+fishing, and otherwise enjoy yourselves."
+
+The fish-fry they had enjoyed at Cave-in-the-Wood Camp the evening
+before had given them all an appetite for more, and as Polly Jarley
+appeared early, according to promise, Wyn began to bustle around and
+hunt out the fishing tackle.
+
+There probably wasn't a girl in the crowd who was afraid to put a worm
+on a hook, save Mina. She owned up to the fact that they made her
+"squirmy" and she hated to see live bait on a hook.
+
+"But that's what we have to use for lake fish--or river fish, either,"
+Wyn told her. "You're not going to be much good to this fishing party."
+
+"I know it, Wynnie. And I sha'n't go," said the timid one. "Mrs. Havel
+is not going fishing, and I can stay with her."
+
+"You'll have company," snapped Bessie Lavine. "I'm sure _I'm_ not
+going," and she said it with such a significant look at Polly Jarley,
+who had come ashore, that the boatman's daughter, as well as the other
+girls, could not fail to understand _why_ she made the declaration.
+
+"Why, Bess Lavine!" exclaimed Frankie, the outspoken.
+
+Polly's face had flushed deeply, then paled. Bess had avoided her
+before; but now she had come out openly with her animosity.
+
+"Is your name Miss Lavine?" asked the boatman's daughter, her voice
+quivering with emotion.
+
+"What if it is?" snapped Bess.
+
+"Then I guess I know why you speak to me so----"
+
+"Don't flatter yourself, Miss! I don't care to speak to you," said Bess.
+
+"Nor do I care to have anything to do with you," said Polly, plucking up
+a little spirit herself under this provocation. "You are Henry Lavine's
+daughter. I am not surprised at your speech and actions. He has done all
+he could to hurt my father's reputation for years--and you seem to be
+just like him."
+
+"Hurt your father's reputation--Bosh!" cried Bess. "You can't spoil
+a----"
+
+But here Wyn Mallory came to the rescue.
+
+"Stop, Bess! Don't you pay any attention to what she says, Polly. If
+this quarrel goes on, Bess, I shall tell Mrs. Havel immediately. You
+come with us, Polly; if Bessie doesn't wish to go fishing, she can
+remain at camp. Come, girls!"
+
+Bess and Mina remained behind.
+
+"I told you how 'twould be, Miss Wyn," said Polly, her eyes bright and
+hard and the angry flush in her cheek making her handsomer than ever. "I
+shall only make trouble among your friends."
+
+"You don't notice any of the rest of us running up the red flag; do
+you?" interposed Frank Cameron. "Bess's crazy."
+
+"The Lavines have been our worst enemies--worse than Dr. Shelton," said
+Polly, with half a sob. "Mr. Lavine is up here at the lake in the spring
+and fall, usually, and he will always talk to anybody who will listen
+about his old trouble with father. And he is an influential man."
+
+"Don't you cry a tear about it!" exclaimed Frank, wiping her own eyes
+angrily.
+
+Wyn had put a comforting arm over the shoulder of the boatman's
+daughter. "We'll just forget it, my dear," she said, gently.
+
+But it was not so easy to forget--not so easy for Polly, at least,
+although the other girls treated her as nicely as they could. Her face
+remained sad, and she could not respond to their quips and sallies as
+the fleet of four canoes and Polly's skiff got under weigh.
+
+Polly pulled strongly along the shore in her light craft; but of course
+the canoes could have left her far behind had the girls so wished. Their
+guide warned them finally against loud talking and splashing, and soon
+they came to a quiet cove where the trees stood thickly along the lake
+shore, and the water was not much ruffled by the morning breeze.
+
+Polly had brought the right kind of bait for perch, and most of the
+girls of the Go-Ahead Club had no difficulty in arranging their rods and
+lines and casting for the hungry fish. Perch, "shiners," roaches, and an
+occasional "bullhead" began to come into the canoes. These latter scared
+some of the girls; but they were better eating than any of the other
+fish and both Wyn and Frank, as well as Polly, knew how to take them off
+the hook without getting "horned."
+
+Polly did not remain with them more than an hour. She was sure the girls
+would get all the fish they would want right at this spot, and so,
+excusing herself, she rowed back to the landing.
+
+"It's a shame!" exclaimed Frank, the minute she was out of hearing. "I
+don't see what possesses Bess to be so mean."
+
+"I am sorry," rejoined Wyn. "Polly will not come to the camp again--I
+can see that."
+
+"A shame!" cried Percy. "And she seems such a nice girl."
+
+"Bessie ought to be strapped!" declared Frank.
+
+"I am sure Polly seems just as good as we are," Grace remarked. "I don't
+see why Bess has to make herself so objectionable."
+
+"She should be punished for it," declared Percy.
+
+"Turn the tables on her," suggested Frank. "If she will not have
+anything to do with Polly, let's give _her_ the cold shoulder."
+
+"No," said Wyn, firmly. "That would be adding fuel to the flames--and
+would be unfair to Bess."
+
+"Well, Bess is unfair to your Polly Jolly," said Frankie.
+
+"Two wrongs never yet made a right," said the captain of the Go-Ahead
+Club.
+
+"Well!"
+
+"Bessie is a member of our club. She has greater rights at Green Knoll
+Camp than Polly. It is true Polly will not come again, unless Bessie is
+more friendly. The thing, then is to convince Bess that she is wrong."
+
+"Well!" exclaimed Frank again. "I'd like to see you do it."
+
+"I hope you will see me," returned Wyn, placidly. "Or, at least, I hope
+you will see Bessie's mind changed, whether by my efforts, or not. Oh,
+dear! it's so much easier to get along pleasantly in this world if folks
+only thought so. Query: Why is a grouch?"
+
+Percy suddenly uttered a yell and almost plunged out of her canoe. She
+had whipped in her line and there was a small eel on the hook.
+
+It is really wonderful what an excited eel can do in a canoe with a girl
+as his partner in crime! Mr. Eel tangled up Percy's line in the first
+place until it seemed as though somebody must have been playing cat's
+cradle with it.
+
+Percy shrieked and finally bethought her to throw the whole thing
+overboard--tangled line, rod, and Mr. Eel. In his native element, the
+slippery chap in some mysterious way got off the hook; but the linen
+line was a mess, and that stopped the fishing for that morning.
+
+They had a nice string, however, and when the odor of the frying fish on
+the outdoor fire began to spread about Green Knoll Camp, Frank declared:
+
+"The angels flying overhead must stop to sniff--that smell is so
+heavenly!"
+
+"Nonsense, child!" returned Grace. "That thing you see 'way up there
+isn't an angel. It's a fish-hawk."
+
+There were letters to take to the Forge that afternoon, and the girls
+all expected mail, too. But after the fishing bout, and the heavy dinner
+they ate, not many of the Go-Aheads cared to paddle to town.
+
+"The duty devolves on your captain," announced Wyn, good-naturedly. "Of
+course, if anybody else wants to go along----"
+
+"Don't all speak at once," yawned Frank, and rolled over in the shade of
+the beech.
+
+"It's a shame! I'll go with you," said Bessie Lavine, getting up with
+alacrity.
+
+"All right, Bess," said Wyn, cheerfully. "I am glad to have you go."
+
+The other girls had been a little distant to Bess since their return
+from the fishing trip; but not Wyn. She had given no sign that she was
+annoyed by Bessie's demeanor towards Polly Jarley.
+
+Nor did she "preach" while she and Bess paddled to the Forge. That was
+not Wynifred Mallory's way. She knew that, in this case, taking Bess to
+task for her treatment of Polly would do only harm.
+
+Bess had probably offered to come with Wyn for the special purpose of
+finding opportunity to argue the case with the captain of the club. But
+Wyn gave her no opening.
+
+The girls got to the Forge, did their errands, and started back in the
+canoes. Not until they got well out into the lake did they notice that
+there were angry clouds in the northwest. And very soon the sun became
+overcast, while the wind whipped down upon them sharply.
+
+"Oh, dear, me!" cried Bess. "Had we better turn back, Wyn?"
+
+"We're about as far from the Forge as we are from Green Knoll Camp,"
+declared the other girl.
+
+"Then let's run ashore----"
+
+But they had struck right out into the lake from the landing, and it was
+a long way to land--even to the nearest point. While they were
+discussing the advisability of changing their course, there came a lull
+in the wind.
+
+"Maybe we'll get home all right!" cried Bess, and the two bent to their
+paddles again, driving the canoes toward distant Green Knoll.
+
+And almost at once--her words had scarcely passed--the wind whipped down
+upon them from a different direction. The surface of the lake was
+agitated angrily, and in a minute the two girls were in the midst of a
+whirlpool of jumping waves.
+
+In ordinary water the canoes were safe enough. But when Bess tried to
+paddle, a wave caught the blade and whirled the canoe around. She was
+up-set before she could scream.
+
+And in striving to drive her own craft to her friend's assistance, Wyn
+Mallory was caught likewise in a flaw, and she, too, plunged into the
+lake, while both canoes floated bottom upward.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+A SERIOUS ADVENTURE
+
+
+Wyn Mallory was a pretty cool-headed girl; nor was this the first time
+she had been in an accident of this nature.
+
+Naturally, in learning to handle the light cedar craft as expertly as
+they did, the members of the Go-Ahead Club had much experience. While
+the weather was good the girls plied their paddles up and down the
+Wintinooski, but seldom was the river as rough as this open lake in
+which Wyn and Bessie Lavine had been so unexpectedly overturned.
+
+"Oh! am I not the unluckiest girl that--that ever happened?" wailed
+Bess, when she came up puffing.
+
+"N-o-no more than _I_, Bess," stammered Wyn.
+
+"Get your canoe, Wyn!" cried Bess.
+
+"Oh, yes; but we can't turn them over in this sea. Oh! isn't that
+horrid!" as another miniature wave slapped the captain of the club in
+the face and rolled her companion completely over.
+
+Bess lost her grip on her canoe. The latter floated beyond her reach
+while Wyn was striving to get her friend to the surface again.
+
+"Why! we're going to be drowned!" shrieked Bess, suddenly
+horror-stricken.
+
+"Don't you _dare_ lose your nerve," commanded Wynifred. "If we lose
+courage we certainly will be lost."
+
+"Oh, but, Wyn----"
+
+"Oh, but, Bess! Don't you dare. Here! get hold of the keel of my canoe."
+
+"But it won't bear us both up," groaned Bessie Lavine.
+
+"It's got to," declared Wyn. "Have courage; don't be afraid."
+
+"You needn't try to tell me you're not afraid yourself, Wyn Mallory!"
+chattered her friend.
+
+"Of course I am, dear; but I mean, don't lose your head because you
+_are_ afraid," said Wyn. "Come, now! Paddle with one hand and cling
+to the keel with the other. I'll do the same."
+
+"Oh, dear, me! if we were only not so far from the shore," groaned Bess.
+
+"Somebody may see us and come to our help," said Wyn, with more
+confidence in her tone than she really felt.
+
+"The canoes couldn't live in this gale."
+
+"It's only a squall."
+
+"That's all very well; but they wouldn't dare to start out for us from
+Green Knoll."
+
+"But the boys----"
+
+"Their camp isn't in sight of this place, Wyn," moaned Bess. "Oh! we
+_will_ be drowned."
+
+But Wyn had another hope. She remembered, just before the overturn, that
+she had caught a glimpse of the red and yellow cottage behind Jarley's
+Landing.
+
+"Oh, Bess!" she gasped. "Perhaps Mr. Jarley will see us. Perhaps
+Polly----"
+
+Another slapping wave came and rolled them and the canoe over. The frail
+craft came keel up, level full of water. The least weight upon it now
+would send it to the bottom of the lake.
+
+"Oh, oh!" shrieked Bess, when she found her voice. "What shall we do
+now?"
+
+They could both swim; but the lake was rough. The sudden and spiteful
+squall had torn up the surface for many yards around. Yet, as they rose
+upon one of the waves, they saw the sun shining boldly in the westward.
+The squall was scurrying away.
+
+"Come on! we've got to swim," urged Wyn.
+
+[Illustration: THEY COULD BOTH SWIM, BUT THE LAKE WAS ROUGH. _Page
+146._]
+"That's so hard," wailed Bess, but striking out, nevertheless, in the
+way she had been so well taught by the instructor in Denton. All these
+girls had been trained in the public school baths.
+
+"There's the other canoe," said Wyn, hopefully.
+
+"But we--we don't want to go that way," gasped Bess. "It's away from
+land."
+
+Now Wyn knew very well that they had scarcely a chance of swimming to
+the distant shore. In ordinarily calm weather--yes; but in this rough
+sea, and hampered as they were by their bloomers and other clothing--no.
+
+The two girls swam close together, but Wyn dared not offer her comrade
+help. She wanted to, but she feared that if she did so Bess would break
+down and become helpless entirely; and Wyn hoped they would get much
+farther inshore before that happened.
+
+The squall had quite gone over and the sun began to shine. It seemed a
+cruel thing--to drown out there in the sunlight. And yet the buffeting
+little waves, kicked up by the wind-flaw, were so hard to swim through.
+
+Had the waves been of a really serious size the struggle would have been
+less difficult for the two girls. They could have ridden over the big
+waves and managed to keep their heads above water; but every once in a
+while a cross wavelet would slap their faces, and every time one did so
+Bess managed to get a mouthful of water.
+
+"Oh! what will papa do?" moaned Bess.
+
+And Wyn knew what the poor girl meant. She was her father's close
+companion and chum. The other girls in the Lavine family were smaller
+and their mother was devoted to them; but Bess and Mr. Lavine were pals
+all the time.
+
+Bess repeated this exclamation over and over again, until Wyn thought
+she should shriek in nervous despair. She realized quite fully that
+their chance for life was very slim indeed; but moaning and groaning
+about it would not benefit them or change the situation in the slightest
+degree.
+
+Wyn kept her head and saved her breath for work. She raised up now and
+then, breast high in the water, and tried to scan the shore.
+
+Suddenly the sun revealed Green Knoll Camp to her--bathing the little
+hillock, with the tents upon it, in the full strength of his rays. But
+it was quite two miles away.
+
+Wyn could see no moving figures upon the knoll. Nor could her friends
+see her and Bess struggling in the water at that distance. If their
+overset had not been sighted, Mrs. Havel and the four other members of
+the Go-Ahead Club would not be aware of their peril.
+
+And, Wyn believed, the swamping of the canoes could only have been
+observed through a glass. Had anybody along shore been watching the two
+canoes as the squall struck the craft and overset them?
+
+In that possibility, she thought, lay their only hope of rescue.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+THE REPULSE
+
+
+As the squall threatened in the northwest, it had been observed by many
+on the shores of Lake Honotonka--and many on the lake itself, as well.
+Sailing craft had run for havens. The lake could be nasty at times and
+there might be more than a capful of wind in the black cloud that spread
+so quickly over a sky that had--an hour before--been of azure.
+
+Had the two girls from Green Knoll Camp been observed by the watermen as
+they embarked in their canoes at Meade's Forge, they might have been
+warned against venturing far from the shore in those cockleshells. But
+Wynifred and Bessie had not been observed, so were not warned.
+
+The squall had come down so quickly that they were not much to be
+blamed. It had startled other people on the lake--and those much more
+used to its vagaries.
+
+In a cove on the north shore a small cat-rigged boat had been drifting
+since noon-time, its single occupant having found the fishing very good.
+This fisher was the boatman's daughter, Polly Jarley.
+
+She had now a splendid catch and she knew that, if the wind held true, a
+sharp run to the westward would bring her to Braisely Park. At some one
+of the private landings there her fish would be welcomed--she could get
+more for them than she could at the Forge, which was nearer.
+
+But the squall gathered so fast that she had to put aside the thought of
+the run down the lake. The wind would switch about, too, after the
+squall. That was a foregone conclusion.
+
+She waited until the blow was past and then saw that it would be quite
+impossible to make the park that afternoon and return to the landing in
+time for tea. And if she was later her father would be worried.
+
+Mr. Jarley did not like to have his girl go out this way and work all
+day; but there seemed nothing else to be done this summer. They owed so
+much at the stores at the Forge; and the principal and interest on the
+chattel mortgage must be found before New Year or they would lose their
+fleet of boats. And as yet few campers had come to the lake who wished
+to hire Mr. Jarley's boats.
+
+So by fishing (and none of the old fellows who had fished Honotonka for
+years was wiser about the good fishing places than Polly) the girl added
+from one to two dollars every favorable day to the family income.
+Sometimes she was off by light in one boat or another; but she did not
+often come to this northern side of the lake. This cove was at least ten
+miles from home.
+
+As the last breath of the squall passed, the wind veered as she had
+expected, and Polly, having reeled in her two lines and unjointed the
+bamboo poles, stowed everything neatly, raised the anchor, or kedge, and
+set a hand's breadth of the big sail.
+
+The canvas filled, and with the sheet in one hand and the other on the
+arm of the tiller, the girl steered the catboat out of the cove and into
+the rumpus kicked up by the passing squall.
+
+The girls of the Go-Ahead Club would surely have been frightened had
+they been aboard the little _Coquette_, as the catboat was named.
+She rocked and jumped, and the spume flew over her gunwale in an
+intermittent shower. But in this sea, which so easily swamped the
+canoes, the catboat was as safe as a house.
+
+Polly was used to much rougher weather than this. In the summer Lake
+Honotonka was on its best behavior. At other seasons the tempests tore
+down from the north and west and sometimes made the lake so terrible in
+appearance that even the hardiest bateau man in those parts would not
+risk himself in a boat.
+
+Polly knew, however, that the worst of the squall was over. The lake
+would gradually subside to its former calm. And the change in the wind
+was favorable now to a quick passage either to the Forge or to her
+father's tiny landing.
+
+"Can't get any fancy price for the fish at Meade's," thought Polly. "I
+have a good mind to put them in our trap and try again for Braisely Park
+to-morrow morning."
+
+As she spoke she was running outside the horns of the cove. She could
+get a clear sweep now of the lake--as far as it could be viewed from the
+low eminence of the boat--and she rose up to see it.
+
+"Nobody out but I," she thought. "Ah! all those folk at the end of the
+lake ran in when the squall appeared. And the girls and boys over
+yonder----"
+
+She was peering now across the lake ahead of the _Coquette's_ nose,
+toward the little island where was Cave-in-the-Wood Camp, and at Green
+Knoll Camp, where the girls from Denton were staying.
+
+Her face fell as she focused her gaze upon the bit of high, green bank
+on which the sun was now shining again so brilliantly. She remembered
+how badly she had been treated by Bess Lavine only that morning.
+
+"I can't go over there any more," she muttered. "That girl will never
+forget--or let the others forget--that father has been accused of being
+a thief. It's a shame! A hateful shame! And we're every bit as good as
+she is----"
+
+Her gaze dropped to the tumbling wavelets between her and the distant
+green hillock. She was about to resume her seat and catch the tiller,
+which she had held steady with her knee.
+
+But now her breath left her and for a moment she stood motionless--only
+giving to the plunge and jump of the _Coquette_ through the choppy
+waves.
+
+"Ah!" she exclaimed again, after a little intake of breath.
+
+There were two round objects rising and falling in the rough water--and
+far ahead. They looked like cocoanuts.
+
+But a little to one side was a long, black something--a stick of timber
+drifting on the current? No! _An overturned boat._
+
+There was no mistaking the cocoanut-like objects. They were human heads.
+Two capsized people were struggling in the lake.
+
+Polly, in thirty seconds, was keenly alive to what she must do. There
+was no time lost in bewailing the catastrophe, or wondering about the
+identity of the castaways.
+
+Who or whatever they were they must be saved. There was not another boat
+on the lake. And the swimmers were too far from land to be observed
+under any conditions.
+
+The wind was strong and steady. The wavelets were still choppy, but
+Polly Jarley never thought of a wetting.
+
+Up went the sail--up, up, up until the unhelmed catboat lay over almost
+on beam ends. The girl took a sailor's turn of the sheet around the
+cleat and then swung all her weight against the tiller, to bring the
+boat's head up. She held the sheet ready to let go if a warning creak
+from the mast should sound, or the boat refuse to respond.
+
+But in half a minute the _Coquette_ righted. It had been a perilous
+chance--she might have torn the stick out. The immediate peril was past,
+however. The great canvas filled. Away shot the sprightly
+_Coquette_ with the wind--a bone in her teeth.
+
+Now and then she dipped and the spume flew high, drenching Polly. The
+boatman's daughter was not dressed for this rough work, for she was
+hatless and wore merely a blouse and old skirt for outside garments. She
+had pulled off her shoes and stockings while she fished and had not had
+time to put them on again.
+
+So the flying spray wet her through. She dodged occasionally to protect
+her eyes from the spoondrift which slatted so sharply across the deck
+and into the cockpit. The water gathered in the bottom of the old boat
+and was soon ankle-deep.
+
+But Polly knew the craft was tight and that this water could be bailed
+out again when she had time. Just now her mind and gaze were fixed
+mainly upon the round, bobbing objects ahead.
+
+For some minutes, although the catboat was traveling about as fast as
+Polly had ever sailed, save in a power boat, the girl could not be sure
+whether the swamped voyagers were girls or boys. It might be two of the
+Busters, from Gannet Island, for all she knew. She had made up her mind
+that the victims of the accident were from one camp or the other. There
+were no other campers as yet on the shore at this end of the lake.
+
+Then Polly realized that the heads belonged to girls. She could see the
+braids floating out behind. And she knew that they were fighting for
+their lives.
+
+They swam near together; once one of them raised up breast high in the
+water, as though looking shoreward. But neither turned back to see if
+help was coming from behind.
+
+With both hands engaged with sheet and tiller Polly could not make a
+megaphone to carry her voice; but several times she shouted as loud as
+she could:
+
+"Ahoy! Hold on! I'm coming!"
+
+Her voice seemed flung right back into her face--drowned by the slatting
+spray. How viciously that water stung!
+
+The _Coquette_ was traveling at racing speed; but would she be in
+time?
+
+How long could those two girls bear up in the choppy sea?
+
+One of the heads suddenly disappeared. Polly shrieked; but she could do
+nothing to aid.
+
+The spray filled her eyes again and, when she had shaken them free,
+Polly saw that the other swimmer--the stronger one--had gotten her
+comrade above the surface once more.
+
+Indeed, this one was swimming on her back and holding up the girl who
+had gone under. How brave she was!
+
+The sun shone clear upon the two in the water and Polly recognized
+Wynifred Mallory.
+
+"Wyn! Wynnie! Hold to her! Hold up!" cried the boatman's daughter. "I'll
+help you!"
+
+But she was still so far away--it seemed as though the catboat never
+_would_ come within hailing distance. But before she turned over in
+the water to swim with Bessie's hand upon her shoulder, the captain of
+the Go-Ahead Club beheld the catboat rushing down upon them.
+
+She could only wave a beckoning hand. She could not cry out. Wyn was
+well-nigh breathless, and Bessie's only hope was in her. The captain of
+the canoe club had to save her strength.
+
+Down swooped the catboat. Polly was shouting madly; but not for an
+instant did she lose control of the boat or ignore the work she had in
+hand. She wanted to encourage Wyn and the other; but she was taking no
+chances.
+
+Suddenly she let the sheet run and loosed the halliards. The canvas
+fluttered down on the deck with a rustle and crash. The catboat sprang
+to even keel, but shot on under the momentum it had gained in swooping
+down upon the swamped girls.
+
+"Wyn! hold hard! _I've got you!_"
+
+But it was the other girl Polly grasped. Wyn had turned, thrust the
+half-drowned Bessie before her, and Polly, leaning over the gunwale of
+the tossing boat, seized her by the shoulders.
+
+In a moment she heaved up, struggled, dragged the other girl forward,
+and together rescuer and rescued tumbled flat into the cockpit of the
+_Coquette_.
+
+Polly shouted again:
+
+"Wyn! Wyn! I'll come back for you----"
+
+"Give me a hand!" cried Wyn, hanging to the rudder. "Polly! you old
+darling! If you hadn't got here when you did----"
+
+Polly left Bess to her own resources and rushed to the stern. She helped
+Wyn clamber into the boat. Then she hoisted the sail again, and got way
+upon the boat. She raised the canvas only a little, for she had risked
+all the weight she dared upon the mast before.
+
+"Are you all right, Bess?" cried Wyn.
+
+"I--I'm alive. But, oh! I'm so--so sick," gasped Miss Lavine.
+
+"Brace up, Bess! We're all right now. Polly has saved us."
+
+"Polly?" cried Bess, sitting up, the better to see the boatman's
+daughter as the latter sat again at the helm. "Oh, Polly!"
+
+"You'd better both lie down till we get to the camp. I'll take you right
+there," said the other girl, briefly.
+
+"We'd have been--been drowned, Wyn!" gasped Bess.
+
+"I guess we would. We are still a long way from shore."
+
+"And Polly saved us? All alone? How wonderful!"
+
+But Polly's face was stern. She scarcely spoke to the two Denton girls
+as the _Coquette_ swept across the lake. Wyn told her just how it
+all happened and the condition of the two canoes when they lost sight of
+them.
+
+"I saw one; maybe the other can be found," Polly said. "I'll speak to
+father and, if the moon comes up clear bye and bye, we'll run out and
+see if we can recover them."
+
+But for Bess she had no word, or look, and when the other put out her
+hand timidly and tried to thank her, as they neared the shore, Polly
+only said:
+
+"That's all right. We're used to helping people who get overturned. It
+really is nothing."
+
+She would not see Bessie's hand. The latter felt the repulse and Wyn,
+who watched them both anxiously, dared not say a word.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+TROUBLE "BRUIN"
+
+
+The other girls and Mrs. Havel were all down on the beach to meet the
+catboat and her passengers. To see Wyn and Bessie returning across the
+lake in the sailboat, instead of the canoes, forewarned the Go-Aheads
+that an accident had happened.
+
+But although the girls were wet and bedraggled, the captain of the club
+made light of the affair.
+
+"Where are your canoes?"
+
+"What's happened?"
+
+"Who is it with you?"
+
+"What under the sun did you do--go overboard?"
+
+Wyn answered all questions in a single sentence:
+
+"We were capsized and lost the letters and things; but Polly picked us
+up and brought us home."
+
+Then, amid the excited cries and congratulations, her voice rose again:
+
+"Isn't she brave? What do you think of my Polly Jolly _now_? Can
+you blame me for being proud of her?"
+
+"I tell you wh--what she is!" gasped Bessie. "She's the bravest and
+smartest girl I ever heard of."
+
+"Good for you, Bess!" shouted Frank Cameron, helping the castaways
+ashore. "You're coming to your senses."
+
+"And--and I'm sorry," blurted out Bess, "that I ever treated her so----"
+
+Polly shoved off the catboat and proceeded to get under way again.
+
+"Oh, _do_ come ashore, Polly!" begged Grace.
+
+"I want to hug you, Miss Jarley!" cried Percy.
+
+"What? All wet as I am now?" returned the boatman's daughter,
+laughing--although the laugh was not a pleasant one. "You make too much
+of this matter. We're used to oversets on the lake. It is nothing."
+
+"You do not call saving two girls' lives _nothing_, my
+dear--surely?" proposed Mrs. Havel.
+
+"If I saved them, I am very, very glad of it," returned Polly, gravely.
+"Anybody would be glad of _that_, of course, But you are making too
+much of it----"
+
+"My father will not think so!" exclaimed the almost hysterical Bess.
+"When he learns of this he will not be able to do enough for you----"
+
+"Your father can do nothing for me, Bessie Lavine!" cried the boatman's
+daughter, with sharpness.
+
+"Oh, Polly!" said Wyn, holding out her arms to her.
+
+"He'll--he'll _want_ to," pursued Bess, eagerly. "Oh! he will! He'd
+do anything for you now----"
+
+"There's only one thing Henry Lavine can do for me," cried Polly,
+turning an angry face now toward the shore. "He can stop telling stories
+about my father. He can be kind to him--be decent to him. I don't want
+anything else--and I don't want that as pay for fishing you out of the
+lake!"
+
+She had got the sail up again and now the breeze filled it. The
+_Coquette_ laid over and slipped away from the shore. Her last
+words had silenced all the girls--even Mrs. Havel herself.
+
+Bess burst into tears. She was quite broken down, and Wyn went off with
+her to the tent, her arm over her shoulder, and whispering to her
+comfortingly.
+
+"I don't care. Polly's served her right," declared Frank Cameron.
+
+"I do not know that Polly can be blamed," Mrs. Havel observed. "But--but
+I wish she was more forgiving. It is not for herself that she speaks,
+however. It is for her father."
+
+"And I'll wager he's just as nice a man as ever was," declared Frank.
+"I'm going to ask _my_ father if he will not do something for Mr.
+Jarley."
+
+"Do so, Frances," advised the chaperon. "I think you will do well."
+
+The accident cast a cloud over Green Knoll Camp for the evening. The
+girls who had been swamped went to bed and were dosed with hot drinks
+brewed over the campfire by Mrs. Havel. And when the boys came over in
+their fleet for an evening sing and frolic, they were sent back again to
+the island almost at once.
+
+The boys did not take altogether kindly to this rebuff, and Tubby was
+heard to say:
+
+"Isn't that just like girls? Because they got a little wet they must go
+to bed and take catnip tea, or something, and be quiet. Their nerves are
+all unstrung! Gee! wouldn't that make your ears buzz?"
+
+"Aw, you're a doubting Thomas and always will be, Tub," said Ferd
+Roberts. "You never believe what you're told. You're as suspicious as
+the farmer who went to town and bought a pair of shoes, and when he'd
+paid for 'em the clerk says:
+
+"'Now, sir, can't I sell you a pair of shoe trees?'
+
+"'Don't you get fresh with me, sonny,' says the farmer, his whiskers
+bristling. 'I don't believe shoes kin be raised on trees any more 'n I
+believe rubbers grow on rubber trees, or oysters on oyster plants,
+b'gosh!'"
+
+"Well," snarled the fat youth, as the other Busters laughed, "the girls
+are always making excuses. You can never tell what a girl means,
+anyway--not by what she _says_."
+
+"You know speech was given us to hide our thoughts," laughed Dave.
+
+"Say! I'll get square just the same--paddlin' clear over here for
+nothing. Humph! I know that Hedges girl is afraid there's bears in the
+woods? Say, fellers! I've _got_ it! Yes, I've got it!"
+
+When Tubby spoke in this way, and his eyes snapped and he began to look
+eager, his mates knew that the fat youth's gigantic mind was working
+overtime, and they immediately gathered around and stopped paddling.
+
+As Dave said, chuckling, a little later, "trouble was bruin!"
+
+In the morning the girls found the two lost canoes on the shore below
+the camp. Polly and her father had evidently gone out in the evening,
+after the moon rose, and recovered them. Neither, of course, was
+damaged.
+
+"And we must do something nice to pay them for it!" cried Grace.
+
+Bessie was still deeply concerned over Polly's attitude.
+
+"I am going to write father at once, and tell him all about it," she
+said. "And I _am_ sorry for the way I treated Polly at first. Do
+you suppose she will ever forgive me, Wyn?"
+
+Just as Wyn had once said in discussing Bessie's character: when the
+latter realized that she was in the wrong, or had been unfair to anyone,
+she was never afraid to admit her fault and try to "make it up." But
+this seemed to be a case where it was very difficult for Bessie to
+"square herself."
+
+The boatman's daughter had shown herself unwilling to be friendly with
+Bess. Nor was Polly, perhaps, to be blamed.
+
+However, on this particular morning the girls of Green Knoll Camp had
+something besides Bessie's disturbance of mind and Polly Jarley's
+attitude to think about.
+
+And this "something" came upon them with a suddenness that set the
+entire camp in an uproar. Grace, the dilatory, was picking berries
+before breakfast along the edge of the clearing, and popping them into
+her mouth as fast as she could find ripe ones.
+
+"Come here and help, Grace!" called Percy from the tent where she was
+shaking out the heavy blankets. "I'm not going to do all my work and
+yours, too."
+
+"You come and help _me_. It's more fun," returned Grace, laughing
+at her.
+
+Then the lazy girl turned and reached for a particularly juicy
+blackberry, in the clump ahead of her. Percy saw her struck motionless
+for a second, or two; then the big girl fairly fell backward, rolled
+over, picked herself up, and raced back to the tents, her mouth wide
+open and her hair streaming in the wind.
+
+"What _is_ the matter?" gasped Percy.
+
+"Oh, Grace! you look dreadful! Tell us, what has happened!" begged
+Bessie, as the big girl sank down by the entrance to the tent, her limbs
+too weak to bear her farther.
+
+"What has scared you so, Grace?" demanded Wyn, running up.
+
+Grace's eyes rolled, she shut and opened her mouth again several times.
+Then she was only able to gasp out the one word:
+
+"Bear!"
+
+The other girls came crowding around. "What do you mean, Grace?" "Stop
+trying to scare us, Grace!" "She's fooling," were some of the cries they
+uttered.
+
+But Wyn saw that her friend was really frightened; she was not "putting
+it on."
+
+"You don't mean that it was a _real_ bear?" cried Frank Cameron.
+
+"A bear, I tell you!" moaned Grace, rocking herself to and fro. "I told
+you they were here in the woods."
+
+"Oh, dear me!" screamed Mina. "What shall we do?"
+
+"You didn't _see_ it, Grace?" demanded Wyn, sternly. "You only
+heard it."
+
+"I saw it, I tell you!"
+
+"Not really?"
+
+"Do--do you think I don't know a bear when I see one?" demanded Grace.
+"He--he'll be right after us----"
+
+"No. If it was a real, wild bear he would be just as scared at seeing
+you as you would be at seeing him," remarked the decidedly sensible
+captain.
+
+"He--he _couldn't_ be as scared as I am," moaned Grace, with
+considerable emphasis.
+
+"I don't believe there's a bear within miles and miles of here!"
+declared Frank.
+
+"Well! I declare I hope there isn't," cried Bess.
+
+"I'll look," offered Wyn. "Grace just thought she saw something."
+
+"A great, black and brown hairy beast!" moaned Grace. "He stood right up
+on his hind legs and stretched out his arms to me----"
+
+"Enamored of all your young charms," giggled Frank.
+
+"It's no joke!" gasped the frightened one.
+
+"It _might_ be a bear, you know," quavered Mina.
+
+The breakfast was being neglected. Mrs. Havel was down at the edge of
+the lake washing out some bits of lace. She had not heard the rumpus.
+
+"I'm going to see," announced Frank, and ran back over the course Grace
+had come.
+
+She reached the berry bushes. She parted them and peered through. She
+began to enter the jungle, indeed, in search of bruin.
+
+And then the girls all heard a sort of snuffling growl--just the sort of
+a noise they _thought_ a bear must make. Frank jumped out of those
+bushes as though they had become suddenly afire!
+
+"Wha--what did I tell you?" screamed Grace.
+
+"He's there!" groaned Mina.
+
+Then suddenly a dark object appeared among the saplings and underbrush.
+
+"Look out, Frank! Run!" cried the other girls, in chorus; but Miss
+Cameron needed no urging; she ran with all her might!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+TIT FOR TAT
+
+
+But instead of returning toward the tents she ran straight across the
+clearing. Possibly she did not stop to think where she was going, for
+she came against the underbrush again and that terrific growl was once
+more repeated.
+
+Frankie stopped as though she had been shot. Right in front of her
+loomed a second black, hairy figure.
+
+She glared around wildly. At the back of the clearing was the opening
+into the wood path leading from Windmill Farm down to the boat-landing
+at John Jarley's place. And in that opening, and for an instant,
+appeared likewise a threatening form!
+
+"Come here! Come here, Frank!" shrieked Bess. "There's another of
+them--we're surrounded."
+
+The Cameron girl started again, and let out the last link of speed that
+there was in her. She ran straight down to the shore where Mrs. Havel
+just aroused by the shrieks, was starting to return to camp.
+
+The other girls piled after her. But Wyn brought up the rear. She looked
+around now and then. Three bears! In a place where no bears had been
+seen for years and years! Wyn was puzzled.
+
+"There are bears in the woods, Mrs. Havel!" gasped Grace.
+
+"Nonsense, child!"
+
+"I saw 'em. One almost grabbed me," declared the big girl.
+
+"And _I_ saw them, Auntie," urged Percy Havel.
+
+"This way! this way!" cried Frank, running along the shore under the
+high knoll on which the camp was pitched. "They can't see us down here."
+
+Mrs. Havel was urged along by her niece and Grace. Wyn brought up the
+rear. Oddly enough, none of the bears came out of the bushes--that she
+could see.
+
+The girls plunged along the sand, and through the shallow water for
+several yards. Here the bushes grew right down to the edge of the lake.
+Suddenly Wyn caught sight of something ahead, and uttered a sharp
+command:
+
+"Stop! every one of you! Do you hear me, Frank? Stop!"
+
+"Oh, dear! they can eat us here just as well as anywhere," groaned
+Grace.
+
+"Now be quiet!" said Wynifred, in some heat. "We've all been foolish
+enough. _Those were not bears._"
+
+"Cows, maybe, Wynnie?" asked Mrs. Havel. "But I am quite as afraid of
+cows----"
+
+"Nor cows, either. I guess you wouldn't have been fooled for a minute if
+you had seen them," said Wyn.
+
+"What do you mean, Wyn?" cried Frank. "I tell you I saw them with my own
+eyes----"
+
+"Of course you did. So did I," admitted Wyn. "But we did not see them
+right. They are not bears, walking on their hind legs; they are just
+boys walking on the only legs they've got!"
+
+"The Busters!" ejaculated Frank.
+
+"Oh, Wyn! do you think so?" asked Mina, hopefully.
+
+"Look ahead," commanded Wyn. "There are the boys' canoes. They paddled
+over here this morning and dressed up in those old moth-eaten buffalo
+robes they had over there, on the island, and managed to frighten us
+nicely."
+
+"That's it! They played a joke on us," began Frank, laughing.
+
+But Mrs. Havel was angry. "They should be sent home for playing such a
+trick," she said, "and I shall speak to Professor Skillings about it."
+
+"Pooh!" said Wyn. "They're only boys. And of course they'll be up to
+such tricks. The thing to do is to go them one better."
+
+"How, Wyn, how?" cried her mates.
+
+"I do not know that I can allow this, Wynifred," began Mrs. Havel,
+doubtfully.
+
+"You wish to punish them; don't you, Mrs. Havel?"
+
+"They should be punished--yes."
+
+"Then we have the chance," cried Wyn, gleefully. "You go back to the
+camp, Mrs. Havel, and we girls will take their canoes--every one of
+them. We'll call them the trophies of war, and we'll make the Busters
+pay--and pay well for them--before they get their canoes back. What do
+you say, girls?"
+
+"Splendid!" cried Frank. "And they frightened me so!"
+
+"Look out for the biscuits, Mrs. Havel, please," begged Bess. "I am
+afraid they will be burned."
+
+The lady returned hurriedly to the camp on the top of the hillock. When
+she mounted the rise from the shore, there was a circle of giggling
+youths about the open fireplace and a pile of moth-eaten buffalo hides
+near by. Dave was messing with the Dutch oven in which Bess had just
+before put the pan of biscuit for breakfast.
+
+"Ho, ho!" cried Tubby. "Where are the girls?"
+
+"Bear hunting, I bet!" cried Ferd Roberts.
+
+"Good-morning, Mrs. Havel," said Dave, smiling rather sheepishly. "I
+hope we didn't scare _you_."
+
+"You rather startled me--coming unannounced," admitted Mrs. Havel, but
+smiling quietly. "You surely have not breakfasted so early?"
+
+"No. That's part of the game," declared another youth. "We claim
+forfeit--and in this case take payment in eats."
+
+"I am afraid you are more slangy than understandable," returned Mrs.
+Havel. "Did you come for something particular?"
+
+"Goodness! didn't you see those girls running?" cried Ferd.
+
+"Running? Where to?" queried the chaperone.
+
+Dave began to look more serious.
+
+"Perhaps they are running yet!" squealed Tubby, only seeing the fun of
+it.
+
+"Bet they've gone for help to hunt the bears," laughed another of the
+reckless youngsters.
+
+"They'll get out the whole countryside to find 'em," choked Ferdinand
+Roberts. "That's _too_ rich."
+
+"Are you sure the girls didn't come your way, Mrs. Havel?" asked Dave,
+with anxiety.
+
+"Oh, the girls will be back presently. I came up to see to the biscuit,
+Mr. Shepard. About inviting you to breakfast--You know, I am only a
+guest of Green Knoll Camp myself. I couldn't invite you," said Mrs.
+Havel, demurely.
+
+The boys looked at each other in some surprise and Tubby's face fell
+woefully.
+
+"Ca-can't we do something to help you get breakfast, Mrs. Havel?"
+
+Mrs. Havel had to hide a smile at that, but she remained obdurate. "I
+have really nothing to do with it, Sir Tubby. You must wait for the
+girls to come," she said.
+
+The boys began whispering together; but they did not move. They had
+scuttled over from their own camp early with the express intention of
+"getting one" on the girls, and making a breakfast out of it. But now
+the accomplishment of their purpose seemed doubtful, and there was a
+hollow look about them all that should have made Mrs. Havel pity them.
+
+That lady, however, remembered vividly how she had run along the shore
+in fear of a flock of bears; this was a part of the boys' punishment for
+that ill-begotten joke.
+
+The biscuit were beginning to brown, the coffee sent off a delicious
+odor, and here were eggs ready to drop into the kettle of boiling water
+for their four-minute submersion. Besides, there was mush and milk.
+Every minute the boys became hungrier.
+
+"Aren't the girls ever coming?" sighed Tubby. "They _couldn't_ be
+so heartless."
+
+"They haven't gone far; have they?" queried Dave Shepard. "We saw their
+canoes on the beach."
+
+Just then the laughter of the girls in the distance broke upon the ears
+of those on the hillock. They were approaching along the
+shore--apparently from the direction of Jarley's landing.
+
+"They don't seem to have been much scared, after all," grumbled Tubby to
+Ferd.
+
+"It was a silly thing to do, anyway," returned young Roberts. "Suppose
+we don't get any breakfast?"
+
+At this horrid thought the fat youth almost fainted. The girls came in
+sight, and at once hailed the boys gaily:
+
+"Oh! see who's here!" cried Frank. "What a lovely surprise!"
+
+"Isn't it?" said Bess, but with rather a vicious snap. "We couldn't get
+along, of course, without having a parcel of boys around. 'Morning, Mr.
+Shepard."
+
+Bess made a difference between Dave and the rest of the Busters, for
+Dave had helped her in a serious difficulty.
+
+"Where's the professor?" demanded Grace. "Isn't he here, too?"
+
+"He's having breakfast all by his lonesome over on the island," said
+Ferd, and Tubby groaned at the word "breakfast," while Dave added:
+
+"We--we got a dreadfully early start this morning."
+
+"Quite a start--I should say," returned Wyn, smiling broadly. "And now
+you're hungry, I suppose?"
+
+"Oh, aren't we, just?" cried one of the crowd, hollowly.
+
+"How about it, Bess? Is there enough for so many more?"
+
+Bess was already sifting flour for more biscuit. She said: "I'll have
+another panful in a jiffy. Put in the eggs, Mina. We can make a
+beginning."
+
+"There's plenty of mush," said Mina. "That's one sure thing."
+
+"But we can't all sit down," cried Grace.
+
+"You know, there are but six of these folding seats, and Wyn's been
+sitting on a cracker box ever since we set up the tents."
+
+"Feed 'em where they're sitting," said Wyn, quickly. "Beggars mustn't be
+choosers."
+
+"Jinks! we didn't treat you like this when you came over to our camp,"
+cried Ferd.
+
+"And we didn't come over almost before you were up in the morning,"
+responded Frank, quickly. "How did you know we had made our 'twilights'
+at such an unconscionable hour?"
+
+The girls were all laughing a good deal. Nobody said a word about the
+"bear" fright, and the boys felt a little diffidence about broaching the
+subject. Evidently their joke had fallen flat.
+
+But the girls really had no intention of being mean to the six Busters.
+The first pan of biscuit came out of the oven a golden brown. Grace and
+Percy set them and the bowls of mush on the table, and handed around
+other bowls and a pitcher of milk to the circle of boys, sitting
+cross-legged on the ground like so many tailors.
+
+There was honey for the biscuits, too, as well as golden butter--both
+from Windmill Farm. The eggs were cooked just right, and there were
+plenty of them. Crisp radishes and sliced cucumbers and tomatoes added
+to the fare.
+
+"Gee!" sighed Tubby, "doesn't it take girls to live _right_ in
+camp? And look at those doughnuts."
+
+"I fried them," cried Mina, proudly. "Mrs. Havel showed me how, though."
+
+"Mrs. Havel, come over to Gannet Island and teach us how to cook," cried
+Dave. "We don't have anything like this."
+
+"Not a sweetie except what we buy at the Forge--and that's baker's
+stuff," complained Tubby.
+
+"Don't you think you boys had better be pretty good to us--if you want
+to come to tea--or breakfast--once in a while?" asked Wyn, pointedly.
+
+"Right!" declared Dave.
+
+"Got us there," admitted Ferdinand.
+
+"_I'll_ see that they behave themselves, Wyn," cried Tubby, with
+great enthusiasm. "These fellows are too fresh, anyway----"
+
+But at this the other boys rose up in their might and pitched upon
+Master Blaisdell, rolling him over and over on the grass and making him
+lose half of his last doughnut.
+
+"Now, now, now!" cried Mrs. Havel. "This is no bear-garden. Try to
+behave."
+
+The boys began to laugh uproariously at this. "What do _you_ know
+about a bear-garden, Grace?" Ferd demanded.
+
+"And wasn't that growling of Dave's awe-inspiring?" cried another.
+
+"And weren't _you_ scared, Frank Cameron?" suggested Tubby,
+grinning hugely when his mates had let him up. "I never did know you
+could run so fast."
+
+"Why, pshaw!" responded Frank. "Did you boys really think you had scared
+us with those moth-eaten old robes?"
+
+"How ridiculous!" chimed in Bess. "A boy is usually a good deal of a
+bear, I know; but he doesn't _look_ like one."
+
+"And--and there haven't been any bears in this country for--for years,"
+said Grace, though rather quaveringly.
+
+"Say! what do you know about all this?" demanded Dave, of his mates.
+
+"Do you girls mean to say that you weren't scared pretty near into
+fits?" cried one lad.
+
+"Did we act scared?" laughed Wyn. "I guess we fooled you a little, eh?"
+
+"You're just as much mistaken," said Frank, "as the red-headed man was
+who went to see the doctor because he had indigestion. When the doctor
+told him to diet, it wasn't his hair he meant; but the red-headed man
+got mad just the same. Now, you boys----"
+
+"Aw, come! come!" cried Dave. "You can't say honestly you were not
+scared. You know you were."
+
+"I am afraid your joke fell flat, Davie," laughed Wyn. All the girls
+were enjoying the boys' discomfiture. "Of course, I suppose you thought
+you deserved your breakfast as a forfeit because you got a trick across
+on us. But you'll have to try again, I am afraid. Just because we ran
+doesn't prove that we did not recognize the combination of a boy and a
+buffalo robe."
+
+"Aw, now!" cried one of the boys. "What did you run for?"
+
+"There's a reason," laughed Percy.
+
+"Wait!" advised Frank, shaking her head and her own eyes dancing. "You
+will find out soon enough why we ran."
+
+"'He laughs best who laughs last,'" quoted Grace. "Bears, indeed!"
+
+The boys were puzzled. Breakfast being over the girls went about their
+several tasks and paid their friends of the opposite sex very little
+attention. To all suggestions that they get out the canoes and go across
+to the island with the boys, or on other junkets, the girls responded
+with refusals. They evidently thought they had something like a joke
+themselves on the boys, and finally the latter went off through the
+brush toward the spot where they had tied their canoes, half inclined to
+be angry.
+
+They were gone a long while, and were very quiet. The girls whispered
+together, and kept right near the tents, waiting for the explosion.
+
+"At least," Wyn said, chuckling, "we gave them a good breakfast, so they
+won't starve to death; but if they want to go to the island they will
+have to swim."
+
+"We've given them 'tit for tat,'" said Frankie, nodding her head. "Glad
+of it. And _they'll_ pay the forfeit, instead of us."
+
+"If they don't find the canoes," whispered Grace.
+
+"They wouldn't find them in a week of Sundays," cried Percy.
+
+"Then let's set them a good hard task for payment," suggested Bess.
+
+"That's right. They oughtn't to have tried to scare us so," agreed Mina.
+
+"I guess it is agreed," laughed Wyn, "to show them no mercy. Ah! here
+they come now."
+
+The Busters slowly climbed the knoll in rather woebegone fashion. Their
+feathers certainly were drooped, as Frank remarked.
+
+"Well," said Dave, throwing himself down on the sward, "we must hand it
+to you Go-Aheads. You've got us 'way out on the limb, and if you shake
+the tree very hard we'll drop off."
+
+"No, thanks!" snapped Bess. "We don't care for green fruit."
+
+"Oh, oh!" squealed Ferd. "I bet that hurt me."
+
+"Now, there's no use quarreling," said Dave. "We admit defeat. Where
+under the sun you girls could have hidden our canoes I don't see. And
+your own haven't been used this morning, that's sure."
+
+Wyn and her mates broke into uncontrollable laughter at this.
+
+"Who's the joke on now?" cried Bess.
+
+"What will you give to find your canoes?" exclaimed Frankie.
+
+"Aw--say--don't rub it in," begged Tubby. "We own up to the corn. You
+beat us. Where are the canoes?"
+
+"Ahem!" said Wynifred, clearing her throat loudly, and standing forth.
+
+"Hear, hear!" cried Mina.
+
+"Oh! you've got it all fixed up for us, I see," muttered Ferd.
+
+"The understanding always has been," said Wyn, calmly, "that if one
+party succeeded in playing a practical joke on the other, and 'getting
+away with it,' as you slangy boys say, the party falling for the trick
+should pay forfeit. Isn't that so?"
+
+"Go on! Do your worst," growled Ferd.
+
+"That's right. You state the case clearly, Miss Mallory," said Dave,
+with a bow of mockery.
+
+"And they never paid a forfeit for the time Tubby slid down our
+boathouse roof, plunk into the water," cried Bessie.
+
+"Aw--that's ancient history," growled Tubby.
+
+"Let us stick to recent events," agreed Wyn, smiling. "If we girls were
+at all frightened by your 'bear-faced' attempt to frighten us this
+morning, we have paid with a breakfast; haven't we?"
+
+"And it was a good one," agreed Dave.
+
+"It's made me go right to cooking again," said Bess. "A swarm of locusts
+would have brought about no greater devastation."
+
+"Then, gentlemen," said Wynifred, "do you admit that the shoe is now on
+the other foot? You cannot find your canoes. Will you pay us to find
+them for you?"
+
+"That's only fair," admitted Dave.
+
+"Say! how do we pay you?" demanded Ferd.
+
+"Shall I tell them what we demand, girls?" asked Wyn.
+
+"Go ahead!" "It'll serve them right!" "They've got to do it!" were some
+of the exclamations from the Go-Aheads.
+
+"Oh, let the blow fall!" groaned Dave.
+
+"Then, gentlemen of the Busters Association, it is agreed by the ladies
+of the Go-Ahead Club that while we remain in camp on Green Knoll this
+summer, you young gentlemen shall cut and stack all the firewood we
+shall need!"
+
+"Ow-ouch!" cried Ferd.
+
+"What a cheek!" gasped Tubby, rolling his eyes.
+
+"_All_ the firewood you use?" repeated one of the other boys.
+"Why--that will be cords and cords!"
+
+"Every stick!" declared Wyn, firmly.
+
+"And I'd be ashamed, if I were you, to complain," pursued Bessie. "If
+you had been gentlemanly you would have offered to cut our wood before.
+You know that that is the _one_ thing that girls can't do easily
+about a camp."
+
+"Gee! you have quite a heap of stove wood yonder," said Tubby.
+
+"That is what Mr. Jarley cut for us," Wyn said. "But it doesn't matter
+what other means we may have for getting our firewood cut. Will you
+accept the forfeit like honorable gentlemen?"
+
+"Why, we've _got_ to!" cried Ferd.
+
+"We're honestly caught," admitted Dave Shepard. "I'll do my share. Two
+of us, for half a day a week, can more than keep you supplied--unless
+you waste it."
+
+"And we can have the canoes back?" demanded one of the other Busters,
+eagerly.
+
+And so it was agreed--"signed, sworn to, and delivered," as Frankie
+said. With great glee the girls led the Busters to the steep bank by the
+waterside, over which a great curtain of wild honeysuckle hung. This
+curtain of fragrant flowers and thick vines dragged upon the ground.
+There was a hollow behind it that Wyn had discovered quite by chance.
+
+And this hollow was big enough to hide the six canoes, one stacked a-top
+of the other. One passing by would never have suspected the hiding
+place, and in hiding the craft the girls had left no tell-tale
+footprints.
+
+So, for once at least, the Go-Aheads got the best of the Busters.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+VISITORS
+
+
+Bessie Lavine had written home, as she said she would, regarding her
+adventure with Wyn when they were overturned by the squall, and all
+about Polly Jarley. But the result of this letter--and the others that
+went along to Denton with it--was not just what the girls had expected.
+
+Although Mrs. Havel, in charge of the Go-Aheads, reported regularly to
+her brother-in-law, Percy's father, the story of the overturn made a
+great stir among the mothers especially, whose consent to the six girls
+living under canvas for the summer had been gained with such difficulty.
+
+"What do you know about this, girls?" cried Frank, on next mail day. "My
+mother and father are coming out here. They can stay but one night; but
+they say they must see with their own eyes just how we are living here."
+
+"And my Uncle Will is coming," announced Grace. "What do you know about
+_that_? Mother has made him promise to come and see if I am all
+right."
+
+"_My_ mother says," quoth Mina, slowly, "that she doesn't doubt
+Mrs. Havel does the very best she can by us; but she and papa are coming
+up here with Mr. and Mrs. Cameron."
+
+Bessie began to laugh, too. "Pa's coming," she said. "It's a plot, I
+believe. He says he has hired the _Sissy Radcliffe_, and all of our
+parents can come if they like. The boat's big enough. He will bring
+another sleeping tent and those who wish can sleep under canvas while
+they remain. The boat has lots of berths in it. Say! maybe we'll have a
+great time."
+
+"I expect," said Mrs. Havel, looking up and smiling, from her own
+letter, "that your mothers, girls, will not really be content until they
+see for themselves how you are getting along. So we may as well make
+ready for visitors. They will arrive on Saturday. Some will remain only
+over Sunday and return by train from the Forge. But Mr. Lavine, I
+believe, and some of the gentlemen, will be here on the lake for a week,
+or more."
+
+"No more oversets, now, girls," said Frankie. "That's what is bringing
+the mothers up here."
+
+"_My_ father is coming to see if he cannot do something for Polly
+Jarley," declared Bessie, with emphasis.
+
+But Wynifred Mallory was quite sure that the Lavines--no matter how good
+their intentions now were toward the boatman's daughter--would find
+Polly rather difficult. Wyn had been down to the boatkeeper's house
+several times alone to see Polly; but the backwoods girl would not be
+shaken from her attitude. She would not come to Green Knoll Camp any
+more, nor would she send any word to Bess Lavine.
+
+Bess really was sorry for what she had said and the way she had treated
+Polly. But the latter was obdurate.
+
+"I don't want anything from those Lavines," she replied to Wyn's urging.
+"Only that Mr. Lavine should treat my father kindly. I'd pull the girl
+out of the lake again--sure! But I don't want her for a friend, and I
+don't want to be paid for doing my duty. _You_ don't offer to pay
+me, Wynnie."
+
+"No, dear. I couldn't pay you for saving my life," Wynifred admitted.
+
+"Neither can they!" retorted Polly, heatedly. "They think they're so
+much above us, because they have money and we have none. They are like
+those millionaires at the other end of the lake--Dr. Shelton and the
+others. I don't want their money!"
+
+But Polly's obstinacy was cutting the boatman's daughter out of a lot of
+fun. This fact became more pronounced, too, when the visitors from
+Denton, in the _Sissy Radcliffe_, came to Green Knoll Camp.
+
+The _Sissy_ was a big motor launch, and there was a good-sized
+party aboard. When the ladies had once seen how the girls and Mrs. Havel
+lived, they were glad to take advantage of the tent Mr. Lavine brought.
+The gentlemen slept aboard the launch, which was anchored at night off
+Green Knoll Camp.
+
+There were indeed gay times, for instead of acting as "wet-blankets" to
+the young folks' fun, the visitors entered into the spirit of the outing
+and, with the Busters and Professor Skillings from Gannet Island, made a
+holiday of the occasion.
+
+Both the girls and boys "showed off" in their canoes in the shallow
+water under the bank, and in their bathing suits. They showed the more
+or less anxious parents just how skillful they were in the management of
+the tricky craft.
+
+When the canoes were overturned, the girls and boys were able to right
+them, bail them out, and scramble aboard again. They could all swim and
+dive like ducks--save Bessie and Tubby. But Bessie was improving every
+day, and Tubby never _could_ really sink, they all declared, unless
+he swallowed so much of the lake for ballast that he would be able to
+wade ashore from the middle.
+
+It was now the height of the camping season and the Busters and
+Go-Aheads, with their friends, were not the only parties along the
+shores of Lake Honotonka. The Jarleys were doing a good business, almost
+all their craft being in use most of the time. A battalion of Boy Scouts
+went into camp about ten miles to the west of Gannet Island and Dave and
+his mates had some friends among them.
+
+Several small steamboats plied the waters of the lake with excursion
+parties. The people at Braisely Park often came down to Gannet Island
+and the neighborhood of Green Knoll in their boats. Altogether there was
+considerable intimacy among the campers and between them and the
+residents of Braisely Park.
+
+This pleasant condition of affairs brought about the idea of the
+regatta, or boating sports. Some of the wealthy men at the west end of
+the lake arranged the events, put up the prizes for certain classes of
+boat trials and other aquatic sports, had the necessary printing and
+advertising done, and
+
+                         HONOTONKA REGATTA DAY
+
+became emblazoned on the billboards along the neighboring highways and
+railroad lines.
+
+The events were entirely amateur and were confined to those actually
+camping on, or living on, the shores of the lake. Arrangements went
+ahead with a rush, the date being set so close that most of the parents
+and friends who had come up with Mr. Lavine from Denton were encouraged
+to stay over.
+
+Some of the Busters were going to enter for the canoeing events, and
+there was a girls' contest, too, that interested our friends. Bessie
+Lavine could paddle a canoe as well as anybody, and she was eager to
+take part in one or two of the races. So she got out early one morning,
+with Wyn and Grace, and Mr. Lavine for referee, and they did some good
+work.
+
+They chanced to get well over toward the Jarley boat landing and
+suddenly Wyn set up a shout:
+
+"Polly! Polly Jolly! I never knew you had a canoe. Come on over here!"
+
+She had caught sight of the boatman's daughter paddling near the shore
+in an Indian canoe. It was of birchbark and Polly shot it along under
+the stroke of her paddle as though it had the weight of a feather. And,
+indeed, it was not so heavy by a good deal as the cedar boats of the
+Go-Ahead girls.
+
+Polly waved her hand and turned the canoe's prow toward Wyn. Not until
+she was right among the other canoes did she realize that in one of them
+sat Bessie Lavine.
+
+"We are very glad to see you, Polly," declared Wyn. "Are you going to
+enter for the girls' races?"
+
+"Good-morning, Polly," cried Grace, equally cordial. "What a pretty boat
+you have!"
+
+Polly stammered some words of welcome and then looked from Bessie to Mr.
+Lavine. Evidently the boatman's daughter suspected who the gentleman
+was.
+
+Mr. Lavine was a pleasant enough man to meet socially. It is true that
+both he and his daughter were impulsive and perhaps prided themselves on
+being "good haters." This does not mean that they were haters of that
+which was good; but that if they considered anybody their enemy the
+enmity was not allowed to die out.
+
+"I am glad to see you again, Polly," Bess said, driving her canoe close
+to that of the boatman's daughter. "Won't you speak to me at all?"
+
+"Oh, Miss Lavine! I would not be so rude as to refuse to speak to you,"
+Polly replied. "But--but it doesn't do any good----"
+
+"Yes, it does, Polly," Bess said, quickly. "This is my father and he
+wants to thank you for saving my life."
+
+"Indeed I do!" exclaimed Mr. Lavine, heartily. "I can't tell you how
+much I appreciate what you did----"
+
+"Oh, yes, sir," said Polly, hurriedly. "I know all about that. You told
+me how you felt in your letter. And I'm sure I am obliged to you----"
+
+"For what?" demanded the gentleman, smiling. "I have done nothing but
+acknowledge in empty phrases your bravery and good sense. I think a deal
+of my Bessie, and I must show you in some more substantial way how much
+I appreciate what you did for her."
+
+"No, sir; you cannot do that," declared Polly, very much flushed, but
+with firmness, too.
+
+"Oh, come, now I My dear girl! Don't be so offish----"
+
+"You have thanked me sufficiently, sir," declared Polly. "If I did not
+know better than to accept anything more substantial myself, my father
+would not allow it."
+
+"Oh, come now! Your father----"
+
+"My father, sir, is John Jarley. He used to be your friend and partner
+in business. You have seen fit to spread abroad tales about him that he
+denies--that are untrue, sir," pursued Polly, her anger making her voice
+tremble.
+
+"From you, Mr. Lavine, we could accept nothing--no charity. If we are
+poor, and if I have no advantages--such advantages as your daughter has,
+for instance--_you_ are as much to blame for it as anybody."
+
+"Oh! come now!"
+
+"It is true. Your libelling of my father ruined his reputation in
+Denton. He could get no business there. And it worried my mother almost
+to death. So he had to come away up here into the woods."
+
+"I really was not to blame for that, Polly," said Mr. Lavine.
+
+"You were! Whether you realize it yourself, or not, you are the cause of
+all our troubles, for they began with your being angry with father over
+the Steel Rivet Corporation deal. I know. He's told me about it
+himself."
+
+Mr. Lavine was putting a strong brake upon his temper. He was deeply
+grateful to Polly; but he was a proud man, too.
+
+"Let us put aside the difference of opinion between John Jarley and
+myself, my dear girl," he said, quietly. "Perhaps he and I had better
+discuss that; not _you_ and I. Bessie, I know, wishes to be your
+friend, and so do I. Had you not rescued her from the lake as you did,
+Polly, I should be mourning her death. It is a terrible thing to think
+of!"
+
+Polly was silenced by this. But if she did not look actually sullen, she
+certainly gave no sign of giving way.
+
+"So, my dear, you must see how strongly we both feel. You would be doing
+a kind action, Polly, if you allowed Bessie to be your friend."
+
+"That is true, Polly," cried Bessie, putting out her hand again. "Do,
+_do_ shake hands with me. Why! I owe you my life!"
+
+"Don't talk that way!" returned the boatman's daughter. But she gave
+Bess her hand. "You make too much of what I did. And I don't want to
+seem mean--and ungrateful.
+
+"But, truly, you can do nothing for me. No, Mr. Lavine; there is nothing
+I could accept. You have wronged my father----"
+
+He put up his hand in denial, but she went on to say:
+
+"At least, _I_ believe so. You can do nothing for me. I would be
+glad if you would right the wrong you did him so long ago; but I do not
+want you to do _that_ in payment for anything I may have done for
+Miss Bessie.
+
+"No, sir. Right my father's wrong because it _is_ a wrong and
+because you realize it to be such--that you were mistaken----"
+
+"I do not see that," Mr. Lavine returned, stiffly.
+
+"Then there is nothing more to be said," declared Polly, and with a
+quick flirt of her paddle, she drove her birchbark out of the huddle of
+other canoes and, in half a minute, was out of earshot.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+THE REGATTA
+
+
+The late July morning that broke upon the scene of the last preparations
+for Honotonka regatta promised as fine a day as heart could wish.
+
+There was a good breeze from early morning. This was fine for the
+catboat races and for the sailing canoes. Yet the breeze was not too
+strong, and there was not much "sea." This latter fact made the paddling
+less difficult.
+
+The camps on Gannet Island and at Green Knoll were deserted soon after
+breakfast. The Busters took their canoes aboard the _Happy Day_,
+while Mr. Lavine's launch, the _Sissy Radcliffe_, carried the
+girls' canoes as well as the girls themselves.
+
+They were two merry boatloads, and the boats themselves were strung with
+banners and pennants. As they shot up the sunlit lake they sighted many
+other craft headed toward Braisely Park, for some contestants had come
+from as far away as the Forge, at the head of the Wintinooski.
+
+Suddenly Wyn, looking through the camp spyglass, recognized the patched
+sail of the _Coquette_, the little catboat in which Polly Jarley
+had come to the rescue of the two members of the Go-Ahead Club on that
+memorable day.
+
+"Polly is aboard," she told Frank Cameron, passing the glass to her
+friend. "But who is the boy with her?"
+
+"That's no boy!" declared the sharp-eyed Frankie. "Why! he's got a
+mustache."
+
+"It's never Mr. Jarley himself?" exclaimed Wyn, in surprise.
+
+"That's exactly who it is."
+
+"I didn't think they'd both leave the landing at the same time. Do you
+suppose they have entered the _Coquette_ in the free-for-all
+catboat race?"
+
+"I shouldn't wonder. She's a fast boat if she _is_ old and
+lubberly-looking. And Dr. Shelton has offered twenty-five dollars for
+the winning boat."
+
+"It takes two to work a catboat properly, too. That is the
+understanding," said Wyn, thoughtfully: "a crew of two."
+
+"Hope they win the race!" declared Frank, generously.
+
+"So do I. And they've got Polly's birch canoe aboard. She will enter for
+the girls' canoe race, I am sure."
+
+"All right," said Frank. "If you don't win the prize in _that_, my
+dear, then I hope Polly does."
+
+"Why, I haven't a chance beside Bess, I am sure."
+
+"That's all right. Bess is too erratic. One day she paddles well and the
+next she is 'way behind. It's her temperament. She's not a steady old
+warhorse like yourself, Wynnie."
+
+"Thanks," laughed Wyn. "How about Polly? What do you call _her_?"
+
+"I don't know. I admire her vastly," said Frank. "But Polly puzzles me.
+And I haven't seen her working at the paddle much. I only know that in a
+skiff she can out row any of the Busters."
+
+"I fancy she can paddle some, too. And her canoe is as light as a
+feather. All those birchbarks are."
+
+"The judges may handicap her, then. But, hullo! what's that Dave Shepard
+up to?"
+
+Wyn turned to look at her next-door neighbor. Dave was writing upon a
+slip of paper. Once he looked across at Frank and Wyn and saw that the
+two girls were watching him.
+
+He seemed confused, started as though to tear the paper up, and then hid
+it under a coil of rope at his feet. But he was very particular to hide
+every particle of the paper.
+
+"What you doing there, Dave?" demanded Frank, with plain curiosity.
+
+"Oh, nothing," responded the youth, and rose up, stretching his arms and
+yawning. It was plain that he did not wish to be questioned.
+
+"What was that paper?" pursued Frank.
+
+"Oh--that--er----It's of no consequence," declared Dave, and walked aft
+so as not to be further questioned.
+
+"Now, he can't fool me!" cried Frank, under her breath. "It _was_
+something of consequence. I--I'm going to see."
+
+"I wouldn't," said Wyn.
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Well--whatever it is, it isn't ours."
+
+"Pooh!"
+
+"And he evidently didn't want us to see it."
+
+"For that very reason I am going to look," declared Frankie. And the
+moment Dave was out of sight she sprang across the deck and lifted up
+the rope enough to pull out the paper.
+
+The moment she scanned it, Wyn saw Frankie's face turn very red. She
+looked angry, and stamped her foot. Then she burst into a giggle, and
+slid the paper back out of sight again.
+
+She came back to her friend with a mixture of emotions expressed on her
+countenance. "What do you suppose?" she demanded.
+
+"Suppose about what?" asked Wyn.
+
+"What do you suppose Dave wrote on that paper?"
+
+"I give it up. Something that didn't concern us, as I told you."
+
+"You're wrong," cried Frank, divided between wrath and amusement. "And
+it's just the very _meanest_ thing!"
+
+"Why, you excite my curiosity," admitted Wyn.
+
+"That's what he did it for," declared Frankie.
+
+"_What_ did he write?" cried Wyn. "Out with it."
+
+"He wrote: 'I bet an ice-cream treat all around that your curiosity will
+not permit you to leave this alone.' Now! could anything be meaner?"
+
+"Ha, ha!" chuckled Wyn.
+
+"Don't you see? We can't claim the treat without giving ourselves away?
+I believe I'll join forces with Bess. There _is_ nothing meaner
+than a boy."
+
+"Never mind," said Wyn. "I'll find some way of making Master Dave pay
+for the ice-cream treat, just the same. You see if I don't."
+
+Soon after this the launches were sent to one side so as to leave the
+course clear, and the races began. The men's and boys' canoe races were
+very interesting, and Dave Shepard won a sweater, while one of the other
+Busters got the second prize of a dollar for quickness in overturning
+and righting a canoe.
+
+Some "funny stunts" followed in the water, and then came a girls'
+swimming race. Here the Go-Ahead girls excelled, although there were
+more than a score of entries. Wyn Mallory won a two-hundred-yard,
+straightaway dash, while Frank was second and Grace Hedges third in the
+same race. The people who had come up from Denton cheered the girls
+enthusiastically. When the parents who had been so afraid for their
+daughters' safety saw how well able the girls were to take care of
+themselves, their anxiety was allayed.
+
+After these swimming contests there was an interval of two hours for
+refreshments. A caterer had prepared tables of sandwiches and cold
+drinks, as well as ice cream and cake, on one of the bigger docks
+belonging to Braisely Park. In fact, it was Dr. Shelton's dock.
+
+The catboat races were to follow the intermission and Wyn found that the
+Jarley _Coquette_ had been entered. She ran over to the dock from
+which the "cats" were to start for the line, and as she approached the
+spot she heard loud voices and saw a little crowd of excited people.
+
+The _Coquette_ was almost the only catboat left. Dr. Shelton had
+backed Mr. Jarley up against a post on the wharf and, in a loud and
+angry voice, was telling the unfortunate boatman what he thought of him.
+
+"_You_ have the cheek to be in this race, John Jarley?" cried the
+angry man. "I don't mind your daughter--I pity her. But I'm hanged if
+I'll let a thief take part in this race--and me offering the prize. Get
+out of here!"
+
+"Hold on, Shelton!" exclaimed one of his friends. "You're going too far
+when you call Jarley a thief."
+
+"Or else you are not going far enough," chimed in another. "If you
+believe Jarley stole those images--and the boat--why don't you go about
+it right? Report it to the county prosecutor and have the man arrested."
+
+"Or, if Jarley is _not_ guilty," added another, "I advise him, as a
+lawyer, to sue you for damages."
+
+"Let him sue and be hanged to him!" cried Dr. Shelton, who was a great,
+rough man, twice the size of the boatman, and with all the confidence of
+his great wealth, as well as his great muscle, behind him. "But he
+sha'n't sail in this race."
+
+"We'll go back home, Father----Oh, let's go back!" cried Polly, from the
+cockpit of the dancing _Coquette_.
+
+But Wyn Mallory knew that the Jarleys must have hoped to win the
+twenty-five dollar prize. The _Coquette_ was being mentioned as a
+possible winner among the knowing ones about the course.
+
+"Dr. Shelton!" she cried, tugging at the angry man's arm. "Do you mind
+if Polly and I sail the boat instead?"
+
+"Eh? _You_--a girl?" grunted the doctor, "Well, why not? I've got
+nothing--as I said before--against his daughter. It's the man himself
+who has no business at this end of the lake. I sent him word so a month
+and more ago. I ought to have him arrested."
+
+Win thought it would be less cruel to do so, and have the matter
+thrashed out in the courts. Mr. Jarley was stooping from the wharf,
+whispering with Polly.
+
+"I can help her," Wyn cried, turning to the abused boatman. "Let
+me--do!"
+
+"You are very kind, Miss Mallory," said Jarley.
+
+The captain of the Go-Ahead Club leaped lightly down into the
+_Coquette_.
+
+"What's our number--sixteen?" she cried. "Pay off the sheet, Polly.
+We're off." Then she added, in a low tone, to the weeping girl in the
+stern: "Don't you mind the doctor, Polly--mean old thing! We'll win the
+prize in spite of him--you see if we don't."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+UNDER WHITE WINGS
+
+
+Already the catboats were getting off from the starting line, in
+rotation of numbers and about two minutes apart. The course was ten
+miles (or thereabout) straightaway to the stake-boat, set far out in the
+lake--quite out of sight from the decks of the boats about the starting
+point--and turning that, to beat back. The wind was free, but not too
+strong. The out-and-return course would prove the boats themselves and
+the seamanship of their crews.
+
+Being a free-for-all race, there had been brought together some pretty
+odd-looking craft beside the smart, new boats belonging to dwellers in
+Braisely Park. But the Jarleys' boat was by no means the worst-looking.
+
+However, it attracted considerable attention because it was the only
+catboat "manned" by girls.
+
+Wynifred Mallory had done this on impulse, and it was not usual for her
+to act in such a way. But her parents had gone home and she had nobody
+to ask permission of but Mrs. Havel--and she did not really know where
+the Go-Aheads' chaperone was.
+
+Beside, there wasn't time to ask. The catboats were already getting
+under way. The _Coquette_ was almost the last to start. Wyn was not
+at all afraid of the task before her, for she had helped Dave sail his
+cousin's catboat on the Wintinooski many times. She knew how to 'tend
+sheet.
+
+The Go-Aheads and Busters recognized Wyn, and began to cheer her and
+Polly before the _Coquette_ came to the line. Other onlookers
+caught sight of the two girls, and whether they knew the crew of the
+_Coquette_ or not, gave them a good "send-off."
+
+Polly had accepted Wyn's help quietly, but with a look that Wyn was not
+likely to forget. It meant much to the Jarleys if the _Coquette_
+won the twenty-five dollars. They needed every dollar they could
+honestly earn.
+
+The boatman's daughter did not stop then to thank her friend. Instead
+she gave her brief, but plain, instructions as to what she was to do,
+and Wyn went about her work in a practical manner.
+
+The catboat was sixteen feet over all, with its mast stepped well
+forward, of course, carrying a large fore-and-aft sail with gaff and
+boom. A single person _can_ sail a cat all right; but to get speed
+out of one, and manoeuver quickly, it takes a sheet-tender as well as
+a steersman.
+
+"Sixteen!" shouted the starter's assistant through his megaphone, and
+Polly brought the _Coquette_ about and shot towards the starter's
+boat.
+
+The boatman's girl had held off some distance from the line. Number
+Fifteen had just crossed and was now swooping away on her first tack
+toward the distant stake-boat. The momentum the _Coquette_ obtained
+racing down to the line was what Polly wanted.
+
+"Go!" shouted the starter, looking at his watch and comparing it with
+the timekeeper's.
+
+The _Coquette_ flashed past the line of motor-boats and smaller
+craft that lined the course for some distance. The course was not very
+well policed and one of the small steamers, with a party of
+excursionists aboard, got right in the way of the racing boats.
+
+"Look out, Wynnie!" shouted Polly. "I'm going to tack to pass those
+boats."
+
+Wyn fell flat on the decked-over portion of the _Coquette_, and the
+boom swung across. With gathering speed the catboat flew on and on.
+Although her sail was patched, and she was shabby-looking in the
+extreme, the _Coquette_ showed her heels that day to many handsomer
+craft.
+
+The various boats raced with each other--first one ahead, and then
+another. There were not many important changes in the positions of the
+contesting boats, however, until the stake-boat was reached.
+
+But Number Sixteen passed Thirteen, Fifteen, and Twelve for good and
+all, before five miles of the course were sailed. The _Coquette_,
+when once she had dropped an opponent behind, never was caught by it.
+
+Wyn was on the _qui vive_ every moment. She sprang to obey Captain
+Polly's commands, and the latter certainly knew how to sail a catboat.
+She never let an advantage slip. She tacked at just the right time. Yet
+she sailed very little off the straight course.
+
+The motor boats and steamboats came hooting after the racing catboats
+that their passengers might have a good view of the contest. These
+outside boats were a deal of a nuisance, and two of the tail-enders in
+the race dropped out entirely because of the closeness of the pleasure
+boats' pursuit.
+
+[Illustration: THE _COQUETTE_ SHOT OVER THE COURSE, LIKE A GREAT
+SWOOPING BIRD. _Page 212._]
+"But they couldn't win anyway," Polly confided to Wynifred. "Get a
+bucket of water, dear. Dip it right up. That's right! Now throw it on
+the sail. Another! Another! It will hold the wind better if it is wet."
+
+"What a scheme!" cried Wyn. "Oh, Polly! I wish you lived in Denton and
+went to our school and belonged to the Go-Ahead Club."
+
+But Polly only shook her head. That was beyond the reach of possibility
+for her, she believed. But she thanked Wyn for suggesting it.
+
+Neither girl let her attention to the present business fail, however.
+They were on their mettle, being the only girls in the race.
+
+Some of the other crews had jollied them at the start; but the old
+_Coquette_ passed first one and then another of the competing
+boats, and none of the other craft passed her.
+
+Because of the fact that the boats had started about two minutes apart
+it was rather difficult to tell which was really winning. The leading
+boats were still far ahead when the _Coquette_ rounded the
+stake-boat.
+
+Polly took the turn as shortly as any craft in the race--and as cleanly.
+The _Coquette_ made a long leg of her first tack, then a short one.
+Whereas it seemed as though at first the other craft were crowding Polly
+and Wyn close, in a little while the _Coquette_ was shown to be
+among the flock of leading craft!
+
+"Only Numbers One, Three, Four, Seven, and Nine ahead of us, Polly
+Jolly!" reported Wynifred. "And we're Sixteen! Why, it's wonderful! We
+are sailing two lengths to one of some of them, I verily believe!"
+
+"But Conningsby's _Elf_, and the _Pretty Sue_ are good
+sailers--I've watched 'em," said Polly. "And the _Waking Up_ is
+splendidly manned. If our sail would only hold the wind! It's a regular
+old sieve."
+
+Wyn splashed bucket after bucket of water into the bellying sail. On the
+long tacks the _Coquette_ shot over the course like a great,
+swooping bird. When she passed near one of the excursion boats the
+spectators cheered the two girls vociferously.
+
+Half-way back to the starting boat the _Happy Day_, into which the
+Go-Aheads and all the Busters had piled, shot alongside the racing
+catboat manned by the two girls, and from that point on their friends
+"rooted" for the _Coquette_.
+
+The _Coquette_ passed Numbers Seven and Nine; It did seem as though
+she must have sailed the course fast enough to bring her well up among
+the leaders, so many higher numbers than her own had been passed.
+
+But Wyn and Polly were not sure, when they crossed the line, how they
+stood in the race.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+THE CANOE RACE
+
+
+Dave Shepard, at the wheel of the _Happy Day_, ran directly behind
+the judges' boat and stopped.
+
+"Who won?" cried the boys, in chorus. "Where does Number Sixteen stand?"
+
+"How can we tell you until all the boats are in?" returned one of the
+gentlemen, smiling.
+
+"Of course we know," declared Dr. Shelton. "And you are quite right to
+cheer them, boys. The _Coquette_ is 'way ahead of everything
+else--those two girls are corkers!"
+
+Instantly the Busters and the Go-Aheads began to cheer anew. The older
+members of their party aboard the _Sissy Radcliffe_ took up the
+chorus. Wyn Mallory and Polly Jarley had beaten out the other catboats
+in the dingy old craft, and had won the twenty-five-dollar prize.
+
+"It's all for you, dear," cried Wyn, when Polly kissed and thanked her.
+"Of course I don't need the money, while you and your father do. You'll
+take it from me--for friendship's sake, dear?"
+
+"Yes, Wyn. From _you_," returned the boatman's daughter, with
+trembling lips.
+
+"And now you are coming to try for the canoe prize, too? That will be a
+five-dollar gold piece. But you will have to fight all us Go-Ahead girls
+for it. I shall beat you myself, if I can," laughed Wynifred.
+
+Dave had rushed the motor boat over to the landing and he got Wyn's and
+Polly's canoes into the water. The whistle had blown for the girls'
+canoe race the minute before, and the other girls were out on the lake.
+
+Altogether there were forty-three canoes. Some were birchbarks like
+Polly's; but the large majority were cedar boats.
+
+"Birchbarks line up at Dr. Shelton's landing!" bellowed the starter's
+voice through his megaphone. "Get me? Shelton's landing!"
+
+Polly and the few other girls who had the Indian canoes waved their
+hands and got into position. They kept a pretty straight line.
+
+"Now at the starting line here for you cedars!" cried the man, and Wyn,
+with her five mates, and the rest of the girl canoeists from all about
+the lake, tried to obey the command.
+
+But there were so many of them that it was not altogether easy to get
+into line. Nearly forty canoes were "some bunch," to quote the slangy
+Frank, who was, by the way, just as eager as any of the other
+contestants.
+
+Although Frank believed that Wyn, and perhaps Bess, as well as Polly and
+Grace, had a better chance than _she_ of winning the race; there
+was, of course, a chance of the very best canoeist getting a spill and
+so being put out of the race.
+
+It is not always the best paddler who wins; there is too much
+uncertainty in handling the "tippy" craft--especially in moments of
+excitement, and among many other similar craft.
+
+So there was hope for any and all. The eager faces of the girls in the
+canoes showed it. They scuffled somewhat to get place on the line; but
+the entries had all been numbered, so it was merely a case of getting in
+right and leaving enough space on either side of one's bobbing canoe.
+
+One of the starters was pulled up and down the line in a skiff to
+criticise. Not every girl was as fair-minded to her opponents as the
+girls from Green Knoll Camp, and there was some little bickering before
+the starter shouted for the whole crowd--both cedars and birches--to get
+ready.
+
+"At the shot, remember," he cried through the megaphone. "Once around
+the stake-boat, to the right, and return. The birchbarks finish at this
+line, like the cedars. Now!"
+
+A moment later the pistol shot rang out. There was a splash of
+paddles--even a clash of them, for some of the girls were too near each
+other and too eager.
+
+The spectators cheered--the boys from Gannet Island doing especially
+well in that line. They were determined to root indiscriminately for the
+girls of Green Knoll Camp.
+
+But within a very few minutes Dave Shepard shouted to his friends:
+
+"Look what's coming up, fellows! See Polly!"
+
+"Polly Jolly!" yelled the excitable Ferd. "Is that her in the first
+birchbark?"
+
+"Of course it is," responded Tubby Blaisdell. "Well! did you ever see a
+girl like that before? Look at those arms. She's got better biceps than
+_you_ have, Dave, m' boy!"
+
+For the girls were in their bathing dresses and Polly's bare arms were
+displayed to the best advantage as she flashed past the motor boat. Her
+face was set--her eyes bright. And she weaved back and forth as she
+drove the paddle with the steadiness of a machine.
+
+"Hooray for Polly Jolly!" yelled Ferd Roberts, again.
+
+The Busters took up the chorus. They could not restrain their
+enthusiasm, for the pace at which Polly was overhauling the cedar boats
+was really marvelous.
+
+Of course, it was a foregone conclusion that some of the contestants
+would drop out. These canoes Polly passed as though they were standing
+still.
+
+In the lead were Wyn, Bess, Grace, Frank, and half a dozen other girls
+from about the lake. There were already two spills, and several slight
+collisions followed. The handicap on the birch canoes was really greater
+than was expected, for being in the rear, they had to dodge all the
+overset boats and the other paddlers who did not know enough to keep out
+of the course.
+
+But Polly Jarley had taken the outside and she shot by all the trouble
+easily. She was soon clinging to the skirts of the head canoes and it
+looked, before the turn, as though she would soon be in the lead
+herself.
+
+Up ahead Wyn and Bess and Grace were struggling almost neck and neck
+with two strange girls. The captain of the Go-Aheads wanted to win--she
+wanted to do so very much. She was a good sport, and therefore a good
+loser; but that does not necessarily mean that one _likes_ to lose.
+
+Bessie Lavine was paddling splendidly for her--it was evidently one of
+her good days. Frank Cameron had fallen behind--indeed, she had clashed
+with another girl and both were out of the race.
+
+Grace Hedges was almost as big and strong as Polly Jarley; but she
+lacked the training of the boatman's daughter. Polly was used to hard
+work every day of her life. That is different from gymwork and a little
+paddling, or swimming, or other athletic fun a few times a week.
+
+But Grace was doing finely and she even might have won had she not tried
+unwisely to pass one of her rivals. Her paddle clashed with that of the
+other girl. Both canoeists were straining hard--and their tempers were a
+bit strained, too.
+
+"I wish you'd look where you're going, Miss!" snapped the other girl,
+and before Grace could return the compliment--had she so wished--the two
+canoes crashed together and both girls were spilled into the lake.
+
+There was no danger in these spills. Two motor boats followed behind and
+picked up the swamped contestants.
+
+But before Grace was picked up she saw Polly Jarley flash by in the
+birchbark. There were but three cedar boats ahead of the boatman's
+daughter, and all were coming down the return course, the paddlers
+straining to do their very best.
+
+Wyn had a splendid, even stroke; Bess was getting heated, and bit her
+lip as she paddled. It always hurt Bess when she lost. Up from the rear
+Polly urged her birchbark with long, steady heaves that seemed to prove
+her magnificent muscles tireless.
+
+The spectators began to shout for the boatman's daughter. They saw that
+she was making a magnificent attempt to win the race.
+
+But when Wyn heard them shouting for another number rather than her
+own--she did not notice which!--she put forth every ounce of spare
+strength she possessed.
+
+Bess was left behind by the captain of the Go-Ahead Club. Her canoe
+quivering, her paddle actually bending under her work, Wyn dashed on.
+Bess and the other girl were out of the race--hopelessly. It lay between
+Wyn and the birchbark canoe.
+
+Polly did not withhold her paddle when she saw her friend dart ahead; it
+was a perfectly fair race. But the boatman's girl had done so well at
+first, considering her handicap and all, that there was little wonder if
+she could not keep up the gruelling work. She had no reserve force, as
+Wyn had.
+
+The latter dashed over the mark with undiminished speed. Polly only
+halted long enough to congratulate her.
+
+"It's dear of you to be glad, Polly, when I know you wanted the prize,"
+cried Wyn. "But we couldn't both have it."
+
+"You have helped me enough to-day, Wynifred," replied Polly, softly.
+"Now father and I will go home. He told me how it would be, if he came
+down here; but at least we won the big prize, thanks to you, and money
+means so much to us now!"
+
+The day was not over yet for the Go-Aheads and the Busters, although the
+races were finished. Somehow the news was spread among the campers on
+Gannet Island and Green Knoll that there was to be a "grand treat" at
+the ice-cream tables, and they gathered "like eagles to the kill,"
+Frankie poetically declared.
+
+The waiter brought heaping dishes of cream, there were nice cakes, and
+Tubby's unctuous smile at one end of the table radiated cheer. They were
+all very jolly and nobody asked who was to pay the piper until the
+waiter gravely brought Dave Shepard the check and a slip of paper.
+
+"Hi! did _I_ order this feed?" demanded Dave, startled by the size
+of the check.
+
+"I was ordered to give the check to you--and the paper," quoth the
+waiter, calmly.
+
+"Gee, Dave! somebody's stung you!" croaked Tubby, with his mouth still
+full.
+
+Dave unfolded the paper slowly, and read in his own handwriting: "I bet
+an ice-cream treat all around to the Go-Ahead girls that your curiosity
+would not permit you to leave this alone."
+
+"You don't deny your own handwriting; do you, sir?" queried the waiter,
+with a perfectly grave face. "I served the company on that order, Mr.
+Shepard."
+
+"That Wyn Mallory! She got me!" groaned Dave, and paid up like a man.
+
+"But what's the use of trying to put a joke over on those girls?" he
+said to Tubby afterward. "They're always turning the tables on a
+fellow."
+
+"Very good table, too--very good table," agreed Tubby, smacking his
+lips. "But you're so reckless with your promises, Dave."
+
+Mr. Lavine's man took the _Happy Day_ and the canoes back to camp,
+while the whole party of young folk piled aboard the larger
+_Sissy_. They had a fine time sailing down the lake and reached the
+Cave-in-the-Wood Camp at late supper time.
+
+There was still light enough on the water for the voyagers to see a boat
+rocking on the waves in the little cove where Polly Jarley had first
+been introduced to the two canoe clubs.
+
+"And that's Polly and her father there now," said Dave, quickly.
+
+"Yes. It's the _Coquette_," agreed Wyn.
+
+"What are they doing in there?" asked Frankie. "See! he is standing up
+and gesticulating--not to us. He's talking to Polly."
+
+"That is the place where he had the misfortune to lose Dr. Shelton's
+motor boat last winter," said Wyn. "Don't you remember?"
+
+"You see," Dave cried, "he is showing her the place where the limb fell
+again--and the direction the boat must have taken in the fog."
+
+"A lot _he_ knows where it went," said Tubby, scornfully. "He was
+swept overboard, and as far as he knows the _Bright Eyes_ might
+have gone right up into the air!"
+
+"But it didn't explode, you see, nor did it have wings," laughed
+Wynifred. "So it took no aërial voyage--we may be sure of that. I'd give
+anything to find where it sank."
+
+"So would I, Wyn," cried Dave. "If we could locate the sunken boat, Mr.
+Jarley could easily prove he had neither stolen it nor the silver
+images."
+
+"I'd give something handsome to have the mystery explained, myself,"
+said Mr. Lavine, suddenly.
+
+"What would you give, Father?" asked his daughter.
+
+"I'll tell you," he replied, smiling. "I understand both of your
+clubs--the Go-Aheads and the Busters--are anxious to really _own_ a
+motor boat. Frank Dumont, here, tells me he has got to go home with the
+_Happy Day_ to-morrow, as his vacation is ended.
+
+"Now, I'll make you boys and girls an offer," pursued Mr. Lavine, more
+earnestly. "You'll hunt in packs, anyway--the boys together and the
+girls together. If the girls find the sunken boat I'll present them with
+a motor boat as good as the _Happy Day_; and if the boys have the
+luck, then the boat shall belong to the Busters. What say?"
+
+"We say 'Thanks!'" cried Dave, instantly.
+
+"_We_ think it is very handsome of you, sir," declared Wyn, coming
+over to the gentleman and taking his hand. "And I know why you do it,
+sir--so I thank you twice. If poor Mr. Jarley could be absolved of Dr.
+Shelton's accusation, it would help a whole lot."
+
+"Humph!" muttered Mr. Lavine, "I heard Shelton going on about Jarley
+myself to-day, and it made me ashamed--I'm free to own it. I never
+_did_ think John as bad as all that!"
+
+"It sounds different when you hear somebody else say it," whispered Dave
+in Wynifred's ear.
+
+Mr. Lavine's proposal, however, met with enthusiastic favor on the part
+of both clubs. A motor boat would be just the finest thing to own! Both
+boys and girls determined to find the lost _Bright Eyes_ before the
+season was out.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+THE WAY OF THE WIND
+
+
+"Did you know," said Professor Skillings, visiting Camp Green Knoll with
+the Busters several days later, "that there are several thousand Poles
+in the Wintinooski Valley?"
+
+"You surprise me," remarked Mrs. Havel.
+
+"Fine things to grow beans on, Professor," declared Dave, coming up with
+a brimming bucket of water from the spring.
+
+"Not the right kind of poles, my boy--not the right kind of poles," said
+the professor, smiling gently, and offering Mrs. Havel a cocoanut-cup of
+the sparkling water. "You see what a misunderstanding of terms will do,"
+the professor added, in his argumentative way. "A little
+knowledge--especially a little scientific knowledge--is a dangerous
+thing."
+
+"You are right, Professor," cried Tubby, who was within hearing
+distance. "Did you hear about what Dr. Mackenzie's servant girl did?"
+
+"Dr. Mackenzie is very erudite," commented the professor, dreamily.
+
+"That's right. Anyhow, the girl heard a lot of talk about bugs, and
+grubs, and germs, and the like--and it proves just what Professor
+Skillings says about the danger of knowing a little science."
+
+"How's that, Tubby?" queried one of the interested young folk.
+
+"Why, one day the doctor's wife asked this servant for a glass of water,
+and the girl brought it.
+
+"'It has a very peculiar taste, Mary,' said Mrs. Mackenzie.
+
+"'Sure, ma'am, it's all right, ma'am. There ain't a germ in it, for I
+ran it through the colander before I brought it to you, ma'am!' says
+Mary. Oh, Mary had picked up some scientific notions, all right, all
+right!"
+
+"I believe there would be more breeze up on Windmill Farm," observed
+Wynifred Mallory.
+
+"Wish I was up there, then," growled Tubby, who had quite collapsed
+after telling his joke.
+
+"Let's go!" suggested Frankie.
+
+"There will be plenty of wind bye and bye," said Dave, thoughtfully
+eyeing the clouds on the horizon.
+
+"Listen to the weather prophet," scoffed Ferdinand.
+
+"I tell you!" cried Frankie, jumping up. "Let's go up into the windmill
+and see how far one can really _see_ from that height. The farmer's
+wife says it is a great view--doesn't she, Wyn?"
+
+"I'm game," responded Wyn. "We'll be no warmer walking than we are
+sitting here talking about the heat."
+
+She and Frankie and Dave started off ahead; but Tubby would not come,
+nor would Grace Hedges. The others, however, saw some prospect of
+amusement and were willing to pay the price.
+
+They began to be paid for their walk as soon as they came out into the
+open fields of Windmill Farm. A little breeze had sprung up and,
+although it was fitful at first, it soon grew to a steady wind from
+across the lake.
+
+The distant haze was dissipated, and when the boys and girls reached the
+top of the hill they were glad they had come.
+
+"I bet we have a storm bye and bye," Dave said. "But isn't the air up
+here cool?"
+
+"Let's climb up into the loft," Frank urged. "The farmer's wife said we
+could."
+
+"They're all away from home to-day," Wyn said. "But I don't believe they
+will mind. When we came up for the milk this morning Mrs. Prosser told
+us they were going on a Sunday school picnic."
+
+"I'd like to set the old thing to working," remarked the inquisitive
+Ferdinand. "What do you know about it, Dave?"
+
+"It starts by throwing in this clutch," replied the bigger boy, just
+inside the door. "If the wind keeps on the farmer will probably grind a
+grist when he comes back. You see, there are several bags of corn and
+wheat yonder."
+
+The girls were already finding their way up the dusty ladders, from loft
+to loft of the tower. Frank got to the top floor first and called out
+her delight at the view.
+
+"Come on up!" she cried. "There is plenty of room. It's bigger up here
+than you think--and the breeze is nice. There are two windows, and that
+makes a fine draught."
+
+The boys trooped up behind the Go-Aheads--all but Ferdinand. But none of
+them missed him for some minutes.
+
+What a view was obtained from the window of the mill! The whole panorama
+of Lake Honotonka and its shores, with a portion of the Wintinooski
+Valley, lay spread like a carpet at their feet--woods and fields,
+cultivated land in the foreground, the rocky ridges of Gannet Island,
+Jarley's Landing, the Forge, the steep shore of the lake beyond the
+Wintinooski, and so around to the fine houses in Braisely Park and the
+smoke of the big city to the west.
+
+In the midst of their exclamations there came a sudden jar through the
+heavily-timbered building that startled them.
+
+"What's that?" cried Mina.
+
+"An earthquake!" laughed Frankie.
+
+"It's the sails!" yelled Dave, starting for the ladder. "What are you
+doing down there, Ferd?"
+
+The groaning and shaking continued. The arms of the windmill were going
+round and round--every revolution increasing their speed.
+
+"Stop that, Ferd!" shouted Dave again, starting to descend the ladder.
+
+"Isn't that just like a boy?" demanded Bess, in disgust. "He just
+_had_ to fool with the machinery."
+
+"What do you suppose the miller will say?" queried Wyn, anxiously.
+
+The roar of the whirling arms almost drowned their voices. The wind had
+increased to a brisk breeze. With the sails so well filled the arms
+turned at top-notch speed. The tower shook as though it were about to
+tumble down.
+
+"Oh, dear me!" moaned Mina, the timid one. "Let us get out of here."
+
+"Why doesn't Dave make him stop it?" shouted Frankie.
+
+"Why doesn't the foolish Ferd stop it himself?" was Wyn's demand.
+
+The other boys were already tumbling down the ladder, and the girls
+followed as fast as possible. It was rather dark below, and when they
+came to the ground floor, it was full of dancing dust-particles. Dave
+and Ferd were busy over the machinery near the door.
+
+"Can't you stop it, Dave?" shrieked Percy.
+
+"The confounded thing is broken!" announced Dave, in disgust.
+
+"Goodness me!" cried Frank. "I want to get out of here."
+
+She started for the door; but Wyn grabbed her just in time. Past the
+open door whirled the sails of the mill--one after the other--faster and
+faster. And so close were the sails to the doorway that there was not
+room for the very smallest of the Go-Ahead girls to get out without
+being struck.
+
+Dave stared around at the others. It was almost impossible to hear each
+other speak--and what was there to say? Each boy and girl realized the
+situation in which Ferd's meddling had placed them.
+
+Until the wind subsided they were prisoners in the tower.
+
+Ferd Roberts subsided into a corner, and hid his face in his hands. He
+had done something that scared his inquisitive soul to the very bottom.
+
+He had started the sails, and then, in trying to throw out the clutch,
+he had started the millstones as well. _They_ made most of this
+noise that almost deafened them.
+
+Finally, however, Dave pushed the power belt from the flywheel, and the
+stones stopped turning; but there was no way of stopping the sails. To
+step outside the door was to court instant death, and until the wind
+stopped blowing it seemed as though there would be no escape.
+
+"And the wind blows sometimes two or three days at a stretch!" cried
+Frankie.
+
+"It's lucky Tubby isn't up here with us," Dave said, grimly. "He would
+want to cast lots at once to see which one of the party should be eaten
+first."
+
+"Ugh! don't joke like that, Dave," begged Mina. "Maybe we _will_ be
+dreadfully hungry before we get out of this place."
+
+"I'm hungry now," announced Frankie.
+
+"It _is_ near time for luncheon," agreed Wyn.
+
+"'Luncheon'! Huh!" ejaculated Dave. "I s'pose that's the feminine of
+'lunch.' I could eat a stack of pancakes and a whole can of beans right
+now. I'm too hungry for any mere 'luncheon.'"
+
+"Oh, dear! It's so hot down here," sighed Percy. "If we've got to stay,
+let's go upstairs again, where there is some air stirring."
+
+"Let's wave a signal from the window. Maybe somebody will see it and
+come to our rescue," suggested Frank.
+
+"And what could they do?" demanded Wyn, "These sails can't be stopped
+from the outside; can they, Dave?"
+
+"Not that I know of," replied Dave. "If there was a tree near, a fellow
+might tie a kedge rope to it, and then throw the kedge over one of the
+arms. But that would tear the machinery all to pieces, I suppose, it
+would stop it with such a jerk."
+
+Just then Mina Everett uttered a shrill cry of alarm. "Look! Look!" she
+cried. "It's afire! We'll burn up in here! Oh, oh, Wynnie! what shall we
+do?"
+
+The others turned, aghast There _was_ blue smoke spurting out
+around the shaft above their heads.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+THE PRISONERS OF THE TOWER
+
+
+"Fire!" cried Percy Havel. "Oh! what _shall_ we do?"
+
+"Well, your yelling about it won't put it out," snapped Frank.
+
+But Dave Shepard had sprung up the ladder and immediately announced the
+trouble.
+
+"The axle is getting overheated. See that can of oil yonder, Ferd? Come
+out of your trance and do something useful, boy! Quick! hand me the
+can."
+
+But it was Wyn who got it to him. Dave quickly refilled the oil cups and
+squirted some of the lubricant into the cracks about the shaft. The
+smoke immediately drifted away.
+
+"The rest of you go up where it's cooler," he commanded. "I will remain
+here and play engineer. And for goodness' sake, pray for the wind to die
+down!"
+
+The situation was really serious; nobody among the prisoners of the
+tower knew what to do.
+
+While the wind swung the arms of the mill round and round, there was no
+chance to get out. Not that they did not all cudgel their brains within
+the next hour to that end. There were enough suggestions made to lead to
+a dozen escapes; only--none of the suggestions were practical.
+
+It was less noisy, now that Dave had stopped the millstones; but the
+building continued to tremble, and the great wheel to creak.
+
+"What a donkey the man was to let them cut his door right behind the
+arms," exclaimed Frankie.
+
+"And with no proper means of stopping the sails from inside, once the
+wind began to blow," added Percy.
+
+"No. That's my fault," admitted Ferdinand. "I broke the gear some way."
+
+"Well, if we only had an axe," said one of the other boys, "we might cut
+our way out of the building on the side opposite the door."
+
+But Dave had already searched the mill for tools. There wasn't even a
+rope. Had there been, they could have let themselves down from the high
+window to the ground.
+
+"It should be against the law to build windmills without proper
+fire-escapes," declared Frank, trying to laugh.
+
+But it was hard to joke about the matter. It looked altogether too
+serious.
+
+The wind continued to blow steadily--a little harder, indeed, as time
+passed; but the sun grew hotter. It came noon, and they knew that those
+at Green Knoll Camp had long since expected them back.
+
+Finally a figure appeared upon the path far down the hill. They
+recognized Tubby Blaisdell trudging painfully up the slope in the hot
+sun, evidently an unwilling messenger from Mrs. Havel and Professor
+Skillings.
+
+They began to shout to Tubby, although they knew very well it was
+useless. He couldn't have heard their voices down there, even if the
+windmill hadn't made so much noise.
+
+But the girls fluttered their hats from the window and, bye and bye, the
+stolid fat youth, glancing up while he mopped his brow, caught sight of
+the signals. He halted, glared up at the window from under his hand, and
+then hurried his steps.
+
+"Oh, you Tubby!" shouted Frank, at last, thrusting her tousled curls out
+of the window. "Can't you help us?"
+
+He heard these words, and looked more bewildered than ever.
+
+"Say! what do you want?" he bellowed up at them. "Don't ask me to climb
+up those ladders, for I can't. And Mrs. Havel and the prof. say for you
+to come back to camp. They think a storm is coming. Besides--aren't you
+hungry?"
+
+"Hungry! why, Tub," yelled down Ferd, "if we could only get at you, we'd
+eat you alive!"
+
+Tubby looked more than a little startled, and glanced behind him to see
+that the way of retreat was clear.
+
+"Well, why don't you come down and get your lunch, then?" demanded young
+Blaisdell.
+
+"We can't," said Wyn, and she explained their predicament.
+
+"Can't stop those sails?" gasped Tubby. "Why--why--Where's the man who
+owns the old contraption?"
+
+They explained further. Tubby went around to the other side and caught a
+glimpse of Dave playing engineer. The chums shouted back and forth to
+each other for some time.
+
+Tubby wanted to see if he couldn't stop the sails by making a grab at
+them.
+
+"You do it, Tubby, and the blamed things will throw you a mile through
+the air," declared Dave. "Besides, we don't want to smash the farmer's
+mill. We have done enough harm as it is. So, there's no use in backing
+one of those heavy wagons into it and wrecking the sails. No. I guess
+we've got to stand it here for a while."
+
+They heard one of the girls calling, and Tubby lumbered around to see
+Frankie gesticulating from the window.
+
+"Oh, Tubby! don't leave us to starve--and we're so _awfully_
+thirsty, too," cried Wyn, pushing her friend to one side. "Get us a
+bucket of water from the well, first of all."
+
+"Gee! how am I going to get it up to you--throw it?" cackled the fat
+youth.
+
+"You get the bucket--and a rope," commanded Wyn.
+
+"But if he can throw a rope up to us, we can get out of this fix,"
+Ferdinand cried. "Can't we, Dave?" he asked of his captain, who had come
+up the ladders for a breath of fresh air.
+
+"Tubby couldn't throw a coil of rope for a cent. He couldn't learn to
+use a lasso, you know."
+
+"And we girls could not get down on a rope," objected Bess.
+
+"We could lower you," Ferd declared.
+
+"It would have to be a pretty strong rope," said Dave. "And maybe there
+isn't anything bigger than clothes line about the farm."
+
+Which proved to be the case. At least, Tubby could find nothing else and
+finally brought the brimming bucket and the line he had found on the
+drying green behind the farmhouse.
+
+"I can't throw the thing up so high," complained Tubby, after two or
+three attempts.
+
+"Wait!" commanded Wyn.
+
+"Hold on! Wynnie's great mind is at work."
+
+"Everybody sit down and unlace his or her shoes. I want the lacings,"
+declared Wynifred.
+
+"Hurray!" exclaimed Ferd. "Wait a bit, Tubby; don't wear your poor
+little self to a grease spot trying to throw that rope over the mill."
+
+Tubby, nothing loath, sat down and breathed heavily. The day _was_
+hot in spite of the high wind.
+
+Wyn got all the shoe strings and tied them together, with a bolt
+fastened to the lower end for a sinker, and let it down to the ground.
+There Tubby attached the end of the clothes line and they pulled it up.
+It was long enough, and strong enough, and Dave carefully raised the
+bucket of water--and oh! how good it tasted to the thirsty prisoners.
+
+They were all provided with cups, for the Academy teachers and the
+Denton mothers were rather insistent on that point.
+
+"But, oh, golly!" burst forth Frank, "if they'd only made us always
+carry an emergency ration."
+
+"We didn't expect to be cast away on a desert island in this fashion,"
+said Dave.
+
+But Wyn had another idea.
+
+"There are melons on the back porch. I saw them there this morning. Go
+get us a lot, Tubby. Send 'em up by the bucket-full. And there are
+tomatoes in the garden, and some summer apples on that tree by the fence
+corner. We'll make it all right with Mrs. Prosser. Why, say! we sha'n't
+starve."
+
+"I'll get you some eggs if you want 'em," suggested the willing youth.
+"I hear the hens cackling."
+
+But all objected to raw eggs and thought the melons and fresh tomatoes
+would suffice.
+
+"You go back to camp and report," ordered Dave, through the window. "The
+prof, and Mrs. Havel will be having conniption fits if these girls don't
+show up pretty soon. Tell 'em we're all right--but goodness knows we
+want the wind to stop blowing."
+
+It did not seem, however, as though the wind had any such intention.
+After Tubby Blaisdell departed it blew even stronger.
+
+It was hard to keep the whole party in good temper. The imprisonment was
+getting on their nerves. Besides, the sky was growing darker, although
+it was not yet mid-afternoon; and not long after the fat youth was out
+of sight, heavy drops of rain began to fall.
+
+Rather, the wind whipped the raindrops in at the tower window. Patter,
+patter, patter, they fell, faster and faster, and in the distance
+thunder rumbled.
+
+The picnicking farmers should be home ahead of this storm; yet, if they
+came, they could not stop the sails of the windmill. The shaft groaned
+and smoked, but Dave kept the oil cups filled.
+
+Nearer and nearer came the thunder, and the lightning began to flash.
+Some of the girls were frightened. Nor was this a pleasant place in
+which to be imprisoned during an electrical storm. The tall, revolving
+arms seemed just the things to attract the lightning.
+
+They all were glad--boys as well as girls--to retire to the ground floor
+of the mill while the elements shrieked overhead and the rain pounded
+upon the roof and the sails. It was really a most unpleasant situation.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+WYN HITS SOMETHING
+
+
+In the midst of the storm a voice hailed them from outside. Dave went to
+the doorway and saw--through the falling rain--Farmer Prosser, standing
+by his horses' heads. He had just brought his family home from the
+picnic and they had scurried into the house.
+
+"What are you doing in there?" demanded the farmer. "Can't you stop the
+sails?"
+
+Dave explained, making it as light for Ferd as possible.
+
+"Well! I've been expecting something like this ever since the mill was
+put up. We can't do anything about it now. But I believe the wind will
+shift soon. And if it does, perhaps I can stop the sails from outside
+here."
+
+It was nearly dark, however, and quite supper-time, before the farmer's
+prophecy came true. Then the rain suddenly ceased to fall (the thunder
+and lightning had long since rolled away into the distance) and the wind
+dropped.
+
+The farmer and his man rigged a brake to fall against the narrow breadth
+of shaft which extended outside of the mill wall, and so brought
+pressure to bear upon the revolving axle. This helped bring the sails to
+a stop.
+
+How thankfully the Go-Aheads and the Busters got out of that tower, it
+would be difficult to express. Professor Skillings had started up
+through the rain to see what he could do; but on the way he had picked
+up a white pebble washed out of the roadside by the rain, and there
+being something peculiar about it, he stopped under a hedge to examine
+it by the light of his pocket lamp. Then he must needs proceed with his
+ever-present geological hammer to break the stone in two. Long after
+dark his electric lamp was flashing down there on the hillside like some
+huge wavering firefly.
+
+Not that he could have done a thing to help his young friends. Mrs.
+Prosser, the farmer's wife, had the most practical idea of anybody; for,
+the minute the boys and girls were out of the mill, she insisted that
+they troop into the farmhouse kitchen and there sit down to her long
+table and "get outside of" great bowls of milk and bread, with a host of
+ginger cookies on the side.
+
+So the incident ended happily after all, though Ferdinand Roberts's
+spirits drooped for several days. It was well for him to suffer in
+spirit--as Frankie said: it might teach him a lesson. And he had to pay
+the farmer for the damage he had done to the machinery.
+
+Ferdinand never had any money. He spent his allowance in advance,
+borrowing of the other Busters whenever he could. When he got money from
+home he had to sit down and apportion it all out to his creditors, and
+then had to begin borrowing again.
+
+He had hard work scraping together the wherewithal to pay Mr. Prosser;
+but the boys made it up for him, and the girls would have helped--only
+Dave Shepard had instilled it into Ferd's mind that it was not honorable
+to borrow from a girl.
+
+However, having cleaned his own pocket and strained his credit to the
+snapping point, Ferdinand was over at the Forge with Tubby a couple of
+days afterward and beheld something in a store window that he thought he
+wanted.
+
+"Oh, Tubby!" he cried. "Lend me half a dollar; will you? I must have
+that."
+
+Tubby looked at him out of heavy-lidded eyes, and croaked: "Snow again,
+brother; I don't get your drift!"
+
+When Ferd went from one to the other of his mates they all refused--if
+not quite as slangily as the fat youth, Ferd found himself actually a
+pauper, with all lines of credit shut to him. It made him serious.
+
+"If all you fellows, and the old prof., should suddenly die on me up
+here--what would I do?" gasped Ferd. "Why--I'd have to walk home!"
+
+"Or swim," said Dave, heartlessly. "You'd pawn your canoe, I s'pose."
+
+Speaking of swimming, that was an art in which several of the boys, as
+well as Bessie Lavine and Mina Everett, needed practice. Beside the
+early morning dip, both clubs often held swimming matches either at
+Green Knoll Camp, or off the boys' camp on Gannet Island.
+
+The boys built a good diving raft and anchored it in deep water after
+much hard work. The good swimmers among the girls--especially Wyn and
+Grace--liked to paddle over to the raft and dive from it.
+
+Late in the afternoon the Go-Aheads had come to the raft in their canoes
+dressed only in their bathing suits, and found that the boys had gone
+off on some excursion, and that even Professor Skillings was not in
+sight at Cave-in-the-Wood Camp.
+
+"Oh, goody!" exclaimed Bess, with satisfaction. "Now we can have a good
+time without those trifling boys bothering us. I'm going to learn to
+dive properly, Wyn."
+
+"Sure," returned her friend and captain, encouragingly. "Now's the
+time," and she gave Bess a good deal of attention for some few minutes.
+
+The other girls disported themselves in the deep water to their vast
+enjoyment. Bessie learned a good bit about diving and finally sat upon
+the edge of the float to rest.
+
+Wyn dived overboard.
+
+She had taken a long slant out from the float, but once under the
+surface she turned and went deeper. She was like an otter in the water,
+and having stuffed her ears with cotton she felt prepared to remain
+below a long time.
+
+Once she had opened her eyes while diving with Bess, and she thought she
+saw a shadowy something on the bottom of the lake that was neither a
+boulder nor a waterlogged snag.
+
+She beat her way to the bottom as rapidly as possible; but the light did
+not follow her. She could see nothing when she opened her eyes. It
+seemed as though something overshadowed her.
+
+The water was tugging at her; she could not remain below for long. But
+as she turned to drift up again, her shoulder touched something. She
+struck out and reached it. But the blow really pushed her away and she
+floated upward toward the surface.
+
+When she paddled to the raft she was panting, and Frank demanded:
+
+"What's the matter, Wyn? You look as if you'd seen a ghost I believe you
+stay down too long."
+
+"No," gasped Wyn. "I--I hit something."
+
+"What was it?"
+
+"Why--why, it looked like a wagon. 'Twas something."
+
+"I suppose so!" laughed Frank. "Wagon with a load of hay on it--eh?"
+
+Wyn said nothing more. She sat upon the float, with her knees drawn up
+and hugged in her brown arms, and thought. The other girls could get
+nothing out of her.
+
+She wasn't dreaming, however. She was thinking to a serious purpose.
+
+It _had_ looked like a wagon--as much as it looked like anything
+else. But, of course, she had seen it very dimly. She knew by the touch
+that it was of wood; but it was no waterlogged tree, although there was
+slime upon it It was not rough; but smooth.
+
+Of course, it wasn't a wagon. Nor was it a huge box. Neither wagon nor
+box could have got out here, fifteen or twenty rods off Gannet Island.
+
+Wyn glanced over toward the island and saw that she could look right
+into the cove where John Jarley had met with his accident. According to
+the boatman's story, as he went overboard from the motor boat he gave
+the wheel a twist that should have shot her directly out of the cove
+toward the middle of the lake.
+
+"But suppose the boat didn't respond, after all, to the twist of the
+wheel?" Wyn was thinking. "Or, suppose the slant of the rudder was not
+as great as he supposed?"
+
+She fixed in her mind about the spot where the thing lay she had hit,
+and then glanced back to the tree on the bank of the cove, that showed
+the long scar where the branch was torn off.
+
+The line between the two was clear. The motor boat might have run out
+exactly on that course and missed the wooded point which guarded the
+entrance to the cove.
+
+Suppose the thing she had hit when she dived was the _Bright Eyes_,
+Dr. Shelton's lost motor boat?
+
+Wyn was about to shout to the other girls--to call them around her to
+divulge the idea that had come into her mind--when a hail from the water
+announced the return of the Busters.
+
+She remembered Mr. Lavine's promise. The two clubs were rivals in this
+matter. Wouldn't it be a fine thing for the Go-Aheads to own a motor
+boat all by themselves!
+
+Wyn got up and dived again. But she did not dive toward the mysterious
+something that she had previously found. She swam stoutly instead to
+meet the coming Busters.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+THE NIGHT ALARM
+
+
+Wyn Mallory had "another mind," as the saying is, before the Go-Aheads
+left the island and paddled swiftly for their own camp.
+
+She determined not to say anything to her girl friends of the club about
+the sunken object she had hit under the water. Perhaps it was nothing of
+any consequence; then they would laugh at her. If it _was_ the lost
+motor boat, to tell the girls might spread the story farther than it
+ought to be spread at once.
+
+The Go-Aheads and the Busters were rivals. Mr. Lavine had promised the
+prize to whichever club found the sunken boat and the box of silver
+images that Dr. Shelton had accused John Jarley of stealing.
+
+"And it may not be anything, after all," thought Wyn. "It may be a false
+alarm. Then the _boys_ would have the laugh on us."
+
+To make sure of what she had hit when she dived seemed to Wyn to be the
+principal thing. And how could she make sure of this without going down
+specially to examine the mystery?
+
+"How under the sun am I going to do that without the boys seeing me?"
+she mused. "And if I take the girls into my confidence they will all
+want to be there, too--and then sure enough the Busters will catch us at
+it. Dear me! I don't know what to do--really."
+
+She had half a mind to take Frank into her confidence; but, then, Frank
+was such a joker. The girls and boys had often talked about hunting for
+the missing motor boat; but since Mr. Lavine had gone back to Denton,
+after the regatta, neither club had seriously attempted a search for the
+_Bright Eyes_.
+
+Polly had told Wyn how men from Meade's Forge had searched for the boat
+when she was first lost; and some of the bateau men had kept up the
+search for a long time. Had the motor boat and the silver images been
+found, Dr. Shelton might have been obliged to pay a large reward to
+obtain them, for not all of the bateau men of the lake were honest.
+
+"Some of them bothered father a good deal while he was first laid up
+from his accident, coming by night and trying to get him to give them
+details which he hadn't given to the other searchers. They thought he
+must know just where the _Bright Eyes_ was sunk," Polly had told
+the captain of the Go-Ahead Club. "But they got tired of that after a
+while. They saw he really did not know what had become of the boat."
+
+Polly! She was the one to confide in, Wyn decided. And the captain of
+the Go-Ahead Club did not decide upon this until after the other girls
+in the big tent, and Mrs. Havel, were all asleep. Wyn had been awake an
+hour wondering what she would better do.
+
+Now, convinced that the boatman's daughter would be a wiser as well as
+safer confidante at this stage than Frank or the others, Wyn wriggled
+out of her blanket and seized her bathing suit. It was a beautiful warm
+night. She was no more afraid of the woods and lake at this hour than
+she was by daylight.
+
+So she slipped into the suit, got out of the tent without rousing any of
+the others, selected her own paddle from the heap by the fireplace, and
+ran barefooted down to the shore. It took but a minute to push her canoe
+into the water.
+
+She paddled away around the rushes at the end of the strip of sand below
+the knoll, driving the canoe toward the Jarley Landing. Out of the
+rushes came a sudden splashing, and some water-fowl, disturbed by her
+passing, spattered deeper into hiding.
+
+Wyn only laughed. The warm, misty night wrapped her around like a cloak;
+yet there was sufficient light on the surface of the lake for her to see
+her course a few yards ahead.
+
+_This_ was a real adventure--out in her canoe alone in the dark.
+And how fast she made the light craft travel through the still water!
+
+She reached the landing in a very short time. Hopping out, she hauled up
+the canoe. Was that the water splashing--or was there a sound behind her
+on the float? Was it a footstep--somebody hastening away?
+
+Now, for the first time, Wyn felt a little tremor. But she was naturally
+too brave to be particularly disturbed by such a fancy. Who would be
+lurking about the Jarleys' place at this hour?
+
+So, after a moment, she shook off her doubt, and ran lightly up the
+float and along the path to the little cottage. She knew Polly's window
+well enough, and dark as it was, she soon found the spot.
+
+It was shuttered, and the shutter was bolted on the inside; but Wyn
+scratched upon the blind and after doing so a second time she heard a
+movement within.
+
+"Polly!" she breathed.
+
+She did not want to awaken Mr. Jarley. She just felt that she could not
+explain to _him_. Of course, what she had hit under the water might
+have nothing to do with the sunken boat, and Wyn shrank from disturbing
+the boatman himself about it.
+
+"Polly!" she exclaimed, again in a whisper, "it's I--Wyn--Wyn Mallory."
+
+At once she heard her friend's voice in return. The shutter opened.
+Polly blinked at Wyn through the darkness.
+
+"My _dear_! What do you want? What has happened?" asked the girl of
+the woods.
+
+"Come on out--do, Polly. I've got something to tell you. Just put on
+your bathing suit," Wyn whispered.
+
+"For pity's sake! What is it?"
+
+"Don't awaken your father. Come."
+
+"Just a minute," whispered the sleepy Polly, and in not much longer than
+the time stated she crept through the window.
+
+"I'd wake father if I went out by the door," she said. "Now come down to
+the landing. What are you doing 'way over here at this time o' night?"
+
+"I have the most surprising thing to tell you."
+
+"What about?"
+
+"I wish you'd go over to Gannet Island with me and see if I'm right. The
+moon will be up bye and bye; won't it?"
+
+"Yes. But what do you mean? What is the mystery?" inquired Polly. Then
+she seized Wyn's arm and demanded that she "Hush!" although Wyn's lips
+were not open at the moment.
+
+"I declare I thought I heard something just then," whispered Polly.
+
+"You're bound to hear things in the dark," returned Wyn, cheerfully.
+
+"But it was somebody coughing."
+
+"A bird?" ventured Wyn. "I heard one splashing in the sedges as I came
+along in the canoe."
+
+"A bird clearing its throat?" laughed Polly. "Not likely!"
+
+She did not bother about it again, but squeezed Wyn's arm. "Tell me what
+the matter is. It must be something very important to bring you 'way
+over here alone at night."
+
+"That's right. It is," replied Wyn, and she related to Polly the thing
+that was troubling her.
+
+"And, oh, Polly! if that thing I hit under the water should be that
+boat----"
+
+"Oh, Wyn! What would father say?"
+
+"He'd be delighted. So would we all. And we must find out for sure."
+
+"I'll tell him in the morning. We'll go there and see----"
+
+But Wyn stopped her. She showed her how necessary it was for the matter
+to be looked into secretly. Mr. Lavine had promised to give a motor boat
+to whichever club found the sunken _Bright Eyes_ and the silver
+images. And the Busters must not know a thing about it until they were
+sure----
+
+"Then Mr. Lavine believes father's story about the boat?" burst in
+Polly.
+
+"I believe he does, Polly, dear. I think, Polly, that he would be very,
+very glad to have Mr. Jarley cleared of all suspicion. He is sorry for
+your father's trouble. I think his attitude, toward your father has
+changed from what it must have been at one time."
+
+"It ought to be!" exclaimed Polly.
+
+"Of course. But we none of us always do all we ought to do," observed
+Wyn mildly.
+
+"If we are going to try and find that place where you dived to-day, Wyn,
+we'd better be about it," Polly urged.
+
+"You'll go now?" cried Wyn.
+
+"Of course I will. The boys will be asleep up in their camp. We will
+take the _Coquette_. There is a breeze."
+
+"Let's tow my canoe behind, then," said Wyn, eagerly. "Come on! I'm just
+crazy to dive for the thing again. If it _is_ the _Bright
+Eyes_----"
+
+Polly insisted upon hunting out a couple of old blankets to wrap about
+them if the wind should turn chill.
+
+"And after you have been overboard you'll want something to protect you
+from the night air," she said.
+
+"Oh, Polly! do you suppose I can find the place again?" cried Wyn,
+infinitely more eager than the boatman's daughter.
+
+"You say it's right off the boys' float? Well! we can look, I guess."
+
+"Feel, you mean," laughed Wyn. "For _I_ couldn't see anything down
+there even by daylight--it was so deep."
+
+"All right. We'll look with our hands. I shall know if it's a boat, Wyn,
+once I reach it."
+
+"And I hope it _is_" gasped Wyn. "Not alone for _your_ sake,
+Polly. Why, if it is the _Bright Eyes_, the Go-Aheads will own a
+motor boat their very own selves. Won't that be fine?"
+
+But Polly was too busy getting the catboat ready to answer. The
+_Coquette_ was moored just a little way off the landing, and the
+two girls went out to her in Wyn's canoe.
+
+There was a lantern in her cuddy and Polly lit it. Then they slipped the
+buoyed moorings and spread a little canvas. There was quite a breeze,
+and it was fair for their course to Gannet Island. Soon the catboat was
+laying over a bit, and the foam was streaking away behind them in a
+broad wake.
+
+"What a lovely night!" sighed Wyn. "And it will be the very gladdest
+night I ever saw if that thing I hit proves to be the _Bright
+Eyes_."
+
+Polly had glanced behind them frequently. "Don't you hear anything?" she
+asked finally.
+
+"Hear what?"
+
+"Hush! that's somebody getting up a sail. Can't you hear it?"
+
+Wyn listened, and then murmured: "Your ears must be sharper than mine,
+Polly. I hear nothing but the slap of the water."
+
+"No. There is another sailboat under weigh. Where can it be from?"
+
+"You don't suppose your father was aroused, and is coming after us?"
+asked Wyn.
+
+"Of course not. Beside, the _Coquette_ is the only sailing
+boat--except a canoe--that we have at present. The other cat is loaned
+for a week. And I heard the hoops creaking on the mast as a heavy sail
+went up."
+
+"Some crowd of fishermen?" suggested Wyn.
+
+"But where's their light?"
+
+Wyn stared all around. "You're right," she gasped. "There isn't a single
+twinkling lantern--except ashore."
+
+Polly, sitting in the stern seat, reached for their own lantern and
+smothered its rays. "We won't show a gleam, either," she muttered.
+
+"Why! who could it possibly be?" cried Wyn. "Do you think somebody may
+be following us?"
+
+"I don't know," returned Polly, grimly. "But I thought I heard something
+back there at our house. We were talking loud. If those silver images
+were worth all Dr. Shelton says they were, there are more than us girls
+who would like to find them."
+
+"My goodness me! I didn't think of _that_," observed Wyn Mallory,
+with a little shiver. "Do you suppose we really are being followed?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+THE STRANGE BATEAU
+
+
+Polly laughed a little. Yet she spoke seriously.
+
+"You needn't be so worried, Wyn. I know most of the men who do business
+on the lake. Some of them are mighty fine fellows, and others are just
+the opposite; but I'm not afraid of the worst of them."
+
+"If they followed us, and we _did_ find the sunken motor boat,
+couldn't they grapple for the box of silver images, and steal them?"
+demanded Wyn.
+
+"Not easily. You see, they don't know where the box was stowed. Father
+told nobody but me. The _Bright Eyes_ was a good-sized boat, and
+they'd have some trouble getting up the box without raising the boat
+herself."
+
+"I suppose that's so," admitted Wyn, less anxiously, as the
+_Coquette_ carried them swiftly toward Gannet Island. "But these
+men you speak of might interfere with us."
+
+"Yes. That's so. But they'd get as good as they sent, I reckon," said
+Polly, who didn't seem to have a bit of fear.
+
+Wyn was no coward; she had shown that the time she and Bessie Lavine
+were spilled out of their canoes in the middle of the lake. But she had
+not lived, like Polly, in the woods with few but rough people for
+associates.
+
+Soon they passed Green Knoll Camp, lying peacefully in the light of the
+moon that was just then rising above the Forge. Its rays silvered all
+the knoll and made the camp a charming spot.
+
+"I hope none of them will wake up and find me gone," remarked Wyn,
+chuckling.
+
+Polly gave the tiller and sheet to her friend and stood up to get a
+better view of the lake astern of them. At first she saw nothing but the
+dim shores and the silvering water. Then, some distance out, Polly
+caught sight of a ghostly sail drifting across the path of moonlight.
+
+"A bateau!" she exclaimed. "And--with the wind the way it is--she must
+have come right out of our cove, Wynnie."
+
+"Do--do you really think anybody was listening to us when we were
+talking there on the landing, Polly?" Wyn asked. "And are they aboard
+_that_ bateau?"
+
+"I don't know. But I know I heard something then."
+
+"But that boat isn't following us."
+
+"It may be. We can't tell. They can watch us just as easily as we can
+watch them."
+
+But when the _Coquette_ got around to the side of Gannet Island
+where the boys' camp was established, the shadow of the high, wooded
+ridge was thrown out so far across the lake that the swimming raft and
+its neighborhood were in darkness.
+
+The catboat, with her sail dropped and her nose just touching the edge
+of the float, was quite hidden by this shadow of the island, which was
+all the darker in contrast with the brilliant moonlight lying on the
+water farther out.
+
+"I'll carry the kedge to the float," whispered Polly, "and then we'll
+pay out the line till the _Coquette_ floats about over the spot
+where you think the thing you hit lies."
+
+"Let's get my canoe out of the way, too," urged Wyn. "Oh! I hope the
+boys will not wake up."
+
+"What's that light up there?" exclaimed Polly, suddenly.
+
+"That's the spark of their campfire. It's in the rocks, so no harm can
+come from it; they don't trouble to cover it when they go to bed."
+
+"Now, Wyn--push the boat off."
+
+They worked the catboat from the float for several yards. "Wait,"
+whispered Wyn. "Let's try here."
+
+"Are you going to dive?"
+
+"Yes. It will make some splash; but I don't believe I can reach the
+bottom of the lake otherwise, it is so deep here."
+
+"Careful!" cautioned Polly. "You may hurt yourself on whatever is down
+there."
+
+"I'll look out," returned Wyn, again filling her ears with cotton. She
+slipped off the skirt of her bathing suit, too, so as to have more
+freedom. Then she poised herself for a moment on the decked-over part of
+the sailboat--a slim, lithe figure in the semi-darkness--and gradually
+bent over with her arms outstretched to part the water.
+
+As she dived forward she thought she heard a quick exclamation from
+Polly; but Wyn believed it to be an encouraging cry. At least, she gave
+it no attention as she clove the water and went down, down, down into
+the depths of the lake.
+
+She opened her eyes, but, of course, saw nothing but a great, shadowy
+mass below her. Toward this mass she swam eagerly; the lake seemed much
+deeper than it had by daylight.
+
+Struggling against the uplift of the water, she beat her way down into
+the depths for more than a minute. That was a goodly length of time for
+the first submersion. And she did not reach the bottom, nor find any
+object like the thing she had struck against some hours before.
+
+It was necessary for her to rise. As she turned over, a luminous spot
+appeared over her head, and toward this spot she sprang. With aching
+chest she reached the surface, and sprang breast high out of the
+water--some yards from the catboat. There was a strong current here.
+
+"Polly!" she gasped.
+
+"Sh!" hissed her comrade's voice, in warning.
+
+Surprised, Wyn obeyed the warning. Causing scarcely a ripple in the
+water, she paddled to the boat. There she clung to the rail and
+listened. She could not see Polly.
+
+"Dunno where they went to in that cat, Eb," growled a hoarse voice out
+of the darkness.
+
+Wyn darted a glance over her shoulder. There, looming gray and ghostly,
+was the tall sail they had seen once before. The strange, square-nosed
+bateau was drifting by, but at some distance. Evidently the catboat was
+well hidden in the shadow of the island.
+
+Suddenly Polly reached over the edge of the boat and seized Wyn's
+shoulders. "Don't try to climb in," she whispered. "They'll see or hear
+the splash."
+
+"All right," breathed back the captain of the Go-Aheads.
+
+"It's Eb Lornigan and some of his friends. Eb is a disgrace to the lake.
+He's been in jail more than once," whispered Polly.
+
+But Wyn's shoulders began to feel cold. The night air, after all, was
+not really warm. "I'm going down again," she whispered.
+
+"Did--did you find it?" queried Polly.
+
+"No. But I will," declared the other girl, confidently, and slipped into
+the water.
+
+She ventured under the bottom of the catboat and, turning suddenly,
+braced her feet against it, and so flung herself down into the depths.
+
+She descended more swiftly with the momentum thus gained, traveling
+toward the bottom on a different slant than before. With her hands far
+before her she defended her head from collision with any sunken object
+there might be down here. And this time she actually did hit something
+again.
+
+She turned quickly and grabbed at it with both hands. It seemed like a
+sharp, smooth pole sticking almost upright in the water. There was a bit
+of rag, or marine plant of some kind, attached to it.
+
+She struggled to pull herself down by the staff, but she had been below
+now longer than before. Just what the staff could be she did not imagine
+until she had again turned and "kicked" her way upward.
+
+"It's the pennant staff of the sunken boat!" she gasped, as she came to
+the surface and could open her mouth once more.
+
+"Hush! what's the matter with you?" demanded Polly, in a low voice,
+directly at hand.
+
+"Oh! have they gone?"
+
+"The bateau is out of hearing distance. But you _do_ splash like a
+porpoise."
+
+"Nonsense! Let me climb up."
+
+Polly gave her some help and in a few moments Wyn lay panting in the
+tiny cockpit of the boat.
+
+"Did--did you find anything?" queried Polly, anxiously.
+
+Wyn told her what she believed she had found underneath the water, and
+the position of the staff. "It must be lying bow on to us here," she
+said.
+
+"Oh! do you suppose it really _is_ the _Bright Eyes_?"
+
+"It's something," replied Wyn, confidently, pulling one of the blankets
+around her.
+
+"I'm going down myself," declared Polly, sharply.
+
+"All right. Maybe you can find more of the boat. It's there."
+
+Polly sprang up into the bow of the catboat, poised herself for a moment
+and then dived overboard. She could outswim and outdive any of the
+Go-Ahead girls--and why not? She was in, or on, the lake from early
+spring until late autumn.
+
+Polly was under the surface no longer than Wyn; but when she came up she
+struck out for the _Coquette_ and scrambled immediately into the
+boat.
+
+"What is it? Am I right? Is it a boat?" cried the anxious Wynnie.
+
+"Yes! It's there. Oh, Wynifred Mallory! My father is going to be so
+relieved! It's--it's just heavenly! How can we ever thank you?"
+
+Wyn was crying softly. "I'm so delighted, dear Polly. It--it is
+_sure_ the _Bright Eyes_?"
+
+"It is a motor boat. I went right down to the deck, and scrambled around
+it. There are surely not _two_ motor boats sunk in Lake Honotonka,"
+declared Polly.
+
+"Hush, then!" urged Wyn. "We'll keep still about it. It is my find and
+I'll telegraph to Mr. Lavine as quick as I can. The Go-Ahead girls are
+going to own a motor boat! Won't that be fine?"
+
+"Say nothing to any of the others. I'll tell father," said Polly,
+beginning to haul in on the kedge line. "And he'll know what to do about
+raising the launch. He'll have to go to the Forge----"
+
+"Then he can send the message to Mr. Lavine for me. Tell him the girls
+have found the sunken boat, and sign my name to it. That will bring
+Bessie's father up here in a hurry."
+
+The girls got their anchor and the canoe, and put up the sail again. As
+the _Coquette_ shot away from the boys' swimming float, the ghostly
+sail of the strange bateau again crossed the path of moonlight at the
+other end of the island.
+
+"I'd feel better," muttered Polly, "if those, fellows were not hanging
+about so close."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+THE BOYS TO THE RESCUE
+
+
+Wyn got into her canoe in sight of Green Knoll Camp, and leaving Polly
+to work the _Coquette_ home alone, paddled to the shore, drew out
+the canoe and turned it over on the beach with the six other canoes
+belonging to the camp, and so stole up the hill and prepared for bed
+again.
+
+Nobody seemed to have missed her, although it was now two hours after
+midnight. The captain of the girls' club felt a glow of satisfaction at
+her heart as she composed herself for sleep. She believed she was going
+to have a great and happy surprise for the girls of the Go-Ahead Club;
+and in addition the Jarleys would be relieved of the cloud of suspicion
+that had hung over Mr. Jarley ever since Dr. Shelton's motor boat was
+lost.
+
+Wyn slept so late that all the other girls were up and had run down for
+their morning dip ere Mrs. Havel shook her.
+
+"You must have had your bath very early, Wynnie," said that lady. "Here
+is your bathing suit all wet."
+
+"Yes, ma'am," responded Wyn, sleepily.
+
+"Now, rouse up. The whole camp is astir," said Mrs. Havel, and Wyn was
+fully dressed when the other girls came back. There were not too many
+questions asked, so her secret remained safe.
+
+She became considerably disturbed, however, when the hours of the
+forenoon passed and she neither heard from nor saw anything of the
+Jarleys.
+
+Once a big bateau went drifting by and disappeared behind Gannet Island,
+under a lazy sail and with two men at the long sweeps, or oars. When it
+was lost to view Wyn was troubled by the thought that it might be the
+same mysterious craft that had followed the catboat the night before.
+Had it anchored off the boys' camp now?
+
+So, to calm her own mind, she suggested that they all paddle over to
+Cave-in-the-Wood Camp and take their luncheon with them.
+
+"Goodness me, Wynifred!" exclaimed Bess, the boy-despiser, "can't you
+keep away from those boys for a single day?"
+
+"I notice we usually have a good time when the boys are around,"
+returned Wyn, cheerfully.
+
+"Oh, they're quite a 'necessary evil,'" drawled Frank. "But I feel
+myself like Johnny Bloom's aunt when we get rid of the Busters for a
+time."
+
+"What about Johnny's aunt?" queried Mina.
+
+"Why, do you know that Johnny belongs to the Scouts and one law of the
+Scouts is that they shall each do something for somebody each day to
+make the said somebody happy."
+
+"Rather involved in your English, Miss, but we understand you," said
+Grace.
+
+"So far," agreed Percy Havel. "But where do Johnny Bloom and his aunt
+come in?"
+
+"Why, any day he can't think of any other kindness to render his
+friends," chuckled Frankie, "he goes to see his aunt. She is so glad
+when he goes home again--she detests boys--that Johnny feels all the
+thrill of having performed a good deed."
+
+"Now, Frank!" laughed Wyn, "you know it isn't as bad as all
+_that_."
+
+"Yes, it is," chuckled Frankie. "You don't know Johnny Bloom as well as
+his neighbors do. He lives on my street."
+
+"Humph! most boys are just as bad," declared Bess. "Just the same, if
+Wyn says 'Gannet Island' I reckon we'll all have to go."
+
+"And we'll have some fun diving," Grace Hedges declared. "I wish we had
+a diving float over here."
+
+Mrs. Havel preferred to remain at the camp and the six girls were a very
+hilarious party as they set forth in their canoes and fresh bathing
+suits for the island.
+
+By this time every member of the Go-Ahead Club was as brown as a berry,
+inured to exposure in the sun, and enjoying the outdoor life of woods
+and lake to the full.
+
+Mina's timidity had worn off, Percy was not so "finicky" in her tastes,
+Bessie was more careful of other people's feelings, Grace really seemed
+almost cured of laziness, Frank was by no means so hoydenish as she once
+was, and as for Wynifred, she was just as hearty and happy as it seemed
+a girl could be. Their independent, busy life on Green Knoll was doing
+them all a world of good.
+
+As the little squadron of canoes drew near to the easterly end of the
+Island the girls were suddenly excited by a great disturbance in the
+bushes on the hill above them. This end of the island was exceedingly
+steep and rocky.
+
+"Oh, what's that?" cried Mina, as some object flashed into view for a
+moment and then disappeared.
+
+"It's one of the goats," squealed Frankie.
+
+Gannet Island was grazed by a good-sized herd of goats, but they
+remained mostly at this end and kept away from the boys' camp at the
+other. The girls had seldom seen any of the herd, although they had
+heard the kids bleating now and then, and the boys had described the old
+rams and how ugly they were.
+
+Here, right above them, was going on a striking domestic wrangle, for in
+a moment they saw that two of the rams were having a set-to among the
+bushes on the side-hill, while several mild-eyed Nannies and their
+progeny looked on.
+
+The rams would back away a little in the brush and then charge each
+other. When their hard horns collided, they rang like steel, and several
+times the antagonists were both overborne by the shock and rolled upon
+the ground.
+
+"What a place for a fight!" exclaimed Frank. "What do you know about
+_that_, girls?"
+
+"It's a shame," quavered Mina. "Somebody ought to separate them."
+
+"Sure! I vote that you go right up and do so, Miss Everett," said Grace,
+briskly.
+
+However, Frank's criticism of the judgment of the combating goats was
+correct. It was no place for a fair fight. One of the animals happened
+to get "up hill" and at the next charge the lower goat was lifted
+completely off its feet and came tumbling down the steep descent with
+the speed of an avalanche.
+
+The girls screamed, the other goats bleated--while the conquering Billie
+took a commanding position on a rock and gazed down upon his falling
+enemy. The latter could not stop. Twice he tried to scramble to his
+sharp little hoofs, but could not accomplish the feat. So, then, quite
+helpless, he fell the entire distance and came finally, with a mighty
+splash, into the deep water under the bank.
+
+"Oh! the poor creature will be drowned!" cried Wyn, in great distress at
+this catastrophe, although some of the other girls were inclined to
+laugh, for the goat _did_ look more than a little comical.
+
+He had been battered a good deal and had received a wound upon one side
+of his face that did not improve his looks at all. And while he had been
+so lively and pugnacious up on the hillside, now he splashed about in
+the lake quite helplessly.
+
+The shore of the island just here was altogether too abrupt to afford
+the unlucky goat any foot-hold. And the goat is not naturally an aquatic
+animal.
+
+"Come on!" urged Bessie. "Let's leave him. We can't do any good here."
+
+"Of course we can help him," cried Wyn. "Grab him by the other horn,
+Frank!"
+
+She had driven her own canoe to the far side of the goat and now seized
+the beast's horn. He could not fight in the water and Wyn and Frank
+slowly guided him along the shore until they reached a sloping piece of
+beach where he could, at least, get a footing. But he lay down, half in
+and half out of the water, seemingly exhausted.
+
+"He can never climb that bank," declared Mina.
+
+"We'll boost him up, then," said Frank, with confidence. "Having set out
+to be twin Good Samaritans, we'll finish the job properly; eh, Wyn?"
+
+Her friend agreed, laughing, and both girls sprang ashore. They didn't
+mind getting a little wet, considering how they were dressed.
+
+The goat bleated forlornly as they seized upon him; he was quite all the
+two girls could lift, and they actually had to drag him up the steeper
+part of the hill by his legs.
+
+Their friends below chaffed them a good deal, for it was a ridiculous
+sight. Soon, however, Wyn and Frank got their awkward burden to the
+mouth of an easily sloping gully, that led toward the interior of the
+island. As soon as he could, the animal scrambled upon his feet.
+
+Once firmly set, however, this ungrateful goat's temper changed most
+surprisingly. Or he may have felt that his dignity had been ruffled by
+the treatment he had received at the hands of his rescuers.
+
+So he began stamping his little sharp hoofs and lowered his head,
+shaking the latter threateningly.
+
+"What did I tell you?" called Bess, from below. "Next you two sillies
+know he'll butt you."
+
+"Oh, come along, Wyn!" gasped Frankie. "Plague the goat, anyway!" as she
+dodged the enraged animal's first charge.
+
+The goat was headed up the gully, away from the shore, or he might have
+gone head first into the lake again. As the girls escaped him, Wyn,
+laughing immoderately, looked back. A big beech tree cropped out of the
+bank not far away, and under this tree she descried a figure lying.
+
+"Oh, Frank!" she cried.
+
+Her friend turned and saw the figure, too.
+
+"Oh, Wyn!"
+
+Their ejaculations seemed to have attracted Mr. William Goat's attention
+to the same reclining figure. Outstretched upon the sward, with a large
+handkerchief over his face as a protection from gnats and other insects,
+and with his fat fingers interlaced across what Dave Shepard wickedly
+termed his chum's "bow-window," lay the quite unconscious Tubby
+Blaisdell.
+
+"Tubby!" shrieked the girls in chorus.
+
+The fat boy sat up as though a spring had been released. The
+handkerchief was still over his face, and he grunted blindly.
+
+It was a challenge to Mr. Goat. He charged. Amid the screams of the
+girls the goat hurtled through the air, all four feet gathered beneath
+him, and landed head-and-horns in the middle of poor Tubby's waistcoat!
+
+It wasn't a very big goat. 'Twas lucky for Master Blaisdell that this
+was so. Tubby went back with an awful grunt, heels in the air, and the
+goat turned a complete somersault. But the latter scrambled to his feet
+a whole lot quicker than did Tubby.
+
+"Run--run, Tubby!" shrieked Frank.
+
+"Look out for him, Ralph!" cried Wyn.
+
+Back the goat came. This time he took Master Blaisdell from the rear and
+butted him so hard that he actually seemed to lift the fat boy to his
+feet.
+
+The youth had scratched the handkerchief from his face, and now could
+see the enemy. Tubby had emitted nothing but a series of excruciating
+grunts; but now, when he saw the goat making ready for another charge,
+he met the animal with a yell, leaping into the air with his legs
+a-straddle, so that the Billie ran between them, and then Tubby footed
+it up the gully as fast as he could travel.
+
+The goat, headed down hill again, saw his old enemies, the two girls,
+and made as though to attack them. Wyn and Frank, almost dead with
+laughter, managed to roll down the bank and so get out of the erratic
+goat's sight. The other girls had only heard the noise of the conflict,
+and did not understand; nor could Wyn and Frankie explain when they
+first scrambled into their canoes.
+
+"Poor Tubby! Poor Tubby!" was all Wyn could say. "Let's paddle around to
+the boys' camp. He's run for home."
+
+"It was a home run, all right!" gasped Frank.
+
+But three minutes later, when the canoes got into the cove where Polly's
+father had met with his accident in the _Bright Eyes_, Wyn suddenly
+found something more serious than Tubby Blaisdell's experience to worry
+about. There was the big bateau, its sail furled, almost over the spot
+where Wyn and Polly were sure the lost motor boat lay!
+
+"Oh, dear me!" cried Bess. "Now we can't have any fun on the raft. Those
+men will be in our way. What do you suppose they are poking around there
+in the water with those poles for?"
+
+Wyn began to paddle fast. She shot ahead of the other girls and aimed
+directly for the bit of beach on which the boys' canoes were drawn.
+
+The noise and laughter up at the camp assured her that Tubby had arrived
+and that all the Busters were at home. Wyn had made up her mind quickly
+that, if she must, she would rather take the boys into her confidence
+about the sunken boat than let those bateau men find it.
+
+"Boys! Dave!" she hailed them from the water.
+
+Young Shepard appeared at once and, seeing Wyn, ran down to the shore.
+
+"Will you help us?" gasped Wyn. "Quick! get the boys! Move your diving
+float where I tell you; those men will find it first, if you don't."
+
+"Find what?" demanded Dave. "Are you sensible, Wynnie?"
+
+The explanation tumbled out of Wyn Mallory's lips then in rather a
+jumbled fashion; but Dave understood. He turned and gave the view-halloa
+for his mates. They all tumbled down the bank save Tubby.
+
+"Get a move on, fellows," commanded the leader of the Busters. "We've
+got to move that raft. Wyn will tell us where. And later we'll tell you
+_why_. But the word is now: Look sharp!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+
+IS IT THE "BRIGHT EYES"?
+
+
+With a whirl and clash of paddles the little flotilla of canoes shot out
+to the diving float. The bateau was only a few yards away. The two
+rough-looking men in her were sounding the lake bottom, with long poles;
+but as yet they had not got around to the right spot.
+
+Wyn breathlessly told the boys to move the raft to the place to which
+she paddled. The other girls were excitedly asking questions but neither
+Wyn nor Dave answered.
+
+The captain of the Go-Aheads thought that if the raft could be held
+stationary--anchored in some way--directly over the sunken boat, the
+prize would be safe until Mr. Jarley, or somebody else in authority,
+came to claim the _Bright Eyes_. Of course, providing this sunken
+boat was she.
+
+Polly had seemed so positive, and so eager to get her father started
+after the motor boat he had lost, that Wyn could not understand why the
+Jarleys were not already on the spot.
+
+"Hey, there! what are you boys doing?" demanded one of the bateau men,
+hailing Dave and his friends on the raft.
+
+"Moving our float," replied the captain of the Busters, promptly.
+
+"Well, don't you git in our way," said the man, crossly.
+
+"Hel-_lo_!" exclaimed the saucy Ferd Roberts. "I've always wondered
+who owned Lake Honotonka, and now I know."
+
+"You'll know a whole lot more if you don't look out, Young Fresh,"
+growled the other boatman.
+
+"I shouldn't wonder," laughed Ferd. "But I'm not going to school to
+_you_, Mister."
+
+"Do be quiet, Ferd," advised Dave. "Now, Wynnie! What do you say to
+this?"
+
+Meantime the boys had raised the two big stones that served the raft as
+anchors, and had poled the float near to Wyn's canoe.
+
+"Oh! a little farther, Dave, please," cried the anxious girl.
+
+"Say! I wanter know what you young ones are up to?" repeated the first
+boatman.
+
+"Can't you see?" returned Dave. "We're shifting our raft."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"Cat's fur! To make kittens' breeches of, 'cause we couldn't get dog
+fur--_now_ do you know?" snapped Ferd.
+
+"Shut up, Ferd!" commanded Dave, again.
+
+"He'd better shut up," growled the man, "or something'll happen to
+him--the young shrimp!"
+
+"Oh, dear me, Wyn!" cried Bessie Lavine; "let's go back to camp."
+
+"You'd all better scatter--both gels and boys," said the boatman,
+threateningly. "We're busy here an' we don't want to be bothered by
+shrimps."
+
+"I guess we'll stay a while longer, Mister," Dave said, boldly.
+
+"We were here first," cried the irrepressible Ferd.
+
+"You youngsters air in our way. Get out," commanded the Boatman.
+
+He was working the bateau nearer to the raft, using one of the long
+sweeps for that purpose.
+
+"Heave over the anchors again, fellows," said Dave, quietly. "Then stand
+by with your paddles to repel boarders. We mustn't let 'em have the
+raft, or move it."
+
+"Oh, Wyn!" begged Mina Everett, "let's go away."
+
+The girls had all paddled near Wyn Mallory. Now they clustered about her
+in plain anxiety. The boys had climbed upon the raft and all five were
+plainly intending to offer resistance to the ugly boatmen.
+
+"Now, girls," begged the captain of the Go-Aheads, firmly, "let us show
+_some_ courage, at least. The boys are willing to fight our
+battle----"
+
+"_Our_ battle?" gasped Bessie. "What do you mean?"
+
+In a whisper Wyn explained to the wondering and frightened girls what it
+was all about.
+
+"Polly and I believe the lost motor boat lies right beneath us here. We
+must keep those men off, for they are hunting for the sunken boat, too,"
+concluded Wynnie.
+
+"My goodness! how exciting!" cried Grace Hedges.
+
+"And we'll actually win the prize your father offered us, Bess!" gasped
+Percy Havel.
+
+"I don't see that _we_ have had much to do with it," said Frank.
+"Wyn made the discovery."
+
+"What is for one is for all," declared Wynnie. "But we won't win Mr.
+Lavine's prize unless the boat is raised and the silver images are
+delivered to Dr. Shelton. If those men get hold of the boat----"
+
+Suddenly one of the boatmen--a long-legged fellow with a cast in one eye
+and lantern jaws sparsely covered with sandy whisker--came forward to
+the bow of the bateau and poised himself for a leap to the diving float.
+
+"Keep off!" Dave warned him, swinging his paddle over his head. "You
+jump over here and you'll catch this where Kellup caught the hen--right
+in the neck! You let us alone and we'll let you alone."
+
+The boatman told him, in no very choice language, what he would do to
+Dave when he caught him; but the captain of the Busters did not appear
+to be much shaken.
+
+"Hold, on, Eb!" yelled the other boatman. "I'll run that raft down and
+spill 'em all off."
+
+"You try it and you'll likely smash your boat," shouted Dave. "I warn
+you."
+
+Mina Everett began to cry softly, for the suggestion of a pitched battle
+between the boys and the boatmen frightened her dreadfully. Bess began
+to grow excited.
+
+"Aren't those men just _mean_? I wish I had something to hit them
+with--I do! I believe I'll get out on the raft with _my_ paddle."
+
+"That wouldn't be a bad idea," said Grace. "I think the boys are as nice
+to us as they can be."
+
+Suddenly, while the attention of all the others was held by the exciting
+situation on the raft, Frank Cameron cried out:
+
+"Who's this coming? Oh, girls! isn't that Polly? Look, Wyn!"
+
+Wyn almost overturned her canoe in her eagerness to back out of the
+group and whirl her canoe about that she might see. Down upon the scene
+was bearing one of the larger power boats from the other end of the
+lake.
+
+"It's Dr. Shelton's _Sunshine Boy_!" cried Percy Havel.
+
+"And that _is_ Polly Jolly in the bow," exclaimed Wyn. "Hurrah!"
+
+She drove her paddle into the water and sent her canoe driving for the
+approaching motor boat.
+
+"Polly! Polly!" she called, long before the boatman's daughter could
+hear her.
+
+But Polly recognized her just the same, and waved her hand; there was a
+gentleman pacing the deck, too, who came to lean on the rail and look at
+the flying canoe. Wyn next saw Mr. Jarley, in his working clothes, put
+his head out of the cabin that housed the motor.
+
+"It's Dr. Shelton," Wyn thought. "Then he and Mr. Jarley have made it
+up. I'm so glad!"
+
+But the motor boat was coming fast and Wyn drove her canoe as though she
+were racing. Swerving the craft quickly, the girl brought it very nicely
+into a berth beside the motor boat. Polly leaned down and steadied the
+canoe with the boat hook, and her friend hopped aboard. Then together
+they hoisted over the rail the almost swamped canoe.
+
+"What's all this? What's all this?" demanded Dr. Shelton. "You girls are
+regular acrobats. Hullo! This is the young miss who won the canoe race
+and the swimming match for girls, the other day. Am I right?"
+
+"Yes, sir," said Polly, presenting Wyn proudly. "This is Miss Wynifred
+Mallory, my very dear friend."
+
+"The girl who thinks she has found our old motor boat--eh?" asked the
+burly doctor.
+
+"I am sure she has found it, sir," declared Polly. "And what are Eb and
+his chum, Billy Smith, trying to do there at the raft, Wyn?"
+
+"They suspect something; but the boys have got the float right over the
+sunken boat and have promised to hold the bateau men off----"
+
+Just then Dr. Shelton turned quickly, picked up a megaphone and bawled
+through it to the bateau men, one of whom had leaped aboard the boys,
+raft.
+
+"Hey, you! Get off that raft and keep off it, or I'll put you both in
+jail at the Forge. Understand me?"
+
+It was evident that the boatmen _did_ understand the doctor, for
+the trespasser aboard the raft leaped back into the bateau without a
+blow being struck, although the boys were ready for him. The big sail of
+the craft was immediately raised and she had borne off to some distance
+when the _Sunshine Boy_ was allowed to drift in close to the float.
+
+"Now, boys," said Dr. Shelton, genially, "I understand you have found my
+old _Bright Eyes_ under water here and have been guarding it from
+all comers. Is that right?"
+
+"No, Doctor," returned Dave. "We fellows have had mighty little to do
+with it. It's the girls----"
+
+"It's Wyn!" cried Frank, "and nobody else."
+
+"Wyn did it all," agreed Bess.
+
+"But those men, poking around here, might have found it and laid claim
+to it, sir, if the boys had not come to the rescue," declared the
+captain of the Go-Aheads, warmly.
+
+"You seem to be a Mutual Admiration Society," laughed the doctor.
+"However, if the boat is here and that express box intact, as Jarley
+says, I certainly owe somebody something handsome for finding it."
+
+"Oh, no, sir!" murmured Wyn, quickly, standing by his side. "You owe me
+nothing. Mr. Lavine has promised our club a present, and Polly and her
+father are going to be made very happy if it turns out all right.
+_That_ is reward enough for us."
+
+"Humph! you feel that way about it; do you, Miss Mallory?" queried the
+doctor. "Just the same, if the _Bright Eyes_ really is sunk here I
+must show my gratitude to somebody."
+
+"Then do something for Polly," Wyn whispered. "Give her a chance to go
+to school--to Denton Academy with the rest of us girls. That would be
+fine! She wouldn't let Mr. Lavine do that for her; but I know she'll
+accept it from you, when her father has proved himself clear of
+suspicion."
+
+"Ha! John Jarley is a better man than I am," grunted Dr. Shelton. "I had
+no business to talk to him the way I did regatta day. I'm free to admit
+I was wrong, whether we recover the _Bright Eyes_ and the silver
+images, or not!"
+
+And the question, Is it the _Bright Eyes_? was the principal
+subject of discussion among them all. The boys were just as eager as
+were the girls over the affair.
+
+"If the sunken boat is all right--and the images," said Dave Shepard,
+"you girls will be lucky enough to sail a motor boat of your own."
+
+"And we'd never own it if you boys hadn't come forward as you did,"
+declared Wyn. "Isn't that so, Bess?"
+
+Bess had to admit the fact, much as she disliked praising boys.
+
+"Oh, we'll let you boys sail in our new boat once in a while," she said.
+
+"Goodness me! I should say yes!" exclaimed Frank, suddenly. "For we've
+got to have somebody teach us how to run a motor boat; haven't we?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII
+
+A FRIEND IN NEED
+
+
+It was early on the next day that Bessie received a message from her
+father for the whole club:
+
+    "Look for me in a few hours. Shall run up to see what Wyn has
+    done as soon as I can get away. If it is all right, you shall
+    have new boat this season.--Henry Lavine."
+
+A man brought it over from the Forge. The girls were delighted with the
+news. A guard had been set over the spot where the sunken boat lay and
+Dr. Shelton and Mr. Jarley were making arrangements to have a derrick
+barge towed up to Gannet Island, so that the old _Bright Eyes_
+could be brought to the surface quickly.
+
+Naturally the Busters were too much interested in these proceedings to
+come over to Green Knoll Camp; and the girls had had so much excitement
+and exercise of late that they were inclined to take matters quietly for
+the time being.
+
+Therefore, there was not a canoe on the lake when a fussy, smoky little
+motor boat, late in the afternoon, came into the lake from the
+Wintinooski and puffed out into deep water, evidently bound for either
+the Island or Green Knoll Camp.
+
+The deep cove, at the head of which the little red and yellow cottage of
+the Jarleys was set, was like a big bay in the contour of the lake
+shore. It was out here in this deep water that Wyn Mallory and Bess
+Lavine had been swamped by the squall. From the docks at the Forge to
+the point east of Green Knoll, where the girls' camp was situated, was
+all of eight miles. When this little motor boat had sputtered along
+until she was about half way between those two points, she suddenly
+stopped.
+
+The girls had been lazily on the lookout for Mr. Lavine's appearance and
+earlier in the day had kept the camp spyglass busy. Now Frank suddenly
+caught it up again and focused it almost at once on the stalled motor
+boat.
+
+"Oh! what's that?" was her excited demand. "Girls! there's a boat we
+missed before."
+
+"Where?" drawled Grace, lazily.
+
+"It isn't father; is it?" demanded Bess.
+
+"How do I know? It's a power boat----Goodness, what's that?"
+
+She jumped so that Wyn came to her side quickly. "Let me see, Frank,"
+she begged.
+
+"There's--there's a fire!" gasped Frankie.
+
+The girls came running at her cry. Even Mrs. Havel left her seat and
+stepped out of the shade of the beech tree to scan the water under her
+hand.
+
+"I see smoke!" cried Percy.
+
+"Dear me! is the boat really afire?" demanded Mina Everett.
+
+"Of course, it can't be father," declared Bess. "He knows how to take
+care of a motor boat."
+
+Through the glass Wyn, who now had it, saw the flames leaping from under
+the hood of the boat, while a dense plume of smoke began to reel away on
+the breeze that was blowing.
+
+"It is afire!" she gasped "Oh! it _is_! What can we do?"
+
+"We could never reach it in our canoes before the boat burns to the
+water's edge," cried Frankie.
+
+They could see two figures on the doomed boat. Through the glass Wyn
+could see them so plainly that she knew one to be a waterman, while the
+other was much better dressed. Indeed, she feared that she recognized
+the figure of this second man.
+
+"Let me have the glass, Wyn," said Bessie, eagerly.
+
+But Wyn, for once, was disobliging. "You can't see anything--much," she
+said. "Come on, Bess! let's try and paddle out to them."
+
+"And have them swamp our canoes if they tried to climb in," said Miss
+Lavine. "No, thanks!"
+
+"Come on!" cried Frank, joining in. "We ought to try and help."
+
+"What's the use?" drawled Bessie, walking away. "And you're mean not to
+let me have the glass, Wyn."
+
+"Oh, come on and take it!" gasped Wyn.
+
+"Don't want it now," snapped Bess, who took offense rather easily at
+times. "You can keep the old thing."
+
+Wyn sighed with relief. Then she whirled quickly and ran down to the
+beach, with Frank right at her heels. They were the only two girls who
+launched their canoes. Wyn had brought the glass with her.
+
+"Now I _know_ Bess won't see him," she exclaimed, almost in a
+whisper.
+
+"What's that?" demanded Frankie, who overheard. "What do you mean, Wyn?"
+
+"I believe that is Mr. Lavine out there," said the captain of the
+Go-Aheads. "Oh, Frank! paddle hard!"
+
+And it _was_ Mr. Lavine. He had hired this little gasoline boat,
+with its owner to run it, at Denton, and had paid the owner an extra
+five-dollar bill to force the boat to its very highest speed (and that
+wasn't much) all the way up the Wintinooski. Mr. Lavine was in a hurry;
+he was in too much of a hurry, as it proved.
+
+Somewhere off Meade's Forge he began to smell the gasoline all too
+strongly. There was a leak somewhere; but the boat kept on.
+
+Finally even the reckless driver grew frightened and shut off the spark.
+
+"There's a leak, boss," he drawled. "Sure as aigs is aigs!"
+
+Mr. Lavine tore up one of the boards under his feet in the cockpit. A
+man with half an eye could have seen the scum of gasoline on the bilge
+in the cockpit.
+
+"Leak!" he exclaimed, wrathfully. "I should say you had been using the
+boat's bottom for a gasoline tank. Why! we might have been blown up a
+dozen times."
+
+"I expect the leak's in the feed pipe," confessed the boatman. "But I
+thought I'd got her fixed las' week."
+
+"You've got _us_ fixed," snapped Mr. Lavine. "'Way out here in the
+middle of Lake Honotonka, too--and I in a hurry."
+
+"Wal," said the man, "I'll putty up the leak and you see if you kin swab
+out the boat. I wouldn't dare try and ignite her again with so much
+gasoline around."
+
+"I--should--say--not!" gasped the gentleman, and removed his coat,
+rolled up his sleeves and his trousers, and set to work.
+
+They both labored like beavers for half an hour and then the boatman did
+the very silliest thing one can imagine. He had worked hard and, being a
+man addicted to tobacco, he felt the need of a smoke.
+
+He pulled out his pipe, filled it, unnoticed by Mr. Lavine, who was
+still trying to swab out the last of the bilge and gasoline, and
+scratched a match. He was directly in front of the hood of the boat when
+he did it. The next moment there was a flash, a roar, and the man was
+flung the length of the boat, against Mr. Lavine in the stern, and the
+two almost went overboard.
+
+The foolish smoker lost his mustache, eyebrows, and lashes, and a lot of
+his front hair. He was scorched quite severely, too; but the peril which
+menaced them with the front of the boat in flames drove the thought of
+his burns from the fellow's mind.
+
+"And I can't swim a stroke, boss!" he cried.
+
+"You have nothing on me there," declared Mr. Lavine. "I have never been
+able to master more than the first few motions in the art of swimming."
+
+But the flames were springing higher and they had nothing with which to
+throw water on the fire. The man had not even a bailing tin in his
+moribund old craft. Mr. Lavine had been using a swab and was covered
+with grease and dirty water.
+
+This became a small thing, however--and that within a very few minutes.
+The boat was doomed and both knew it.
+
+Mr. Lavine tried to tear up more of the grating under foot so as to make
+something that would float and upon which they might bear themselves up
+in the water. But the boards were too thin.
+
+Then he tried to unship the rudder (the singed boatman was no use at all
+in this emergency) and so make use of that as a float. But the bolts
+were rusted and the boat had begun to swing around so that the fire blew
+right into the stern.
+
+They both had to leap overboard.
+
+It was a serious situation indeed. By Mr. Lavine's advice they paddled
+toward the bow, one on either side of the boat, for the flames were
+rushing aft.
+
+The bow was a mere shell, however. The flames had already almost
+consumed it, and soon the fire fairly ate through the bows at the water
+level. The water rushed in and so sank the boat by the head.
+
+Not that the boat went straight down. The stern rose in the water and
+the two men, in their desperate strait, gazed at the flames above their
+heads.
+
+Had it been night the fire would have been like a great torch in the
+middle of the lake--and it would have brought help from all directions.
+As it was, the black smoke first thrown off, and then the steam,
+attracted more than the girls of Green Knoll Camp to the scene.
+
+At the landing Mr. Jarley was splicing some heavy rope which he expected
+to use the next day when the sunken _Bright Eyes_ would be actually
+raised. Polly saw the smoke first from the cottage and ran out to tell
+him.
+
+"One of those motor boats is afire, Father!" she cried. Instantly the
+boatman set about going to the rescue. It was a fair day, but there was
+a good breeze blowing. Jarley took the _Coquette_.
+
+He had no idea to whom he was playing the friend in need when he sailed
+the catboat down upon the scene of the disaster. It was a chance to help
+two fellow beings and the boatman cared not who they were.
+
+Of course the sailing craft beat out the two frantically paddling girls
+from Green Knoll Camp. Yet it was still a long way from the spot when
+the last of the burning boat seemed to sink completely and the flames
+were snuffed out by the waters of the lake.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX
+
+THE SUNKEN TREASURE
+
+
+Wyn and Frank were in despair when they saw the last of the flames wink
+out and the balloon of smoke sail away upon the breeze. They were too
+far away to be able to see the men struggling in the water--if they were
+still there.
+
+"Oh! suppose Mr. Jarley doesn't reach them in time?" cried the captain
+of the girls' club.
+
+"He must! he must!" groaned Frank, beating the water as hard as she
+could with her paddle.
+
+"You'll have your canoe over!" exclaimed Wyn. "Look out, Frank!"
+
+"I don't care! I don't care!" repeated the good-hearted Frances. "Oh,
+dear me! Suppose Mr. Lavine should be drowned? What would Bessie do? And
+they so much to each other!"
+
+The girls saw the catboat round to suddenly, and Mr. Jarley drop the
+sail. The _Coquette_ seemed to drive straight across the spot where
+the burned motor boat had gone down.
+
+They saw the boatman bend over the rail once--and then again. Each time
+he lifted in--or helped lift in--some object; but whether it was the men
+he picked up, or some of the floating wreckage, the girls could not see.
+
+They drove their canoes on, however, and Mr. Jarley saw them when he
+brought the catboat about. So he sailed down to pick them up likewise.
+
+"Did you get them? Did you get them?" shouted Wyn, resting on her
+paddle.
+
+Frankie was crying--and she was not a "weepy" girl as a general thing.
+But the peril seemed so terrible that she could not control herself for
+the moment.
+
+Mr. Jarley--whose figure was all the girls could see in the
+catboat--leaned over and waved his hand to the girls. Was it meant to be
+reassuring? They did not know until the _Coquette_ tacked so as to
+run down very close to them.
+
+"Is that his girl with you, Miss Mallory?" demanded Polly's father.
+
+"No. She did not come. She doesn't know," cried Wyn. "Oh, Mr. Jarley! is
+he all right?"
+
+At that Mr. Lavine's head and shoulders appeared above the rail.
+
+"We're alive, girls," he called, hoarsely. "This brave fellow caught us
+just in time. Where's Bess?"
+
+"She doesn't even know it was you in the burning boat," cried Wyn. "But
+Frank and I started out for you."
+
+"You'd been awfully wet before ever we could have reached you, though,
+Mr. Lavine," choked Frank, quickly turning from tears to laughter, as
+was her nature.
+
+Mr. Jarley had dropped the sail again, and beckoned the girls to
+approach.
+
+"Come aboard," he said, gravely, "and I'll tow your canoes behind us.
+Shall I take this gentleman to your camp, Miss Mallory?"
+
+But Wyn was thinking to good purpose. She saw that Mr. Jarley, like his
+daughter, wished to have nothing to do with the Lavines. She knew that
+now Mr. Lavine would be doubly grateful to the boatman and that the time
+was ripe for the old friends to come to a better understanding.
+
+"Why, Mr. Jarley," she said, "we haven't a thing at the camp he can put
+on--or the other man. No, sir. I don't know what we should do with them
+there."
+
+Jarley's face flushed and he glanced back at the Forge. But it was near
+sunset already, and the Forge was much farther away than his own
+landing. The case was obvious.
+
+"Well," he said, "I can take them home. Polly will find something for
+them to put on while their clothing is being dried. Yes! that may be
+best."
+
+"And you take us girls right along with you and we'll paddle home from
+the landing," declared Wyn.
+
+Wyn wanted to see Polly. After all, she believed, it lay with the
+boatman's daughter to make friends between the Jarleys and the Lavines.
+The captain of the Go-Ahead Club felt as though her long and exciting
+vacation under canvas would come to a very happy conclusion if she could
+see the two men who had once been such close friends, reunited.
+
+Wyn was the first one ashore when the bow of the catboat touched the
+landing. Polly came running from the cottage, for she had spied their
+approach.
+
+"Oh, Wynnie!" she cried, "what was it? Did father get them safely?"
+
+"He saved them both--the most wonderful thing, Polly Jolly!" cried Wyn.
+
+"Not so wonderful," corrected Polly, with pride. "My father has saved
+the lives of people from the lake before."
+
+"But it _is_ wonderful," quoth Wyn, "because one of the men saved
+is Bessie's father."
+
+"Mr. Lavine!" gasped Polly.
+
+"Yes. Now he owes his life to your father, just as Bess owes hers to
+you."
+
+"Don't talk so, Wyn," begged Polly. "It's nothing."
+
+"Nothing! It's everything! Don't stand in the way of your father and
+Bessie's being good friends again."
+
+"Why, Wynnie!" gasped Polly, with a deeper color in her cheek.
+
+"Don't you dare to act 'offish,'" warned Wyn. "The Lavines feel very
+kindly toward you--you know it. And now I am sure Mr. Lavine will feel
+more than kindly toward your father. Bring them together, Polly."
+
+"You talk as though _I_ could do anything," responded the boatman's
+girl.
+
+"You can. You can do everything! Show your father that you feel kindly
+toward Mr. Lavine. That will break down _his_ coldness quicker than
+anything," declared the inspired young peacemaker.
+
+Wet and bedraggled, Mr. Lavine and his companion stepped ashore.
+
+"Hi, Polly!" shouted her father. "Take Mr. Lavine up to the house and
+see if he can wear some of my things while his clothes are drying. I can
+find something at the shed here, for Bill."
+
+Polly hesitated just a moment. The eager Wyn gave her a little push from
+behind. The boatman's girl ran forward to greet Mr. Lavine.
+
+"Oh, sir!" she cried, timidly, "I am _so_ sorry you had this
+accident."
+
+"I don't know yet whether I am sorry, or not," said Mr. Lavine, grasping
+her hand.
+
+She turned and walked beside him and her other hand sought his arm in a
+friendly way. John Jarley stood on the landing and followed them with
+his eyes. The expression upon his face pleased Wyn immensely.
+
+She beckoned Frank away. "Come on! let's hurry back to the camp before
+it gets dark. Mrs. Havel will be worried about us."
+
+"And leave Mr. Lavine here?" queried Frank.
+
+"He couldn't be in better hands; could he?"
+
+"I don't know that he could, Wyn!" cried her friend, suddenly. "What a
+smart girl you are!"
+
+But Wyn would not accept that praise without qualifying it. "The
+accident was providential," she declared, gravely. "And without
+_my_ assistance I am sure Polly knows how to do the right thing."
+
+Perhaps Polly did. At least she gave much attention to their visitor,
+and her father could not help but see that Polly and Mr. Lavine were
+very good friends.
+
+In half an hour Mr. Lavine appeared from the cottage dressed in Mr.
+Jarley's best suit of clothes. He shook hands with Polly, and then
+suddenly drew her to him and kissed her on the forehead.
+
+"You are a dear girl, Polly," he declared, with some emotion. "I have to
+thank you for my little girl's life; and now I am going to thank your
+father for _mine_."
+
+He walked straight down to the landing where Mr. Jarley was apparently
+very busy.
+
+"Bill, here, says he will row you over to that camp if you care to go,
+Mr. Lavine," said the boatman.
+
+"I don't want to see Bill, John," said the real estate man. "I want to
+see _you_. I am going to take advantage of my position as your
+guest, John. You cannot turn me off, or refuse to talk with me. You
+always were a gentleman, John, and I am sure you will listen to me now."
+
+Mr. Jarley looked at him a good deal as Polly had looked (at first) at
+Wyn Mallory.
+
+"Come! don't hold a grudge, John, just because _I_ have been wicked
+enough to hold one all these years. I was wrong. I freely admit it. Come
+and sit down here, old man, and let's talk all that old matter over and
+see where our misunderstanding lay."
+
+"Misunderstanding?"
+
+"Aye," said the other, warmly. "Misunderstanding. For I am convinced now
+that a brave and generous man like you, John Jarley, would never have
+knowingly done what--all these years--I have held you to be guilty of!"
+
+He had put his arm through the boatman's. Together they walked aside and
+sat down upon an upturned skiff. And they were sitting there long after
+it grew pitch dark upon the landing, with only the glow of Polly's lamp
+in the kitchen window and that uncertain radiance upon the lake which
+seems the reflection of the distant stars.
+
+Finally the two men stepped into a skiff and Mr. Jarley rowed it over to
+Green Knoll Camp. They did not reach the camp until nearly bedtime, and
+they came so softly to the shore that the girls did not hear the
+scraping of the boat's keel.
+
+Lavine seized his old friend's hand before leaping ashore.
+
+"Then it's understood, John? You're to get out of this place and come
+back to Denton? I'm sorry Dr. Shelton is ahead of me in giving Polly
+something substantial; but you and I are going to begin just where we
+left off in that Steel Rivet Corporation deal, John.
+
+"About next month I'll have a bigger thing than _that_ in sight,
+and you shall have the same share in it that you would have had in the
+old deal. You used to be mighty good in handling your end of the game,
+John; I want you to take hold of it in just the same way again. Will you
+agree, old man?"
+
+And Mr. Jarley gave him his hand upon it.
+
+The girls put their visitor to sleep in the cook tent that night and the
+next morning the whole party went over to Gannet Island to see the work
+of raising the sunken motor boat carried on. The Busters were as excited
+as the girls themselves over the affair, and Cave-in-the-Wood Camp was a
+lively place indeed that day.
+
+Tubby Blaisdell was the only person in the party who wore an aggrieved
+air. At first he could hardly be made to believe that the girls had not
+"sicked" the goat upon him two days before when he had stolen away from
+the other boys for a nap in the woods. Tubby walked lame and could have
+displayed bruises for several days.
+
+The derrick barge had been towed over to the place where the _Bright
+Eyes_ was sunk, the evening before. The boys helped put the chains
+around the hull of the sunken boat, for they were all good divers--save
+the fat youth, who remained on the invalid list.
+
+Before noon the lost boat was raised to the surface and lashed to the
+side of the barge. Mr. Jarley very quickly tacked a tarpaulin over the
+hole in her bottom, and then she was pumped out. Further repairs were
+made and by night the _Bright Eyes_ was riding safely to her own
+anchor and Mr. Jarley pried open the rusted lock of the cabin.
+
+Dr. Shelton had come over in the _Sunshine Boy_ and received from
+Mr. Jarley the box containing the silver images intact. It made Polly
+Jarley very happy to hear what the quick-tempered doctor said to her
+father; and it made Wyn Mallory blush to listen to what they _all_
+said to her!
+
+"You can't get out of it, girlie!" laughed Frank Cameron. "What they say
+is quite true. If it hadn't been for you they never would have found the
+boat, and of course the images would have remained hidden. You're
+_it_, Wyn Mallory--no getting away from that!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX
+
+STRIKING CAMP
+
+
+It was a glorious September morning--and no other month of all the year
+can display such beauties of sky and landscape, such invigorating air,
+or all Nature in so delightful a mood.
+
+It was a still morning. The newly-kindled fire on Green Knoll sent a
+spiral of blue smoke mounting skyward. There was the delicious odor of
+pancakes and farm-made sausage hovering all about the camp of the
+Go-Ahead girls. Windmill Farm had supplied these first "goodies" of the
+autumn and the members of the club enjoyed them to the full.
+
+"But, thanks be! there will be no more dishes to wash for a while,"
+declared Grace Hedges.
+
+"Nor beds to make," agreed her partner, Percy Havel.
+
+"Nor fires to kindle," sighed Bessie Lavine.
+
+"Well!" exclaimed Frank Cameron, "an outing in the woods isn't
+_all_ it's cracked up to be, I admit. One might just as well accept
+a situation as servant in a very untidy household. It would be about the
+same thing. But my! we've had some fun between times."
+
+"And such excitement!" declared Mina Everett. "Think of all that's
+happened to us since we paddled up from Denton two months and more ago."
+
+"And happened to the boys, too," said Frank, "I understand that Tubby
+Blaisdell has put on ten additional pounds of flesh since yesterday
+morning."
+
+"Now, Frank! how could he?" gasped Grace.
+
+"Nobody could be much fatter than Tubby already is," added Bess,
+laughing.
+
+"You never know till you try," chided Mina. "You have put on some flesh
+yourself, Miss Lavine."
+
+"Bah! they'll soon work it off of me when we're back in school," groaned
+Bessie. "That's the worst of a vacation--there's always work at the end
+of it."
+
+"Lazy!" cried Percy. "I believe I'll _love_ study when I'm back to
+the 'scholastic grind.'"
+
+"You can have my share," grumbled Bess. "But what about Tubby's
+additional avoirdupois, Frankie? He's as big as a haystack anyway."
+
+    "'All flesh is grass,' the Scriptures say,
+    So Tubby B.'s a load of hay!"
+
+chuckled Frank. "Is that it? And Tubby is all swelled up now--as big as
+a barrel."
+
+"That's an awful fib, Frank," declared Mina. "He couldn't be."
+
+"Well, Ferd says he _looks_ so. The boys found a bumble bees' nest
+and Tubby didn't have any paddle to hit them with. So they all went for
+poor Tubby and they stung him so that his face is twice as big as
+usual--so Ferd says."
+
+"Something is always happening to that boy," said Bess, laughing.
+"Hullo! where have _you_ been, Wyn?"
+
+Wyn came up from the shore. "I know where she's been," cried Frank. "She
+has been down there gloating!"
+
+"Gloating?" repeated Percy.
+
+"Over the boat. Is it all there, Wyn?"
+
+The girls ran to the brow of the bank. There, floating off their beach,
+was a freshly painted motor boat, its brasswork shining, and everything
+spick and span about it. A very commodious and handsome craft she was,
+with "Go-Ahead" painted on either side of her bow and on her
+stern-board.
+
+"Oh, she's all there! nobody has run off with her in the night," laughed
+Wyn. "And Mr. Lavine couldn't have found a better boat if he had
+tried--Mr. Jarley says so."
+
+"It was good of Dr. Shelton to sell the _Bright Eyes_ to father,"
+said Bessie Lavine. "And they made a good job of it at the boatyard at
+the Forge."
+
+"She's such a fine and roomy boat," declared Frankie. "We couldn't have
+expected such a big one, otherwise."
+
+"And it's big enough for the Busters and Professor Skillings to sail
+home with us, too," said Percy. "Mr. Jarley is going to take charge of
+the boys' canoes, as well as ours, and ship them to us."
+
+"Bully! An all-day cruise on the lake and then down the Wintinooski by
+moonlight to-night," sighed Wyn. "It will be just scrumptious!"
+
+"Come, then, girls," warned Mrs. Havel. "We must strike camp. Everything
+must be rolled up and secured, ready for shipment on the bateau when it
+comes. I saw the sail of the bateau going past the point of Gannet
+Island early this morning. I expect the boys are all ready before this
+time."
+
+"Let's wait for them," said the languid Bess. "What's the use of having
+boy friends if you don't make use of them?"
+
+"Listen to her!" exclaimed Wyn, with scorn. "Depend upon the boys?
+I--rather--guess--not!"
+
+"Don't be so independent, Miss," returned Miss Lavine. "You'll be glad
+to have Davie at your beck and call again when we get back home."
+
+Wyn laughed. "It's all right to have them within reach if need should
+arise----"
+
+"Like a mouse, or a snake," put in Frank Cameron.
+
+"Goodness!" drawled Grace. "After all the bugs, and worms, and
+caterpillars, and other monsters we have faced--alone and
+single-handed--here in the woods, I don't believe I'll _ever_
+squeal if I put my hand upon a mouse in the pantry."
+
+"Pshaw!" said Frank. "You only _think_ that. It's the frailties of
+the sex we cannot get over. You all know very well that a boy with a
+teenty, tinty garter-snake on the end of a stick could chase this whole
+crowd either into the lake, or into hysterics."
+
+"Shame!" cried Wyn. "That is rank treachery to the 'manhood' of us girls
+of the Go-Ahead Club."
+
+"You are right, Wyn," agreed Mina. "Why, we none of us have any nerves
+now--but plenty of _nerve_, of course."
+
+"Oh!" exclaimed Frank, starting back suddenly. "See that! Is it a spider
+over your head, Mina?"
+
+Miss Everett uttered an ear-piercing shriek and sprang up, to run madly
+from the spot. Frank burst into laughter.
+
+"How brave! Such nerve! My, my! we'll none of us ever be afraid
+again----"
+
+They all pitched upon the joker, and Mrs. Havel had to come to her
+rescue with the reminder that time was flying.
+
+"If you want to show the boys that you are really fit to camp out alone,
+get to work!" she commanded.
+
+The next hour was a busy one for the Go-Aheads. But how much more
+handily they went about the striking of the tents than they had about
+raising them two months before!
+
+Life in the open had really done wonders for the girls from Denton. They
+knew how to do things that they had never dreamed of doing at home. Most
+of them had learned how to swing an axe, although the boys had
+faithfully paid their forfeit by cutting the firewood for Green Knoll
+Camp all summer. The girls could use a hammer, too, and tie workman-like
+knots, and do a host of other things that had never come into their
+lives before.
+
+"It is well to be sufficient unto one's self," Mrs. Havel told them. "A
+girl cannot always expect to find a boy at her beck and call. It is nice
+to be waited on by the male sex--and it is good for boys to learn to
+attend properly upon their girl friends; it is better, however, to know
+how to accept favors gracefully from our boy friends, and yet not really
+_need_ their assistance."
+
+So Green Knoll Camp presented a very orderly appearance when the boys
+and Professor Skillings appeared ahead of the bateau that was to take
+all their goods and chattels back to their home town.
+
+"Goodness! aren't you girls smart?" cried Dave Shepard, the first
+ashore. "Are you _all_ ready?"
+
+"Every bit," declared Wyn.
+
+"Then we can get off in the _Go-Ahead_ at once?"
+
+"Right," declared Frank, laughing. "And as soon as you can teach Wyn and
+me how to manage the motor boat, we girls sha'n't need you boys at all."
+
+"A fine lot of suffragettes you are going to make," growled Dave.
+
+"No; we'll never be 'suffering-cats,' Davie," returned Frank, laughing.
+"We don't need to. Let us alone for being able to get the best of you
+Busters whenever we want to."
+
+"Isn't she right?" cried Ferdinand Roberts, admiringly. "You can't beat
+'em!"
+
+"No, you can't," snarled Tubby Blaisdell, very puffy about his face, and
+with a wry smile. "They even get the goats to help 'em."
+
+"They got your goat, old man," said Dave, chuckling, "that's sure. But
+you blame them for a crime they did not commit, I believe. Remember how
+many times you have tried to trick _them_?"
+
+"Huh!" snorted the fat youth. "Did I ever succeed?"
+
+"I hope," said Mrs. Havel, breaking in upon this "give and take"
+conversation, "that your parents will not blame me if you all
+appear--both girls and boys--to have lost your good manners here in the
+woods. Do simmer down. Remember, you return to civilization to-day."
+
+"Oh, dear! don't remind us--don't, dear Mrs. Havel," cried Frank.
+
+"Just think!" scoffed Ferd. "You girls will have to be all 'dolled up'
+on Sunday again. Won't you _hate_ it?"
+
+"Rather go around in a tramping skirt and without a hat," admitted Wyn,
+frankly.
+
+"The tastes of girlhood are much different now from what they were in
+_my_ day," said the lady, with a sigh. "When I was young we never
+thought of doing the things you girls do now."
+
+"Isn't that why you didn't do them?" asked Frank, slily. "Perhaps we
+girls of this generation have better-developed imaginations."
+
+"Oh, sure!" cried Ferd, with sarcasm. "You girls are wonders--just as
+smart as little Hen Rogers was last term when Miss Haley asked him if he
+could name any town in Alaska."
+
+"What did he say?" asked Frank, with interest.
+
+"He said, 'Nome'--and she sent him to the foot of the class," chuckled
+Ferd.
+
+"Oh! aren't you smart?" railed Bessie. "That joke is the twin to the one
+about the boy who was asked by the professor in physics if he knew what
+'nasal organ' meant. And the boy said 'No, sir' and got a 'perfect'
+mark."
+
+"Come on, folks!" cried Wyn. "Stop telling silly jokes and bear a hand
+here. All these things have to go into the boat."
+
+Mr. Jarley and Polly joined them just then, Mr. Jarley to collect the
+canoes and take them to the Forge, while Polly was to go with the two
+clubs aboard the newly-named _Go-Ahead_ to Denton.
+
+Polly, in a brand-new boating costume, was so pretty that the boys
+couldn't keep their eyes away from her. She was happy, too, and this
+fact gave an entirely different expression to her face.
+
+She was to go home with Wyn, and in a few weeks her father would follow
+and establish a home for them both in Denton. He was going, as Mr.
+Lavine declared, to start in his old home town just where he had left
+off more than ten years before. And Polly was to enter the academy with
+the girls of Green Knoll Camp on the opening day.
+
+The party got under weigh on the _Go-Ahead_ and were some miles
+down the lake ere it was discovered that Professor Skillings had
+forgotten both his shoes and his hat, for he had paddled over to the
+girls' camp barefoot as usual. It was too late to go back then, for the
+baggage had all been put aboard the bateau.
+
+So the professor went home with a handkerchief tied around his head and
+a pair of moccasins on his feet--the latter borrowed from Dr. Shelton,
+at whose dock they stopped for luncheon.
+
+The bluff doctor insisted that the whole party come ashore and lunch
+with him. He had arranged for Polly's tuition at the Denton Academy, had
+bought her text-books, and when the party left for home that day he
+thrust into Polly Jolly's hand a silver chain purse with more money in
+it than the boatman's daughter had ever possessed before.
+
+Polly Jolly was beginning to live up to the loving name that Wyn Mallory
+had given to her. She was the very gayest of the gay as the
+_Go-Ahead_ proceeded down the lake and then down the Wintinooski to
+Denton.
+
+The last of the journey was taken after they had had a picnic supper,
+and under the brilliant light of the September moon. The boys and girls
+sang and told stories, and otherwise enjoyed themselves. But as they
+drew near home they quieted down.
+
+The summer was behind them. For more than two months they had skylarked,
+and enjoyed themselves to the full on the lake and in the woods. They
+"were going back to civilization," as Frankie said, and it made them a
+bit thoughtful.
+
+"I expect," said Mina Everett, "that we have had just the best time that
+we will ever have in all our lives."
+
+"Why so?" demanded Bess. "Can't we go camping again?"
+
+"Sure we will!" declared Dave Shepard.
+
+"I see what Mina means--and I guess she is right," Wyn remarked,
+earnestly. "We may go camping again; but it will never be just like this
+first time. For the girls, I mean. We had never done such a thing
+before. And then--if we go next summer--we'll be a whole year older. And
+a year is a long, long time."
+
+"Long enough to spoil some of you girls, I expect," grumbled Ferdinand.
+
+"Spoil us, Mister? How's that?" snapped Bess, at once taking up the
+gauntlet.
+
+"You'll be wanting to put up your hair and let down your skirts, and
+will be wearing all the new-style folderols by next summer," retorted
+Ferd.
+
+"Oh, won't they, just!" groaned Tubby, in agreement.
+
+"You wait and see, Smartie!" cried Frank Cameron.
+
+"We are not like the girls you are thinking of," declared Grace, with
+some warmth.
+
+"No, indeed," agreed Percy.
+
+"The Go-Aheads are going to fool you, Ferdie," said Wyn, laughing. "Just
+you watch us. _All_ girls aren't in a hurry to grow up and ape
+their mothers and older sisters. We're going in for athletics and the
+'simple life' strongly; aren't we, girls?"
+
+Her fellow club members agreed in a hearty chorus. "Besides," added
+Bess, "we can have all the fun the other kind of girls have as well as
+our own kind. We can dance, and go to parties, and wear pretty frocks
+for _part_ of the time."
+
+"What did I tell you?" demanded Ferd, grinning.
+
+"Never mind, Ferd, never mind," said Dave, softly. "We'll be a bit that
+way ourselves before the winter's over. You know, Ferd, that your folks
+will insist on your keeping your hair cut and your finger-nails
+manicured."
+
+"And of course I'll have a blister on my heel from wearing dancing pumps
+before the season is over," groaned Tubby. "Oh, well! it's not
+altogether our fault that we grow up so fast. Our folks make us," and he
+groaned again, for dancing school was one of the fat youth's pet
+aversions.
+
+"That is what youth is for," advised Mrs. Havel, who overheard all this.
+"It is a preparation for manhood and womanhood."
+
+"Dear me! Dear me! let's forget it," cried Dave. "This is no time for
+feeling solemn. Thank goodness, for two solid months we have forgotten
+all about the 'duty we owe to posterity,' as the professor expresses it.
+Maybe next year we can forget it again in our camps upon the shores of
+Lake Honotonka."
+
+"Well expressed, little boy--well expressed," agreed Wynifred, tweaking
+one of Dave's curls that would _not_ lie down, no matter what he
+did to them. "My! but we _have_ grown serious. This is no way to
+end our camping days, girls. Come! another lively song----"
+
+The motor boat drifted in to the boathouse landing to the lilt of a
+familiar rowing song. Wyn's camping days were over; the outing of the
+Go-Ahead Club was at an end.
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+SOMETHING ABOUT
+
+AMY BELL MARLOWE
+
+AND HER BOOKS FOR GIRLS
+
+In these days, when the printing presses are turning out so many books
+for girls that are good, bad and indifferent, it is refreshing to come
+upon the works of such a gifted authoress as Miss Amy Bell Marlowe, who
+is now under contract to write exclusively for Messrs. Grosset & Dunlap.
+
+In many ways Miss Marlowe's books may be compared with those of Miss
+Alcott and Mrs. Meade, but all are thoroughly modern and wholly American
+in scene and action. Her plots, while never improbable, are exceedingly
+clever, and her girlish characters are as natural as they are
+interesting.
+
+On the following pages will be found a list of Miss Marlowe's books.
+Every girl in our land ought to read these fresh and wholesome tales.
+They are to be found at all booksellers. Each volume is handsomely
+illustrated and bound in cloth, stamped in colors. Published by Grosset
+& Dunlap, New York. A free catalogue of Miss Marlowe's books may be had
+for the asking.
+
+
+
+
+THE OLDEST OF FOUR
+
+"I don't see any way out!"
+
+It was Natalie's mother who said that, after the awful news had been
+received that Mr. Raymond had been lost in a shipwreck on the Atlantic.
+Natalie was the oldest of four children, and the family was left with
+but scant means for support.
+
+"I've got to do something--yes, I've just got to!" Natalie said to
+herself, and what the brave girl did is well related in "The Oldest of
+Four; Or, Natalie's Way Out." In this volume we find Natalie with a
+strong desire to become a writer. At first she contributes to a local
+paper, but soon she aspires to larger things, and comes in contact with
+the editor of a popular magazine. This man becomes her warm friend, and
+not only aids her in a literary way but also helps in a hunt for the
+missing Mr. Raymond.
+
+Natalie has many ups and downs, and has to face more than one bitter
+disappointment. But she is a plucky girl through and through.
+
+"One of the brightest girls' stories ever penned," one well-known author
+has said of this book, and we agree with him. Natalie is a thoroughly
+lovable character, and one long to be remembered. Published as are all
+the Amy Bell Marlowe books, by Grosset & Dunlap, New York, and for sale
+by all booksellers. Ask your dealer to let you look the volume over.
+
+
+
+
+THE GIRLS OF HILLCREST FARM
+
+"We'll go to the old farm, and we'll take boarders! We can fix the old
+place up, and, maybe, make money!"
+
+The father of the two girls was broken down in health and a physician
+had recommended that he go to the country, where he could get plenty of
+fresh air and sunshine. An aunt owned an abandoned farm and she said the
+family could live on this and use the place as they pleased. It was
+great sport moving and getting settled, and the boarders offered one
+surprise after another. There was a mystery about the old farm, and a
+mystery concerning one of the boarders, and how the girls got to the
+bottom of affairs is told in detail in the story, which is called, "The
+Girls of Hillcrest Farm; Or, The Secret of the Rocks."
+
+It was great fun to move to the farm, and once the girls had the scare
+of their lives. And they attended a great "vendue" too.
+
+"I just had to write that story--I couldn't help it," said Miss Marlowe,
+when she handed in the manuscript. "I knew just such a farm when I was a
+little girl, and oh! what fun I had there! And there was a mystery about
+that place, too!"
+
+Published, like all the Marlowe books, by Grosset & Dunlap, New York,
+and for sale wherever good books are sold.
+
+
+
+
+A LITTLE MISS NOBODY
+
+"Oh, she's only a little nobody! Don't have anything to do with her!"
+
+How often poor Nancy Nelson heard those words, and how they cut her to
+the heart. And the saying was true, she _was_ a nobody. She had no
+folks, and she did not know where she had come from. All she did know
+was that she was at a boarding school and that a lawyer paid her tuition
+bills and gave her a mite of spending money.
+
+"I am going to find out who I am, and where I came from," said Nancy to
+herself, one day, and what she did, and how it all ended, is absorbingly
+related in "A Little Miss Nobody; Or, With the Girls of Pinewood Hall."
+Nancy made a warm friend of a poor office boy who worked for that
+lawyer, and this boy kept his eyes and ears open and learned many
+things.
+
+The book tells much about boarding school life, of study and fun mixed,
+and of a great race on skates. Nancy made some friends as well as
+enemies, and on more than one occasion proved that she was "true blue"
+in the best meaning of that term.
+
+Published by Grosset & Dunlap, New York, and for sale by booksellers
+everywhere. If you desire a catalogue of Amy Bell Marlowe books send to
+the publishers for it and it will come free.
+
+
+
+
+THE GIRL FROM SUNSET RANCH
+
+Helen was very thoughtful as she rode along the trail from Sunset Ranch
+to the View. She had lost her father but a month before, and he had
+passed away with a stain on his name--a stain of many years' standing,
+as the girl had just found out.
+
+"I am going to New York and I am going to clear his name!" she resolved,
+and just then she saw a young man dashing along, close to the edge of a
+cliff. Over he went, and Helen, with no thought of the danger to
+herself, went to the rescue.
+
+Then the brave Western girl found herself set down at the Grand Central
+Terminal in New York City. She knew not which way to go or what to do.
+Her relatives, who thought she was poor and ignorant, had refused to
+even meet her. She had to fight her way along from the start, and how
+she did this, and won out, is well related in "The Girl from Sunset
+Ranch; Or, Alone in a Great City."
+
+This is one of the finest of Amy Bell Marlowe's books, with its
+true-to-life scenes of the plains and mountains, and of the great
+metropolis. Helen is a girl all readers will love from the start.
+
+Published by Grosset & Dunlap, New York, and for sale by booksellers
+everywhere.
+
+
+
+
+WYN'S CAMPING DAYS
+
+"Oh, girls, such news!" cried Wynifred Mallory to her chums, one day.
+"We can go camping on Lake Honotonka! Isn't it grand!"
+
+It certainly was, and the members of the Go-Ahead Club were delighted.
+Soon they set off, with their boy friends to keep them company in
+another camp not far away. Those boys played numerous tricks on the
+girls, and the girls retaliated, you may be sure. And then Wyn did a
+strange girl a favor, and learned how some ancient statues of rare value
+had been lost in the lake, and how the girl's father was accused of
+stealing them.
+
+"We must do all we can for that girl," said Wyn. But this was not so
+easy, for the girl campers had many troubles of their own. They had
+canoe races, and one of them fell overboard and came close to drowning,
+and then came a big storm, and a nearby tree was struck by lightning.
+
+"I used to love to go camping when a girl, and I love to go yet," said
+Miss Marlowe, in speaking of this tale, which is called, "Wyn's Camping
+Days; Or, The Outing of the Go-Ahead Club." "I think all girls ought to
+know the pleasures of summer life under canvas."
+
+A book that ought to be in the hands of all girls. Issued by Grosset &
+Dunlap, New York, and for sale by booksellers everywhere.
+
+
+
+
+THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH SERIES
+
+By GERTRUDE W. MORRISON
+
+12mo. BOUND IN CLOTH. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING
+
+Here is a series full of the spirit of high school life of to-day. The
+girls are real flesh-and-blood characters, and we follow them with
+interest in school and out. There are many contested matches on track
+and field, and on the water, as well as doings in the classroom and on
+the school stage. There is plenty of fun and excitement, all clean,
+pure and wholesome.
+
+THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH
+  Or Rivals for all Honors.
+
+A stirring tale of high school life, full of fun, with a touch of
+mystery and a strange initiation.
+
+THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH ON LAKE LUNA
+  Or The Crew That Won.
+
+Telling of water sports and fun galore, and of fine times in camp.
+
+THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH AT BASKETBALL
+  Or The Great Gymnasium Mystery.
+
+Here we have a number of thrilling contests at basketball and in
+addition, the solving of a mystery which had bothered the high school
+authorities for a long while.
+
+THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH ON THE STAGE
+  Or The Play That Took the Prize.
+
+How the girls went in for theatricals and how one of them wrote a play
+which afterward was made over for the professional stage and brought
+in some much-needed money.
+
+THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH ON TRACK AND FIELD
+  Or The Girl Champions of the School League
+
+This story takes in high school athletics in their most approved and
+up-to-date fashion. Full of fun and excitement.
+
+THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH IN CAMP
+  Or The Old Professor's Secret.
+
+The girls went camping on Acorn Island and had a delightful time at
+boating, swimming and picnic parties.
+
+Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
+
+
+
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS SERIES
+
+By LAURA LEE HOPE
+
+Author of "The Bobbsey Twins Series."
+
+12mo. BOUND IN CLOTH. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING
+
+The adventures of Ruth and Alice DeVere. Their father, a widower, is
+an actor who has taken up work for the "movies." Both girls wish to
+aid him in his work and visit various localities to act in all sorts
+of pictures.
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS
+  Or First Appearance in Photo Dramas.
+
+Having lost his voice, the father of the girls goes into the movies
+and the girls follow. Tells how many "parlor dramas" are filmed.
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT OAK FARM
+  Or Queer Happenings While Taking Rural Plays.
+
+Full of fun in the country, the haps and mishaps of taking film plays,
+and giving an account of two unusual discoveries.
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS SNOWBOUND
+  Or The Proof on the Film.
+
+A tale of winter adventures in the wilderness, showing how the
+photo-play actors sometimes suffer.
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS UNDER THE PALMS
+  Or Lost in the Wilds of Florida.
+
+How they went to the land of palms, played many parts in dramas before
+the camera; were lost, and aided others who were also lost.
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT ROCKY RANCH
+  Or Great Days Among the Cowboys.
+
+All who have ever seen moving pictures of the great West will want to
+know just how they are made. This volume gives every detail and is
+full of clean fun and excitement.
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT SEA
+  Or a Pictured Shipwreck that Became Real.
+
+A thrilling account of the girls' experiences on the water.
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS IN WAR PLAYS
+  Or The Sham Battles at Oak Farm.
+
+The girls play important parts in big battle scenes and have plenty of
+hard work along with considerable fun.
+
+Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
+
+
+
+
+THE OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES
+
+By LAURA LEE HOPE
+
+Author of the "Bobbsey Twin Books" and "Bunny Brown" Series.
+
+12mo. BOUND IN CLOTH. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING.
+
+These tales take in the various adventures participated in by several
+bright, up-to-date girls who love outdoor life. They are clean and
+wholesome, free from sensationalism, absorbing from the first chapter
+to the last.
+
+THE OUTDOOR GIRLS OF DEEPDALE
+  Or Camping and Tramping for Fun and Health.
+
+Telling how the girls organized their Camping and Tramping Club, how
+they went on a tour, and of various adventures which befell them.
+
+THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT RAINBOW LAKE
+  Or Stirring Cruise of the Motor Boat Gem.
+
+One of the girls becomes the proud possessor of a motor boat and
+invites her club members to take a trip down the river to Rainbow
+Lake, a beautiful sheet of water lying between the mountains.
+
+THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A MOTOR CAR
+  Or The Haunted Mansion of Shadow Valley.
+
+One of the girls has learned to run a big motor car, and she invites
+the club to go on a tour to visit some distant relatives. On the way
+they stop at a deserted mansion and make a surprising discovery.
+
+THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A WINTER CAMP
+  Or Glorious Days on Skates and Ice Boats.
+
+In this story, the scene is shifted to a winter season. The girls have
+some jolly times skating and ice boating, and visit a hunters' camp in
+the big woods.
+
+THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN FLORIDA.
+  Or Wintering in the Sunny South.
+
+The parents of one of the girls have bought an orange grove in
+Florida, and her companions are invited to visit the place. They take
+a trip into the interior, where several unusual things happen.
+
+THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT OCEAN VIEW
+  Or The Box that Was Found in the Sand.
+
+The girls have great fun and solve a mystery while on an outing along
+the New England coast.
+
+THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON PINE ISLAND
+  Or A Cave and What it Contained.
+
+A bright, healthful story, full of good times at a bungalow camp on
+Pine Island.
+
+Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
+
+
+
+
+THE BOBBSEY TWINS BOOKS
+
+For Little Men and Women
+
+By LAURA LEE HOPE
+
+Author of "The Bunny Brown" Series, Etc.
+
+12mo. BOUND IN CLOTH. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING.
+
+Copyright publications which cannot be obtained elsewhere. Books that
+charm the hearts of the little ones, and of which they never tire.
+Many of the adventures are comical in the extreme, and all the
+accidents that ordinarily happen to youthful personages happened to
+these many-sided little mortals. Their haps and mishaps make decidedly
+entertaining reading.
+
+THE BOBBSEY TWINS
+
+THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY
+
+THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORE
+
+THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL
+
+Telling how they go home from the seashore; went to school and were
+promoted, and of their many trials and tribulations.
+
+THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SNOW LODGE
+
+Telling of the winter holidays, and of the many fine times and
+adventures the twins had at a winter lodge in the big woods.
+
+THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON A HOUSEBOAT
+
+Mr. Bobbsey obtains a houseboat, and the whole family go off on a
+tour.
+
+THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT MEADOW BROOK
+
+The young folks visit the farm again and have plenty of good times and
+several adventures.
+
+THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT HOME
+
+The twins get into all sorts of trouble--and out again--also bring aid
+to a poor family.
+
+Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Wyn's Camping Days, by Amy Bell Marlowe
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WYN'S CAMPING DAYS ***
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+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Wyn's Camping Days, by Amy Bell Marlowe
+
+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: Wyn's Camping Days
+       or, The Outing of the Go-Ahead Club
+
+Author: Amy Bell Marlowe
+
+Release Date: February 27, 2010 [EBook #31419]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WYN'S CAMPING DAYS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Roger Frank, Juliet Sutherland and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+<div class='tpi'>
+<img alt='cover' src='images/cover.jpg' />
+</div>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+
+<h1>WYN&#8217;S CAMPING DAYS</h1>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+
+<div class='titlepage booklist'>
+<p class='fs12'>BOOKS FOR GIRLS<br /><i>By</i> AMY BELL MARLOWE</p>
+<p class='fs08 mb10'>12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume,<br />75
+cents, postpaid</p>
+<table summary='booklist'>
+<tr><td class='booklist'>
+THE OLDEST OF FOUR<br />Or Natalie&#8217;s Way Out
+</td></tr><tr><td class='booklist'>
+THE GIRLS OF HILLCREST FARM<br />Or the Secret of the Rocks
+</td></tr><tr><td class='booklist'>
+A LITTLE MISS NOBOBY<br />Or With the Girls of Pinewood Hall
+</td></tr><tr><td class='booklist'>
+THE GIRL FROM SUNSET RANCH<br />Or Alone in a Great City
+</td></tr><tr><td class='booklist'>
+WYN&#8217;S CAMPING DAYS<br />Or The Outing of Go-Ahead Club
+</td></tr><tr><td class='booklist'>
+FRANCES OF THE RANGES<br />Or The Old Ranchman&#8217;s Treasure
+</td></tr><tr><td class='booklist'>
+THE GIRLS OF RIVERCLIFF SCHOOL<br />Or Beth Baldwin&#8217;s Resolve
+</td></tr>
+</table>
+<p class='fs12'>GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP</p>
+<p
+class='mt00'>PUBLISHERS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;NEW
+YORK</p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+
+<div class='figcenter'>
+<a id='link_i1'></a><img src='images/illus1.jpg' id="img" alt='' />
+<p class='center caption'>
+IT DID SEEM, BECAUSE THEY WERE IN A HURRY, THAT EVERYTHING WENT WRONG. <i>Frontispiece (Page 80).</i>
+</p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+
+<div class='titlepage'>
+<p class='fs18 mb20'>WYN&#8217;S<br />CAMPING DAYS</p>
+<p>OR</p> <p class='fs12 mb40'>THE OUTING OF THE<br />GO-AHEAD CLUB</p>
+<p>BY</p> <p class='fs12 mb10'>AMY BELL MARLOWE</p> <p class='fs08 mb40'>AUTHOR
+OF<br />THE OLDEST OF FOUR, THE GIRL FROM SUNSET<br />RANCH, A LITTLE MISS
+NOBODY, ETC.</p> <p class='mb40'>Illustrated</p> <p>NEW YORK<br /><span
+class='fs12'>GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP<br />PUBLISHERS</span></p></div>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+
+<p class='c sc'>Copyright, 1914, by<br />GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP</p>
+<hr class='copypage' />
+<p class='c'><i>Wyn&#8217;s Camping Days</i></p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+
+<table summary='TOC'>
+<tr><td colspan='3' class='center fs12'>CONTENTS</td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan='3' class='center fs12'></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='fs08'>CHAPTER</td><td colspan='2' class='tar fs08'>PAGE</td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>I.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>The Go-Ahead Club</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_1'>1</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>II.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>The Busters</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_2'>12</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>III.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>Polly</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_3'>20</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>IV.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>The Silver Images</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_4'>34</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>V.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>Bessie Lavine</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_5'>49</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>VI.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>Off for the Lake</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_6'>55</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>VII.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>The Storm Breaks</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_7'>71</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>VIII.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>At Windmill Farm</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_8'>83</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>IX.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>John Jarley, Exile</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_9'>94</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>X.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>The &#8220;Happy Day&#8221;</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_10'>104</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>XI.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>Where the Accident Happened</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_11'>120</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>XII.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>An Overturn</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_12'>129</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>XIII.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>A Serious Adventure</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_13'>144</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>XIV.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>The Repulse</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_14'>150</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>XV.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>Trouble &#8220;Bruin&#8221;</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_15'>161</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>XVI.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>Tit for Tat</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_16'>171</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>XVII.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>Visitors</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_17'>188</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>XVIII.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>The Regatta</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_18'>198</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>XIX.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>Under White Wings</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_19'>207</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>XX.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>The Canoe Race</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_20'>213</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>XXI.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>The Way of the Wind</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_21'>224</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>XXII.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>The Prisoners of the Tower</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_22'>232</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>XXIII.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>Wyn Hits Something</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_23'>240</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>XXIV.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>The Night Alarm</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_24'>248</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>XXV.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>The Strange Bateau</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_25'>258</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>XXVI.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>The Boys to the Rescue</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_26'>267</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>XXVII.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>Is it the &#8220;Bright Eyes&#8221;?</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_27'>278</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>XXVIII.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>A Friend in Need</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_28'>288</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>XXIX.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>The Sunken Treasure</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_29'>296</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class='tcol1'>XXX.</td><td class='tcol2 sc'>Striking Camp</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_30'>306</a></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+
+<p class='c fs14'>WYN&#8217;S CAMPING DAYS</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_1'></a>1</span><a id='link_1'></a>CHAPTER I<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE GO-AHEAD CLUB</span></h2>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, girls! such news!&#8221; cried Wynifred Mallory, banging open the
+door of Canoe Lodge, and bringing into the living room a big breath of the cool
+May air, which drew out of the open fireplace a sudden balloon of smoke, setting
+the other members of the Go-Ahead Club there assembled coughing.</p>
+
+<p>Grace Hedges, who was acting as fireman that week, turned an exasperated
+face, with a bar of smut across it, exclaiming:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If another soul comes in that door and creates a back-draught until
+this fire gets to burning properly, I certainly shall have hysterics! I never
+did see such a mean old thing to burn.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Never mind, Gracie. We&#8217;re all here now&#8211;all six of us.
+There are no more Go-Aheads to come,&#8221; observed Bessie Lavine, yawning over
+her book in the only sunny corner of the room.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There! it&#8217;s burning&#8211;finally,&#8221; exclaimed <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_2'></a>2</span> Grace, with blended disgust
+and thankfulness. &#8220;I never was cut out for a fireman, girls.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Poor Gracie,&#8221; purred Wyn, who had approached the blaze that was
+now beginning to curl through the hickory sticks piled more or less
+scientifically against the backlog. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you know it needed just
+that back-draught to break the deadlock in the chimney and start your fire
+crackling this way?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Bah! it was just hateful,&#8221; grumbled Grace. &#8220;I hate fire
+making. And it does seem as though my week for playing fireman comes around
+twice as often as it should.&#8221; Wyn had moved rather too near to the darting
+flames, and Grace suddenly pulled the captain of the club aside.
+&#8220;<i>Don&#8217;t</i> stand so near, Silly!&#8221; she cried.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Fireman! save my che-ild!&#8221; wailed &#8220;Frank&#8221; Cameron,
+coming forward and winding her long arms around Wynifred. &#8220;What&#8217;s
+the news, Wyn, dear? Nobody had the politeness to ask you. Wherefore all the
+excitement?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There must be a strike at the blacksmith shop,&#8221; said Percy
+Havel, a curly-headed blonde girl.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; cried Frank, with a droll twist of her rather homely
+features. &#8220;I&#8217;ll wager they&#8217;ve laid off one of the hands of the
+town clock. Business is dreadfully dull. I heard my father say so.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_3'></a>3</span>She was a tall,
+lanky girl, was Frances Cameron, with a great mass of blue-black hair and
+flashing black eyes. She was thin, strong, and lacking in those soft curves of
+budding womanhood which girls of her age usually display. &#8220;Straight up and
+down, my dears,&#8221; she often said. &#8220;Built upon the most approved
+clothespin plan, with every bone perfectly&#8211;not to say
+generously&#8211;developed.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; said Wyn, laughing, &#8220;if you girls will give me a
+chance I will divulge my news.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Be still!&#8221; commanded Frank. &#8220;The oracle speaks.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, hurry up, Wyn!&#8221; exclaimed Percy, coming nearer the group
+before the now roaring fire. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been dying to tell
+them.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, girls,&#8221; said Wyn, smiling, so that her brown eyes fairly
+danced. &#8220;Mrs. Havel&#8211;Percy&#8217;s aunt&#8211;says she will
+go.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Fine!&#8221; exclaimed Frankie.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t mean it, Wyn?&#8221; gasped Mina Everett. &#8220;Then
+we really <i>can</i> go camping?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And to Lake Honotonka?&#8221; put in Bessie.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what we aimed to do; wasn&#8217;t it?&#8221; demanded
+Wyn, laughing. &#8220;And when the Go-Ahead Club starts to do a thing, it
+usually arrives; doesn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;At least, the captain arrives for them,&#8221; said <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_4'></a>4</span> Frank, giving Wyn&#8217;s
+arm a little squeeze. &#8220;We wouldn&#8217;t get far in our &#8216;go-ahead&#8217;
+plans if it wasn&#8217;t for you, Wynnie.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Such flattery!&#8221; protested the captain.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You didn&#8217;t have an easy time convincing my mother&#8211;I know
+that,&#8221; said Mina, shaking <i>her</i> head. &#8220;You know, she&#8217;s so
+afraid of water.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And my mother is afraid of high winds,&#8221; confessed Bessie.
+&#8220;Wyn had to coax to bring her around.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And of course, Gracie&#8217;s mother is afraid of fire,&#8221;
+chuckled Frank; &#8220;and there you have the three elements. You can plainly
+see that Gracie knows very little about fire. She never built one in her life
+until we formed our camping club.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, well,&#8221; observed Grace, trying to rub the smut off her face
+with a handkerchief and the aid of a pocket-mirror, &#8220;this is about the end
+of the fire season, thank goodness! If we go into camp after school closes, on
+Lake Honotonka, there won&#8217;t be any fires to build.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, <i>won&#8217;t</i> there?&#8221; cried Bessie. &#8220;You just
+wait. Instead of taking turns at being fireman for the week, as we do through
+the winter, we&#8217;ll draw lots to see who shall build <i>all</i> the fires.
+And you know very well, Gracie, that you always <i>are</i> unlucky.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sure she is,&#8221; agreed Frank. &#8220;She always <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_5'></a>5</span> draws the very boobiest of
+all booby prizes out of the grab-bag.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, dear me!&#8221; wailed Grace, who was big, and handsome, and not a
+little lazy, &#8220;I do so hate to work, too. If there had been another set of
+girls I liked at Denton Academy, I&#8217;d never have joined the Go-Ahead
+Club.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Right. Gracie is better fitted for a Fall-Behind Club,&#8221; observed
+Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But tell us, Wynnie,&#8221; begged Mina. &#8220;Is it really all
+arranged? Has everybody agreed that we can go in our canoes to Lake
+Honotonka?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And stay all vacation if we like?&#8221; cried Percy.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That is the understanding,&#8221; Wyn assured them.
+&#8220;Percy&#8217;s aunt is the very kindest lady who ever
+was&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Vote we buy her something nice,&#8221; interposed Frank.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That will come in due season,&#8221; Wyn continued. &#8220;But Mrs.
+Havel went with me to all our people. She knows all about the place, of
+course&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So does my father,&#8221; interposed Bessie.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And he wasn&#8217;t hard to convince,&#8221; Wyn responded. &#8220;Of
+course, there are wild nooks along Honotonka&#8217;s shores; but at the upper
+end is Braisely Park, where all those rich folks live; <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_6'></a>6</span> and there&#8217;s the village of
+Meade&#8217;s Forge at this end of the lake. We can get supplies, or a doctor,
+or send a telephone message, easily enough. And what more does one
+want&#8211;camping out?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll have just a lovely time!&#8221; sighed Bessie. &#8220;I
+can hardly wait for school to close.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A month and a half yet,&#8221; said Frank Cameron. &#8220;And every
+day will seem longer than the one that preceded it. But then! when it does
+come&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Just think of living under canvas&#8211;and for weeks and weeks! It
+almost makes me feel spooky,&#8221; declared Grace, beginning to grow
+enthusiastic.</p>
+
+<p>These girls, all attending Denton Academy and living within the limits of
+that town, being the daughters of fairly well-to-do parents, had been able to
+enjoy many advantages as well as pleasures that poorer girls could not have; but
+none of them had chanced to experience the joys of a vacation in the woods.</p>
+
+<p>During the preceding autumn they had become immensely interested in canoeing.
+Denton was situated upon the beautiful, winding Wintinooski, and the six members
+of the Go-Ahead Club had taken several Saturday cruises on the river. But never
+had they gone as far up the stream as Lake Honotonka.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_7'></a>7</span>That was a wide and
+beautiful sheet of water, thirty-five miles to the west of the town of Denton.
+Their boy friends had sometimes been allowed to go camping upon the shores of
+the lake; and their enthusiastic praise of the fun to be had under canvas had
+set Wynifred Mallory and her chums &#8220;just wild,&#8221; as Frank Cameron
+expressed it, to try it too.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn was a girl of determination and physical as well as moral courage. If she
+made up her mind that a thing was right, and she wanted it, she usually got
+it.</p>
+
+<p>When the girls first broached their desire to spend the summer at the big
+lake, and actually live under canvas, not one of their parents encouraged the
+idea. Because the &#8220;Busters,&#8221; a certain boys&#8217; club of the
+girls&#8217; friends, were going to the lake again for the long vacation, made
+no difference to the mothers and fathers&#8211;especially the mothers of Wyn and
+her chums of the Go-Ahead Club.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s no use,&#8221; Bessie Lavine had reported, at their first
+meeting after the idea was born in Canoe Lodge, as the girls called their novel
+boathouse overhanging the bank of a quiet pool of the Wintinooski. &#8220;Even
+father won&#8217;t hear of it. Six girls going alone into the
+wilds&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But the Busters and Professor Skillings will <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_8'></a>8</span> be near our camp,&#8221; Frank had cried.
+&#8220;That&#8217;s what I told mother. But she couldn&#8217;t see
+it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Wyn had listened at that meeting to the opinions of all the other
+girls&#8211;and to their hopeless and disappointed complaints as well&#8211;and
+then she had taken the whole burden on her own shoulders.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you say another word at home about it, girls&#8211;any of
+you,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Leave it to me. Our idea of living for the summer
+in the open is a good one. We&#8217;ll come back to school in the fall with
+ginger and health enough to keep us going like dynamos during the next school
+year.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But you can&#8217;t make my mother see that,&#8221; wailed Percy.
+&#8220;She only sees the snakes, and mosquitoes, and tramps, and big winds, and
+drowning, and I don&#8217;t know but she visualizes earthquake shocks and
+volcanoes!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Give me a chance,&#8221; said Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Voted!&#8221; Frankie declared. &#8220;When Wyn sets out to do a thing
+we might as well give her her head. She&#8217;s like Davy Crockett; and I hope
+all our folks will come down without being shot, like the historic
+&#8217;coon.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>And this present declaration of their captain, which had so aroused the
+Go-Ahead Club, was the result of Wyn Mallory&#8217;s exertions.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9'></a>9</span>She had first
+obtained the interest and cooperation of Percy&#8217;s Aunt Evelyn, who was a
+widowed lady fond of outdoor life herself. Mrs. Havel was to act as chaperone.
+With this addition to their forces, the girls stood a much better chance to win
+over their parents to their plan.</p>
+
+<p>And finally Wyn had gained the permission of the most obdurate parent. The
+cruise of the Go-Ahead Club in their canoes to Lake Honotonka, and their camping
+for the summer at some available spot along the lake shore, was decided
+upon.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And are the Busters going?&#8221; asked Frank. &#8220;That&#8217;s the
+next important matter.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, we can get along without those boys, I guess,&#8221; scoffed
+Bessie.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I know. We don&#8217;t need &#8217;em. And they are a great
+nuisance sometimes,&#8221; admitted Frank, laughing. &#8220;But just the same,
+we&#8217;ll have lots more fun with them around&#8211;especially Dave
+Shepard&#8211;eh, Wynnie?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t see that you need <i>me</i> to witness the truth of your
+statement, Frank,&#8221; returned Wyn, flushing very prettily, for the girls
+sometimes teased her about Dave, who was her next-door neighbor. &#8220;Of
+course we want the boys, even if Bess is a man-hater.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I guess they&#8217;ll go,&#8221; Frank said. &#8220;They liked it so
+much last year. And the professor is interested <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_10'></a>10</span> in the geological specimens to be found up that
+way.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Goodness!&#8221; exclaimed Mina. &#8220;Is Professor Skillings going
+with them again? He is so odd.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s very absent-minded,&#8221; said Bessie.</p>
+
+<p>Frank began to laugh again. &#8220;Say!&#8221; she began, &#8220;did you hear
+about what happened to him last week? Father met him coming down Lane
+Street&#8211;you know, it&#8217;s narrow and the sidewalk in places is scarcely
+wide enough for two people to pass comfortably.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There was poor Professor Skillings hobbling along with one foot
+continually in the gutter, his eyes fixed on a book he was reading as he walked.
+Father said to him:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Good morning, Professor! How are you feeling to-day?&#8217;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Why&#8211;why&#8211;why!&#8217; exclaimed the professor&#8211;you
+know his funny way of speaking. &#8216;Why&#8211;why&#8211;why&#8211;I was very well
+when I started out, I thought. But I don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s come over me.
+Do you know, I&#8217;ve developed a pronounced limp since leaving the
+house!&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, the boys like him,&#8221; Wyn said, when the girls&#8217;
+laughter had subsided.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I thought I saw Dave Shepard and that &#8216;Tubby&#8217; Blaisdell around
+here when I hurried <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11'></a>11</span>
+down from school to light the fire,&#8221; remarked Grace.</p>
+
+<p>At that moment a strange, scraping sound was heard right above the
+girls&#8217; heads. Bess and Mina jumped up.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221; cried Grace.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s something on the roof,&#8221; declared Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>Now, Canoe Lodge was built on a high bank over the river. One stepped from
+the level sward into the living room. The roof on one side was a short, sharp
+pitch; but over the river it ran out in a long, easy slope to shelter the canoe
+landing.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly there was a crash, and the very house shook. There was a wheezy
+shout of alarm, the sound of another voice in wild laughter, and some heavy body
+slid down the long side of the roof with the noise of an avalanche.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The Busters!&#8221; shrieked Percy, and ran to a window overlooking
+the river.</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12'></a>12</span><a id='link_2'></a>CHAPTER II<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE BUSTERS</span></h2>
+
+<p>The girls could overlook the lower slope of the long roof through the bay
+window at the end of the living room. They crowded to it after Percy Havel, and
+beheld a most amazing as well as ridiculous sight.</p>
+
+<p>A very fat youth, in a blue and white striped sweater and with a
+closely-cropped yellow head, was face down upon a length of plank, which plank
+was sliding like a bobsled down the incline of green-stained shingles.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s Tubby!&#8221; gasped Frank Cameron.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh! oh! oh!&#8221; squealed Mina. &#8220;Is he doing that for
+<i>fun</i>?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Before any further comment could be made, the boy on the plank shot out over
+the edge of the roof and dived, with a mighty splash, into the deep water of the
+pool, adjoining which Canoe Lodge was built.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He&#8217;ll be drowned!&#8221; cried Grace, wringing her plump
+hands.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;ll serve him right if he is!&#8221; exclaimed <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13'></a>13</span> Bessie. &#8220;What
+business had he on our roof, I want to know?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Poor Tubby!&#8221; cried Wyn, choked with laughter.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t he the most ridiculous creature that ever was?&#8221;
+rejoined Frank. &#8220;See there! he&#8217;s come up to blow like a
+frog.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a whale that comes up to blow,&#8221; Wyn reminded her.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well! isn&#8217;t Tubby Blaisdell a regular whale of a boy?&#8221;
+returned the black-eyed girl.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s Dave!&#8221; cried Mina.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I knew the two wouldn&#8217;t be far apart!&#8221; sniffed Bess
+Lavine.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s got a boat and is going to Tubby&#8217;s rescue,&#8221;
+cried Grace.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But see Tubby flounder around!&#8221; Frankie observed. &#8220;Why!
+that boy couldn&#8217;t sink if you filled his pockets with
+flatirons!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There! he <i>is</i> going under,&#8221; ejaculated the more timorous
+Mina.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Dave will get him, all right,&#8221; declared Wyn, with
+confidence.</p>
+
+<p>She and Dave Shepard had been good chums since they were both in rompers. Her
+girl friends might tease Wyn sometimes about Dave; but the girl had no brothers
+and Dave made up the loss to her in every way.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14'></a>14</span>&#8220;Oh!
+he&#8217;s going to spear him with that boathook!&#8221; gasped Mina again.</p>
+
+<p>And really, it looked so. Tubby Blaisdell was splashing about in the pool
+before the canoe landing like a young grampus. Tubby was always getting into
+more or less serious predicaments, and he always &#8220;lost his head&#8221; and
+usually had to be aided by his friends.</p>
+
+<p>In this case Dave Shepard prepared to literally spear him in the water.
+Dave&#8211;who was a tall, athletic boy, with a frank, pleasant face, if
+freckled, and close-cut brown curls in profusion&#8211;had driven the
+flat-bottomed skiff he had obtained from a neighboring landing, across the pool,
+and now, standing erect in the boat, with a single lunge impaled upon the
+boathook the tail of Tubby&#8217;s coat.</p>
+
+<p>His chum was going down, as Dave thrust the boathook; for the unfortunate
+victim of the accident had swallowed a quantity of water when he dived with the
+plank from the eaves of the roof of Canoe Lodge. There was no time to lose if
+Dave wished to rescue Tubby before serious injury resulted to the unfortunate
+fat youth.</p>
+
+<p>It was something of a feat to bring Tubby Blaisdell alongside the skiff and
+haul him inboard without overturning the boat. But Dave accomplished <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15'></a>15</span> it to the admiration of
+the girls&#8211;even to Bessie&#8217;s satisfaction.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8217;m glad he got Tubby out,&#8221; said that damsel,
+nodding her head.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Glad to know that you are so humane, Bess,&#8221; laughed Frank.</p>
+
+<p>The girls trooped out to learn at closer range if the Blaisdell youth was
+really injured or only exhausted.</p>
+
+<p>He lay panting like a big fish in the bottom of the skiff. It was altogether
+too cold an evening for him to be exposed in his wet clothing. When the
+skiff&#8217;s nose bumped into the shore, Dave Shepard leaped out with alacrity
+and secured the painter to a post.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Get up out of there, Tubby!&#8221; he commanded. &#8220;You&#8217;ll
+get your death of dampness. Come on!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh&#8211;oh&#8211;oh! I can&#8217;t,&#8221; chattered the fat youth.
+&#8220;I&#8211;I&#8217;m fr-roze to the ve-ry mar-row of m-m-my
+bones!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The chill has struck in awful deep, then, Tubby,&#8221; cried Frank
+Cameron, from the river bank.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on out of that!&#8221; commanded Dave. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to
+run you home so that you will not get cold.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Me?&#8221; chattered Blaisdell, rising like a turtle <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16'></a>16</span> out of its shell.
+&#8220;Run me home? Wh-wh-why, I c-c-couldn&#8217;t do it. You know I
+couldn&#8217;t r-r-run that far, Dave.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He must go right in by our fire and get warm,&#8221; declared Wyn,
+quickly. &#8220;Get your things, girls, and we&#8217;ll all go home and leave
+Dave and Tubby to enjoy that nice fire Grace built.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That wet boy all over our nice rug!&#8221; exclaimed Bessie. &#8220;I
+object.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be hateful, Bess,&#8221; admonished Grace.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But what was he doing on our roof?&#8221; demanded the girl who
+claimed that she did not like boys.</p>
+
+<p>At this Dave burst into a great laugh and was scarcely able to drag Tubby
+ashore.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a wonder he didn&#8217;t come right through on our
+heads,&#8221; complained Frank. &#8220;He&#8217;s so heavy.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But he <i>would</i> do it,&#8221; declared Dave, still laughing as he
+helped his fat friend up the bank to the door of Canoe Lodge. &#8220;It would
+have been a real good trick, too, if Tubby hadn&#8217;t slipped.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Always up to mischief!&#8221; sniffed Bessie Lavine.
+&#8220;That&#8217;s why I dislike boys so.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t see what he could do on our roof,&#8221; said Wyn,
+wonderingly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And he had no business there!&#8221; cried Grace.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17'></a>17</span>&#8220;Why,&#8221;
+explained Dave, for Tubby could not defend himself. &#8220;We saw Grace making
+the fire, and we knew the wood was green. It made a big smudge coming out of the
+chimney, and Tubby thought he had a brilliant idea.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I know!&#8221; exclaimed Frankie. &#8220;He had that plank to put over
+the top of our chimney. We&#8217;d have been smoked out, sure enough.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s it,&#8221; chuckled Dave. &#8220;Tubby got up all right,
+and he got the plank up all right. But just as he tried to lift the plank to the
+top of the chimney his foot slipped, the board dropped, he fell on it as if he
+was coasting down hill, and&#8211;you saw the rest!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh&#8211;oh!&#8221; chattered Tubby. &#8220;Come on in and let me
+get&#8211;get to&#8211;to th-that f-f-fire. I&#8217;m <i>frozen</i>!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Here&#8217;s the key, Dave,&#8221; said Wyn, laughing (for the fat
+youth <i>did</i> look so funny), &#8220;and you can lock up when you go home and
+bring the key to my house. Don&#8217;t you boys make a mess in here for us to
+clean up,&#8221; she added.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But they will. Boys always do,&#8221; declared Bessie Lavine.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, thank goodness, it won&#8217;t be <i>my</i> turn to clean up
+after them, or make another fire,&#8221; declared Grace.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They will do no damage,&#8221; returned Wyn, <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_18'></a>18</span> with assurance, as the girls trooped away
+from the boathouse toward the town.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They have to keep their camp clean,&#8221; declared Frank. &#8220;I
+know that. Professor Skillings may be forgetful; but he is very particular about
+<i>that</i>. Ferdinand Roberts told me so.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I expect those horrid Busters <i>do</i> know a lot more than we do
+about camping.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Indeed they do,&#8221; sighed Grace. &#8220;How&#8217;ll we ever put
+up a tent big enough to house seven?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The boys will help us,&#8221; declared Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I expect we&#8217;ll have to let them,&#8221; grumbled Bess. &#8220;Or
+else pay a man to do it for us.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My goodness me!&#8221; laughed Frances Cameron. &#8220;It must be a
+dreadful thing to hate boys like Bess does! They&#8217;re awfully bad sometimes,
+I know&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Look at what those two boys tried to do to us this very
+evening,&#8221; exclaimed Bessie.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Tubby&#8217;s always up to some foolishness,&#8221; said Percy,
+laughing.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And that Dave Shepard is just as bad!&#8221; cried Bess Lavine,
+tossing her head.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Wyn won&#8217;t agree with that statement,&#8221; chuckled Frank.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And all six of the Busters are full of mischief,&#8221; went on the
+complaining one. &#8220;I wish <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_19'></a>19</span> they were not going to the same place we are to
+camp.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, Bess!&#8221; exclaimed Mina.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I <i>do</i> wish that. They&#8217;ll be around under foot all the
+time. And they&#8217;ll play tricks, and be rough and rude, and I know they will
+spoil the summer for us.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You go on!&#8221; came from Frank, with some scorn. &#8220;I guess I
+can hold up my end against the Busters.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Just wait and see,&#8221; prophesied Bessie, shaking her head.
+&#8220;I feel very sure that, the Busters and the Go-Ahead Club will not get
+along well together at Lake Honotonka.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It takes two parties for an argument,&#8221; said Wyn Mallory,
+quietly. &#8220;And in spite of their mischief I believe in the
+Busters.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Wait and see if what I say isn&#8217;t true!&#8221; snapped Bessie,
+and turned off into a side street toward her own home.</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20'></a>20</span><a id='link_3'></a>CHAPTER III<br /><span class='h2fs'>POLLY</span></h2>
+
+<p>Wyn Mallory was one of those girls whom people called
+&#8220;different.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Not that there was a thing really odd about her. She was happy, healthy, more
+than a little athletic, of a sanguine temperament, and possessed a deal of tact
+for a girl of her age.</p>
+
+<p>But there was a quality in her character that balanced her better than most
+girls are. That foundation of good sense on which only can be erected a lasting
+character, was Wyn&#8217;s. She was just as girlish and &#8220;fly-away&#8221;
+at times, as Frances Cameron herself, or Percy Havel; but she always stopped
+short of hurting another person&#8217;s feelings and she seemed to really enjoy
+doing things for others, which her mates sometimes acclaimed as
+&#8220;tiresome.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>And don&#8217;t think there was a mite of self-consciousness about all this
+in Wyn Mallory&#8217;s make-up, for there wasn&#8217;t. She enjoyed being
+helpful and kind because that was her nature&#8211;not <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_21'></a>21</span> for the praise she might receive from her
+older friends.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn was a natural leader. Such girls always are. Without asserting
+themselves, other girls will look up to them, and copy them, and follow them.
+Whereas a bad, or ill-natured, or haughty girl must have some means of bribing
+the weak-minded ones to gain a following at all.</p>
+
+<p>The Mallory family was a small one. Wyn had a little sister; but there was a
+difference of twelve years between them. The family was a very affectionate one,
+and Papa Mallory, Mamma Mallory, and Wyn all worshipped at the shrine of little
+May.</p>
+
+<p>So when at supper that Friday evening something was said about certain
+drygoods needed for the little one, Wyn offered at once to spend her Saturday
+forenoon shopping.</p>
+
+<p>She had plenty to do that morning; Saturday morning is always a busy time for
+any school girl in the upper grades, and Wyn was well advanced at Denton
+Academy. But she hastened out by nine o&#8217;clock and went down town.</p>
+
+<p>Denton was a pretty town, with good stores, a courthouse, well stocked
+library and several churches of various denominations. In the center was an
+ancient Parade Ground&#8211;a broad, well-shaped public park, with a huge
+flagstaff in the <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22'></a>22</span>
+middle of the main field, and Civil War cannon flanking the entrances.</p>
+
+<p>Denton had a history. On this open field the Minute Men had marched and
+counter-marched; and before Revolutionary days, even, the so-called
+&#8220;train-bands&#8221; had paraded here. Like Boston Common, Denton&#8217;s
+Parade Ground was a plot devoted for all time to the people, and could be used
+for no other purpose but that of a public park.</p>
+
+<p>The streets that bordered the three sides of the Parade Ground (for it was of
+flat-iron shape) were the best residential streets of the town; yet Market
+Street&#8211;the main business thoroughfare&#8211;was only a square away from
+one side of the park.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn Mallory on this bright May morning walked briskly along the shaded side
+of the park and turned off at Archer Street to reach the main stem of the town,
+where the shops stood in rows and the electric cars to Maynbury had the right of
+way in the middle of the street.</p>
+
+<p>Her very first call was at Mr. Erad&#8217;s drygoods and notion store. His
+shop was much smaller than some of the modern &#8220;department&#8221; stores
+that had of late appeared in Denton; but the old store held the conservative
+trade. Mr. Erad had been in trade, at this very corner, from the time he <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23'></a>23</span> was a smooth-faced young
+man; and now his hair and beard were almost white.</p>
+
+<p>He was a pleasant, cheerful&#8211;and usually charitable&#8211;gentleman,
+with rosy cheeks and gold-rimmed spectacles. He spent most of his time &#8220;on
+the floor,&#8221; greeting old customers, attracting new ones with his courtesy,
+and generally overseeing the salesmen.</p>
+
+<p>He usually had a pleasant word and a hand-shake for Wyn when she entered his
+store; but this morning the old gentleman did not even notice her as she came
+through one of the turnstile doors.</p>
+
+<p>He stood near, however, speaking with a girl of about Wyn&#8217;s age&#8211;a
+girl who was a total stranger to the captain of the Go-Ahead Club. The stranger
+was rather poorly dressed. She wore shabby gloves, and a shabby hat, and shabby
+shoes. Besides, both her dark frock and the hat were &#8220;ages and ages&#8221;
+behind the fashion.</p>
+
+<p>Her clothes were really so ugly that the girl herself did not have a chance
+to look her best. Wyn realized that after the second glance. And she saw that
+the strange girl was almost handsome.</p>
+
+<p>She was as big as Grace Hedges; but she was dark. Her hair was beautifully
+crinkled where it lay flat against the sides of her head over her ears. At the
+back there was a great roll, and <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_24'></a>24</span> it was glossy and well cared-for. Even a girl who
+cannot afford to dress in the mode can make her hair beautiful by a little
+effort.</p>
+
+<p>This girl had made that effort and, furthermore, she had made herself as neat
+as anyone need be.</p>
+
+<p>In addition to her beautiful hair, the stranger&#8217;s other attractions can
+be enumerated as a long, well formed nose, well defined eyebrows and long
+lashes, and deep gray eyes that looked almost black in the shade of her broad
+brow. Her skin was lovely, although she was very much bronzed by the sun. A
+rose-flush showed through this tan and aided her red, full lips to give color to
+her face. Her teeth were two splendid, perfect rows of dazzling white; her chin
+was beautifully molded. This fully developed countenance was lit by
+intelligence, as well, and, with her well rounded figure and gentle, deprecating
+manner, Wyn thought of her instantly as a big helpless child.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Erad was speaking very sternly to her, and that, alone, made Wyn desire
+to take her part. She could not bear to hear anybody scold a person so timid and
+humble. And at every decisive phrase Mr. Erad uttered, Wyn could see her
+wince.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I cannot do it. I do not see why I should,&#8221; <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_25'></a>25</span> declared the storekeeper. &#8220;Indeed,
+there are many reasons why I should not. Yes&#8211;I know. I employed John
+Jarley at one time. But that was years ago. He would not stay with me. He was
+always trying something new. And he never stuck to a thing long enough for
+either he&#8211;or anybody else&#8211;to find out whether he was fitted for it
+or not.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hold on! I take that back. I guess there&#8217;s <i>one</i> man in
+town,&#8221; said Mr. Erad, with almost a snarl, &#8220;who thinks John Jarley
+stuck long enough on one job.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Wyn, frankly listening, but watching the girl and Mr. Erad covertly, saw the
+former&#8217;s face flame hotly at the shot. But her murmured reply was too low
+for Wyn to hear.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Ha! I know nothing was ever proved against him. But decent people know
+the other party, and know that he is square. John Jarley got out of town and
+stayed out of town. That was enough to show everybody that he felt
+guilty.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You are wrong, sir,&#8221; said the dark girl, her voice trembling,
+but audible now in her strong emotion. &#8220;You are wrong. It was my
+mother&#8217;s ill health that took us into the woods. And the ill-natured
+gossip of the neighbors&#8211;just such things as you have now
+repeated&#8211;troubled my <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_26'></a>26</span> mother, too. So father took us away from it
+all.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If he was honest, he made a great mistake in running away at that
+time,&#8221; asserted Mr. Erad.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, he made no mistake,&#8221; returned the girl, her fine eyes
+flashing. &#8220;He did the right thing. He saved my mother agony, and made her
+last years beautiful. My father did no wrong in either case, sir.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, well, well!&#8221; snapped Mr. Erad. &#8220;I cannot discuss the
+matter with you. We should not agree, I am sure. And I can do nothing for
+you.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Wait, please! give me a chance! Let me work for you to pay for these
+things we need. I will work faithfully&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I have no place for you.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, sir&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My goodness, girl! <i>No</i>, I tell you. Isn&#8217;t that enough?
+Beside, you are not well dressed enough to wait upon my customers. And you could
+not earn enough here to pay your board, dress decently, and pay for any bill of
+goods that you&#8211;or your father&#8211;may want.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The girl turned away. There was a bit of dingy veiling attached to the front
+of her old-fashioned hat, and Wyn saw her pull this down quickly over her face.
+The listener knew <i>why</i>, <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_27'></a>27</span> and she had to wink her own eyes hard to keep back
+the tears.</p>
+
+<p>She deliberately turned her back upon old Mr. Erad, whom she was usually so
+glad to see, and went hastily down the aisle. From her distant station by the
+notion counter she saw the drooping figure of the strange girl leave the
+store.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn Mallory was worried. She could not see a forlorn cat on the street, or a
+homeless dog shivering beside a garbage can, that she was not tempted to
+&#8220;do something for it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Dave Shepard often laughingly said that it was an adventure to go walking
+with Wyn Mallory, One never knew what she was going to see that needed
+&#8220;fixing.&#8221; And Dave might have added, that if Wyn had him for escort,
+she usually got these wrong things &#8220;fixed.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>She now hastened through her purchasing, not with any definite object in
+view, save that she wanted to get out of the store. Mr. Erad was not at all the
+nice, charitable man whom she had always supposed him to be. That is, it looked
+so now to the impulsive, warm-hearted girl.</p>
+
+<p>Her mind was fixed upon the strange girl and her troubles. Wyn did not
+neglect the errand her mother had given her to do, although she hurried her
+shopping.</p>
+
+<p>When she was out of the store, she drew a <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_28'></a>28</span> long breath. &#8220;I couldn&#8217;t breathe in that
+place&#8211;not well,&#8221; she told herself. &#8220;I wonder where that poor
+girl has gone now?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>There was nobody to answer her, nor was the strange girl in sight. Wyn felt
+rather remorseful that she had not let her shopping wait and followed the
+strange girl out of the store immediately.</p>
+
+<p>The stranger might have been in desperate straits. Wyn could not imagine
+anybody begging for goods, and for work, especially after the way Mr. Erad had
+spoken, unless in great trouble.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn began to take herself seriously to task. The strange girl had disappeared
+and she had not even tried to help her, or comfort her.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I might have gone out and offered some little help, or sympathy. How
+do I know what will become of her? And she may have no friends in town. At
+least, it is evident that she does not live here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>There were several other errands to do. All the time, especially while she
+was on the street, she kept her eye open for the strange girl whose name she
+presumed must be &#8220;Jarley.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But Wyn did not see her anywhere, and it seemed useless to wander down Market
+Street looking for her. So, when she had completed her purchases, she turned her
+face homeward.</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter'>
+<a id='link_i2'></a><img src='images/illus2.jpg' id="imgi2" alt='' />
+<p class='center caption'>
+&#8220;MY DEAR, I WILL BE YOUR FRIEND.&#8221; <i>Page 30.</i>
+</p>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29'></a>29</span>She went up past
+Mr. Erad&#8217;s store again and turned through Archer Street. As she crossed
+into the park she looked for a settee to rest on, for unconsciously she had
+walked more briskly than usual.</p>
+
+<p>There, under a wide-limbed oak, was a green-painted seat, removed from any
+other settee; but there was a figure on it.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s room for two, I guess,&#8221; thought Wyn; and then she
+made a discovery that almost made her cry out aloud. Its occupant was the very
+girl for whom she was in search!</p>
+
+<p>Wyn controlled her impulse to run forward, and approached the bench quite
+casually. Before she reached it, however, she realized that the dark girl was
+crying softly.</p>
+
+<p>Natural delicacy would have restrained Wyn from approaching the girl so
+abruptly. Only, she was deeply interested, and already knowing the occasion for
+her tears, the captain of the Go-Ahead Club could not ignore the forlorn figure
+on the bench.</p>
+
+<p>Without speaking, she dropped into the seat beside the strange girl, and put
+her hand on the other&#8217;s shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My dear!&#8221; she said, when the startled gray eyes&#8211;all
+a-flood with tears&#8211;were raised to her own. &#8220;My dear, tell me all
+about it&#8211;<i>do</i>! If <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_30'></a>30</span> I can&#8217;t help you, I will be your friend, and it
+will make you feel lots better to tell it all to somebody who
+sympathizes.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Bu-but you ca-can&#8217;t sympathize with me!&#8221; gasped the other,
+looking into Wyn&#8217;s steady, brown eyes and finding friendliness and
+commiseration there. &#8220;You&#8211;you see, you never knew the lack of
+anything good; you&#8217;re not poor.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, I am not poor,&#8221; admitted Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And I don&#8217;t want charity!&#8221; cried the strange girl
+quickly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I am not going to offer it to you. But I&#8217;d dearly love to be
+your friend,&#8221; Wyn said. &#8220;You know&#8211;you&#8217;re so
+pretty!&#8221; she added, impulsively.</p>
+
+<p>The girl flushed charmingly again. &#8220;I&#8211;I guess I&#8217;m not very
+pretty in my old duds, and with my nose and eyes red from crying.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But she was really one of those few persons who are not made ugly by crying.
+She had neither red eyes nor a red nose.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Do tell me what troubles you,&#8221; urged Wyn, patting her firm,
+calloused hand.</p>
+
+<p>Those hands were no soft, useless members&#8211;no, indeed! Pretty as she
+was, the stranger had evidently been in the habit of performing arduous manual
+labor.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Where do you live, my dear?&#8221; asked Wyn, again, as her first
+question was not answered.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31'></a>31</span>&#8220;Up beyond
+Meade&#8217;s Forge,&#8221; said the strange girl.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, my! On Lake Honotonka?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, ma&#8217;am.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Please don&#8217;t <i>ma&#8217;am</i> me!&#8221; cried the captain of
+the Go-Ahead Club. &#8220;My name is Wynifred Mallory. My friends all call me
+Wyn. Now, I want you to be my friend, so you must commence calling me Wyn right
+away.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But&#8211;but you don&#8217;t know me,&#8221; said the other girl,
+hesitatingly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I am going to; am I not?&#8221; demanded Wyn, with her frank smile.
+&#8220;Surely, now that I have confided in you, you will confide in me to the
+same extent? Or, don&#8217;t you like me?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Of course I like you!&#8221; exclaimed the still sobbing girl.
+&#8220;But&#8211;but I do not know that I have any right to allow you to be my
+friend.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Goodness me! why not?&#8221; exclaimed Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why&#8211;why, we have a bad name in this town, it seems,&#8221; said
+the other.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Who have?&#8221; snapped Wyn, hating Mr. Erad harder than ever
+now.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My father and I.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What have you done that makes you a pariah?&#8221; exclaimed Wyn,
+fairly laughing now. &#8220;Aren&#8217;t you foolish?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32'></a>32</span>&#8220;No. People
+say my father was not honest I am Polly Jarley,&#8221; said the girl,
+desperately.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Polly Jolly?&#8221; cried Wyn. &#8220;Not much you are! You are
+anything but jolly. You are Polly Miserrimus.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what that means, ma&#8217;am&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Wyn!&#8221; exclaimed the other girl, quickly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;M&#8211;Miss Wyn.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not right. Just Wyn. Plain Wyn&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I couldn&#8217;t call you plain,&#8221; cried the poorly dressed
+girl, with some spontaneity now. &#8220;For you are very pretty. But I
+don&#8217;t really know what Mis&#8211;Mis&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Miserrimus&#8217;?&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That is it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s Latin, and it means miserable, all right,&#8221; laughed
+Wyn. &#8220;And you act more to fit the name of &#8216;Polly Miserrimus&#8217; than
+that of &#8216;Polly Jolly.&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s Jarley, Miss Wyn.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But now tell me all about it, Polly,&#8221; urged Wyn, having by this
+means stopped the flow of Polly&#8217;s tears. &#8220;Surely it will help you
+just to free your mind. And don&#8217;t be foolish enough to think that I
+wouldn&#8217;t want to know you and be your friend if your poor father was the
+biggest criminal on earth.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He isn&#8217;t! He is unfortunate. He has been <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_33'></a>33</span> accused wrongfully, and everybody is
+against him,&#8221; exclaimed Polly, with some heat.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;All right. Then let&#8217;s hear about it,&#8221; urged Wyn, capturing
+both of the other girl&#8217;s hands in her own, and smiling into her
+tear-drenched gray eyes.</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34'></a>34</span><a id='link_4'></a>CHAPTER IV<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE SILVER IMAGES</span></h2>
+
+<p>&#8220;Didn&#8217;t you ever hear of us Jarleys?&#8221; Polly first of all
+demanded.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Only as being interested in the wax-work business,&#8221; replied Wyn,
+with twinkling eyes.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8211;I guess father never made wax-work,&#8221; said Polly,
+hesitatingly.</p>
+
+<p>She was an innocent sort of girl, who evidently lacked many advantages of
+education and reading that Wyn and her friends had enjoyed as a matter of
+course.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, I never heard the name before to-day&#8211;not <i>your</i> name,
+nor your father&#8217;s,&#8221; Wyn said.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, we used to live here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;In Denton?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, ma&#8217;am&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Will you stop that?&#8221; cried Wyn. &#8220;I am Wyn Mallory, I tell
+you.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;All right, Wyn. It&#8217;s a pretty name. I&#8217;ll be glad to use
+it,&#8221; returned Polly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Prove it by using it altogether,&#8221; commanded Wyn. &#8220;Now,
+what about your father?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35'></a>35</span>&#8220;I&#8211;I
+can&#8217;t tell you much about it&#8211;much of the particulars, I mean,&#8221;
+said the girl from Lake Honotonka, diffidently. &#8220;I don&#8217;t really know
+them. Father never speaks of it much. But even as a tiny girl mother explained
+to me that when folks said father had done wrong I must deny it. That it was not
+so. It was only circumstances that made him appear in the wrong. And&#8211;you
+know, Wyn&#8211;your mother wouldn&#8217;t lie to you!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Of course not!&#8221; cried Wyn, warmly. &#8220;Of course
+not!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, then, you&#8217;ll have to believe just what I tell you. Father
+was in some business deal with a man here in Denton, and something went wrong.
+The other man accused father of being dishonest. Father could not defend
+himself. Circumstances were dead against him. And it worried mother so that it
+made her sick.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So we all left town. Father had very little money, and he built a
+shack up there in the woods near Honotonka. We&#8217;re just &#8216;squatters&#8217;
+up there. But gradually father got a few boats, and built a float, and made
+enough in the summer from fishermen and campers to support us. Of course, mother
+being sick so many years before she died, kept us very poor. I only go to the
+district school winters. Then I have to walk <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_36'></a>36</span> four miles each way, for we own no horse. Summers I
+help father with the boats.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s where you got such palms! cried Wyn, touching her new
+friend&#8217;s calloused hands again.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s rowing does it. But I don&#8217;t mind. I love the water,
+you see.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So do I. I&#8217;ve got a canoe. I&#8217;m captain of a girls&#8217;
+canoe club.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s nice,&#8221; said Polly. &#8220;I suppose when you take
+up boating for just a sport it&#8217;s lots better than trying to make
+one&#8217;s living out of it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, tell me more,&#8221; urged Wyn. &#8220;What are you in town for
+now? Why did I find you crying here on the bench?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A man hurt me by talking harshly about poor father,&#8221; said the
+girl from Lake Honotonka.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on! tell me,&#8221; urged Wyn, giving her a little shake. Polly
+suddenly threw an arm about the town girl and hugged her tightly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I <i>do</i> love you, Wyn Mallory,&#8221; she sobbed. &#8220;I&#8211;I
+wish you were my sister. I get so lonely sometimes up there in the woods, for
+there&#8217;s only father and me now. And this past winter he was very sick with
+rheumatic fever. You see, there was an accident.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He met with an accident, you mean?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes. It was awful&#8211;or it might have been <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_37'></a>37</span> awful for him if he and I had not had
+signals that we use when there&#8217;s a fog on the lake. I&#8217;ll tell
+you.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You see, there is a man named Shelton&#8211;Dr. Shelton&#8211;who
+lives in one of the grand houses at Braisely Park&#8211;you know, that is the
+rich people&#8217;s summer colony at the upper end of the lake?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I know about it,&#8221; said Wyn. &#8220;Although I never was
+there.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, Dr. Shelton had his motor boat down at our float. He left it
+there himself, and he told father to go to the express office at Meade&#8217;s
+Forge on a certain day and get a box that would be there addressed to Dr.
+Shelton. It was a valuable box.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;When father went for it the expressman would not give it up until he
+had telephoned to Dr. Shelton and recognized the doctor&#8217;s voice over the
+wire. It seems that that box was packed with ancient silver images that had been
+found in a ruined temple in Yucatan, and had been sent to Dr. Shelton by the man
+who found them. They claim they were worth at the least five thousand
+dollars.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The doctor had a party at his house right then, he said over the
+telephone, and he wanted father to come up the lake with the box. He <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38'></a>38</span> wanted to display his
+antique treasures to his friends.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, it was a dreadfully bad day. After father had started down to the
+Forge in the motor boat he knew that a storm was coming. And ahead of it was a
+thick fog. He told Dr. Shelton over the &#8217;phone that it was a bad time to
+make the trip the whole length of Lake Honotonka.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The doctor would not listen to any excuses, however; and it was his
+boat that was being risked. And his silver images, too! Those rich people
+don&#8217;t care much about a poor man&#8217;s life, and if father had refused
+to risk his on the lake in the storm Dr. Shelton would have given his trade to
+some other boatkeeper after that.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So father started in the <i>Bright Eyes</i>. He did not shoot right up
+the middle of the lake, as he would have done had the day been fair. The lake is
+twenty miles broad, you know, in the middle. So he kept near our side&#8211;the
+south side it is&#8211;and did not lose sight of the shore at first.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But at Gannet Island he knew he had better run outside. You see, the
+strait between the island and the shore is narrow and, when the wind is high, it
+sometimes is dangerous in there. Why, ten years ago, one of the little excursion
+steamers <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39'></a>39</span> that used
+to ply the lake then, got caught in that strait and was wrecked!</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So father <i>had</i> to go outside of Gannet Island. The fog shut down
+as thick as a blanket before he more than sighted the end of the island. He kept
+on, remembering what Dr. Shelton had said, and that is where he made a
+mistake,&#8221; said Polly, shaking her head. &#8220;He ought to have turned
+right around and come back to our landing.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, dear me! what happened to him?&#8221; cried Wyn, eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The fog came down, thicker and thicker,&#8221; proceeded the
+boatman&#8217;s daughter. &#8220;And the wind rode down upon father, too. Wind
+and fog together are not usual; but when the two combine it is much worse than
+either alone. You see, the thick mist swirling into father&#8217;s eyes, driven
+head-on by the wind, blinded him. He steered a shade too near the shore.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Suddenly the <i>Bright Eyes</i> struck. A motor boat, going head-on
+upon a snag, can be easily wrecked. The boat struck and stuck, and father leaped
+up to shut off the engine.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;As he did so, something swished through the blinding fog and struck
+him, carrying him backward over the stern of the boat. Perhaps it was the loss
+of his weight that allowed the <i>Bright Eyes</i> to scrape over the snag. At
+least, she did so <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40'></a>40</span> as
+father plunged into the lake, and as he sank he knew that the boat, with her
+engine at half speed, was tearing away across the lake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It was the drooping limb of a tree that had torn father from the stern
+of the motor boat,&#8221; continued Polly Jarley. &#8220;It may have been a big
+root of the same tree, under water, that had proved the finish of the boat. For
+nobody ever saw the <i>Bright Eyes</i> again. She just ran off at a tangent,
+into the middle of the lake, somewhere, we suppose, and filled and
+sank.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, dear me! And your father?&#8221; asked Wyn, anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He got ashore on the island. Then he signalled to me, and I went off
+during a lull in the storm, and got him. He went to bed, and it was three months
+before he was up and around again.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He suffered dreadfully with rheumatic fever,&#8221; continued Polly,
+sadly. &#8220;And all the time Dr. Shelton was talking just as mean about him as
+he could. He didn&#8217;t believe his story. He even said that he thought my
+father took the motor boat down the river somewhere and sold it. And the way he
+talked about that box of silver images&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, oh!&#8221; cried Wyn. &#8220;I&#8217;d forgotten about them. Of
+course they were lost, too?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sunk somewhere in Lake Honotonka,&#8221; declared <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_41'></a>41</span> Polly. &#8220;Father knows no more about
+where the boat lies than Dr. Shelton himself. But there are always people ready
+and willing to pick up the evil that is said about a person and help circulate
+it.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;While father was flat on his back, folks were talking about him. We
+had to raise money on the boats to pay for our food and father&#8217;s medicine.
+If we don&#8217;t have a good season this summer we will be unable to pay off
+the chattel mortgage next winter, and will lose the boats. I tell you, Miss Wyn,
+it is <i>hard</i>.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You poor, dear girl!&#8221; exclaimed Wyn. &#8220;I should think it
+<i>was</i> hard. And that mean man accuses your father&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, you see, there was father&#8217;s past record against him. The
+story of his trouble here in Denton followed him into the woods, of course. If
+anybody gets mad at us up at the Forge, they throw the whole thing up to us.
+I&#8211;I <i>hate</i> it there,&#8221; sobbed the boatkeeper&#8217;s
+daughter.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And yet, it is harder on poor father. He is straight, but everything
+has been against him. I saw he felt dreadfully these past few days because I
+need some decent clothes. And there is no money to buy any.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So I thought I would come to town and see some old friends of
+mother&#8217;s who used to come <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_42'></a>42</span> and see us years ago. Yes, there were a few people
+who stuck to mother, even if they did not quite approve of poor father. But,
+when I paddled &#8217;way down here&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not in a canoe?&#8221; cried Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I came down very easily yesterday evening and stopped at a
+boatman&#8217;s house on the edge of town. I shall go back again to-day. The
+Wintinooski isn&#8217;t kicking up much of a rumpus just now. The spring floods
+are about all over.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But you must be a splendid hand with a paddle,&#8221; said Wyn.
+&#8220;It&#8217;s a long way to the lake.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh! I don&#8217;t mind it,&#8221; said Polly. &#8220;Or, I
+<i>wouldn&#8217;t</i> mind it if it had done me the least good to come down
+here,&#8221; and she sighed.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You are disappointed?&#8221; queried Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Dreadfully! I did not find mother&#8217;s old friends. I had not heard
+from them for two or three years, and found that they were away&#8211;nobody
+knows where. I did not know but I might get work here in town for a few weeks,
+and live with these old friends, and so earn some money. I am so shabby! And
+father isn&#8217;t fit to be seen.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And then&#8211;then there was a man in town who used to befriend
+mother. I know when I was quite a little girl, the year after we had gone to the
+woods to live, father was ill for a long time and mother had to have things. She
+went to <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43'></a>43</span> this
+storekeeper in Denton and he let her have things on account and we paid him
+afterward. Oh, we paid him&#8211;every cent!&#8221; declared Polly, again wiping
+her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And I hoped he would&#8211;for mother&#8217;s sake&#8211;help us
+again. I went to him. I&#8211;I reminded him of how father once worked for him,
+and that he knew mother. But he was angry about something&#8211;he would not
+listen&#8211;he would neither give me work nor let me have goods charged.
+I&#8211;I&#8211;well, it just broke me down, Wyn Mallory, and I came here to cry
+it out.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a shame!&#8221; exclaimed Wyn. &#8220;I am just as sorry
+for you as I can be. And I believe that your father is perfectly honest and that
+he never in his life intended to defraud anybody.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>It was that blessed <i>tact</i> that made Wynifred Mallory say that. It was
+the sure way to Polly Jarley&#8217;s heart; and Wyn&#8217;s words and way opened
+the door wide and Polly took her in.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You&#8211;you <i>blessed</i> creature!&#8221; cried the
+boatman&#8217;s daughter. &#8220;I know you must have been &#8217;specially sent to
+comfort me. I <i>was</i> so miserable.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Of course I was sent,&#8221; declared Wyn. She did not propose to tell
+her new acquaintance that she had observed her in Erad&#8217;s store and had
+looked for her all over Market Street.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44'></a>44</span>&#8220;Such things
+are meant to be. If we trust to God we surely shall have release from our
+difficulties. That is just as sure as the day follows the night,&#8221; declared
+Wyn, with simple, straight-forward faith.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And just see how it is proved in this case. You were in trouble, and
+sat here crying, and needed somebody to help you. And I came along perfectly
+willing and able to help you, and you are going to be helped.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I <i>am</i> helped!&#8221; declared Polly. &#8220;You just put the
+courage back into me. I didn&#8217;t know what to do&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Do you know any better now?&#8221; demanded Wyn, quickly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8211;ell, I&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That doesn&#8217;t sound as though you had <i>quite</i> made up your
+mind,&#8221; said Wyn, with a little laugh.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Never mind. I can stand even going back home with my hands empty,
+better than before I met you,&#8221; declared Polly, bravely.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But you won&#8217;t go back home empty-handed.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Wyn! Can you get me work?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, not here. Nor do I believe you ought to leave your father alone up
+there for so long. I expect he is not very well yet?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No. He is not,&#8221; admitted Polly.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45'></a>45</span>&#8220;Then, you
+go home. That is the best place for you, anyway. But before you go you shall
+make such purchases as you may need&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Polly drew away from her along the seat, and her gray eyes grew brighter.
+&#8220;Oh, Miss Mallory!&#8221; she murmured. &#8220;Don&#8217;t do
+<i>that</i>.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t do what?&#8221; demanded Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t spoil it all.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Spoil what-all?&#8221; cried Wyn, in exasperation. &#8220;I&#8217;m
+not going to spoil anything. But you listen to me. This is sense.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8211;I couldn&#8217;t take charity from <i>you</i>&#8211;a
+stranger.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I offer to lend you twenty dollars. You can pay it back when you
+choose.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Twenty dollars! You lend me twenty dollars?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes. I have quite some spending money given to me, and I have been
+saving nearly all of it for some time. So I can easily spare it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But I don&#8217;t know when I can repay you.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I can tell you, then. You can pay me back this very summer.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;This summer, miss?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t call me &#8216;miss&#8217;!&#8221; cried Wyn, in greater
+exasperation. &#8220;I have told you my name is &#8216;Wyn&#8217;! And I mean exactly
+what I say. This is a perfectly straight business proposition,&#8221; and <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46'></a>46</span> she laughed her
+full-throated laugh that made even Polly Jarley, in her trouble, smile.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then your business, Wyn Mallory, must be the saving of people from
+trouble&#8211;is that it? For there is no reason in what you say you will
+do&#8211;Oh, I can&#8217;t accept it. It would be charity!&#8221; cried Polly,
+again clasping Wyn&#8217;s hands.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It is not charity,&#8221; said Wyn, firmly, opening her purse.
+&#8220;And I&#8217;ll quickly show you why it is not. You see, Polly
+Jolly&#8211;and I want you to smile at me and look as though you fitted that
+name. You see, I am captain of the Go-Ahead Club.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The Go-Ahead Club?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes. We are six girls. We each own canoes. And we are just
+<i>crazy</i> to spend next summer under canvas.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You are going camping?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That is our intention,&#8221; Wyn said, nodding.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, then! come up to Lake Honotonka,&#8221; cried Polly. &#8220;I can
+show you beautiful places to camp, and we can have lots of fun&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That likewise is our intention,&#8221; broke in Wyn. &#8220;We have
+just decided to camp for the summer on the shore of the lake. Rather, our
+parents, guardians, and the cat, have finally agreed to our plans. We shall come
+up there the week after the Academy closes.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47'></a>47</span>&#8220;Now, we
+want you, Polly, to find us the very best camping place, to arrange everything
+for us, and don&#8217;t have it too far from your place, and from Meade&#8217;s
+Forge. I expect the Busters will camp on one of the islands. The Busters, you
+see, are our boy friends who are likewise going to the lake. They were there
+last year with Professor Skillings.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I remember them,&#8221; said Polly, wonderingly. &#8220;And you and
+your girl friends are coming?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Just the surest thing you know, Polly,&#8221; declared Wyn. &#8220;So
+you are going to take this twenty dollars,&#8221; and she suddenly thrust the
+bill into the other girl&#8217;s hand and closed her fingers over it.
+&#8220;Then, next summer, we shall let you pay it back in perfectly legitimate
+charges, for we&#8217;ll want you and your father to help us a good deal.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, what say, Polly Jolly? Will you please let your face fit your
+name&#8211;as I have rechristened you? Smile, my dear&#8211;smile!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I could cry again, Wyn&#8211;you are so kind!&#8221; half sobbed the
+other girl.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, you stop all that foolishness&#8211;a great, big girl like
+you!&#8221; exclaimed Wyn. &#8220;Turn off the sprinkler, as Dave Shepard says.
+Get right up now and go briskly about your buying. And write to me when you get
+home and write just as <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_48'></a>48</span> often as you can till we meet at the lake this
+summer.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You dear!&#8221; ejaculated Polly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re another. How will I address you&#8211;at the
+Forge?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, and you must give me your address,&#8221; said the
+boatman&#8217;s daughter, eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn did so. The two girls, such recent but already such warm friends, kissed
+each other and Polly Jarley went briskly away toward Market Street. Wyn stopped
+on the bench for several minutes and watched the girl from Lake Honotonka walk
+away, while a smile wreathed her lips and a warm light lingered in her brown
+eyes.</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49'></a>49</span><a id='link_5'></a>CHAPTER V<br /><span class='h2fs'>BESSIE LAVINE</span></h2>
+
+<p>Suddenly a gay voice hailed Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hi, Captain of the Go-Aheads! What are you doing, mooning
+here?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, Bess!&#8221; returned Wyn, turning to greet Bessie Lavine.
+&#8220;I didn&#8217;t see you coming along.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No; but I saw you, my noble captain.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Going shopping?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Aye, aye, Captain!&#8221; cried the other member of the Go-Ahead club.
+&#8220;But who was that I saw you with? Didn&#8217;t I see you talking to that
+girl who just crossed Benefit Street?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, yes.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Who was she?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Polly Jarley. She is daughter of a boatman up at the lake. And
+wasn&#8217;t it fortunate that I met her? She can find us a camping place and
+get everything fixed up there for our coming.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s her name?&#8221; asked Bess, sharply.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Polly Jarley.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And she lives up there by the lake?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So she says.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50'></a>50</span>&#8220;Her father
+is John Jarley, of course?&#8221; queried Bessie, looking down at Wyn,
+darkly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes. That is her father&#8217;s name,&#8221; said Wyn, beginning to
+wonder at her friend&#8217;s manner.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well! I guess you don&#8217;t know those Jarleys very well; do
+you?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why&#8211;I&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Wyn hesitated to tell Bessie that she had only just now met the unfortunate
+boatman&#8217;s daughter. She remembered Polly&#8217;s story, and what she had
+overheard Mr. Erad say in the drygoods store.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You surely <i>can&#8217;t</i> know what and who they are, and still be
+friendly with that girl?&#8221; repeated Bessie, her eyes flashing with
+anger.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, my dear,&#8221; said Wyn, soothingly. &#8220;Don&#8217;t speak
+that way. Sit down and tell me what you mean. I certainly have not known Polly
+long; and I never met her father&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, they left this town a long time ago.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So she told me. And she said something about her father having been
+accused of dishonesty&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I should say so!&#8221; gasped Bessie. &#8220;Why, John Jarley almost
+ruined <i>my</i> father. He was a traitor to him. They were in a deal
+together&#8211;it was when my father first tried to get into the real estate
+business here in Denton&#8211;and this John Jarley sold him out. Why, everybody
+knows it! <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51'></a>51</span> It
+crippled father for a long time, and what Jarley got out of playing traitor
+never did him any good, I guess, for they were soon as poor as Job&#8217;s
+turkey, and they went to live in the woods there. He&#8217;s a poor, miserable
+wretch. Father says he&#8217;s never had a stroke of luck since he played him
+such a mean trick&#8211;and serves him right!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Wyn stared at her in amazement, for Bessie had gone on quite breathlessly and
+had spoken with much heat. Finally Wyn observed:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, dear, <i>your</i> father has done well since those days. They
+say he is one of our richest citizens. Surely you can forgive what poor John
+Jarley did, for he and his daughter are now very miserable.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t see why we should forgive them,&#8221; cried Bessie,
+hotly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, Bess! This poor girl had nothing to do with her father wronging
+your father&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t care. She&#8217;s his daughter. It&#8217;s in the blood.
+I wouldn&#8217;t trust her a single bit. I wouldn&#8217;t speak to her. And no
+girl can be <i>her</i> friend and mine, too!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, Bess! don&#8217;t say that,&#8221; urged Wyn. &#8220;You and I
+have been friends for years and years. We wouldn&#8217;t want to have a falling
+out.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I see no need for us to fall out,&#8221; exclaimed Bessie, her eyes
+still flashing. &#8220;But I just won&#8217;t <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_52'></a>52</span> associate with girls who associate with those low
+people&#8211;there now!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now do you feel better, Bess?&#8221; asked Wyn, laughing.</p>
+
+<p>That was the worst of Wyn Mallory! All the girls said so. One couldn&#8217;t
+&#8220;fight&#8221; with her. For, you see, it takes two at least to keep a
+quarrel alive, although but one to start it.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, you don&#8217;t know how mean that man, Jarley, was to my
+father. And years ago they were the very best of friends. Why! they went to
+school together, and were chums&#8211;just as thick as you and I are,
+Wynnie&#8211;just as thick. And for him to be a traitor&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If he was, don&#8217;t you think he has been paying for it?&#8221;
+asked Wyn, sensibly. &#8220;According to what I hear he is poor, and ill, and
+unfortunate&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know whether he is or not. It was only a few weeks ago
+we heard of his stealing a motor boat up there at the lake and some other
+valuables, and selling them&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He wouldn&#8217;t be poor if he had done that; would he?&#8221;
+interrupted Wyn. &#8220;For I know for a fact that he is very, very
+poor.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>She did not want to tell Bessie that she had given Polly Jarley money; but
+she did not believe that the boatman&#8217;s daughter would be in need as <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53'></a>53</span> she was if Mr. Jarley were
+guilty of the crime of which he had been so recently accused.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, I haven&#8217;t a mite of sympathy for them,&#8221; declared
+Bessie.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Perhaps you cannot be expected to have sympathy for the
+Jarleys,&#8221; admitted Wyn, in her wholesome way. &#8220;But you won&#8217;t
+mind, will you, dear, if <i>I</i> have a little for poor Polly?&#8221; and she
+hugged Bessie, who had sat down, close to her. &#8220;Come on,
+Bessie&#8211;don&#8217;t be mad at <i>me</i>.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, dear! nobody can be mad at you, Wyn Mallory. You do blarney
+so.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Ah, now, my dear; it isn&#8217;t blarneying at all!&#8221; laughed
+Wyn. &#8220;It&#8217;s just showing you the sensible way. We girls don&#8217;t
+want to be flighty, and have &#8216;mads on,&#8217; as Frank says, for no real reason.
+And this poor girl will never trouble you in the world&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I wish she wasn&#8217;t up at that lake,&#8221; declared Bessie.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, Bess! the lake&#8217;s plenty big enough,&#8221; said Wyn,
+chuckling. &#8220;We won&#8217;t have to see much of the Jarleys.
+Although&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I sha&#8217;n&#8217;t go if she is to be on hand,&#8221; asserted
+Bessie, with vehemence.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;One would think poor Polly Jarley had an infectious disease. She
+won&#8217;t hurt you, Bess.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t care. I feel just as papa does about it. <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54'></a>54</span> He and Jarley were closer
+than brothers. But he wouldn&#8217;t speak to Jarley now&#8211;no, sir! And I
+don&#8217;t want anything to do with that girl.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>With this Bess jumped up, preparing to go on her way to the stores. Wyn was
+going home, and she gathered up her packages.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll think differently about it some day, Bess,&#8221; she
+said, thoughtfully, as her friend tripped away. &#8220;How foolish to hold
+rancor so long! For years and years those two men have hated each other. And I
+expect Polly would dislike Bess just as Bess dislikes her&#8211;and for no real
+reason!</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And it seems too bad. Mr. Lavine is very rich while John Jarley is
+very poor. Usually it is the wicked man who prospers&#8211;for a time, at least
+I really don&#8217;t understand this,&#8221; sighed Wyn, traveling homeward.
+&#8220;If Polly&#8217;s father is guilty as they believe he is, what did he do
+with the money he must have made by his crimes?&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55'></a>55</span><a id='link_6'></a>CHAPTER VI<br /><span class='h2fs'>OFF FOR THE LAKE</span></h2>
+
+<p>Although the members of the Go-Ahead Club&#8211;some of them, at
+least&#8211;had expressed the wish that the time to start for Lake Honotonka was
+already at hand, the remaining days of May and the busy month of June slipped
+away speedily. At odd hours there was a deal to do to prepare for the outing
+which the girl canoeists longed to enjoy.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn received several letters from Polly Jarley, more hopeful letters than she
+might have expected considering the situation in which the boatman&#8217;s
+daughter was placed. Evidently Polly was trying to live up to her
+&#8220;rechristening.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>In reply Wyn made several arrangements for the big outing which she confided
+only in a general way to the club. Polly had selected a beautiful spot just east
+of the rough water behind Gannet Island, and not half a mile from her
+father&#8217;s boathouse, for the camping place of the Go-Ahead Club, and she
+wrote Wyn that she had stuck <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_56'></a>56</span> up a sign pre-empting the spot for the girls from
+Denton.</p>
+
+<p>It was arranged with the Busters, who would go up to Lake Honotonka the same
+day as the Go-Aheads, to send the stores together by bateau. Wyn arranged to
+have the girls&#8217; stores housed by the Jarleys, for she did not think that
+the canvas of either the sleeping or the cook-tent would be sufficient
+protection if there came a heavy storm.</p>
+
+<p>The boys had picked their camping place the year before. They would go to the
+far end of Gannet Island, where there was a cave which promised a fairly good
+storehouse for their goods and chattels. They proposed to erect their one big
+tent right in front of this cavity in the rock&#8211;in conjunction therewith,
+in fact. There was a backbone of rock through the center of the island in which
+Professor Skillings, as a geologist, was very much interested, and had been for
+a long time.</p>
+
+<p>To purchase the stores cost considerable money. The girls had to do it all
+out of their own pockets, and to tell the truth some of them had to mortgage
+their spending allowance for the entire summer to &#8220;put up&#8221; their pro
+rata sum for these supplies.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Papa says it is going to cost me as much <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_57'></a>57</span> as though I were spending the summer at
+Newport,&#8221; Percy Havel said, with a sigh.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;<i>My</i> folks have expressed some surprise,&#8221; admitted Mina
+Everett. &#8220;They thought we were going to camp out <i>al fresco</i>; but
+they can scarcely believe now that we are not going to live upon <i>pâté de foie
+gras</i> and have a French chef to get up the meals.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My father began to say something about the cost the other
+night,&#8221; giggled Frank Cameron. &#8220;But I put the stopper on poor pa
+very quickly. I told him that I&#8217;d willingly give up the camping-out scheme
+if he&#8217;d buy a touring car. I said:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Pa, I&#8217;ve figured the whole thing out, and we can do it easily
+enough. The car, to begin with, will cost $5,000, which at six per cent, is only
+$300 a year. If we charge ten per cent, off for depreciation it will come to
+$500 more. A good chauffeur can be had for $125 per month, or $1,500 per year. I
+have allowed $10 per week for gasoline and $5 for repairs. The chauffeur&#8217;s
+uniform and furs will come to about $200. Now, let&#8217;s see what it comes to.
+Three hundred, plus five hundred, and then the chauffeur&#8217;s salary
+at&#8213;&#8217;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Don&#8217;t bother me any more, my dear,&#8217; says pa. &#8216;I know what
+it comes to.&#8217;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58'></a>58</span>&#8220;&#8216;What
+<i>does</i> it come to, Pa?&#8217; I asked. &#8216;How quick you are at
+figures!&#8217;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;My dear,&#8217; he said, impressively, &#8216;it comes to a standstill
+right here and now. We will have no touring car. I&#8217;ll say no more about
+the Go-Ahead Club.&#8217;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, you can manage the grown-ups,&#8221; concluded Frank, with a
+laugh, &#8220;if you go about it right.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The bateau of stores went up the Wintinooski two days before the girls and
+boys were to start; yet for fear that all might not have gone right with the
+provisions, Wyn insisted that each member of the Go-Ahead. Club pack in her
+canoe the usual &#8220;day&#8217;s ration&#8221; that they had been taught
+should always be carried for an emergency.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It only adds to the weight,&#8221; grumbled Grace. &#8220;And dear
+knows, the old blankets and things that you make us paddle about, makes the
+going hard enough.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s it&#8211;kick!&#8221; exclaimed Frank. &#8220;You&#8217;d
+kick if your feet were tied, Gracie.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Assuredly!&#8221; returned the big girl.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, don&#8217;t fuss at the rules of the club that have long ago been
+voted upon and adopted,&#8221; said Wyn, cheerfully. &#8220;We do not know what
+is going to happen. Somebody might hit a snag. It would take hours to make
+repairs&#8211;perhaps <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_59'></a>59</span> we would have to camp for the night somewhere on the
+way. We want to be prepared for all such emergencies.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, the Busters aren&#8217;t loading themselves down with all this
+truck,&#8221; declared Grace, with, vigor.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s all right. Let us be the wise ones,&#8221; laughed
+Wynifred. &#8220;The boys may want to borrow of us before we get to Lake
+Honotonka.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, Wynnie!&#8221; cried Bess Lavine, &#8220;if you are expecting all
+sorts of breakdowns and misfortunes, I shall be afraid to start at
+all.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Guess I&#8217;ll go on with Aunt Evelyn to the Forge, and send my
+canoe by train,&#8221; laughed Percy Havel. &#8220;Wyn&#8217;s got us drowned
+already.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But on the morning of the departure not one of the girls prophesied
+misfortune. As for the boys, they were bubbling over with fun.</p>
+
+<p>Professor Skillings was going to paddle up the river with them, although Mrs.
+Havel would take the afternoon train to the lake. The professor had gone on
+ahead; but Dave Shepard arranged the two clubs in line and boys and girls
+marched through the streets and down to the river, being hailed by their friends
+and bidden good-bye by their less fortunate mates.</p>
+
+<p>Somebody started singing, and the twelve <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_60'></a>60</span> young voices were soon in the rhythm of &#8220;This
+is the Life!&#8221; Dave and Tubby were ahead, their paddles over their
+shoulders, each carrying his blanket-roll in approved scout fashion. The roll
+made Tubby Blaisdell look twice his real size.</p>
+
+<p>As the party struck across the sward toward the boathouses Dave suddenly
+dropped his paraphernalia and started on a run for the river.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hi, there!&#8221; he shouted. &#8220;The professor is in trouble,
+boys!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The Busters bounded away after him, and the girls, catching the excitement,
+followed along the bank of the swiftly-flowing Wintinooski. There was Professor
+Skillings in his canoe, drifting rapidly into the middle of the current, and
+plainly without his paddle. Indeed, that useful&#8211;not to say
+necessary&#8211;instrument, capped the pile of Professor Skillings&#8217;
+impedimenta on the bank. He had evidently&#8211;in his usual absent-minded
+manner&#8211;stepped into his canoe and pushed off from shore without getting
+his cargo aboard.</p>
+
+<p>Amid much laughter Dave and Ferd Roberts got a skiff and went after their
+teacher. Professor Skillings chuckled at his own troubles. Although he was well
+past the meridian of life, he had neither lost his sense of the ridiculous nor
+<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61'></a>61</span> his ability to laugh
+at a joke when it was on himself.</p>
+
+<p>While the boys were rescuing their friend and mentor, the Go-Ahead Club
+proceeded to get out their own canoes and load them. The weight had to be
+distributed in bow and stern of the light, cedar craft; but Wyn and her mates
+had practised loading and launching their boats so frequently that there was
+little danger of an overset now.</p>
+
+<p>Grace was still growling about the food and cooking apparatus distributed
+among the canoeists. Wyn said, laughing:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That is still the bone of contention; is it, Gracie?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What <i>is</i> a &#8216;bone of contention&#8217;?&#8221; demanded Mina,
+innocently.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, the jawbone, of course, silly!&#8221; cried Frank.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you mind about my jawbone, miss!&#8221; snapped Grace.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, don&#8217;t let&#8217;s fight, girls,&#8221; Mina said,
+soothingly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Better a dinner of herbs with contentment than a stalled ox and
+trouble on the side,&#8221; misquoted Frank.</p>
+
+<p>The six girls quickly shot their canoes out into the stream. At this point
+the current was swift; <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_62'></a>62</span> but above Denton the river broadened into wide pools
+through which the current flowed sluggishly and it would be easier paddling.</p>
+
+<p>The girls set into a steady stroke, led by their captain, and passed the
+pretty town in a few minutes. Wyn could see the upper windows of her home and
+noted a white cloth fluttering from one. She knew that her mother was standing
+there with the field-glasses and Baby May. Perhaps the little one was trying to
+see &#8220;sister&#8221; through the strong glasses.</p>
+
+<p>So Wyn pulled off her cap and swung it over her head and the six canoes
+immediately fell out of alignment.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t do that, Wyn!&#8221; shouted Bess. &#8220;Those boys will
+catch up with us.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, we want them to; don&#8217;t we?&#8221; asked the captain of the
+Go-Aheads, good-naturedly. &#8220;We&#8217;re going to lunch together, and if we
+make the poor boys work too hard they&#8217;ll eat every crumb we&#8217;ve got
+and leave nothing for poor little we-uns.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So <i>that&#8217;s</i> why you made us bring all this food?&#8221;
+demanded Bess, in disgust. &#8220;Can&#8217;t those boys feed
+themselves?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, they&#8217;ll do their share,&#8221; Wyn replied, laughing.
+&#8220;You&#8217;ll see. Don&#8217;t you see how heavily laden Tubby&#8217;s
+canoe is? I warrant he <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_63'></a>63</span> has enough luncheon aboard for a small
+army.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t look over my shoulder&#8211;I never can,&#8221; quoth
+Bessie. &#8220;Paddling a canoe takes more of my attention than riding a
+bicycle.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Or a motorcycle. Those things are just awful,&#8221; cried Mina
+Everett.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Shucks!&#8221; exclaimed the lively Frankie. &#8220;A motorcycle is
+only an ordinary bicycle driven crazy by over-indulgence in gasoline.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;How smart!&#8221; cried Bessie. &#8220;But you&#8217;d better save
+your breath to cool your porridge&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Or, better still, to work your paddle,&#8221; commented Grace, with a
+swift glance behind. &#8220;Those Busters are coming up the river, hand over
+fist.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;With poor Tubby in the rear, of course,&#8221; said Frank, glancing
+back. &#8220;The tide is certainly against <i>him</i>.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, dear me!&#8221; giggled Percy, &#8220;poor Tubby was more than
+&#8216;tide&#8217; last week when he took Annabel Craven out on the river. Did you
+hear about it? You know&#8211;the night before graduation.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I believe that fat youth is sweet on Annabel,&#8221; announced Bessie,
+shaking her head seriously.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What do you suppose Ann thinks of Tubby?&#8221; cried Grace.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64'></a>64</span>&#8220;You know
+how it is,&#8221; chuckled Frank. &#8220;Nobody loves a fat boy. Go on, Percy.
+What happened to poor old Tubby?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, he inveigled Annabel down to the river and got her into a boat
+and was going to row her around in the moonlight. You know it was just a
+scrumptious night.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;M-m-m! wasn&#8217;t it?&#8221; agreed Frank.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; said Percy, &#8220;Tubby got in without overturning the
+boat and settled to work. The current was pretty swift and he struck right out
+into it and headed up stream.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And there he tugged, and tugged, and tugged, giving all his attention
+to the oars and having none to spare for Annabel. By and by, after Tubby had
+tugged, and grunted, and perspired for half an hour, he said:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Say, I never saw anything like this current to-night&#8211;not in all
+my born days! I&#8217;ve been pulling like a horse for half an hour and I
+don&#8217;t see that we&#8217;ve made as much as a dozen feet!&#8217;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And then Annabel spoke up real pretty, and says she:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Oh, Mr. Blaisdell! I&#8217;ve just thought of something. The anchor
+fell overboard some time ago and I forgot to tell you. Do you suppose it could
+have caught on something?&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65'></a>65</span>The other girls
+were intensely amused at this, for they all appreciated Annabel Craven&#8217;s
+character as well as poor Tubby&#8217;s good-natured blundering. But while they
+laughed and chattered in this way the Busters crept steadily up on them.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I told you how it would be,&#8221; said Bess, tartly, &#8220;if we
+didn&#8217;t hurry up.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter with you girls?&#8221; demanded Dave Shepard.
+&#8220;One would think you were sent for and couldn&#8217;t come, by the way you
+paddle. You&#8217;ll get to the lake before noon at this rate.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not much danger of that, Davie,&#8221; returned Wyn. &#8220;And you
+know we agreed to stop at Ware&#8217;s Island for lunch.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I wish that was right here!&#8221; grunted a voice from the rear,
+where Tubby Blaisdell was paddling away with almost as much splashing as a small
+side-wheel steamer.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My goodness, boy!&#8221; cried Ferd Roberts. &#8220;You&#8217;re not
+hungry so soon, are you?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Soon?&#8221; repeated Tubby, with disgust &#8220;It&#8217;s so long
+since breakfast that I&#8217;ve forgotten what I had to eat.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What do you want to eat, Tubby?&#8221; asked Frank, giggling.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not particular. Anything&#8211;from a marshmallow <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_66'></a>66</span> cake to a tough steak,&#8221; grunted the
+fat boy.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Tubby wouldn&#8217;t be as particular as the grouchy gentleman who
+went into the restaurant out West and ordered a steak,&#8221; chuckled Dave.
+&#8220;After the waiter brought it the customer tried his knife on it and then
+called the waiter back.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Say!&#8217; he objected. &#8216;This steak isn&#8217;t tender
+enough.&#8217;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Not tender enough, stranger?&#8217; returned the cowboy waiter. &#8216;What
+d&#8217;you expect? Want it to hug an&#8217; kiss yer?&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>When the laugh on Tubby had subsided Professor Skillings said, with a twinkle
+in his eye:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Our friend, Blaisdell, should be able to exist some time on his
+accumulation of fat. He ought not to seriously suffer from hunger as
+yet.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Like a camel living on its hump&#8211;eh?&#8221; said Wyn. &#8220;How
+about that, Tubby?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m no relation to a camel&#8211;I tell you that,&#8221; snorted
+the fat boy, with disgust.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then Mr. Blaisdell might imitate some insects; mightn&#8217;t he,
+Professor Skillings?&#8221; suggested Frank, with a sly look. &#8220;You know
+there are insects that live on nothing.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;On nothing?&#8221; exclaimed the professor, quickly. &#8220;Oh, no,
+young lady, you are mistaken. That is quite impossible.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67'></a>67</span>&#8220;But,
+Professor! A moth lives on nothing; doesn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, indeed. How could that be?&#8221; cried the scientific gentleman,
+greatly perturbed by Frank&#8217;s apparent display of ignorance.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, moths eat holes; don&#8217;t they?&#8221; chortled Frank.
+&#8220;Surely &#8216;holes&#8217; are a pretty slim diet.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Professor Skillings led the laughter himself over this simple joke. But he
+added:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I fear I should not be able to interest you in science,
+Frances.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not in summer, sir&#8211;oh, never!&#8221; cried Frank. &#8220;I
+refuse to learn a single, living thing until school opens again next
+fall.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>In spite of Tubby&#8217;s complaints, the canoeing party sighted Ware Island
+in good season for luncheon. This was a low, wooded spot around which the
+Wintinooski&#8211;split in two streams&#8211;flowed very quietly. The country on
+both sides was cut up into farms, with intervening patches of woods, dotted with
+ferns, and was very beautiful.</p>
+
+<p>There was a little beach on one side of the island, with a green, shaded bank
+above. This was a favorite picnicking spot for parties from Denton; but our
+friends had the island all to themselves this day.</p>
+
+<p>The girls had been as far as this island before <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_68'></a>68</span> in their canoes; but never beyond. From
+this spot on the journey up the Wintinooski would be all new to Wyn Mallory and
+her chums.</p>
+
+<p>The canoes were hauled up out of the water and the boys skirmished for fuel
+while the girls got out the luncheon. Ferd Roberts was fire-builder, and Grace,
+who hated that work, watched him closely, marveling how quickly and well he
+constructed the pyre and had a blaze merrily dancing among the sticks.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Doesn&#8217;t that beat all!&#8221; cried Grace. &#8220;You must love
+fires as much as Nero did.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nero? Let&#8217;s see&#8211;he was the chap that always was cold;
+wasn&#8217;t he?&#8221; queried Ferd, grinning.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nope!&#8221; broke in Frank. &#8220;That was Zero. You <i>will</i> get
+your ancient history mixed, Ferd!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The luncheon was quickly laid, and Tubby was not the only one who did it
+justice. But Bessie Lavine continued to act disagreeably toward the boys. She
+was &#8220;forever nagging,&#8221; as Dave said; and sometimes there was a spark
+of fire when she managed to get one or another of the boys
+&#8220;mad.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Professor Skillings wandered off with his bag and little geological hammer
+and Tubby rolled over on his back under a shady bush and went to sleep.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69'></a>69</span>&#8220;Pig!&#8221;
+ejaculated Bess, in disgust. &#8220;That&#8217;s all boys think of&#8211;their
+stomachs.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, don&#8217;t be so hateful, Bess,&#8221; advised Frank. &#8220;Come
+on; the rest of us are going to walk around a little to settle our luncheon,
+before tackling the paddles again.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Humph! with the boys?&#8221; snapped Bess, seeing Wyn start off with
+Dave by her side. &#8220;Not me, thank you!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; chuckled Frank Cameron. &#8220;You can keep Tubby
+company.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But that suggestion made Bess even more angry, and she went off with her nose
+in the air, and all alone. But as the crowd of young folk came around the east
+end of Ware Island, they, saw Bess standing upon the brink of a steep bank,
+under a small tree, where the water had washed out a good deal of the earth in a
+sort of cave beneath where she stood.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hi, Bessie! get back from there!&#8221; shouted Dave, warningly.
+&#8220;That place is likely to cave in.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then you certainly <i>would</i> get a ducking,&#8221; added Frank.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Pooh! I guess I know what I&#8217;m about,&#8221; said the girl.
+&#8220;I&#8217;m no baby.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re acting like one,&#8221; growled Dave. &#8220;That place
+is dangerous.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70'></a>70</span>&#8220;It&#8217;s
+not, Mr. Smartie!&#8221; cried Bess, and she stamped her foot in anger.</p>
+
+<p>And just as though that had been the signal for which it had been waiting,
+several square yards of the steep bank, with the tree she was clinging to,
+slumped down into the river.</p>
+
+<p>The girls screamed, while the boys bounded forward toward the spot where
+Bessie had disappeared.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Dave!&#8221; cried Wyn. &#8220;Save her! save her! She can&#8217;t
+swim very well. She will be drowned!&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71'></a>71</span><a id='link_7'></a>CHAPTER VII<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE STORM BREAKS</span></h2>
+
+<p>Dave Shepard, followed by the other &#8220;Busters,&#8221; leaped down to the
+edge of the water before they came to the spot where the bank had caved. They
+feared that by tramping along the edge they might bring down even a greater
+avalanche than had fallen with the unfortunate Bessie.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There she is, fellows!&#8221; cried Dave. &#8220;She&#8217;s hanging
+to the tree!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I see her!&#8221; returned Ferd Roberts.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Dave! we can&#8217;t reach her,&#8221; cried another of the
+Busters.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I wish the professor was here,&#8221; cried Ferd. &#8220;He&#8217;d
+know what to do.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My goodness!&#8221; returned Dave, throwing off his coat and cap.
+&#8220;I don&#8217;t need anybody to tell me what to do. <i>We&#8217;ve got to
+go after her!</i>&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He tore off the low shoes he wore, pitched them after his cap and coat, and
+leaped into the water. The current tugged hard at the end of <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72'></a>72</span> the island, and Bessie and
+the uprooted sapling were being carried out farther and farther into the
+stream.</p>
+
+<p>The girl had not screamed. Indeed, she had been startled to such a degree
+when she went down that she had really not breath enough for speech as yet.</p>
+
+<p>The boys were &#8220;right on the job,&#8221; and only a few seconds elapsed
+from the moment the bank gave away until that in which Dave Shepard sprang into
+the river.</p>
+
+<p>Some of the roots of the tree still clung to the shore. A part of the
+loosened earth had fallen upon these roots and so the tree was anchored. But
+Bessie was clinging to the hole of the sapling quite fifteen feet from the edge
+of the solid beach.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Catch hold of hands, boys!&#8221; commanded Dave. &#8220;Make a chain!
+Give me one hand, Ferd! The current is tugging me right off my feet!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>His four mates obeyed orders promptly. Dave was captain of the Busters, as
+Wyn was of the Go-Ahead Club; and the boys had learned to obey their captain
+promptly&#8211;all but Tubby, at least. But Tubby was not in this exciting
+adventure at all, being asleep under the bush at their lunching place.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73'></a>73</span>The fat boy was
+not even aroused when the crowd trooped back to the spot, boys and girls alike
+chattering like magpies. Dave and Ferd carried the dripping Bessie in
+&#8220;arm-chair&#8221; fashion and the girl who so disliked boys clung to her
+two chief rescuers with abandon.</p>
+
+<p>They had hauled her out of the river just as she was losing her grasp on the
+tree. A moment later she might have been whirled down stream by the current and
+her life endangered. As it was, she had swallowed much water, and was just as
+wet inside and out as she would ever be in her life.</p>
+
+<p>All the boys were more or less wet&#8211;Dave was saturated to his arm-pits.
+But the day was warm, and the boys were used to such duckings. It was another
+matter, however, with the girl. She was already shaking with an incipient
+chill.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Wood on the fire, boys&#8211;get a lot of it,&#8221; commanded Dave.
+&#8220;And get our blankets and let&#8217;s put up a makeshift tent for Bess to
+use. She must get off her wet duds and wring them out and dry them. Hi! wake up
+that Tubby Blaisdell. We want his help.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Ferd proceeded to walk right over the fat youth on his way for more fuel and
+that effectually aroused the lad.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hey&#8211;you! what are you about?&#8221; yawned <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_74'></a>74</span> Tubby. &#8220;Can&#8217;t you find
+another place to walk on but <i>me</i>, Ferd Roberts?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve got to walk <i>some</i>where,&#8221; quoth Ferd.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why! you&#8217;re all wet,&#8221; gasped Tubby. &#8220;And so are you,
+Dave! And those other fellows&#8211;I declare!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Wake up and do something, Tubby,&#8221; commanded Dave. &#8220;We want
+to get a tent up, There&#8217;s been an accident, and Bessie Lavine is wetter
+than any of us. Let&#8217;s have your knife.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My&#8211;my knife?&#8221; yawned Tubby, rolling over slowly to reach
+into his breeches pocket.</p>
+
+<p>This was too good a chance for Ferd to resist. Tubby was rolling near the
+edge of the bank as Ferd came back with his arms full of broken branches. Ferd
+put his foot against Tubby&#8217;s back and pushed with all his might.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hi! Stop that! Ugh!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Tubby rolled over once&#8211;he rolled over twice; then, with many
+ejaculations and bumps rolled completely down the slope, amid the laughter of
+the boys and girls above him.</p>
+
+<p>Tubby missed the canoes&#8211;by good luck&#8211;and rolled with a splash
+into a shallow pool at the river&#8217;s edge.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You mean thing!&#8221; he yelled, getting up with some alacrity and
+shaking his fist at Ferd. &#8220;I&#8211;I&#8217;m all wet.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75'></a>75</span>&#8220;So are we,
+Tubby,&#8221; Dave said. &#8220;You belong to our lodge now. Come on up here
+with that knife of yours. Didn&#8217;t I tell you I wanted to use it?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The other boys were scurrying after stakes and blankets, while the girls fed
+the fire till it roared high, and Bessie stood in the heat of the flames.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What do you think of the boys <i>now</i>, Bess?&#8221; Frank Cameron
+whispered in the victim&#8217;s ear. &#8220;Some good&#8211;at
+times&#8211;eh?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, don&#8217;t worry her, Frank,&#8221; commanded Mina, the
+tender-hearted. &#8220;The poor, dear girl! See&#8211;she&#8217;s just as wet as
+she can possibly be.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, and wasn&#8217;t I scared!&#8221; gasped Bess, honestly.
+&#8220;When that bank went down I thought I was right on my way through to
+China! I did, indeed.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I was so thankful Dave was there,&#8221; said Wyn Mallory,
+thoughtfully. &#8220;You see, Dave is one of those dependable boys.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve got to admit it,&#8221; gasped Bess. &#8220;He&#8217;s some
+good. Why! he caught me just as I was slipping off that tree. I
+<i>can&#8217;t</i> thank him!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Never mind,&#8221; said Wyn, cheerfully. &#8220;It is decided, I
+guess, that the boys may be of some use to us this summer, after all.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_76'></a>76</span>&#8220;That&#8217;s so, if we&#8217;re all going to
+run the risk of drowning,&#8221; Grace Hedges observed.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I am going to learn to swim better,&#8221; declared Bess.
+&#8220;I&#8217;ll just put my t&#8211;time all in on <i>that</i>. But, oh,
+girls! I am so wet!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Tent&#8217;s ready, ladies!&#8221; shouted Dave Shepard. &#8220;Make
+her take her clothing off, Wyn. We fellows will get the professor and go over to
+the other side of the island for a swim. Ferd and I have got to strip off and
+wring out our trousers, anyway. And I reckon Tubby is some wet.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s all right,&#8221; grumbled the fat youth, waddling after
+his mates. &#8220;I&#8217;ll pay Ferd out for that&#8211;you see!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The boys were back in an hour and a half. By that time Bess had been made
+quite presentable, for her garments had been dried over the fire. However, the
+girls were dressed in a way to stand&#8211;as well as might be&#8211;such
+accidents as Bessie had met.</p>
+
+<p>The girl who had declared boys no good frankly shook hands with Dave before
+they embarked again, and thanked him very prettily for his help in time of
+need.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Go ahead! get a medal for me,&#8221; said Dave. &#8220;Pin it right
+<i>there</i>,&#8221; and he pointed to the lapel of his jacket. &#8220;I&#8217;m
+a hero. Keep on praising <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_77'></a>77</span> me, Miss Lavine, and I&#8217;ll grow as tall as a
+giraffe.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And that&#8217;s the highest form of animal life&#8211;ask the
+professor if it isn&#8217;t,&#8221; chuckled Frank Cameron.</p>
+
+<p>But they were all very thankful that nothing serious had resulted from the
+accident. There was an after-result, however, that promised to be unpleasant.
+They had been so delayed at the island that it was half-past three before they
+got off. There was still a long stretch to paddle to Meade&#8217;s Forge at the
+foot of Honotonka Lake.</p>
+
+<p>And, swiftly as they paddled, the sun was setting when they arrived at the
+Forge. Besides, a heavy cloud was coming up, threatening a storm. Indeed,
+lightning was already playing around the horizon behind them.</p>
+
+<p>There was no hotel at the Forge, and no good place to stop for the night.
+Mrs. Havel was out in her canoe waiting for them. Gannet Island, where the boys
+were to camp, was in sight, and the camping place the girls had had selected for
+them was even nearer.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We had better go at once,&#8221; said the professor, earnestly.
+&#8220;We will stop and help you erect your tents first&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, you will not,&#8221; returned Mrs. Havel. &#8220;The girls and I
+have got to learn to be independent. <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_78'></a>78</span> Besides, your stores are waiting for you over there
+on the island, and I understand from the boatmen that the things are not yet
+under cover. You must hurry. We&#8217;ll get along all right; won&#8217;t we,
+girls?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sure!&#8221; agreed Frank.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We haven&#8217;t come up here to be a burden on the boys, I
+hope,&#8221; said Wyn, sturdily.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn was captain, and as both she and Mrs. Havel thought they could get along
+all right, it was not for the other girls to object. The professor and the boys
+bade them good-bye and paddled away as fast as possible for the distant island.
+Even Tubby put forth some effort, for the thunderstorm was surely coming.</p>
+
+<p>Tired as they were, the girls of the Go-Ahead Club made their paddles fly for
+another half-hour. Then they were in sight of a white birch, to the top of which
+was fastened a long streamer, like a pennant.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s the place!&#8221; cried Wyn, recognizing the signal that
+Polly Jarley had written to her about.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And yonder is the boatman&#8217;s place where our stores were
+left?&#8221; asked Mrs. Havel.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, ma&#8217;am.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We cannot stop for anything now, and must depend for the night upon
+what we have with us. <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_79'></a>79</span> I don&#8217;t like the look of that cloud,&#8221;
+said the lady.</p>
+
+<p>None of the girls liked the look of it, either. It had now rolled up to the
+zenith&#8211;a leaden mass, looming over them most threateningly. And there was
+a rumble of thunder in the summer air.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh! what a beautiful spot!&#8221; cried Percy.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;See that reach of lawn&#8211;and the thick grove behind it. Goodness
+me!&#8221; exclaimed Mina Everett, &#8220;do you suppose there are bears in that
+woods?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If there are, we&#8217;ll catch &#8217;em and eat &#8217;em,&#8221;
+said Frank, practically. &#8220;Now you know, Mina, there hasn&#8217;t been a
+bear shot in this state since your grandfather&#8217;s time.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, then, if there&#8217;s been none shot, maybe there are a lot
+grown up here in the woods,&#8221; objected Mina.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t scare a fellow to death with your croaking,&#8221;
+admonished Percy.</p>
+
+<p>Bessie had known that Polly Jarley had chosen the site for the camp; and she
+was secretly prepared to find fault with it. But as they drove their canoes
+ashore on the little, silvery beach below the green knoll where the pennant
+fluttered, Bess could find in her heart no complaint.</p>
+
+<p>It seemed an ideal spot. On three sides the <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_80'></a>80</span> thick woods sheltered the knoll of green. In front
+the lake lay like a mirror&#8211;its surface whitened in ridges &#8217;way out toward
+the middle now, for the wind was coming.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hurry ashore, girls,&#8221; said Mrs. Havel. &#8220;And pull your
+canoes well up on the sand. We must hurry to get our shelter up first of all. It
+will rain before dark, and the night is coming fast.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Wish the boys had stopped to help us,&#8221; wailed Grace.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And let their own stores get all wet&#8211;eh?&#8221; cried Wyn.
+&#8220;For shame! Come on, girls. To the tent!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>There was a pile of canvas which had been dropped here by the bateau men on
+their way to Gannet Island that forenoon. There were stakes and poles with the
+canvas, and the girls had practised putting up the shelter and striking it for
+some weeks in Wyn&#8217;s back yard.</p>
+
+<p>They were not so clumsy at this work, therefore; but it did seem, because
+they were in a hurry, that everything went wrong.</p>
+
+<p>Mina pounded her thumb with a stake-mallet, and the ridge pole fell once and
+struck Grace on the side of the head. Poor Grace was always unfortunate.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, dear me! I wish I was home!&#8221; wailed <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_81'></a>81</span> the big girl. &#8220;And ouch! it&#8217;s
+going to thunder and lightning just awful!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, keep at work!&#8221; admonished their captain. &#8220;Fasten
+those pegs down well, Frankie,&#8221; she added, to the girl, who had taken the
+mallet. &#8220;Never mind crying over your poor thumb, Mina. Wait till the
+tent&#8217;s up and all our things brought up from the canoes.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Here come the first drops, girls!&#8221; shrieked Frankie.</p>
+
+<p>Drops! It was a deluge! It came across the lake in a perfect wall of water,
+shutting out their view of Gannet Island and everything else.</p>
+
+<p>The girls scuttled for the canoes, emptied them, turned the boats keel
+upward, and then retreated to the big tent, Wyn even dragging the canvas of the
+cook tent inside to keep it from becoming saturated.</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately the last peg had been secured. The flap was laced down quickly.
+In the semi-darkness of the sudden twilight the girls and Mrs. Havel stood
+together and listened to the rain drum upon the taut canvas.</p>
+
+<p>How it sounded! Worse than the rain on a tin roof! Peering out through the
+slit in the middle of the tent-flap they could see nothing but a gray wall of
+water.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly there was a glaring blue flash, followed <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_82'></a>82</span> soon by the roar of the thunder. Several
+of the girls cried out and crouched upon the ground.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, dear me! this is awful!&#8221; groaned Grace again.</p>
+
+<p>Mina Everett was sobbing with the pain in her thumb and her fear of the
+lightning.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, this will never do, girls,&#8221; admonished Wyn Mallory.
+&#8220;Come! we can set up the alcohol lamp and make tea. That will help some.
+There are crackers and some ham, and a whole big bottle of olives. Why! we
+sha&#8217;n&#8217;t starve for supper, that&#8217;s sure.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8211;I don&#8217;t know as I want to eat,&#8221; quavered Mina.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Pshaw! We Go-Aheads must not be afraid of a little
+storm&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Wyn&#8217;s voice was drowned in the clap of thunder which accompanied an
+awful flash of lightning. With both came a splintering crash, the tent seemed to
+rock, and for a moment its interior was vividly illuminated by the electric
+bolt. The lightning had struck near at hand.</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83'></a>83</span><a id='link_8'></a>CHAPTER VIII<br /><span class='h2fs'>AT WINDMILL FARM</span></h2>
+
+<p>Both Wyn and Mrs. Havel&#8211;the bravest of the seven gathered in the big
+tent&#8211;were frightened by this awful shock. The other girls clung to them,
+Mina and Grace sobbing aloud.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8211;I feel as though that bolt fairly seared my eyeballs,&#8221;
+groaned Frank Cameron. &#8220;Oh, dear! Here&#8217;s another!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But this flash was not so severe. The girls peered out of the slit in the
+front of the tent and screamed again in alarm. The rain had passed for the
+moment. There, not many rods away, stood an old, half-dead oak with its top all
+ablaze.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That is where the lightning struck,&#8221; cried Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It is fortunate our tent was no nearer to that side of the
+plateau,&#8221; observed Mrs. Havel.</p>
+
+<p>Then the rain commenced again, and the thudding on the canvas drowned out
+their voices for a time.</p>
+
+<p>Somehow Wyn managed to get supper. The thunder and lightning gradually
+subsided; but for <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84'></a>84</span> an
+hour the rain came in intermittent dashes and it was nine o&#8217;clock before
+they could venture forth into the cool, damp air.</p>
+
+<p>They had eaten their simple meal and set up the sleeping cots (which were
+likewise of canvas) before that. There was a flooring of matched planks to be
+laid, too; but the rain had wet them and the girls would have to wait for
+to-morrow&#8217;s sun to dry them.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh! I don&#8217;t believe living under canvas is going to be half so
+nice as we thought,&#8221; complained Mina. &#8220;I never <i>did</i> think
+about its storming.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A bad beginning makes a good ending,&#8221; quoted Mrs. Havel,
+brightly. &#8220;This is only for one night.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Excuse me! I don&#8217;t want another like it, Auntie,&#8221; declared
+her niece.</p>
+
+<p>They could have no lamp to see to go to bed by, save Wyn&#8217;s pocket
+electric flash.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And it&#8217;s so plaguey awkward!&#8221; cried Frankie. &#8220;Here
+one of us has to hold the snapper shut so the others can see. Here, Mina!
+I&#8217;ve played Goddess of Liberty long enough; <i>you</i> hold the lamp
+awhile.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Wyn slung a line from one end of the tent to the other, and on this they hung
+their clothes. All the girls were provided with warm pajamas <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85'></a>85</span> as being safer night
+garments under canvas than the muslin robes they wore at home.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I <i>do</i> feel so funny,&#8221; cried Percy, hopping into her own
+nest. &#8220;I can&#8217;t curl my toes up in my nightgown&#8211;they stick
+right out at the bottom of these trousers!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And doesn&#8217;t the grass tickle your feet?&#8221; cried Frank,
+dancing about between the cots. &#8220;My, my! this <i>is</i> camping out in
+real earnest. O-o-o! Here&#8217;s a trickle of water running under the side of
+the tent, Wyn.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You can thank your stars it isn&#8217;t running through a hole in the
+tent right upon your heads,&#8221; responded the captain. &#8220;Do get into
+bed, Frank.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Even Frank was quiet at last. The day had been a strenuous one. The muttering
+thunder in the distance lulled them to sleep. Soon the big white tent upon the
+knoll by the lake was silent save for the soft breathing of the girls and their
+chaperone.</p>
+
+<p>And&#8211;odd as it may seem, considering the strangeness of their
+surroundings&#8211;all the girls slept soundly through the night. It was Wyn
+Mallory herself who first opened her eyes and knew, by the light outside, that
+it must be near sunrise.</p>
+
+<p>Up she popped, stepping lightly over the cold <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_86'></a>86</span> grass so as not to arouse her mates and
+Mrs. Havel, and reached the opening. She peered through. To the east the horizon
+was aglow with melting shades of pink, amber, turquoise and rose. The sun was
+coming!</p>
+
+<p>Wyn snapped open the flap and ran out to welcome His Majesty. Then, however,
+she remembered that she was in pajamas, and glanced around swiftly to see if she
+was observed.</p>
+
+<p>Not a soul was in sight. At that moment the first chorus of the feathered
+choir that welcomes the day in the wilds, had ceased. Silence had fallen upon
+the forest and upon the lake.</p>
+
+<p>Only the lap, lap, lap of the little waves upon the shore was audible. The
+wind did not stir the tree branches. There was a little chill in the air after
+the storm, and the ground was saturated.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn was doubtful about that &#8220;early morning plunge&#8221; in the lake
+that she had heard the boys talk about, and which she had secretly determined to
+emulate. But the boys&#8217; camp was at the far end of Gannet Island and she
+could not see it at all. She wondered if Dave and his friends would plunge into
+that awfully cold-looking water on this chilly morning?</p>
+
+<p>To assure herself that the water <i>was</i> cold she ran down to where the
+canoes lay and poked one <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_87'></a>87</span> big toe into the edge of the pool. Ouch! it was just
+like ice!</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, no!&#8221; whispered Wyn, and scuttled up the bank again, hugging
+herself tight in both arms to counteract the chill.</p>
+
+<p>But she couldn&#8217;t go back to bed. It was too beautiful a morning. And
+all the others were sleeping soundly.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn decided that she would not awaken them. But she slipped inside, selected
+her own clothing, and in ten minutes was dressed. Then she ran down to the pool
+again, palmed the water all over her face, rubbing her cheeks and forehead and
+ears till they tingled, and then wiped dry upon the towel she had brought with
+her.</p>
+
+<p>Another five minutes and her hair was braided Indian fashion, and tied
+neatly. Then the sun popped up&#8211;broadly agrin and with the promise in his
+red countenance of a very warm day.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Good-morning, Mr. Sun!&#8221; quoth Wyn, dancing a little dance of her
+own invention upon the summit of the green knoll that overhung the lake before
+the tent. &#8220;I hope you give us a fine day, and that we all enjoy
+it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>With a final pirouette she ran back to the tent. Still Mrs. Havel and the
+others slept.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What lazy folk!&#8221; she told them, in a whisper, and then caught up
+a six-quart pail and ran <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_88'></a>88</span> back through the open place and found the wood road
+that Polly had written her about.</p>
+
+<p>She knew that to her left lay the way to the landing where Mr. Jarley kept
+his boats, and where their stores were under cover in a shed. But breakfast was
+the first consideration, and in the other direction lay Windmill Farm, at which
+Polly told her she had arranged for the Go-Aheads to get milk, fresh eggs, and
+garden vegetables.</p>
+
+<p>So Wyn tripped along this right hand extension of the wood path and, within
+half an hour, came out of the forest upon the edge of the cleared farm. Before
+her lay sloping fields up, up, up to a high knoll, on the top of which stood a
+windmill, painted red.</p>
+
+<p>The long arms of the mill, canvas-covered, rose much higher in the air than
+the gilt vane that glistened on the very peak of the roof. The rising sun shone
+full upon the windmill and made it a brilliant spot of color against the blue
+sky; but the wind was still and the sails did not cause the arms to revolve.</p>
+
+<p>Just below the mill, upon the leisurely slope of the knoll, was set the
+white-painted farmhouse, with well-kept stables and out-buildings and poultry
+yards and piggery at the rear.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What a pretty spot!&#8221; cried Wyn, aloud. <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_89'></a>89</span> &#8220;And the woods are so thick between
+it and the lake that one would never know it was here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>She hurried on, for she knew by the smoke rising from the house chimney and
+the bustle of sound from the barnyard that the farmer and his family were
+astir.</p>
+
+<p>Before she reached the side porch a number of cows, one with a bell on her
+neck leading the herd, filed out through the side yard and took a lane for the
+distant pasture. Horses neighed for their breakfasts, the pigs squealed in their
+sties and there was a pretty young woman singing at the well curb as she drew a
+great, splashing bucket of water.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh! you&#8217;re one of the girls Polly Jarley told us were coming to
+the lake to camp?&#8221; said the farmer&#8217;s wife, graciously. &#8220;And
+did you get here in the storm last night? How do you all like it?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I can only answer for myself,&#8221; declared Wyn, laughing.
+&#8220;They were all asleep when I came away. But I guess if we have nothing
+worse to trouble us than that shower we shall get along all right.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a plucky girl&#8211;for a city one,&#8221; said the
+woman. &#8220;Now, do you want milk and eggs?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Wyn told her what she wanted, and paid for <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_90'></a>90</span> the things. Then she started back to camp, laden with
+the brimming milk pail and a basket which the farmer&#8217;s wife had let her
+have.</p>
+
+<p>The sun was now mounting swiftly in his course across the sky. Faintly she
+heard the sawmill at the Forge blowing a whistle to call the hands, and knew
+that it was six o&#8217;clock. She hurried her steps and reached the opening
+where the tent was pitched just as the first sleepy Go-Ahead was creeping out to
+see what manner of day it might be.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;For goodness&#8217; sake, Wyn Mallory!&#8221; cried this yawning nymph
+in blue pajamas. &#8220;Have you been up all night?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Aren&#8217;t you cute in those things, Percy?&#8221; returned Wyn.
+&#8220;You look just like a doll in a store window. Come on and dress.
+It&#8217;s time you were all up. Why! the day will be gone before you know
+it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh&#8211;ow&#8211;ouch!&#8221; yawned Percy, and then jumped quickly
+through the opening of the tent because Grace Hedges pushed her.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why! the sun&#8217;s up!&#8221; cried the big girl. &#8220;Why! and
+there&#8217;s Wyn with milk&#8211;and eggs&#8211;and pretty red
+radishes&#8211;and <i>peas</i>. Mercy me! Look at all the things in this basket.
+Whose garden have you been robbing, Wyn?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on!&#8221; commanded the captain of the <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_91'></a>91</span> Go-Ahead Club. &#8220;I brought a bag of
+meal in <i>my</i> canoe. And there is salt, and aluminum bowls, and spoons. We
+can make a good breakfast of eggs and mush. Hurry up, all you lazy folk, and
+help get breakfast.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;O-o-o! isn&#8217;t the grass cold!&#8221; exclaimed one girl who had
+just stepped out from between woolen blankets.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8211;I feel as though I were dressing outdoors,&#8221; gasped
+another, with chattering teeth. &#8220;D-don&#8217;t you suppose anybody can see
+through this tent?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nonsense, goosey!&#8221; ejaculated Frank. &#8220;Hurry up and get
+into your clothes. You take up more room than an elephant.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Did you ever share a dressing room with an elephant, Frank?&#8221;
+demanded Bess.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not before,&#8221; returned the thin girl, grimly. &#8220;But I am
+preparing for that experience when I try to dress in the same tent with
+Gracie.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But they were all eager to get outside when they sniffed the smoke of the
+campfire, and, a little later, the odor of eggs &#8220;frying in the pan.&#8221;
+Despite the saturated condition of most of the underbrush Wyn knew where to get
+dry wood for fuel, Dave had long ago taught her that bit of woodcraft.</p>
+
+<p>With a small camp hatchet she had attacked <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_92'></a>92</span> the under branches of the spruce and low pine trees,
+and soon had a good heap of these dead sticks near the tent. She turned over a
+flat stone that lay near by for a hearth. Before the other girls and Mrs. Havel
+were dressed and had washed their faces at the lakeside, Captain Wyn was
+stirring mush in a kettle and frying eggs in pork fat in a big aluminum pan.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sunny side up; or with a veil of brown drawn over their beautiful
+faces, Frankie?&#8221; asked Wyn, referring to the sizzling eggs. &#8220;How do
+you like &#8217;em?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I like &#8217;em on toast&#8211;&#8216;Adam and Eve on a raft&#8217; Brother
+Ed calls &#8217;em. And when he wants &#8217;em scrambled he says, &#8216;Wreck
+&#8217;em!&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll get no toast this morning,&#8221; declared Wyn.
+&#8220;You&#8217;ll be satisfied with crackers&#8211;or go without.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Cruel lady!&#8221; quoth Frank. &#8220;I expect I&#8217;ll have to
+accept my yoke of eggs&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Only the <i>yolk</i> of the eggs, Frank?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, I mean the pair I want,&#8221; laughed Frankie. &#8220;And
+I&#8217;ll take &#8217;em without the toast and&#8211;&#8216;sunny side
+up.&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Good! I can&#8217;t turn an egg without breaking it&#8211;never could.
+Now, girls! bring your plates. I&#8217;ll flop a pair of eggs onto each plate.
+There&#8217;s crackers in the box. Hand around your bowls. <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_93'></a>93</span> The cornmeal mush is nice, and there is
+lovely milk and sugar if you want it. For &#8216;them that likes&#8217; there is
+coffee.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;M-m-m! Doesn&#8217;t it smell good?&#8221; cried Grace, as the party
+came trooping to the fire with their kits.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8211;I thought I&#8217;d miss the sweet butter,&#8221; said Bess,
+sitting down cross-legged on the already dry grass. &#8220;But somehow
+I&#8217;ve got <i>such</i> an appetite.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I hope the boys are having as good a time,&#8221; sighed Wyn, sitting
+back upon her heels and spooning up her mush, flooded with the new milk.
+&#8220;Isn&#8217;t this just scrumptious, Mrs. Havel?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It is the simple life,&#8221; replied that lady, smiling.
+&#8220;Plenty of fresh air, no frills, plain food&#8211;that ought to do much
+for you girls this summer. I am sure if you can endure plain food and simple
+living for these several weeks before us, you will all be improved in both
+health and mind.&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94'></a>94</span><a id='link_9'></a>CHAPTER IX<br /><span class='h2fs'>JOHN JARLEY, EXILE</span></h2>
+
+<p>This could be no day of leisure for the Go-Ahead Club. To get settled in camp
+was the first task&#8211;and that no small one.</p>
+
+<p>There was the plank flooring to be laid in the big tent, the cook-tent to be
+erected, and the floor laid in that. There was a sheet-iron stove to erect, with
+a smoke pipe to the outside, and an asbestos &#8220;blanket&#8221; to wrap
+around the pipe to keep the canvas of the tent-top from scorching.</p>
+
+<p>There were the swinging shelves to put up, fastened to the ridge-pole of the
+cook-tent, on which certain supplies could be kept out of the reach of the wood
+mice and other small vermin. Indeed, there were a dozen and one things of moment
+to see about, beside bringing over to the camp a selection of the
+stores&#8211;and their extra clothes&#8211;from John Jarley&#8217;s shack by the
+boat landing.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn was a competent girl and knew something about using a hammer and a saw.
+The flooring planks for both tents had been assembled at <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_95'></a>95</span> Denton, and were numbered; but after they
+got the sleepers laid Wyn realized that she and her mates had tackled more of a
+task than they had expected.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And the boys will be just as busy as they can be to-day,&#8221; she
+said to the other girls. &#8220;It&#8217;s a wonder if everything they owned
+didn&#8217;t get soaked last evening.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, we can&#8217;t depend upon the Busters to give us any assistance
+just now. Doubt if we see &#8216;hide nor hair&#8217; of them to-day. But we need
+somebody to make these floors properly. There! Bess has stuck a splinter into
+her hand already.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Plague take the old board!&#8221; snapped Bess, dropping it and
+sucking on a ragged little wound in her hand.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You see,&#8221; Wyn said, quickly. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to get some
+help. Anybody want to walk over to Jarley&#8217;s with me?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Are you going to get that man to come here?&#8221; demanded Bess,
+sharply.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t see what else there is to do&#8211;do you,
+Bessie?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t there anybody else to help us around here? There must be
+other squatters.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I do not know of any. We chance to know the Jarleys&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96'></a>96</span>&#8220;Not
+I!&#8221; cried Bess, shaking her head. &#8220;<i>I</i> don&#8217;t know
+them&#8211;and I won&#8217;t know them.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;All right. You and Grace and Percy take the pails and try for some
+berries in the woods yonder. I saw some ripe ones this morning. Fresh picked
+berries will add nicely to our bill-of-fare; isn&#8217;t that so, Mrs.
+Havel?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Quite so, my dear,&#8221; replied the widow, and buried herself in her
+book again, for, as she had told the girls, she had not come here to work; they
+must treat her as a guest.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Are you going to stop with Mrs. Havel, Mina?&#8221; continued Wyn.
+&#8220;Then come along with me, Frank. We&#8217;ll go over and see if the
+Jarleys bite. Bess is afraid they will!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;She was telling us all about John Jarley,&#8221; said Wyn&#8217;s
+chum, as the two left the camp on the green knoll. &#8220;Do you suppose he
+stole that motor boat and the box of silver statuettes?&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='tb' />
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t <i>know</i> anything about it,&#8221; said Wyn, briskly.
+&#8220;But I know that he and Polly are very poor, and with a motor boat and
+five thousand dollars&#8217; worth of silver, it looks to me as though they
+would be very foolish to suffer the privations they do. It&#8217;s nasty gossip,
+that&#8217;s all it is.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, Bess says the man stole from her father years
+ago&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97'></a>97</span>&#8220;I
+don&#8217;t know much about <i>that</i>, either,&#8221; interrupted Wynifred.
+&#8220;But I think Bess is overstepping the line of exact truth when she says
+John Jarley stole from her father. They were doing business together, and Mr.
+Lavine accused Jarley of &#8216;selling him out&#8217; in a real estate deal.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I asked my father about it. Father says the whole business was a
+little misty, at best. If Jarley did all Lavine said, he merely was guilty of
+being false to his friend and partner. It is doubtful if he made much out of it.
+But Lavine talked loudly and long; he had lots of friends even then. The talk
+and all fairly hounded the Jarleys out of town.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And now,&#8221; said Wyn, warmly, &#8220;the Lavines are rich and the
+Jarleys have always been poor. Mr. Jarley is an exile from his old home and such
+friends as he had in Denton. It is really a shame, I think&#8211;and
+you&#8217;ll say so, too, when you see what a splendid girl Polly is.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The two girls had followed the edge of the lake toward the landing, instead
+of taking the path through the wood. Suddenly they came in sight of the float
+and shack, with the several boats in Mr. Jarley&#8217;s keeping.</p>
+
+<p>Back from the shore was a tiny cottage, painted red, its window sash and door
+striped with yellow. It was a gay little cot, and everything about <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98'></a>98</span> it was as neat and as
+gaily painted as a Dutch picture.</p>
+
+<p>As Wyn and Frank came down the hill they saw Polly Jarley run out of the
+house and down to the landing. Her father was busy there at an overturned
+boat&#8211;evidently caulking the seams.</p>
+
+<p>The boatman&#8217;s girl did not see her visitors coming; but Wyn and Frank
+got a good view of her, and the latter exclaimed to Wyn:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why! she&#8217;s as pretty as a picture! She&#8217;s handsome! If she
+only had on nice clothes she would be a perfect beauty.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Wouldn&#8217;t she?&#8221; returned Wyn, happily. &#8220;I think my
+Polly Jolly is just the <i>dearest</i> looking creature. Isn&#8217;t she brown?
+And what pretty feet and hands she has!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Polly wore a very short skirt, patched and stained. Her blouse was open at
+the throat, so that the soft roundness of the curve of her shoulder was plainly
+visible.</p>
+
+<p>Out of the open neck of the blouse her deeply tanned throat rose like a
+bronze column; the roses in her cheeks and on her lips relieved the sun-darkened
+skin. Her hair was in two great plaits and it was evident that she seldom
+troubled about a hat. She was lithe, graceful as she could be, and bubbling over
+with good health if not good spirits.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99'></a>99</span>And this was a
+morning&#8211;after the rain&#8211;to make even a lachrymose person lively. The
+smell of all growing things was in the nostrils&#8211;the warmth of the sun
+lapped one about like a mantle&#8211;it was a beautiful, beautiful
+day,&#8211;one to be remembered.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn shouted and started running down the hill. Polly heard her, turned to see
+who it might be who called, and recognizing her friend, set out to meet her
+quite as eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Miss Wynifred!&#8221; cried the boatman&#8217;s daughter.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Polly Jolly! This is Frank Cameron.&#8221; She kissed Polly warmly.
+&#8220;How fine you look, Polly! Tell me! will all we girls look as healthy and
+be as strong as you are, by the autumn? You&#8217;re a picture!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A pretty shabby one, I fear, Miss Wyn,&#8221; protested Polly, yet
+smiling. &#8220;I am in the very oldest clothes I have, for there is much dirty
+work to be done around here. We have hardly got ready for the summer yet. Father
+has been so lame.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And you must introduce me to your father, Polly,&#8221; Wyn said,
+quickly. &#8220;We have something for him to do&#8211;if he will be so
+kind.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;All you need to do is to say what it is, Wynifred,&#8221; responded
+Polly, warmly. &#8220;If either of <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_100'></a>100</span> us can do anything for you we will only be too
+glad.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The three girls walked to the spot where Mr. Jarley was engaged upon his
+boat. He was not at all the sort of a person whom the girls from town had
+expected to see. The boatmen and woodsmen who sometimes drifted into Denton were
+rough characters. This man, after being ten years and more in the woods, savored
+little of the rough life he had followed.</p>
+
+<p>He was a small man, very neat in his suit of brown overalls, with grizzled
+hair, a short-cropped gray mustache, and without color in his face save the coat
+of tan his out-of-door life had given him.</p>
+
+<p>There was a gentle, deprecatory air about him that reminded Wyn strongly of
+Polly herself. But this manner was almost the only characteristic that father
+and daughter had in common.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Jarley was low-spoken, too; he listened quietly and with an air of
+deference to what Wyn had to propose.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Surely I will come around and do all I can to aid you, Miss
+Mallory,&#8221; he said. &#8220;You shall pick out the stores you think you will
+need, and we will take a boat around to your camp. Your stores will be perfectly
+safe here&#8211;if you wish to risk them in my care,&#8221; he added.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Of course, sir. And we expect to pay you for <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_101'></a>101</span> keeping them. If we have a long spell
+of rainy weather the dampness would be bound to spoil things in our
+tents.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;True. This corrugated iron shack will keep the stores dry, and the
+door has a good padlock,&#8221; returned Mr. Jarley. &#8220;Now, you young
+ladies pick out what you wish carried over to the camp and I will soon be at
+your service.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t he nice?&#8221; whispered Wyn to Frank, when Polly had run
+into the house for something, and Mr. Jarley himself was out of hearing.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why! he is a perfect gentleman!&#8221; exclaimed Frank. &#8220;How can
+Bess talk as she does about him? I am surprised at her.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And these other people about here, too!&#8221; declared Wyn, warmly.
+&#8220;What an evil tongue Gossip has! That man&#8211;Shelton, is his
+name?&#8211;at the other end of the lake, who has accused Mr. Jarley of stealing
+his boat and the silver statues, ought to be punished.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well&#8211;of course&#8211;we don&#8217;t <i>know</i> anything more
+about the Jarleys than these other people,&#8221; observed Frank,
+doubtfully.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I judge people by their appearance a good deal, I suppose,&#8221;
+admitted Wyn. &#8220;And mother tells me that is a poor way to judge. Just the
+same, I <i>feel</i> that the Jarleys are being maligned. And I would love to
+help them.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102'></a>102</span>&#8220;Well!
+there isn&#8217;t much chance to do that unless you can prove that he <i>is</i>
+honest, after all,&#8221; remarked Frank.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I know it. Everything is going to tell against him unless the lost
+boat and the images can be found. I wonder where it was sunk? Do you suppose
+Polly would tell us just where the accident happened?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Ask her.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I will, if I get a chance,&#8221; declared Wyn. &#8220;And
+wouldn&#8217;t it be fine if we girls could find the sunken boat and the box
+belonging to Dr. Shelton, and clear up the whole trouble?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Even <i>that</i> would not satisfy Bessie Lavine,&#8221; said Frankie,
+with a little laugh. &#8220;You know&#8211;Bess is &#8216;awful sot in her
+ways.&#8217; When she has made up her mind that a thing is so, you can&#8217;t
+shake it out of her with a charge of dynamite!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You never tried the dynamite; did you, Frank?&#8221; queried Wyn,
+smiling.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No! But I&#8217;ve wanted to&#8211;at times.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Bessie is like her father&#8211;obstinate. It is a family trait Yet,
+once get her turned around&#8211;show her that she has been wrong and unfair to
+anybody&#8211;and she can&#8217;t do too much for her to prove how sorry she
+is.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right! look how she talked against the
+boys&#8211;especially against Dave Shepard. And <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_103'></a>103</span> now you can just wager she won&#8217;t be able to
+do enough for him to show how grateful she is for being pulled out of the
+water,&#8221; laughed Frank.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Jarley was ready to load the boat for them, and Polly came back with the
+key to the shack. Polly could not go over to the camp, for both she and her
+father could not leave the landing at once. Some fishermen might come along at
+any time to hire a boat. The season was opening now, and after the &#8220;lean
+months&#8221; that had gone by, the Jarleys had to be on the watch for every
+dollar that might come their way.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It seems an awfully hard life for such a man&#8211;and for
+Polly,&#8221; whispered Wyn to her companion. &#8220;I&#8217;d just <i>love</i>
+to have Polly for a member of our club.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So would I,&#8221; agreed Frank. &#8220;She&#8217;s just as sweet as
+she can be. But Bess would go right up in the air!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I know it,&#8221; sighed Wyn. &#8220;Somehow we have got to make
+Bessie Lavine see the error of her ways. Oh, dear! why can&#8217;t people be
+nice to each other all the time?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Goodness me, Wyn Mallory!&#8221; exclaimed Frank. &#8220;What do you
+expect while there still remains &#8216;original sin&#8217; in the world? That seems
+to have been left out of <i>your</i> constitution; but most of the rest of us
+have our share.&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104'></a>104</span><a id='link_10'></a>CHAPTER X<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE &#8220;HAPPY DAY&#8221;</span></h2>
+
+<p>That day the camp upon the hill overlooking Lake Honotonka was completed. Mr.
+Jarley was very helpful, for beside laying the floors of the two tents, and
+setting up the stove, he built for the girls an open-air fireplace of flat
+rocks, dragged up from the shore; set up their plank dining table, cut and set
+three posts for their clothes-line (for they were to do their own laundry work),
+dug shallow ditches all around the tents, with a drain to carry off any water
+that might collect; built an &#8220;overlook-seat&#8221; at the foot of a big
+birch which overhung the water, and did countless other little services which
+most of the Go-Ahead Club appreciated.</p>
+
+<p>Bessie Lavine did not come back from the berrying expedition until Mr. Jarley
+had gone back to the landing; and of course she hadn&#8217;t much to say about
+the change in the appearance of things. But the other girls were
+enthusiastic.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And now we must have a name for the camp,&#8221; <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_105'></a>105</span> said Mrs. Havel, as they sat down to
+the oilcloth-covered table to dinner.</p>
+
+<p>The arrangements for cooking and eating were of the simplest; yet everything
+was neat. Using oilcloth saved laundry, and using paper napkins was likewise a
+help. The food was served daintily, if simply, and although all the girls were
+used to much finer table service at home, the hearty appetites engendered by the
+pure air of lake and forest made even coarse food taste delicious.</p>
+
+<p>They were all instantly enthusiastic over their chaperone&#8217;s suggestion.
+Half a dozen names were suggested on the spur of the moment; but no particular
+one met the approval of all the girls, immediately.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll have to draw lots,&#8221; suggested Mina.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No! let&#8217;s each write down the best names we can think of, and
+then vote on them,&#8221; said Bess.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Goody!&#8221; cried Frank. &#8220;We must have a name that fits, but
+is pretty and not too &#8216;hifalutin&#8217;,&#8217; as my grandmother would
+say.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Naming the camp is all very well, girls,&#8221; said Wyn, seriously,
+rapping on the table for order. &#8220;But there are more important things to
+decide. The work of the camp is to be properly apportioned&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, dear me!&#8221; groaned Grace. &#8220;Have we <i>got</i> to work?
+After traipsing over four miles of <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_106'></a>106</span> huckleberry pasture all the morning I feel as
+though I had done my share for to-day.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And she ate as many as she picked!&#8221; cried Bess. &#8220;Oh,
+I&#8217;m going to tell on you, Miss! You&#8217;re not going to crawl out of
+your fair share.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t enlist to work,&#8221; declared Grace, with some
+sullenness. &#8220;What&#8217;s the fun of camping out if one has to work like a
+slave all the time?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And we haven&#8217;t even begun!&#8221; cried Frank. &#8220;For shame,
+Gracie!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, none of the members of the Go-Aheads, I feel sure,&#8221; quoth
+Wyn, quietly, &#8220;will try to escape her just burden. To have the fun of
+camping out under canvas we must each do our share of the work quickly and
+cheerfully. We will divide up the tasks, and change them about weekly. Of
+course, Mrs. Havel is not supposed to lift her hand. She is our
+guest.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, but auntie is going to show us how to make pancakes,&#8221; cried
+Percy.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll learn to do <i>that</i>,&#8221; said Grace, brightening up.
+&#8220;For I love &#8217;em.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Of course&#8211;piggy-wiggy!&#8221; scoffed Bess. &#8220;Come, Wyn,
+you set us our tasks and any girl who kicks about &#8217;em shall be
+fined.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll do better than that. We will use Mina&#8217;s idea of
+drawing lots about the work. <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_107'></a>107</span> There are certain things to be done each
+week&#8211;each day, of course. Two girls must &#8217;tend fires and cook; two
+girls must air and make beds, clean up about the tents, and wait on table if
+needed; the other two must get up early and go for the milk and vegetables,
+gather berries, and do odd jobs. The girls who do the &#8216;chamber work&#8217;
+should wash the dishes, too, for the cooks will be too tired and heated after
+preparing the meals to clean up the tables and mess with the dishwashing.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now are those three divisions satisfactory? Every third week, you see,
+the two who go for the milk, etcetera, will have an easy job. Is it
+agreed?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>There was no objection raised to this plan, and the girls paired off as they
+usually did&#8211;Wyn and Frank together, Grace and Percy, and Bess and
+Mina.</p>
+
+<p>Then they drew straws&#8211;really grass blades of three lengths&#8211;to see
+which couple should do which. It fell to the lot of Bess and Mina to cook for a
+week. Grace and Percy Havel were &#8220;chambermaids,&#8221; and Wyn and Frank
+Cameron had the good luck to get the shortest blade of grass.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Of course, <i>I&#8217;d</i> have to work hard two weeks before getting
+a chance to rest,&#8221; grumbled Grace. <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_108'></a>108</span> &#8220;Probably something will happen after
+we&#8217;re here a fortnight, and we&#8217;ll all have to go home.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It would take something <i>awful</i> to send me home from this
+beautiful spot in a fortnight,&#8221; cried Mina.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Just my luck if you all got smallpox, or something equally
+contagious,&#8221; growled Grace.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then you certainly would be fortunate for once&#8211;if you escaped
+it,&#8221; chuckled Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not a bit of it. They&#8217;d quarantine you here, and have nurses,
+and lots of nice jellies and ices for you; while poor unlucky me would be packed
+back to Denton for the rest of the summer&#8211;and after working like a slave,
+dishwashing, and sweeping, and making beds, and cooking, and the like, for two
+whole weeks.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Despite Grace&#8217;s complaints, the club as a whole was satisfied with the
+arrangements for taking care of the camp. There had been a secondary
+consideration in the minds of all their mothers when permission was obtained for
+the Go-Aheads to spend the summer under canvas. Mrs. Evelyn Havel was a
+wondrously good housekeeper. She had been trained in domestic science, too. And
+she had promised to have an oversight of each girl&#8217;s work and to teach
+them, from time to time, many helpful domestic things.</p>
+
+<p>This phase of the camping-out plan Wyn had <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_109'></a>109</span> &#8220;played up&#8221; in getting the consent of
+all the parents; and for one, Wyn was determined to carry the scheme through.
+When they went back to Denton in the fall she proposed to be a good &#8220;plain
+cook&#8221; herself, and she hoped the other girls would fall in cheerfully with
+the project also. She knew Mrs. Havel would do all she could toward teaching
+them.</p>
+
+<p>The work once apportioned to them, the girls&#8217; minds could be given more
+particularly to the naming of the camp. But they would not decide upon it until
+bedtime. However, all six cudgeled their brains to invent striking names.</p>
+
+<p>It was decided that only one name could be suggested by each girl, and this
+would give them a list of six to choose from. Oddly enough both Mina and Grace
+chose the same&#8211;Camp Pleasant. It looked as though <i>that</i> name had a
+lead at the start.</p>
+
+<p>Frank suggested Birch Tree Camp&#8211;for there was an enormous birch on the
+knoll at the foot of which Mr. Jarley had set up a bench for them.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now you, Bess?&#8221; said Wyn, as mistress of ceremonies.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Camp Pleasant is all right,&#8221; admitted Miss Lavine; &#8220;only
+it is not very distinctive. I expect there are thousands of Camp
+Pleasants&#8211;don&#8217;t you think so?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_110'></a>110</span>&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter with <i>my</i>
+name?&#8221; demanded Frank Cameron.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I find the same fault with it,&#8221; replied Bess. &#8220;It is not
+distinctive enough. Now, I don&#8217;t know that I have the right idea; but I
+believe that calling the camp after our club wouldn&#8217;t be so bad. And it
+would mean something.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Go-Ahead Camp? Or Camp Go-Ahead?&#8221; cried Grace.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s nothing romantic about it, that&#8217;s sure,&#8221;
+objected Mina.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Goodness me! we&#8217;re not looking for romance, I hope,&#8221; cried
+the strong-minded Bess.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Bess is a suffragette in embryo&#8211;I declare!&#8221; cried Frank,
+laughing.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;How does Camp Cheer sound?&#8221; suggested Percy. &#8220;Now,
+that&#8217;s real nice, <i>I</i> think.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say, we&#8217;ve got to vote on them, anyway,&#8221; said Grace.
+&#8220;<i>We&#8217;ve</i> got two votes for Camp Pleasant, Mina.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But hold on!&#8221; cried Frank. &#8220;Here&#8217;s one hasn&#8217;t
+been heard from. The shrinking violet of all our crew! What&#8217;s the matter,
+Wynnie? Can&#8217;t you decide on a name?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I thought of one last evening when we were paddling over here from the
+Forge&#8211;before the rain,&#8221; admitted the captain.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well! for pity&#8217;s sake!&#8221; gasped Grace. <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_111'></a>111</span> &#8220;That&#8217;s before we even knew
+it was to have a name.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t think particularly about naming the camp,&#8221; said
+Wyn, reflectively, &#8220;but from the water, with the squall working up behind
+us, and the last light of the day lingering on this little hill, the name
+flashed into my mind.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; chorused the others. &#8220;Do tell us,
+Wyn!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Green Knoll.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Just <i>that</i>?&#8221; cried Grace. &#8220;&#8216;Green Knoll&#8217;? Why!
+It <i>was</i> green; wasn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I remember how green it seemed from the lake,&#8221; added Bess.
+&#8220;It&#8217;s not a silly name, either. It means something.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I take it all back about &#8216;Birch Tree Camp,&#8217;&#8221; declared
+Frank. &#8220;&#8216;Green Knoll.&#8217; There&#8217;s a dignity about that&#8211;as
+our assistant principal, Miss Hutchins, would say.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a fine name, <i>I</i> think,&#8221; admitted Percy Havel,
+slowly. &#8220;I withdraw Camp Cheer. It may not be so cheerful here all the
+time&#8211;especially if we catch smallpox, as Grace says. But it will
+<i>always</i> be green up here on the knoll.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;As long as we are here to see it, at least,&#8221; agreed Frankie,
+nodding.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say! our Camp Pleasant is swamped!&#8221; cried <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_112'></a>112</span> Grace. &#8220;What say, Mina? Shall we
+surrender?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Green Knoll sounds very pretty,&#8221; agreed the sweet-tempered Mina
+Everett.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, girls! do you really all like it?&#8221; Wyn cried.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I vote aye!&#8221; said Frank, with emphasis. The other four followed
+in quick succession.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, that&#8217;s lovely of you!&#8221; cried the captain of the club.
+&#8220;I&#8211;I was afraid nobody would like it but myself.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s so appropriate,&#8221; said Bess.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all <i>right</i>,&#8221; Frank declared. &#8220;I wonder
+what the Busters will call their camp?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They named it last fall,&#8221; said Wyn. &#8220;Dave told me. It is
+Cave-in-the-Wood Camp. Not so bad&#8211;eh?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Pretty good for a parcel of boys,&#8221; observed Bess.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8217;m glad the worry&#8217;s over,&#8221; yawned Grace.
+&#8220;Let&#8217;s go to bed. You know, Percy, we&#8217;ve got to work like
+slaves to-morrow, so it behooves us to get to bed betimes.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Mercy!&#8221; cried Frankie, &#8220;they&#8217;ll be wanting to make
+up the cots before we are out of them in the morning. Come on! let&#8217;s all
+turn in.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>There was a general roll-call at daybreak the next morning. Wynifred and
+Frank were not the <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113'></a>113</span>
+only ones to get up as soon as day approached, although to them had been
+allotted the task of going to Windmill Farm for the milk and the day&#8217;s
+supply of vegetables.</p>
+
+<p>They had agreed the night before to venture into the water. The boys always
+bragged about this early morning dip, which was a rule of their camp.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t see why we shouldn&#8217;t be able to do anything those
+boys do,&#8221; declared Bess, with her usual contempt for the vaunted
+superiority of the other sex. &#8220;If they can run down and plunge right into
+the water, right out of bed, why can&#8217;t <i>we</i>?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>So even Grace&#8211;who had her doubts about it&#8211;ventured on this second
+morning. They slipped out of their sleeping clothes and into bathing suits.
+There <i>was</i> a little chill in the air; but Wyn assured them the water would
+be warmer than the air and&#8211;if they remained in half an hour, or
+so&#8211;the sun would be up and his rays would warm them when they came
+out.</p>
+
+<p>And Wyn&#8217;s prophecy was proven right. The six girls disported in the
+lake like a flock of ducks. Mrs. Havel, however, would not let them remain more
+than twenty minutes. The sun had shot up, then, and already the green knoll was
+warm in his first rays.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114'></a>114</span>Wyn and Frank
+scurried into their clothes and hurried away to the farm for the milk and
+vegetables. Frank saw the windmill on the summit of the hill, and nothing would
+do but she must run up and inspect it. The breeze was rising and the farmer, who
+was likewise the miller, was preparing to &#8220;grind a grist.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve got a good bit of grain on hand; but we&#8217;ve not had
+wind enough of daytimes lately to grind a handful,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I
+can&#8217;t invite you inside, young ladies, because when they set up this mill
+for me they made the door, as you see, right behind the sails. When the arms are
+in motion I am shut in till the grist is ground; or I stop the sails with this
+lever just inside the door&#8211;d&#8217;ye see?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>As the girls went back toward the house the arms began turning with a
+groaning sound. The wind became fresher. Round and round the long arms turned,
+while the canvas bellied like the sails on a boat.</p>
+
+<p>Louder and louder grew the hum of the mill. The miller threw in the clutch
+and the stones began to grind. They heard the corn poured into the hopper, and
+then the shriek of the kernels as they were ground between the stones. The whole
+building began to shake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What a ponderous thing it is!&#8221; exclaimed <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_115'></a>115</span> Frank. &#8220;And see! there&#8217;s a
+tiny window in the roof facing the lake. I imagine you could see clear to
+Meade&#8217;s Forge from that window.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Farther than that, my dear&#8211;much farther,&#8221; said the
+farmer&#8217;s wife, handing Frank the basket of fresh vegetables over the
+garden fence. &#8220;On a clear day you can see &#8217;way across the lake to Braisely
+Park. The tower of Dr. Shelton&#8217;s fine house is visible from that window.
+And the whole spread of the lake. But the air must be very clear.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Goody! We&#8217;ll bring the other girls up here some day when the
+mill is not running and climb to the top of the mill for the view,&#8221;
+declared Frank.</p>
+
+<p>Bess and Mina, with some advice from Mrs. Havel, made a very good breakfast.
+Although neither was very domestic in her tastes, the two young cooks were on
+their mettle, and did the best they could. If the hot biscuits were not quite so
+flaky as their mothers&#8217; own cooks made them at home, and some of the
+poached eggs broke in the poacher, and the broiled bacon got afire several time
+and &#8220;fussed them all up,&#8221; as Mina said, the general opinion of the
+occupants of Green Knoll Camp was that &#8220;there was no kick
+coming&#8221;&#8211;of course, expressed thus by the slangy Frank Cameron.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116'></a>116</span>Grace
+<i>would</i> dawdle over the dishwashing, and Percy was a good second.
+Therefore, those two still had work on their hands when Bess sighted a motor
+boat coming swiftly toward their camp from the direction of Gannet Island.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now somebody&#8217;s going to butt in and bother us,&#8221; declared
+Bess. &#8220;It can&#8217;t be the Busters, I s&#8217;pose?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s exactly who it is!&#8221; cried Wyn, delightedly.
+&#8220;That&#8217;s the <i>Happy Day</i>. Dave said if his cousin, Frank Dumont,
+could come up here, he would bring his father&#8217;s motor boat. And he must
+have come yesterday when we were busy and did not see him.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hurrah!&#8221; cried Frank. &#8220;A motor boat beats a canoe all to
+pieces.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The Busters are aboard, all right,&#8221; sighed Bess, after another
+look. &#8220;Now we&#8217;ll have a noisy time.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now there&#8217;ll be something doing!&#8221; quoth Frank.
+&#8220;That&#8217;s the trouble with a crowd of girls. After they have played
+&#8216;Ring Around the Rosy&#8217; and &#8216;London Bridge is Falling Down&#8217; they
+don&#8217;t know another living thing to do except to sit down and look prim and
+be prosy. But with boys it&#8217;s different. There&#8217;s something doing all
+the time.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117'></a>117</span>&#8220;You
+should have been a boy, Frank,&#8221; declared Bess, with some disgust.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If I was one, I&#8217;d be hanging around your house all the time,
+Bessie mine,&#8221; laughed the other, hugging the boy-hater.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Get away! I&#8217;d have Patrick turn the hose on you if you
+did!&#8221; cried Bess, in mock wrath.</p>
+
+<p>But secretly, Miss Lavine, as well as her mates, was glad of the break in the
+quiet affairs of Green Knoll Camp made by the appearance of Dave Shepard and his
+spirited chums.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, crackey, girls! you ought to see our camp! We&#8217;ve got a
+regular pirates&#8217; cave,&#8221; declared Ferdinand Roberts.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Did your stores get wet in that awful storm?&#8221; demanded Wyn from
+the top of the knoll.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not much. We managed to cover them with the canvas. And now
+we&#8217;ve cleaned out the cave and it&#8217;s great. All we need is some
+captives to take over there and chain to the rocks,&#8221; laughed Dave.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And fatten &#8217;em up till they&#8217;re fit to eat,&#8221; drawled
+Tubby Blaisdell.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Stop it, Tub!&#8221; cried one of his mates. &#8220;We&#8217;re not
+going to play cannibals, but pirates.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, in either case,&#8221; declared Bess, &#8220;you will not get
+captives at Green Knoll Camp.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Is that what you call this pretty hillock?&#8221; <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_118'></a>118</span> cried Dave. &#8220;Well, it <i>is</i> a
+beauty spot! And how nice you girls have made everything. Why! you don&#8217;t
+need any boys around at all.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what I&#8217;ve always told them,&#8221; murmured Bess.
+&#8220;They&#8217;re only a nuisance.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We came over to see if we could help you,&#8221; continued Dave.
+&#8220;Here&#8217;s my cousin, Frank Dumont, girls. Some of you know him,
+anyway. This is his motor boat, and if there really is nothing we can do to help
+you here, why, Frank wants to take you all&#8211;with Mrs. Havel, if she is
+agreeable&#8211;for a trip around the lake. We&#8217;ve got supplies aboard and
+we&#8217;ll stop somewhere and make a picnic dinner.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Goody!&#8221; cried Mina. &#8220;Then we will not have to make dinner
+here, Bess.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Agreed!&#8221; announced Grace. &#8220;There will be no more dishes to
+wash until evening, then.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Dave said, slowly. &#8220;Of course
+we like to have you girls go along; but usually girls do the grub-getting and
+dishwashing on a picnic.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nothing doing, then,&#8221; declared Frank, laughing at him.
+&#8220;This crowd of girls are going as invited guests, or not at all. We
+promise to be ornamental, but not useful.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re ornamental, all right, in those blouses and
+bloomers,&#8221; declared Ferd, for the girls had <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_119'></a>119</span> discarded skirts about the camp, and
+felt much more free and comfortable than they usually did.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If worse comes to worst,&#8221; said Mrs. Havel, smiling,
+&#8220;<i>I</i> will be the camp drudge, boys, for I want to see the lake shore
+in panorama.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, let &#8217;em come,&#8221; drawled Tubby, still lying on his back
+on the little deck of the <i>Happy Day</i>. &#8220;They&#8217;ll get hungry some
+time and <i>have</i> to cook for us.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>And so, amid much bustle, and laughter, and raillery, the girls of Green
+Knoll Camp joined the boys of Cave-in-the-Wood Camp in the motor boat for a trip
+around the big lake.</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120'></a>120</span><a id='link_11'></a>CHAPTER XI<br /><span class='h2fs'>WHERE THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED</span></h2>
+
+<p>&#8220;And where is Professor Skillings?&#8221; asked Mrs. Havel, as the
+well-laden launch drew away from the little natural landing which defended one
+end of the girls&#8217; bathing beach at Green Knoll Camp.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Bless your heart, ma&#8217;am,&#8221; said Ferdinand Roberts,
+laughing, &#8220;the old gentleman is trying to figure out one of Tubby&#8217;s
+unanswerable arguments&#8211;that is, I believe, what you&#8217;d call
+it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;One of Tubby&#8217;s unanswerable arguments?&#8221; cried Wyn.
+&#8220;For pity&#8217;s sake! what can that be?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, at breakfast this morning the professor got to &#8216;dreaming,&#8217;
+as he sometimes does. He tells us lots of interesting things when he begins
+talking that way; but sometimes, if we are in a hurry to get away, we have to
+put the stopper in,&#8221; chuckled Ferd.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Tubby usually does it. Tubby really <i>is</i> good for something
+beside eating and sleeping, girls&#8211;you wouldn&#8217;t believe
+it!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121'></a>121</span>&#8220;You
+<i>do</i> surprise us,&#8221; admitted Bess Lavine, cuttingly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;All right. But just wait and listen. We wanted to get away early and
+come over here after you,&#8221; said Ferd. &#8220;And the professor began to
+give us one of his talks. This time it was on literature. By and by he says:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;We are told that it took, Gray, author of &#8216;An Elegy Written in a
+Country Churchyard,&#8217; seven years to write that famous poem.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Gee!&#8217; exclaimed Tubby. &#8216;If he&#8217;d only known stenography
+how much better off he&#8217;d been.&#8217;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Ahem! how do you prove that, Mr. Blaisdell?&#8217; inquired the
+professor, quite amazed.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Why, we took that as a lesson in the shorthand class of the
+Commercial Department last spring,&#8217; said Tubby, &#8216;and some of the real good
+ones could do Gray&#8217;s Elegy, from dictation, in seven minutes. See what
+Gray would have saved if he&#8217;d known shorthand!&#8217;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And that completely shut up the professor,&#8221; said Ferd, as the
+laughter broke out. &#8220;He hasn&#8217;t recovered from the shock
+yet.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The <i>Happy Day</i> was turned toward the Forge first, skirting the shore
+all the way. That brought them, of course, close to Jarley&#8217;s Landing.
+Polly was just pushing out in a little skiff.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122'></a>122</span>Wyn and Frank
+waved to her; but the other girls did not know her, of course, and only watched
+the boatman&#8217;s daughter curiously.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;How well she rows!&#8221; exclaimed Percy.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say! but she&#8217;s a fine looking girl,&#8221; said Dave, earnestly.
+&#8220;What handsome arms she&#8217;s got.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Handsome is as handsome does,&#8221; remarked Bess, snappishly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s as brown as an Indian,&#8221; observed Mina.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That doesn&#8217;t hurt her,&#8221; declared Dave, stoutly. &#8220;Is
+<i>she</i> the girl you were speaking about, Wyn?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;She is Polly Jarley, and she is my friend,&#8221; responded Wynifred,
+quietly. &#8220;And I believe her to be as good as she is beautiful.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then there are wings sprouting under her blouse,&#8221; laughed Frank;
+&#8220;for there&#8217;s no girl <i>I</i> ever saw who could hold a candle to
+Polly for right down beauty.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;She looks so sad,&#8221; said Mina, softly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why shouldn&#8217;t she be sad?&#8221; Wyn demanded, &#8220;with
+everybody talking about her father the way they do?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come, girls!&#8221; commanded Mrs. Havel. &#8220;Don&#8217;t gossip.
+Find some other topic of conversation.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Ha! quite so,&#8221; cried Frank, with a grimace upon her own homely
+face. &#8220;A girl may be as <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_123'></a>123</span> pretty as a picture and spoil it all by an ugly
+frame of mind. How&#8217;s <i>that</i> for a spark thrown from the
+wheel?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Stand back, audience!&#8221; exclaimed Dave. &#8220;Something like
+that is likely to happen any minute.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t really see how the old professor gets on with you boys
+at all,&#8221; remarked Bessie Lavine, with a sigh. &#8220;You&#8217;d worry the
+life out of an angel.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But Professor Skillings is <i>not</i> an angel&#8211;thanks be!&#8221;
+exclaimed Dave.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s a good old scout!&#8221; drawled Tubby.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He just hasn&#8217;t forgotten what it is to be a boy,&#8221; began
+Ferd.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But, goodness me!&#8221; cried Frankie. &#8220;He&#8217;s forgotten
+about everything else, at some time or other; hasn&#8217;t he?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not what he&#8217;s learned out of books and from observation,&#8221;
+declared Dave. &#8220;But my goodness! he <i>is</i> absent-minded. Yesterday a
+couple of us fellows chopped up a good heap of firewood. We don&#8217;t have a
+fancy stove like you girls, but just an out-of-doors fireplace. After supper the
+dear old prof, said he&#8217;d wash the dishes, and we dumped all the pots and
+pans together and&#8211;what do you think?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Couldn&#8217;t think,&#8221; drawled Frank. &#8220;I&#8217;m too <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124'></a>124</span> lazy. Tell us without
+making your story so complicated.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, we found he had carried an armful of firewood down to the shore
+and was industriously swashing the sticks up and down in the water, thinking he
+was washing the supper dishes.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>With similar conversation, and merry badinage, the journey around Lake
+Honotonka progressed. The shores of the lake, in full summer dress, were
+beautiful. There was an awning upon the motor boat, so the rapidly mounting sun
+did not trouble the party. But it <i>was</i> hot at noonday, and through
+Dave&#8217;s glasses they could see that the sails on the mill behind Windmill
+Farm were still. There wasn&#8217;t air enough stirring, even at that height, to
+keep the arms in motion, and down here on the water the temperature grew
+baking.</p>
+
+<p>They ran into a cool cove and went ashore for dinner. Nobody wanted anything
+hot, and so, as there was a splendid spring at hand, they made lemonade and ate
+sandwiches of potted chicken and hard-boiled eggs which the boys had been
+thoughtful enough to bring along. The girls had crisp salad leaves to go with
+the chicken, too, and some nice mayonnaise. Altogether even Tubby was willing to
+pronounce the &#8220;cold bite&#8221; satisfying.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125'></a>125</span>&#8220;And
+I&#8217;m no hypocrite,&#8221; declared the fat youth, earnestly. &#8220;When I
+say a thing I mean it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What <i>is</i> your idea of a hypocrite, Tubby?&#8221; demanded Wyn,
+laughing.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A boy who comes to school smiling,&#8221; replied Tubby, promptly.</p>
+
+<p>After a while a little breeze ruffled the surface of the lake again and the
+<i>Happy Day</i> was made ready for departure. They continued then toward the
+west, where lay the preserve known as Braisely Park, in which there were at
+least a dozen rich men&#8217;s lodges. They were all in sight from the
+lake&#8211;at some point, at least. Each beautiful place had a water privilege,
+and the landings and boathouses were very picturesque. There was a whole fleet
+of craft here, too, ranging in size from a cedar canoe to a steam yacht. The
+latter belonged to Dr. Shelton, the man who had accused John Jarley of stealing
+the motor boat <i>Bright Eyes</i> and the five thousand dollars&#8217; worth of
+silver images from the ruined temples of Yucatan.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And of course,&#8221; said Wyn, warmly, &#8220;that is nonsense. For
+if Polly and her father had done such a thing, they would turn the silver into
+money; wouldn&#8217;t they, and stop living in poverty?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126'></a>126</span>&#8220;Well, it
+looks mighty funny where that boat and all could have gone,&#8221; Bessie
+remarked.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If she sank as quickly as he says, the wreck must lie off Gannet
+Island somewhere,&#8221; remarked Dave, reflectively.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh! I wish we could find it,&#8221; commented Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If it ever sank at all,&#8221; sneered Bessie.</p>
+
+<p>But it was almost impossible to quarrel with Wyn Mallory. Frank would have
+&#8220;got hot&#8221; a dozen times at Bess while the party chanced to discuss
+the Jarleys and their troubles. But the captain of the Go-Ahead Club was
+patient.</p>
+
+<p>Bye and bye&#8211;and after mid-afternoon&#8211;the <i>Happy Day</i> came
+around to the west end of Gannet Island. Up among the trees a glint of white
+betrayed the presence of the boys&#8217; tent. In a little sheltered cove below
+the site of Cave-in-the-Wood Camp, danced the fleet of canoes.</p>
+
+<p>Nothing would do but the girls and Mrs. Havel must go ashore and see the cave
+and the camp.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And we can have tea,&#8221; said Ferd. &#8220;How&#8217;s that, girls?
+Professor Skillings has got a whole canister of best gunpowder in his private
+stores&#8211;and there he is on that log, examining specimens.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, dear me!&#8221; cried Frankie, &#8220;tea isn&#8217;t going to
+satisfy the gnawing of <i>my</i> appetite.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;How about a fish-fry?&#8221; demanded Dave, <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_127'></a>127</span> swerving the motor boat suddenly away
+from the landing.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Where&#8217;ll you get your fish?&#8221; cried Percy Havel.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;In the fish store at Meade&#8217;s Forge,&#8221; scoffed Ferdinand
+Roberts.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s too far to run for supper&#8211;and back again&#8211;this
+afternoon, boys,&#8221; said Mrs. Havel.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Just you wait,&#8221; cried Dave. &#8220;I caught sight of something
+just now&#8211;there she is!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The <i>Happy Day</i> rounded a wooded point of the island. Near the shore
+floated Polly Jarley&#8217;s skiff and Polly was just getting up her anchor.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s been fishing all day!&#8221; exclaimed Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And I&#8217;ll wager she&#8217;s got a fine mess of perch,&#8221; said
+Dave. &#8220;Hi, Miss Jarley!&#8221; he shouted. &#8220;Hold on a
+minute.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Polly had heard the chugging of the motor boat. Now she stood up suddenly and
+waved both hands in some excitement.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What does she want?&#8221; demanded Bess.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Get out! farther out!&#8221; the boatman&#8217;s daughter shouted, her
+clear voice echoing from the wooded heights of the island. &#8220;Danger
+here!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter with her?&#8221; demanded Bess again.
+&#8220;Is there a submarine mine sunk here?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128'></a>128</span>But Dave veered
+off, taking a wider course from the shore.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What is the matter, Polly?&#8221; shouted Wyn, standing up and making
+a megaphone of her hands.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Snags!&#8221; replied the other girl. &#8220;Here&#8217;s where father
+ran Dr. Shelton&#8217;s boat on a root. The shallow water here is full of them.
+Look out&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say!&#8221; cried Frank Dumont &#8220;We don&#8217;t want to sink the
+old <i>Happy Day</i>.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So <i>this</i> is where the accident happened; is it?&#8221; observed
+Wyn, looking around at the shores of the little cove and the contour of the
+island&#8217;s outline.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Humph!&#8221; snapped Bessie Lavine, sitting down quickly. &#8220;I
+don&#8217;t believe there was any accident at all. It was all a
+story.&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129'></a>129</span><a id='link_12'></a>CHAPTER XII<br /><span class='h2fs'>AN OVERTURN</span></h2>
+
+<p>Dave Shepard had stopped the motor boat land now he hailed the pretty girl in
+the skiff.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I say, Miss Jarley! did you have any luck?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve got a good string of white perch. They love to feed among
+these stumps,&#8221; returned Polly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Polly Jolly! sell us some; will you?&#8221; cried Wyn, eagerly.
+&#8220;We&#8217;re so hungry.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Do, do!&#8221; chorused several of the other girls and boys aboard the
+<i>Happy Day</i>.</p>
+
+<p>Polly, smiling, held up a long withe on which wriggled at least two dozen
+silvery fish. &#8220;Aren&#8217;t they beauties?&#8221; she demanded.
+&#8220;Wait! I&#8217;ll row out.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>She had already raised her anchor. Now she sat down, seized the short oars,
+and plunged them into the water. How she could row! Even Bessie Lavine murmured
+some enthusiastic praise of the boatman&#8217;s daughter.</p>
+
+<p>Her skiff shot alongside the motor boat. She caught the gunwale, and then
+held up the string of fish again.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130'></a>130</span>&#8220;How much,
+Miss Jarley?&#8221; asked Dave.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Half a dollar. Is that too much?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It looks too little; but I suppose you know what you can get for them
+at the Forge,&#8221; he said.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And this saves me rowing down there,&#8221; returned the brown girl,
+smiling and blushing under the scrutiny of so many eyes.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn leaned over the rail, took the fish, and kissed Polly on her brown
+cheek.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Dreadfully glad to see you, dear,&#8221; she declared.
+&#8220;Won&#8217;t you come over to the camp to-morrow and show us girls
+where&#8211;and how&#8211;to fish, too? We&#8217;re crazy for a fishing
+trip.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why&#8211;if you want me?&#8221; said Polly, her fine eyes slowly
+taking in the group of girls aboard the motor boat.</p>
+
+<p>All looked at her in a friendly way save Bessie, and she had her back to the
+girl.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll come,&#8221; said Polly, blushing again; and then she
+pocketed, the piece of money Dave gave her, and pushed off a bit.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Is this really where your father came so near losing his life,
+Polly?&#8221; asked Wyn, seriously.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, Miss Wyn. Right yonder. It was so thick he could not see the
+shore. A limb of that tree yonder&#8211;you can see where it was broken off; see
+the scar?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>There was a long yellow mark high up on the <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_131'></a>131</span> tree trunk overhanging the pool where Polly had
+been fishing.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That limb brushed father out of the boat just as she struck. The snag
+must have torn a big hole in the bottom of the <i>Bright Eyes</i>. Lightened by
+his going overboard, she shot away&#8211;somewhere&#8211;toward the middle of
+the lake, perhaps. He knows that he gave the wheel a twirl just as he went
+overboard and that must have driven the nose of the boat around.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;She shot away into the fog. He never saw or heard of her again. We
+paddled about for a week afterward&#8211;the bateau men and I&#8211;and we
+couldn&#8217;t find it. Poor father was abed, you see, for a long time and could
+not help.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;All a story, <i>I</i> believe,&#8221; whispered Bess, to Mina.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, don&#8217;t!&#8221; begged the tender-hearted girl.</p>
+
+<p>Perhaps Polly heard this aside. She plunged her oars into the water again and
+the skiff shot away. She only nodded when they sang out &#8220;Good-bye&#8221;
+to her.</p>
+
+<p>The <i>Happy Day</i> carried the party quickly back to the cove under the
+hill on which Cave-in-the-Wood Camp had been established. The girls and boys
+landed and were met by Professor Skillings&#8211;who could be a very gallant man
+indeed, where ladies were concerned. He helped Mrs. Havel <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_132'></a>132</span> out of the motor boat, which Dave had
+brought alongside of a steep bank, where the water was deep, and which made a
+good landing place.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My dear Mrs. Havel! I am charmed to see you again,&#8221; said the
+professor. &#8220;You are comfortably situated over there on the shore, I
+hope?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My girls are as successful in making me comfortable as are your boys
+in looking after you, I believe, Professor Skillings,&#8221; returned the lady,
+laughing.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;More so&#8211;I have no doubt! More so,&#8221; admitted the
+professor.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Treason! treason!&#8221; shouted Dave Shepard.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter with you?&#8221; demanded Wyn, who had hopped
+ashore behind the chaperone.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Professor Skillings is going back on us, boys,&#8221; declared
+Dave.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, Professor!&#8221; cried Ferdinand. &#8220;Where would you find in
+all the five zones such a set of boys as we-uns?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Five zones? Correct, my boy,&#8221; declared the professor, seriously.
+&#8220;But name those five zones; will you, please?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sure!&#8221; wheezed Tubby, before Ferd could reply. &#8220;Temperate,
+Intemperate, Canal, Torrid, and Ozone.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Goodness gracious, Agnes!&#8221; gasped Dave. <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_133'></a>133</span> &#8220;Can you beat Tubby when he lays
+himself out to be real erudite?&#8221; while the others&#8211;even the professor
+and Mrs. Havel&#8211;could not forbear to chuckle.</p>
+
+<p>But Dave and Ferd got busy at once while the others laughed, and chaffed, and
+looked over the boys&#8217; camping arrangements. Dave was cook and Ferd made
+and fed the fire. These boys had all the approved Scout tricks for making fire
+and preparing food&#8211;they could have qualified as first-class scouts.</p>
+
+<p>Ferd started for an armful of wood he had cut down at the bottom of the steep
+bank and suddenly, without any warning whatsoever, he slipped, his feet pointed
+heavenward, and he skated down the bank upon the small of his back.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My goodness me!&#8221; exclaimed Frank Cameron. &#8220;Did you see
+that?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sure,&#8221; said Dave, amid the laughter of the crowd. &#8220;Poor
+Ferdy! the whole world is against him!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You bet it is,&#8221; growled Ferd, picking himself up slowly at the
+bottom of the bank. &#8220;And it&#8217;s an awful hard world at
+that.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on! Come on!&#8221; whined Tubby Blaisdell. &#8220;Aren&#8217;t
+you ever going to get supper? You&#8217;re wasting time.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Dave was expertly cleaning fish. Wyn ran to his <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_134'></a>134</span> help, finding the flour,
+cracker-crumbs, and salt pork. The pan was already heating over the blaze that
+the unfortunate Ferdinand had started in the fireplace.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If you&#8217;re so blamed hungry,&#8221; said Dumont to the wailing
+Tubby, &#8220;start on the raw flour. It&#8217;s filling, I&#8217;ll be
+bound.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say! I don&#8217;t just want to get filled. I want to enjoy what I
+eat. I could be another Nebuchadnezzar and eat grass, if it was just
+<i>filling</i> I wanted.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Ha!&#8221; cried Dave. &#8220;Tubby is as particular as the Western
+lawyer&#8211;a perfectly literal man&#8211;who entered a restaurant where the
+waiter came to him and said:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;What&#8217;ll you &#8217;ave, sir? I &#8217;ave frogs&#8217; legs, deviled
+kidneys, pigs&#8217; feet, and calves&#8217; brains.&#8217;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;You look it,&#8217; declared the lawyer man. &#8216;But what is that to me?
+I have come here to eat&#8211;don&#8217;t tell me your
+misfortunes.&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Amid much laughter and chaffing they finally sat down to the
+fish-fry&#8211;and if there is anything more toothsome than perch, fresh from
+the water, and fried crisply in a pan with salt pork over the hot coals of a
+campfire, &#8220;the deponent knoweth not,&#8221; as Frank Cameron put it.</p>
+
+<p>Then Tubby got his banjo, Dumont his mandolin, Dave his ocarina, and they
+sang, and played, and told jokes, until a silver crescent moon rising <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135'></a>135</span> over the lake warned
+them that the hour was growing late. The feminine visitors then boarded the
+<i>Happy Day</i> and under the escort of Dave and Ferdinand to work the boat,
+the girls and their chaperone made the run back to Green Knoll Camp, giving the
+cove where Polly Jarley had caught the perch a wide berth.</p>
+
+<p>Dave insisted upon going ashore at Green Knoll and searching the camp
+&#8220;for possible burglars,&#8221; as he laughingly said.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Do, <i>do</i> look under my bed, Dave!&#8221; squealed Frank, in mock
+distraction. &#8220;I&#8217;ve always expected to find a man under my
+bed.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But it was real nice of him, just the same,&#8221; admitted Mina
+Everett, when the <i>Happy Day</i> had chugged away. &#8220;I feel a whole lot
+better now that he has beaten up the camp.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>On the next morning Grace and Percy were not allowed to lag over the
+breakfast dishes till all hours.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;This shall be no lazy girls&#8217; camp,&#8221; declared Mrs. Havel.
+&#8220;The quicker you all get your tasks done, the better. Then you can have
+games, and go fishing, and otherwise enjoy yourselves.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The fish-fry they had enjoyed at Cave-in-the-Wood Camp the evening before had
+given them all an appetite for more, and as Polly Jarley appeared early,
+according to promise, Wyn began <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_136'></a>136</span> to bustle around and hunt out the fishing
+tackle.</p>
+
+<p>There probably wasn&#8217;t a girl in the crowd who was afraid to put a worm
+on a hook, save Mina. She owned up to the fact that they made her
+&#8220;squirmy&#8221; and she hated to see live bait on a hook.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But that&#8217;s what we have to use for lake fish&#8211;or river
+fish, either,&#8221; Wyn told her. &#8220;You&#8217;re not going to be much good
+to this fishing party.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I know it, Wynnie. And I sha&#8217;n&#8217;t go,&#8221; said the timid
+one. &#8220;Mrs. Havel is not going fishing, and I can stay with her.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll have company,&#8221; snapped Bessie Lavine.
+&#8220;I&#8217;m sure <i>I&#8217;m</i> not going,&#8221; and she said it with
+such a significant look at Polly Jarley, who had come ashore, that the
+boatman&#8217;s daughter, as well as the other girls, could not fail to
+understand <i>why</i> she made the declaration.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, Bess Lavine!&#8221; exclaimed Frankie, the outspoken.</p>
+
+<p>Polly&#8217;s face had flushed deeply, then paled. Bess had avoided her
+before; but now she had come out openly with her animosity.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Is your name Miss Lavine?&#8221; asked the boatman&#8217;s daughter,
+her voice quivering with emotion.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What if it is?&#8221; snapped Bess.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then I guess I know why you speak to me so&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_137'></a>137</span>&#8220;Don&#8217;t flatter yourself, Miss! I
+don&#8217;t care to speak to you,&#8221; said Bess.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nor do I care to have anything to do with you,&#8221; said Polly,
+plucking up a little spirit herself under this provocation. &#8220;You are Henry
+Lavine&#8217;s daughter. I am not surprised at your speech and actions. He has
+done all he could to hurt my father&#8217;s reputation for years&#8211;and you
+seem to be just like him.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hurt your father&#8217;s reputation&#8211;Bosh!&#8221; cried Bess.
+&#8220;You can&#8217;t spoil a&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But here Wyn Mallory came to the rescue.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Stop, Bess! Don&#8217;t you pay any attention to what she says, Polly.
+If this quarrel goes on, Bess, I shall tell Mrs. Havel immediately. You come
+with us, Polly; if Bessie doesn&#8217;t wish to go fishing, she can remain at
+camp. Come, girls!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Bess and Mina remained behind.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I told you how &#8217;twould be, Miss Wyn,&#8221; said Polly, her eyes
+bright and hard and the angry flush in her cheek making her handsomer than ever.
+&#8220;I shall only make trouble among your friends.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t notice any of the rest of us running up the red flag;
+do you?&#8221; interposed Frank Cameron. &#8220;Bess&#8217;s crazy.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The Lavines have been our worst enemies&#8211;worse than Dr.
+Shelton,&#8221; said Polly, with half a <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_138'></a>138</span> sob. &#8220;Mr. Lavine is up here at the lake in
+the spring and fall, usually, and he will always talk to anybody who will listen
+about his old trouble with father. And he is an influential man.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you cry a tear about it!&#8221; exclaimed Frank, wiping
+her own eyes angrily.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn had put a comforting arm over the shoulder of the boatman&#8217;s
+daughter. &#8220;We&#8217;ll just forget it, my dear,&#8221; she said,
+gently.</p>
+
+<p>But it was not so easy to forget&#8211;not so easy for Polly, at least,
+although the other girls treated her as nicely as they could. Her face remained
+sad, and she could not respond to their quips and sallies as the fleet of four
+canoes and Polly&#8217;s skiff got under weigh.</p>
+
+<p>Polly pulled strongly along the shore in her light craft; but of course the
+canoes could have left her far behind had the girls so wished. Their guide
+warned them finally against loud talking and splashing, and soon they came to a
+quiet cove where the trees stood thickly along the lake shore, and the water was
+not much ruffled by the morning breeze.</p>
+
+<p>Polly had brought the right kind of bait for perch, and most of the girls of
+the Go-Ahead Club had no difficulty in arranging their rods and lines and
+casting for the hungry fish. Perch, &#8220;shiners,&#8221; roaches, and an
+occasional &#8220;bullhead&#8221; began to <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_139'></a>139</span> come into the canoes. These latter scared some of
+the girls; but they were better eating than any of the other fish and both Wyn
+and Frank, as well as Polly, knew how to take them off the hook without getting
+&#8220;horned.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Polly did not remain with them more than an hour. She was sure the girls
+would get all the fish they would want right at this spot, and so, excusing
+herself, she rowed back to the landing.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a shame!&#8221; exclaimed Frank, the minute she was out of
+hearing. &#8220;I don&#8217;t see what possesses Bess to be so mean.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I am sorry,&#8221; rejoined Wyn. &#8220;Polly will not come to the
+camp again&#8211;I can see that.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A shame!&#8221; cried Percy. &#8220;And she seems such a nice
+girl.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Bessie ought to be strapped!&#8221; declared Frank.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I am sure Polly seems just as good as we are,&#8221; Grace remarked.
+&#8220;I don&#8217;t see why Bess has to make herself so
+objectionable.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;She should be punished for it,&#8221; declared Percy.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Turn the tables on her,&#8221; suggested Frank. &#8220;If she will not
+have anything to do with Polly, let&#8217;s give <i>her</i> the cold
+shoulder.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; said Wyn, firmly. &#8220;That would be <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_140'></a>140</span> adding fuel to the flames&#8211;and
+would be unfair to Bess.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, Bess is unfair to your Polly Jolly,&#8221; said Frankie.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Two wrongs never yet made a right,&#8221; said the captain of the
+Go-Ahead Club.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Bessie is a member of our club. She has greater rights at Green Knoll
+Camp than Polly. It is true Polly will not come again, unless Bessie is more
+friendly. The thing, then is to convince Bess that she is wrong.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well!&#8221; exclaimed Frank again. &#8220;I&#8217;d like to see you
+do it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I hope you will see me,&#8221; returned Wyn, placidly. &#8220;Or, at
+least, I hope you will see Bessie&#8217;s mind changed, whether by my efforts,
+or not. Oh, dear! it&#8217;s so much easier to get along pleasantly in this
+world if folks only thought so. Query: Why is a grouch?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Percy suddenly uttered a yell and almost plunged out of her canoe. She had
+whipped in her line and there was a small eel on the hook.</p>
+
+<p>It is really wonderful what an excited eel can do in a canoe with a girl as
+his partner in crime! Mr. Eel tangled up Percy&#8217;s line in the first place
+until it seemed as though somebody must have been playing cat&#8217;s cradle
+with it.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141'></a>141</span>Percy shrieked
+and finally bethought her to throw the whole thing overboard&#8211;tangled line,
+rod, and Mr. Eel. In his native element, the slippery chap in some mysterious
+way got off the hook; but the linen line was a mess, and that stopped the
+fishing for that morning.</p>
+
+<p>They had a nice string, however, and when the odor of the frying fish on the
+outdoor fire began to spread about Green Knoll Camp, Frank declared:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The angels flying overhead must stop to sniff&#8211;that smell is so
+heavenly!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nonsense, child!&#8221; returned Grace. &#8220;That thing you see &#8217;way
+up there isn&#8217;t an angel. It&#8217;s a fish-hawk.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>There were letters to take to the Forge that afternoon, and the girls all
+expected mail, too. But after the fishing bout, and the heavy dinner they ate,
+not many of the Go-Aheads cared to paddle to town.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The duty devolves on your captain,&#8221; announced Wyn,
+good-naturedly. &#8220;Of course, if anybody else wants to go
+along&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t all speak at once,&#8221; yawned Frank, and rolled over in
+the shade of the beech.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a shame! I&#8217;ll go with you,&#8221; said Bessie Lavine,
+getting up with alacrity.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142'></a>142</span>&#8220;All
+right, Bess,&#8221; said Wyn, cheerfully. &#8220;I am glad to have you
+go.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The other girls had been a little distant to Bess since their return from the
+fishing trip; but not Wyn. She had given no sign that she was annoyed by
+Bessie&#8217;s demeanor towards Polly Jarley.</p>
+
+<p>Nor did she &#8220;preach&#8221; while she and Bess paddled to the Forge.
+That was not Wynifred Mallory&#8217;s way. She knew that, in this case, taking
+Bess to task for her treatment of Polly would do only harm.</p>
+
+<p>Bess had probably offered to come with Wyn for the special purpose of finding
+opportunity to argue the case with the captain of the club. But Wyn gave her no
+opening.</p>
+
+<p>The girls got to the Forge, did their errands, and started back in the
+canoes. Not until they got well out into the lake did they notice that there
+were angry clouds in the northwest. And very soon the sun became overcast, while
+the wind whipped down upon them sharply.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, dear, me!&#8221; cried Bess. &#8220;Had we better turn back,
+Wyn?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re about as far from the Forge as we are from Green Knoll
+Camp,&#8221; declared the other girl.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then let&#8217;s run ashore&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But they had struck right out into the lake from the landing, and it was a
+long way to land&#8211;even <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_143'></a>143</span> to the nearest point. While they were discussing
+the advisability of changing their course, there came a lull in the wind.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Maybe we&#8217;ll get home all right!&#8221; cried Bess, and the two
+bent to their paddles again, driving the canoes toward distant Green Knoll.</p>
+
+<p>And almost at once&#8211;her words had scarcely passed&#8211;the wind whipped
+down upon them from a different direction. The surface of the lake was agitated
+angrily, and in a minute the two girls were in the midst of a whirlpool of
+jumping waves.</p>
+
+<p>In ordinary water the canoes were safe enough. But when Bess tried to paddle,
+a wave caught the blade and whirled the canoe around. She was up-set before she
+could scream.</p>
+
+<p>And in striving to drive her own craft to her friend&#8217;s assistance, Wyn
+Mallory was caught likewise in a flaw, and she, too, plunged into the lake,
+while both canoes floated bottom upward.</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144'></a>144</span><a id='link_13'></a>CHAPTER XIII<br /><span class='h2fs'>A SERIOUS ADVENTURE</span></h2>
+
+<p>Wyn Mallory was a pretty cool-headed girl; nor was this the first time she
+had been in an accident of this nature.</p>
+
+<p>Naturally, in learning to handle the light cedar craft as expertly as they
+did, the members of the Go-Ahead Club had much experience. While the weather was
+good the girls plied their paddles up and down the Wintinooski, but seldom was
+the river as rough as this open lake in which Wyn and Bessie Lavine had been so
+unexpectedly overturned.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh! am I not the unluckiest girl that&#8211;that ever happened?&#8221;
+wailed Bess, when she came up puffing.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;N-o-no more than <i>I</i>, Bess,&#8221; stammered Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Get your canoe, Wyn!&#8221; cried Bess.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, yes; but we can&#8217;t turn them over in this sea. Oh!
+isn&#8217;t that horrid!&#8221; as another miniature wave slapped the captain of
+the club in the face and rolled her companion completely over.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145'></a>145</span>Bess lost her
+grip on her canoe. The latter floated beyond her reach while Wyn was striving to
+get her friend to the surface again.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why! we&#8217;re going to be drowned!&#8221; shrieked Bess, suddenly
+horror-stricken.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you <i>dare</i> lose your nerve,&#8221; commanded
+Wynifred. &#8220;If we lose courage we certainly will be lost.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, but, Wyn&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, but, Bess! Don&#8217;t you dare. Here! get hold of the keel of my
+canoe.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But it won&#8217;t bear us both up,&#8221; groaned Bessie Lavine.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s got to,&#8221; declared Wyn. &#8220;Have courage;
+don&#8217;t be afraid.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You needn&#8217;t try to tell me you&#8217;re not afraid yourself, Wyn
+Mallory!&#8221; chattered her friend.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Of course I am, dear; but I mean, don&#8217;t lose your head because
+you <i>are</i> afraid,&#8221; said Wyn. &#8220;Come, now! Paddle with one hand
+and cling to the keel with the other. I&#8217;ll do the same.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, dear, me! if we were only not so far from the shore,&#8221;
+groaned Bess.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Somebody may see us and come to our help,&#8221; said Wyn, with more
+confidence in her tone than she really felt.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The canoes couldn&#8217;t live in this gale.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_146'></a>146</span>&#8220;It&#8217;s only a squall.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s all very well; but they wouldn&#8217;t dare to start out
+for us from Green Knoll.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But the boys&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Their camp isn&#8217;t in sight of this place, Wyn,&#8221; moaned
+Bess. &#8220;Oh! we <i>will</i> be drowned.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But Wyn had another hope. She remembered, just before the overturn, that she
+had caught a glimpse of the red and yellow cottage behind Jarley&#8217;s
+Landing.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Bess!&#8221; she gasped. &#8220;Perhaps Mr. Jarley will see us.
+Perhaps Polly&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Another slapping wave came and rolled them and the canoe over. The frail
+craft came keel up, level full of water. The least weight upon it now would send
+it to the bottom of the lake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, oh!&#8221; shrieked Bess, when she found her voice. &#8220;What
+shall we do now?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>They could both swim; but the lake was rough. The sudden and spiteful squall
+had torn up the surface for many yards around. Yet, as they rose upon one of the
+waves, they saw the sun shining boldly in the westward. The squall was scurrying
+away.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on! we&#8217;ve got to swim,&#8221; urged Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s so hard,&#8221; wailed Bess, but striking out,
+nevertheless, in the way she had been so well taught by the instructor in
+Denton. All these girls had been trained in the public school baths.</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter'>
+<a id='link_i3'></a><img src='images/illus3.jpg' id="imgi3" alt='' />
+<p class='center caption'>
+THEY COULD BOTH SWIM, BUT THE LAKE WAS ROUGH. <i>Page 146.</i>
+</p>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_147'></a>147</span>&#8220;There&#8217;s the other canoe,&#8221; said
+Wyn, hopefully.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But we&#8211;we don&#8217;t want to go that way,&#8221; gasped Bess.
+&#8220;It&#8217;s away from land.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Now Wyn knew very well that they had scarcely a chance of swimming to the
+distant shore. In ordinarily calm weather&#8211;yes; but in this rough sea, and
+hampered as they were by their bloomers and other clothing&#8211;no.</p>
+
+<p>The two girls swam close together, but Wyn dared not offer her comrade help.
+She wanted to, but she feared that if she did so Bess would break down and
+become helpless entirely; and Wyn hoped they would get much farther inshore
+before that happened.</p>
+
+<p>The squall had quite gone over and the sun began to shine. It seemed a cruel
+thing&#8211;to drown out there in the sunlight. And yet the buffeting little
+waves, kicked up by the wind-flaw, were so hard to swim through.</p>
+
+<p>Had the waves been of a really serious size the struggle would have been less
+difficult for the two girls. They could have ridden over the big waves and
+managed to keep their heads above water; but every once in a while a cross
+wavelet would slap their faces, and every time one did so Bess managed to get a
+mouthful of water.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148'></a>148</span>&#8220;Oh! what
+will papa do?&#8221; moaned Bess.</p>
+
+<p>And Wyn knew what the poor girl meant. She was her father&#8217;s close
+companion and chum. The other girls in the Lavine family were smaller and their
+mother was devoted to them; but Bess and Mr. Lavine were pals all the time.</p>
+
+<p>Bess repeated this exclamation over and over again, until Wyn thought she
+should shriek in nervous despair. She realized quite fully that their chance for
+life was very slim indeed; but moaning and groaning about it would not benefit
+them or change the situation in the slightest degree.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn kept her head and saved her breath for work. She raised up now and then,
+breast high in the water, and tried to scan the shore.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly the sun revealed Green Knoll Camp to her&#8211;bathing the little
+hillock, with the tents upon it, in the full strength of his rays. But it was
+quite two miles away.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn could see no moving figures upon the knoll. Nor could her friends see her
+and Bess struggling in the water at that distance. If their overset had not been
+sighted, Mrs. Havel and the four other members of the Go-Ahead Club would not be
+aware of their peril.</p>
+
+<p>And, Wyn believed, the swamping of the canoes could only have been observed
+through a glass. <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149'></a>149</span>
+Had anybody along shore been watching the two canoes as the squall struck the
+craft and overset them?</p>
+
+<p>In that possibility, she thought, lay their only hope of rescue.</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150'></a>150</span><a id='link_14'></a>CHAPTER XIV<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE REPULSE</span></h2>
+
+<p>As the squall threatened in the northwest, it had been observed by many on
+the shores of Lake Honotonka&#8211;and many on the lake itself, as well. Sailing
+craft had run for havens. The lake could be nasty at times and there might be
+more than a capful of wind in the black cloud that spread so quickly over a sky
+that had&#8211;an hour before&#8211;been of azure.</p>
+
+<p>Had the two girls from Green Knoll Camp been observed by the watermen as they
+embarked in their canoes at Meade&#8217;s Forge, they might have been warned
+against venturing far from the shore in those cockleshells. But Wynifred and
+Bessie had not been observed, so were not warned.</p>
+
+<p>The squall had come down so quickly that they were not much to be blamed. It
+had startled other people on the lake&#8211;and those much more used to its
+vagaries.</p>
+
+<p>In a cove on the north shore a small cat-rigged boat had been drifting since
+noon-time, its single occupant having found the fishing very good. This <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151'></a>151</span> fisher was the
+boatman&#8217;s daughter, Polly Jarley.</p>
+
+<p>She had now a splendid catch and she knew that, if the wind held true, a
+sharp run to the westward would bring her to Braisely Park. At some one of the
+private landings there her fish would be welcomed&#8211;she could get more for
+them than she could at the Forge, which was nearer.</p>
+
+<p>But the squall gathered so fast that she had to put aside the thought of the
+run down the lake. The wind would switch about, too, after the squall. That was
+a foregone conclusion.</p>
+
+<p>She waited until the blow was past and then saw that it would be quite
+impossible to make the park that afternoon and return to the landing in time for
+tea. And if she was later her father would be worried.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Jarley did not like to have his girl go out this way and work all day;
+but there seemed nothing else to be done this summer. They owed so much at the
+stores at the Forge; and the principal and interest on the chattel mortgage must
+be found before New Year or they would lose their fleet of boats. And as yet few
+campers had come to the lake who wished to hire Mr. Jarley&#8217;s boats.</p>
+
+<p>So by fishing (and none of the old fellows who had fished Honotonka for years
+was wiser about the good fishing places than Polly) the girl added from one to
+two dollars every favorable <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_152'></a>152</span> day to the family income. Sometimes she was off by
+light in one boat or another; but she did not often come to this northern side
+of the lake. This cove was at least ten miles from home.</p>
+
+<p>As the last breath of the squall passed, the wind veered as she had expected,
+and Polly, having reeled in her two lines and unjointed the bamboo poles, stowed
+everything neatly, raised the anchor, or kedge, and set a hand&#8217;s breadth
+of the big sail.</p>
+
+<p>The canvas filled, and with the sheet in one hand and the other on the arm of
+the tiller, the girl steered the catboat out of the cove and into the rumpus
+kicked up by the passing squall.</p>
+
+<p>The girls of the Go-Ahead Club would surely have been frightened had they
+been aboard the little <i>Coquette</i>, as the catboat was named. She rocked and
+jumped, and the spume flew over her gunwale in an intermittent shower. But in
+this sea, which so easily swamped the canoes, the catboat was as safe as a
+house.</p>
+
+<p>Polly was used to much rougher weather than this. In the summer Lake
+Honotonka was on its best behavior. At other seasons the tempests tore down from
+the north and west and sometimes made the lake so terrible in appearance that
+even the hardiest bateau man in those parts would not risk himself in a
+boat.</p>
+
+<p>Polly knew, however, that the worst of the <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_153'></a>153</span> squall was over. The lake would gradually subside
+to its former calm. And the change in the wind was favorable now to a quick
+passage either to the Forge or to her father&#8217;s tiny landing.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Can&#8217;t get any fancy price for the fish at Meade&#8217;s,&#8221;
+thought Polly. &#8220;I have a good mind to put them in our trap and try again
+for Braisely Park to-morrow morning.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>As she spoke she was running outside the horns of the cove. She could get a
+clear sweep now of the lake&#8211;as far as it could be viewed from the low
+eminence of the boat&#8211;and she rose up to see it.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nobody out but I,&#8221; she thought. &#8220;Ah! all those folk at the
+end of the lake ran in when the squall appeared. And the girls and boys over
+yonder&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>She was peering now across the lake ahead of the <i>Coquette&#8217;s</i>
+nose, toward the little island where was Cave-in-the-Wood Camp, and at Green
+Knoll Camp, where the girls from Denton were staying.</p>
+
+<p>Her face fell as she focused her gaze upon the bit of high, green bank on
+which the sun was now shining again so brilliantly. She remembered how badly she
+had been treated by Bess Lavine only that morning.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t go over there any more,&#8221; she muttered. &#8220;That
+girl will never forget&#8211;or let the others <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_154'></a>154</span> forget&#8211;that father has been accused of being
+a thief. It&#8217;s a shame! A hateful shame! And we&#8217;re every bit as good
+as she is&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Her gaze dropped to the tumbling wavelets between her and the distant green
+hillock. She was about to resume her seat and catch the tiller, which she had
+held steady with her knee.</p>
+
+<p>But now her breath left her and for a moment she stood motionless&#8211;only
+giving to the plunge and jump of the <i>Coquette</i> through the choppy
+waves.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Ah!&#8221; she exclaimed again, after a little intake of breath.</p>
+
+<p>There were two round objects rising and falling in the rough water&#8211;and
+far ahead. They looked like cocoanuts.</p>
+
+<p>But a little to one side was a long, black something&#8211;a stick of timber
+drifting on the current? No! <i>An overturned boat.</i></p>
+
+<p>There was no mistaking the cocoanut-like objects. They were human heads. Two
+capsized people were struggling in the lake.</p>
+
+<p>Polly, in thirty seconds, was keenly alive to what she must do. There was no
+time lost in bewailing the catastrophe, or wondering about the identity of the
+castaways.</p>
+
+<p>Who or whatever they were they must be saved. There was not another boat on
+the lake. And the <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155'></a>155</span>
+swimmers were too far from land to be observed under any conditions.</p>
+
+<p>The wind was strong and steady. The wavelets were still choppy, but Polly
+Jarley never thought of a wetting.</p>
+
+<p>Up went the sail&#8211;up, up, up until the unhelmed catboat lay over almost
+on beam ends. The girl took a sailor&#8217;s turn of the sheet around the cleat
+and then swung all her weight against the tiller, to bring the boat&#8217;s head
+up. She held the sheet ready to let go if a warning creak from the mast should
+sound, or the boat refuse to respond.</p>
+
+<p>But in half a minute the <i>Coquette</i> righted. It had been a perilous
+chance&#8211;she might have torn the stick out. The immediate peril was past,
+however. The great canvas filled. Away shot the sprightly <i>Coquette</i> with
+the wind&#8211;a bone in her teeth.</p>
+
+<p>Now and then she dipped and the spume flew high, drenching Polly. The
+boatman&#8217;s daughter was not dressed for this rough work, for she was
+hatless and wore merely a blouse and old skirt for outside garments. She had
+pulled off her shoes and stockings while she fished and had not had time to put
+them on again.</p>
+
+<p>So the flying spray wet her through. She dodged occasionally to protect her
+eyes from the spoondrift which slatted so sharply across the deck and <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156'></a>156</span> into the cockpit. The
+water gathered in the bottom of the old boat and was soon ankle-deep.</p>
+
+<p>But Polly knew the craft was tight and that this water could be bailed out
+again when she had time. Just now her mind and gaze were fixed mainly upon the
+round, bobbing objects ahead.</p>
+
+<p>For some minutes, although the catboat was traveling about as fast as Polly
+had ever sailed, save in a power boat, the girl could not be sure whether the
+swamped voyagers were girls or boys. It might be two of the Busters, from Gannet
+Island, for all she knew. She had made up her mind that the victims of the
+accident were from one camp or the other. There were no other campers as yet on
+the shore at this end of the lake.</p>
+
+<p>Then Polly realized that the heads belonged to girls. She could see the
+braids floating out behind. And she knew that they were fighting for their
+lives.</p>
+
+<p>They swam near together; once one of them raised up breast high in the water,
+as though looking shoreward. But neither turned back to see if help was coming
+from behind.</p>
+
+<p>With both hands engaged with sheet and tiller Polly could not make a
+megaphone to carry her voice; but several times she shouted as loud as she
+could:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Ahoy! Hold on! I&#8217;m coming!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157'></a>157</span>Her voice seemed
+flung right back into her face&#8211;drowned by the slatting spray. How
+viciously that water stung!</p>
+
+<p>The <i>Coquette</i> was traveling at racing speed; but would she be in
+time?</p>
+
+<p>How long could those two girls bear up in the choppy sea?</p>
+
+<p>One of the heads suddenly disappeared. Polly shrieked; but she could do
+nothing to aid.</p>
+
+<p>The spray filled her eyes again and, when she had shaken them free, Polly saw
+that the other swimmer&#8211;the stronger one&#8211;had gotten her comrade above
+the surface once more.</p>
+
+<p>Indeed, this one was swimming on her back and holding up the girl who had
+gone under. How brave she was!</p>
+
+<p>The sun shone clear upon the two in the water and Polly recognized Wynifred
+Mallory.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Wyn! Wynnie! Hold to her! Hold up!&#8221; cried the boatman&#8217;s
+daughter. &#8220;I&#8217;ll help you!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But she was still so far away&#8211;it seemed as though the catboat never
+<i>would</i> come within hailing distance. But before she turned over in the
+water to swim with Bessie&#8217;s hand upon her shoulder, the captain of the
+Go-Ahead Club beheld the catboat rushing down upon them.</p>
+
+<p>She could only wave a beckoning hand. She could not cry out. Wyn was
+well-nigh breathless, <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_158'></a>158</span> and Bessie&#8217;s only hope was in her. The
+captain of the canoe club had to save her strength.</p>
+
+<p>Down swooped the catboat. Polly was shouting madly; but not for an instant
+did she lose control of the boat or ignore the work she had in hand. She wanted
+to encourage Wyn and the other; but she was taking no chances.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly she let the sheet run and loosed the halliards. The canvas fluttered
+down on the deck with a rustle and crash. The catboat sprang to even keel, but
+shot on under the momentum it had gained in swooping down upon the swamped
+girls.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Wyn! hold hard! <i>I&#8217;ve got you!</i>&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But it was the other girl Polly grasped. Wyn had turned, thrust the
+half-drowned Bessie before her, and Polly, leaning over the gunwale of the
+tossing boat, seized her by the shoulders.</p>
+
+<p>In a moment she heaved up, struggled, dragged the other girl forward, and
+together rescuer and rescued tumbled flat into the cockpit of the
+<i>Coquette</i>.</p>
+
+<p>Polly shouted again:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Wyn! Wyn! I&#8217;ll come back for you&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Give me a hand!&#8221; cried Wyn, hanging to the rudder. &#8220;Polly!
+you old darling! If you hadn&#8217;t got here when you did&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Polly left Bess to her own resources and rushed to the stern. She helped Wyn
+clamber into the <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159'></a>159</span>
+boat. Then she hoisted the sail again, and got way upon the boat. She raised the
+canvas only a little, for she had risked all the weight she dared upon the mast
+before.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Are you all right, Bess?&#8221; cried Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8211;I&#8217;m alive. But, oh! I&#8217;m so&#8211;so sick,&#8221;
+gasped Miss Lavine.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Brace up, Bess! We&#8217;re all right now. Polly has saved
+us.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Polly?&#8221; cried Bess, sitting up, the better to see the
+boatman&#8217;s daughter as the latter sat again at the helm. &#8220;Oh,
+Polly!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;d better both lie down till we get to the camp. I&#8217;ll
+take you right there,&#8221; said the other girl, briefly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;d have been&#8211;been drowned, Wyn!&#8221; gasped Bess.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I guess we would. We are still a long way from shore.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And Polly saved us? All alone? How wonderful!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But Polly&#8217;s face was stern. She scarcely spoke to the two Denton girls
+as the <i>Coquette</i> swept across the lake. Wyn told her just how it all
+happened and the condition of the two canoes when they lost sight of them.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I saw one; maybe the other can be found,&#8221; Polly said.
+&#8220;I&#8217;ll speak to father and, if the moon <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_160'></a>160</span> comes up clear bye and bye, we&#8217;ll
+run out and see if we can recover them.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But for Bess she had no word, or look, and when the other put out her hand
+timidly and tried to thank her, as they neared the shore, Polly only said:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s all right. We&#8217;re used to helping people who get
+overturned. It really is nothing.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>She would not see Bessie&#8217;s hand. The latter felt the repulse and Wyn,
+who watched them both anxiously, dared not say a word.</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161'></a>161</span><a id='link_15'></a>CHAPTER XV<br /><span class='h2fs'>TROUBLE &#8220;BRUIN&#8221;</span></h2>
+
+<p>The other girls and Mrs. Havel were all down on the beach to meet the catboat
+and her passengers. To see Wyn and Bessie returning across the lake in the
+sailboat, instead of the canoes, forewarned the Go-Aheads that an accident had
+happened.</p>
+
+<p>But although the girls were wet and bedraggled, the captain of the club made
+light of the affair.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Where are your canoes?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s happened?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Who is it with you?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What under the sun did you do&#8211;go overboard?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Wyn answered all questions in a single sentence:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We were capsized and lost the letters and things; but Polly picked us
+up and brought us home.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Then, amid the excited cries and congratulations, her voice rose again:</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_162'></a>162</span>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t she brave? What do you think of
+my Polly Jolly <i>now</i>? Can you blame me for being proud of her?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I tell you wh&#8211;what she is!&#8221; gasped Bessie.
+&#8220;She&#8217;s the bravest and smartest girl I ever heard of.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Good for you, Bess!&#8221; shouted Frank Cameron, helping the
+castaways ashore. &#8220;You&#8217;re coming to your senses.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And&#8211;and I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; blurted out Bess, &#8220;that I
+ever treated her so&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Polly shoved off the catboat and proceeded to get under way again.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, <i>do</i> come ashore, Polly!&#8221; begged Grace.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I want to hug you, Miss Jarley!&#8221; cried Percy.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What? All wet as I am now?&#8221; returned the boatman&#8217;s
+daughter, laughing&#8211;although the laugh was not a pleasant one. &#8220;You
+make too much of this matter. We&#8217;re used to oversets on the lake. It is
+nothing.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You do not call saving two girls&#8217; lives <i>nothing</i>, my
+dear&#8211;surely?&#8221; proposed Mrs. Havel.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If I saved them, I am very, very glad of it,&#8221; returned Polly,
+gravely. &#8220;Anybody would be glad of <i>that</i>, of course, But you are
+making too much of it&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My father will not think so!&#8221; exclaimed the <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_163'></a>163</span> almost hysterical Bess. &#8220;When he
+learns of this he will not be able to do enough for you&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Your father can do nothing for me, Bessie Lavine!&#8221; cried the
+boatman&#8217;s daughter, with sharpness.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Polly!&#8221; said Wyn, holding out her arms to her.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He&#8217;ll&#8211;he&#8217;ll <i>want</i> to,&#8221; pursued Bess,
+eagerly. &#8220;Oh! he will! He&#8217;d do anything for you
+now&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s only one thing Henry Lavine can do for me,&#8221; cried
+Polly, turning an angry face now toward the shore. &#8220;He can stop telling
+stories about my father. He can be kind to him&#8211;be decent to him. I
+don&#8217;t want anything else&#8211;and I don&#8217;t want that as pay for
+fishing you out of the lake!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>She had got the sail up again and now the breeze filled it. The
+<i>Coquette</i> laid over and slipped away from the shore. Her last words had
+silenced all the girls&#8211;even Mrs. Havel herself.</p>
+
+<p>Bess burst into tears. She was quite broken down, and Wyn went off with her
+to the tent, her arm over her shoulder, and whispering to her comfortingly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t care. Polly&#8217;s served her right,&#8221; declared
+Frank Cameron.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164'></a>164</span>&#8220;I do not
+know that Polly can be blamed,&#8221; Mrs. Havel observed. &#8220;But&#8211;but
+I wish she was more forgiving. It is not for herself that she speaks, however.
+It is for her father.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And I&#8217;ll wager he&#8217;s just as nice a man as ever was,&#8221;
+declared Frank. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to ask <i>my</i> father if he will not do
+something for Mr. Jarley.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Do so, Frances,&#8221; advised the chaperon. &#8220;I think you will
+do well.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The accident cast a cloud over Green Knoll Camp for the evening. The girls
+who had been swamped went to bed and were dosed with hot drinks brewed over the
+campfire by Mrs. Havel. And when the boys came over in their fleet for an
+evening sing and frolic, they were sent back again to the island almost at
+once.</p>
+
+<p>The boys did not take altogether kindly to this rebuff, and Tubby was heard
+to say:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t that just like girls? Because they got a little wet they
+must go to bed and take catnip tea, or something, and be quiet. Their nerves are
+all unstrung! Gee! wouldn&#8217;t that make your ears buzz?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Aw, you&#8217;re a doubting Thomas and always will be, Tub,&#8221;
+said Ferd Roberts. &#8220;You never believe what you&#8217;re told. You&#8217;re
+as suspicious as the farmer who went to town and bought <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_165'></a>165</span> a pair of shoes, and when he&#8217;d
+paid for &#8217;em the clerk says:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Now, sir, can&#8217;t I sell you a pair of shoe trees?&#8217;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Don&#8217;t you get fresh with me, sonny,&#8217; says the farmer, his
+whiskers bristling. &#8216;I don&#8217;t believe shoes kin be raised on trees any more
+&#8217;n I believe rubbers grow on rubber trees, or oysters on oyster plants,
+b&#8217;gosh!&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; snarled the fat youth, as the other Busters laughed,
+&#8220;the girls are always making excuses. You can never tell what a girl
+means, anyway&#8211;not by what she <i>says</i>.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You know speech was given us to hide our thoughts,&#8221; laughed
+Dave.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say! I&#8217;ll get square just the same&#8211;paddlin&#8217; clear
+over here for nothing. Humph! I know that Hedges girl is afraid there&#8217;s
+bears in the woods? Say, fellers! I&#8217;ve <i>got</i> it! Yes, I&#8217;ve got
+it!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>When Tubby spoke in this way, and his eyes snapped and he began to look
+eager, his mates knew that the fat youth&#8217;s gigantic mind was working
+overtime, and they immediately gathered around and stopped paddling.</p>
+
+<p>As Dave said, chuckling, a little later, &#8220;trouble was bruin!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>In the morning the girls found the two lost <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_166'></a>166</span> canoes on the shore below the camp. Polly and her
+father had evidently gone out in the evening, after the moon rose, and recovered
+them. Neither, of course, was damaged.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And we must do something nice to pay them for it!&#8221; cried
+Grace.</p>
+
+<p>Bessie was still deeply concerned over Polly&#8217;s attitude.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I am going to write father at once, and tell him all about it,&#8221;
+she said. &#8220;And I <i>am</i> sorry for the way I treated Polly at first. Do
+you suppose she will ever forgive me, Wyn?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Just as Wyn had once said in discussing Bessie&#8217;s character: when the
+latter realized that she was in the wrong, or had been unfair to anyone, she was
+never afraid to admit her fault and try to &#8220;make it up.&#8221; But this
+seemed to be a case where it was very difficult for Bessie to &#8220;square
+herself.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The boatman&#8217;s daughter had shown herself unwilling to be friendly with
+Bess. Nor was Polly, perhaps, to be blamed.</p>
+
+<p>However, on this particular morning the girls of Green Knoll Camp had
+something besides Bessie&#8217;s disturbance of mind and Polly Jarley&#8217;s
+attitude to think about.</p>
+
+<p>And this &#8220;something&#8221; came upon them with a suddenness that set
+the entire camp in an uproar. <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_167'></a>167</span> Grace, the dilatory, was picking berries before
+breakfast along the edge of the clearing, and popping them into her mouth as
+fast as she could find ripe ones.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come here and help, Grace!&#8221; called Percy from the tent where she
+was shaking out the heavy blankets. &#8220;I&#8217;m not going to do all my work
+and yours, too.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You come and help <i>me</i>. It&#8217;s more fun,&#8221; returned
+Grace, laughing at her.</p>
+
+<p>Then the lazy girl turned and reached for a particularly juicy blackberry, in
+the clump ahead of her. Percy saw her struck motionless for a second, or two;
+then the big girl fairly fell backward, rolled over, picked herself up, and
+raced back to the tents, her mouth wide open and her hair streaming in the
+wind.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What <i>is</i> the matter?&#8221; gasped Percy.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Grace! you look dreadful! Tell us, what has happened!&#8221;
+begged Bessie, as the big girl sank down by the entrance to the tent, her limbs
+too weak to bear her farther.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What has scared you so, Grace?&#8221; demanded Wyn, running up.</p>
+
+<p>Grace&#8217;s eyes rolled, she shut and opened her mouth again several times.
+Then she was only able to gasp out the one word:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Bear!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168'></a>168</span>The other girls
+came crowding around. &#8220;What do you mean, Grace?&#8221; &#8220;Stop trying
+to scare us, Grace!&#8221; &#8220;She&#8217;s fooling,&#8221; were some of the
+cries they uttered.</p>
+
+<p>But Wyn saw that her friend was really frightened; she was not &#8220;putting
+it on.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t mean that it was a <i>real</i> bear?&#8221; cried
+Frank Cameron.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A bear, I tell you!&#8221; moaned Grace, rocking herself to and fro.
+&#8220;I told you they were here in the woods.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, dear me!&#8221; screamed Mina. &#8220;What shall we do?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You didn&#8217;t <i>see</i> it, Grace?&#8221; demanded Wyn, sternly.
+&#8220;You only heard it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I saw it, I tell you!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not really?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Do&#8211;do you think I don&#8217;t know a bear when I see one?&#8221;
+demanded Grace. &#8220;He&#8211;he&#8217;ll be right after us&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No. If it was a real, wild bear he would be just as scared at seeing
+you as you would be at seeing him,&#8221; remarked the decidedly sensible
+captain.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He&#8211;he <i>couldn&#8217;t</i> be as scared as I am,&#8221; moaned
+Grace, with considerable emphasis.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe there&#8217;s a bear within miles and miles of
+here!&#8221; declared Frank.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169'></a>169</span>&#8220;Well! I
+declare I hope there isn&#8217;t,&#8221; cried Bess.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll look,&#8221; offered Wyn. &#8220;Grace just thought she saw
+something.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A great, black and brown hairy beast!&#8221; moaned Grace. &#8220;He
+stood right up on his hind legs and stretched out his arms to
+me&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Enamored of all your young charms,&#8221; giggled Frank.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s no joke!&#8221; gasped the frightened one.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It <i>might</i> be a bear, you know,&#8221; quavered Mina.</p>
+
+<p>The breakfast was being neglected. Mrs. Havel was down at the edge of the
+lake washing out some bits of lace. She had not heard the rumpus.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to see,&#8221; announced Frank, and ran back over the
+course Grace had come.</p>
+
+<p>She reached the berry bushes. She parted them and peered through. She began
+to enter the jungle, indeed, in search of bruin.</p>
+
+<p>And then the girls all heard a sort of snuffling growl&#8211;just the sort of
+a noise they <i>thought</i> a bear must make. Frank jumped out of those bushes
+as though they had become suddenly afire!</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Wha&#8211;what did I tell you?&#8221; screamed Grace.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s there!&#8221; groaned Mina.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170'></a>170</span>Then suddenly a
+dark object appeared among the saplings and underbrush.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Look out, Frank! Run!&#8221; cried the other girls, in chorus; but
+Miss Cameron needed no urging; she ran with all her might!</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171'></a>171</span><a id='link_16'></a>CHAPTER XVI<br /><span class='h2fs'>TIT FOR TAT</span></h2>
+
+<p>But instead of returning toward the tents she ran straight across the
+clearing. Possibly she did not stop to think where she was going, for she came
+against the underbrush again and that terrific growl was once more repeated.</p>
+
+<p>Frankie stopped as though she had been shot. Right in front of her loomed a
+second black, hairy figure.</p>
+
+<p>She glared around wildly. At the back of the clearing was the opening into
+the wood path leading from Windmill Farm down to the boat-landing at John
+Jarley&#8217;s place. And in that opening, and for an instant, appeared likewise
+a threatening form!</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come here! Come here, Frank!&#8221; shrieked Bess.
+&#8220;There&#8217;s another of them&#8211;we&#8217;re surrounded.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The Cameron girl started again, and let out the last link of speed that there
+was in her. She ran straight down to the shore where Mrs. Havel <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172'></a>172</span> just aroused by the
+shrieks, was starting to return to camp.</p>
+
+<p>The other girls piled after her. But Wyn brought up the rear. She looked
+around now and then. Three bears! In a place where no bears had been seen for
+years and years! Wyn was puzzled.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There are bears in the woods, Mrs. Havel!&#8221; gasped Grace.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nonsense, child!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I saw &#8217;em. One almost grabbed me,&#8221; declared the big
+girl.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And <i>I</i> saw them, Auntie,&#8221; urged Percy Havel.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;This way! this way!&#8221; cried Frank, running along the shore under
+the high knoll on which the camp was pitched. &#8220;They can&#8217;t see us
+down here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Havel was urged along by her niece and Grace. Wyn brought up the rear.
+Oddly enough, none of the bears came out of the bushes&#8211;that she could
+see.</p>
+
+<p>The girls plunged along the sand, and through the shallow water for several
+yards. Here the bushes grew right down to the edge of the lake. Suddenly Wyn
+caught sight of something ahead, and uttered a sharp command:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Stop! every one of you! Do you hear me, Frank? Stop!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173'></a>173</span>&#8220;Oh, dear!
+they can eat us here just as well as anywhere,&#8221; groaned Grace.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now be quiet!&#8221; said Wynifred, in some heat. &#8220;We&#8217;ve
+all been foolish enough. <i>Those were not bears.</i>&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Cows, maybe, Wynnie?&#8221; asked Mrs. Havel. &#8220;But I am quite as
+afraid of cows&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nor cows, either. I guess you wouldn&#8217;t have been fooled for a
+minute if you had seen them,&#8221; said Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What do you mean, Wyn?&#8221; cried Frank. &#8220;I tell you I saw
+them with my own eyes&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Of course you did. So did I,&#8221; admitted Wyn. &#8220;But we did
+not see them right. They are not bears, walking on their hind legs; they are
+just boys walking on the only legs they&#8217;ve got!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The Busters!&#8221; ejaculated Frank.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Wyn! do you think so?&#8221; asked Mina, hopefully.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Look ahead,&#8221; commanded Wyn. &#8220;There are the boys&#8217;
+canoes. They paddled over here this morning and dressed up in those old
+moth-eaten buffalo robes they had over there, on the island, and managed to
+frighten us nicely.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s it! They played a joke on us,&#8221; began Frank,
+laughing.</p>
+
+<p>But Mrs. Havel was angry. &#8220;They should be <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_174'></a>174</span> sent home for playing such a
+trick,&#8221; she said, &#8220;and I shall speak to Professor Skillings about
+it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Pooh!&#8221; said Wyn. &#8220;They&#8217;re only boys. And of course
+they&#8217;ll be up to such tricks. The thing to do is to go them one
+better.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;How, Wyn, how?&#8221; cried her mates.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I do not know that I can allow this, Wynifred,&#8221; began Mrs.
+Havel, doubtfully.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You wish to punish them; don&#8217;t you, Mrs. Havel?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They should be punished&#8211;yes.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then we have the chance,&#8221; cried Wyn, gleefully. &#8220;You go
+back to the camp, Mrs. Havel, and we girls will take their canoes&#8211;every
+one of them. We&#8217;ll call them the trophies of war, and we&#8217;ll make the
+Busters pay&#8211;and pay well for them&#8211;before they get their canoes back.
+What do you say, girls?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Splendid!&#8221; cried Frank. &#8220;And they frightened me
+so!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Look out for the biscuits, Mrs. Havel, please,&#8221; begged Bess.
+&#8220;I am afraid they will be burned.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The lady returned hurriedly to the camp on the top of the hillock. When she
+mounted the rise from the shore, there was a circle of giggling youths about the
+open fireplace and a pile of moth-eaten buffalo hides near by. Dave was messing
+<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175'></a>175</span> with the Dutch
+oven in which Bess had just before put the pan of biscuit for breakfast.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Ho, ho!&#8221; cried Tubby. &#8220;Where are the girls?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Bear hunting, I bet!&#8221; cried Ferd Roberts.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Good-morning, Mrs. Havel,&#8221; said Dave, smiling rather sheepishly.
+&#8220;I hope we didn&#8217;t scare <i>you</i>.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You rather startled me&#8211;coming unannounced,&#8221; admitted Mrs.
+Havel, but smiling quietly. &#8220;You surely have not breakfasted so
+early?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No. That&#8217;s part of the game,&#8221; declared another youth.
+&#8220;We claim forfeit&#8211;and in this case take payment in eats.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I am afraid you are more slangy than understandable,&#8221; returned
+Mrs. Havel. &#8220;Did you come for something particular?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Goodness! didn&#8217;t you see those girls running?&#8221; cried
+Ferd.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Running? Where to?&#8221; queried the chaperone.</p>
+
+<p>Dave began to look more serious.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Perhaps they are running yet!&#8221; squealed Tubby, only seeing the
+fun of it.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Bet they&#8217;ve gone for help to hunt the bears,&#8221; laughed
+another of the reckless youngsters.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They&#8217;ll get out the whole countryside to find <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176'></a>176</span> &#8217;em,&#8221; choked
+Ferdinand Roberts. &#8220;That&#8217;s <i>too</i> rich.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Are you sure the girls didn&#8217;t come your way, Mrs. Havel?&#8221;
+asked Dave, with anxiety.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, the girls will be back presently. I came up to see to the biscuit,
+Mr. Shepard. About inviting you to breakfast&#8211;You know, I am only a guest
+of Green Knoll Camp myself. I couldn&#8217;t invite you,&#8221; said Mrs. Havel,
+demurely.</p>
+
+<p>The boys looked at each other in some surprise and Tubby&#8217;s face fell
+woefully.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Ca-can&#8217;t we do something to help you get breakfast, Mrs.
+Havel?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Havel had to hide a smile at that, but she remained obdurate. &#8220;I
+have really nothing to do with it, Sir Tubby. You must wait for the girls to
+come,&#8221; she said.</p>
+
+<p>The boys began whispering together; but they did not move. They had scuttled
+over from their own camp early with the express intention of &#8220;getting
+one&#8221; on the girls, and making a breakfast out of it. But now the
+accomplishment of their purpose seemed doubtful, and there was a hollow look
+about them all that should have made Mrs. Havel pity them.</p>
+
+<p>That lady, however, remembered vividly how she had run along the shore in
+fear of a flock <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177'></a>177</span> of
+bears; this was a part of the boys&#8217; punishment for that ill-begotten
+joke.</p>
+
+<p>The biscuit were beginning to brown, the coffee sent off a delicious odor,
+and here were eggs ready to drop into the kettle of boiling water for their
+four-minute submersion. Besides, there was mush and milk. Every minute the boys
+became hungrier.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Aren&#8217;t the girls ever coming?&#8221; sighed Tubby. &#8220;They
+<i>couldn&#8217;t</i> be so heartless.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They haven&#8217;t gone far; have they?&#8221; queried Dave Shepard.
+&#8220;We saw their canoes on the beach.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Just then the laughter of the girls in the distance broke upon the ears of
+those on the hillock. They were approaching along the shore&#8211;apparently
+from the direction of Jarley&#8217;s landing.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They don&#8217;t seem to have been much scared, after all,&#8221;
+grumbled Tubby to Ferd.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It was a silly thing to do, anyway,&#8221; returned young Roberts.
+&#8220;Suppose we don&#8217;t get any breakfast?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>At this horrid thought the fat youth almost fainted. The girls came in sight,
+and at once hailed the boys gaily:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh! see who&#8217;s here!&#8221; cried Frank. &#8220;What a lovely
+surprise!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; said Bess, but with rather a vicious <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178'></a>178</span> snap. &#8220;We
+couldn&#8217;t get along, of course, without having a parcel of boys around.
+&#8217;Morning, Mr. Shepard.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Bess made a difference between Dave and the rest of the Busters, for Dave had
+helped her in a serious difficulty.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Where&#8217;s the professor?&#8221; demanded Grace. &#8220;Isn&#8217;t
+he here, too?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s having breakfast all by his lonesome over on the
+island,&#8221; said Ferd, and Tubby groaned at the word &#8220;breakfast,&#8221;
+while Dave added:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8211;we got a dreadfully early start this morning.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Quite a start&#8211;I should say,&#8221; returned Wyn, smiling
+broadly. &#8220;And now you&#8217;re hungry, I suppose?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, aren&#8217;t we, just?&#8221; cried one of the crowd,
+hollowly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;How about it, Bess? Is there enough for so many more?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Bess was already sifting flour for more biscuit. She said: &#8220;I&#8217;ll
+have another panful in a jiffy. Put in the eggs, Mina. We can make a
+beginning.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s plenty of mush,&#8221; said Mina. &#8220;That&#8217;s
+one sure thing.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But we can&#8217;t all sit down,&#8221; cried Grace.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You know, there are but six of these folding <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_179'></a>179</span> seats, and Wyn&#8217;s been sitting on
+a cracker box ever since we set up the tents.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Feed &#8217;em where they&#8217;re sitting,&#8221; said Wyn, quickly.
+&#8220;Beggars mustn&#8217;t be choosers.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Jinks! we didn&#8217;t treat you like this when you came over to our
+camp,&#8221; cried Ferd.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And we didn&#8217;t come over almost before you were up in the
+morning,&#8221; responded Frank, quickly. &#8220;How did you know we had made
+our &#8216;twilights&#8217; at such an unconscionable hour?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The girls were all laughing a good deal. Nobody said a word about the
+&#8220;bear&#8221; fright, and the boys felt a little diffidence about broaching
+the subject. Evidently their joke had fallen flat.</p>
+
+<p>But the girls really had no intention of being mean to the six Busters. The
+first pan of biscuit came out of the oven a golden brown. Grace and Percy set
+them and the bowls of mush on the table, and handed around other bowls and a
+pitcher of milk to the circle of boys, sitting cross-legged on the ground like
+so many tailors.</p>
+
+<p>There was honey for the biscuits, too, as well as golden butter&#8211;both
+from Windmill Farm. The eggs were cooked just right, and there were plenty of
+them. Crisp radishes and sliced cucumbers and tomatoes added to the fare.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Gee!&#8221; sighed Tubby, &#8220;doesn&#8217;t it take girls <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180'></a>180</span> to live <i>right</i> in
+camp? And look at those doughnuts.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I fried them,&#8221; cried Mina, proudly. &#8220;Mrs. Havel showed me
+how, though.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Mrs. Havel, come over to Gannet Island and teach us how to
+cook,&#8221; cried Dave. &#8220;We don&#8217;t have anything like
+this.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not a sweetie except what we buy at the Forge&#8211;and that&#8217;s
+baker&#8217;s stuff,&#8221; complained Tubby.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you think you boys had better be pretty good to
+us&#8211;if you want to come to tea&#8211;or breakfast&#8211;once in a
+while?&#8221; asked Wyn, pointedly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Right!&#8221; declared Dave.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Got us there,&#8221; admitted Ferdinand.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;<i>I&#8217;ll</i> see that they behave themselves, Wyn,&#8221; cried
+Tubby, with great enthusiasm. &#8220;These fellows are too fresh,
+anyway&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But at this the other boys rose up in their might and pitched upon Master
+Blaisdell, rolling him over and over on the grass and making him lose half of
+his last doughnut.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, now, now!&#8221; cried Mrs. Havel. &#8220;This is no bear-garden.
+Try to behave.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The boys began to laugh uproariously at this. &#8220;What do <i>you</i> know
+about a bear-garden, Grace?&#8221; Ferd demanded.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And wasn&#8217;t that growling of Dave&#8217;s awe-inspiring?&#8221;
+cried another.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181'></a>181</span>&#8220;And
+weren&#8217;t <i>you</i> scared, Frank Cameron?&#8221; suggested Tubby, grinning
+hugely when his mates had let him up. &#8220;I never did know you could run so
+fast.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, pshaw!&#8221; responded Frank. &#8220;Did you boys really think
+you had scared us with those moth-eaten old robes?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;How ridiculous!&#8221; chimed in Bess. &#8220;A boy is usually a good
+deal of a bear, I know; but he doesn&#8217;t <i>look</i> like one.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And&#8211;and there haven&#8217;t been any bears in this country
+for&#8211;for years,&#8221; said Grace, though rather quaveringly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say! what do you know about all this?&#8221; demanded Dave, of his
+mates.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Do you girls mean to say that you weren&#8217;t scared pretty near
+into fits?&#8221; cried one lad.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Did we act scared?&#8221; laughed Wyn. &#8220;I guess we fooled you a
+little, eh?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re just as much mistaken,&#8221; said Frank, &#8220;as the
+red-headed man was who went to see the doctor because he had indigestion. When
+the doctor told him to diet, it wasn&#8217;t his hair he meant; but the
+red-headed man got mad just the same. Now, you boys&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Aw, come! come!&#8221; cried Dave. &#8220;You can&#8217;t say honestly
+you were not scared. You know you were.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182'></a>182</span>&#8220;I am
+afraid your joke fell flat, Davie,&#8221; laughed Wyn. All the girls were
+enjoying the boys&#8217; discomfiture. &#8220;Of course, I suppose you thought
+you deserved your breakfast as a forfeit because you got a trick across on us.
+But you&#8217;ll have to try again, I am afraid. Just because we ran
+doesn&#8217;t prove that we did not recognize the combination of a boy and a
+buffalo robe.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Aw, now!&#8221; cried one of the boys. &#8220;What did you run
+for?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s a reason,&#8221; laughed Percy.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Wait!&#8221; advised Frank, shaking her head and her own eyes dancing.
+&#8220;You will find out soon enough why we ran.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;He laughs best who laughs last,&#8217;&#8221; quoted Grace.
+&#8220;Bears, indeed!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The boys were puzzled. Breakfast being over the girls went about their
+several tasks and paid their friends of the opposite sex very little attention.
+To all suggestions that they get out the canoes and go across to the island with
+the boys, or on other junkets, the girls responded with refusals. They evidently
+thought they had something like a joke themselves on the boys, and finally the
+latter went off through the brush toward the spot where they had tied their
+canoes, half inclined to be angry.</p>
+
+<p>They were gone a long while, and were very <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_183'></a>183</span> quiet. The girls whispered together, and kept right
+near the tents, waiting for the explosion.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;At least,&#8221; Wyn said, chuckling, &#8220;we gave them a good
+breakfast, so they won&#8217;t starve to death; but if they want to go to the
+island they will have to swim.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve given them &#8216;tit for tat,&#8217;&#8221; said Frankie,
+nodding her head. &#8220;Glad of it. And <i>they&#8217;ll</i> pay the forfeit,
+instead of us.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If they don&#8217;t find the canoes,&#8221; whispered Grace.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They wouldn&#8217;t find them in a week of Sundays,&#8221; cried
+Percy.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then let&#8217;s set them a good hard task for payment,&#8221;
+suggested Bess.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right. They oughtn&#8217;t to have tried to scare us
+so,&#8221; agreed Mina.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I guess it is agreed,&#8221; laughed Wyn, &#8220;to show them no
+mercy. Ah! here they come now.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The Busters slowly climbed the knoll in rather woebegone fashion. Their
+feathers certainly were drooped, as Frank remarked.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; said Dave, throwing himself down on the sward, &#8220;we
+must hand it to you Go-Aheads. You&#8217;ve got us &#8217;way out on the limb, and if
+you shake the tree very hard we&#8217;ll drop off.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, thanks!&#8221; snapped Bess. &#8220;We don&#8217;t care for green
+fruit.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184'></a>184</span>&#8220;Oh,
+oh!&#8221; squealed Ferd. &#8220;I bet that hurt me.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, there&#8217;s no use quarreling,&#8221; said Dave. &#8220;We
+admit defeat. Where under the sun you girls could have hidden our canoes I
+don&#8217;t see. And your own haven&#8217;t been used this morning, that&#8217;s
+sure.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Wyn and her mates broke into uncontrollable laughter at this.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Who&#8217;s the joke on now?&#8221; cried Bess.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What will you give to find your canoes?&#8221; exclaimed Frankie.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Aw&#8211;say&#8211;don&#8217;t rub it in,&#8221; begged Tubby.
+&#8220;We own up to the corn. You beat us. Where are the canoes?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Ahem!&#8221; said Wynifred, clearing her throat loudly, and standing
+forth.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hear, hear!&#8221; cried Mina.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh! you&#8217;ve got it all fixed up for us, I see,&#8221; muttered
+Ferd.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The understanding always has been,&#8221; said Wyn, calmly,
+&#8220;that if one party succeeded in playing a practical joke on the other, and
+&#8216;getting away with it,&#8217; as you slangy boys say, the party falling for the
+trick should pay forfeit. Isn&#8217;t that so?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Go on! Do your worst,&#8221; growled Ferd.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_185'></a>185</span>&#8220;That&#8217;s right. You state the case
+clearly, Miss Mallory,&#8221; said Dave, with a bow of mockery.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And they never paid a forfeit for the time Tubby slid down our
+boathouse roof, plunk into the water,&#8221; cried Bessie.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Aw&#8211;that&#8217;s ancient history,&#8221; growled Tubby.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Let us stick to recent events,&#8221; agreed Wyn, smiling. &#8220;If
+we girls were at all frightened by your &#8216;bear-faced&#8217; attempt to frighten
+us this morning, we have paid with a breakfast; haven&#8217;t we?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And it was a good one,&#8221; agreed Dave.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s made me go right to cooking again,&#8221; said Bess.
+&#8220;A swarm of locusts would have brought about no greater
+devastation.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then, gentlemen,&#8221; said Wynifred, &#8220;do you admit that the
+shoe is now on the other foot? You cannot find your canoes. Will you pay us to
+find them for you?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s only fair,&#8221; admitted Dave.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say! how do we pay you?&#8221; demanded Ferd.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Shall I tell them what we demand, girls?&#8221; asked Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Go ahead!&#8221; &#8220;It&#8217;ll serve them right!&#8221;
+&#8220;They&#8217;ve got to do it!&#8221; were some of the exclamations from the
+Go-Aheads.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, let the blow fall!&#8221; groaned Dave.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then, gentlemen of the Busters Association, <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_186'></a>186</span> it is agreed by the ladies of the
+Go-Ahead Club that while we remain in camp on Green Knoll this summer, you young
+gentlemen shall cut and stack all the firewood we shall need!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Ow-ouch!&#8221; cried Ferd.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What a cheek!&#8221; gasped Tubby, rolling his eyes.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;<i>All</i> the firewood you use?&#8221; repeated one of the other
+boys. &#8220;Why&#8211;that will be cords and cords!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Every stick!&#8221; declared Wyn, firmly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And I&#8217;d be ashamed, if I were you, to complain,&#8221; pursued
+Bessie. &#8220;If you had been gentlemanly you would have offered to cut our
+wood before. You know that that is the <i>one</i> thing that girls can&#8217;t
+do easily about a camp.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Gee! you have quite a heap of stove wood yonder,&#8221; said
+Tubby.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That is what Mr. Jarley cut for us,&#8221; Wyn said. &#8220;But it
+doesn&#8217;t matter what other means we may have for getting our firewood cut.
+Will you accept the forfeit like honorable gentlemen?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, we&#8217;ve <i>got</i> to!&#8221; cried Ferd.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re honestly caught,&#8221; admitted Dave Shepard.
+&#8220;I&#8217;ll do my share. Two of us, for half a day a week, can more than
+keep you supplied&#8211;unless you waste it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187'></a>187</span>&#8220;And we
+can have the canoes back?&#8221; demanded one of the other Busters, eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>And so it was agreed&#8211;&#8220;signed, sworn to, and delivered,&#8221; as
+Frankie said. With great glee the girls led the Busters to the steep bank by the
+waterside, over which a great curtain of wild honeysuckle hung. This curtain of
+fragrant flowers and thick vines dragged upon the ground. There was a hollow
+behind it that Wyn had discovered quite by chance.</p>
+
+<p>And this hollow was big enough to hide the six canoes, one stacked a-top of
+the other. One passing by would never have suspected the hiding place, and in
+hiding the craft the girls had left no tell-tale footprints.</p>
+
+<p>So, for once at least, the Go-Aheads got the best of the Busters.</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188'></a>188</span><a id='link_17'></a>CHAPTER XVII<br /><span class='h2fs'>VISITORS</span></h2>
+
+<p>Bessie Lavine had written home, as she said she would, regarding her
+adventure with Wyn when they were overturned by the squall, and all about Polly
+Jarley. But the result of this letter&#8211;and the others that went along to
+Denton with it&#8211;was not just what the girls had expected.</p>
+
+<p>Although Mrs. Havel, in charge of the Go-Aheads, reported regularly to her
+brother-in-law, Percy&#8217;s father, the story of the overturn made a great
+stir among the mothers especially, whose consent to the six girls living under
+canvas for the summer had been gained with such difficulty.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What do you know about this, girls?&#8221; cried Frank, on next mail
+day. &#8220;My mother and father are coming out here. They can stay but one
+night; but they say they must see with their own eyes just how we are living
+here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And my Uncle Will is coming,&#8221; announced Grace. &#8220;What do
+you know about <i>that</i>? Mother has made him promise to come and see if I am
+all right.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189'></a>189</span>&#8220;<i>My</i>
+mother says,&#8221; quoth Mina, slowly, &#8220;that she doesn&#8217;t doubt Mrs.
+Havel does the very best she can by us; but she and papa are coming up here with
+Mr. and Mrs. Cameron.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Bessie began to laugh, too. &#8220;Pa&#8217;s coming,&#8221; she said.
+&#8220;It&#8217;s a plot, I believe. He says he has hired the <i>Sissy
+Radcliffe</i>, and all of our parents can come if they like. The boat&#8217;s
+big enough. He will bring another sleeping tent and those who wish can sleep
+under canvas while they remain. The boat has lots of berths in it. Say! maybe
+we&#8217;ll have a great time.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I expect,&#8221; said Mrs. Havel, looking up and smiling, from her own
+letter, &#8220;that your mothers, girls, will not really be content until they
+see for themselves how you are getting along. So we may as well make ready for
+visitors. They will arrive on Saturday. Some will remain only over Sunday and
+return by train from the Forge. But Mr. Lavine, I believe, and some of the
+gentlemen, will be here on the lake for a week, or more.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No more oversets, now, girls,&#8221; said Frankie. &#8220;That&#8217;s
+what is bringing the mothers up here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;<i>My</i> father is coming to see if he cannot do something for Polly
+Jarley,&#8221; declared Bessie, with emphasis.</p>
+
+<p>But Wynifred Mallory was quite sure that the Lavines&#8211;no matter how good
+their intentions <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190'></a>190</span>
+now were toward the boatman&#8217;s daughter&#8211;would find Polly rather
+difficult. Wyn had been down to the boatkeeper&#8217;s house several times alone
+to see Polly; but the backwoods girl would not be shaken from her attitude. She
+would not come to Green Knoll Camp any more, nor would she send any word to Bess
+Lavine.</p>
+
+<p>Bess really was sorry for what she had said and the way she had treated
+Polly. But the latter was obdurate.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want anything from those Lavines,&#8221; she replied to
+Wyn&#8217;s urging. &#8220;Only that Mr. Lavine should treat my father kindly.
+I&#8217;d pull the girl out of the lake again&#8211;sure! But I don&#8217;t want
+her for a friend, and I don&#8217;t want to be paid for doing my duty.
+<i>You</i> don&#8217;t offer to pay me, Wynnie.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, dear. I couldn&#8217;t pay you for saving my life,&#8221; Wynifred
+admitted.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Neither can they!&#8221; retorted Polly, heatedly. &#8220;They think
+they&#8217;re so much above us, because they have money and we have none. They
+are like those millionaires at the other end of the lake&#8211;Dr. Shelton and
+the others. I don&#8217;t want their money!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But Polly&#8217;s obstinacy was cutting the boatman&#8217;s daughter out of a
+lot of fun. This fact became more pronounced, too, when the visitors <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191'></a>191</span> from Denton, in the
+<i>Sissy Radcliffe</i>, came to Green Knoll Camp.</p>
+
+<p>The <i>Sissy</i> was a big motor launch, and there was a good-sized party
+aboard. When the ladies had once seen how the girls and Mrs. Havel lived, they
+were glad to take advantage of the tent Mr. Lavine brought. The gentlemen slept
+aboard the launch, which was anchored at night off Green Knoll Camp.</p>
+
+<p>There were indeed gay times, for instead of acting as
+&#8220;wet-blankets&#8221; to the young folks&#8217; fun, the visitors entered
+into the spirit of the outing and, with the Busters and Professor Skillings from
+Gannet Island, made a holiday of the occasion.</p>
+
+<p>Both the girls and boys &#8220;showed off&#8221; in their canoes in the
+shallow water under the bank, and in their bathing suits. They showed the more
+or less anxious parents just how skillful they were in the management of the
+tricky craft.</p>
+
+<p>When the canoes were overturned, the girls and boys were able to right them,
+bail them out, and scramble aboard again. They could all swim and dive like
+ducks&#8211;save Bessie and Tubby. But Bessie was improving every day, and Tubby
+never <i>could</i> really sink, they all declared, unless he swallowed so much
+of the lake for ballast that he would be able to wade ashore from the
+middle.</p>
+
+<p>It was now the height of the camping season <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_192'></a>192</span> and the Busters and Go-Aheads, with their friends,
+were not the only parties along the shores of Lake Honotonka. The Jarleys were
+doing a good business, almost all their craft being in use most of the time. A
+battalion of Boy Scouts went into camp about ten miles to the west of Gannet
+Island and Dave and his mates had some friends among them.</p>
+
+<p>Several small steamboats plied the waters of the lake with excursion parties.
+The people at Braisely Park often came down to Gannet Island and the
+neighborhood of Green Knoll in their boats. Altogether there was considerable
+intimacy among the campers and between them and the residents of Braisely
+Park.</p>
+
+<p>This pleasant condition of affairs brought about the idea of the regatta, or
+boating sports. Some of the wealthy men at the west end of the lake arranged the
+events, put up the prizes for certain classes of boat trials and other aquatic
+sports, had the necessary printing and advertising done, and</p>
+
+<div class='center'>
+<p class='center'>HONOTONKA REGATTA DAY</p>
+</div><!-- centered -->
+
+<p>became emblazoned on the billboards along the neighboring highways and
+railroad lines.</p>
+
+<p>The events were entirely amateur and were confined to those actually camping
+on, or living on, the <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_193'></a>193</span> shores of the lake. Arrangements went ahead with a
+rush, the date being set so close that most of the parents and friends who had
+come up with Mr. Lavine from Denton were encouraged to stay over.</p>
+
+<p>Some of the Busters were going to enter for the canoeing events, and there
+was a girls&#8217; contest, too, that interested our friends. Bessie Lavine
+could paddle a canoe as well as anybody, and she was eager to take part in one
+or two of the races. So she got out early one morning, with Wyn and Grace, and
+Mr. Lavine for referee, and they did some good work.</p>
+
+<p>They chanced to get well over toward the Jarley boat landing and suddenly Wyn
+set up a shout:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Polly! Polly Jolly! I never knew you had a canoe. Come on over
+here!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>She had caught sight of the boatman&#8217;s daughter paddling near the shore
+in an Indian canoe. It was of birchbark and Polly shot it along under the stroke
+of her paddle as though it had the weight of a feather. And, indeed, it was not
+so heavy by a good deal as the cedar boats of the Go-Ahead girls.</p>
+
+<p>Polly waved her hand and turned the canoe&#8217;s prow toward Wyn. Not until
+she was right among the other canoes did she realize that in one of them sat
+Bessie Lavine.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194'></a>194</span>&#8220;We are
+very glad to see you, Polly,&#8221; declared Wyn. &#8220;Are you going to enter
+for the girls&#8217; races?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Good-morning, Polly,&#8221; cried Grace, equally cordial. &#8220;What
+a pretty boat you have!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Polly stammered some words of welcome and then looked from Bessie to Mr.
+Lavine. Evidently the boatman&#8217;s daughter suspected who the gentleman
+was.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Lavine was a pleasant enough man to meet socially. It is true that both
+he and his daughter were impulsive and perhaps prided themselves on being
+&#8220;good haters.&#8221; This does not mean that they were haters of that
+which was good; but that if they considered anybody their enemy the enmity was
+not allowed to die out.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I am glad to see you again, Polly,&#8221; Bess said, driving her canoe
+close to that of the boatman&#8217;s daughter. &#8220;Won&#8217;t you speak to
+me at all?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Miss Lavine! I would not be so rude as to refuse to speak to
+you,&#8221; Polly replied. &#8220;But&#8211;but it doesn&#8217;t do any
+good&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, it does, Polly,&#8221; Bess said, quickly. &#8220;This is my
+father and he wants to thank you for saving my life.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Indeed I do!&#8221; exclaimed Mr. Lavine, heartily. &#8220;I
+can&#8217;t tell you how much I appreciate what you did&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195'></a>195</span>&#8220;Oh, yes,
+sir,&#8221; said Polly, hurriedly. &#8220;I know all about that. You told me how
+you felt in your letter. And I&#8217;m sure I am obliged to
+you&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;For what?&#8221; demanded the gentleman, smiling. &#8220;I have done
+nothing but acknowledge in empty phrases your bravery and good sense. I think a
+deal of my Bessie, and I must show you in some more substantial way how much I
+appreciate what you did for her.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, sir; you cannot do that,&#8221; declared Polly, very much flushed,
+but with firmness, too.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, come, now I My dear girl! Don&#8217;t be so
+offish&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You have thanked me sufficiently, sir,&#8221; declared Polly.
+&#8220;If I did not know better than to accept anything more substantial myself,
+my father would not allow it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, come now! Your father&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My father, sir, is John Jarley. He used to be your friend and partner
+in business. You have seen fit to spread abroad tales about him that he
+denies&#8211;that are untrue, sir,&#8221; pursued Polly, her anger making her
+voice tremble.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;From you, Mr. Lavine, we could accept nothing&#8211;no charity. If we
+are poor, and if I have no advantages&#8211;such advantages as your daughter
+has, for instance&#8211;<i>you</i> are as much to blame for it as
+anybody.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196'></a>196</span>&#8220;Oh! come
+now!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It is true. Your libelling of my father ruined his reputation in
+Denton. He could get no business there. And it worried my mother almost to
+death. So he had to come away up here into the woods.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I really was not to blame for that, Polly,&#8221; said Mr. Lavine.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You were! Whether you realize it yourself, or not, you are the cause
+of all our troubles, for they began with your being angry with father over the
+Steel Rivet Corporation deal. I know. He&#8217;s told me about it
+himself.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Lavine was putting a strong brake upon his temper. He was deeply grateful
+to Polly; but he was a proud man, too.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Let us put aside the difference of opinion between John Jarley and
+myself, my dear girl,&#8221; he said, quietly. &#8220;Perhaps he and I had
+better discuss that; not <i>you</i> and I. Bessie, I know, wishes to be your
+friend, and so do I. Had you not rescued her from the lake as you did, Polly, I
+should be mourning her death. It is a terrible thing to think of!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Polly was silenced by this. But if she did not look actually sullen, she
+certainly gave no sign of giving way.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So, my dear, you must see how strongly we <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_197'></a>197</span> both feel. You would be doing a kind
+action, Polly, if you allowed Bessie to be your friend.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That is true, Polly,&#8221; cried Bessie, putting out her hand again.
+&#8220;Do, <i>do</i> shake hands with me. Why! I owe you my life!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t talk that way!&#8221; returned the boatman&#8217;s
+daughter. But she gave Bess her hand. &#8220;You make too much of what I did.
+And I don&#8217;t want to seem mean&#8211;and ungrateful.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But, truly, you can do nothing for me. No, Mr. Lavine; there is
+nothing I could accept. You have wronged my father&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He put up his hand in denial, but she went on to say:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;At least, <i>I</i> believe so. You can do nothing for me. I would be
+glad if you would right the wrong you did him so long ago; but I do not want you
+to do <i>that</i> in payment for anything I may have done for Miss Bessie.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, sir. Right my father&#8217;s wrong because it <i>is</i> a wrong
+and because you realize it to be such&#8211;that you were
+mistaken&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I do not see that,&#8221; Mr. Lavine returned, stiffly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then there is nothing more to be said,&#8221; declared Polly, and with
+a quick flirt of her paddle, she drove her birchbark out of the huddle of other
+canoes and, in half a minute, was out of earshot.</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198'></a>198</span><a id='link_18'></a>CHAPTER XVIII<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE REGATTA</span></h2>
+
+<p>The late July morning that broke upon the scene of the last preparations for
+Honotonka regatta promised as fine a day as heart could wish.</p>
+
+<p>There was a good breeze from early morning. This was fine for the catboat
+races and for the sailing canoes. Yet the breeze was not too strong, and there
+was not much &#8220;sea.&#8221; This latter fact made the paddling less
+difficult.</p>
+
+<p>The camps on Gannet Island and at Green Knoll were deserted soon after
+breakfast. The Busters took their canoes aboard the <i>Happy Day</i>, while Mr.
+Lavine&#8217;s launch, the <i>Sissy Radcliffe</i>, carried the girls&#8217;
+canoes as well as the girls themselves.</p>
+
+<p>They were two merry boatloads, and the boats themselves were strung with
+banners and pennants. As they shot up the sunlit lake they sighted many other
+craft headed toward Braisely Park, for some contestants had come from as far
+away as the Forge, at the head of the Wintinooski.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199'></a>199</span>Suddenly Wyn,
+looking through the camp spyglass, recognized the patched sail of the
+<i>Coquette</i>, the little catboat in which Polly Jarley had come to the rescue
+of the two members of the Go-Ahead Club on that memorable day.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Polly is aboard,&#8221; she told Frank Cameron, passing the glass to
+her friend. &#8220;But who is the boy with her?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s no boy!&#8221; declared the sharp-eyed Frankie.
+&#8220;Why! he&#8217;s got a mustache.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s never Mr. Jarley himself?&#8221; exclaimed Wyn, in
+surprise.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s exactly who it is.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t think they&#8217;d both leave the landing at the same
+time. Do you suppose they have entered the <i>Coquette</i> in the free-for-all
+catboat race?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I shouldn&#8217;t wonder. She&#8217;s a fast boat if she <i>is</i> old
+and lubberly-looking. And Dr. Shelton has offered twenty-five dollars for the
+winning boat.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It takes two to work a catboat properly, too. That is the
+understanding,&#8221; said Wyn, thoughtfully: &#8220;a crew of two.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hope they win the race!&#8221; declared Frank, generously.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So do I. And they&#8217;ve got Polly&#8217;s birch canoe <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200'></a>200</span> aboard. She will enter
+for the girls&#8217; canoe race, I am sure.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; said Frank. &#8220;If you don&#8217;t win the prize
+in <i>that</i>, my dear, then I hope Polly does.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, I haven&#8217;t a chance beside Bess, I am sure.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s all right. Bess is too erratic. One day she paddles well
+and the next she is &#8217;way behind. It&#8217;s her temperament. She&#8217;s not a
+steady old warhorse like yourself, Wynnie.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Thanks,&#8221; laughed Wyn. &#8220;How about Polly? What do you call
+<i>her</i>?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know. I admire her vastly,&#8221; said Frank. &#8220;But
+Polly puzzles me. And I haven&#8217;t seen her working at the paddle much. I
+only know that in a skiff she can out row any of the Busters.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I fancy she can paddle some, too. And her canoe is as light as a
+feather. All those birchbarks are.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The judges may handicap her, then. But, hullo! what&#8217;s that Dave
+Shepard up to?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Wyn turned to look at her next-door neighbor. Dave was writing upon a slip of
+paper. Once he looked across at Frank and Wyn and saw that the two girls were
+watching him.</p>
+
+<p>He seemed confused, started as though to tear <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_201'></a>201</span> the paper up, and then hid it under a
+coil of rope at his feet. But he was very particular to hide every particle of
+the paper.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What you doing there, Dave?&#8221; demanded Frank, with plain
+curiosity.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, nothing,&#8221; responded the youth, and rose up, stretching his
+arms and yawning. It was plain that he did not wish to be questioned.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What was that paper?&#8221; pursued Frank.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh&#8211;that&#8211;er&#8213;It&#8217;s of no consequence,&#8221;
+declared Dave, and walked aft so as not to be further questioned.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, he can&#8217;t fool me!&#8221; cried Frank, under her breath.
+&#8220;It <i>was</i> something of consequence. I&#8211;I&#8217;m going to
+see.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t,&#8221; said Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why not?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well&#8211;whatever it is, it isn&#8217;t ours.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Pooh!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And he evidently didn&#8217;t want us to see it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;For that very reason I am going to look,&#8221; declared Frankie. And
+the moment Dave was out of sight she sprang across the deck and lifted up the
+rope enough to pull out the paper.</p>
+
+<p>The moment she scanned it, Wyn saw Frankie&#8217;s face turn very red. She
+looked angry, and stamped her foot. Then she burst into a giggle, and slid the
+paper back out of sight again.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202'></a>202</span>She came back to
+her friend with a mixture of emotions expressed on her countenance. &#8220;What
+do you suppose?&#8221; she demanded.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Suppose about what?&#8221; asked Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What do you suppose Dave wrote on that paper?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I give it up. Something that didn&#8217;t concern us, as I told
+you.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re wrong,&#8221; cried Frank, divided between wrath and
+amusement. &#8220;And it&#8217;s just the very <i>meanest</i> thing!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, you excite my curiosity,&#8221; admitted Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what he did it for,&#8221; declared Frankie.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;<i>What</i> did he write?&#8221; cried Wyn. &#8220;Out with
+it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He wrote: &#8216;I bet an ice-cream treat all around that your curiosity
+will not permit you to leave this alone.&#8217; Now! could anything be
+meaner?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Ha, ha!&#8221; chuckled Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you see? We can&#8217;t claim the treat without giving
+ourselves away? I believe I&#8217;ll join forces with Bess. There <i>is</i>
+nothing meaner than a boy.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Never mind,&#8221; said Wyn. &#8220;I&#8217;ll find some way of making
+Master Dave pay for the ice-cream treat, just the same. You see if I
+don&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203'></a>203</span>Soon after this
+the launches were sent to one side so as to leave the course clear, and the
+races began. The men&#8217;s and boys&#8217; canoe races were very interesting,
+and Dave Shepard won a sweater, while one of the other Busters got the second
+prize of a dollar for quickness in overturning and righting a canoe.</p>
+
+<p>Some &#8220;funny stunts&#8221; followed in the water, and then came a
+girls&#8217; swimming race. Here the Go-Ahead girls excelled, although there
+were more than a score of entries. Wyn Mallory won a two-hundred-yard,
+straightaway dash, while Frank was second and Grace Hedges third in the same
+race. The people who had come up from Denton cheered the girls enthusiastically.
+When the parents who had been so afraid for their daughters&#8217; safety saw
+how well able the girls were to take care of themselves, their anxiety was
+allayed.</p>
+
+<p>After these swimming contests there was an interval of two hours for
+refreshments. A caterer had prepared tables of sandwiches and cold drinks, as
+well as ice cream and cake, on one of the bigger docks belonging to Braisely
+Park. In fact, it was Dr. Shelton&#8217;s dock.</p>
+
+<p>The catboat races were to follow the intermission and Wyn found that the
+Jarley <i>Coquette</i> had been entered. She ran over to the dock from <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204'></a>204</span> which the
+&#8220;cats&#8221; were to start for the line, and as she approached the spot
+she heard loud voices and saw a little crowd of excited people.</p>
+
+<p>The <i>Coquette</i> was almost the only catboat left. Dr. Shelton had backed
+Mr. Jarley up against a post on the wharf and, in a loud and angry voice, was
+telling the unfortunate boatman what he thought of him.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;<i>You</i> have the cheek to be in this race, John Jarley?&#8221;
+cried the angry man. &#8220;I don&#8217;t mind your daughter&#8211;I pity her.
+But I&#8217;m hanged if I&#8217;ll let a thief take part in this race&#8211;and
+me offering the prize. Get out of here!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hold on, Shelton!&#8221; exclaimed one of his friends.
+&#8220;You&#8217;re going too far when you call Jarley a thief.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Or else you are not going far enough,&#8221; chimed in another.
+&#8220;If you believe Jarley stole those images&#8211;and the boat&#8211;why
+don&#8217;t you go about it right? Report it to the county prosecutor and have
+the man arrested.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Or, if Jarley is <i>not</i> guilty,&#8221; added another, &#8220;I
+advise him, as a lawyer, to sue you for damages.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Let him sue and be hanged to him!&#8221; cried Dr. Shelton, who was a
+great, rough man, twice the size of the boatman, and with all the confidence of
+his great wealth, as well as his great <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_205'></a>205</span> muscle, behind him. &#8220;But he
+sha&#8217;n&#8217;t sail in this race.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll go back home, Father&#8213;Oh, let&#8217;s go back!&#8221;
+cried Polly, from the cockpit of the dancing <i>Coquette</i>.</p>
+
+<p>But Wyn Mallory knew that the Jarleys must have hoped to win the twenty-five
+dollar prize. The <i>Coquette</i> was being mentioned as a possible winner among
+the knowing ones about the course.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Dr. Shelton!&#8221; she cried, tugging at the angry man&#8217;s arm.
+&#8220;Do you mind if Polly and I sail the boat instead?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Eh? <i>You</i>&#8211;a girl?&#8221; grunted the doctor, &#8220;Well,
+why not? I&#8217;ve got nothing&#8211;as I said before&#8211;against his
+daughter. It&#8217;s the man himself who has no business at this end of the
+lake. I sent him word so a month and more ago. I ought to have him
+arrested.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Win thought it would be less cruel to do so, and have the matter thrashed out
+in the courts. Mr. Jarley was stooping from the wharf, whispering with
+Polly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I can help her,&#8221; Wyn cried, turning to the abused boatman.
+&#8220;Let me&#8211;do!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You are very kind, Miss Mallory,&#8221; said Jarley.</p>
+
+<p>The captain of the Go-Ahead Club leaped lightly down into the
+<i>Coquette</i>.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_206'></a>206</span>&#8220;What&#8217;s our number&#8211;sixteen?&#8221;
+she cried. &#8220;Pay off the sheet, Polly. We&#8217;re off.&#8221; Then she
+added, in a low tone, to the weeping girl in the stern: &#8220;Don&#8217;t you
+mind the doctor, Polly&#8211;mean old thing! We&#8217;ll win the prize in spite
+of him&#8211;you see if we don&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207'></a>207</span><a id='link_19'></a>CHAPTER XIX<br /><span class='h2fs'>UNDER WHITE WINGS</span></h2>
+
+<p>Already the catboats were getting off from the starting line, in rotation of
+numbers and about two minutes apart. The course was ten miles (or thereabout)
+straightaway to the stake-boat, set far out in the lake&#8211;quite out of sight
+from the decks of the boats about the starting point&#8211;and turning that, to
+beat back. The wind was free, but not too strong. The out-and-return course
+would prove the boats themselves and the seamanship of their crews.</p>
+
+<p>Being a free-for-all race, there had been brought together some pretty
+odd-looking craft beside the smart, new boats belonging to dwellers in Braisely
+Park. But the Jarleys&#8217; boat was by no means the worst-looking.</p>
+
+<p>However, it attracted considerable attention because it was the only catboat
+&#8220;manned&#8221; by girls.</p>
+
+<p>Wynifred Mallory had done this on impulse, and it was not usual for her to
+act in such a way. But her parents had gone home and she had nobody <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208'></a>208</span> to ask permission of but
+Mrs. Havel&#8211;and she did not really know where the Go-Aheads&#8217;
+chaperone was.</p>
+
+<p>Beside, there wasn&#8217;t time to ask. The catboats were already getting
+under way. The <i>Coquette</i> was almost the last to start. Wyn was not at all
+afraid of the task before her, for she had helped Dave sail his cousin&#8217;s
+catboat on the Wintinooski many times. She knew how to &#8217;tend sheet.</p>
+
+<p>The Go-Aheads and Busters recognized Wyn, and began to cheer her and Polly
+before the <i>Coquette</i> came to the line. Other onlookers caught sight of the
+two girls, and whether they knew the crew of the <i>Coquette</i> or not, gave
+them a good &#8220;send-off.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Polly had accepted Wyn&#8217;s help quietly, but with a look that Wyn was not
+likely to forget. It meant much to the Jarleys if the <i>Coquette</i> won the
+twenty-five dollars. They needed every dollar they could honestly earn.</p>
+
+<p>The boatman&#8217;s daughter did not stop then to thank her friend. Instead
+she gave her brief, but plain, instructions as to what she was to do, and Wyn
+went about her work in a practical manner.</p>
+
+<p>The catboat was sixteen feet over all, with its mast stepped well forward, of
+course, carrying a large fore-and-aft sail with gaff and boom. A single person
+<i>can</i> sail a cat all right; but to get <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_209'></a>209</span> speed out of one, and man&oelig;uver quickly, it
+takes a sheet-tender as well as a steersman.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sixteen!&#8221; shouted the starter&#8217;s assistant through his
+megaphone, and Polly brought the <i>Coquette</i> about and shot towards the
+starter&#8217;s boat.</p>
+
+<p>The boatman&#8217;s girl had held off some distance from the line. Number
+Fifteen had just crossed and was now swooping away on her first tack toward the
+distant stake-boat. The momentum the <i>Coquette</i> obtained racing down to the
+line was what Polly wanted.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Go!&#8221; shouted the starter, looking at his watch and comparing it
+with the timekeeper&#8217;s.</p>
+
+<p>The <i>Coquette</i> flashed past the line of motor-boats and smaller craft
+that lined the course for some distance. The course was not very well policed
+and one of the small steamers, with a party of excursionists aboard, got right
+in the way of the racing boats.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Look out, Wynnie!&#8221; shouted Polly. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to tack
+to pass those boats.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Wyn fell flat on the decked-over portion of the <i>Coquette</i>, and the boom
+swung across. With gathering speed the catboat flew on and on. Although her sail
+was patched, and she was shabby-looking in the extreme, the <i>Coquette</i>
+showed her heels that day to many handsomer craft.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210'></a>210</span>The various
+boats raced with each other&#8211;first one ahead, and then another. There were
+not many important changes in the positions of the contesting boats, however,
+until the stake-boat was reached.</p>
+
+<p>But Number Sixteen passed Thirteen, Fifteen, and Twelve for good and all,
+before five miles of the course were sailed. The <i>Coquette</i>, when once she
+had dropped an opponent behind, never was caught by it.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn was on the <i>qui vive</i> every moment. She sprang to obey Captain
+Polly&#8217;s commands, and the latter certainly knew how to sail a catboat. She
+never let an advantage slip. She tacked at just the right time. Yet she sailed
+very little off the straight course.</p>
+
+<p>The motor boats and steamboats came hooting after the racing catboats that
+their passengers might have a good view of the contest. These outside boats were
+a deal of a nuisance, and two of the tail-enders in the race dropped out
+entirely because of the closeness of the pleasure boats&#8217; pursuit.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But they couldn&#8217;t win anyway,&#8221; Polly confided to Wynifred.
+&#8220;Get a bucket of water, dear. Dip it right up. That&#8217;s right! Now
+throw it on the sail. Another! Another! It will hold the wind better if it is
+wet.&#8221;</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter'>
+<a id='link_i4'></a><img src='images/illus4.jpg' id="imgi4" alt='' />
+<p class='center caption'>
+THE <i>COQUETTE</i> SHOT OVER THE COURSE, LIKE A GREAT SWOOPING BIRD. <i>Page 212.</i>
+</p>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211'></a>211</span>&#8220;What a
+scheme!&#8221; cried Wyn. &#8220;Oh, Polly! I wish you lived in Denton and went
+to our school and belonged to the Go-Ahead Club.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But Polly only shook her head. That was beyond the reach of possibility for
+her, she believed. But she thanked Wyn for suggesting it.</p>
+
+<p>Neither girl let her attention to the present business fail, however. They
+were on their mettle, being the only girls in the race.</p>
+
+<p>Some of the other crews had jollied them at the start; but the old
+<i>Coquette</i> passed first one and then another of the competing boats, and
+none of the other craft passed her.</p>
+
+<p>Because of the fact that the boats had started about two minutes apart it was
+rather difficult to tell which was really winning. The leading boats were still
+far ahead when the <i>Coquette</i> rounded the stake-boat.</p>
+
+<p>Polly took the turn as shortly as any craft in the race&#8211;and as cleanly.
+The <i>Coquette</i> made a long leg of her first tack, then a short one. Whereas
+it seemed as though at first the other craft were crowding Polly and Wyn close,
+in a little while the <i>Coquette</i> was shown to be among the flock of leading
+craft!</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Only Numbers One, Three, Four, Seven, and Nine ahead of us, Polly
+Jolly!&#8221; reported Wynifred. &#8220;And we&#8217;re Sixteen! Why, it&#8217;s
+wonderful! <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212'></a>212</span> We are
+sailing two lengths to one of some of them, I verily believe!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But Conningsby&#8217;s <i>Elf</i>, and the <i>Pretty Sue</i> are good
+sailers&#8211;I&#8217;ve watched &#8217;em,&#8221; said Polly. &#8220;And the
+<i>Waking Up</i> is splendidly manned. If our sail would only hold the wind!
+It&#8217;s a regular old sieve.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Wyn splashed bucket after bucket of water into the bellying sail. On the long
+tacks the <i>Coquette</i> shot over the course like a great, swooping bird. When
+she passed near one of the excursion boats the spectators cheered the two girls
+vociferously.</p>
+
+<p>Half-way back to the starting boat the <i>Happy Day</i>, into which the
+Go-Aheads and all the Busters had piled, shot alongside the racing catboat
+manned by the two girls, and from that point on their friends
+&#8220;rooted&#8221; for the <i>Coquette</i>.</p>
+
+<p>The <i>Coquette</i> passed Numbers Seven and Nine; It did seem as though she
+must have sailed the course fast enough to bring her well up among the leaders,
+so many higher numbers than her own had been passed.</p>
+
+<p>But Wyn and Polly were not sure, when they crossed the line, how they stood
+in the race.</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213'></a>213</span><a id='link_20'></a>CHAPTER XX<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE CANOE RACE</span></h2>
+
+<p>Dave Shepard, at the wheel of the <i>Happy Day</i>, ran directly behind the
+judges&#8217; boat and stopped.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Who won?&#8221; cried the boys, in chorus. &#8220;Where does Number
+Sixteen stand?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;How can we tell you until all the boats are in?&#8221; returned one of
+the gentlemen, smiling.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Of course we know,&#8221; declared Dr. Shelton. &#8220;And you are
+quite right to cheer them, boys. The <i>Coquette</i> is &#8217;way ahead of everything
+else&#8211;those two girls are corkers!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Instantly the Busters and the Go-Aheads began to cheer anew. The older
+members of their party aboard the <i>Sissy Radcliffe</i> took up the chorus. Wyn
+Mallory and Polly Jarley had beaten out the other catboats in the dingy old
+craft, and had won the twenty-five-dollar prize.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all for you, dear,&#8221; cried Wyn, when Polly kissed and
+thanked her. &#8220;Of course I don&#8217;t need the money, while you and your
+father do. You&#8217;ll take it from me&#8211;for friendship&#8217;s sake,
+dear?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214'></a>214</span>&#8220;Yes, Wyn.
+From <i>you</i>,&#8221; returned the boatman&#8217;s daughter, with trembling
+lips.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And now you are coming to try for the canoe prize, too? That will be a
+five-dollar gold piece. But you will have to fight all us Go-Ahead girls for it.
+I shall beat you myself, if I can,&#8221; laughed Wynifred.</p>
+
+<p>Dave had rushed the motor boat over to the landing and he got Wyn&#8217;s and
+Polly&#8217;s canoes into the water. The whistle had blown for the girls&#8217;
+canoe race the minute before, and the other girls were out on the lake.</p>
+
+<p>Altogether there were forty-three canoes. Some were birchbarks like
+Polly&#8217;s; but the large majority were cedar boats.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Birchbarks line up at Dr. Shelton&#8217;s landing!&#8221; bellowed the
+starter&#8217;s voice through his megaphone. &#8220;Get me? Shelton&#8217;s
+landing!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Polly and the few other girls who had the Indian canoes waved their hands and
+got into position. They kept a pretty straight line.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now at the starting line here for you cedars!&#8221; cried the man,
+and Wyn, with her five mates, and the rest of the girl canoeists from all about
+the lake, tried to obey the command.</p>
+
+<p>But there were so many of them that it was not altogether easy to get into
+line. Nearly forty canoes were &#8220;some bunch,&#8221; to quote the slangy
+<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215'></a>215</span> Frank, who was, by
+the way, just as eager as any of the other contestants.</p>
+
+<p>Although Frank believed that Wyn, and perhaps Bess, as well as Polly and
+Grace, had a better chance than <i>she</i> of winning the race; there was, of
+course, a chance of the very best canoeist getting a spill and so being put out
+of the race.</p>
+
+<p>It is not always the best paddler who wins; there is too much uncertainty in
+handling the &#8220;tippy&#8221; craft&#8211;especially in moments of
+excitement, and among many other similar craft.</p>
+
+<p>So there was hope for any and all. The eager faces of the girls in the canoes
+showed it. They scuffled somewhat to get place on the line; but the entries had
+all been numbered, so it was merely a case of getting in right and leaving
+enough space on either side of one&#8217;s bobbing canoe.</p>
+
+<p>One of the starters was pulled up and down the line in a skiff to criticise.
+Not every girl was as fair-minded to her opponents as the girls from Green Knoll
+Camp, and there was some little bickering before the starter shouted for the
+whole crowd&#8211;both cedars and birches&#8211;to get ready.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;At the shot, remember,&#8221; he cried through the megaphone.
+&#8220;Once around the stake-boat, to the right, and return. The birchbarks
+finish at this line, like the cedars. Now!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>A moment later the pistol shot rang out. There <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_216'></a>216</span> was a splash of paddles&#8211;even a
+clash of them, for some of the girls were too near each other and too eager.</p>
+
+<p>The spectators cheered&#8211;the boys from Gannet Island doing especially
+well in that line. They were determined to root indiscriminately for the girls
+of Green Knoll Camp.</p>
+
+<p>But within a very few minutes Dave Shepard shouted to his friends:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Look what&#8217;s coming up, fellows! See Polly!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Polly Jolly!&#8221; yelled the excitable Ferd. &#8220;Is that her in
+the first birchbark?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Of course it is,&#8221; responded Tubby Blaisdell. &#8220;Well! did
+you ever see a girl like that before? Look at those arms. She&#8217;s got better
+biceps than <i>you</i> have, Dave, m&#8217; boy!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>For the girls were in their bathing dresses and Polly&#8217;s bare arms were
+displayed to the best advantage as she flashed past the motor boat. Her face was
+set&#8211;her eyes bright. And she weaved back and forth as she drove the paddle
+with the steadiness of a machine.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hooray for Polly Jolly!&#8221; yelled Ferd Roberts, again.</p>
+
+<p>The Busters took up the chorus. They could not restrain their enthusiasm, for
+the pace at which Polly was overhauling the cedar boats was really
+marvelous.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217'></a>217</span>Of course, it
+was a foregone conclusion that some of the contestants would drop out. These
+canoes Polly passed as though they were standing still.</p>
+
+<p>In the lead were Wyn, Bess, Grace, Frank, and half a dozen other girls from
+about the lake. There were already two spills, and several slight collisions
+followed. The handicap on the birch canoes was really greater than was expected,
+for being in the rear, they had to dodge all the overset boats and the other
+paddlers who did not know enough to keep out of the course.</p>
+
+<p>But Polly Jarley had taken the outside and she shot by all the trouble
+easily. She was soon clinging to the skirts of the head canoes and it looked,
+before the turn, as though she would soon be in the lead herself.</p>
+
+<p>Up ahead Wyn and Bess and Grace were struggling almost neck and neck with two
+strange girls. The captain of the Go-Aheads wanted to win&#8211;she wanted to do
+so very much. She was a good sport, and therefore a good loser; but that does
+not necessarily mean that one <i>likes</i> to lose.</p>
+
+<p>Bessie Lavine was paddling splendidly for her&#8211;it was evidently one of
+her good days. Frank Cameron had fallen behind&#8211;indeed, she had clashed
+with another girl and both were out of the race.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218'></a>218</span>Grace Hedges was
+almost as big and strong as Polly Jarley; but she lacked the training of the
+boatman&#8217;s daughter. Polly was used to hard work every day of her life.
+That is different from gymwork and a little paddling, or swimming, or other
+athletic fun a few times a week.</p>
+
+<p>But Grace was doing finely and she even might have won had she not tried
+unwisely to pass one of her rivals. Her paddle clashed with that of the other
+girl. Both canoeists were straining hard&#8211;and their tempers were a bit
+strained, too.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I wish you&#8217;d look where you&#8217;re going, Miss!&#8221; snapped
+the other girl, and before Grace could return the compliment&#8211;had she so
+wished&#8211;the two canoes crashed together and both girls were spilled into
+the lake.</p>
+
+<p>There was no danger in these spills. Two motor boats followed behind and
+picked up the swamped contestants.</p>
+
+<p>But before Grace was picked up she saw Polly Jarley flash by in the
+birchbark. There were but three cedar boats ahead of the boatman&#8217;s
+daughter, and all were coming down the return course, the paddlers straining to
+do their very best.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn had a splendid, even stroke; Bess was getting heated, and bit her lip as
+she paddled. It always hurt Bess when she lost. Up from the rear Polly urged her
+birchbark with long, steady heaves <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_219'></a>219</span> that seemed to prove her magnificent muscles
+tireless.</p>
+
+<p>The spectators began to shout for the boatman&#8217;s daughter. They saw that
+she was making a magnificent attempt to win the race.</p>
+
+<p>But when Wyn heard them shouting for another number rather than her
+own&#8211;she did not notice which!&#8211;she put forth every ounce of spare
+strength she possessed.</p>
+
+<p>Bess was left behind by the captain of the Go-Ahead Club. Her canoe
+quivering, her paddle actually bending under her work, Wyn dashed on. Bess and
+the other girl were out of the race&#8211;hopelessly. It lay between Wyn and the
+birchbark canoe.</p>
+
+<p>Polly did not withhold her paddle when she saw her friend dart ahead; it was
+a perfectly fair race. But the boatman&#8217;s girl had done so well at first,
+considering her handicap and all, that there was little wonder if she could not
+keep up the gruelling work. She had no reserve force, as Wyn had.</p>
+
+<p>The latter dashed over the mark with undiminished speed. Polly only halted
+long enough to congratulate her.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s dear of you to be glad, Polly, when I know you wanted the
+prize,&#8221; cried Wyn. &#8220;But we couldn&#8217;t both have it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220'></a>220</span>&#8220;You have
+helped me enough to-day, Wynifred,&#8221; replied Polly, softly. &#8220;Now
+father and I will go home. He told me how it would be, if he came down here; but
+at least we won the big prize, thanks to you, and money means so much to us
+now!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The day was not over yet for the Go-Aheads and the Busters, although the
+races were finished. Somehow the news was spread among the campers on Gannet
+Island and Green Knoll that there was to be a &#8220;grand treat&#8221; at the
+ice-cream tables, and they gathered &#8220;like eagles to the kill,&#8221;
+Frankie poetically declared.</p>
+
+<p>The waiter brought heaping dishes of cream, there were nice cakes, and
+Tubby&#8217;s unctuous smile at one end of the table radiated cheer. They were
+all very jolly and nobody asked who was to pay the piper until the waiter
+gravely brought Dave Shepard the check and a slip of paper.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hi! did <i>I</i> order this feed?&#8221; demanded Dave, startled by
+the size of the check.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I was ordered to give the check to you&#8211;and the paper,&#8221;
+quoth the waiter, calmly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Gee, Dave! somebody&#8217;s stung you!&#8221; croaked Tubby, with his
+mouth still full.</p>
+
+<p>Dave unfolded the paper slowly, and read in his own handwriting: &#8220;I bet
+an ice-cream treat all <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_221'></a>221</span> around to the Go-Ahead girls that your curiosity
+would not permit you to leave this alone.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t deny your own handwriting; do you, sir?&#8221; queried
+the waiter, with a perfectly grave face. &#8220;I served the company on that
+order, Mr. Shepard.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That Wyn Mallory! She got me!&#8221; groaned Dave, and paid up like a
+man.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But what&#8217;s the use of trying to put a joke over on those
+girls?&#8221; he said to Tubby afterward. &#8220;They&#8217;re always turning
+the tables on a fellow.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Very good table, too&#8211;very good table,&#8221; agreed Tubby,
+smacking his lips. &#8220;But you&#8217;re so reckless with your promises,
+Dave.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Lavine&#8217;s man took the <i>Happy Day</i> and the canoes back to camp,
+while the whole party of young folk piled aboard the larger <i>Sissy</i>. They
+had a fine time sailing down the lake and reached the Cave-in-the-Wood Camp at
+late supper time.</p>
+
+<p>There was still light enough on the water for the voyagers to see a boat
+rocking on the waves in the little cove where Polly Jarley had first been
+introduced to the two canoe clubs.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And that&#8217;s Polly and her father there now,&#8221; said Dave,
+quickly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes. It&#8217;s the <i>Coquette</i>,&#8221; agreed Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What are they doing in there?&#8221; asked <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_222'></a>222</span> Frankie. &#8220;See! he is standing up
+and gesticulating&#8211;not to us. He&#8217;s talking to Polly.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That is the place where he had the misfortune to lose Dr.
+Shelton&#8217;s motor boat last winter,&#8221; said Wyn. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you
+remember?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You see,&#8221; Dave cried, &#8220;he is showing her the place where
+the limb fell again&#8211;and the direction the boat must have taken in the
+fog.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A lot <i>he</i> knows where it went,&#8221; said Tubby, scornfully.
+&#8220;He was swept overboard, and as far as he knows the <i>Bright Eyes</i>
+might have gone right up into the air!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But it didn&#8217;t explode, you see, nor did it have wings,&#8221;
+laughed Wynifred. &#8220;So it took no aërial voyage&#8211;we may be sure of
+that. I&#8217;d give anything to find where it sank.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So would I, Wyn,&#8221; cried Dave. &#8220;If we could locate the
+sunken boat, Mr. Jarley could easily prove he had neither stolen it nor the
+silver images.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d give something handsome to have the mystery explained,
+myself,&#8221; said Mr. Lavine, suddenly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What would you give, Father?&#8221; asked his daughter.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you,&#8221; he replied, smiling. &#8220;I understand
+both of your clubs&#8211;the Go-Aheads and the Busters&#8211;are anxious to
+really <i>own</i> a motor boat. <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_223'></a>223</span> Frank Dumont, here, tells me he has got to go home
+with the <i>Happy Day</i> to-morrow, as his vacation is ended.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, I&#8217;ll make you boys and girls an offer,&#8221; pursued Mr.
+Lavine, more earnestly. &#8220;You&#8217;ll hunt in packs, anyway&#8211;the boys
+together and the girls together. If the girls find the sunken boat I&#8217;ll
+present them with a motor boat as good as the <i>Happy Day</i>; and if the boys
+have the luck, then the boat shall belong to the Busters. What say?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We say &#8216;Thanks!&#8217;&#8221; cried Dave, instantly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;<i>We</i> think it is very handsome of you, sir,&#8221; declared Wyn,
+coming over to the gentleman and taking his hand. &#8220;And I know why you do
+it, sir&#8211;so I thank you twice. If poor Mr. Jarley could be absolved of Dr.
+Shelton&#8217;s accusation, it would help a whole lot.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Humph!&#8221; muttered Mr. Lavine, &#8220;I heard Shelton going on
+about Jarley myself to-day, and it made me ashamed&#8211;I&#8217;m free to own
+it. I never <i>did</i> think John as bad as all that!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It sounds different when you hear somebody else say it,&#8221;
+whispered Dave in Wynifred&#8217;s ear.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Lavine&#8217;s proposal, however, met with enthusiastic favor on the part
+of both clubs. A motor boat would be just the finest thing to own! Both boys and
+girls determined to find the lost <i>Bright Eyes</i> before the season was
+out.</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224'></a>224</span><a id='link_21'></a>CHAPTER XXI<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE WAY OF THE WIND</span></h2>
+
+<p>&#8220;Did you know,&#8221; said Professor Skillings, visiting Camp Green
+Knoll with the Busters several days later, &#8220;that there are several
+thousand Poles in the Wintinooski Valley?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You surprise me,&#8221; remarked Mrs. Havel.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Fine things to grow beans on, Professor,&#8221; declared Dave, coming
+up with a brimming bucket of water from the spring.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not the right kind of poles, my boy&#8211;not the right kind of
+poles,&#8221; said the professor, smiling gently, and offering Mrs. Havel a
+cocoanut-cup of the sparkling water. &#8220;You see what a misunderstanding of
+terms will do,&#8221; the professor added, in his argumentative way. &#8220;A
+little knowledge&#8211;especially a little scientific knowledge&#8211;is a
+dangerous thing.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You are right, Professor,&#8221; cried Tubby, who was within hearing
+distance. &#8220;Did you hear about what Dr. Mackenzie&#8217;s servant girl
+did?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Dr. Mackenzie is very erudite,&#8221; commented the professor,
+dreamily.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_225'></a>225</span>&#8220;That&#8217;s right. Anyhow, the girl heard a
+lot of talk about bugs, and grubs, and germs, and the like&#8211;and it proves
+just what Professor Skillings says about the danger of knowing a little
+science.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;How&#8217;s that, Tubby?&#8221; queried one of the interested young
+folk.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, one day the doctor&#8217;s wife asked this servant for a glass of
+water, and the girl brought it.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;It has a very peculiar taste, Mary,&#8217; said Mrs. Mackenzie.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Sure, ma&#8217;am, it&#8217;s all right, ma&#8217;am. There
+ain&#8217;t a germ in it, for I ran it through the colander before I brought it
+to you, ma&#8217;am!&#8217; says Mary. Oh, Mary had picked up some scientific
+notions, all right, all right!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I believe there would be more breeze up on Windmill Farm,&#8221;
+observed Wynifred Mallory.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Wish I was up there, then,&#8221; growled Tubby, who had quite
+collapsed after telling his joke.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s go!&#8221; suggested Frankie.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There will be plenty of wind bye and bye,&#8221; said Dave,
+thoughtfully eyeing the clouds on the horizon.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Listen to the weather prophet,&#8221; scoffed Ferdinand.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I tell you!&#8221; cried Frankie, jumping up. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go up
+into the windmill and see how far <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_226'></a>226</span> one can really <i>see</i> from that height. The
+farmer&#8217;s wife says it is a great view&#8211;doesn&#8217;t she,
+Wyn?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m game,&#8221; responded Wyn. &#8220;We&#8217;ll be no warmer
+walking than we are sitting here talking about the heat.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>She and Frankie and Dave started off ahead; but Tubby would not come, nor
+would Grace Hedges. The others, however, saw some prospect of amusement and were
+willing to pay the price.</p>
+
+<p>They began to be paid for their walk as soon as they came out into the open
+fields of Windmill Farm. A little breeze had sprung up and, although it was
+fitful at first, it soon grew to a steady wind from across the lake.</p>
+
+<p>The distant haze was dissipated, and when the boys and girls reached the top
+of the hill they were glad they had come.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I bet we have a storm bye and bye,&#8221; Dave said. &#8220;But
+isn&#8217;t the air up here cool?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s climb up into the loft,&#8221; Frank urged. &#8220;The
+farmer&#8217;s wife said we could.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re all away from home to-day,&#8221; Wyn said. &#8220;But I
+don&#8217;t believe they will mind. When we came up for the milk this morning
+Mrs. Prosser told us they were going on a Sunday school picnic.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d like to set the old thing to working,&#8221; <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227'></a>227</span> remarked the inquisitive
+Ferdinand. &#8220;What do you know about it, Dave?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It starts by throwing in this clutch,&#8221; replied the bigger boy,
+just inside the door. &#8220;If the wind keeps on the farmer will probably grind
+a grist when he comes back. You see, there are several bags of corn and wheat
+yonder.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The girls were already finding their way up the dusty ladders, from loft to
+loft of the tower. Frank got to the top floor first and called out her delight
+at the view.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on up!&#8221; she cried. &#8220;There is plenty of room.
+It&#8217;s bigger up here than you think&#8211;and the breeze is nice. There are
+two windows, and that makes a fine draught.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The boys trooped up behind the Go-Aheads&#8211;all but Ferdinand. But none of
+them missed him for some minutes.</p>
+
+<p>What a view was obtained from the window of the mill! The whole panorama of
+Lake Honotonka and its shores, with a portion of the Wintinooski Valley, lay
+spread like a carpet at their feet&#8211;woods and fields, cultivated land in
+the foreground, the rocky ridges of Gannet Island, Jarley&#8217;s Landing, the
+Forge, the steep shore of the lake beyond the Wintinooski, and so around to the
+fine houses in Braisely Park and the smoke of the big city to the west.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228'></a>228</span>In the midst of
+their exclamations there came a sudden jar through the heavily-timbered building
+that startled them.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221; cried Mina.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;An earthquake!&#8221; laughed Frankie.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s the sails!&#8221; yelled Dave, starting for the ladder.
+&#8220;What are you doing down there, Ferd?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The groaning and shaking continued. The arms of the windmill were going round
+and round&#8211;every revolution increasing their speed.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Stop that, Ferd!&#8221; shouted Dave again, starting to descend the
+ladder.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t that just like a boy?&#8221; demanded Bess, in disgust.
+&#8220;He just <i>had</i> to fool with the machinery.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What do you suppose the miller will say?&#8221; queried Wyn,
+anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>The roar of the whirling arms almost drowned their voices. The wind had
+increased to a brisk breeze. With the sails so well filled the arms turned at
+top-notch speed. The tower shook as though it were about to tumble down.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, dear me!&#8221; moaned Mina, the timid one. &#8220;Let us get out
+of here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why doesn&#8217;t Dave make him stop it?&#8221; shouted Frankie.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229'></a>229</span>&#8220;Why
+doesn&#8217;t the foolish Ferd stop it himself?&#8221; was Wyn&#8217;s
+demand.</p>
+
+<p>The other boys were already tumbling down the ladder, and the girls followed
+as fast as possible. It was rather dark below, and when they came to the ground
+floor, it was full of dancing dust-particles. Dave and Ferd were busy over the
+machinery near the door.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Can&#8217;t you stop it, Dave?&#8221; shrieked Percy.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The confounded thing is broken!&#8221; announced Dave, in disgust.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Goodness me!&#8221; cried Frank. &#8220;I want to get out of
+here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>She started for the door; but Wyn grabbed her just in time. Past the open
+door whirled the sails of the mill&#8211;one after the other&#8211;faster and
+faster. And so close were the sails to the doorway that there was not room for
+the very smallest of the Go-Ahead girls to get out without being struck.</p>
+
+<p>Dave stared around at the others. It was almost impossible to hear each other
+speak&#8211;and what was there to say? Each boy and girl realized the situation
+in which Ferd&#8217;s meddling had placed them.</p>
+
+<p>Until the wind subsided they were prisoners in the tower.</p>
+
+<p>Ferd Roberts subsided into a corner, and hid his <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_230'></a>230</span> face in his hands. He had done
+something that scared his inquisitive soul to the very bottom.</p>
+
+<p>He had started the sails, and then, in trying to throw out the clutch, he had
+started the millstones as well. <i>They</i> made most of this noise that almost
+deafened them.</p>
+
+<p>Finally, however, Dave pushed the power belt from the flywheel, and the
+stones stopped turning; but there was no way of stopping the sails. To step
+outside the door was to court instant death, and until the wind stopped blowing
+it seemed as though there would be no escape.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And the wind blows sometimes two or three days at a stretch!&#8221;
+cried Frankie.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s lucky Tubby isn&#8217;t up here with us,&#8221; Dave said,
+grimly. &#8220;He would want to cast lots at once to see which one of the party
+should be eaten first.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Ugh! don&#8217;t joke like that, Dave,&#8221; begged Mina.
+&#8220;Maybe we <i>will</i> be dreadfully hungry before we get out of this
+place.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m hungry now,&#8221; announced Frankie.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It <i>is</i> near time for luncheon,&#8221; agreed Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Luncheon&#8217;! Huh!&#8221; ejaculated Dave. &#8220;I s&#8217;pose
+that&#8217;s the feminine of &#8216;lunch.&#8217; I could eat a stack of pancakes and
+a whole can of beans right now. I&#8217;m too hungry for any mere
+&#8216;luncheon.&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, dear! It&#8217;s so hot down here,&#8221; sighed <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231'></a>231</span> Percy. &#8220;If
+we&#8217;ve got to stay, let&#8217;s go upstairs again, where there is some air
+stirring.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s wave a signal from the window. Maybe somebody will see it
+and come to our rescue,&#8221; suggested Frank.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And what could they do?&#8221; demanded Wyn, &#8220;These sails
+can&#8217;t be stopped from the outside; can they, Dave?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not that I know of,&#8221; replied Dave. &#8220;If there was a tree
+near, a fellow might tie a kedge rope to it, and then throw the kedge over one
+of the arms. But that would tear the machinery all to pieces, I suppose, it
+would stop it with such a jerk.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Just then Mina Everett uttered a shrill cry of alarm. &#8220;Look!
+Look!&#8221; she cried. &#8220;It&#8217;s afire! We&#8217;ll burn up in here!
+Oh, oh, Wynnie! what shall we do?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The others turned, aghast There <i>was</i> blue smoke spurting out around the
+shaft above their heads.</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232'></a>232</span><a id='link_22'></a>CHAPTER XXII<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE PRISONERS OF THE TOWER</span></h2>
+
+<p>&#8220;Fire!&#8221; cried Percy Havel. &#8220;Oh! what <i>shall</i> we
+do?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, your yelling about it won&#8217;t put it out,&#8221; snapped
+Frank.</p>
+
+<p>But Dave Shepard had sprung up the ladder and immediately announced the
+trouble.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The axle is getting overheated. See that can of oil yonder, Ferd? Come
+out of your trance and do something useful, boy! Quick! hand me the
+can.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But it was Wyn who got it to him. Dave quickly refilled the oil cups and
+squirted some of the lubricant into the cracks about the shaft. The smoke
+immediately drifted away.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The rest of you go up where it&#8217;s cooler,&#8221; he commanded.
+&#8220;I will remain here and play engineer. And for goodness&#8217; sake, pray
+for the wind to die down!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The situation was really serious; nobody among the prisoners of the tower
+knew what to do.</p>
+
+<p>While the wind swung the arms of the mill <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_233'></a>233</span> round and round, there was no chance to get out.
+Not that they did not all cudgel their brains within the next hour to that end.
+There were enough suggestions made to lead to a dozen escapes; only&#8211;none
+of the suggestions were practical.</p>
+
+<p>It was less noisy, now that Dave had stopped the millstones; but the building
+continued to tremble, and the great wheel to creak.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What a donkey the man was to let them cut his door right behind the
+arms,&#8221; exclaimed Frankie.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And with no proper means of stopping the sails from inside, once the
+wind began to blow,&#8221; added Percy.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No. That&#8217;s my fault,&#8221; admitted Ferdinand. &#8220;I broke
+the gear some way.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, if we only had an axe,&#8221; said one of the other boys,
+&#8220;we might cut our way out of the building on the side opposite the
+door.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But Dave had already searched the mill for tools. There wasn&#8217;t even a
+rope. Had there been, they could have let themselves down from the high window
+to the ground.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It should be against the law to build windmills without proper
+fire-escapes,&#8221; declared Frank, trying to laugh.</p>
+
+<p>But it was hard to joke about the matter. It looked altogether too
+serious.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234'></a>234</span>The wind
+continued to blow steadily&#8211;a little harder, indeed, as time passed; but
+the sun grew hotter. It came noon, and they knew that those at Green Knoll Camp
+had long since expected them back.</p>
+
+<p>Finally a figure appeared upon the path far down the hill. They recognized
+Tubby Blaisdell trudging painfully up the slope in the hot sun, evidently an
+unwilling messenger from Mrs. Havel and Professor Skillings.</p>
+
+<p>They began to shout to Tubby, although they knew very well it was useless. He
+couldn&#8217;t have heard their voices down there, even if the windmill
+hadn&#8217;t made so much noise.</p>
+
+<p>But the girls fluttered their hats from the window and, bye and bye, the
+stolid fat youth, glancing up while he mopped his brow, caught sight of the
+signals. He halted, glared up at the window from under his hand, and then
+hurried his steps.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, you Tubby!&#8221; shouted Frank, at last, thrusting her tousled
+curls out of the window. &#8220;Can&#8217;t you help us?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He heard these words, and looked more bewildered than ever.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say! what do you want?&#8221; he bellowed up at them.
+&#8220;Don&#8217;t ask me to climb up those ladders, for I can&#8217;t. And Mrs.
+Havel and the prof. say <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_235'></a>235</span> for you to come back to camp. They think a storm is
+coming. Besides&#8211;aren&#8217;t you hungry?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hungry! why, Tub,&#8221; yelled down Ferd, &#8220;if we could only get
+at you, we&#8217;d eat you alive!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Tubby looked more than a little startled, and glanced behind him to see that
+the way of retreat was clear.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, why don&#8217;t you come down and get your lunch, then?&#8221;
+demanded young Blaisdell.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We can&#8217;t,&#8221; said Wyn, and she explained their
+predicament.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Can&#8217;t stop those sails?&#8221; gasped Tubby.
+&#8220;Why&#8211;why&#8211;Where&#8217;s the man who owns the old
+contraption?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>They explained further. Tubby went around to the other side and caught a
+glimpse of Dave playing engineer. The chums shouted back and forth to each other
+for some time.</p>
+
+<p>Tubby wanted to see if he couldn&#8217;t stop the sails by making a grab at
+them.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You do it, Tubby, and the blamed things will throw you a mile through
+the air,&#8221; declared Dave. &#8220;Besides, we don&#8217;t want to smash the
+farmer&#8217;s mill. We have done enough harm as it is. So, there&#8217;s no use
+in backing one of those heavy wagons into it and wrecking the sails. No. I guess
+we&#8217;ve got to stand it here for a while.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>They heard one of the girls calling, and Tubby <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_236'></a>236</span> lumbered around to see Frankie
+gesticulating from the window.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Tubby! don&#8217;t leave us to starve&#8211;and we&#8217;re so
+<i>awfully</i> thirsty, too,&#8221; cried Wyn, pushing her friend to one side.
+&#8220;Get us a bucket of water from the well, first of all.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Gee! how am I going to get it up to you&#8211;throw it?&#8221; cackled
+the fat youth.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You get the bucket&#8211;and a rope,&#8221; commanded Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But if he can throw a rope up to us, we can get out of this
+fix,&#8221; Ferdinand cried. &#8220;Can&#8217;t we, Dave?&#8221; he asked of his
+captain, who had come up the ladders for a breath of fresh air.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Tubby couldn&#8217;t throw a coil of rope for a cent. He
+couldn&#8217;t learn to use a lasso, you know.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And we girls could not get down on a rope,&#8221; objected Bess.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We could lower you,&#8221; Ferd declared.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It would have to be a pretty strong rope,&#8221; said Dave. &#8220;And
+maybe there isn&#8217;t anything bigger than clothes line about the
+farm.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Which proved to be the case. At least, Tubby could find nothing else and
+finally brought the brimming bucket and the line he had found on the drying
+green behind the farmhouse.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t throw the thing up so high,&#8221; complained Tubby,
+after two or three attempts.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_237'></a>237</span>&#8220;Wait!&#8221; commanded Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hold on! Wynnie&#8217;s great mind is at work.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Everybody sit down and unlace his or her shoes. I want the
+lacings,&#8221; declared Wynifred.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hurray!&#8221; exclaimed Ferd. &#8220;Wait a bit, Tubby; don&#8217;t
+wear your poor little self to a grease spot trying to throw that rope over the
+mill.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Tubby, nothing loath, sat down and breathed heavily. The day <i>was</i> hot
+in spite of the high wind.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn got all the shoe strings and tied them together, with a bolt fastened to
+the lower end for a sinker, and let it down to the ground. There Tubby attached
+the end of the clothes line and they pulled it up. It was long enough, and
+strong enough, and Dave carefully raised the bucket of water&#8211;and oh! how
+good it tasted to the thirsty prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>They were all provided with cups, for the Academy teachers and the Denton
+mothers were rather insistent on that point.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But, oh, golly!&#8221; burst forth Frank, &#8220;if they&#8217;d only
+made us always carry an emergency ration.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We didn&#8217;t expect to be cast away on a desert island in this
+fashion,&#8221; said Dave.</p>
+
+<p>But Wyn had another idea.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There are melons on the back porch. I saw <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_238'></a>238</span> them there this morning. Go get us a
+lot, Tubby. Send &#8217;em up by the bucket-full. And there are tomatoes in the
+garden, and some summer apples on that tree by the fence corner. We&#8217;ll
+make it all right with Mrs. Prosser. Why, say! we sha&#8217;n&#8217;t
+starve.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll get you some eggs if you want &#8217;em,&#8221; suggested
+the willing youth. &#8220;I hear the hens cackling.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But all objected to raw eggs and thought the melons and fresh tomatoes would
+suffice.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You go back to camp and report,&#8221; ordered Dave, through the
+window. &#8220;The prof, and Mrs. Havel will be having conniption fits if these
+girls don&#8217;t show up pretty soon. Tell &#8217;em we&#8217;re all
+right&#8211;but goodness knows we want the wind to stop blowing.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>It did not seem, however, as though the wind had any such intention. After
+Tubby Blaisdell departed it blew even stronger.</p>
+
+<p>It was hard to keep the whole party in good temper. The imprisonment was
+getting on their nerves. Besides, the sky was growing darker, although it was
+not yet mid-afternoon; and not long after the fat youth was out of sight, heavy
+drops of rain began to fall.</p>
+
+<p>Rather, the wind whipped the raindrops in at the tower window. Patter,
+patter, patter, they <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_239'></a>239</span> fell, faster and faster, and in the distance
+thunder rumbled.</p>
+
+<p>The picnicking farmers should be home ahead of this storm; yet, if they came,
+they could not stop the sails of the windmill. The shaft groaned and smoked, but
+Dave kept the oil cups filled.</p>
+
+<p>Nearer and nearer came the thunder, and the lightning began to flash. Some of
+the girls were frightened. Nor was this a pleasant place in which to be
+imprisoned during an electrical storm. The tall, revolving arms seemed just the
+things to attract the lightning.</p>
+
+<p>They all were glad&#8211;boys as well as girls&#8211;to retire to the ground
+floor of the mill while the elements shrieked overhead and the rain pounded upon
+the roof and the sails. It was really a most unpleasant situation.</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240'></a>240</span><a id='link_23'></a>CHAPTER XXIII<br /><span class='h2fs'>WYN HITS SOMETHING</span></h2>
+
+<p>In the midst of the storm a voice hailed them from outside. Dave went to the
+doorway and saw&#8211;through the falling rain&#8211;Farmer Prosser, standing by
+his horses&#8217; heads. He had just brought his family home from the picnic and
+they had scurried into the house.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What are you doing in there?&#8221; demanded the farmer.
+&#8220;Can&#8217;t you stop the sails?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Dave explained, making it as light for Ferd as possible.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well! I&#8217;ve been expecting something like this ever since the
+mill was put up. We can&#8217;t do anything about it now. But I believe the wind
+will shift soon. And if it does, perhaps I can stop the sails from outside
+here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>It was nearly dark, however, and quite supper-time, before the farmer&#8217;s
+prophecy came true. Then the rain suddenly ceased to fall (the thunder and
+lightning had long since rolled away into the distance) and the wind
+dropped.</p>
+
+<p>The farmer and his man rigged a brake to fall <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_241'></a>241</span> against the narrow breadth of shaft
+which extended outside of the mill wall, and so brought pressure to bear upon
+the revolving axle. This helped bring the sails to a stop.</p>
+
+<p>How thankfully the Go-Aheads and the Busters got out of that tower, it would
+be difficult to express. Professor Skillings had started up through the rain to
+see what he could do; but on the way he had picked up a white pebble washed out
+of the roadside by the rain, and there being something peculiar about it, he
+stopped under a hedge to examine it by the light of his pocket lamp. Then he
+must needs proceed with his ever-present geological hammer to break the stone in
+two. Long after dark his electric lamp was flashing down there on the hillside
+like some huge wavering firefly.</p>
+
+<p>Not that he could have done a thing to help his young friends. Mrs. Prosser,
+the farmer&#8217;s wife, had the most practical idea of anybody; for, the minute
+the boys and girls were out of the mill, she insisted that they troop into the
+farmhouse kitchen and there sit down to her long table and &#8220;get outside
+of&#8221; great bowls of milk and bread, with a host of ginger cookies on the
+side.</p>
+
+<p>So the incident ended happily after all, though Ferdinand Roberts&#8217;s
+spirits drooped for several days. It was well for him to suffer in <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242'></a>242</span> spirit&#8211;as Frankie
+said: it might teach him a lesson. And he had to pay the farmer for the damage
+he had done to the machinery.</p>
+
+<p>Ferdinand never had any money. He spent his allowance in advance, borrowing
+of the other Busters whenever he could. When he got money from home he had to
+sit down and apportion it all out to his creditors, and then had to begin
+borrowing again.</p>
+
+<p>He had hard work scraping together the wherewithal to pay Mr. Prosser; but
+the boys made it up for him, and the girls would have helped&#8211;only Dave
+Shepard had instilled it into Ferd&#8217;s mind that it was not honorable to
+borrow from a girl.</p>
+
+<p>However, having cleaned his own pocket and strained his credit to the
+snapping point, Ferdinand was over at the Forge with Tubby a couple of days
+afterward and beheld something in a store window that he thought he wanted.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Tubby!&#8221; he cried. &#8220;Lend me half a dollar; will you? I
+must have that.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Tubby looked at him out of heavy-lidded eyes, and croaked: &#8220;Snow again,
+brother; I don&#8217;t get your drift!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>When Ferd went from one to the other of his mates they all refused&#8211;if
+not quite as slangily as the fat youth, Ferd found himself actually a pauper,
+<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243'></a>243</span> with all lines of
+credit shut to him. It made him serious.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If all you fellows, and the old prof., should suddenly die on me up
+here&#8211;what would I do?&#8221; gasped Ferd. &#8220;Why&#8211;I&#8217;d have
+to walk home!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Or swim,&#8221; said Dave, heartlessly. &#8220;You&#8217;d pawn your
+canoe, I s&#8217;pose.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Speaking of swimming, that was an art in which several of the boys, as well
+as Bessie Lavine and Mina Everett, needed practice. Beside the early morning
+dip, both clubs often held swimming matches either at Green Knoll Camp, or off
+the boys&#8217; camp on Gannet Island.</p>
+
+<p>The boys built a good diving raft and anchored it in deep water after much
+hard work. The good swimmers among the girls&#8211;especially Wyn and
+Grace&#8211;liked to paddle over to the raft and dive from it.</p>
+
+<p>Late in the afternoon the Go-Aheads had come to the raft in their canoes
+dressed only in their bathing suits, and found that the boys had gone off on
+some excursion, and that even Professor Skillings was not in sight at
+Cave-in-the-Wood Camp.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, goody!&#8221; exclaimed Bess, with satisfaction. &#8220;Now we can
+have a good time without those trifling boys bothering us. I&#8217;m going to
+learn to dive properly, Wyn.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_244'></a>244</span>&#8220;Sure,&#8221; returned her friend and captain,
+encouragingly. &#8220;Now&#8217;s the time,&#8221; and she gave Bess a good deal
+of attention for some few minutes.</p>
+
+<p>The other girls disported themselves in the deep water to their vast
+enjoyment. Bessie learned a good bit about diving and finally sat upon the edge
+of the float to rest.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn dived overboard.</p>
+
+<p>She had taken a long slant out from the float, but once under the surface she
+turned and went deeper. She was like an otter in the water, and having stuffed
+her ears with cotton she felt prepared to remain below a long time.</p>
+
+<p>Once she had opened her eyes while diving with Bess, and she thought she saw
+a shadowy something on the bottom of the lake that was neither a boulder nor a
+waterlogged snag.</p>
+
+<p>She beat her way to the bottom as rapidly as possible; but the light did not
+follow her. She could see nothing when she opened her eyes. It seemed as though
+something overshadowed her.</p>
+
+<p>The water was tugging at her; she could not remain below for long. But as she
+turned to drift up again, her shoulder touched something. She struck out and
+reached it. But the blow really <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_245'></a>245</span> pushed her away and she floated upward toward the
+surface.</p>
+
+<p>When she paddled to the raft she was panting, and Frank demanded:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter, Wyn? You look as if you&#8217;d seen a ghost
+I believe you stay down too long.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; gasped Wyn. &#8220;I&#8211;I hit something.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What was it?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why&#8211;why, it looked like a wagon. &#8217;Twas something.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I suppose so!&#8221; laughed Frank. &#8220;Wagon with a load of hay on
+it&#8211;eh?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Wyn said nothing more. She sat upon the float, with her knees drawn up and
+hugged in her brown arms, and thought. The other girls could get nothing out of
+her.</p>
+
+<p>She wasn&#8217;t dreaming, however. She was thinking to a serious
+purpose.</p>
+
+<p>It <i>had</i> looked like a wagon&#8211;as much as it looked like anything
+else. But, of course, she had seen it very dimly. She knew by the touch that it
+was of wood; but it was no waterlogged tree, although there was slime upon it It
+was not rough; but smooth.</p>
+
+<p>Of course, it wasn&#8217;t a wagon. Nor was it a huge box. Neither wagon nor
+box could have <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_246'></a>246</span> got
+out here, fifteen or twenty rods off Gannet Island.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn glanced over toward the island and saw that she could look right into the
+cove where John Jarley had met with his accident. According to the
+boatman&#8217;s story, as he went overboard from the motor boat he gave the
+wheel a twist that should have shot her directly out of the cove toward the
+middle of the lake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But suppose the boat didn&#8217;t respond, after all, to the twist of
+the wheel?&#8221; Wyn was thinking. &#8220;Or, suppose the slant of the rudder
+was not as great as he supposed?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>She fixed in her mind about the spot where the thing lay she had hit, and
+then glanced back to the tree on the bank of the cove, that showed the long scar
+where the branch was torn off.</p>
+
+<p>The line between the two was clear. The motor boat might have run out exactly
+on that course and missed the wooded point which guarded the entrance to the
+cove.</p>
+
+<p>Suppose the thing she had hit when she dived was the <i>Bright Eyes</i>, Dr.
+Shelton&#8217;s lost motor boat?</p>
+
+<p>Wyn was about to shout to the other girls&#8211;to call them around her to
+divulge the idea that had come into her mind&#8211;when a hail from the water
+announced the return of the Busters.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_247'></a>247</span>She remembered
+Mr. Lavine&#8217;s promise. The two clubs were rivals in this matter.
+Wouldn&#8217;t it be a fine thing for the Go-Aheads to own a motor boat all by
+themselves!</p>
+
+<p>Wyn got up and dived again. But she did not dive toward the mysterious
+something that she had previously found. She swam stoutly instead to meet the
+coming Busters.</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_248'></a>248</span><a id='link_24'></a>CHAPTER XXIV<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE NIGHT ALARM</span></h2>
+
+<p>Wyn Mallory had &#8220;another mind,&#8221; as the saying is, before the
+Go-Aheads left the island and paddled swiftly for their own camp.</p>
+
+<p>She determined not to say anything to her girl friends of the club about the
+sunken object she had hit under the water. Perhaps it was nothing of any
+consequence; then they would laugh at her. If it <i>was</i> the lost motor boat,
+to tell the girls might spread the story farther than it ought to be spread at
+once.</p>
+
+<p>The Go-Aheads and the Busters were rivals. Mr. Lavine had promised the prize
+to whichever club found the sunken boat and the box of silver images that Dr.
+Shelton had accused John Jarley of stealing.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And it may not be anything, after all,&#8221; thought Wyn. &#8220;It
+may be a false alarm. Then the <i>boys</i> would have the laugh on
+us.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>To make sure of what she had hit when she dived seemed to Wyn to be the
+principal thing. <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_249'></a>249</span>
+And how could she make sure of this without going down specially to examine the
+mystery?</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;How under the sun am I going to do that without the boys seeing
+me?&#8221; she mused. &#8220;And if I take the girls into my confidence they
+will all want to be there, too&#8211;and then sure enough the Busters will catch
+us at it. Dear me! I don&#8217;t know what to do&#8211;really.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>She had half a mind to take Frank into her confidence; but, then, Frank was
+such a joker. The girls and boys had often talked about hunting for the missing
+motor boat; but since Mr. Lavine had gone back to Denton, after the regatta,
+neither club had seriously attempted a search for the <i>Bright Eyes</i>.</p>
+
+<p>Polly had told Wyn how men from Meade&#8217;s Forge had searched for the boat
+when she was first lost; and some of the bateau men had kept up the search for a
+long time. Had the motor boat and the silver images been found, Dr. Shelton
+might have been obliged to pay a large reward to obtain them, for not all of the
+bateau men of the lake were honest.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Some of them bothered father a good deal while he was first laid up
+from his accident, coming by night and trying to get him to give them details
+which he hadn&#8217;t given to the other searchers. They thought he must know
+just where the <i>Bright Eyes</i> <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_250'></a>250</span> was sunk,&#8221; Polly had told the captain of the
+Go-Ahead Club. &#8220;But they got tired of that after a while. They saw he
+really did not know what had become of the boat.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Polly! She was the one to confide in, Wyn decided. And the captain of the
+Go-Ahead Club did not decide upon this until after the other girls in the big
+tent, and Mrs. Havel, were all asleep. Wyn had been awake an hour wondering what
+she would better do.</p>
+
+<p>Now, convinced that the boatman&#8217;s daughter would be a wiser as well as
+safer confidante at this stage than Frank or the others, Wyn wriggled out of her
+blanket and seized her bathing suit. It was a beautiful warm night. She was no
+more afraid of the woods and lake at this hour than she was by daylight.</p>
+
+<p>So she slipped into the suit, got out of the tent without rousing any of the
+others, selected her own paddle from the heap by the fireplace, and ran
+barefooted down to the shore. It took but a minute to push her canoe into the
+water.</p>
+
+<p>She paddled away around the rushes at the end of the strip of sand below the
+knoll, driving the canoe toward the Jarley Landing. Out of the rushes came a
+sudden splashing, and some water-fowl, disturbed by her passing, spattered
+deeper into hiding.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_251'></a>251</span>Wyn only
+laughed. The warm, misty night wrapped her around like a cloak; yet there was
+sufficient light on the surface of the lake for her to see her course a few
+yards ahead.</p>
+
+<p><i>This</i> was a real adventure&#8211;out in her canoe alone in the dark.
+And how fast she made the light craft travel through the still water!</p>
+
+<p>She reached the landing in a very short time. Hopping out, she hauled up the
+canoe. Was that the water splashing&#8211;or was there a sound behind her on the
+float? Was it a footstep&#8211;somebody hastening away?</p>
+
+<p>Now, for the first time, Wyn felt a little tremor. But she was naturally too
+brave to be particularly disturbed by such a fancy. Who would be lurking about
+the Jarleys&#8217; place at this hour?</p>
+
+<p>So, after a moment, she shook off her doubt, and ran lightly up the float and
+along the path to the little cottage. She knew Polly&#8217;s window well enough,
+and dark as it was, she soon found the spot.</p>
+
+<p>It was shuttered, and the shutter was bolted on the inside; but Wyn scratched
+upon the blind and after doing so a second time she heard a movement within.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Polly!&#8221; she breathed.</p>
+
+<p>She did not want to awaken Mr. Jarley. She just felt that she could not
+explain to <i>him</i>. Of <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_252'></a>252</span> course, what she had hit under the water might have
+nothing to do with the sunken boat, and Wyn shrank from disturbing the boatman
+himself about it.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Polly!&#8221; she exclaimed, again in a whisper, &#8220;it&#8217;s
+I&#8211;Wyn&#8211;Wyn Mallory.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>At once she heard her friend&#8217;s voice in return. The shutter opened.
+Polly blinked at Wyn through the darkness.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My <i>dear</i>! What do you want? What has happened?&#8221; asked the
+girl of the woods.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on out&#8211;do, Polly. I&#8217;ve got something to tell you.
+Just put on your bathing suit,&#8221; Wyn whispered.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;For pity&#8217;s sake! What is it?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t awaken your father. Come.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Just a minute,&#8221; whispered the sleepy Polly, and in not much
+longer than the time stated she crept through the window.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d wake father if I went out by the door,&#8221; she said.
+&#8220;Now come down to the landing. What are you doing &#8217;way over here at this
+time o&#8217; night?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I have the most surprising thing to tell you.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What about?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I wish you&#8217;d go over to Gannet Island with me and see if
+I&#8217;m right. The moon will be up bye and bye; won&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_253'></a>253</span>&#8220;Yes. But
+what do you mean? What is the mystery?&#8221; inquired Polly. Then she seized
+Wyn&#8217;s arm and demanded that she &#8220;Hush!&#8221; although Wyn&#8217;s
+lips were not open at the moment.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I declare I thought I heard something just then,&#8221; whispered
+Polly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re bound to hear things in the dark,&#8221; returned Wyn,
+cheerfully.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But it was somebody coughing.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A bird?&#8221; ventured Wyn. &#8220;I heard one splashing in the
+sedges as I came along in the canoe.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A bird clearing its throat?&#8221; laughed Polly. &#8220;Not
+likely!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>She did not bother about it again, but squeezed Wyn&#8217;s arm. &#8220;Tell
+me what the matter is. It must be something very important to bring you &#8217;way
+over here alone at night.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right. It is,&#8221; replied Wyn, and she related to
+Polly the thing that was troubling her.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And, oh, Polly! if that thing I hit under the water should be that
+boat&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Wyn! What would father say?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He&#8217;d be delighted. So would we all. And we must find out for
+sure.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll tell him in the morning. We&#8217;ll go there and
+see&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But Wyn stopped her. She showed her how <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_254'></a>254</span> necessary it was for the matter to be looked into
+secretly. Mr. Lavine had promised to give a motor boat to whichever club found
+the sunken <i>Bright Eyes</i> and the silver images. And the Busters must not
+know a thing about it until they were sure&#8213;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then Mr. Lavine believes father&#8217;s story about the boat?&#8221;
+burst in Polly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I believe he does, Polly, dear. I think, Polly, that he would be very,
+very glad to have Mr. Jarley cleared of all suspicion. He is sorry for your
+father&#8217;s trouble. I think his attitude, toward your father has changed
+from what it must have been at one time.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It ought to be!&#8221; exclaimed Polly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Of course. But we none of us always do all we ought to do,&#8221;
+observed Wyn mildly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If we are going to try and find that place where you dived to-day,
+Wyn, we&#8217;d better be about it,&#8221; Polly urged.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll go now?&#8221; cried Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Of course I will. The boys will be asleep up in their camp. We will
+take the <i>Coquette</i>. There is a breeze.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s tow my canoe behind, then,&#8221; said Wyn, eagerly.
+&#8220;Come on! I&#8217;m just crazy to dive for the thing again. If it
+<i>is</i> the <i>Bright Eyes</i>&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Polly insisted upon hunting out a couple of old <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_255'></a>255</span> blankets to wrap about them if the wind
+should turn chill.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And after you have been overboard you&#8217;ll want something to
+protect you from the night air,&#8221; she said.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Polly! do you suppose I can find the place again?&#8221; cried
+Wyn, infinitely more eager than the boatman&#8217;s daughter.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You say it&#8217;s right off the boys&#8217; float? Well! we can look,
+I guess.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Feel, you mean,&#8221; laughed Wyn. &#8220;For <i>I</i> couldn&#8217;t
+see anything down there even by daylight&#8211;it was so deep.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;All right. We&#8217;ll look with our hands. I shall know if it&#8217;s
+a boat, Wyn, once I reach it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And I hope it <i>is</i>&#8221; gasped Wyn. &#8220;Not alone for
+<i>your</i> sake, Polly. Why, if it is the <i>Bright Eyes</i>, the Go-Aheads
+will own a motor boat their very own selves. Won&#8217;t that be
+fine?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But Polly was too busy getting the catboat ready to answer. The
+<i>Coquette</i> was moored just a little way off the landing, and the two girls
+went out to her in Wyn&#8217;s canoe.</p>
+
+<p>There was a lantern in her cuddy and Polly lit it. Then they slipped the
+buoyed moorings and spread a little canvas. There was quite a breeze, and it was
+fair for their course to Gannet Island. Soon the catboat was laying over a bit,
+and the <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_256'></a>256</span> foam was
+streaking away behind them in a broad wake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What a lovely night!&#8221; sighed Wyn. &#8220;And it will be the very
+gladdest night I ever saw if that thing I hit proves to be the <i>Bright
+Eyes</i>.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Polly had glanced behind them frequently. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you hear
+anything?&#8221; she asked finally.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hear what?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hush! that&#8217;s somebody getting up a sail. Can&#8217;t you hear
+it?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Wyn listened, and then murmured: &#8220;Your ears must be sharper than mine,
+Polly. I hear nothing but the slap of the water.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No. There is another sailboat under weigh. Where can it be
+from?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t suppose your father was aroused, and is coming after
+us?&#8221; asked Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Of course not. Beside, the <i>Coquette</i> is the only sailing
+boat&#8211;except a canoe&#8211;that we have at present. The other cat is loaned
+for a week. And I heard the hoops creaking on the mast as a heavy sail went
+up.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Some crowd of fishermen?&#8221; suggested Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But where&#8217;s their light?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Wyn stared all around. &#8220;You&#8217;re right,&#8221; she gasped.
+&#8220;There isn&#8217;t a single twinkling lantern&#8211;except
+ashore.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Polly, sitting in the stern seat, reached for their <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_257'></a>257</span> own lantern and smothered its rays.
+&#8220;We won&#8217;t show a gleam, either,&#8221; she muttered.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why! who could it possibly be?&#8221; cried Wyn. &#8220;Do you think
+somebody may be following us?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; returned Polly, grimly. &#8220;But I
+thought I heard something back there at our house. We were talking loud. If
+those silver images were worth all Dr. Shelton says they were, there are more
+than us girls who would like to find them.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My goodness me! I didn&#8217;t think of <i>that</i>,&#8221; observed
+Wyn Mallory, with a little shiver. &#8220;Do you suppose we really are being
+followed?&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_258'></a>258</span><a id='link_25'></a>CHAPTER XXV<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE STRANGE BATEAU</span></h2>
+
+<p>Polly laughed a little. Yet she spoke seriously.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You needn&#8217;t be so worried, Wyn. I know most of the men who do
+business on the lake. Some of them are mighty fine fellows, and others are just
+the opposite; but I&#8217;m not afraid of the worst of them.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If they followed us, and we <i>did</i> find the sunken motor boat,
+couldn&#8217;t they grapple for the box of silver images, and steal them?&#8221;
+demanded Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not easily. You see, they don&#8217;t know where the box was stowed.
+Father told nobody but me. The <i>Bright Eyes</i> was a good-sized boat, and
+they&#8217;d have some trouble getting up the box without raising the boat
+herself.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I suppose that&#8217;s so,&#8221; admitted Wyn, less anxiously, as the
+<i>Coquette</i> carried them swiftly toward Gannet Island. &#8220;But these men
+you speak of might interfere with us.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes. That&#8217;s so. But they&#8217;d get as good as <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_259'></a>259</span> they sent, I
+reckon,&#8221; said Polly, who didn&#8217;t seem to have a bit of fear.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn was no coward; she had shown that the time she and Bessie Lavine were
+spilled out of their canoes in the middle of the lake. But she had not lived,
+like Polly, in the woods with few but rough people for associates.</p>
+
+<p>Soon they passed Green Knoll Camp, lying peacefully in the light of the moon
+that was just then rising above the Forge. Its rays silvered all the knoll and
+made the camp a charming spot.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I hope none of them will wake up and find me gone,&#8221; remarked
+Wyn, chuckling.</p>
+
+<p>Polly gave the tiller and sheet to her friend and stood up to get a better
+view of the lake astern of them. At first she saw nothing but the dim shores and
+the silvering water. Then, some distance out, Polly caught sight of a ghostly
+sail drifting across the path of moonlight.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A bateau!&#8221; she exclaimed. &#8220;And&#8211;with the wind the way
+it is&#8211;she must have come right out of our cove, Wynnie.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Do&#8211;do you really think anybody was listening to us when we were
+talking there on the landing, Polly?&#8221; Wyn asked. &#8220;And are they
+aboard <i>that</i> bateau?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know. But I know I heard something then.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_260'></a>260</span>&#8220;But that
+boat isn&#8217;t following us.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It may be. We can&#8217;t tell. They can watch us just as easily as we
+can watch them.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But when the <i>Coquette</i> got around to the side of Gannet Island where
+the boys&#8217; camp was established, the shadow of the high, wooded ridge was
+thrown out so far across the lake that the swimming raft and its neighborhood
+were in darkness.</p>
+
+<p>The catboat, with her sail dropped and her nose just touching the edge of the
+float, was quite hidden by this shadow of the island, which was all the darker
+in contrast with the brilliant moonlight lying on the water farther out.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll carry the kedge to the float,&#8221; whispered Polly,
+&#8220;and then we&#8217;ll pay out the line till the <i>Coquette</i> floats
+about over the spot where you think the thing you hit lies.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s get my canoe out of the way, too,&#8221; urged Wyn.
+&#8220;Oh! I hope the boys will not wake up.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s that light up there?&#8221; exclaimed Polly,
+suddenly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s the spark of their campfire. It&#8217;s in the rocks, so
+no harm can come from it; they don&#8217;t trouble to cover it when they go to
+bed.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, Wyn&#8211;push the boat off.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>They worked the catboat from the float for several yards. &#8220;Wait,&#8221;
+whispered Wyn. &#8220;Let&#8217;s try here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_261'></a>261</span>&#8220;Are you
+going to dive?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes. It will make some splash; but I don&#8217;t believe I can reach
+the bottom of the lake otherwise, it is so deep here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Careful!&#8221; cautioned Polly. &#8220;You may hurt yourself on
+whatever is down there.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll look out,&#8221; returned Wyn, again filling her ears with
+cotton. She slipped off the skirt of her bathing suit, too, so as to have more
+freedom. Then she poised herself for a moment on the decked-over part of the
+sailboat&#8211;a slim, lithe figure in the semi-darkness&#8211;and gradually
+bent over with her arms outstretched to part the water.</p>
+
+<p>As she dived forward she thought she heard a quick exclamation from Polly;
+but Wyn believed it to be an encouraging cry. At least, she gave it no attention
+as she clove the water and went down, down, down into the depths of the
+lake.</p>
+
+<p>She opened her eyes, but, of course, saw nothing but a great, shadowy mass
+below her. Toward this mass she swam eagerly; the lake seemed much deeper than
+it had by daylight.</p>
+
+<p>Struggling against the uplift of the water, she beat her way down into the
+depths for more than a minute. That was a goodly length of time for the first
+submersion. And she did not reach the bottom, nor find any object like the thing
+she had struck against some hours before.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_262'></a>262</span>It was necessary
+for her to rise. As she turned over, a luminous spot appeared over her head, and
+toward this spot she sprang. With aching chest she reached the surface, and
+sprang breast high out of the water&#8211;some yards from the catboat. There was
+a strong current here.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Polly!&#8221; she gasped.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sh!&#8221; hissed her comrade&#8217;s voice, in warning.</p>
+
+<p>Surprised, Wyn obeyed the warning. Causing scarcely a ripple in the water,
+she paddled to the boat. There she clung to the rail and listened. She could not
+see Polly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Dunno where they went to in that cat, Eb,&#8221; growled a hoarse
+voice out of the darkness.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn darted a glance over her shoulder. There, looming gray and ghostly, was
+the tall sail they had seen once before. The strange, square-nosed bateau was
+drifting by, but at some distance. Evidently the catboat was well hidden in the
+shadow of the island.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly Polly reached over the edge of the boat and seized Wyn&#8217;s
+shoulders. &#8220;Don&#8217;t try to climb in,&#8221; she whispered.
+&#8220;They&#8217;ll see or hear the splash.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; breathed back the captain of the Go-Aheads.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s Eb Lornigan and some of his friends. Eb <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_263'></a>263</span> is a disgrace to the
+lake. He&#8217;s been in jail more than once,&#8221; whispered Polly.</p>
+
+<p>But Wyn&#8217;s shoulders began to feel cold. The night air, after all, was
+not really warm. &#8220;I&#8217;m going down again,&#8221; she whispered.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Did&#8211;did you find it?&#8221; queried Polly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No. But I will,&#8221; declared the other girl, confidently, and
+slipped into the water.</p>
+
+<p>She ventured under the bottom of the catboat and, turning suddenly, braced
+her feet against it, and so flung herself down into the depths.</p>
+
+<p>She descended more swiftly with the momentum thus gained, traveling toward
+the bottom on a different slant than before. With her hands far before her she
+defended her head from collision with any sunken object there might be down
+here. And this time she actually did hit something again.</p>
+
+<p>She turned quickly and grabbed at it with both hands. It seemed like a sharp,
+smooth pole sticking almost upright in the water. There was a bit of rag, or
+marine plant of some kind, attached to it.</p>
+
+<p>She struggled to pull herself down by the staff, but she had been below now
+longer than before. Just what the staff could be she did not imagine until she
+had again turned and &#8220;kicked&#8221; her way upward.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s the pennant staff of the sunken boat!&#8221; <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_264'></a>264</span> she gasped, as she came
+to the surface and could open her mouth once more.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hush! what&#8217;s the matter with you?&#8221; demanded Polly, in a
+low voice, directly at hand.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh! have they gone?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The bateau is out of hearing distance. But you <i>do</i> splash like a
+porpoise.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nonsense! Let me climb up.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Polly gave her some help and in a few moments Wyn lay panting in the tiny
+cockpit of the boat.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Did&#8211;did you find anything?&#8221; queried Polly, anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn told her what she believed she had found underneath the water, and the
+position of the staff. &#8220;It must be lying bow on to us here,&#8221; she
+said.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh! do you suppose it really <i>is</i> the <i>Bright
+Eyes</i>?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s something,&#8221; replied Wyn, confidently, pulling one of
+the blankets around her.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going down myself,&#8221; declared Polly, sharply.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;All right. Maybe you can find more of the boat. It&#8217;s
+there.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Polly sprang up into the bow of the catboat, poised herself for a moment and
+then dived overboard. She could outswim and outdive any of the Go-Ahead
+girls&#8211;and why not? She was in, or on, the lake from early spring until
+late autumn.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_265'></a>265</span>Polly was under
+the surface no longer than Wyn; but when she came up she struck out for the
+<i>Coquette</i> and scrambled immediately into the boat.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What is it? Am I right? Is it a boat?&#8221; cried the anxious
+Wynnie.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes! It&#8217;s there. Oh, Wynifred Mallory! My father is going to be
+so relieved! It&#8217;s&#8211;it&#8217;s just heavenly! How can we ever thank
+you?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Wyn was crying softly. &#8220;I&#8217;m so delighted, dear Polly. It&#8211;it
+is <i>sure</i> the <i>Bright Eyes</i>?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It is a motor boat. I went right down to the deck, and scrambled
+around it. There are surely not <i>two</i> motor boats sunk in Lake
+Honotonka,&#8221; declared Polly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hush, then!&#8221; urged Wyn. &#8220;We&#8217;ll keep still about it.
+It is my find and I&#8217;ll telegraph to Mr. Lavine as quick as I can. The
+Go-Ahead girls are going to own a motor boat! Won&#8217;t that be
+fine?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say nothing to any of the others. I&#8217;ll tell father,&#8221; said
+Polly, beginning to haul in on the kedge line. &#8220;And he&#8217;ll know what
+to do about raising the launch. He&#8217;ll have to go to the
+Forge&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then he can send the message to Mr. Lavine for me. Tell him the girls
+have found the sunken boat, and sign my name to it. That will bring
+Bessie&#8217;s father up here in a hurry.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The girls got their anchor and the canoe, and <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_266'></a>266</span> put up the sail again. As the
+<i>Coquette</i> shot away from the boys&#8217; swimming float, the ghostly sail
+of the strange bateau again crossed the path of moonlight at the other end of
+the island.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d feel better,&#8221; muttered Polly, &#8220;if those, fellows
+were not hanging about so close.&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_267'></a>267</span><a id='link_26'></a>CHAPTER XXVI<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE BOYS TO THE RESCUE</span></h2>
+
+<p>Wyn got into her canoe in sight of Green Knoll Camp, and leaving Polly to
+work the <i>Coquette</i> home alone, paddled to the shore, drew out the canoe
+and turned it over on the beach with the six other canoes belonging to the camp,
+and so stole up the hill and prepared for bed again.</p>
+
+<p>Nobody seemed to have missed her, although it was now two hours after
+midnight. The captain of the girls&#8217; club felt a glow of satisfaction at
+her heart as she composed herself for sleep. She believed she was going to have
+a great and happy surprise for the girls of the Go-Ahead Club; and in addition
+the Jarleys would be relieved of the cloud of suspicion that had hung over Mr.
+Jarley ever since Dr. Shelton&#8217;s motor boat was lost.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn slept so late that all the other girls were up and had run down for their
+morning dip ere Mrs. Havel shook her.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You must have had your bath very early, Wynnie,&#8221; said that lady.
+&#8220;Here is your bathing suit all wet.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_268'></a>268</span>&#8220;Yes,
+ma&#8217;am,&#8221; responded Wyn, sleepily.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, rouse up. The whole camp is astir,&#8221; said Mrs. Havel, and
+Wyn was fully dressed when the other girls came back. There were not too many
+questions asked, so her secret remained safe.</p>
+
+<p>She became considerably disturbed, however, when the hours of the forenoon
+passed and she neither heard from nor saw anything of the Jarleys.</p>
+
+<p>Once a big bateau went drifting by and disappeared behind Gannet Island,
+under a lazy sail and with two men at the long sweeps, or oars. When it was lost
+to view Wyn was troubled by the thought that it might be the same mysterious
+craft that had followed the catboat the night before. Had it anchored off the
+boys&#8217; camp now?</p>
+
+<p>So, to calm her own mind, she suggested that they all paddle over to
+Cave-in-the-Wood Camp and take their luncheon with them.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Goodness me, Wynifred!&#8221; exclaimed Bess, the boy-despiser,
+&#8220;can&#8217;t you keep away from those boys for a single day?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I notice we usually have a good time when the boys are around,&#8221;
+returned Wyn, cheerfully.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, they&#8217;re quite a &#8216;necessary evil,&#8217;&#8221; drawled
+Frank. &#8220;But I feel myself like Johnny Bloom&#8217;s aunt when we get rid
+of the Busters for a time.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_269'></a>269</span>&#8220;What
+about Johnny&#8217;s aunt?&#8221; queried Mina.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, do you know that Johnny belongs to the Scouts and one law of the
+Scouts is that they shall each do something for somebody each day to make the
+said somebody happy.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Rather involved in your English, Miss, but we understand you,&#8221;
+said Grace.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So far,&#8221; agreed Percy Havel. &#8220;But where do Johnny Bloom
+and his aunt come in?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, any day he can&#8217;t think of any other kindness to render his
+friends,&#8221; chuckled Frankie, &#8220;he goes to see his aunt. She is so glad
+when he goes home again&#8211;she detests boys&#8211;that Johnny feels all the
+thrill of having performed a good deed.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, Frank!&#8221; laughed Wyn, &#8220;you know it isn&#8217;t as bad
+as all <i>that</i>.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, it is,&#8221; chuckled Frankie. &#8220;You don&#8217;t know
+Johnny Bloom as well as his neighbors do. He lives on my street.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Humph! most boys are just as bad,&#8221; declared Bess. &#8220;Just
+the same, if Wyn says &#8216;Gannet Island&#8217; I reckon we&#8217;ll all have to
+go.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And we&#8217;ll have some fun diving,&#8221; Grace Hedges declared.
+&#8220;I wish we had a diving float over here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Havel preferred to remain at the camp and the six girls were a very
+hilarious party as <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_270'></a>270</span>
+they set forth in their canoes and fresh bathing suits for the island.</p>
+
+<p>By this time every member of the Go-Ahead Club was as brown as a berry,
+inured to exposure in the sun, and enjoying the outdoor life of woods and lake
+to the full.</p>
+
+<p>Mina&#8217;s timidity had worn off, Percy was not so &#8220;finicky&#8221; in
+her tastes, Bessie was more careful of other people&#8217;s feelings, Grace
+really seemed almost cured of laziness, Frank was by no means so hoydenish as
+she once was, and as for Wynifred, she was just as hearty and happy as it seemed
+a girl could be. Their independent, busy life on Green Knoll was doing them all
+a world of good.</p>
+
+<p>As the little squadron of canoes drew near to the easterly end of the Island
+the girls were suddenly excited by a great disturbance in the bushes on the hill
+above them. This end of the island was exceedingly steep and rocky.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, what&#8217;s that?&#8221; cried Mina, as some object flashed into
+view for a moment and then disappeared.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s one of the goats,&#8221; squealed Frankie.</p>
+
+<p>Gannet Island was grazed by a good-sized herd of goats, but they remained
+mostly at this end and kept away from the boys&#8217; camp at the other. The
+girls had seldom seen any of the herd, although they had heard the kids bleating
+now <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_271'></a>271</span> and then, and
+the boys had described the old rams and how ugly they were.</p>
+
+<p>Here, right above them, was going on a striking domestic wrangle, for in a
+moment they saw that two of the rams were having a set-to among the bushes on
+the side-hill, while several mild-eyed Nannies and their progeny looked on.</p>
+
+<p>The rams would back away a little in the brush and then charge each other.
+When their hard horns collided, they rang like steel, and several times the
+antagonists were both overborne by the shock and rolled upon the ground.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What a place for a fight!&#8221; exclaimed Frank. &#8220;What do you
+know about <i>that</i>, girls?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a shame,&#8221; quavered Mina. &#8220;Somebody ought to
+separate them.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sure! I vote that you go right up and do so, Miss Everett,&#8221; said
+Grace, briskly.</p>
+
+<p>However, Frank&#8217;s criticism of the judgment of the combating goats was
+correct. It was no place for a fair fight. One of the animals happened to get
+&#8220;up hill&#8221; and at the next charge the lower goat was lifted
+completely off its feet and came tumbling down the steep descent with the speed
+of an avalanche.</p>
+
+<p>The girls screamed, the other goats bleated&#8211;while the conquering Billie
+took a commanding position on a rock and gazed down upon his falling <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_272'></a>272</span> enemy. The latter could
+not stop. Twice he tried to scramble to his sharp little hoofs, but could not
+accomplish the feat. So, then, quite helpless, he fell the entire distance and
+came finally, with a mighty splash, into the deep water under the bank.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh! the poor creature will be drowned!&#8221; cried Wyn, in great
+distress at this catastrophe, although some of the other girls were inclined to
+laugh, for the goat <i>did</i> look more than a little comical.</p>
+
+<p>He had been battered a good deal and had received a wound upon one side of
+his face that did not improve his looks at all. And while he had been so lively
+and pugnacious up on the hillside, now he splashed about in the lake quite
+helplessly.</p>
+
+<p>The shore of the island just here was altogether too abrupt to afford the
+unlucky goat any foot-hold. And the goat is not naturally an aquatic animal.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on!&#8221; urged Bessie. &#8220;Let&#8217;s leave him. We
+can&#8217;t do any good here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Of course we can help him,&#8221; cried Wyn. &#8220;Grab him by the
+other horn, Frank!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>She had driven her own canoe to the far side of the goat and now seized the
+beast&#8217;s horn. He could not fight in the water and Wyn and Frank slowly
+guided him along the shore until they reached a sloping piece of beach where he
+could, <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_273'></a>273</span> at least,
+get a footing. But he lay down, half in and half out of the water, seemingly
+exhausted.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He can never climb that bank,&#8221; declared Mina.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll boost him up, then,&#8221; said Frank, with confidence.
+&#8220;Having set out to be twin Good Samaritans, we&#8217;ll finish the job
+properly; eh, Wyn?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Her friend agreed, laughing, and both girls sprang ashore. They didn&#8217;t
+mind getting a little wet, considering how they were dressed.</p>
+
+<p>The goat bleated forlornly as they seized upon him; he was quite all the two
+girls could lift, and they actually had to drag him up the steeper part of the
+hill by his legs.</p>
+
+<p>Their friends below chaffed them a good deal, for it was a ridiculous sight.
+Soon, however, Wyn and Frank got their awkward burden to the mouth of an easily
+sloping gully, that led toward the interior of the island. As soon as he could,
+the animal scrambled upon his feet.</p>
+
+<p>Once firmly set, however, this ungrateful goat&#8217;s temper changed most
+surprisingly. Or he may have felt that his dignity had been ruffled by the
+treatment he had received at the hands of his rescuers.</p>
+
+<p>So he began stamping his little sharp hoofs and lowered his head, shaking the
+latter threateningly.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_274'></a>274</span>&#8220;What did
+I tell you?&#8221; called Bess, from below. &#8220;Next you two sillies know
+he&#8217;ll butt you.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, come along, Wyn!&#8221; gasped Frankie. &#8220;Plague the goat,
+anyway!&#8221; as she dodged the enraged animal&#8217;s first charge.</p>
+
+<p>The goat was headed up the gully, away from the shore, or he might have gone
+head first into the lake again. As the girls escaped him, Wyn, laughing
+immoderately, looked back. A big beech tree cropped out of the bank not far
+away, and under this tree she descried a figure lying.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Frank!&#8221; she cried.</p>
+
+<p>Her friend turned and saw the figure, too.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Wyn!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Their ejaculations seemed to have attracted Mr. William Goat&#8217;s
+attention to the same reclining figure. Outstretched upon the sward, with a
+large handkerchief over his face as a protection from gnats and other insects,
+and with his fat fingers interlaced across what Dave Shepard wickedly termed his
+chum&#8217;s &#8220;bow-window,&#8221; lay the quite unconscious Tubby
+Blaisdell.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Tubby!&#8221; shrieked the girls in chorus.</p>
+
+<p>The fat boy sat up as though a spring had been released. The handkerchief was
+still over his face, and he grunted blindly.</p>
+
+<p>It was a challenge to Mr. Goat. He charged. <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_275'></a>275</span> Amid the screams of the girls the goat hurtled
+through the air, all four feet gathered beneath him, and landed head-and-horns
+in the middle of poor Tubby&#8217;s waistcoat!</p>
+
+<p>It wasn&#8217;t a very big goat. &#8217;Twas lucky for Master Blaisdell that this
+was so. Tubby went back with an awful grunt, heels in the air, and the goat
+turned a complete somersault. But the latter scrambled to his feet a whole lot
+quicker than did Tubby.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Run&#8211;run, Tubby!&#8221; shrieked Frank.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Look out for him, Ralph!&#8221; cried Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>Back the goat came. This time he took Master Blaisdell from the rear and
+butted him so hard that he actually seemed to lift the fat boy to his feet.</p>
+
+<p>The youth had scratched the handkerchief from his face, and now could see the
+enemy. Tubby had emitted nothing but a series of excruciating grunts; but now,
+when he saw the goat making ready for another charge, he met the animal with a
+yell, leaping into the air with his legs a-straddle, so that the Billie ran
+between them, and then Tubby footed it up the gully as fast as he could
+travel.</p>
+
+<p>The goat, headed down hill again, saw his old enemies, the two girls, and
+made as though to attack them. Wyn and Frank, almost dead with <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_276'></a>276</span> laughter, managed to
+roll down the bank and so get out of the erratic goat&#8217;s sight. The other
+girls had only heard the noise of the conflict, and did not understand; nor
+could Wyn and Frankie explain when they first scrambled into their canoes.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Poor Tubby! Poor Tubby!&#8221; was all Wyn could say.
+&#8220;Let&#8217;s paddle around to the boys&#8217; camp. He&#8217;s run for
+home.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It was a home run, all right!&#8221; gasped Frank.</p>
+
+<p>But three minutes later, when the canoes got into the cove where
+Polly&#8217;s father had met with his accident in the <i>Bright Eyes</i>, Wyn
+suddenly found something more serious than Tubby Blaisdell&#8217;s experience to
+worry about. There was the big bateau, its sail furled, almost over the spot
+where Wyn and Polly were sure the lost motor boat lay!</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, dear me!&#8221; cried Bess. &#8220;Now we can&#8217;t have any fun
+on the raft. Those men will be in our way. What do you suppose they are poking
+around there in the water with those poles for?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Wyn began to paddle fast. She shot ahead of the other girls and aimed
+directly for the bit of beach on which the boys&#8217; canoes were drawn.</p>
+
+<p>The noise and laughter up at the camp assured her that Tubby had arrived and
+that all the Busters were at home. Wyn had made up her mind quickly that, if she
+must, she would rather take <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_277'></a>277</span> the boys into her confidence about the sunken boat
+than let those bateau men find it.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Boys! Dave!&#8221; she hailed them from the water.</p>
+
+<p>Young Shepard appeared at once and, seeing Wyn, ran down to the shore.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Will you help us?&#8221; gasped Wyn. &#8220;Quick! get the boys! Move
+your diving float where I tell you; those men will find it first, if you
+don&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Find what?&#8221; demanded Dave. &#8220;Are you sensible,
+Wynnie?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The explanation tumbled out of Wyn Mallory&#8217;s lips then in rather a
+jumbled fashion; but Dave understood. He turned and gave the view-halloa for his
+mates. They all tumbled down the bank save Tubby.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Get a move on, fellows,&#8221; commanded the leader of the Busters.
+&#8220;We&#8217;ve got to move that raft. Wyn will tell us where. And later
+we&#8217;ll tell you <i>why</i>. But the word is now: Look sharp!&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_278'></a>278</span><a id='link_27'></a>CHAPTER XXVII<br /><span class='h2fs'>IS IT THE &#8220;BRIGHT EYES&#8221;?</span></h2>
+
+<p>With a whirl and clash of paddles the little flotilla of canoes shot out to
+the diving float. The bateau was only a few yards away. The two rough-looking
+men in her were sounding the lake bottom, with long poles; but as yet they had
+not got around to the right spot.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn breathlessly told the boys to move the raft to the place to which she
+paddled. The other girls were excitedly asking questions but neither Wyn nor
+Dave answered.</p>
+
+<p>The captain of the Go-Aheads thought that if the raft could be held
+stationary&#8211;anchored in some way&#8211;directly over the sunken boat, the
+prize would be safe until Mr. Jarley, or somebody else in authority, came to
+claim the <i>Bright Eyes</i>. Of course, providing this sunken boat was she.</p>
+
+<p>Polly had seemed so positive, and so eager to get her father started after
+the motor boat he had lost, that Wyn could not understand why the Jarleys were
+not already on the spot.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_279'></a>279</span>&#8220;Hey,
+there! what are you boys doing?&#8221; demanded one of the bateau men, hailing
+Dave and his friends on the raft.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Moving our float,&#8221; replied the captain of the Busters,
+promptly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, don&#8217;t you git in our way,&#8221; said the man,
+crossly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hel-<i>lo</i>!&#8221; exclaimed the saucy Ferd Roberts.
+&#8220;I&#8217;ve always wondered who owned Lake Honotonka, and now I
+know.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll know a whole lot more if you don&#8217;t look out, Young
+Fresh,&#8221; growled the other boatman.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I shouldn&#8217;t wonder,&#8221; laughed Ferd. &#8220;But I&#8217;m
+not going to school to <i>you</i>, Mister.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Do be quiet, Ferd,&#8221; advised Dave. &#8220;Now, Wynnie! What do
+you say to this?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Meantime the boys had raised the two big stones that served the raft as
+anchors, and had poled the float near to Wyn&#8217;s canoe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh! a little farther, Dave, please,&#8221; cried the anxious girl.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say! I wanter know what you young ones are up to?&#8221; repeated the
+first boatman.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Can&#8217;t you see?&#8221; returned Dave. &#8220;We&#8217;re shifting
+our raft.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What for?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Cat&#8217;s fur! To make kittens&#8217; breeches of, <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_280'></a>280</span> &#8217;cause we couldn&#8217;t
+get dog fur&#8211;<i>now</i> do you know?&#8221; snapped Ferd.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Shut up, Ferd!&#8221; commanded Dave, again.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He&#8217;d better shut up,&#8221; growled the man, &#8220;or
+something&#8217;ll happen to him&#8211;the young shrimp!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, dear me, Wyn!&#8221; cried Bessie Lavine; &#8220;let&#8217;s go
+back to camp.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;d all better scatter&#8211;both gels and boys,&#8221; said
+the boatman, threateningly. &#8220;We&#8217;re busy here an&#8217; we
+don&#8217;t want to be bothered by shrimps.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I guess we&#8217;ll stay a while longer, Mister,&#8221; Dave said,
+boldly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We were here first,&#8221; cried the irrepressible Ferd.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You youngsters air in our way. Get out,&#8221; commanded the
+Boatman.</p>
+
+<p>He was working the bateau nearer to the raft, using one of the long sweeps
+for that purpose.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Heave over the anchors again, fellows,&#8221; said Dave, quietly.
+&#8220;Then stand by with your paddles to repel boarders. We mustn&#8217;t let
+&#8217;em have the raft, or move it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Wyn!&#8221; begged Mina Everett, &#8220;let&#8217;s go
+away.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The girls had all paddled near Wyn Mallory. Now they clustered about her in
+plain anxiety. The boys had climbed upon the raft and all five <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_281'></a>281</span> were plainly intending
+to offer resistance to the ugly boatmen.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, girls,&#8221; begged the captain of the Go-Aheads, firmly,
+&#8220;let us show <i>some</i> courage, at least. The boys are willing to fight
+our battle&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;<i>Our</i> battle?&#8221; gasped Bessie. &#8220;What do you
+mean?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>In a whisper Wyn explained to the wondering and frightened girls what it was
+all about.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Polly and I believe the lost motor boat lies right beneath us here. We
+must keep those men off, for they are hunting for the sunken boat, too,&#8221;
+concluded Wynnie.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My goodness! how exciting!&#8221; cried Grace Hedges.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And we&#8217;ll actually win the prize your father offered us,
+Bess!&#8221; gasped Percy Havel.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t see that <i>we</i> have had much to do with it,&#8221;
+said Frank. &#8220;Wyn made the discovery.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What is for one is for all,&#8221; declared Wynnie. &#8220;But we
+won&#8217;t win Mr. Lavine&#8217;s prize unless the boat is raised and the
+silver images are delivered to Dr. Shelton. If those men get hold of the
+boat&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly one of the boatmen&#8211;a long-legged fellow with a cast in one eye
+and lantern jaws sparsely covered with sandy whisker&#8211;came forward <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_282'></a>282</span> to the bow of the bateau
+and poised himself for a leap to the diving float.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Keep off!&#8221; Dave warned him, swinging his paddle over his head.
+&#8220;You jump over here and you&#8217;ll catch this where Kellup caught the
+hen&#8211;right in the neck! You let us alone and we&#8217;ll let you
+alone.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The boatman told him, in no very choice language, what he would do to Dave
+when he caught him; but the captain of the Busters did not appear to be much
+shaken.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hold, on, Eb!&#8221; yelled the other boatman. &#8220;I&#8217;ll run
+that raft down and spill &#8217;em all off.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You try it and you&#8217;ll likely smash your boat,&#8221; shouted
+Dave. &#8220;I warn you.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Mina Everett began to cry softly, for the suggestion of a pitched battle
+between the boys and the boatmen frightened her dreadfully. Bess began to grow
+excited.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Aren&#8217;t those men just <i>mean</i>? I wish I had something to hit
+them with&#8211;I do! I believe I&#8217;ll get out on the raft with <i>my</i>
+paddle.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That wouldn&#8217;t be a bad idea,&#8221; said Grace. &#8220;I think
+the boys are as nice to us as they can be.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly, while the attention of all the others was held by the exciting
+situation on the raft, Frank Cameron cried out:</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_283'></a>283</span>&#8220;Who&#8217;s this coming? Oh, girls!
+isn&#8217;t that Polly? Look, Wyn!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Wyn almost overturned her canoe in her eagerness to back out of the group and
+whirl her canoe about that she might see. Down upon the scene was bearing one of
+the larger power boats from the other end of the lake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s Dr. Shelton&#8217;s <i>Sunshine Boy</i>!&#8221; cried Percy
+Havel.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And that <i>is</i> Polly Jolly in the bow,&#8221; exclaimed Wyn.
+&#8220;Hurrah!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>She drove her paddle into the water and sent her canoe driving for the
+approaching motor boat.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Polly! Polly!&#8221; she called, long before the boatman&#8217;s
+daughter could hear her.</p>
+
+<p>But Polly recognized her just the same, and waved her hand; there was a
+gentleman pacing the deck, too, who came to lean on the rail and look at the
+flying canoe. Wyn next saw Mr. Jarley, in his working clothes, put his head out
+of the cabin that housed the motor.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s Dr. Shelton,&#8221; Wyn thought. &#8220;Then he and Mr.
+Jarley have made it up. I&#8217;m so glad!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But the motor boat was coming fast and Wyn drove her canoe as though she were
+racing. Swerving the craft quickly, the girl brought it very nicely into a berth
+beside the motor boat. Polly leaned down and steadied the canoe with the boat
+hook, <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_284'></a>284</span> and her
+friend hopped aboard. Then together they hoisted over the rail the almost
+swamped canoe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s all this? What&#8217;s all this?&#8221; demanded Dr.
+Shelton. &#8220;You girls are regular acrobats. Hullo! This is the young miss
+who won the canoe race and the swimming match for girls, the other day. Am I
+right?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, sir,&#8221; said Polly, presenting Wyn proudly. &#8220;This is
+Miss Wynifred Mallory, my very dear friend.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The girl who thinks she has found our old motor boat&#8211;eh?&#8221;
+asked the burly doctor.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I am sure she has found it, sir,&#8221; declared Polly. &#8220;And
+what are Eb and his chum, Billy Smith, trying to do there at the raft,
+Wyn?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They suspect something; but the boys have got the float right over the
+sunken boat and have promised to hold the bateau men off&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Just then Dr. Shelton turned quickly, picked up a megaphone and bawled
+through it to the bateau men, one of whom had leaped aboard the boys, raft.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hey, you! Get off that raft and keep off it, or I&#8217;ll put you
+both in jail at the Forge. Understand me?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>It was evident that the boatmen <i>did</i> understand the doctor, for the
+trespasser aboard the raft <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_285'></a>285</span> leaped back into the bateau without a blow being
+struck, although the boys were ready for him. The big sail of the craft was
+immediately raised and she had borne off to some distance when the <i>Sunshine
+Boy</i> was allowed to drift in close to the float.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, boys,&#8221; said Dr. Shelton, genially, &#8220;I understand you
+have found my old <i>Bright Eyes</i> under water here and have been guarding it
+from all comers. Is that right?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, Doctor,&#8221; returned Dave. &#8220;We fellows have had mighty
+little to do with it. It&#8217;s the girls&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s Wyn!&#8221; cried Frank, &#8220;and nobody else.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Wyn did it all,&#8221; agreed Bess.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But those men, poking around here, might have found it and laid claim
+to it, sir, if the boys had not come to the rescue,&#8221; declared the captain
+of the Go-Aheads, warmly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You seem to be a Mutual Admiration Society,&#8221; laughed the doctor.
+&#8220;However, if the boat is here and that express box intact, as Jarley says,
+I certainly owe somebody something handsome for finding it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, no, sir!&#8221; murmured Wyn, quickly, standing by his side.
+&#8220;You owe me nothing. Mr. Lavine has promised our club a present, and Polly
+and her father are going to be made very happy if <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_286'></a>286</span> it turns out all right. <i>That</i> is
+reward enough for us.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Humph! you feel that way about it; do you, Miss Mallory?&#8221;
+queried the doctor. &#8220;Just the same, if the <i>Bright Eyes</i> really is
+sunk here I must show my gratitude to somebody.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then do something for Polly,&#8221; Wyn whispered. &#8220;Give her a
+chance to go to school&#8211;to Denton Academy with the rest of us girls. That
+would be fine! She wouldn&#8217;t let Mr. Lavine do that for her; but I know
+she&#8217;ll accept it from you, when her father has proved himself clear of
+suspicion.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Ha! John Jarley is a better man than I am,&#8221; grunted Dr. Shelton.
+&#8220;I had no business to talk to him the way I did regatta day. I&#8217;m
+free to admit I was wrong, whether we recover the <i>Bright Eyes</i> and the
+silver images, or not!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>And the question, Is it the <i>Bright Eyes</i>? was the principal subject of
+discussion among them all. The boys were just as eager as were the girls over
+the affair.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If the sunken boat is all right&#8211;and the images,&#8221; said Dave
+Shepard, &#8220;you girls will be lucky enough to sail a motor boat of your
+own.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And we&#8217;d never own it if you boys hadn&#8217;t come forward as
+you did,&#8221; declared Wyn. &#8220;Isn&#8217;t that so, Bess?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_287'></a>287</span>Bess had to
+admit the fact, much as she disliked praising boys.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, we&#8217;ll let you boys sail in our new boat once in a
+while,&#8221; she said.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Goodness me! I should say yes!&#8221; exclaimed Frank, suddenly.
+&#8220;For we&#8217;ve got to have somebody teach us how to run a motor boat;
+haven&#8217;t we?&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_288'></a>288</span><a id='link_28'></a>CHAPTER XXVIII<br /><span class='h2fs'>A FRIEND IN NEED</span></h2>
+
+<p>It was early on the next day that Bessie received a message from her father
+for the whole club:</p>
+
+<div class='bquote'>
+<p>&#8220;Look for me in a few hours. Shall run up to see what Wyn has done as
+soon as I can get away. If it is all right, you shall have new boat this
+season.&#8211;Henry Lavine.&#8221;</p> </div><!-- block quote -->
+
+<p>A man brought it over from the Forge. The girls were delighted with the news.
+A guard had been set over the spot where the sunken boat lay and Dr. Shelton and
+Mr. Jarley were making arrangements to have a derrick barge towed up to Gannet
+Island, so that the old <i>Bright Eyes</i> could be brought to the surface
+quickly.</p>
+
+<p>Naturally the Busters were too much interested in these proceedings to come
+over to Green Knoll Camp; and the girls had had so much excitement and exercise
+of late that they were inclined to take matters quietly for the time being.</p>
+
+<p>Therefore, there was not a canoe on the lake <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_289'></a>289</span> when a fussy, smoky little motor boat, late in the
+afternoon, came into the lake from the Wintinooski and puffed out into deep
+water, evidently bound for either the Island or Green Knoll Camp.</p>
+
+<p>The deep cove, at the head of which the little red and yellow cottage of the
+Jarleys was set, was like a big bay in the contour of the lake shore. It was out
+here in this deep water that Wyn Mallory and Bess Lavine had been swamped by the
+squall. From the docks at the Forge to the point east of Green Knoll, where the
+girls&#8217; camp was situated, was all of eight miles. When this little motor
+boat had sputtered along until she was about half way between those two points,
+she suddenly stopped.</p>
+
+<p>The girls had been lazily on the lookout for Mr. Lavine&#8217;s appearance
+and earlier in the day had kept the camp spyglass busy. Now Frank suddenly
+caught it up again and focused it almost at once on the stalled motor boat.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh! what&#8217;s that?&#8221; was her excited demand. &#8220;Girls!
+there&#8217;s a boat we missed before.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Where?&#8221; drawled Grace, lazily.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It isn&#8217;t father; is it?&#8221; demanded Bess.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;How do I know? It&#8217;s a power boat&#8213;Goodness, what&#8217;s
+that?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>She jumped so that Wyn came to her side quickly. &#8220;Let me see,
+Frank,&#8221; she begged.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_290'></a>290</span>&#8220;There&#8217;s&#8211;there&#8217;s a
+fire!&#8221; gasped Frankie.</p>
+
+<p>The girls came running at her cry. Even Mrs. Havel left her seat and stepped
+out of the shade of the beech tree to scan the water under her hand.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I see smoke!&#8221; cried Percy.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Dear me! is the boat really afire?&#8221; demanded Mina Everett.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Of course, it can&#8217;t be father,&#8221; declared Bess. &#8220;He
+knows how to take care of a motor boat.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Through the glass Wyn, who now had it, saw the flames leaping from under the
+hood of the boat, while a dense plume of smoke began to reel away on the breeze
+that was blowing.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It is afire!&#8221; she gasped &#8220;Oh! it <i>is</i>! What can we
+do?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We could never reach it in our canoes before the boat burns to the
+water&#8217;s edge,&#8221; cried Frankie.</p>
+
+<p>They could see two figures on the doomed boat. Through the glass Wyn could
+see them so plainly that she knew one to be a waterman, while the other was much
+better dressed. Indeed, she feared that she recognized the figure of this second
+man.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Let me have the glass, Wyn,&#8221; said Bessie, eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>But Wyn, for once, was disobliging. &#8220;You can&#8217;t see
+anything&#8211;much,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Come on, Bess! let&#8217;s try and
+paddle out to them.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And have them swamp our canoes if they <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_291'></a>291</span> tried to climb in,&#8221; said Miss
+Lavine. &#8220;No, thanks!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on!&#8221; cried Frank, joining in. &#8220;We ought to try and
+help.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the use?&#8221; drawled Bessie, walking away. &#8220;And
+you&#8217;re mean not to let me have the glass, Wyn.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, come on and take it!&#8221; gasped Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t want it now,&#8221; snapped Bess, who took offense rather
+easily at times. &#8220;You can keep the old thing.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Wyn sighed with relief. Then she whirled quickly and ran down to the beach,
+with Frank right at her heels. They were the only two girls who launched their
+canoes. Wyn had brought the glass with her.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now I <i>know</i> Bess won&#8217;t see him,&#8221; she exclaimed,
+almost in a whisper.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221; demanded Frankie, who overheard. &#8220;What
+do you mean, Wyn?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I believe that is Mr. Lavine out there,&#8221; said the captain of the
+Go-Aheads. &#8220;Oh, Frank! paddle hard!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>And it <i>was</i> Mr. Lavine. He had hired this little gasoline boat, with
+its owner to run it, at Denton, and had paid the owner an extra five-dollar bill
+to force the boat to its very highest speed (and that wasn&#8217;t much) all the
+way up the <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_292'></a>292</span>
+Wintinooski. Mr. Lavine was in a hurry; he was in too much of a hurry, as it
+proved.</p>
+
+<p>Somewhere off Meade&#8217;s Forge he began to smell the gasoline all too
+strongly. There was a leak somewhere; but the boat kept on.</p>
+
+<p>Finally even the reckless driver grew frightened and shut off the spark.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s a leak, boss,&#8221; he drawled. &#8220;Sure as aigs is
+aigs!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Lavine tore up one of the boards under his feet in the cockpit. A man
+with half an eye could have seen the scum of gasoline on the bilge in the
+cockpit.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Leak!&#8221; he exclaimed, wrathfully. &#8220;I should say you had
+been using the boat&#8217;s bottom for a gasoline tank. Why! we might have been
+blown up a dozen times.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I expect the leak&#8217;s in the feed pipe,&#8221; confessed the
+boatman. &#8220;But I thought I&#8217;d got her fixed las&#8217;
+week.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve got <i>us</i> fixed,&#8221; snapped Mr. Lavine.
+&#8220;&#8217;Way out here in the middle of Lake Honotonka, too&#8211;and I in a
+hurry.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Wal,&#8221; said the man, &#8220;I&#8217;ll putty up the leak and you
+see if you kin swab out the boat. I wouldn&#8217;t dare try and ignite her again
+with so much gasoline around.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8211;should&#8211;say&#8211;not!&#8221; gasped the gentleman, <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_293'></a>293</span> and removed his coat,
+rolled up his sleeves and his trousers, and set to work.</p>
+
+<p>They both labored like beavers for half an hour and then the boatman did the
+very silliest thing one can imagine. He had worked hard and, being a man
+addicted to tobacco, he felt the need of a smoke.</p>
+
+<p>He pulled out his pipe, filled it, unnoticed by Mr. Lavine, who was still
+trying to swab out the last of the bilge and gasoline, and scratched a match. He
+was directly in front of the hood of the boat when he did it. The next moment
+there was a flash, a roar, and the man was flung the length of the boat, against
+Mr. Lavine in the stern, and the two almost went overboard.</p>
+
+<p>The foolish smoker lost his mustache, eyebrows, and lashes, and a lot of his
+front hair. He was scorched quite severely, too; but the peril which menaced
+them with the front of the boat in flames drove the thought of his burns from
+the fellow&#8217;s mind.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And I can&#8217;t swim a stroke, boss!&#8221; he cried.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You have nothing on me there,&#8221; declared Mr. Lavine. &#8220;I
+have never been able to master more than the first few motions in the art of
+swimming.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But the flames were springing higher and they had nothing with which to throw
+water on the fire. The man had not even a bailing tin in his moribund <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_294'></a>294</span> old craft. Mr. Lavine
+had been using a swab and was covered with grease and dirty water.</p>
+
+<p>This became a small thing, however&#8211;and that within a very few minutes.
+The boat was doomed and both knew it.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Lavine tried to tear up more of the grating under foot so as to make
+something that would float and upon which they might bear themselves up in the
+water. But the boards were too thin.</p>
+
+<p>Then he tried to unship the rudder (the singed boatman was no use at all in
+this emergency) and so make use of that as a float. But the bolts were rusted
+and the boat had begun to swing around so that the fire blew right into the
+stern.</p>
+
+<p>They both had to leap overboard.</p>
+
+<p>It was a serious situation indeed. By Mr. Lavine&#8217;s advice they paddled
+toward the bow, one on either side of the boat, for the flames were rushing
+aft.</p>
+
+<p>The bow was a mere shell, however. The flames had already almost consumed it,
+and soon the fire fairly ate through the bows at the water level. The water
+rushed in and so sank the boat by the head.</p>
+
+<p>Not that the boat went straight down. The stern rose in the water and the two
+men, in their desperate strait, gazed at the flames above their heads.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_295'></a>295</span>Had it been
+night the fire would have been like a great torch in the middle of the
+lake&#8211;and it would have brought help from all directions. As it was, the
+black smoke first thrown off, and then the steam, attracted more than the girls
+of Green Knoll Camp to the scene.</p>
+
+<p>At the landing Mr. Jarley was splicing some heavy rope which he expected to
+use the next day when the sunken <i>Bright Eyes</i> would be actually raised.
+Polly saw the smoke first from the cottage and ran out to tell him.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;One of those motor boats is afire, Father!&#8221; she cried. Instantly
+the boatman set about going to the rescue. It was a fair day, but there was a
+good breeze blowing. Jarley took the <i>Coquette</i>.</p>
+
+<p>He had no idea to whom he was playing the friend in need when he sailed the
+catboat down upon the scene of the disaster. It was a chance to help two fellow
+beings and the boatman cared not who they were.</p>
+
+<p>Of course the sailing craft beat out the two frantically paddling girls from
+Green Knoll Camp. Yet it was still a long way from the spot when the last of the
+burning boat seemed to sink completely and the flames were snuffed out by the
+waters of the lake.</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_296'></a>296</span><a id='link_29'></a>CHAPTER XXIX<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE SUNKEN TREASURE</span></h2>
+
+<p>Wyn and Frank were in despair when they saw the last of the flames wink out
+and the balloon of smoke sail away upon the breeze. They were too far away to be
+able to see the men struggling in the water&#8211;if they were still there.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh! suppose Mr. Jarley doesn&#8217;t reach them in time?&#8221; cried
+the captain of the girls&#8217; club.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He must! he must!&#8221; groaned Frank, beating the water as hard as
+she could with her paddle.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll have your canoe over!&#8221; exclaimed Wyn. &#8220;Look
+out, Frank!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t care! I don&#8217;t care!&#8221; repeated the
+good-hearted Frances. &#8220;Oh, dear me! Suppose Mr. Lavine should be drowned?
+What would Bessie do? And they so much to each other!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The girls saw the catboat round to suddenly, and Mr. Jarley drop the sail.
+The <i>Coquette</i> seemed to drive straight across the spot where the burned
+motor boat had gone down.</p>
+
+<p>They saw the boatman bend over the rail once&#8211;and then again. Each time
+he lifted in&#8211;or <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_297'></a>297</span> helped lift in&#8211;some object; but whether it
+was the men he picked up, or some of the floating wreckage, the girls could not
+see.</p>
+
+<p>They drove their canoes on, however, and Mr. Jarley saw them when he brought
+the catboat about. So he sailed down to pick them up likewise.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Did you get them? Did you get them?&#8221; shouted Wyn, resting on her
+paddle.</p>
+
+<p>Frankie was crying&#8211;and she was not a &#8220;weepy&#8221; girl as a
+general thing. But the peril seemed so terrible that she could not control
+herself for the moment.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Jarley&#8211;whose figure was all the girls could see in the
+catboat&#8211;leaned over and waved his hand to the girls. Was it meant to be
+reassuring? They did not know until the <i>Coquette</i> tacked so as to run down
+very close to them.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Is that his girl with you, Miss Mallory?&#8221; demanded Polly&#8217;s
+father.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No. She did not come. She doesn&#8217;t know,&#8221; cried Wyn.
+&#8220;Oh, Mr. Jarley! is he all right?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>At that Mr. Lavine&#8217;s head and shoulders appeared above the rail.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re alive, girls,&#8221; he called, hoarsely. &#8220;This
+brave fellow caught us just in time. Where&#8217;s Bess?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;She doesn&#8217;t even know it was you in the burning <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_298'></a>298</span> boat,&#8221; cried Wyn.
+&#8220;But Frank and I started out for you.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;d been awfully wet before ever we could have reached you,
+though, Mr. Lavine,&#8221; choked Frank, quickly turning from tears to laughter,
+as was her nature.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Jarley had dropped the sail again, and beckoned the girls to
+approach.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come aboard,&#8221; he said, gravely, &#8220;and I&#8217;ll tow your
+canoes behind us. Shall I take this gentleman to your camp, Miss
+Mallory?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But Wyn was thinking to good purpose. She saw that Mr. Jarley, like his
+daughter, wished to have nothing to do with the Lavines. She knew that now Mr.
+Lavine would be doubly grateful to the boatman and that the time was ripe for
+the old friends to come to a better understanding.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, Mr. Jarley,&#8221; she said, &#8220;we haven&#8217;t a thing at
+the camp he can put on&#8211;or the other man. No, sir. I don&#8217;t know what
+we should do with them there.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Jarley&#8217;s face flushed and he glanced back at the Forge. But it was near
+sunset already, and the Forge was much farther away than his own landing. The
+case was obvious.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; he said, &#8220;I can take them home. Polly will find
+something for them to put on while <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_299'></a>299</span> their clothing is being dried. Yes! that may be
+best.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And you take us girls right along with you and we&#8217;ll paddle home
+from the landing,&#8221; declared Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn wanted to see Polly. After all, she believed, it lay with the
+boatman&#8217;s daughter to make friends between the Jarleys and the Lavines.
+The captain of the Go-Ahead Club felt as though her long and exciting vacation
+under canvas would come to a very happy conclusion if she could see the two men
+who had once been such close friends, reunited.</p>
+
+<p>Wyn was the first one ashore when the bow of the catboat touched the landing.
+Polly came running from the cottage, for she had spied their approach.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Wynnie!&#8221; she cried, &#8220;what was it? Did father get them
+safely?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He saved them both&#8211;the most wonderful thing, Polly Jolly!&#8221;
+cried Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not so wonderful,&#8221; corrected Polly, with pride. &#8220;My father
+has saved the lives of people from the lake before.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But it <i>is</i> wonderful,&#8221; quoth Wyn, &#8220;because one of
+the men saved is Bessie&#8217;s father.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Mr. Lavine!&#8221; gasped Polly.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_300'></a>300</span>&#8220;Yes. Now
+he owes his life to your father, just as Bess owes hers to you.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t talk so, Wyn,&#8221; begged Polly. &#8220;It&#8217;s
+nothing.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nothing! It&#8217;s everything! Don&#8217;t stand in the way of your
+father and Bessie&#8217;s being good friends again.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, Wynnie!&#8221; gasped Polly, with a deeper color in her
+cheek.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you dare to act &#8216;offish,&#8217;&#8221; warned Wyn.
+&#8220;The Lavines feel very kindly toward you&#8211;you know it. And now I am
+sure Mr. Lavine will feel more than kindly toward your father. Bring them
+together, Polly.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You talk as though <i>I</i> could do anything,&#8221; responded the
+boatman&#8217;s girl.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You can. You can do everything! Show your father that you feel kindly
+toward Mr. Lavine. That will break down <i>his</i> coldness quicker than
+anything,&#8221; declared the inspired young peacemaker.</p>
+
+<p>Wet and bedraggled, Mr. Lavine and his companion stepped ashore.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hi, Polly!&#8221; shouted her father. &#8220;Take Mr. Lavine up to the
+house and see if he can wear some of my things while his clothes are drying. I
+can find something at the shed here, for Bill.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Polly hesitated just a moment. The eager Wyn <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_301'></a>301</span> gave her a little push from behind. The
+boatman&#8217;s girl ran forward to greet Mr. Lavine.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, sir!&#8221; she cried, timidly, &#8220;I am <i>so</i> sorry you
+had this accident.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know yet whether I am sorry, or not,&#8221; said Mr.
+Lavine, grasping her hand.</p>
+
+<p>She turned and walked beside him and her other hand sought his arm in a
+friendly way. John Jarley stood on the landing and followed them with his eyes.
+The expression upon his face pleased Wyn immensely.</p>
+
+<p>She beckoned Frank away. &#8220;Come on! let&#8217;s hurry back to the camp
+before it gets dark. Mrs. Havel will be worried about us.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And leave Mr. Lavine here?&#8221; queried Frank.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He couldn&#8217;t be in better hands; could he?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know that he could, Wyn!&#8221; cried her friend,
+suddenly. &#8220;What a smart girl you are!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But Wyn would not accept that praise without qualifying it. &#8220;The
+accident was providential,&#8221; she declared, gravely. &#8220;And without
+<i>my</i> assistance I am sure Polly knows how to do the right thing.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Perhaps Polly did. At least she gave much attention to their visitor, and her
+father could not help but see that Polly and Mr. Lavine were very good
+friends.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_302'></a>302</span>In half an hour
+Mr. Lavine appeared from the cottage dressed in Mr. Jarley&#8217;s best suit of
+clothes. He shook hands with Polly, and then suddenly drew her to him and kissed
+her on the forehead.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You are a dear girl, Polly,&#8221; he declared, with some emotion.
+&#8220;I have to thank you for my little girl&#8217;s life; and now I am going
+to thank your father for <i>mine</i>.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He walked straight down to the landing where Mr. Jarley was apparently very
+busy.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Bill, here, says he will row you over to that camp if you care to go,
+Mr. Lavine,&#8221; said the boatman.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to see Bill, John,&#8221; said the real estate man.
+&#8220;I want to see <i>you</i>. I am going to take advantage of my position as
+your guest, John. You cannot turn me off, or refuse to talk with me. You always
+were a gentleman, John, and I am sure you will listen to me now.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Jarley looked at him a good deal as Polly had looked (at first) at Wyn
+Mallory.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come! don&#8217;t hold a grudge, John, just because <i>I</i> have been
+wicked enough to hold one all these years. I was wrong. I freely admit it. Come
+and sit down here, old man, and let&#8217;s talk all that old matter over and
+see where our misunderstanding lay.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Misunderstanding?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_303'></a>303</span>&#8220;Aye,&#8221; said the other, warmly.
+&#8220;Misunderstanding. For I am convinced now that a brave and generous man
+like you, John Jarley, would never have knowingly done what&#8211;all these
+years&#8211;I have held you to be guilty of!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He had put his arm through the boatman&#8217;s. Together they walked aside
+and sat down upon an upturned skiff. And they were sitting there long after it
+grew pitch dark upon the landing, with only the glow of Polly&#8217;s lamp in
+the kitchen window and that uncertain radiance upon the lake which seems the
+reflection of the distant stars.</p>
+
+<p>Finally the two men stepped into a skiff and Mr. Jarley rowed it over to
+Green Knoll Camp. They did not reach the camp until nearly bedtime, and they
+came so softly to the shore that the girls did not hear the scraping of the
+boat&#8217;s keel.</p>
+
+<p>Lavine seized his old friend&#8217;s hand before leaping ashore.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then it&#8217;s understood, John? You&#8217;re to get out of this
+place and come back to Denton? I&#8217;m sorry Dr. Shelton is ahead of me in
+giving Polly something substantial; but you and I are going to begin just where
+we left off in that Steel Rivet Corporation deal, John.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;About next month I&#8217;ll have a bigger thing than <i>that</i> in
+sight, and you shall have the same share in it that you would have had in the
+old deal. You <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_304'></a>304</span> used
+to be mighty good in handling your end of the game, John; I want you to take
+hold of it in just the same way again. Will you agree, old man?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>And Mr. Jarley gave him his hand upon it.</p>
+
+<p>The girls put their visitor to sleep in the cook tent that night and the next
+morning the whole party went over to Gannet Island to see the work of raising
+the sunken motor boat carried on. The Busters were as excited as the girls
+themselves over the affair, and Cave-in-the-Wood Camp was a lively place indeed
+that day.</p>
+
+<p>Tubby Blaisdell was the only person in the party who wore an aggrieved air.
+At first he could hardly be made to believe that the girls had not
+&#8220;sicked&#8221; the goat upon him two days before when he had stolen away
+from the other boys for a nap in the woods. Tubby walked lame and could have
+displayed bruises for several days.</p>
+
+<p>The derrick barge had been towed over to the place where the <i>Bright
+Eyes</i> was sunk, the evening before. The boys helped put the chains around the
+hull of the sunken boat, for they were all good divers&#8211;save the fat youth,
+who remained on the invalid list.</p>
+
+<p>Before noon the lost boat was raised to the surface and lashed to the side of
+the barge. Mr. Jarley very quickly tacked a tarpaulin over the hole <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_305'></a>305</span> in her bottom, and then
+she was pumped out. Further repairs were made and by night the <i>Bright
+Eyes</i> was riding safely to her own anchor and Mr. Jarley pried open the
+rusted lock of the cabin.</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Shelton had come over in the <i>Sunshine Boy</i> and received from Mr.
+Jarley the box containing the silver images intact. It made Polly Jarley very
+happy to hear what the quick-tempered doctor said to her father; and it made Wyn
+Mallory blush to listen to what they <i>all</i> said to her!</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t get out of it, girlie!&#8221; laughed Frank Cameron.
+&#8220;What they say is quite true. If it hadn&#8217;t been for you they never
+would have found the boat, and of course the images would have remained hidden.
+You&#8217;re <i>it</i>, Wyn Mallory&#8211;no getting away from that!&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_306'></a>306</span><a id='link_30'></a>CHAPTER XXX<br /><span class='h2fs'>STRIKING CAMP</span></h2>
+
+<p>It was a glorious September morning&#8211;and no other month of all the year
+can display such beauties of sky and landscape, such invigorating air, or all
+Nature in so delightful a mood.</p>
+
+<p>It was a still morning. The newly-kindled fire on Green Knoll sent a spiral
+of blue smoke mounting skyward. There was the delicious odor of pancakes and
+farm-made sausage hovering all about the camp of the Go-Ahead girls. Windmill
+Farm had supplied these first &#8220;goodies&#8221; of the autumn and the
+members of the club enjoyed them to the full.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But, thanks be! there will be no more dishes to wash for a
+while,&#8221; declared Grace Hedges.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nor beds to make,&#8221; agreed her partner, Percy Havel.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nor fires to kindle,&#8221; sighed Bessie Lavine.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well!&#8221; exclaimed Frank Cameron, &#8220;an outing in the woods
+isn&#8217;t <i>all</i> it&#8217;s cracked up to be, I admit. One might just as
+well accept a situation as servant in a very untidy household. It would <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_307'></a>307</span> be about the same thing.
+But my! we&#8217;ve had some fun between times.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And such excitement!&#8221; declared Mina Everett. &#8220;Think of all
+that&#8217;s happened to us since we paddled up from Denton two months and more
+ago.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And happened to the boys, too,&#8221; said Frank, &#8220;I understand
+that Tubby Blaisdell has put on ten additional pounds of flesh since yesterday
+morning.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, Frank! how could he?&#8221; gasped Grace.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nobody could be much fatter than Tubby already is,&#8221; added Bess,
+laughing.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You never know till you try,&#8221; chided Mina. &#8220;You have put
+on some flesh yourself, Miss Lavine.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Bah! they&#8217;ll soon work it off of me when we&#8217;re back in
+school,&#8221; groaned Bessie. &#8220;That&#8217;s the worst of a
+vacation&#8211;there&#8217;s always work at the end of it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Lazy!&#8221; cried Percy. &#8220;I believe I&#8217;ll <i>love</i>
+study when I&#8217;m back to the &#8216;scholastic grind.&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You can have my share,&#8221; grumbled Bess. &#8220;But what about
+Tubby&#8217;s additional avoirdupois, Frankie? He&#8217;s as big as a haystack
+anyway.&#8221;</p>
+
+<div class='poetry'>
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;All flesh is grass,&#8217; the Scriptures say,<br /> So Tubby
+B.&#8217;s a load of hay!&#8221;</p> </div><!-- poetry -->
+
+<p>chuckled Frank. &#8220;Is that it? And Tubby is all <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_308'></a>308</span> swelled up now&#8211;as big as a
+barrel.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s an awful fib, Frank,&#8221; declared Mina. &#8220;He
+couldn&#8217;t be.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, Ferd says he <i>looks</i> so. The boys found a bumble
+bees&#8217; nest and Tubby didn&#8217;t have any paddle to hit them with. So
+they all went for poor Tubby and they stung him so that his face is twice as big
+as usual&#8211;so Ferd says.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Something is always happening to that boy,&#8221; said Bess, laughing.
+&#8220;Hullo! where have <i>you</i> been, Wyn?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Wyn came up from the shore. &#8220;I know where she&#8217;s been,&#8221;
+cried Frank. &#8220;She has been down there gloating!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Gloating?&#8221; repeated Percy.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Over the boat. Is it all there, Wyn?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The girls ran to the brow of the bank. There, floating off their beach, was a
+freshly painted motor boat, its brasswork shining, and everything spick and span
+about it. A very commodious and handsome craft she was, with
+&#8220;Go-Ahead&#8221; painted on either side of her bow and on her
+stern-board.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, she&#8217;s all there! nobody has run off with her in the
+night,&#8221; laughed Wyn. &#8220;And Mr. Lavine couldn&#8217;t have found a
+better boat if he had tried&#8211;Mr. Jarley says so.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_309'></a>309</span>&#8220;It was
+good of Dr. Shelton to sell the <i>Bright Eyes</i> to father,&#8221; said Bessie
+Lavine. &#8220;And they made a good job of it at the boatyard at the
+Forge.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s such a fine and roomy boat,&#8221; declared Frankie.
+&#8220;We couldn&#8217;t have expected such a big one, otherwise.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And it&#8217;s big enough for the Busters and Professor Skillings to
+sail home with us, too,&#8221; said Percy. &#8220;Mr. Jarley is going to take
+charge of the boys&#8217; canoes, as well as ours, and ship them to
+us.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Bully! An all-day cruise on the lake and then down the Wintinooski by
+moonlight to-night,&#8221; sighed Wyn. &#8220;It will be just
+scrumptious!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come, then, girls,&#8221; warned Mrs. Havel. &#8220;We must strike
+camp. Everything must be rolled up and secured, ready for shipment on the bateau
+when it comes. I saw the sail of the bateau going past the point of Gannet
+Island early this morning. I expect the boys are all ready before this
+time.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s wait for them,&#8221; said the languid Bess.
+&#8220;What&#8217;s the use of having boy friends if you don&#8217;t make use of
+them?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Listen to her!&#8221; exclaimed Wyn, with scorn. &#8220;Depend upon
+the boys? I&#8211;rather&#8211;guess&#8211;not!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be so independent, Miss,&#8221; returned <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_310'></a>310</span> Miss Lavine.
+&#8220;You&#8217;ll be glad to have Davie at your beck and call again when we
+get back home.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Wyn laughed. &#8220;It&#8217;s all right to have them within reach if need
+should arise&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Like a mouse, or a snake,&#8221; put in Frank Cameron.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Goodness!&#8221; drawled Grace. &#8220;After all the bugs, and worms,
+and caterpillars, and other monsters we have faced&#8211;alone and
+single-handed&#8211;here in the woods, I don&#8217;t believe I&#8217;ll
+<i>ever</i> squeal if I put my hand upon a mouse in the pantry.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Pshaw!&#8221; said Frank. &#8220;You only <i>think</i> that.
+It&#8217;s the frailties of the sex we cannot get over. You all know very well
+that a boy with a teenty, tinty garter-snake on the end of a stick could chase
+this whole crowd either into the lake, or into hysterics.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Shame!&#8221; cried Wyn. &#8220;That is rank treachery to the
+&#8216;manhood&#8217; of us girls of the Go-Ahead Club.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You are right, Wyn,&#8221; agreed Mina. &#8220;Why, we none of us have
+any nerves now&#8211;but plenty of <i>nerve</i>, of course.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; exclaimed Frank, starting back suddenly. &#8220;See that!
+Is it a spider over your head, Mina?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Miss Everett uttered an ear-piercing shriek and <span class='pagenum
+pncolor'><a id='page_311'></a>311</span> sprang up, to run madly from the spot.
+Frank burst into laughter.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;How brave! Such nerve! My, my! we&#8217;ll none of us ever be afraid
+again&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>They all pitched upon the joker, and Mrs. Havel had to come to her rescue
+with the reminder that time was flying.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If you want to show the boys that you are really fit to camp out
+alone, get to work!&#8221; she commanded.</p>
+
+<p>The next hour was a busy one for the Go-Aheads. But how much more handily
+they went about the striking of the tents than they had about raising them two
+months before!</p>
+
+<p>Life in the open had really done wonders for the girls from Denton. They knew
+how to do things that they had never dreamed of doing at home. Most of them had
+learned how to swing an axe, although the boys had faithfully paid their forfeit
+by cutting the firewood for Green Knoll Camp all summer. The girls could use a
+hammer, too, and tie workman-like knots, and do a host of other things that had
+never come into their lives before.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It is well to be sufficient unto one&#8217;s self,&#8221; Mrs. Havel
+told them. &#8220;A girl cannot always expect to find a boy at her beck and
+call. It is nice to be waited on by the male sex&#8211;and it is good for <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_312'></a>312</span> boys to learn to attend
+properly upon their girl friends; it is better, however, to know how to accept
+favors gracefully from our boy friends, and yet not really <i>need</i> their
+assistance.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>So Green Knoll Camp presented a very orderly appearance when the boys and
+Professor Skillings appeared ahead of the bateau that was to take all their
+goods and chattels back to their home town.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Goodness! aren&#8217;t you girls smart?&#8221; cried Dave Shepard, the
+first ashore. &#8220;Are you <i>all</i> ready?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Every bit,&#8221; declared Wyn.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then we can get off in the <i>Go-Ahead</i> at once?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Right,&#8221; declared Frank, laughing. &#8220;And as soon as you can
+teach Wyn and me how to manage the motor boat, we girls sha&#8217;n&#8217;t need
+you boys at all.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A fine lot of suffragettes you are going to make,&#8221; growled
+Dave.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No; we&#8217;ll never be &#8216;suffering-cats,&#8217; Davie,&#8221;
+returned Frank, laughing. &#8220;We don&#8217;t need to. Let us alone for being
+able to get the best of you Busters whenever we want to.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t she right?&#8221; cried Ferdinand Roberts, admiringly.
+&#8220;You can&#8217;t beat &#8217;em!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, you can&#8217;t,&#8221; snarled Tubby Blaisdell, very <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_313'></a>313</span> puffy about his face,
+and with a wry smile. &#8220;They even get the goats to help
+&#8217;em.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They got your goat, old man,&#8221; said Dave, chuckling,
+&#8220;that&#8217;s sure. But you blame them for a crime they did not commit, I
+believe. Remember how many times you have tried to trick <i>them</i>?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Huh!&#8221; snorted the fat youth. &#8220;Did I ever
+succeed?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I hope,&#8221; said Mrs. Havel, breaking in upon this &#8220;give and
+take&#8221; conversation, &#8220;that your parents will not blame me if you all
+appear&#8211;both girls and boys&#8211;to have lost your good manners here in
+the woods. Do simmer down. Remember, you return to civilization
+to-day.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, dear! don&#8217;t remind us&#8211;don&#8217;t, dear Mrs.
+Havel,&#8221; cried Frank.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Just think!&#8221; scoffed Ferd. &#8220;You girls will have to be all
+&#8216;dolled up&#8217; on Sunday again. Won&#8217;t you <i>hate</i> it?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Rather go around in a tramping skirt and without a hat,&#8221;
+admitted Wyn, frankly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The tastes of girlhood are much different now from what they were in
+<i>my</i> day,&#8221; said the lady, with a sigh. &#8220;When I was young we
+never thought of doing the things you girls do now.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t that why you didn&#8217;t do them?&#8221; asked Frank,
+slily. &#8220;Perhaps we girls of this generation have better-developed
+imaginations.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_314'></a>314</span>&#8220;Oh,
+sure!&#8221; cried Ferd, with sarcasm. &#8220;You girls are wonders&#8211;just
+as smart as little Hen Rogers was last term when Miss Haley asked him if he
+could name any town in Alaska.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What did he say?&#8221; asked Frank, with interest.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He said, &#8216;Nome&#8217;&#8211;and she sent him to the foot of the
+class,&#8221; chuckled Ferd.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh! aren&#8217;t you smart?&#8221; railed Bessie. &#8220;That joke is
+the twin to the one about the boy who was asked by the professor in physics if
+he knew what &#8216;nasal organ&#8217; meant. And the boy said &#8216;No, sir&#8217; and got
+a &#8216;perfect&#8217; mark.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on, folks!&#8221; cried Wyn. &#8220;Stop telling silly jokes and
+bear a hand here. All these things have to go into the boat.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Jarley and Polly joined them just then, Mr. Jarley to collect the canoes
+and take them to the Forge, while Polly was to go with the two clubs aboard the
+newly-named <i>Go-Ahead</i> to Denton.</p>
+
+<p>Polly, in a brand-new boating costume, was so pretty that the boys
+couldn&#8217;t keep their eyes away from her. She was happy, too, and this fact
+gave an entirely different expression to her face.</p>
+
+<p>She was to go home with Wyn, and in a few weeks her father would follow and
+establish a home for them both in Denton. He was going, as Mr. Lavine declared,
+to start in his old home town <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_315'></a>315</span> just where he had left off more than ten years
+before. And Polly was to enter the academy with the girls of Green Knoll Camp on
+the opening day.</p>
+
+<p>The party got under weigh on the <i>Go-Ahead</i> and were some miles down the
+lake ere it was discovered that Professor Skillings had forgotten both his shoes
+and his hat, for he had paddled over to the girls&#8217; camp barefoot as usual.
+It was too late to go back then, for the baggage had all been put aboard the
+bateau.</p>
+
+<p>So the professor went home with a handkerchief tied around his head and a
+pair of moccasins on his feet&#8211;the latter borrowed from Dr. Shelton, at
+whose dock they stopped for luncheon.</p>
+
+<p>The bluff doctor insisted that the whole party come ashore and lunch with
+him. He had arranged for Polly&#8217;s tuition at the Denton Academy, had bought
+her text-books, and when the party left for home that day he thrust into Polly
+Jolly&#8217;s hand a silver chain purse with more money in it than the
+boatman&#8217;s daughter had ever possessed before.</p>
+
+<p>Polly Jolly was beginning to live up to the loving name that Wyn Mallory had
+given to her. She was the very gayest of the gay as the <i>Go-Ahead</i>
+proceeded down the lake and then down the Wintinooski to Denton.</p>
+
+<p>The last of the journey was taken after they <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a
+id='page_316'></a>316</span> had had a picnic supper, and under the brilliant
+light of the September moon. The boys and girls sang and told stories, and
+otherwise enjoyed themselves. But as they drew near home they quieted down.</p>
+
+<p>The summer was behind them. For more than two months they had skylarked, and
+enjoyed themselves to the full on the lake and in the woods. They &#8220;were
+going back to civilization,&#8221; as Frankie said, and it made them a bit
+thoughtful.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I expect,&#8221; said Mina Everett, &#8220;that we have had just the
+best time that we will ever have in all our lives.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why so?&#8221; demanded Bess. &#8220;Can&#8217;t we go camping
+again?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sure we will!&#8221; declared Dave Shepard.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I see what Mina means&#8211;and I guess she is right,&#8221; Wyn
+remarked, earnestly. &#8220;We may go camping again; but it will never be just
+like this first time. For the girls, I mean. We had never done such a thing
+before. And then&#8211;if we go next summer&#8211;we&#8217;ll be a whole year
+older. And a year is a long, long time.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Long enough to spoil some of you girls, I expect,&#8221; grumbled
+Ferdinand.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Spoil us, Mister? How&#8217;s that?&#8221; snapped Bess, at once
+taking up the gauntlet.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll be wanting to put up your hair and let <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_317'></a>317</span> down your skirts, and
+will be wearing all the new-style folderols by next summer,&#8221; retorted
+Ferd.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, won&#8217;t they, just!&#8221; groaned Tubby, in agreement.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You wait and see, Smartie!&#8221; cried Frank Cameron.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We are not like the girls you are thinking of,&#8221; declared Grace,
+with some warmth.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, indeed,&#8221; agreed Percy.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The Go-Aheads are going to fool you, Ferdie,&#8221; said Wyn,
+laughing. &#8220;Just you watch us. <i>All</i> girls aren&#8217;t in a hurry to
+grow up and ape their mothers and older sisters. We&#8217;re going in for
+athletics and the &#8216;simple life&#8217; strongly; aren&#8217;t we,
+girls?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Her fellow club members agreed in a hearty chorus. &#8220;Besides,&#8221;
+added Bess, &#8220;we can have all the fun the other kind of girls have as well
+as our own kind. We can dance, and go to parties, and wear pretty frocks for
+<i>part</i> of the time.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What did I tell you?&#8221; demanded Ferd, grinning.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Never mind, Ferd, never mind,&#8221; said Dave, softly.
+&#8220;We&#8217;ll be a bit that way ourselves before the winter&#8217;s over.
+You know, Ferd, that your folks will insist on your keeping your hair cut and
+your finger-nails manicured.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And of course I&#8217;ll have a blister on my heel <span
+class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_318'></a>318</span> from wearing dancing
+pumps before the season is over,&#8221; groaned Tubby. &#8220;Oh, well!
+it&#8217;s not altogether our fault that we grow up so fast. Our folks make
+us,&#8221; and he groaned again, for dancing school was one of the fat
+youth&#8217;s pet aversions.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That is what youth is for,&#8221; advised Mrs. Havel, who overheard
+all this. &#8220;It is a preparation for manhood and womanhood.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Dear me! Dear me! let&#8217;s forget it,&#8221; cried Dave.
+&#8220;This is no time for feeling solemn. Thank goodness, for two solid months
+we have forgotten all about the &#8216;duty we owe to posterity,&#8217; as the
+professor expresses it. Maybe next year we can forget it again in our camps upon
+the shores of Lake Honotonka.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well expressed, little boy&#8211;well expressed,&#8221; agreed
+Wynifred, tweaking one of Dave&#8217;s curls that would <i>not</i> lie down, no
+matter what he did to them. &#8220;My! but we <i>have</i> grown serious. This is
+no way to end our camping days, girls. Come! another lively
+song&#8213;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The motor boat drifted in to the boathouse landing to the lilt of a familiar
+rowing song. Wyn&#8217;s camping days were over; the outing of the Go-Ahead Club
+was at an end.</p>
+
+<p class='c mt20'>THE END</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+
+<p class='c mb20'>SOMETHING ABOUT<br /><span class='fs12'>AMY BELL
+MARLOWE</span><br />AND HER BOOKS FOR GIRLS</p>
+
+<p>In these days, when the printing presses are turning out so many books for
+girls that are good, bad and indifferent, it is refreshing to come upon the
+works of such a gifted authoress as Miss Amy Bell Marlowe, who is now under
+contract to write exclusively for Messrs. Grosset &amp; Dunlap.</p>
+
+<p>In many ways Miss Marlowe&#8217;s books may be compared with those of Miss
+Alcott and Mrs. Meade, but all are thoroughly modern and wholly American in
+scene and action. Her plots, while never improbable, are exceedingly clever, and
+her girlish characters are as natural as they are interesting.</p>
+
+<p>On the following pages will be found a list of Miss Marlowe&#8217;s books.
+Every girl in our land ought to read these fresh and wholesome tales. They are
+to be found at all booksellers. Each volume is handsomely illustrated and bound
+in cloth, stamped in colors. Published by Grosset &amp; Dunlap, New York. A free
+catalogue of Miss Marlowe&#8217;s books may be had for the asking.</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+
+<p class='c fs12 mb20'>THE OLDEST OF FOUR</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t see any way out!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>It was Natalie&#8217;s mother who said that, after the awful news had been
+received that Mr. Raymond had been lost in a shipwreck on the Atlantic. Natalie
+was the oldest of four children, and the family was left with but scant means
+for support.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve got to do something&#8211;yes, I&#8217;ve just got
+to!&#8221; Natalie said to herself, and what the brave girl did is well related
+in &#8220;The Oldest of Four; Or, Natalie&#8217;s Way Out.&#8221; In this volume
+we find Natalie with a strong desire to become a writer. At first she
+contributes to a local paper, but soon she aspires to larger things, and comes
+in contact with the editor of a popular magazine. This man becomes her warm
+friend, and not only aids her in a literary way but also helps in a hunt for the
+missing Mr. Raymond.</p>
+
+<p>Natalie has many ups and downs, and has to face more than one bitter
+disappointment. But she is a plucky girl through and through.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;One of the brightest girls&#8217; stories ever penned,&#8221; one
+well-known author has said of this book, and we agree with him. Natalie is a
+thoroughly lovable character, and one long to be remembered. Published as are
+all the Amy Bell Marlowe books, by Grosset &amp; Dunlap, New York, and for sale
+by all booksellers. Ask your dealer to let you look the volume over.</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+
+<p class='c fs12 mb20'>THE GIRLS OF HILLCREST FARM</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll go to the old farm, and we&#8217;ll take boarders! We can
+fix the old place up, and, maybe, make money!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The father of the two girls was broken down in health and a physician had
+recommended that he go to the country, where he could get plenty of fresh air
+and sunshine. An aunt owned an abandoned farm and she said the family could live
+on this and use the place as they pleased. It was great sport moving and getting
+settled, and the boarders offered one surprise after another. There was a
+mystery about the old farm, and a mystery concerning one of the boarders, and
+how the girls got to the bottom of affairs is told in detail in the story, which
+is called, &#8220;The Girls of Hillcrest Farm; Or, The Secret of the
+Rocks.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>It was great fun to move to the farm, and once the girls had the scare of
+their lives. And they attended a great &#8220;vendue&#8221; too.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I just had to write that story&#8211;I couldn&#8217;t help it,&#8221;
+said Miss Marlowe, when she handed in the manuscript. &#8220;I knew just such a
+farm when I was a little girl, and oh! what fun I had there! And there was a
+mystery about that place, too!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Published, like all the Marlowe books, by Grosset &amp; Dunlap, New York, and
+for sale wherever good books are sold.</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+
+<p class='c fs12 mb20'>A LITTLE MISS NOBODY</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, she&#8217;s only a little nobody! Don&#8217;t have anything to do
+with her!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>How often poor Nancy Nelson heard those words, and how they cut her to the
+heart. And the saying was true, she <i>was</i> a nobody. She had no folks, and
+she did not know where she had come from. All she did know was that she was at a
+boarding school and that a lawyer paid her tuition bills and gave her a mite of
+spending money.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I am going to find out who I am, and where I came from,&#8221; said
+Nancy to herself, one day, and what she did, and how it all ended, is
+absorbingly related in &#8220;A Little Miss Nobody; Or, With the Girls of
+Pinewood Hall.&#8221; Nancy made a warm friend of a poor office boy who worked
+for that lawyer, and this boy kept his eyes and ears open and learned many
+things.</p>
+
+<p>The book tells much about boarding school life, of study and fun mixed, and
+of a great race on skates. Nancy made some friends as well as enemies, and on
+more than one occasion proved that she was &#8220;true blue&#8221; in the best
+meaning of that term.</p>
+
+<p>Published by Grosset &amp; Dunlap, New York, and for sale by booksellers
+everywhere. If you desire a catalogue of Amy Bell Marlowe books send to the
+publishers for it and it will come free.</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+
+<p class='c fs12 mb20'>THE GIRL FROM SUNSET RANCH</p>
+
+<p>Helen was very thoughtful as she rode along the trail from Sunset Ranch to
+the View. She had lost her father but a month before, and he had passed away
+with a stain on his name&#8211;a stain of many years&#8217; standing, as the
+girl had just found out.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I am going to New York and I am going to clear his name!&#8221; she
+resolved, and just then she saw a young man dashing along, close to the edge of
+a cliff. Over he went, and Helen, with no thought of the danger to herself, went
+to the rescue.</p>
+
+<p>Then the brave Western girl found herself set down at the Grand Central
+Terminal in New York City. She knew not which way to go or what to do. Her
+relatives, who thought she was poor and ignorant, had refused to even meet her.
+She had to fight her way along from the start, and how she did this, and won
+out, is well related in &#8220;The Girl from Sunset Ranch; Or, Alone in a Great
+City.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>This is one of the finest of Amy Bell Marlowe&#8217;s books, with its
+true-to-life scenes of the plains and mountains, and of the great metropolis.
+Helen is a girl all readers will love from the start.</p>
+
+<p>Published by Grosset &amp; Dunlap, New York, and for sale by booksellers
+everywhere.</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+
+<p class='c fs12 mb20'>WYN&#8217;S CAMPING DAYS</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, girls, such news!&#8221; cried Wynifred Mallory to her chums, one
+day. &#8220;We can go camping on Lake Honotonka! Isn&#8217;t it
+grand!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>It certainly was, and the members of the Go-Ahead Club were delighted. Soon
+they set off, with their boy friends to keep them company in another camp not
+far away. Those boys played numerous tricks on the girls, and the girls
+retaliated, you may be sure. And then Wyn did a strange girl a favor, and
+learned how some ancient statues of rare value had been lost in the lake, and
+how the girl&#8217;s father was accused of stealing them.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We must do all we can for that girl,&#8221; said Wyn. But this was not
+so easy, for the girl campers had many troubles of their own. They had canoe
+races, and one of them fell overboard and came close to drowning, and then came
+a big storm, and a nearby tree was struck by lightning.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I used to love to go camping when a girl, and I love to go yet,&#8221;
+said Miss Marlowe, in speaking of this tale, which is called, &#8220;Wyn&#8217;s
+Camping Days; Or, The Outing of the Go-Ahead Club.&#8221; &#8220;I think all
+girls ought to know the pleasures of summer life under canvas.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>A book that ought to be in the hands of all girls. Issued by Grosset &amp;
+Dunlap, New York, and for sale by booksellers everywhere.</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+
+<p class='c fs12'>THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH SERIES</p>
+
+<p class='c'>By GERTRUDE W. MORRISON</p>
+
+<p class='c b fs08 mb05'>12mo.&#160;&#160;BOUND IN
+CLOTH.&#160;&#160;ILLUSTRATED.&#160;&#160;UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING.</p>
+
+<p>Here is a series full of the spirit of high school life of today. The girls
+are real flesh-and-blood characters, and we follow them with interest in school
+and out. There are many contested matches on track and field, and on the water,
+as well as doings in the classroom and on the school stage. There is plenty of
+fun and excitement, all clean, pure and wholesome.</p>
+
+<p>THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH<br /> Or Rivals for all Honors.</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs08'>A stirring tale of high school life, full of fun, with a
+touch
+of mystery and a strange initiation.</p>
+
+<p>THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH ON LAKE LUNA<br /> Or The Crew That Won.</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs08'>Telling of water sports and fun galore, and of fine times
+in camp.</p>
+
+<p>THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH AT BASKETBALL<br /> Or The Great Gymnasium
+Mystery.</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs08'>Here we have a number of thrilling contests at basketball
+and in
+addition, the solving of a mystery which had bothered the high
+school authorities for a long while.</p>
+
+<p>THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH ON THE STAGE<br /> Or The Play That Took the
+Prize.</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs08'>How the girls went in for theatricals and how one of them
+wrote
+a play which afterward was made over for the professional stage
+and brought in some much-needed money.</p>
+
+<p>THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH ON TRACK AND FIELD<br /> Or The Girl Champions of
+the School League</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs08'>This story takes in high school athletics in their most
+approved
+and up-to-date fashion. Full of fun and excitement.</p>
+
+<p>THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH IN CAMP<br /> Or The Old Professor&#8217;s
+Secret.</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs08'>The girls went camping on Acorn Island and had a delightful
+time at boating, swimming and picnic parties.</p>
+
+<p class='c sc'>Grosset &amp; Dunlap, Publishers, New York</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+
+<p class='c fs12'>THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS SERIES</p>
+
+<p class='c'>By LAURA LEE HOPE</p>
+
+<p class='c'>Author of &#8220;The Bobbsey Twins Series.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p class='c b fs08 mb05'>12mo.&#160;&#160;BOUND IN
+CLOTH.&#160;&#160;ILLUSTRATED.&#160;&#160;UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING.</p>
+
+<p>The adventures of Ruth and Alice DeVere. Their father, a widower, is an actor
+who has taken up work for the &#8220;movies.&#8221; Both girls wish to aid him
+in his work and visit various localities to act in all sorts of pictures.</p>
+
+<p>THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS<br /> Or First Appearance in Photo Dramas.</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs09'>Having lost his voice, the father of the girls goes into
+the movies
+and the girls follow. Tells how many &#8220;parlor dramas&#8221; are filmed.</p>
+
+<p>THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT OAK FARM<br /> Or Queer Happenings While Taking
+Rural Plays.</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs09'>Full of fun in the country, the haps and mishaps of taking
+film
+plays, and giving an account of two unusual discoveries.</p>
+
+<p>THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS SNOWBOUND<br /> Or The Proof on the Film.</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs09'>A tale of winter adventures in the wilderness, showing how
+the
+photo-play actors sometimes suffer.</p>
+
+<p>THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS UNDER THE PALMS<br /> Or Lost in the Wilds of
+Florida.</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs09'>How they went to the land of palms, played many parts in
+dramas
+before the camera; were lost, and aided others who were also lost.</p>
+
+<p>THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT ROCKY RANCH<br /> Or Great Days Among the
+Cowboys.</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs09'>All who have ever seen moving pictures of the great West
+will
+want to know just how they are made. This volume gives every detail
+and is full of clean fun and excitement.</p>
+
+<p>THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT SEA<br /> Or a Pictured Shipwreck that Became
+Real.</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs09'>A thrilling account of the girls&#8217; experiences on the
+water.</p>
+
+<p>THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS IN WAR PLAYS<br /> Or The Sham Battles at Oak
+Farm.</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs09'>The girls play important parts in big battle scenes and
+have plenty
+of hard work along with considerable fun.</p>
+
+<p class='c sc'>Grosset &amp; Dunlap, Publishers, New York</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+
+<p class='c fs12'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES</p>
+
+<p class='c'>By LAURA LEE HOPE</p>
+
+<p class='c'>Author of the &#8220;Bobbsey Twin Books&#8221; and &#8220;Bunny
+Brown&#8221; Series.</p>
+
+<p class='c b fs08 mb05'>12mo.&#160;&#160;BOUND IN
+CLOTH.&#160;&#160;ILLUSTRATED.&#160;&#160;UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING.</p>
+
+<p>These tales take in the various adventures participated in by several bright,
+up-to-date girls who love outdoor life. They are clean and wholesome, free from
+sensationalism, absorbing from the first chapter to the last.</p>
+
+<p>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS OF DEEPDALE<br /> Or Camping and Tramping for Fun and
+Health.</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs09'>Telling how the girls organized their Camping and Tramping
+Club,
+how they went on a tour, and of various adventures which befell them.</p>
+
+<p>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT RAINBOW LAKE<br /> Or Stirring Cruise of the Motor
+Boat Gem.</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs09'>One of the girls becomes the proud possessor of a motor
+boat and
+invites her club members to take a trip down the river to Rainbow
+Lake, a beautiful sheet of water lying between the mountains.</p>
+
+<p>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A MOTOR CAR<br /> Or The Haunted Mansion of Shadow
+Valley.</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs09'>One of the girls has learned to run a big motor car, and
+she invites
+the club to go on a tour to visit some distant relatives. On the way
+they stop at a deserted mansion and make a surprising discovery.</p>
+
+<p>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A WINTER CAMP<br /> Or Glorious Days on Skates and Ice
+Boats.</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs09'>In this story, the scene is shifted to a winter season. The
+girls
+have some jolly times skating and ice boating, and visit a hunters&#8217;
+camp in the big woods.</p>
+
+<p>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN FLORIDA.<br /> Or Wintering in the Sunny South.</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs09'>The parents of one of the girls have bought an orange grove
+in Florida, and her companions are invited to visit the place. They take
+a trip into the interior, where several unusual things happen.</p>
+
+<p>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT OCEAN VIEW<br /> Or The Box that Was Found in the
+Sand.</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs09'>The girls have great fun and solve a mystery while on an
+outing along the New England coast.</p>
+
+<p>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON PINE ISLAND<br /> Or A Cave and What it Contained.</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs09'>A bright, healthful story, full of good times at a bungalow
+camp on Pine Island.</p>
+
+<p class='c sc'>Grosset &amp; Dunlap, Publishers, New York</p>
+
+<hr class='pb' />
+
+<p class='c fs13'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS BOOKS</p>
+
+<p class='c fs11'>For Little Men and Women</p>
+
+<p class='c fs11'>By LAURA LEE HOPE</p>
+
+<p class='c fs09 mb05'>Author of &#8220;The Bunny Brown&#8221; Series, Etc.</p>
+
+<p class='c b fs08 mb05'>12mo.&#160;&#160;BOUND IN
+CLOTH.&#160;&#160;ILLUSTRATED.&#160;&#160;UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING.</p>
+
+<p>Copyright publications which cannot be obtained elsewhere. Books that charm
+the hearts of the little ones, and of which they never tire. Many of the
+adventures are comical in the extreme, and all the accidents that ordinarily
+happen to youthful personages happened to these many-sided little mortals. Their
+haps and mishaps make decidedly entertaining reading.</p>
+
+<p>THE BOBBSEY TWINS</p>
+
+<p>THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY</p>
+
+<p>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORE</p>
+
+<p>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs09'>Telling how they go home from the seashore; went to school
+and
+were promoted, and of their many trials and tribulations.</p>
+
+<p>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SNOW LODGE</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs09'>Telling of the winter holidays, and of the many fine times
+and
+adventures the twins had at a winter lodge in the big woods.</p>
+
+<p>THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON A HOUSEBOAT</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs09'>Mr. Bobbsey obtains a houseboat, and the whole family go
+off on
+a tour.</p>
+
+<p>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT MEADOW BROOK</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs09'>The young folks visit the farm again and have plenty of
+good
+times and several adventures.</p>
+
+<p>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT HOME</p>
+
+<p class='ml10 fs09'>The twins get into all sorts of trouble&#8211;and out
+again&#8211;also bring
+aid to a poor family.</p>
+
+<p class='c sc'>Grosset &amp; Dunlap, Publishers, New York</p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Wyn's Camping Days, by Amy Bell Marlowe
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WYN'S CAMPING DAYS ***
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Wyn's Camping Days, by Amy Bell Marlowe
+
+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: Wyn's Camping Days
+       or, The Outing of the Go-Ahead Club
+
+Author: Amy Bell Marlowe
+
+Release Date: February 27, 2010 [EBook #31419]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WYN'S CAMPING DAYS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Roger Frank, Juliet Sutherland and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+WYN'S CAMPING DAYS
+
+
+
+
+BOOKS FOR GIRLS
+
+By AMY BELL MARLOWE
+
+12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume, 75 cents, postpaid
+
+THE OLDEST OF FOUR
+  Or Natalie's Way Out
+
+THE GIRLS OF HILLCREST FARM
+  Or the Secret of the Rocks
+
+A LITTLE MISS NOBOBY
+  Or With the Girls of Pinewood Hall
+
+THE GIRL FROM SUNSET RANCH
+  Or Alone in a Great City
+
+WYN'S CAMPING DAYS
+  Or The Outing of Go-Ahead Club
+
+FRANCES OF THE RANGES
+  Or The Old Ranchman's Treasure
+
+THE GIRLS OF RIVERCLIFF SCHOOL
+  Or Beth Baldwin's Resolve
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP
+
+PUBLISHERS--NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: IT DID SEEM, BECAUSE THEY WERE IN A HURRY, THAT
+EVERYTHING WENT WRONG. _Frontispiece (Page 80)._]
+
+
+
+
+WYN'S CAMPING DAYS
+
+OR
+
+THE OUTING OF THE GO-AHEAD CLUB
+
+BY
+
+AMY BELL MARLOWE
+
+AUTHOR OF
+THE OLDEST OF FOUR, THE GIRL FROM SUNSET RANCH,
+A LITTLE MISS NOBODY, ETC.
+
+Illustrated
+
+NEW YORK
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP
+
+PUBLISHERS
+
+
+
+
+Copyright, 1914, by
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP
+
+Wyn's Camping Days
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+  Chapter                                                     Page
+       I. THE GO-AHEAD CLUB                                      1
+      II. THE BUSTERS                                           12
+     III. POLLY                                                 20
+      IV. THE SILVER IMAGES                                     34
+       V. BESSIE LAVINE                                         49
+      VI. OFF FOR THE LAKE                                      55
+     VII. THE STORM BREAKS                                      71
+    VIII. AT WINDMILL FARM                                      83
+      IX. JOHN JARLEY, EXILE                                    94
+       X. THE "HAPPY DAY"                                      104
+      XI. WHERE THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED                          120
+     XII. AN OVERTURN                                          129
+    XIII. A SERIOUS ADVENTURE                                  144
+     XIV. THE REPULSE                                          150
+      XV. TROUBLE "BRUIN"                                      161
+     XVI. TIT FOR TAT                                          171
+    XVII. VISITORS                                             188
+   XVIII. THE REGATTA                                          198
+     XIX. UNDER WHITE WINGS                                    207
+      XX. THE CANOE RACE                                       213
+     XXI. THE WAY OF THE WIND                                  224
+    XXII. THE PRISONERS OF THE TOWER                           232
+   XXIII. WYN HITS SOMETHING                                   240
+    XXIV. THE NIGHT ALARM                                      248
+     XXV. THE STRANGE BATEAU                                   258
+    XXVI. THE BOYS TO THE RESCUE                               267
+   XXVII. IS IT THE "BRIGHT EYES"?                             278
+  XXVIII. A FRIEND IN NEED                                     288
+    XXIX. THE SUNKEN TREASURE                                  296
+     XXX. STRIKING CAMP                                        306
+
+
+
+
+WYN'S CAMPING DAYS
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+THE GO-AHEAD CLUB
+
+
+"Oh, girls! such news!" cried Wynifred Mallory, banging open the door of
+Canoe Lodge, and bringing into the living room a big breath of the cool
+May air, which drew out of the open fireplace a sudden balloon of smoke,
+setting the other members of the Go-Ahead Club there assembled coughing.
+
+Grace Hedges, who was acting as fireman that week, turned an exasperated
+face, with a bar of smut across it, exclaiming:
+
+"If another soul comes in that door and creates a back-draught until
+this fire gets to burning properly, I certainly shall have hysterics! I
+never did see such a mean old thing to burn."
+
+"Never mind, Gracie. We're all here now--all six of us. There are no
+more Go-Aheads to come," observed Bessie Lavine, yawning over her book
+in the only sunny corner of the room.
+
+"There! it's burning--finally," exclaimed Grace, with blended disgust
+and thankfulness. "I never was cut out for a fireman, girls."
+
+"Poor Gracie," purred Wyn, who had approached the blaze that was now
+beginning to curl through the hickory sticks piled more or less
+scientifically against the backlog. "Don't you know it needed just that
+back-draught to break the deadlock in the chimney and start your fire
+crackling this way?"
+
+"Bah! it was just hateful," grumbled Grace. "I hate fire making. And it
+does seem as though my week for playing fireman comes around twice as
+often as it should." Wyn had moved rather too near to the darting
+flames, and Grace suddenly pulled the captain of the club aside.
+"_Don't_ stand so near, Silly!" she cried.
+
+"Fireman! save my che-ild!" wailed "Frank" Cameron, coming forward and
+winding her long arms around Wynifred. "What's the news, Wyn, dear?
+Nobody had the politeness to ask you. Wherefore all the excitement?"
+
+"There must be a strike at the blacksmith shop," said Percy Havel, a
+curly-headed blonde girl.
+
+"No!" cried Frank, with a droll twist of her rather homely features.
+"I'll wager they've laid off one of the hands of the town clock.
+Business is dreadfully dull. I heard my father say so."
+
+She was a tall, lanky girl, was Frances Cameron, with a great mass of
+blue-black hair and flashing black eyes. She was thin, strong, and
+lacking in those soft curves of budding womanhood which girls of her age
+usually display. "Straight up and down, my dears," she often said.
+"Built upon the most approved clothespin plan, with every bone
+perfectly--not to say generously--developed."
+
+"Well," said Wyn, laughing, "if you girls will give me a chance I will
+divulge my news."
+
+"Be still!" commanded Frank. "The oracle speaks."
+
+"Oh, hurry up, Wyn!" exclaimed Percy, coming nearer the group before the
+now roaring fire. "I've been dying to tell them."
+
+"Well, girls," said Wyn, smiling, so that her brown eyes fairly danced.
+"Mrs. Havel--Percy's aunt--says she will go."
+
+"Fine!" exclaimed Frankie.
+
+"You don't mean it, Wyn?" gasped Mina Everett. "Then we really
+_can_ go camping?"
+
+"And to Lake Honotonka?" put in Bessie.
+
+"That's what we aimed to do; wasn't it?" demanded Wyn, laughing. "And
+when the Go-Ahead Club starts to do a thing, it usually arrives; doesn't
+it?"
+
+"At least, the captain arrives for them," said Frank, giving Wyn's arm a
+little squeeze. "We wouldn't get far in our 'go-ahead' plans if it
+wasn't for you, Wynnie."
+
+"Such flattery!" protested the captain.
+
+"You didn't have an easy time convincing my mother--I know that," said
+Mina, shaking _her_ head. "You know, she's so afraid of water."
+
+"And my mother is afraid of high winds," confessed Bessie. "Wyn had to
+coax to bring her around."
+
+"And of course, Gracie's mother is afraid of fire," chuckled Frank; "and
+there you have the three elements. You can plainly see that Gracie knows
+very little about fire. She never built one in her life until we formed
+our camping club."
+
+"Oh, well," observed Grace, trying to rub the smut off her face with a
+handkerchief and the aid of a pocket-mirror, "this is about the end of
+the fire season, thank goodness! If we go into camp after school closes,
+on Lake Honotonka, there won't be any fires to build."
+
+"Oh, _won't_ there?" cried Bessie. "You just wait. Instead of
+taking turns at being fireman for the week, as we do through the winter,
+we'll draw lots to see who shall build _all_ the fires. And you
+know very well, Gracie, that you always _are_ unlucky."
+
+"Sure she is," agreed Frank. "She always draws the very boobiest of all
+booby prizes out of the grab-bag."
+
+"Oh, dear me!" wailed Grace, who was big, and handsome, and not a little
+lazy, "I do so hate to work, too. If there had been another set of girls
+I liked at Denton Academy, I'd never have joined the Go-Ahead Club."
+
+"Right. Gracie is better fitted for a Fall-Behind Club," observed Wyn.
+
+"But tell us, Wynnie," begged Mina. "Is it really all arranged? Has
+everybody agreed that we can go in our canoes to Lake Honotonka?"
+
+"And stay all vacation if we like?" cried Percy.
+
+"That is the understanding," Wyn assured them. "Percy's aunt is the very
+kindest lady who ever was----"
+
+"Vote we buy her something nice," interposed Frank.
+
+"That will come in due season," Wyn continued. "But Mrs. Havel went with
+me to all our people. She knows all about the place, of course----"
+
+"So does my father," interposed Bessie.
+
+"And he wasn't hard to convince," Wyn responded. "Of course, there are
+wild nooks along Honotonka's shores; but at the upper end is Braisely
+Park, where all those rich folks live; and there's the village of
+Meade's Forge at this end of the lake. We can get supplies, or a doctor,
+or send a telephone message, easily enough. And what more does one
+want--camping out?"
+
+"We'll have just a lovely time!" sighed Bessie. "I can hardly wait for
+school to close."
+
+"A month and a half yet," said Frank Cameron. "And every day will seem
+longer than the one that preceded it. But then! when it does come----"
+
+"Just think of living under canvas--and for weeks and weeks! It almost
+makes me feel spooky," declared Grace, beginning to grow enthusiastic.
+
+These girls, all attending Denton Academy and living within the limits
+of that town, being the daughters of fairly well-to-do parents, had been
+able to enjoy many advantages as well as pleasures that poorer girls
+could not have; but none of them had chanced to experience the joys of a
+vacation in the woods.
+
+During the preceding autumn they had become immensely interested in
+canoeing. Denton was situated upon the beautiful, winding Wintinooski,
+and the six members of the Go-Ahead Club had taken several Saturday
+cruises on the river. But never had they gone as far up the stream as
+Lake Honotonka.
+
+That was a wide and beautiful sheet of water, thirty-five miles to the
+west of the town of Denton. Their boy friends had sometimes been allowed
+to go camping upon the shores of the lake; and their enthusiastic praise
+of the fun to be had under canvas had set Wynifred Mallory and her chums
+"just wild," as Frank Cameron expressed it, to try it too.
+
+Wyn was a girl of determination and physical as well as moral courage.
+If she made up her mind that a thing was right, and she wanted it, she
+usually got it.
+
+When the girls first broached their desire to spend the summer at the
+big lake, and actually live under canvas, not one of their parents
+encouraged the idea. Because the "Busters," a certain boys' club of the
+girls' friends, were going to the lake again for the long vacation, made
+no difference to the mothers and fathers--especially the mothers of Wyn
+and her chums of the Go-Ahead Club.
+
+"It's no use," Bessie Lavine had reported, at their first meeting after
+the idea was born in Canoe Lodge, as the girls called their novel
+boathouse overhanging the bank of a quiet pool of the Wintinooski. "Even
+father won't hear of it. Six girls going alone into the wilds----"
+
+"But the Busters and Professor Skillings will be near our camp," Frank
+had cried. "That's what I told mother. But she couldn't see it."
+
+Wyn had listened at that meeting to the opinions of all the other
+girls--and to their hopeless and disappointed complaints as well--and
+then she had taken the whole burden on her own shoulders.
+
+"Don't you say another word at home about it, girls--any of you," she
+said. "Leave it to me. Our idea of living for the summer in the open is
+a good one. We'll come back to school in the fall with ginger and health
+enough to keep us going like dynamos during the next school year."
+
+"But you can't make my mother see that," wailed Percy. "She only sees
+the snakes, and mosquitoes, and tramps, and big winds, and drowning, and
+I don't know but she visualizes earthquake shocks and volcanoes!"
+
+"Give me a chance," said Wyn.
+
+"Voted!" Frankie declared. "When Wyn sets out to do a thing we might as
+well give her her head. She's like Davy Crockett; and I hope all our
+folks will come down without being shot, like the historic 'coon."
+
+And this present declaration of their captain, which had so aroused the
+Go-Ahead Club, was the result of Wyn Mallory's exertions.
+
+She had first obtained the interest and cooperation of Percy's Aunt
+Evelyn, who was a widowed lady fond of outdoor life herself. Mrs. Havel
+was to act as chaperone. With this addition to their forces, the girls
+stood a much better chance to win over their parents to their plan.
+
+And finally Wyn had gained the permission of the most obdurate parent.
+The cruise of the Go-Ahead Club in their canoes to Lake Honotonka, and
+their camping for the summer at some available spot along the lake
+shore, was decided upon.
+
+"And are the Busters going?" asked Frank. "That's the next important
+matter."
+
+"Oh, we can get along without those boys, I guess," scoffed Bessie.
+
+"Yes, I know. We don't need 'em. And they are a great nuisance
+sometimes," admitted Frank, laughing. "But just the same, we'll have
+lots more fun with them around--especially Dave Shepard--eh, Wynnie?"
+
+"I don't see that you need _me_ to witness the truth of your
+statement, Frank," returned Wyn, flushing very prettily, for the girls
+sometimes teased her about Dave, who was her next-door neighbor. "Of
+course we want the boys, even if Bess is a man-hater."
+
+"I guess they'll go," Frank said. "They liked it so much last year. And
+the professor is interested in the geological specimens to be found up
+that way."
+
+"Goodness!" exclaimed Mina. "Is Professor Skillings going with them
+again? He is so odd."
+
+"He's very absent-minded," said Bessie.
+
+Frank began to laugh again. "Say!" she began, "did you hear about what
+happened to him last week? Father met him coming down Lane Street--you
+know, it's narrow and the sidewalk in places is scarcely wide enough for
+two people to pass comfortably.
+
+"There was poor Professor Skillings hobbling along with one foot
+continually in the gutter, his eyes fixed on a book he was reading as he
+walked. Father said to him:
+
+"'Good morning, Professor! How are you feeling to-day?'
+
+"'Why--why--why!' exclaimed the professor--you know his funny way of
+speaking. 'Why--why--why--I was very well when I started out, I thought.
+But I don't know what's come over me. Do you know, I've developed a
+pronounced limp since leaving the house!'"
+
+"Well, the boys like him," Wyn said, when the girls' laughter had
+subsided.
+
+"I thought I saw Dave Shepard and that 'Tubby' Blaisdell around here
+when I hurried down from school to light the fire," remarked Grace.
+
+At that moment a strange, scraping sound was heard right above the
+girls' heads. Bess and Mina jumped up.
+
+"What's that?" cried Grace.
+
+"It's something on the roof," declared Wyn.
+
+Now, Canoe Lodge was built on a high bank over the river. One stepped
+from the level sward into the living room. The roof on one side was a
+short, sharp pitch; but over the river it ran out in a long, easy slope
+to shelter the canoe landing.
+
+Suddenly there was a crash, and the very house shook. There was a wheezy
+shout of alarm, the sound of another voice in wild laughter, and some
+heavy body slid down the long side of the roof with the noise of an
+avalanche.
+
+"The Busters!" shrieked Percy, and ran to a window overlooking the
+river.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE BUSTERS
+
+
+The girls could overlook the lower slope of the long roof through the
+bay window at the end of the living room. They crowded to it after Percy
+Havel, and beheld a most amazing as well as ridiculous sight.
+
+A very fat youth, in a blue and white striped sweater and with a
+closely-cropped yellow head, was face down upon a length of plank, which
+plank was sliding like a bobsled down the incline of green-stained
+shingles.
+
+"It's Tubby!" gasped Frank Cameron.
+
+"Oh! oh! oh!" squealed Mina. "Is he doing that for _fun_?"
+
+Before any further comment could be made, the boy on the plank shot out
+over the edge of the roof and dived, with a mighty splash, into the deep
+water of the pool, adjoining which Canoe Lodge was built.
+
+"He'll be drowned!" cried Grace, wringing her plump hands.
+
+"It'll serve him right if he is!" exclaimed Bessie. "What business had
+he on our roof, I want to know?"
+
+"Poor Tubby!" cried Wyn, choked with laughter.
+
+"Isn't he the most ridiculous creature that ever was?" rejoined Frank.
+"See there! he's come up to blow like a frog."
+
+"It's a whale that comes up to blow," Wyn reminded her.
+
+"Well! isn't Tubby Blaisdell a regular whale of a boy?" returned the
+black-eyed girl.
+
+"There's Dave!" cried Mina.
+
+"I knew the two wouldn't be far apart!" sniffed Bess Lavine.
+
+"He's got a boat and is going to Tubby's rescue," cried Grace.
+
+"But see Tubby flounder around!" Frankie observed. "Why! that boy
+couldn't sink if you filled his pockets with flatirons!"
+
+"There! he _is_ going under," ejaculated the more timorous Mina.
+
+"Dave will get him, all right," declared Wyn, with confidence.
+
+She and Dave Shepard had been good chums since they were both in
+rompers. Her girl friends might tease Wyn sometimes about Dave; but the
+girl had no brothers and Dave made up the loss to her in every way.
+
+"Oh! he's going to spear him with that boathook!" gasped Mina again.
+
+And really, it looked so. Tubby Blaisdell was splashing about in the
+pool before the canoe landing like a young grampus. Tubby was always
+getting into more or less serious predicaments, and he always "lost his
+head" and usually had to be aided by his friends.
+
+In this case Dave Shepard prepared to literally spear him in the water.
+Dave--who was a tall, athletic boy, with a frank, pleasant face, if
+freckled, and close-cut brown curls in profusion--had driven the
+flat-bottomed skiff he had obtained from a neighboring landing, across
+the pool, and now, standing erect in the boat, with a single lunge
+impaled upon the boathook the tail of Tubby's coat.
+
+His chum was going down, as Dave thrust the boathook; for the
+unfortunate victim of the accident had swallowed a quantity of water
+when he dived with the plank from the eaves of the roof of Canoe Lodge.
+There was no time to lose if Dave wished to rescue Tubby before serious
+injury resulted to the unfortunate fat youth.
+
+It was something of a feat to bring Tubby Blaisdell alongside the skiff
+and haul him inboard without overturning the boat. But Dave accomplished
+it to the admiration of the girls--even to Bessie's satisfaction.
+
+"Well, I'm glad he got Tubby out," said that damsel, nodding her head.
+
+"Glad to know that you are so humane, Bess," laughed Frank.
+
+The girls trooped out to learn at closer range if the Blaisdell youth
+was really injured or only exhausted.
+
+He lay panting like a big fish in the bottom of the skiff. It was
+altogether too cold an evening for him to be exposed in his wet
+clothing. When the skiff's nose bumped into the shore, Dave Shepard
+leaped out with alacrity and secured the painter to a post.
+
+"Get up out of there, Tubby!" he commanded. "You'll get your death of
+dampness. Come on!"
+
+"Oh--oh--oh! I can't," chattered the fat youth. "I--I'm fr-roze to the
+ve-ry mar-row of m-m-my bones!"
+
+"The chill has struck in awful deep, then, Tubby," cried Frank Cameron,
+from the river bank.
+
+"Come on out of that!" commanded Dave. "I'm going to run you home so
+that you will not get cold."
+
+"Me?" chattered Blaisdell, rising like a turtle out of its shell. "Run
+me home? Wh-wh-why, I c-c-couldn't do it. You know I couldn't r-r-run
+that far, Dave."
+
+"He must go right in by our fire and get warm," declared Wyn, quickly.
+"Get your things, girls, and we'll all go home and leave Dave and Tubby
+to enjoy that nice fire Grace built."
+
+"That wet boy all over our nice rug!" exclaimed Bessie. "I object."
+
+"Don't be hateful, Bess," admonished Grace.
+
+"But what was he doing on our roof?" demanded the girl who claimed that
+she did not like boys.
+
+At this Dave burst into a great laugh and was scarcely able to drag
+Tubby ashore.
+
+"It's a wonder he didn't come right through on our heads," complained
+Frank. "He's so heavy."
+
+"But he _would_ do it," declared Dave, still laughing as he helped
+his fat friend up the bank to the door of Canoe Lodge. "It would have
+been a real good trick, too, if Tubby hadn't slipped."
+
+"Always up to mischief!" sniffed Bessie Lavine. "That's why I dislike
+boys so."
+
+"I don't see what he could do on our roof," said Wyn, wonderingly.
+
+"And he had no business there!" cried Grace.
+
+"Why," explained Dave, for Tubby could not defend himself. "We saw Grace
+making the fire, and we knew the wood was green. It made a big smudge
+coming out of the chimney, and Tubby thought he had a brilliant idea."
+
+"I know!" exclaimed Frankie. "He had that plank to put over the top of
+our chimney. We'd have been smoked out, sure enough."
+
+"That's it," chuckled Dave. "Tubby got up all right, and he got the
+plank up all right. But just as he tried to lift the plank to the top of
+the chimney his foot slipped, the board dropped, he fell on it as if he
+was coasting down hill, and--you saw the rest!"
+
+"Oh--oh!" chattered Tubby. "Come on in and let me get--get to--to
+th-that f-f-fire. I'm _frozen_!"
+
+"Here's the key, Dave," said Wyn, laughing (for the fat youth _did_
+look so funny), "and you can lock up when you go home and bring the key
+to my house. Don't you boys make a mess in here for us to clean up," she
+added.
+
+"But they will. Boys always do," declared Bessie Lavine.
+
+"Well, thank goodness, it won't be _my_ turn to clean up after
+them, or make another fire," declared Grace.
+
+"They will do no damage," returned Wyn, with assurance, as the girls
+trooped away from the boathouse toward the town.
+
+"They have to keep their camp clean," declared Frank. "I know that.
+Professor Skillings may be forgetful; but he is very particular about
+_that_. Ferdinand Roberts told me so."
+
+"I expect those horrid Busters _do_ know a lot more than we do
+about camping."
+
+"Indeed they do," sighed Grace. "How'll we ever put up a tent big enough
+to house seven?"
+
+"The boys will help us," declared Wyn.
+
+"I expect we'll have to let them," grumbled Bess. "Or else pay a man to
+do it for us."
+
+"My goodness me!" laughed Frances Cameron. "It must be a dreadful thing
+to hate boys like Bess does! They're awfully bad sometimes, I know----"
+
+"Look at what those two boys tried to do to us this very evening,"
+exclaimed Bessie.
+
+"Oh, Tubby's always up to some foolishness," said Percy, laughing.
+
+"And that Dave Shepard is just as bad!" cried Bess Lavine, tossing her
+head.
+
+"Wyn won't agree with that statement," chuckled Frank.
+
+"And all six of the Busters are full of mischief," went on the
+complaining one. "I wish they were not going to the same place we are to
+camp."
+
+"Why, Bess!" exclaimed Mina.
+
+"I _do_ wish that. They'll be around under foot all the time. And
+they'll play tricks, and be rough and rude, and I know they will spoil
+the summer for us."
+
+"You go on!" came from Frank, with some scorn. "I guess I can hold up my
+end against the Busters."
+
+"Just wait and see," prophesied Bessie, shaking her head. "I feel very
+sure that, the Busters and the Go-Ahead Club will not get along well
+together at Lake Honotonka."
+
+"It takes two parties for an argument," said Wyn Mallory, quietly. "And
+in spite of their mischief I believe in the Busters."
+
+"Wait and see if what I say isn't true!" snapped Bessie, and turned off
+into a side street toward her own home.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+POLLY
+
+
+Wyn Mallory was one of those girls whom people called "different."
+
+Not that there was a thing really odd about her. She was happy, healthy,
+more than a little athletic, of a sanguine temperament, and possessed a
+deal of tact for a girl of her age.
+
+But there was a quality in her character that balanced her better than
+most girls are. That foundation of good sense on which only can be
+erected a lasting character, was Wyn's. She was just as girlish and
+"fly-away" at times, as Frances Cameron herself, or Percy Havel; but she
+always stopped short of hurting another person's feelings and she seemed
+to really enjoy doing things for others, which her mates sometimes
+acclaimed as "tiresome."
+
+And don't think there was a mite of self-consciousness about all this in
+Wyn Mallory's make-up, for there wasn't. She enjoyed being helpful and
+kind because that was her nature--not for the praise she might receive
+from her older friends.
+
+Wyn was a natural leader. Such girls always are. Without asserting
+themselves, other girls will look up to them, and copy them, and follow
+them. Whereas a bad, or ill-natured, or haughty girl must have some
+means of bribing the weak-minded ones to gain a following at all.
+
+The Mallory family was a small one. Wyn had a little sister; but there
+was a difference of twelve years between them. The family was a very
+affectionate one, and Papa Mallory, Mamma Mallory, and Wyn all
+worshipped at the shrine of little May.
+
+So when at supper that Friday evening something was said about certain
+drygoods needed for the little one, Wyn offered at once to spend her
+Saturday forenoon shopping.
+
+She had plenty to do that morning; Saturday morning is always a busy
+time for any school girl in the upper grades, and Wyn was well advanced
+at Denton Academy. But she hastened out by nine o'clock and went down
+town.
+
+Denton was a pretty town, with good stores, a courthouse, well stocked
+library and several churches of various denominations. In the center was
+an ancient Parade Ground--a broad, well-shaped public park, with a huge
+flagstaff in the middle of the main field, and Civil War cannon flanking
+the entrances.
+
+Denton had a history. On this open field the Minute Men had marched and
+counter-marched; and before Revolutionary days, even, the so-called
+"train-bands" had paraded here. Like Boston Common, Denton's Parade
+Ground was a plot devoted for all time to the people, and could be used
+for no other purpose but that of a public park.
+
+The streets that bordered the three sides of the Parade Ground (for it
+was of flat-iron shape) were the best residential streets of the town;
+yet Market Street--the main business thoroughfare--was only a square
+away from one side of the park.
+
+Wyn Mallory on this bright May morning walked briskly along the shaded
+side of the park and turned off at Archer Street to reach the main stem
+of the town, where the shops stood in rows and the electric cars to
+Maynbury had the right of way in the middle of the street.
+
+Her very first call was at Mr. Erad's drygoods and notion store. His
+shop was much smaller than some of the modern "department" stores that
+had of late appeared in Denton; but the old store held the conservative
+trade. Mr. Erad had been in trade, at this very corner, from the time he
+was a smooth-faced young man; and now his hair and beard were almost
+white.
+
+He was a pleasant, cheerful--and usually charitable--gentleman, with
+rosy cheeks and gold-rimmed spectacles. He spent most of his time "on
+the floor," greeting old customers, attracting new ones with his
+courtesy, and generally overseeing the salesmen.
+
+He usually had a pleasant word and a hand-shake for Wyn when she entered
+his store; but this morning the old gentleman did not even notice her as
+she came through one of the turnstile doors.
+
+He stood near, however, speaking with a girl of about Wyn's age--a girl
+who was a total stranger to the captain of the Go-Ahead Club. The
+stranger was rather poorly dressed. She wore shabby gloves, and a shabby
+hat, and shabby shoes. Besides, both her dark frock and the hat were
+"ages and ages" behind the fashion.
+
+Her clothes were really so ugly that the girl herself did not have a
+chance to look her best. Wyn realized that after the second glance. And
+she saw that the strange girl was almost handsome.
+
+She was as big as Grace Hedges; but she was dark. Her hair was
+beautifully crinkled where it lay flat against the sides of her head
+over her ears. At the back there was a great roll, and it was glossy and
+well cared-for. Even a girl who cannot afford to dress in the mode can
+make her hair beautiful by a little effort.
+
+This girl had made that effort and, furthermore, she had made herself as
+neat as anyone need be.
+
+In addition to her beautiful hair, the stranger's other attractions can
+be enumerated as a long, well formed nose, well defined eyebrows and
+long lashes, and deep gray eyes that looked almost black in the shade of
+her broad brow. Her skin was lovely, although she was very much bronzed
+by the sun. A rose-flush showed through this tan and aided her red, full
+lips to give color to her face. Her teeth were two splendid, perfect
+rows of dazzling white; her chin was beautifully molded. This fully
+developed countenance was lit by intelligence, as well, and, with her
+well rounded figure and gentle, deprecating manner, Wyn thought of her
+instantly as a big helpless child.
+
+Mr. Erad was speaking very sternly to her, and that, alone, made Wyn
+desire to take her part. She could not bear to hear anybody scold a
+person so timid and humble. And at every decisive phrase Mr. Erad
+uttered, Wyn could see her wince.
+
+"I cannot do it. I do not see why I should," declared the storekeeper.
+"Indeed, there are many reasons why I should not. Yes--I know. I
+employed John Jarley at one time. But that was years ago. He would not
+stay with me. He was always trying something new. And he never stuck to
+a thing long enough for either he--or anybody else--to find out whether
+he was fitted for it or not.
+
+"Hold on! I take that back. I guess there's _one_ man in town,"
+said Mr. Erad, with almost a snarl, "who thinks John Jarley stuck long
+enough on one job."
+
+Wyn, frankly listening, but watching the girl and Mr. Erad covertly, saw
+the former's face flame hotly at the shot. But her murmured reply was
+too low for Wyn to hear.
+
+"Ha! I know nothing was ever proved against him. But decent people know
+the other party, and know that he is square. John Jarley got out of town
+and stayed out of town. That was enough to show everybody that he felt
+guilty."
+
+"You are wrong, sir," said the dark girl, her voice trembling, but
+audible now in her strong emotion. "You are wrong. It was my mother's
+ill health that took us into the woods. And the ill-natured gossip of
+the neighbors--just such things as you have now repeated--troubled my
+mother, too. So father took us away from it all."
+
+"If he was honest, he made a great mistake in running away at that
+time," asserted Mr. Erad.
+
+"No, he made no mistake," returned the girl, her fine eyes flashing. "He
+did the right thing. He saved my mother agony, and made her last years
+beautiful. My father did no wrong in either case, sir."
+
+"Well, well, well!" snapped Mr. Erad. "I cannot discuss the matter with
+you. We should not agree, I am sure. And I can do nothing for you."
+
+"Wait, please! give me a chance! Let me work for you to pay for these
+things we need. I will work faithfully----"
+
+"I have no place for you."
+
+"Oh, sir----"
+
+"My goodness, girl! _No_, I tell you. Isn't that enough? Beside,
+you are not well dressed enough to wait upon my customers. And you could
+not earn enough here to pay your board, dress decently, and pay for any
+bill of goods that you--or your father--may want."
+
+The girl turned away. There was a bit of dingy veiling attached to the
+front of her old-fashioned hat, and Wyn saw her pull this down quickly
+over her face. The listener knew _why_, and she had to wink her own
+eyes hard to keep back the tears.
+
+She deliberately turned her back upon old Mr. Erad, whom she was usually
+so glad to see, and went hastily down the aisle. From her distant
+station by the notion counter she saw the drooping figure of the strange
+girl leave the store.
+
+Wyn Mallory was worried. She could not see a forlorn cat on the street,
+or a homeless dog shivering beside a garbage can, that she was not
+tempted to "do something for it."
+
+Dave Shepard often laughingly said that it was an adventure to go
+walking with Wyn Mallory, One never knew what she was going to see that
+needed "fixing." And Dave might have added, that if Wyn had him for
+escort, she usually got these wrong things "fixed."
+
+She now hastened through her purchasing, not with any definite object in
+view, save that she wanted to get out of the store. Mr. Erad was not at
+all the nice, charitable man whom she had always supposed him to be.
+That is, it looked so now to the impulsive, warm-hearted girl.
+
+Her mind was fixed upon the strange girl and her troubles. Wyn did not
+neglect the errand her mother had given her to do, although she hurried
+her shopping.
+
+When she was out of the store, she drew a long breath. "I couldn't
+breathe in that place--not well," she told herself. "I wonder where that
+poor girl has gone now?"
+
+There was nobody to answer her, nor was the strange girl in sight. Wyn
+felt rather remorseful that she had not let her shopping wait and
+followed the strange girl out of the store immediately.
+
+The stranger might have been in desperate straits. Wyn could not imagine
+anybody begging for goods, and for work, especially after the way Mr.
+Erad had spoken, unless in great trouble.
+
+Wyn began to take herself seriously to task. The strange girl had
+disappeared and she had not even tried to help her, or comfort her.
+
+"I might have gone out and offered some little help, or sympathy. How do
+I know what will become of her? And she may have no friends in town. At
+least, it is evident that she does not live here."
+
+There were several other errands to do. All the time, especially while
+she was on the street, she kept her eye open for the strange girl whose
+name she presumed must be "Jarley."
+
+[Illustration: "MY DEAR, I WILL BE YOUR FRIEND." _Page 30._]
+But Wyn did not see her anywhere, and it seemed useless to wander down
+Market Street looking for her. So, when she had completed her purchases,
+she turned her face homeward.
+
+She went up past Mr. Erad's store again and turned through Archer
+Street. As she crossed into the park she looked for a settee to rest on,
+for unconsciously she had walked more briskly than usual.
+
+There, under a wide-limbed oak, was a green-painted seat, removed from
+any other settee; but there was a figure on it.
+
+"There's room for two, I guess," thought Wyn; and then she made a
+discovery that almost made her cry out aloud. Its occupant was the very
+girl for whom she was in search!
+
+Wyn controlled her impulse to run forward, and approached the bench
+quite casually. Before she reached it, however, she realized that the
+dark girl was crying softly.
+
+Natural delicacy would have restrained Wyn from approaching the girl so
+abruptly. Only, she was deeply interested, and already knowing the
+occasion for her tears, the captain of the Go-Ahead Club could not
+ignore the forlorn figure on the bench.
+
+Without speaking, she dropped into the seat beside the strange girl, and
+put her hand on the other's shoulder.
+
+"My dear!" she said, when the startled gray eyes--all a-flood with
+tears--were raised to her own. "My dear, tell me all about
+it--_do_! If I can't help you, I will be your friend, and it will
+make you feel lots better to tell it all to somebody who sympathizes."
+
+"Bu-but you ca-can't sympathize with me!" gasped the other, looking into
+Wyn's steady, brown eyes and finding friendliness and commiseration
+there. "You--you see, you never knew the lack of anything good; you're
+not poor."
+
+"No, I am not poor," admitted Wyn.
+
+"And I don't want charity!" cried the strange girl quickly.
+
+"I am not going to offer it to you. But I'd dearly love to be your
+friend," Wyn said. "You know--you're so pretty!" she added, impulsively.
+
+The girl flushed charmingly again. "I--I guess I'm not very pretty in my
+old duds, and with my nose and eyes red from crying."
+
+But she was really one of those few persons who are not made ugly by
+crying. She had neither red eyes nor a red nose.
+
+"Do tell me what troubles you," urged Wyn, patting her firm, calloused
+hand.
+
+Those hands were no soft, useless members--no, indeed! Pretty as she
+was, the stranger had evidently been in the habit of performing arduous
+manual labor.
+
+"Where do you live, my dear?" asked Wyn, again, as her first question
+was not answered.
+
+"Up beyond Meade's Forge," said the strange girl.
+
+"Oh, my! On Lake Honotonka?"
+
+"Yes, ma'am."
+
+"Please don't _ma'am_ me!" cried the captain of the Go-Ahead Club.
+"My name is Wynifred Mallory. My friends all call me Wyn. Now, I want
+you to be my friend, so you must commence calling me Wyn right away."
+
+"But--but you don't know me," said the other girl, hesitatingly.
+
+"I am going to; am I not?" demanded Wyn, with her frank smile. "Surely,
+now that I have confided in you, you will confide in me to the same
+extent? Or, don't you like me?"
+
+"Of course I like you!" exclaimed the still sobbing girl. "But--but I do
+not know that I have any right to allow you to be my friend."
+
+"Goodness me! why not?" exclaimed Wyn.
+
+"Why--why, we have a bad name in this town, it seems," said the other.
+
+"Who have?" snapped Wyn, hating Mr. Erad harder than ever now.
+
+"My father and I."
+
+"What have you done that makes you a pariah?" exclaimed Wyn, fairly
+laughing now. "Aren't you foolish?"
+
+"No. People say my father was not honest I am Polly Jarley," said the
+girl, desperately.
+
+"Polly Jolly?" cried Wyn. "Not much you are! You are anything but jolly.
+You are Polly Miserrimus."
+
+"I don't know what that means, ma'am----"
+
+"Wyn!" exclaimed the other girl, quickly.
+
+"M--Miss Wyn."
+
+"Not right. Just Wyn. Plain Wyn----"
+
+"Oh, I couldn't call you plain," cried the poorly dressed girl, with
+some spontaneity now. "For you are very pretty. But I don't really know
+what Mis--Mis----"
+
+"'Miserrimus'?'"
+
+"That is it."
+
+"It's Latin, and it means miserable, all right," laughed Wyn. "And you
+act more to fit the name of 'Polly Miserrimus' than that of 'Polly
+Jolly.'"
+
+"It's Jarley, Miss Wyn."
+
+"But now tell me all about it, Polly," urged Wyn, having by this means
+stopped the flow of Polly's tears. "Surely it will help you just to free
+your mind. And don't be foolish enough to think that I wouldn't want to
+know you and be your friend if your poor father was the biggest criminal
+on earth."
+
+"He isn't! He is unfortunate. He has been accused wrongfully, and
+everybody is against him," exclaimed Polly, with some heat.
+
+"All right. Then let's hear about it," urged Wyn, capturing both of the
+other girl's hands in her own, and smiling into her tear-drenched gray
+eyes.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+THE SILVER IMAGES
+
+
+"Didn't you ever hear of us Jarleys?" Polly first of all demanded.
+
+"Only as being interested in the wax-work business," replied Wyn, with
+twinkling eyes.
+
+"I--I guess father never made wax-work," said Polly, hesitatingly.
+
+She was an innocent sort of girl, who evidently lacked many advantages
+of education and reading that Wyn and her friends had enjoyed as a
+matter of course.
+
+"Well, I never heard the name before to-day--not _your_ name, nor
+your father's," Wyn said.
+
+"Well, we used to live here."
+
+"In Denton?"
+
+"Yes, ma'am----"
+
+"Will you stop that?" cried Wyn. "I am Wyn Mallory, I tell you."
+
+"All right, Wyn. It's a pretty name. I'll be glad to use it," returned
+Polly.
+
+"Prove it by using it altogether," commanded Wyn. "Now, what about your
+father?"
+
+"I--I can't tell you much about it--much of the particulars, I mean,"
+said the girl from Lake Honotonka, diffidently. "I don't really know
+them. Father never speaks of it much. But even as a tiny girl mother
+explained to me that when folks said father had done wrong I must deny
+it. That it was not so. It was only circumstances that made him appear
+in the wrong. And--you know, Wyn--your mother wouldn't lie to you!"
+
+"Of course not!" cried Wyn, warmly. "Of course not!"
+
+"Well, then, you'll have to believe just what I tell you. Father was in
+some business deal with a man here in Denton, and something went wrong.
+The other man accused father of being dishonest. Father could not defend
+himself. Circumstances were dead against him. And it worried mother so
+that it made her sick.
+
+"So we all left town. Father had very little money, and he built a shack
+up there in the woods near Honotonka. We're just 'squatters' up there.
+But gradually father got a few boats, and built a float, and made enough
+in the summer from fishermen and campers to support us. Of course,
+mother being sick so many years before she died, kept us very poor. I
+only go to the district school winters. Then I have to walk four miles
+each way, for we own no horse. Summers I help father with the boats."
+
+"That's where you got such palms! cried Wyn, touching her new friend's
+calloused hands again.
+
+"It's rowing does it. But I don't mind. I love the water, you see."
+
+"So do I. I've got a canoe. I'm captain of a girls' canoe club."
+
+"That's nice," said Polly. "I suppose when you take up boating for just
+a sport it's lots better than trying to make one's living out of it."
+
+"Well, tell me more," urged Wyn. "What are you in town for now? Why did
+I find you crying here on the bench?"
+
+"A man hurt me by talking harshly about poor father," said the girl from
+Lake Honotonka.
+
+"Come on! tell me," urged Wyn, giving her a little shake. Polly suddenly
+threw an arm about the town girl and hugged her tightly.
+
+"I _do_ love you, Wyn Mallory," she sobbed. "I--I wish you were my
+sister. I get so lonely sometimes up there in the woods, for there's
+only father and me now. And this past winter he was very sick with
+rheumatic fever. You see, there was an accident."
+
+"He met with an accident, you mean?"
+
+"Yes. It was awful--or it might have been awful for him if he and I had
+not had signals that we use when there's a fog on the lake. I'll tell
+you.
+
+"You see, there is a man named Shelton--Dr. Shelton--who lives in one of
+the grand houses at Braisely Park--you know, that is the rich people's
+summer colony at the upper end of the lake?"
+
+"I know about it," said Wyn. "Although I never was there."
+
+"Well, Dr. Shelton had his motor boat down at our float. He left it
+there himself, and he told father to go to the express office at Meade's
+Forge on a certain day and get a box that would be there addressed to
+Dr. Shelton. It was a valuable box.
+
+"When father went for it the expressman would not give it up until he
+had telephoned to Dr. Shelton and recognized the doctor's voice over the
+wire. It seems that that box was packed with ancient silver images that
+had been found in a ruined temple in Yucatan, and had been sent to Dr.
+Shelton by the man who found them. They claim they were worth at the
+least five thousand dollars.
+
+"The doctor had a party at his house right then, he said over the
+telephone, and he wanted father to come up the lake with the box. He
+wanted to display his antique treasures to his friends.
+
+"Now, it was a dreadfully bad day. After father had started down to the
+Forge in the motor boat he knew that a storm was coming. And ahead of it
+was a thick fog. He told Dr. Shelton over the 'phone that it was a bad
+time to make the trip the whole length of Lake Honotonka.
+
+"The doctor would not listen to any excuses, however; and it was his
+boat that was being risked. And his silver images, too! Those rich
+people don't care much about a poor man's life, and if father had
+refused to risk his on the lake in the storm Dr. Shelton would have
+given his trade to some other boatkeeper after that.
+
+"So father started in the _Bright Eyes_. He did not shoot right up
+the middle of the lake, as he would have done had the day been fair. The
+lake is twenty miles broad, you know, in the middle. So he kept near our
+side--the south side it is--and did not lose sight of the shore at
+first.
+
+"But at Gannet Island he knew he had better run outside. You see, the
+strait between the island and the shore is narrow and, when the wind is
+high, it sometimes is dangerous in there. Why, ten years ago, one of the
+little excursion steamers that used to ply the lake then, got caught in
+that strait and was wrecked!
+
+"So father _had_ to go outside of Gannet Island. The fog shut down
+as thick as a blanket before he more than sighted the end of the island.
+He kept on, remembering what Dr. Shelton had said, and that is where he
+made a mistake," said Polly, shaking her head. "He ought to have turned
+right around and come back to our landing."
+
+"Oh, dear me! what happened to him?" cried Wyn, eagerly.
+
+"The fog came down, thicker and thicker," proceeded the boatman's
+daughter. "And the wind rode down upon father, too. Wind and fog
+together are not usual; but when the two combine it is much worse than
+either alone. You see, the thick mist swirling into father's eyes,
+driven head-on by the wind, blinded him. He steered a shade too near the
+shore.
+
+"Suddenly the _Bright Eyes_ struck. A motor boat, going head-on
+upon a snag, can be easily wrecked. The boat struck and stuck, and
+father leaped up to shut off the engine.
+
+"As he did so, something swished through the blinding fog and struck
+him, carrying him backward over the stern of the boat. Perhaps it was
+the loss of his weight that allowed the _Bright Eyes_ to scrape
+over the snag. At least, she did so as father plunged into the lake, and
+as he sank he knew that the boat, with her engine at half speed, was
+tearing away across the lake.
+
+"It was the drooping limb of a tree that had torn father from the stern
+of the motor boat," continued Polly Jarley. "It may have been a big root
+of the same tree, under water, that had proved the finish of the boat.
+For nobody ever saw the _Bright Eyes_ again. She just ran off at a
+tangent, into the middle of the lake, somewhere, we suppose, and filled
+and sank."
+
+"Oh, dear me! And your father?" asked Wyn, anxiously.
+
+"He got ashore on the island. Then he signalled to me, and I went off
+during a lull in the storm, and got him. He went to bed, and it was
+three months before he was up and around again.
+
+"He suffered dreadfully with rheumatic fever," continued Polly, sadly.
+"And all the time Dr. Shelton was talking just as mean about him as he
+could. He didn't believe his story. He even said that he thought my
+father took the motor boat down the river somewhere and sold it. And the
+way he talked about that box of silver images----"
+
+"Oh, oh!" cried Wyn. "I'd forgotten about them. Of course they were
+lost, too?"
+
+"Sunk somewhere in Lake Honotonka," declared Polly. "Father knows no
+more about where the boat lies than Dr. Shelton himself. But there are
+always people ready and willing to pick up the evil that is said about a
+person and help circulate it.
+
+"While father was flat on his back, folks were talking about him. We had
+to raise money on the boats to pay for our food and father's medicine.
+If we don't have a good season this summer we will be unable to pay off
+the chattel mortgage next winter, and will lose the boats. I tell you,
+Miss Wyn, it is _hard_."
+
+"You poor, dear girl!" exclaimed Wyn. "I should think it _was_
+hard. And that mean man accuses your father----"
+
+"Well, you see, there was father's past record against him. The story of
+his trouble here in Denton followed him into the woods, of course. If
+anybody gets mad at us up at the Forge, they throw the whole thing up to
+us. I--I _hate_ it there," sobbed the boatkeeper's daughter.
+
+"And yet, it is harder on poor father. He is straight, but everything
+has been against him. I saw he felt dreadfully these past few days
+because I need some decent clothes. And there is no money to buy any.
+
+"So I thought I would come to town and see some old friends of mother's
+who used to come and see us years ago. Yes, there were a few people who
+stuck to mother, even if they did not quite approve of poor father. But,
+when I paddled 'way down here----"
+
+"Not in a canoe?" cried Wyn.
+
+"Yes, I came down very easily yesterday evening and stopped at a
+boatman's house on the edge of town. I shall go back again to-day. The
+Wintinooski isn't kicking up much of a rumpus just now. The spring
+floods are about all over."
+
+"But you must be a splendid hand with a paddle," said Wyn. "It's a long
+way to the lake."
+
+"Oh! I don't mind it," said Polly. "Or, I _wouldn't_ mind it if it
+had done me the least good to come down here," and she sighed.
+
+"You are disappointed?" queried Wyn.
+
+"Dreadfully! I did not find mother's old friends. I had not heard from
+them for two or three years, and found that they were away--nobody knows
+where. I did not know but I might get work here in town for a few weeks,
+and live with these old friends, and so earn some money. I am so shabby!
+And father isn't fit to be seen.
+
+"And then--then there was a man in town who used to befriend mother. I
+know when I was quite a little girl, the year after we had gone to the
+woods to live, father was ill for a long time and mother had to have
+things. She went to this storekeeper in Denton and he let her have
+things on account and we paid him afterward. Oh, we paid him--every
+cent!" declared Polly, again wiping her eyes.
+
+"And I hoped he would--for mother's sake--help us again. I went to him.
+I--I reminded him of how father once worked for him, and that he knew
+mother. But he was angry about something--he would not listen--he would
+neither give me work nor let me have goods charged. I--I--well, it just
+broke me down, Wyn Mallory, and I came here to cry it out."
+
+"It's a shame!" exclaimed Wyn. "I am just as sorry for you as I can be.
+And I believe that your father is perfectly honest and that he never in
+his life intended to defraud anybody."
+
+It was that blessed _tact_ that made Wynifred Mallory say that. It
+was the sure way to Polly Jarley's heart; and Wyn's words and way opened
+the door wide and Polly took her in.
+
+"You--you _blessed_ creature!" cried the boatman's daughter. "I
+know you must have been 'specially sent to comfort me. I _was_ so
+miserable."
+
+"Of course I was sent," declared Wyn. She did not propose to tell her
+new acquaintance that she had observed her in Erad's store and had
+looked for her all over Market Street.
+
+"Such things are meant to be. If we trust to God we surely shall have
+release from our difficulties. That is just as sure as the day follows
+the night," declared Wyn, with simple, straight-forward faith.
+
+"And just see how it is proved in this case. You were in trouble, and
+sat here crying, and needed somebody to help you. And I came along
+perfectly willing and able to help you, and you are going to be helped."
+
+"I _am_ helped!" declared Polly. "You just put the courage back
+into me. I didn't know what to do----"
+
+"Do you know any better now?" demanded Wyn, quickly.
+
+"We--ell, I----"
+
+"That doesn't sound as though you had _quite_ made up your mind,"
+said Wyn, with a little laugh.
+
+"Never mind. I can stand even going back home with my hands empty,
+better than before I met you," declared Polly, bravely.
+
+"But you won't go back home empty-handed."
+
+"Oh, Wyn! Can you get me work?"
+
+"No, not here. Nor do I believe you ought to leave your father alone up
+there for so long. I expect he is not very well yet?"
+
+"No. He is not," admitted Polly.
+
+"Then, you go home. That is the best place for you, anyway. But before
+you go you shall make such purchases as you may need----"
+
+Polly drew away from her along the seat, and her gray eyes grew
+brighter. "Oh, Miss Mallory!" she murmured. "Don't do _that_."
+
+"Don't do what?" demanded Wyn.
+
+"Don't spoil it all."
+
+"Spoil what-all?" cried Wyn, in exasperation. "I'm not going to spoil
+anything. But you listen to me. This is sense."
+
+"I--I couldn't take charity from _you_--a stranger."
+
+"I offer to lend you twenty dollars. You can pay it back when you
+choose."
+
+"Twenty dollars! You lend me twenty dollars?"
+
+"Yes. I have quite some spending money given to me, and I have been
+saving nearly all of it for some time. So I can easily spare it."
+
+"But I don't know when I can repay you."
+
+"I can tell you, then. You can pay me back this very summer."
+
+"This summer, miss?"
+
+"Don't call me 'miss'!" cried Wyn, in greater exasperation. "I have told
+you my name is 'Wyn'! And I mean exactly what I say. This is a perfectly
+straight business proposition," and she laughed her full-throated laugh
+that made even Polly Jarley, in her trouble, smile.
+
+"Then your business, Wyn Mallory, must be the saving of people from
+trouble--is that it? For there is no reason in what you say you will
+do--Oh, I can't accept it. It would be charity!" cried Polly, again
+clasping Wyn's hands.
+
+"It is not charity," said Wyn, firmly, opening her purse. "And I'll
+quickly show you why it is not. You see, Polly Jolly--and I want you to
+smile at me and look as though you fitted that name. You see, I am
+captain of the Go-Ahead Club."
+
+"The Go-Ahead Club?"
+
+"Yes. We are six girls. We each own canoes. And we are just _crazy_
+to spend next summer under canvas."
+
+"You are going camping?"
+
+"That is our intention," Wyn said, nodding.
+
+"Oh, then! come up to Lake Honotonka," cried Polly. "I can show you
+beautiful places to camp, and we can have lots of fun----"
+
+"That likewise is our intention," broke in Wyn. "We have just decided to
+camp for the summer on the shore of the lake. Rather, our parents,
+guardians, and the cat, have finally agreed to our plans. We shall come
+up there the week after the Academy closes."
+
+"Now, we want you, Polly, to find us the very best camping place, to
+arrange everything for us, and don't have it too far from your place,
+and from Meade's Forge. I expect the Busters will camp on one of the
+islands. The Busters, you see, are our boy friends who are likewise
+going to the lake. They were there last year with Professor Skillings."
+
+"I remember them," said Polly, wonderingly. "And you and your girl
+friends are coming?"
+
+"Just the surest thing you know, Polly," declared Wyn. "So you are going
+to take this twenty dollars," and she suddenly thrust the bill into the
+other girl's hand and closed her fingers over it. "Then, next summer, we
+shall let you pay it back in perfectly legitimate charges, for we'll
+want you and your father to help us a good deal.
+
+"Now, what say, Polly Jolly? Will you please let your face fit your
+name--as I have rechristened you? Smile, my dear--smile!"
+
+"I could cry again, Wyn--you are so kind!" half sobbed the other girl.
+
+"Now, you stop all that foolishness--a great, big girl like you!"
+exclaimed Wyn. "Turn off the sprinkler, as Dave Shepard says. Get right
+up now and go briskly about your buying. And write to me when you get
+home and write just as often as you can till we meet at the lake this
+summer."
+
+"You dear!" ejaculated Polly.
+
+"You're another. How will I address you--at the Forge?"
+
+"Yes, and you must give me your address," said the boatman's daughter,
+eagerly.
+
+Wyn did so. The two girls, such recent but already such warm friends,
+kissed each other and Polly Jarley went briskly away toward Market
+Street. Wyn stopped on the bench for several minutes and watched the
+girl from Lake Honotonka walk away, while a smile wreathed her lips and
+a warm light lingered in her brown eyes.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+BESSIE LAVINE
+
+
+Suddenly a gay voice hailed Wyn.
+
+"Hi, Captain of the Go-Aheads! What are you doing, mooning here?"
+
+"Why, Bess!" returned Wyn, turning to greet Bessie Lavine. "I didn't see
+you coming along."
+
+"No; but I saw you, my noble captain."
+
+"Going shopping?"
+
+"Aye, aye, Captain!" cried the other member of the Go-Ahead club. "But
+who was that I saw you with? Didn't I see you talking to that girl who
+just crossed Benefit Street?"
+
+"Oh, yes."
+
+"Who was she?"
+
+"Polly Jarley. She is daughter of a boatman up at the lake. And wasn't
+it fortunate that I met her? She can find us a camping place and get
+everything fixed up there for our coming."
+
+"What's her name?" asked Bess, sharply.
+
+"Polly Jarley."
+
+"And she lives up there by the lake?"
+
+"So she says."
+
+"Her father is John Jarley, of course?" queried Bessie, looking down at
+Wyn, darkly.
+
+"Yes. That is her father's name," said Wyn, beginning to wonder at her
+friend's manner.
+
+"Well! I guess you don't know those Jarleys very well; do you?"
+
+"Why--I----"
+
+Wyn hesitated to tell Bessie that she had only just now met the
+unfortunate boatman's daughter. She remembered Polly's story, and what
+she had overheard Mr. Erad say in the drygoods store.
+
+"You surely _can't_ know what and who they are, and still be
+friendly with that girl?" repeated Bessie, her eyes flashing with anger.
+
+"Why, my dear," said Wyn, soothingly. "Don't speak that way. Sit down
+and tell me what you mean. I certainly have not known Polly long; and I
+never met her father----"
+
+"Oh, they left this town a long time ago."
+
+"So she told me. And she said something about her father having been
+accused of dishonesty----"
+
+"I should say so!" gasped Bessie. "Why, John Jarley almost ruined
+_my_ father. He was a traitor to him. They were in a deal
+together--it was when my father first tried to get into the real estate
+business here in Denton--and this John Jarley sold him out. Why,
+everybody knows it! It crippled father for a long time, and what Jarley
+got out of playing traitor never did him any good, I guess, for they
+were soon as poor as Job's turkey, and they went to live in the woods
+there. He's a poor, miserable wretch. Father says he's never had a
+stroke of luck since he played him such a mean trick--and serves him
+right!"
+
+Wyn stared at her in amazement, for Bessie had gone on quite
+breathlessly and had spoken with much heat. Finally Wyn observed:
+
+"Well, dear, _your_ father has done well since those days. They say
+he is one of our richest citizens. Surely you can forgive what poor John
+Jarley did, for he and his daughter are now very miserable."
+
+"I don't see why we should forgive them," cried Bessie, hotly.
+
+"Why, Bess! This poor girl had nothing to do with her father wronging
+your father----"
+
+"I don't care. She's his daughter. It's in the blood. I wouldn't trust
+her a single bit. I wouldn't speak to her. And no girl can be _her_
+friend and mine, too!"
+
+"Why, Bess! don't say that," urged Wyn. "You and I have been friends for
+years and years. We wouldn't want to have a falling out."
+
+"I see no need for us to fall out," exclaimed Bessie, her eyes still
+flashing. "But I just won't associate with girls who associate with
+those low people--there now!"
+
+"Now do you feel better, Bess?" asked Wyn, laughing.
+
+That was the worst of Wyn Mallory! All the girls said so. One couldn't
+"fight" with her. For, you see, it takes two at least to keep a quarrel
+alive, although but one to start it.
+
+"Well, you don't know how mean that man, Jarley, was to my father. And
+years ago they were the very best of friends. Why! they went to school
+together, and were chums--just as thick as you and I are, Wynnie--just
+as thick. And for him to be a traitor----"
+
+"If he was, don't you think he has been paying for it?" asked Wyn,
+sensibly. "According to what I hear he is poor, and ill, and
+unfortunate----"
+
+"I don't know whether he is or not. It was only a few weeks ago we heard
+of his stealing a motor boat up there at the lake and some other
+valuables, and selling them----"
+
+"He wouldn't be poor if he had done that; would he?" interrupted Wyn.
+"For I know for a fact that he is very, very poor."
+
+She did not want to tell Bessie that she had given Polly Jarley money;
+but she did not believe that the boatman's daughter would be in need as
+she was if Mr. Jarley were guilty of the crime of which he had been so
+recently accused.
+
+"Well, I haven't a mite of sympathy for them," declared Bessie.
+
+"Perhaps you cannot be expected to have sympathy for the Jarleys,"
+admitted Wyn, in her wholesome way. "But you won't mind, will you, dear,
+if _I_ have a little for poor Polly?" and she hugged Bessie, who
+had sat down, close to her. "Come on, Bessie--don't be mad at
+_me_."
+
+"Oh, dear! nobody can be mad at you, Wyn Mallory. You do blarney so."
+
+"Ah, now, my dear; it isn't blarneying at all!" laughed Wyn. "It's just
+showing you the sensible way. We girls don't want to be flighty, and
+have 'mads on,' as Frank says, for no real reason. And this poor girl
+will never trouble you in the world----"
+
+"I wish she wasn't up at that lake," declared Bessie.
+
+"Why, Bess! the lake's plenty big enough," said Wyn, chuckling. "We
+won't have to see much of the Jarleys. Although----"
+
+"I sha'n't go if she is to be on hand," asserted Bessie, with vehemence.
+
+"One would think poor Polly Jarley had an infectious disease. She won't
+hurt you, Bess."
+
+"I don't care. I feel just as papa does about it. He and Jarley were
+closer than brothers. But he wouldn't speak to Jarley now--no, sir! And
+I don't want anything to do with that girl."
+
+With this Bess jumped up, preparing to go on her way to the stores. Wyn
+was going home, and she gathered up her packages.
+
+"You'll think differently about it some day, Bess," she said,
+thoughtfully, as her friend tripped away. "How foolish to hold rancor so
+long! For years and years those two men have hated each other. And I
+expect Polly would dislike Bess just as Bess dislikes her--and for no
+real reason!
+
+"And it seems too bad. Mr. Lavine is very rich while John Jarley is very
+poor. Usually it is the wicked man who prospers--for a time, at least I
+really don't understand this," sighed Wyn, traveling homeward. "If
+Polly's father is guilty as they believe he is, what did he do with the
+money he must have made by his crimes?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+OFF FOR THE LAKE
+
+
+Although the members of the Go-Ahead Club--some of them, at least--had
+expressed the wish that the time to start for Lake Honotonka was already
+at hand, the remaining days of May and the busy month of June slipped
+away speedily. At odd hours there was a deal to do to prepare for the
+outing which the girl canoeists longed to enjoy.
+
+Wyn received several letters from Polly Jarley, more hopeful letters
+than she might have expected considering the situation in which the
+boatman's daughter was placed. Evidently Polly was trying to live up to
+her "rechristening."
+
+In reply Wyn made several arrangements for the big outing which she
+confided only in a general way to the club. Polly had selected a
+beautiful spot just east of the rough water behind Gannet Island, and
+not half a mile from her father's boathouse, for the camping place of
+the Go-Ahead Club, and she wrote Wyn that she had stuck up a sign
+pre-empting the spot for the girls from Denton.
+
+It was arranged with the Busters, who would go up to Lake Honotonka the
+same day as the Go-Aheads, to send the stores together by bateau. Wyn
+arranged to have the girls' stores housed by the Jarleys, for she did
+not think that the canvas of either the sleeping or the cook-tent would
+be sufficient protection if there came a heavy storm.
+
+The boys had picked their camping place the year before. They would go
+to the far end of Gannet Island, where there was a cave which promised a
+fairly good storehouse for their goods and chattels. They proposed to
+erect their one big tent right in front of this cavity in the rock--in
+conjunction therewith, in fact. There was a backbone of rock through the
+center of the island in which Professor Skillings, as a geologist, was
+very much interested, and had been for a long time.
+
+To purchase the stores cost considerable money. The girls had to do it
+all out of their own pockets, and to tell the truth some of them had to
+mortgage their spending allowance for the entire summer to "put up"
+their pro rata sum for these supplies.
+
+"Papa says it is going to cost me as much as though I were spending the
+summer at Newport," Percy Havel said, with a sigh.
+
+"_My_ folks have expressed some surprise," admitted Mina Everett.
+"They thought we were going to camp out _al fresco_; but they can
+scarcely believe now that we are not going to live upon _pate de foie
+gras_ and have a French chef to get up the meals."
+
+"My father began to say something about the cost the other night,"
+giggled Frank Cameron. "But I put the stopper on poor pa very quickly. I
+told him that I'd willingly give up the camping-out scheme if he'd buy a
+touring car. I said:
+
+"'Pa, I've figured the whole thing out, and we can do it easily enough.
+The car, to begin with, will cost $5,000, which at six per cent, is only
+$300 a year. If we charge ten per cent, off for depreciation it will
+come to $500 more. A good chauffeur can be had for $125 per month, or
+$1,500 per year. I have allowed $10 per week for gasoline and $5 for
+repairs. The chauffeur's uniform and furs will come to about $200. Now,
+let's see what it comes to. Three hundred, plus five hundred, and then
+the chauffeur's salary at----'
+
+"'Don't bother me any more, my dear,' says pa. 'I know what it comes
+to.'
+
+"'What _does_ it come to, Pa?' I asked. 'How quick you are at
+figures!'
+
+"'My dear,' he said, impressively, 'it comes to a standstill right here
+and now. We will have no touring car. I'll say no more about the
+Go-Ahead Club.'
+
+"Oh, you can manage the grown-ups," concluded Frank, with a laugh, "if
+you go about it right."
+
+The bateau of stores went up the Wintinooski two days before the girls
+and boys were to start; yet for fear that all might not have gone right
+with the provisions, Wyn insisted that each member of the Go-Ahead. Club
+pack in her canoe the usual "day's ration" that they had been taught
+should always be carried for an emergency.
+
+"It only adds to the weight," grumbled Grace. "And dear knows, the old
+blankets and things that you make us paddle about, makes the going hard
+enough."
+
+"That's it--kick!" exclaimed Frank. "You'd kick if your feet were tied,
+Gracie."
+
+"Assuredly!" returned the big girl.
+
+"Now, don't fuss at the rules of the club that have long ago been voted
+upon and adopted," said Wyn, cheerfully. "We do not know what is going
+to happen. Somebody might hit a snag. It would take hours to make
+repairs--perhaps we would have to camp for the night somewhere on the
+way. We want to be prepared for all such emergencies."
+
+"Well, the Busters aren't loading themselves down with all this truck,"
+declared Grace, with, vigor.
+
+"That's all right. Let us be the wise ones," laughed Wynifred. "The boys
+may want to borrow of us before we get to Lake Honotonka."
+
+"Why, Wynnie!" cried Bess Lavine, "if you are expecting all sorts of
+breakdowns and misfortunes, I shall be afraid to start at all."
+
+"Guess I'll go on with Aunt Evelyn to the Forge, and send my canoe by
+train," laughed Percy Havel. "Wyn's got us drowned already."
+
+But on the morning of the departure not one of the girls prophesied
+misfortune. As for the boys, they were bubbling over with fun.
+
+Professor Skillings was going to paddle up the river with them, although
+Mrs. Havel would take the afternoon train to the lake. The professor had
+gone on ahead; but Dave Shepard arranged the two clubs in line and boys
+and girls marched through the streets and down to the river, being
+hailed by their friends and bidden good-bye by their less fortunate
+mates.
+
+Somebody started singing, and the twelve young voices were soon in the
+rhythm of "This is the Life!" Dave and Tubby were ahead, their paddles
+over their shoulders, each carrying his blanket-roll in approved scout
+fashion. The roll made Tubby Blaisdell look twice his real size.
+
+As the party struck across the sward toward the boathouses Dave suddenly
+dropped his paraphernalia and started on a run for the river.
+
+"Hi, there!" he shouted. "The professor is in trouble, boys!"
+
+The Busters bounded away after him, and the girls, catching the
+excitement, followed along the bank of the swiftly-flowing Wintinooski.
+There was Professor Skillings in his canoe, drifting rapidly into the
+middle of the current, and plainly without his paddle. Indeed, that
+useful--not to say necessary--instrument, capped the pile of Professor
+Skillings' impedimenta on the bank. He had evidently--in his usual
+absent-minded manner--stepped into his canoe and pushed off from shore
+without getting his cargo aboard.
+
+Amid much laughter Dave and Ferd Roberts got a skiff and went after
+their teacher. Professor Skillings chuckled at his own troubles.
+Although he was well past the meridian of life, he had neither lost his
+sense of the ridiculous nor his ability to laugh at a joke when it was
+on himself.
+
+While the boys were rescuing their friend and mentor, the Go-Ahead Club
+proceeded to get out their own canoes and load them. The weight had to
+be distributed in bow and stern of the light, cedar craft; but Wyn and
+her mates had practised loading and launching their boats so frequently
+that there was little danger of an overset now.
+
+Grace was still growling about the food and cooking apparatus
+distributed among the canoeists. Wyn said, laughing:
+
+"That is still the bone of contention; is it, Gracie?"
+
+"What _is_ a 'bone of contention'?" demanded Mina, innocently.
+
+"Why, the jawbone, of course, silly!" cried Frank.
+
+"Don't you mind about my jawbone, miss!" snapped Grace.
+
+"Oh, don't let's fight, girls," Mina said, soothingly.
+
+"Better a dinner of herbs with contentment than a stalled ox and trouble
+on the side," misquoted Frank.
+
+The six girls quickly shot their canoes out into the stream. At this
+point the current was swift; but above Denton the river broadened into
+wide pools through which the current flowed sluggishly and it would be
+easier paddling.
+
+The girls set into a steady stroke, led by their captain, and passed the
+pretty town in a few minutes. Wyn could see the upper windows of her
+home and noted a white cloth fluttering from one. She knew that her
+mother was standing there with the field-glasses and Baby May. Perhaps
+the little one was trying to see "sister" through the strong glasses.
+
+So Wyn pulled off her cap and swung it over her head and the six canoes
+immediately fell out of alignment.
+
+"Don't do that, Wyn!" shouted Bess. "Those boys will catch up with us."
+
+"Well, we want them to; don't we?" asked the captain of the Go-Aheads,
+good-naturedly. "We're going to lunch together, and if we make the poor
+boys work too hard they'll eat every crumb we've got and leave nothing
+for poor little we-uns."
+
+"So _that's_ why you made us bring all this food?" demanded Bess,
+in disgust. "Can't those boys feed themselves?"
+
+"Oh, they'll do their share," Wyn replied, laughing. "You'll see. Don't
+you see how heavily laden Tubby's canoe is? I warrant he has enough
+luncheon aboard for a small army."
+
+"I can't look over my shoulder--I never can," quoth Bessie. "Paddling a
+canoe takes more of my attention than riding a bicycle."
+
+"Or a motorcycle. Those things are just awful," cried Mina Everett.
+
+"Shucks!" exclaimed the lively Frankie. "A motorcycle is only an
+ordinary bicycle driven crazy by over-indulgence in gasoline."
+
+"How smart!" cried Bessie. "But you'd better save your breath to cool
+your porridge----"
+
+"Or, better still, to work your paddle," commented Grace, with a swift
+glance behind. "Those Busters are coming up the river, hand over fist."
+
+"With poor Tubby in the rear, of course," said Frank, glancing back.
+"The tide is certainly against _him_."
+
+"Oh, dear me!" giggled Percy, "poor Tubby was more than 'tide' last week
+when he took Annabel Craven out on the river. Did you hear about it? You
+know--the night before graduation."
+
+"I believe that fat youth is sweet on Annabel," announced Bessie,
+shaking her head seriously.
+
+"What do you suppose Ann thinks of Tubby?" cried Grace.
+
+"You know how it is," chuckled Frank. "Nobody loves a fat boy. Go on,
+Percy. What happened to poor old Tubby?"
+
+"Why, he inveigled Annabel down to the river and got her into a boat and
+was going to row her around in the moonlight. You know it was just a
+scrumptious night."
+
+"M-m-m! wasn't it?" agreed Frank.
+
+"Well," said Percy, "Tubby got in without overturning the boat and
+settled to work. The current was pretty swift and he struck right out
+into it and headed up stream.
+
+"And there he tugged, and tugged, and tugged, giving all his attention
+to the oars and having none to spare for Annabel. By and by, after Tubby
+had tugged, and grunted, and perspired for half an hour, he said:
+
+"'Say, I never saw anything like this current to-night--not in all my
+born days! I've been pulling like a horse for half an hour and I don't
+see that we've made as much as a dozen feet!'
+
+"And then Annabel spoke up real pretty, and says she:
+
+"'Oh, Mr. Blaisdell! I've just thought of something. The anchor fell
+overboard some time ago and I forgot to tell you. Do you suppose it
+could have caught on something?'"
+
+The other girls were intensely amused at this, for they all appreciated
+Annabel Craven's character as well as poor Tubby's good-natured
+blundering. But while they laughed and chattered in this way the Busters
+crept steadily up on them.
+
+"I told you how it would be," said Bess, tartly, "if we didn't hurry
+up."
+
+"What's the matter with you girls?" demanded Dave Shepard. "One would
+think you were sent for and couldn't come, by the way you paddle. You'll
+get to the lake before noon at this rate."
+
+"Not much danger of that, Davie," returned Wyn. "And you know we agreed
+to stop at Ware's Island for lunch."
+
+"Oh, I wish that was right here!" grunted a voice from the rear, where
+Tubby Blaisdell was paddling away with almost as much splashing as a
+small side-wheel steamer.
+
+"My goodness, boy!" cried Ferd Roberts. "You're not hungry so soon, are
+you?"
+
+"Soon?" repeated Tubby, with disgust "It's so long since breakfast that
+I've forgotten what I had to eat."
+
+"What do you want to eat, Tubby?" asked Frank, giggling.
+
+"Not particular. Anything--from a marshmallow cake to a tough steak,"
+grunted the fat boy.
+
+"Tubby wouldn't be as particular as the grouchy gentleman who went into
+the restaurant out West and ordered a steak," chuckled Dave. "After the
+waiter brought it the customer tried his knife on it and then called the
+waiter back.
+
+"'Say!' he objected. 'This steak isn't tender enough.'
+
+"'Not tender enough, stranger?' returned the cowboy waiter. 'What d'you
+expect? Want it to hug an' kiss yer?'"
+
+When the laugh on Tubby had subsided Professor Skillings said, with a
+twinkle in his eye:
+
+"Our friend, Blaisdell, should be able to exist some time on his
+accumulation of fat. He ought not to seriously suffer from hunger as
+yet."
+
+"Like a camel living on its hump--eh?" said Wyn. "How about that,
+Tubby?"
+
+"I'm no relation to a camel--I tell you that," snorted the fat boy, with
+disgust.
+
+"Then Mr. Blaisdell might imitate some insects; mightn't he, Professor
+Skillings?" suggested Frank, with a sly look. "You know there are
+insects that live on nothing."
+
+"On nothing?" exclaimed the professor, quickly. "Oh, no, young lady, you
+are mistaken. That is quite impossible."
+
+"But, Professor! A moth lives on nothing; doesn't it?"
+
+"No, indeed. How could that be?" cried the scientific gentleman, greatly
+perturbed by Frank's apparent display of ignorance.
+
+"Why, moths eat holes; don't they?" chortled Frank. "Surely 'holes' are
+a pretty slim diet."
+
+Professor Skillings led the laughter himself over this simple joke. But
+he added:
+
+"I fear I should not be able to interest you in science, Frances."
+
+"Not in summer, sir--oh, never!" cried Frank. "I refuse to learn a
+single, living thing until school opens again next fall."
+
+In spite of Tubby's complaints, the canoeing party sighted Ware Island
+in good season for luncheon. This was a low, wooded spot around which
+the Wintinooski--split in two streams--flowed very quietly. The country
+on both sides was cut up into farms, with intervening patches of woods,
+dotted with ferns, and was very beautiful.
+
+There was a little beach on one side of the island, with a green, shaded
+bank above. This was a favorite picnicking spot for parties from Denton;
+but our friends had the island all to themselves this day.
+
+The girls had been as far as this island before in their canoes; but
+never beyond. From this spot on the journey up the Wintinooski would be
+all new to Wyn Mallory and her chums.
+
+The canoes were hauled up out of the water and the boys skirmished for
+fuel while the girls got out the luncheon. Ferd Roberts was
+fire-builder, and Grace, who hated that work, watched him closely,
+marveling how quickly and well he constructed the pyre and had a blaze
+merrily dancing among the sticks.
+
+"Doesn't that beat all!" cried Grace. "You must love fires as much as
+Nero did."
+
+"Nero? Let's see--he was the chap that always was cold; wasn't he?"
+queried Ferd, grinning.
+
+"Nope!" broke in Frank. "That was Zero. You _will_ get your ancient
+history mixed, Ferd!"
+
+The luncheon was quickly laid, and Tubby was not the only one who did it
+justice. But Bessie Lavine continued to act disagreeably toward the
+boys. She was "forever nagging," as Dave said; and sometimes there was a
+spark of fire when she managed to get one or another of the boys "mad."
+
+Professor Skillings wandered off with his bag and little geological
+hammer and Tubby rolled over on his back under a shady bush and went to
+sleep.
+
+"Pig!" ejaculated Bess, in disgust. "That's all boys think of--their
+stomachs."
+
+"Oh, don't be so hateful, Bess," advised Frank. "Come on; the rest of us
+are going to walk around a little to settle our luncheon, before
+tackling the paddles again."
+
+"Humph! with the boys?" snapped Bess, seeing Wyn start off with Dave by
+her side. "Not me, thank you!"
+
+"All right," chuckled Frank Cameron. "You can keep Tubby company."
+
+But that suggestion made Bess even more angry, and she went off with her
+nose in the air, and all alone. But as the crowd of young folk came
+around the east end of Ware Island, they, saw Bess standing upon the
+brink of a steep bank, under a small tree, where the water had washed
+out a good deal of the earth in a sort of cave beneath where she stood.
+
+"Hi, Bessie! get back from there!" shouted Dave, warningly. "That place
+is likely to cave in."
+
+"Then you certainly _would_ get a ducking," added Frank.
+
+"Pooh! I guess I know what I'm about," said the girl. "I'm no baby."
+
+"You're acting like one," growled Dave. "That place is dangerous."
+
+"It's not, Mr. Smartie!" cried Bess, and she stamped her foot in anger.
+
+And just as though that had been the signal for which it had been
+waiting, several square yards of the steep bank, with the tree she was
+clinging to, slumped down into the river.
+
+The girls screamed, while the boys bounded forward toward the spot where
+Bessie had disappeared.
+
+"Oh, Dave!" cried Wyn. "Save her! save her! She can't swim very well.
+She will be drowned!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+THE STORM BREAKS
+
+
+Dave Shepard, followed by the other "Busters," leaped down to the edge
+of the water before they came to the spot where the bank had caved. They
+feared that by tramping along the edge they might bring down even a
+greater avalanche than had fallen with the unfortunate Bessie.
+
+"There she is, fellows!" cried Dave. "She's hanging to the tree!"
+
+"I see her!" returned Ferd Roberts.
+
+"Oh, Dave! we can't reach her," cried another of the Busters.
+
+"I wish the professor was here," cried Ferd. "He'd know what to do."
+
+"My goodness!" returned Dave, throwing off his coat and cap. "I don't
+need anybody to tell me what to do. _We've got to go after her!_"
+
+He tore off the low shoes he wore, pitched them after his cap and coat,
+and leaped into the water. The current tugged hard at the end of the
+island, and Bessie and the uprooted sapling were being carried out
+farther and farther into the stream.
+
+The girl had not screamed. Indeed, she had been startled to such a
+degree when she went down that she had really not breath enough for
+speech as yet.
+
+The boys were "right on the job," and only a few seconds elapsed from
+the moment the bank gave away until that in which Dave Shepard sprang
+into the river.
+
+Some of the roots of the tree still clung to the shore. A part of the
+loosened earth had fallen upon these roots and so the tree was anchored.
+But Bessie was clinging to the hole of the sapling quite fifteen feet
+from the edge of the solid beach.
+
+"Catch hold of hands, boys!" commanded Dave. "Make a chain! Give me one
+hand, Ferd! The current is tugging me right off my feet!"
+
+His four mates obeyed orders promptly. Dave was captain of the Busters,
+as Wyn was of the Go-Ahead Club; and the boys had learned to obey their
+captain promptly--all but Tubby, at least. But Tubby was not in this
+exciting adventure at all, being asleep under the bush at their lunching
+place.
+
+The fat boy was not even aroused when the crowd trooped back to the
+spot, boys and girls alike chattering like magpies. Dave and Ferd
+carried the dripping Bessie in "arm-chair" fashion and the girl who so
+disliked boys clung to her two chief rescuers with abandon.
+
+They had hauled her out of the river just as she was losing her grasp on
+the tree. A moment later she might have been whirled down stream by the
+current and her life endangered. As it was, she had swallowed much
+water, and was just as wet inside and out as she would ever be in her
+life.
+
+All the boys were more or less wet--Dave was saturated to his arm-pits.
+But the day was warm, and the boys were used to such duckings. It was
+another matter, however, with the girl. She was already shaking with an
+incipient chill.
+
+"Wood on the fire, boys--get a lot of it," commanded Dave. "And get our
+blankets and let's put up a makeshift tent for Bess to use. She must get
+off her wet duds and wring them out and dry them. Hi! wake up that Tubby
+Blaisdell. We want his help."
+
+Ferd proceeded to walk right over the fat youth on his way for more fuel
+and that effectually aroused the lad.
+
+"Hey--you! what are you about?" yawned Tubby. "Can't you find another
+place to walk on but _me_, Ferd Roberts?"
+
+"I've got to walk _some_where," quoth Ferd.
+
+"Why! you're all wet," gasped Tubby. "And so are you, Dave! And those
+other fellows--I declare!"
+
+"Wake up and do something, Tubby," commanded Dave. "We want to get a
+tent up, There's been an accident, and Bessie Lavine is wetter than any
+of us. Let's have your knife."
+
+"My--my knife?" yawned Tubby, rolling over slowly to reach into his
+breeches pocket.
+
+This was too good a chance for Ferd to resist. Tubby was rolling near
+the edge of the bank as Ferd came back with his arms full of broken
+branches. Ferd put his foot against Tubby's back and pushed with all his
+might.
+
+"Hi! Stop that! Ugh!"
+
+Tubby rolled over once--he rolled over twice; then, with many
+ejaculations and bumps rolled completely down the slope, amid the
+laughter of the boys and girls above him.
+
+Tubby missed the canoes--by good luck--and rolled with a splash into a
+shallow pool at the river's edge.
+
+"You mean thing!" he yelled, getting up with some alacrity and shaking
+his fist at Ferd. "I--I'm all wet."
+
+"So are we, Tubby," Dave said. "You belong to our lodge now. Come on up
+here with that knife of yours. Didn't I tell you I wanted to use it?"
+
+The other boys were scurrying after stakes and blankets, while the girls
+fed the fire till it roared high, and Bessie stood in the heat of the
+flames.
+
+"What do you think of the boys _now_, Bess?" Frank Cameron
+whispered in the victim's ear. "Some good--at times--eh?"
+
+"Now, don't worry her, Frank," commanded Mina, the tender-hearted. "The
+poor, dear girl! See--she's just as wet as she can possibly be."
+
+"Oh, and wasn't I scared!" gasped Bess, honestly. "When that bank went
+down I thought I was right on my way through to China! I did, indeed."
+
+"I was so thankful Dave was there," said Wyn Mallory, thoughtfully. "You
+see, Dave is one of those dependable boys."
+
+"I've got to admit it," gasped Bess. "He's some good. Why! he caught me
+just as I was slipping off that tree. I _can't_ thank him!"
+
+"Never mind," said Wyn, cheerfully. "It is decided, I guess, that the
+boys may be of some use to us this summer, after all."
+
+"That's so, if we're all going to run the risk of drowning," Grace
+Hedges observed.
+
+"I am going to learn to swim better," declared Bess. "I'll just put my
+t--time all in on _that_. But, oh, girls! I am so wet!"
+
+"Tent's ready, ladies!" shouted Dave Shepard. "Make her take her
+clothing off, Wyn. We fellows will get the professor and go over to the
+other side of the island for a swim. Ferd and I have got to strip off
+and wring out our trousers, anyway. And I reckon Tubby is some wet."
+
+"That's all right," grumbled the fat youth, waddling after his mates.
+"I'll pay Ferd out for that--you see!"
+
+The boys were back in an hour and a half. By that time Bess had been
+made quite presentable, for her garments had been dried over the fire.
+However, the girls were dressed in a way to stand--as well as might
+be--such accidents as Bessie had met.
+
+The girl who had declared boys no good frankly shook hands with Dave
+before they embarked again, and thanked him very prettily for his help
+in time of need.
+
+"Go ahead! get a medal for me," said Dave. "Pin it right _there_,"
+and he pointed to the lapel of his jacket. "I'm a hero. Keep on praising
+me, Miss Lavine, and I'll grow as tall as a giraffe."
+
+"And that's the highest form of animal life--ask the professor if it
+isn't," chuckled Frank Cameron.
+
+But they were all very thankful that nothing serious had resulted from
+the accident. There was an after-result, however, that promised to be
+unpleasant. They had been so delayed at the island that it was half-past
+three before they got off. There was still a long stretch to paddle to
+Meade's Forge at the foot of Honotonka Lake.
+
+And, swiftly as they paddled, the sun was setting when they arrived at
+the Forge. Besides, a heavy cloud was coming up, threatening a storm.
+Indeed, lightning was already playing around the horizon behind them.
+
+There was no hotel at the Forge, and no good place to stop for the
+night. Mrs. Havel was out in her canoe waiting for them. Gannet Island,
+where the boys were to camp, was in sight, and the camping place the
+girls had had selected for them was even nearer.
+
+"We had better go at once," said the professor, earnestly. "We will stop
+and help you erect your tents first----"
+
+"No, you will not," returned Mrs. Havel. "The girls and I have got to
+learn to be independent. Besides, your stores are waiting for you over
+there on the island, and I understand from the boatmen that the things
+are not yet under cover. You must hurry. We'll get along all right;
+won't we, girls?"
+
+"Sure!" agreed Frank.
+
+"We haven't come up here to be a burden on the boys, I hope," said Wyn,
+sturdily.
+
+Wyn was captain, and as both she and Mrs. Havel thought they could get
+along all right, it was not for the other girls to object. The professor
+and the boys bade them good-bye and paddled away as fast as possible for
+the distant island. Even Tubby put forth some effort, for the
+thunderstorm was surely coming.
+
+Tired as they were, the girls of the Go-Ahead Club made their paddles
+fly for another half-hour. Then they were in sight of a white birch, to
+the top of which was fastened a long streamer, like a pennant.
+
+"There's the place!" cried Wyn, recognizing the signal that Polly Jarley
+had written to her about.
+
+"And yonder is the boatman's place where our stores were left?" asked
+Mrs. Havel.
+
+"Yes, ma'am."
+
+"We cannot stop for anything now, and must depend for the night upon
+what we have with us. I don't like the look of that cloud," said the
+lady.
+
+None of the girls liked the look of it, either. It had now rolled up to
+the zenith--a leaden mass, looming over them most threateningly. And
+there was a rumble of thunder in the summer air.
+
+"Oh! what a beautiful spot!" cried Percy.
+
+"See that reach of lawn--and the thick grove behind it. Goodness me!"
+exclaimed Mina Everett, "do you suppose there are bears in that woods?"
+
+"If there are, we'll catch 'em and eat 'em," said Frank, practically.
+"Now you know, Mina, there hasn't been a bear shot in this state since
+your grandfather's time."
+
+"Well, then, if there's been none shot, maybe there are a lot grown up
+here in the woods," objected Mina.
+
+"Don't scare a fellow to death with your croaking," admonished Percy.
+
+Bessie had known that Polly Jarley had chosen the site for the camp; and
+she was secretly prepared to find fault with it. But as they drove their
+canoes ashore on the little, silvery beach below the green knoll where
+the pennant fluttered, Bess could find in her heart no complaint.
+
+It seemed an ideal spot. On three sides the thick woods sheltered the
+knoll of green. In front the lake lay like a mirror--its surface
+whitened in ridges 'way out toward the middle now, for the wind was
+coming.
+
+"Hurry ashore, girls," said Mrs. Havel. "And pull your canoes well up on
+the sand. We must hurry to get our shelter up first of all. It will rain
+before dark, and the night is coming fast."
+
+"Wish the boys had stopped to help us," wailed Grace.
+
+"And let their own stores get all wet--eh?" cried Wyn. "For shame! Come
+on, girls. To the tent!"
+
+There was a pile of canvas which had been dropped here by the bateau men
+on their way to Gannet Island that forenoon. There were stakes and poles
+with the canvas, and the girls had practised putting up the shelter and
+striking it for some weeks in Wyn's back yard.
+
+They were not so clumsy at this work, therefore; but it did seem,
+because they were in a hurry, that everything went wrong.
+
+Mina pounded her thumb with a stake-mallet, and the ridge pole fell once
+and struck Grace on the side of the head. Poor Grace was always
+unfortunate.
+
+"Oh, dear me! I wish I was home!" wailed the big girl. "And ouch! it's
+going to thunder and lightning just awful!"
+
+"Now, keep at work!" admonished their captain. "Fasten those pegs down
+well, Frankie," she added, to the girl, who had taken the mallet. "Never
+mind crying over your poor thumb, Mina. Wait till the tent's up and all
+our things brought up from the canoes."
+
+"Here come the first drops, girls!" shrieked Frankie.
+
+Drops! It was a deluge! It came across the lake in a perfect wall of
+water, shutting out their view of Gannet Island and everything else.
+
+The girls scuttled for the canoes, emptied them, turned the boats keel
+upward, and then retreated to the big tent, Wyn even dragging the canvas
+of the cook tent inside to keep it from becoming saturated.
+
+Fortunately the last peg had been secured. The flap was laced down
+quickly. In the semi-darkness of the sudden twilight the girls and Mrs.
+Havel stood together and listened to the rain drum upon the taut canvas.
+
+How it sounded! Worse than the rain on a tin roof! Peering out through
+the slit in the middle of the tent-flap they could see nothing but a
+gray wall of water.
+
+Suddenly there was a glaring blue flash, followed soon by the roar of
+the thunder. Several of the girls cried out and crouched upon the
+ground.
+
+"Oh, dear me! this is awful!" groaned Grace again.
+
+Mina Everett was sobbing with the pain in her thumb and her fear of the
+lightning.
+
+"Now, this will never do, girls," admonished Wyn Mallory. "Come! we can
+set up the alcohol lamp and make tea. That will help some. There are
+crackers and some ham, and a whole big bottle of olives. Why! we sha'n't
+starve for supper, that's sure."
+
+"I--I don't know as I want to eat," quavered Mina.
+
+"Pshaw! We Go-Aheads must not be afraid of a little storm----"
+
+Wyn's voice was drowned in the clap of thunder which accompanied an
+awful flash of lightning. With both came a splintering crash, the tent
+seemed to rock, and for a moment its interior was vividly illuminated by
+the electric bolt. The lightning had struck near at hand.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+AT WINDMILL FARM
+
+
+Both Wyn and Mrs. Havel--the bravest of the seven gathered in the big
+tent--were frightened by this awful shock. The other girls clung to
+them, Mina and Grace sobbing aloud.
+
+"I--I feel as though that bolt fairly seared my eyeballs," groaned Frank
+Cameron. "Oh, dear! Here's another!"
+
+But this flash was not so severe. The girls peered out of the slit in
+the front of the tent and screamed again in alarm. The rain had passed
+for the moment. There, not many rods away, stood an old, half-dead oak
+with its top all ablaze.
+
+"That is where the lightning struck," cried Wyn.
+
+"It is fortunate our tent was no nearer to that side of the plateau,"
+observed Mrs. Havel.
+
+Then the rain commenced again, and the thudding on the canvas drowned
+out their voices for a time.
+
+Somehow Wyn managed to get supper. The thunder and lightning gradually
+subsided; but for an hour the rain came in intermittent dashes and it
+was nine o'clock before they could venture forth into the cool, damp
+air.
+
+They had eaten their simple meal and set up the sleeping cots (which
+were likewise of canvas) before that. There was a flooring of matched
+planks to be laid, too; but the rain had wet them and the girls would
+have to wait for to-morrow's sun to dry them.
+
+"Oh! I don't believe living under canvas is going to be half so nice as
+we thought," complained Mina. "I never _did_ think about its
+storming."
+
+"A bad beginning makes a good ending," quoted Mrs. Havel, brightly.
+"This is only for one night."
+
+"Excuse me! I don't want another like it, Auntie," declared her niece.
+
+They could have no lamp to see to go to bed by, save Wyn's pocket
+electric flash.
+
+"And it's so plaguey awkward!" cried Frankie. "Here one of us has to
+hold the snapper shut so the others can see. Here, Mina! I've played
+Goddess of Liberty long enough; _you_ hold the lamp awhile."
+
+Wyn slung a line from one end of the tent to the other, and on this they
+hung their clothes. All the girls were provided with warm pajamas as
+being safer night garments under canvas than the muslin robes they wore
+at home.
+
+"I _do_ feel so funny," cried Percy, hopping into her own nest. "I
+can't curl my toes up in my nightgown--they stick right out at the
+bottom of these trousers!"
+
+"And doesn't the grass tickle your feet?" cried Frank, dancing about
+between the cots. "My, my! this _is_ camping out in real earnest.
+O-o-o! Here's a trickle of water running under the side of the tent,
+Wyn."
+
+"You can thank your stars it isn't running through a hole in the tent
+right upon your heads," responded the captain. "Do get into bed, Frank."
+
+Even Frank was quiet at last. The day had been a strenuous one. The
+muttering thunder in the distance lulled them to sleep. Soon the big
+white tent upon the knoll by the lake was silent save for the soft
+breathing of the girls and their chaperone.
+
+And--odd as it may seem, considering the strangeness of their
+surroundings--all the girls slept soundly through the night. It was Wyn
+Mallory herself who first opened her eyes and knew, by the light
+outside, that it must be near sunrise.
+
+Up she popped, stepping lightly over the cold grass so as not to arouse
+her mates and Mrs. Havel, and reached the opening. She peered through.
+To the east the horizon was aglow with melting shades of pink, amber,
+turquoise and rose. The sun was coming!
+
+Wyn snapped open the flap and ran out to welcome His Majesty. Then,
+however, she remembered that she was in pajamas, and glanced around
+swiftly to see if she was observed.
+
+Not a soul was in sight. At that moment the first chorus of the
+feathered choir that welcomes the day in the wilds, had ceased. Silence
+had fallen upon the forest and upon the lake.
+
+Only the lap, lap, lap of the little waves upon the shore was audible.
+The wind did not stir the tree branches. There was a little chill in the
+air after the storm, and the ground was saturated.
+
+Wyn was doubtful about that "early morning plunge" in the lake that she
+had heard the boys talk about, and which she had secretly determined to
+emulate. But the boys' camp was at the far end of Gannet Island and she
+could not see it at all. She wondered if Dave and his friends would
+plunge into that awfully cold-looking water on this chilly morning?
+
+To assure herself that the water _was_ cold she ran down to where
+the canoes lay and poked one big toe into the edge of the pool. Ouch! it
+was just like ice!
+
+"No, no!" whispered Wyn, and scuttled up the bank again, hugging herself
+tight in both arms to counteract the chill.
+
+But she couldn't go back to bed. It was too beautiful a morning. And all
+the others were sleeping soundly.
+
+Wyn decided that she would not awaken them. But she slipped inside,
+selected her own clothing, and in ten minutes was dressed. Then she ran
+down to the pool again, palmed the water all over her face, rubbing her
+cheeks and forehead and ears till they tingled, and then wiped dry upon
+the towel she had brought with her.
+
+Another five minutes and her hair was braided Indian fashion, and tied
+neatly. Then the sun popped up--broadly agrin and with the promise in
+his red countenance of a very warm day.
+
+"Good-morning, Mr. Sun!" quoth Wyn, dancing a little dance of her own
+invention upon the summit of the green knoll that overhung the lake
+before the tent. "I hope you give us a fine day, and that we all enjoy
+it."
+
+With a final pirouette she ran back to the tent. Still Mrs. Havel and
+the others slept.
+
+"What lazy folk!" she told them, in a whisper, and then caught up a
+six-quart pail and ran back through the open place and found the wood
+road that Polly had written her about.
+
+She knew that to her left lay the way to the landing where Mr. Jarley
+kept his boats, and where their stores were under cover in a shed. But
+breakfast was the first consideration, and in the other direction lay
+Windmill Farm, at which Polly told her she had arranged for the
+Go-Aheads to get milk, fresh eggs, and garden vegetables.
+
+So Wyn tripped along this right hand extension of the wood path and,
+within half an hour, came out of the forest upon the edge of the cleared
+farm. Before her lay sloping fields up, up, up to a high knoll, on the
+top of which stood a windmill, painted red.
+
+The long arms of the mill, canvas-covered, rose much higher in the air
+than the gilt vane that glistened on the very peak of the roof. The
+rising sun shone full upon the windmill and made it a brilliant spot of
+color against the blue sky; but the wind was still and the sails did not
+cause the arms to revolve.
+
+Just below the mill, upon the leisurely slope of the knoll, was set the
+white-painted farmhouse, with well-kept stables and out-buildings and
+poultry yards and piggery at the rear.
+
+"What a pretty spot!" cried Wyn, aloud. "And the woods are so thick
+between it and the lake that one would never know it was here."
+
+She hurried on, for she knew by the smoke rising from the house chimney
+and the bustle of sound from the barnyard that the farmer and his family
+were astir.
+
+Before she reached the side porch a number of cows, one with a bell on
+her neck leading the herd, filed out through the side yard and took a
+lane for the distant pasture. Horses neighed for their breakfasts, the
+pigs squealed in their sties and there was a pretty young woman singing
+at the well curb as she drew a great, splashing bucket of water.
+
+"Oh! you're one of the girls Polly Jarley told us were coming to the
+lake to camp?" said the farmer's wife, graciously. "And did you get here
+in the storm last night? How do you all like it?"
+
+"I can only answer for myself," declared Wyn, laughing. "They were all
+asleep when I came away. But I guess if we have nothing worse to trouble
+us than that shower we shall get along all right."
+
+"You're a plucky girl--for a city one," said the woman. "Now, do you
+want milk and eggs?"
+
+Wyn told her what she wanted, and paid for the things. Then she started
+back to camp, laden with the brimming milk pail and a basket which the
+farmer's wife had let her have.
+
+The sun was now mounting swiftly in his course across the sky. Faintly
+she heard the sawmill at the Forge blowing a whistle to call the hands,
+and knew that it was six o'clock. She hurried her steps and reached the
+opening where the tent was pitched just as the first sleepy Go-Ahead was
+creeping out to see what manner of day it might be.
+
+"For goodness' sake, Wyn Mallory!" cried this yawning nymph in blue
+pajamas. "Have you been up all night?"
+
+"Aren't you cute in those things, Percy?" returned Wyn. "You look just
+like a doll in a store window. Come on and dress. It's time you were all
+up. Why! the day will be gone before you know it."
+
+"Oh--ow--ouch!" yawned Percy, and then jumped quickly through the
+opening of the tent because Grace Hedges pushed her.
+
+"Why! the sun's up!" cried the big girl. "Why! and there's Wyn with
+milk--and eggs--and pretty red radishes--and _peas_. Mercy me! Look
+at all the things in this basket. Whose garden have you been robbing,
+Wyn?"
+
+"Come on!" commanded the captain of the Go-Ahead Club. "I brought a bag
+of meal in _my_ canoe. And there is salt, and aluminum bowls, and
+spoons. We can make a good breakfast of eggs and mush. Hurry up, all you
+lazy folk, and help get breakfast."
+
+"O-o-o! isn't the grass cold!" exclaimed one girl who had just stepped
+out from between woolen blankets.
+
+"I--I feel as though I were dressing outdoors," gasped another, with
+chattering teeth. "D-don't you suppose anybody can see through this
+tent?"
+
+"Nonsense, goosey!" ejaculated Frank. "Hurry up and get into your
+clothes. You take up more room than an elephant."
+
+"Did you ever share a dressing room with an elephant, Frank?" demanded
+Bess.
+
+"Not before," returned the thin girl, grimly. "But I am preparing for
+that experience when I try to dress in the same tent with Gracie."
+
+But they were all eager to get outside when they sniffed the smoke of
+the campfire, and, a little later, the odor of eggs "frying in the pan."
+Despite the saturated condition of most of the underbrush Wyn knew where
+to get dry wood for fuel, Dave had long ago taught her that bit of
+woodcraft.
+
+With a small camp hatchet she had attacked the under branches of the
+spruce and low pine trees, and soon had a good heap of these dead sticks
+near the tent. She turned over a flat stone that lay near by for a
+hearth. Before the other girls and Mrs. Havel were dressed and had
+washed their faces at the lakeside, Captain Wyn was stirring mush in a
+kettle and frying eggs in pork fat in a big aluminum pan.
+
+"Sunny side up; or with a veil of brown drawn over their beautiful
+faces, Frankie?" asked Wyn, referring to the sizzling eggs. "How do you
+like 'em?"
+
+"I like 'em on toast--'Adam and Eve on a raft' Brother Ed calls 'em. And
+when he wants 'em scrambled he says, 'Wreck 'em!'"
+
+"You'll get no toast this morning," declared Wyn. "You'll be satisfied
+with crackers--or go without."
+
+"Cruel lady!" quoth Frank. "I expect I'll have to accept my yoke of
+eggs----"
+
+"Only the _yolk_ of the eggs, Frank?"
+
+"No, I mean the pair I want," laughed Frankie. "And I'll take 'em
+without the toast and--'sunny side up.'"
+
+"Good! I can't turn an egg without breaking it--never could. Now, girls!
+bring your plates. I'll flop a pair of eggs onto each plate. There's
+crackers in the box. Hand around your bowls. The cornmeal mush is nice,
+and there is lovely milk and sugar if you want it. For 'them that likes'
+there is coffee."
+
+"M-m-m! Doesn't it smell good?" cried Grace, as the party came trooping
+to the fire with their kits.
+
+"I--I thought I'd miss the sweet butter," said Bess, sitting down
+cross-legged on the already dry grass. "But somehow I've got _such_
+an appetite."
+
+"I hope the boys are having as good a time," sighed Wyn, sitting back
+upon her heels and spooning up her mush, flooded with the new milk.
+"Isn't this just scrumptious, Mrs. Havel?"
+
+"It is the simple life," replied that lady, smiling. "Plenty of fresh
+air, no frills, plain food--that ought to do much for you girls this
+summer. I am sure if you can endure plain food and simple living for
+these several weeks before us, you will all be improved in both health
+and mind."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+JOHN JARLEY, EXILE
+
+
+This could be no day of leisure for the Go-Ahead Club. To get settled in
+camp was the first task--and that no small one.
+
+There was the plank flooring to be laid in the big tent, the cook-tent
+to be erected, and the floor laid in that. There was a sheet-iron stove
+to erect, with a smoke pipe to the outside, and an asbestos "blanket" to
+wrap around the pipe to keep the canvas of the tent-top from scorching.
+
+There were the swinging shelves to put up, fastened to the ridge-pole of
+the cook-tent, on which certain supplies could be kept out of the reach
+of the wood mice and other small vermin. Indeed, there were a dozen and
+one things of moment to see about, beside bringing over to the camp a
+selection of the stores--and their extra clothes--from John Jarley's
+shack by the boat landing.
+
+Wyn was a competent girl and knew something about using a hammer and a
+saw. The flooring planks for both tents had been assembled at Denton,
+and were numbered; but after they got the sleepers laid Wyn realized
+that she and her mates had tackled more of a task than they had
+expected.
+
+"And the boys will be just as busy as they can be to-day," she said to
+the other girls. "It's a wonder if everything they owned didn't get
+soaked last evening.
+
+"Now, we can't depend upon the Busters to give us any assistance just
+now. Doubt if we see 'hide nor hair' of them to-day. But we need
+somebody to make these floors properly. There! Bess has stuck a splinter
+into her hand already."
+
+"Plague take the old board!" snapped Bess, dropping it and sucking on a
+ragged little wound in her hand.
+
+"You see," Wyn said, quickly. "I'm going to get some help. Anybody want
+to walk over to Jarley's with me?"
+
+"Are you going to get that man to come here?" demanded Bess, sharply.
+
+"Don't see what else there is to do--do you, Bessie?"
+
+"Isn't there anybody else to help us around here? There must be other
+squatters."
+
+"I do not know of any. We chance to know the Jarleys----"
+
+"Not I!" cried Bess, shaking her head. "_I_ don't know them--and I
+won't know them."
+
+"All right. You and Grace and Percy take the pails and try for some
+berries in the woods yonder. I saw some ripe ones this morning. Fresh
+picked berries will add nicely to our bill-of-fare; isn't that so, Mrs.
+Havel?"
+
+"Quite so, my dear," replied the widow, and buried herself in her book
+again, for, as she had told the girls, she had not come here to work;
+they must treat her as a guest.
+
+"Are you going to stop with Mrs. Havel, Mina?" continued Wyn. "Then come
+along with me, Frank. We'll go over and see if the Jarleys bite. Bess is
+afraid they will!"
+
+"She was telling us all about John Jarley," said Wyn's chum, as the two
+left the camp on the green knoll. "Do you suppose he stole that motor
+boat and the box of silver statuettes?"
+
+                   *       *       *       *       *
+
+"I don't _know_ anything about it," said Wyn, briskly. "But I know
+that he and Polly are very poor, and with a motor boat and five thousand
+dollars' worth of silver, it looks to me as though they would be very
+foolish to suffer the privations they do. It's nasty gossip, that's all
+it is."
+
+"Well, Bess says the man stole from her father years ago----"
+
+"I don't know much about _that_, either," interrupted Wynifred.
+"But I think Bess is overstepping the line of exact truth when she says
+John Jarley stole from her father. They were doing business together,
+and Mr. Lavine accused Jarley of 'selling him out' in a real estate
+deal.
+
+"I asked my father about it. Father says the whole business was a little
+misty, at best. If Jarley did all Lavine said, he merely was guilty of
+being false to his friend and partner. It is doubtful if he made much
+out of it. But Lavine talked loudly and long; he had lots of friends
+even then. The talk and all fairly hounded the Jarleys out of town.
+
+"And now," said Wyn, warmly, "the Lavines are rich and the Jarleys have
+always been poor. Mr. Jarley is an exile from his old home and such
+friends as he had in Denton. It is really a shame, I think--and you'll
+say so, too, when you see what a splendid girl Polly is."
+
+The two girls had followed the edge of the lake toward the landing,
+instead of taking the path through the wood. Suddenly they came in sight
+of the float and shack, with the several boats in Mr. Jarley's keeping.
+
+Back from the shore was a tiny cottage, painted red, its window sash and
+door striped with yellow. It was a gay little cot, and everything about
+it was as neat and as gaily painted as a Dutch picture.
+
+As Wyn and Frank came down the hill they saw Polly Jarley run out of the
+house and down to the landing. Her father was busy there at an
+overturned boat--evidently caulking the seams.
+
+The boatman's girl did not see her visitors coming; but Wyn and Frank
+got a good view of her, and the latter exclaimed to Wyn:
+
+"Why! she's as pretty as a picture! She's handsome! If she only had on
+nice clothes she would be a perfect beauty."
+
+"Wouldn't she?" returned Wyn, happily. "I think my Polly Jolly is just
+the _dearest_ looking creature. Isn't she brown? And what pretty
+feet and hands she has!"
+
+Polly wore a very short skirt, patched and stained. Her blouse was open
+at the throat, so that the soft roundness of the curve of her shoulder
+was plainly visible.
+
+Out of the open neck of the blouse her deeply tanned throat rose like a
+bronze column; the roses in her cheeks and on her lips relieved the
+sun-darkened skin. Her hair was in two great plaits and it was evident
+that she seldom troubled about a hat. She was lithe, graceful as she
+could be, and bubbling over with good health if not good spirits.
+
+And this was a morning--after the rain--to make even a lachrymose person
+lively. The smell of all growing things was in the nostrils--the warmth
+of the sun lapped one about like a mantle--it was a beautiful, beautiful
+day,--one to be remembered.
+
+Wyn shouted and started running down the hill. Polly heard her, turned
+to see who it might be who called, and recognizing her friend, set out
+to meet her quite as eagerly.
+
+"Oh, Miss Wynifred!" cried the boatman's daughter.
+
+"Polly Jolly! This is Frank Cameron." She kissed Polly warmly. "How fine
+you look, Polly! Tell me! will all we girls look as healthy and be as
+strong as you are, by the autumn? You're a picture!"
+
+"A pretty shabby one, I fear, Miss Wyn," protested Polly, yet smiling.
+"I am in the very oldest clothes I have, for there is much dirty work to
+be done around here. We have hardly got ready for the summer yet. Father
+has been so lame."
+
+"And you must introduce me to your father, Polly," Wyn said, quickly.
+"We have something for him to do--if he will be so kind."
+
+"All you need to do is to say what it is, Wynifred," responded Polly,
+warmly. "If either of us can do anything for you we will only be too
+glad."
+
+The three girls walked to the spot where Mr. Jarley was engaged upon his
+boat. He was not at all the sort of a person whom the girls from town
+had expected to see. The boatmen and woodsmen who sometimes drifted into
+Denton were rough characters. This man, after being ten years and more
+in the woods, savored little of the rough life he had followed.
+
+He was a small man, very neat in his suit of brown overalls, with
+grizzled hair, a short-cropped gray mustache, and without color in his
+face save the coat of tan his out-of-door life had given him.
+
+There was a gentle, deprecatory air about him that reminded Wyn strongly
+of Polly herself. But this manner was almost the only characteristic
+that father and daughter had in common.
+
+Mr. Jarley was low-spoken, too; he listened quietly and with an air of
+deference to what Wyn had to propose.
+
+"Surely I will come around and do all I can to aid you, Miss Mallory,"
+he said. "You shall pick out the stores you think you will need, and we
+will take a boat around to your camp. Your stores will be perfectly safe
+here--if you wish to risk them in my care," he added.
+
+"Of course, sir. And we expect to pay you for keeping them. If we have a
+long spell of rainy weather the dampness would be bound to spoil things
+in our tents."
+
+"True. This corrugated iron shack will keep the stores dry, and the door
+has a good padlock," returned Mr. Jarley. "Now, you young ladies pick
+out what you wish carried over to the camp and I will soon be at your
+service."
+
+"Isn't he nice?" whispered Wyn to Frank, when Polly had run into the
+house for something, and Mr. Jarley himself was out of hearing.
+
+"Why! he is a perfect gentleman!" exclaimed Frank. "How can Bess talk as
+she does about him? I am surprised at her."
+
+"And these other people about here, too!" declared Wyn, warmly. "What an
+evil tongue Gossip has! That man--Shelton, is his name?--at the other
+end of the lake, who has accused Mr. Jarley of stealing his boat and the
+silver statues, ought to be punished."
+
+"Well--of course--we don't _know_ anything more about the Jarleys
+than these other people," observed Frank, doubtfully.
+
+"I judge people by their appearance a good deal, I suppose," admitted
+Wyn. "And mother tells me that is a poor way to judge. Just the same, I
+_feel_ that the Jarleys are being maligned. And I would love to
+help them."
+
+"Well! there isn't much chance to do that unless you can prove that he
+_is_ honest, after all," remarked Frank.
+
+"I know it. Everything is going to tell against him unless the lost boat
+and the images can be found. I wonder where it was sunk? Do you suppose
+Polly would tell us just where the accident happened?"
+
+"Ask her."
+
+"I will, if I get a chance," declared Wyn. "And wouldn't it be fine if
+we girls could find the sunken boat and the box belonging to Dr.
+Shelton, and clear up the whole trouble?"
+
+"Even _that_ would not satisfy Bessie Lavine," said Frankie, with a
+little laugh. "You know--Bess is 'awful sot in her ways.' When she has
+made up her mind that a thing is so, you can't shake it out of her with
+a charge of dynamite!"
+
+"You never tried the dynamite; did you, Frank?" queried Wyn, smiling.
+
+"No! But I've wanted to--at times."
+
+"Bessie is like her father--obstinate. It is a family trait Yet, once
+get her turned around--show her that she has been wrong and unfair to
+anybody--and she can't do too much for her to prove how sorry she is."
+
+"That's right! look how she talked against the boys--especially against
+Dave Shepard. And now you can just wager she won't be able to do enough
+for him to show how grateful she is for being pulled out of the water,"
+laughed Frank.
+
+Mr. Jarley was ready to load the boat for them, and Polly came back with
+the key to the shack. Polly could not go over to the camp, for both she
+and her father could not leave the landing at once. Some fishermen might
+come along at any time to hire a boat. The season was opening now, and
+after the "lean months" that had gone by, the Jarleys had to be on the
+watch for every dollar that might come their way.
+
+"It seems an awfully hard life for such a man--and for Polly," whispered
+Wyn to her companion. "I'd just _love_ to have Polly for a member
+of our club."
+
+"So would I," agreed Frank. "She's just as sweet as she can be. But Bess
+would go right up in the air!"
+
+"Oh, I know it," sighed Wyn. "Somehow we have got to make Bessie Lavine
+see the error of her ways. Oh, dear! why can't people be nice to each
+other all the time?"
+
+"Goodness me, Wyn Mallory!" exclaimed Frank. "What do you expect while
+there still remains 'original sin' in the world? That seems to have been
+left out of _your_ constitution; but most of the rest of us have
+our share."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+THE "HAPPY DAY"
+
+
+That day the camp upon the hill overlooking Lake Honotonka was
+completed. Mr. Jarley was very helpful, for beside laying the floors of
+the two tents, and setting up the stove, he built for the girls an
+open-air fireplace of flat rocks, dragged up from the shore; set up
+their plank dining table, cut and set three posts for their clothes-line
+(for they were to do their own laundry work), dug shallow ditches all
+around the tents, with a drain to carry off any water that might
+collect; built an "overlook-seat" at the foot of a big birch which
+overhung the water, and did countless other little services which most
+of the Go-Ahead Club appreciated.
+
+Bessie Lavine did not come back from the berrying expedition until Mr.
+Jarley had gone back to the landing; and of course she hadn't much to
+say about the change in the appearance of things. But the other girls
+were enthusiastic.
+
+"And now we must have a name for the camp," said Mrs. Havel, as they sat
+down to the oilcloth-covered table to dinner.
+
+The arrangements for cooking and eating were of the simplest; yet
+everything was neat. Using oilcloth saved laundry, and using paper
+napkins was likewise a help. The food was served daintily, if simply,
+and although all the girls were used to much finer table service at
+home, the hearty appetites engendered by the pure air of lake and forest
+made even coarse food taste delicious.
+
+They were all instantly enthusiastic over their chaperone's suggestion.
+Half a dozen names were suggested on the spur of the moment; but no
+particular one met the approval of all the girls, immediately.
+
+"We'll have to draw lots," suggested Mina.
+
+"No! let's each write down the best names we can think of, and then vote
+on them," said Bess.
+
+"Goody!" cried Frank. "We must have a name that fits, but is pretty and
+not too 'hifalutin',' as my grandmother would say."
+
+"Naming the camp is all very well, girls," said Wyn, seriously, rapping
+on the table for order. "But there are more important things to decide.
+The work of the camp is to be properly apportioned----"
+
+"Oh, dear me!" groaned Grace. "Have we _got_ to work? After
+traipsing over four miles of huckleberry pasture all the morning I feel
+as though I had done my share for to-day."
+
+"And she ate as many as she picked!" cried Bess. "Oh, I'm going to tell
+on you, Miss! You're not going to crawl out of your fair share."
+
+"I didn't enlist to work," declared Grace, with some sullenness. "What's
+the fun of camping out if one has to work like a slave all the time?"
+
+"And we haven't even begun!" cried Frank. "For shame, Gracie!"
+
+"Now, none of the members of the Go-Aheads, I feel sure," quoth Wyn,
+quietly, "will try to escape her just burden. To have the fun of camping
+out under canvas we must each do our share of the work quickly and
+cheerfully. We will divide up the tasks, and change them about weekly.
+Of course, Mrs. Havel is not supposed to lift her hand. She is our
+guest."
+
+"Oh, but auntie is going to show us how to make pancakes," cried Percy.
+
+"I'll learn to do _that_," said Grace, brightening up. "For I love
+'em."
+
+"Of course--piggy-wiggy!" scoffed Bess. "Come, Wyn, you set us our tasks
+and any girl who kicks about 'em shall be fined."
+
+"We'll do better than that. We will use Mina's idea of drawing lots
+about the work. There are certain things to be done each week--each day,
+of course. Two girls must 'tend fires and cook; two girls must air and
+make beds, clean up about the tents, and wait on table if needed; the
+other two must get up early and go for the milk and vegetables, gather
+berries, and do odd jobs. The girls who do the 'chamber work' should
+wash the dishes, too, for the cooks will be too tired and heated after
+preparing the meals to clean up the tables and mess with the
+dishwashing.
+
+"Now are those three divisions satisfactory? Every third week, you see,
+the two who go for the milk, etcetera, will have an easy job. Is it
+agreed?"
+
+There was no objection raised to this plan, and the girls paired off as
+they usually did--Wyn and Frank together, Grace and Percy, and Bess and
+Mina.
+
+Then they drew straws--really grass blades of three lengths--to see
+which couple should do which. It fell to the lot of Bess and Mina to
+cook for a week. Grace and Percy Havel were "chambermaids," and Wyn and
+Frank Cameron had the good luck to get the shortest blade of grass.
+
+"Of course, _I'd_ have to work hard two weeks before getting a
+chance to rest," grumbled Grace. "Probably something will happen after
+we're here a fortnight, and we'll all have to go home."
+
+"It would take something _awful_ to send me home from this
+beautiful spot in a fortnight," cried Mina.
+
+"Just my luck if you all got smallpox, or something equally contagious,"
+growled Grace.
+
+"Then you certainly would be fortunate for once--if you escaped it,"
+chuckled Wyn.
+
+"Not a bit of it. They'd quarantine you here, and have nurses, and lots
+of nice jellies and ices for you; while poor unlucky me would be packed
+back to Denton for the rest of the summer--and after working like a
+slave, dishwashing, and sweeping, and making beds, and cooking, and the
+like, for two whole weeks."
+
+Despite Grace's complaints, the club as a whole was satisfied with the
+arrangements for taking care of the camp. There had been a secondary
+consideration in the minds of all their mothers when permission was
+obtained for the Go-Aheads to spend the summer under canvas. Mrs. Evelyn
+Havel was a wondrously good housekeeper. She had been trained in
+domestic science, too. And she had promised to have an oversight of each
+girl's work and to teach them, from time to time, many helpful domestic
+things.
+
+This phase of the camping-out plan Wyn had "played up" in getting the
+consent of all the parents; and for one, Wyn was determined to carry the
+scheme through. When they went back to Denton in the fall she proposed
+to be a good "plain cook" herself, and she hoped the other girls would
+fall in cheerfully with the project also. She knew Mrs. Havel would do
+all she could toward teaching them.
+
+The work once apportioned to them, the girls' minds could be given more
+particularly to the naming of the camp. But they would not decide upon
+it until bedtime. However, all six cudgeled their brains to invent
+striking names.
+
+It was decided that only one name could be suggested by each girl, and
+this would give them a list of six to choose from. Oddly enough both
+Mina and Grace chose the same--Camp Pleasant. It looked as though
+_that_ name had a lead at the start.
+
+Frank suggested Birch Tree Camp--for there was an enormous birch on the
+knoll at the foot of which Mr. Jarley had set up a bench for them.
+
+"Now you, Bess?" said Wyn, as mistress of ceremonies.
+
+"Camp Pleasant is all right," admitted Miss Lavine; "only it is not very
+distinctive. I expect there are thousands of Camp Pleasants--don't you
+think so?"
+
+"What's the matter with _my_ name?" demanded Frank Cameron.
+
+"I find the same fault with it," replied Bess. "It is not distinctive
+enough. Now, I don't know that I have the right idea; but I believe that
+calling the camp after our club wouldn't be so bad. And it would mean
+something."
+
+"Go-Ahead Camp? Or Camp Go-Ahead?" cried Grace.
+
+"There's nothing romantic about it, that's sure," objected Mina.
+
+"Goodness me! we're not looking for romance, I hope," cried the
+strong-minded Bess.
+
+"Bess is a suffragette in embryo--I declare!" cried Frank, laughing.
+
+"How does Camp Cheer sound?" suggested Percy. "Now, that's real nice,
+_I_ think."
+
+"Say, we've got to vote on them, anyway," said Grace. "_We've_ got
+two votes for Camp Pleasant, Mina."
+
+"But hold on!" cried Frank. "Here's one hasn't been heard from. The
+shrinking violet of all our crew! What's the matter, Wynnie? Can't you
+decide on a name?"
+
+"I thought of one last evening when we were paddling over here from the
+Forge--before the rain," admitted the captain.
+
+"Well! for pity's sake!" gasped Grace. "That's before we even knew it
+was to have a name."
+
+"I didn't think particularly about naming the camp," said Wyn,
+reflectively, "but from the water, with the squall working up behind us,
+and the last light of the day lingering on this little hill, the name
+flashed into my mind."
+
+"What is it?" chorused the others. "Do tell us, Wyn!"
+
+"Green Knoll."
+
+"Just _that_?" cried Grace. "'Green Knoll'? Why! It _was_
+green; wasn't it?"
+
+"I remember how green it seemed from the lake," added Bess. "It's not a
+silly name, either. It means something."
+
+"I take it all back about 'Birch Tree Camp,'" declared Frank. "'Green
+Knoll.' There's a dignity about that--as our assistant principal, Miss
+Hutchins, would say."
+
+"It's a fine name, _I_ think," admitted Percy Havel, slowly. "I
+withdraw Camp Cheer. It may not be so cheerful here all the
+time--especially if we catch smallpox, as Grace says. But it will
+_always_ be green up here on the knoll."
+
+"As long as we are here to see it, at least," agreed Frankie, nodding.
+
+"Say! our Camp Pleasant is swamped!" cried Grace. "What say, Mina? Shall
+we surrender?"
+
+"Green Knoll sounds very pretty," agreed the sweet-tempered Mina
+Everett.
+
+"Oh, girls! do you really all like it?" Wyn cried.
+
+"I vote aye!" said Frank, with emphasis. The other four followed in
+quick succession.
+
+"Why, that's lovely of you!" cried the captain of the club. "I--I was
+afraid nobody would like it but myself."
+
+"It's so appropriate," said Bess.
+
+"It's all _right_," Frank declared. "I wonder what the Busters will
+call their camp?"
+
+"They named it last fall," said Wyn. "Dave told me. It is
+Cave-in-the-Wood Camp. Not so bad--eh?"
+
+"Pretty good for a parcel of boys," observed Bess.
+
+"Well, I'm glad the worry's over," yawned Grace. "Let's go to bed. You
+know, Percy, we've got to work like slaves to-morrow, so it behooves us
+to get to bed betimes."
+
+"Mercy!" cried Frankie, "they'll be wanting to make up the cots before
+we are out of them in the morning. Come on! let's all turn in."
+
+There was a general roll-call at daybreak the next morning. Wynifred and
+Frank were not the only ones to get up as soon as day approached,
+although to them had been allotted the task of going to Windmill Farm
+for the milk and the day's supply of vegetables.
+
+They had agreed the night before to venture into the water. The boys
+always bragged about this early morning dip, which was a rule of their
+camp.
+
+"I don't see why we shouldn't be able to do anything those boys do,"
+declared Bess, with her usual contempt for the vaunted superiority of
+the other sex. "If they can run down and plunge right into the water,
+right out of bed, why can't _we_?"
+
+So even Grace--who had her doubts about it--ventured on this second
+morning. They slipped out of their sleeping clothes and into bathing
+suits. There _was_ a little chill in the air; but Wyn assured them
+the water would be warmer than the air and--if they remained in half an
+hour, or so--the sun would be up and his rays would warm them when they
+came out.
+
+And Wyn's prophecy was proven right. The six girls disported in the lake
+like a flock of ducks. Mrs. Havel, however, would not let them remain
+more than twenty minutes. The sun had shot up, then, and already the
+green knoll was warm in his first rays.
+
+Wyn and Frank scurried into their clothes and hurried away to the farm
+for the milk and vegetables. Frank saw the windmill on the summit of the
+hill, and nothing would do but she must run up and inspect it. The
+breeze was rising and the farmer, who was likewise the miller, was
+preparing to "grind a grist."
+
+"We've got a good bit of grain on hand; but we've not had wind enough of
+daytimes lately to grind a handful," he said. "I can't invite you
+inside, young ladies, because when they set up this mill for me they
+made the door, as you see, right behind the sails. When the arms are in
+motion I am shut in till the grist is ground; or I stop the sails with
+this lever just inside the door--d'ye see?"
+
+As the girls went back toward the house the arms began turning with a
+groaning sound. The wind became fresher. Round and round the long arms
+turned, while the canvas bellied like the sails on a boat.
+
+Louder and louder grew the hum of the mill. The miller threw in the
+clutch and the stones began to grind. They heard the corn poured into
+the hopper, and then the shriek of the kernels as they were ground
+between the stones. The whole building began to shake.
+
+"What a ponderous thing it is!" exclaimed Frank. "And see! there's a
+tiny window in the roof facing the lake. I imagine you could see clear
+to Meade's Forge from that window."
+
+"Farther than that, my dear--much farther," said the farmer's wife,
+handing Frank the basket of fresh vegetables over the garden fence. "On
+a clear day you can see 'way across the lake to Braisely Park. The tower
+of Dr. Shelton's fine house is visible from that window. And the whole
+spread of the lake. But the air must be very clear."
+
+"Goody! We'll bring the other girls up here some day when the mill is
+not running and climb to the top of the mill for the view," declared
+Frank.
+
+Bess and Mina, with some advice from Mrs. Havel, made a very good
+breakfast. Although neither was very domestic in her tastes, the two
+young cooks were on their mettle, and did the best they could. If the
+hot biscuits were not quite so flaky as their mothers' own cooks made
+them at home, and some of the poached eggs broke in the poacher, and the
+broiled bacon got afire several time and "fussed them all up," as Mina
+said, the general opinion of the occupants of Green Knoll Camp was that
+"there was no kick coming"--of course, expressed thus by the slangy
+Frank Cameron.
+
+Grace _would_ dawdle over the dishwashing, and Percy was a good
+second. Therefore, those two still had work on their hands when Bess
+sighted a motor boat coming swiftly toward their camp from the direction
+of Gannet Island.
+
+"Now somebody's going to butt in and bother us," declared Bess. "It
+can't be the Busters, I s'pose?"
+
+"That's exactly who it is!" cried Wyn, delightedly. "That's the _Happy
+Day_. Dave said if his cousin, Frank Dumont, could come up here, he
+would bring his father's motor boat. And he must have come yesterday
+when we were busy and did not see him."
+
+"Hurrah!" cried Frank. "A motor boat beats a canoe all to pieces."
+
+"The Busters are aboard, all right," sighed Bess, after another look.
+"Now we'll have a noisy time."
+
+"Now there'll be something doing!" quoth Frank. "That's the trouble with
+a crowd of girls. After they have played 'Ring Around the Rosy' and
+'London Bridge is Falling Down' they don't know another living thing to
+do except to sit down and look prim and be prosy. But with boys it's
+different. There's something doing all the time."
+
+"You should have been a boy, Frank," declared Bess, with some disgust.
+
+"If I was one, I'd be hanging around your house all the time, Bessie
+mine," laughed the other, hugging the boy-hater.
+
+"Get away! I'd have Patrick turn the hose on you if you did!" cried
+Bess, in mock wrath.
+
+But secretly, Miss Lavine, as well as her mates, was glad of the break
+in the quiet affairs of Green Knoll Camp made by the appearance of Dave
+Shepard and his spirited chums.
+
+"Oh, crackey, girls! you ought to see our camp! We've got a regular
+pirates' cave," declared Ferdinand Roberts.
+
+"Did your stores get wet in that awful storm?" demanded Wyn from the top
+of the knoll.
+
+"Not much. We managed to cover them with the canvas. And now we've
+cleaned out the cave and it's great. All we need is some captives to
+take over there and chain to the rocks," laughed Dave.
+
+"And fatten 'em up till they're fit to eat," drawled Tubby Blaisdell.
+
+"Stop it, Tub!" cried one of his mates. "We're not going to play
+cannibals, but pirates."
+
+"Well, in either case," declared Bess, "you will not get captives at
+Green Knoll Camp."
+
+"Is that what you call this pretty hillock?" cried Dave. "Well, it
+_is_ a beauty spot! And how nice you girls have made everything.
+Why! you don't need any boys around at all."
+
+"That's what I've always told them," murmured Bess. "They're only a
+nuisance."
+
+"We came over to see if we could help you," continued Dave. "Here's my
+cousin, Frank Dumont, girls. Some of you know him, anyway. This is his
+motor boat, and if there really is nothing we can do to help you here,
+why, Frank wants to take you all--with Mrs. Havel, if she is
+agreeable--for a trip around the lake. We've got supplies aboard and
+we'll stop somewhere and make a picnic dinner."
+
+"Goody!" cried Mina. "Then we will not have to make dinner here, Bess."
+
+"Agreed!" announced Grace. "There will be no more dishes to wash until
+evening, then."
+
+"Well, I don't know," Dave said, slowly. "Of course we like to have you
+girls go along; but usually girls do the grub-getting and dishwashing on
+a picnic."
+
+"Nothing doing, then," declared Frank, laughing at him. "This crowd of
+girls are going as invited guests, or not at all. We promise to be
+ornamental, but not useful."
+
+"You're ornamental, all right, in those blouses and bloomers," declared
+Ferd, for the girls had discarded skirts about the camp, and felt much
+more free and comfortable than they usually did.
+
+"If worse comes to worst," said Mrs. Havel, smiling, "_I_ will be
+the camp drudge, boys, for I want to see the lake shore in panorama."
+
+"Oh, let 'em come," drawled Tubby, still lying on his back on the little
+deck of the _Happy Day_. "They'll get hungry some time and
+_have_ to cook for us."
+
+And so, amid much bustle, and laughter, and raillery, the girls of Green
+Knoll Camp joined the boys of Cave-in-the-Wood Camp in the motor boat
+for a trip around the big lake.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+WHERE THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED
+
+
+"And where is Professor Skillings?" asked Mrs. Havel, as the well-laden
+launch drew away from the little natural landing which defended one end
+of the girls' bathing beach at Green Knoll Camp.
+
+"Bless your heart, ma'am," said Ferdinand Roberts, laughing, "the old
+gentleman is trying to figure out one of Tubby's unanswerable
+arguments--that is, I believe, what you'd call it."
+
+"One of Tubby's unanswerable arguments?" cried Wyn. "For pity's sake!
+what can that be?"
+
+"Why, at breakfast this morning the professor got to 'dreaming,' as he
+sometimes does. He tells us lots of interesting things when he begins
+talking that way; but sometimes, if we are in a hurry to get away, we
+have to put the stopper in," chuckled Ferd.
+
+"Tubby usually does it. Tubby really _is_ good for something beside
+eating and sleeping, girls--you wouldn't believe it!"
+
+"You _do_ surprise us," admitted Bess Lavine, cuttingly.
+
+"All right. But just wait and listen. We wanted to get away early and
+come over here after you," said Ferd. "And the professor began to give
+us one of his talks. This time it was on literature. By and by he says:
+
+"'We are told that it took, Gray, author of 'An Elegy Written in a
+Country Churchyard,' seven years to write that famous poem."
+
+"'Gee!' exclaimed Tubby. 'If he'd only known stenography how much better
+off he'd been.'
+
+"'Ahem! how do you prove that, Mr. Blaisdell?' inquired the professor,
+quite amazed.
+
+"'Why, we took that as a lesson in the shorthand class of the Commercial
+Department last spring,' said Tubby, 'and some of the real good ones
+could do Gray's Elegy, from dictation, in seven minutes. See what Gray
+would have saved if he'd known shorthand!'
+
+"And that completely shut up the professor," said Ferd, as the laughter
+broke out. "He hasn't recovered from the shock yet."
+
+The _Happy Day_ was turned toward the Forge first, skirting the
+shore all the way. That brought them, of course, close to Jarley's
+Landing. Polly was just pushing out in a little skiff.
+
+Wyn and Frank waved to her; but the other girls did not know her, of
+course, and only watched the boatman's daughter curiously.
+
+"How well she rows!" exclaimed Percy.
+
+"Say! but she's a fine looking girl," said Dave, earnestly. "What
+handsome arms she's got."
+
+"Handsome is as handsome does," remarked Bess, snappishly.
+
+"She's as brown as an Indian," observed Mina.
+
+"That doesn't hurt her," declared Dave, stoutly. "Is _she_ the girl
+you were speaking about, Wyn?"
+
+"She is Polly Jarley, and she is my friend," responded Wynifred,
+quietly. "And I believe her to be as good as she is beautiful."
+
+"Then there are wings sprouting under her blouse," laughed Frank; "for
+there's no girl _I_ ever saw who could hold a candle to Polly for
+right down beauty."
+
+"She looks so sad," said Mina, softly.
+
+"Why shouldn't she be sad?" Wyn demanded, "with everybody talking about
+her father the way they do?"
+
+"Come, girls!" commanded Mrs. Havel. "Don't gossip. Find some other
+topic of conversation."
+
+"Ha! quite so," cried Frank, with a grimace upon her own homely face. "A
+girl may be as pretty as a picture and spoil it all by an ugly frame of
+mind. How's _that_ for a spark thrown from the wheel?"
+
+"Stand back, audience!" exclaimed Dave. "Something like that is likely
+to happen any minute."
+
+"I don't really see how the old professor gets on with you boys at all,"
+remarked Bessie Lavine, with a sigh. "You'd worry the life out of an
+angel."
+
+"But Professor Skillings is _not_ an angel--thanks be!" exclaimed
+Dave.
+
+"He's a good old scout!" drawled Tubby.
+
+"He just hasn't forgotten what it is to be a boy," began Ferd.
+
+"But, goodness me!" cried Frankie. "He's forgotten about everything
+else, at some time or other; hasn't he?"
+
+"Not what he's learned out of books and from observation," declared
+Dave. "But my goodness! he _is_ absent-minded. Yesterday a couple
+of us fellows chopped up a good heap of firewood. We don't have a fancy
+stove like you girls, but just an out-of-doors fireplace. After supper
+the dear old prof, said he'd wash the dishes, and we dumped all the pots
+and pans together and--what do you think?"
+
+"Couldn't think," drawled Frank. "I'm too lazy. Tell us without making
+your story so complicated."
+
+"Why, we found he had carried an armful of firewood down to the shore
+and was industriously swashing the sticks up and down in the water,
+thinking he was washing the supper dishes."
+
+With similar conversation, and merry badinage, the journey around Lake
+Honotonka progressed. The shores of the lake, in full summer dress, were
+beautiful. There was an awning upon the motor boat, so the rapidly
+mounting sun did not trouble the party. But it _was_ hot at
+noonday, and through Dave's glasses they could see that the sails on the
+mill behind Windmill Farm were still. There wasn't air enough stirring,
+even at that height, to keep the arms in motion, and down here on the
+water the temperature grew baking.
+
+They ran into a cool cove and went ashore for dinner. Nobody wanted
+anything hot, and so, as there was a splendid spring at hand, they made
+lemonade and ate sandwiches of potted chicken and hard-boiled eggs which
+the boys had been thoughtful enough to bring along. The girls had crisp
+salad leaves to go with the chicken, too, and some nice mayonnaise.
+Altogether even Tubby was willing to pronounce the "cold bite"
+satisfying.
+
+"And I'm no hypocrite," declared the fat youth, earnestly. "When I say a
+thing I mean it."
+
+"What _is_ your idea of a hypocrite, Tubby?" demanded Wyn,
+laughing.
+
+"A boy who comes to school smiling," replied Tubby, promptly.
+
+After a while a little breeze ruffled the surface of the lake again and
+the _Happy Day_ was made ready for departure. They continued then
+toward the west, where lay the preserve known as Braisely Park, in which
+there were at least a dozen rich men's lodges. They were all in sight
+from the lake--at some point, at least. Each beautiful place had a water
+privilege, and the landings and boathouses were very picturesque. There
+was a whole fleet of craft here, too, ranging in size from a cedar canoe
+to a steam yacht. The latter belonged to Dr. Shelton, the man who had
+accused John Jarley of stealing the motor boat _Bright Eyes_ and
+the five thousand dollars' worth of silver images from the ruined
+temples of Yucatan.
+
+"And of course," said Wyn, warmly, "that is nonsense. For if Polly and
+her father had done such a thing, they would turn the silver into money;
+wouldn't they, and stop living in poverty?"
+
+"Well, it looks mighty funny where that boat and all could have gone,"
+Bessie remarked.
+
+"If she sank as quickly as he says, the wreck must lie off Gannet Island
+somewhere," remarked Dave, reflectively.
+
+"Oh! I wish we could find it," commented Wyn.
+
+"If it ever sank at all," sneered Bessie.
+
+But it was almost impossible to quarrel with Wyn Mallory. Frank would
+have "got hot" a dozen times at Bess while the party chanced to discuss
+the Jarleys and their troubles. But the captain of the Go-Ahead Club was
+patient.
+
+Bye and bye--and after mid-afternoon--the _Happy Day_ came around
+to the west end of Gannet Island. Up among the trees a glint of white
+betrayed the presence of the boys' tent. In a little sheltered cove
+below the site of Cave-in-the-Wood Camp, danced the fleet of canoes.
+
+Nothing would do but the girls and Mrs. Havel must go ashore and see the
+cave and the camp.
+
+"And we can have tea," said Ferd. "How's that, girls? Professor
+Skillings has got a whole canister of best gunpowder in his private
+stores--and there he is on that log, examining specimens."
+
+"Oh, dear me!" cried Frankie, "tea isn't going to satisfy the gnawing of
+_my_ appetite."
+
+"How about a fish-fry?" demanded Dave, swerving the motor boat suddenly
+away from the landing.
+
+"Where'll you get your fish?" cried Percy Havel.
+
+"In the fish store at Meade's Forge," scoffed Ferdinand Roberts.
+
+"That's too far to run for supper--and back again--this afternoon,
+boys," said Mrs. Havel.
+
+"Just you wait," cried Dave. "I caught sight of something just
+now--there she is!"
+
+The _Happy Day_ rounded a wooded point of the island. Near the
+shore floated Polly Jarley's skiff and Polly was just getting up her
+anchor.
+
+"She's been fishing all day!" exclaimed Wyn.
+
+"And I'll wager she's got a fine mess of perch," said Dave. "Hi, Miss
+Jarley!" he shouted. "Hold on a minute."
+
+Polly had heard the chugging of the motor boat. Now she stood up
+suddenly and waved both hands in some excitement.
+
+"What does she want?" demanded Bess.
+
+"Get out! farther out!" the boatman's daughter shouted, her clear voice
+echoing from the wooded heights of the island. "Danger here!"
+
+"What's the matter with her?" demanded Bess again. "Is there a submarine
+mine sunk here?"
+
+But Dave veered off, taking a wider course from the shore.
+
+"What is the matter, Polly?" shouted Wyn, standing up and making a
+megaphone of her hands.
+
+"Snags!" replied the other girl. "Here's where father ran Dr. Shelton's
+boat on a root. The shallow water here is full of them. Look out"
+
+"Say!" cried Frank Dumont "We don't want to sink the old _Happy
+Day_."
+
+"So _this_ is where the accident happened; is it?" observed Wyn,
+looking around at the shores of the little cove and the contour of the
+island's outline.
+
+"Humph!" snapped Bessie Lavine, sitting down quickly. "I don't believe
+there was any accident at all. It was all a story."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+AN OVERTURN
+
+
+Dave Shepard had stopped the motor boat land now he hailed the pretty
+girl in the skiff.
+
+"I say, Miss Jarley! did you have any luck?"
+
+"I've got a good string of white perch. They love to feed among these
+stumps," returned Polly.
+
+"Oh, Polly Jolly! sell us some; will you?" cried Wyn, eagerly. "We're so
+hungry."
+
+"Do, do!" chorused several of the other girls and boys aboard the
+_Happy Day_.
+
+Polly, smiling, held up a long withe on which wriggled at least two
+dozen silvery fish. "Aren't they beauties?" she demanded. "Wait! I'll
+row out."
+
+She had already raised her anchor. Now she sat down, seized the short
+oars, and plunged them into the water. How she could row! Even Bessie
+Lavine murmured some enthusiastic praise of the boatman's daughter.
+
+Her skiff shot alongside the motor boat. She caught the gunwale, and
+then held up the string of fish again.
+
+"How much, Miss Jarley?" asked Dave.
+
+"Half a dollar. Is that too much?"
+
+"It looks too little; but I suppose you know what you can get for them
+at the Forge," he said.
+
+"And this saves me rowing down there," returned the brown girl, smiling
+and blushing under the scrutiny of so many eyes.
+
+Wyn leaned over the rail, took the fish, and kissed Polly on her brown
+cheek.
+
+"Dreadfully glad to see you, dear," she declared. "Won't you come over
+to the camp to-morrow and show us girls where--and how--to fish, too?
+We're crazy for a fishing trip."
+
+"Why--if you want me?" said Polly, her fine eyes slowly taking in the
+group of girls aboard the motor boat.
+
+All looked at her in a friendly way save Bessie, and she had her back to
+the girl.
+
+"I'll come," said Polly, blushing again; and then she pocketed, the
+piece of money Dave gave her, and pushed off a bit.
+
+"Is this really where your father came so near losing his life, Polly?"
+asked Wyn, seriously.
+
+"Yes, Miss Wyn. Right yonder. It was so thick he could not see the
+shore. A limb of that tree yonder--you can see where it was broken off;
+see the scar?"
+
+There was a long yellow mark high up on the tree trunk overhanging the
+pool where Polly had been fishing.
+
+"That limb brushed father out of the boat just as she struck. The snag
+must have torn a big hole in the bottom of the _Bright Eyes_.
+Lightened by his going overboard, she shot away--somewhere--toward the
+middle of the lake, perhaps. He knows that he gave the wheel a twirl
+just as he went overboard and that must have driven the nose of the boat
+around.
+
+"She shot away into the fog. He never saw or heard of her again. We
+paddled about for a week afterward--the bateau men and I--and we
+couldn't find it. Poor father was abed, you see, for a long time and
+could not help."
+
+"All a story, _I_ believe," whispered Bess, to Mina.
+
+"Oh, don't!" begged the tender-hearted girl.
+
+Perhaps Polly heard this aside. She plunged her oars into the water
+again and the skiff shot away. She only nodded when they sang out
+"Good-bye" to her.
+
+The _Happy Day_ carried the party quickly back to the cove under
+the hill on which Cave-in-the-Wood Camp had been established. The girls
+and boys landed and were met by Professor Skillings--who could be a very
+gallant man indeed, where ladies were concerned. He helped Mrs. Havel
+out of the motor boat, which Dave had brought alongside of a steep bank,
+where the water was deep, and which made a good landing place.
+
+"My dear Mrs. Havel! I am charmed to see you again," said the professor.
+"You are comfortably situated over there on the shore, I hope?"
+
+"My girls are as successful in making me comfortable as are your boys in
+looking after you, I believe, Professor Skillings," returned the lady,
+laughing.
+
+"More so--I have no doubt! More so," admitted the professor.
+
+"Treason! treason!" shouted Dave Shepard.
+
+"What's the matter with you?" demanded Wyn, who had hopped ashore behind
+the chaperone.
+
+"Professor Skillings is going back on us, boys," declared Dave.
+
+"Why, Professor!" cried Ferdinand. "Where would you find in all the five
+zones such a set of boys as we-uns?"
+
+"Five zones? Correct, my boy," declared the professor, seriously. "But
+name those five zones; will you, please?"
+
+"Sure!" wheezed Tubby, before Ferd could reply. "Temperate, Intemperate,
+Canal, Torrid, and Ozone."
+
+"Goodness gracious, Agnes!" gasped Dave. "Can you beat Tubby when he
+lays himself out to be real erudite?" while the others--even the
+professor and Mrs. Havel--could not forbear to chuckle.
+
+But Dave and Ferd got busy at once while the others laughed, and
+chaffed, and looked over the boys' camping arrangements. Dave was cook
+and Ferd made and fed the fire. These boys had all the approved Scout
+tricks for making fire and preparing food--they could have qualified as
+first-class scouts.
+
+Ferd started for an armful of wood he had cut down at the bottom of the
+steep bank and suddenly, without any warning whatsoever, he slipped, his
+feet pointed heavenward, and he skated down the bank upon the small of
+his back.
+
+"My goodness me!" exclaimed Frank Cameron. "Did you see that?"
+
+"Sure," said Dave, amid the laughter of the crowd. "Poor Ferdy! the
+whole world is against him!"
+
+"You bet it is," growled Ferd, picking himself up slowly at the bottom
+of the bank. "And it's an awful hard world at that."
+
+"Come on! Come on!" whined Tubby Blaisdell. "Aren't you ever going to
+get supper? You're wasting time."
+
+Dave was expertly cleaning fish. Wyn ran to his help, finding the flour,
+cracker-crumbs, and salt pork. The pan was already heating over the
+blaze that the unfortunate Ferdinand had started in the fireplace.
+
+"If you're so blamed hungry," said Dumont to the wailing Tubby, "start
+on the raw flour. It's filling, I'll be bound."
+
+"Say! I don't just want to get filled. I want to enjoy what I eat. I
+could be another Nebuchadnezzar and eat grass, if it was just
+_filling_ I wanted."
+
+"Ha!" cried Dave. "Tubby is as particular as the Western lawyer--a
+perfectly literal man--who entered a restaurant where the waiter came to
+him and said:
+
+"'What'll you 'ave, sir? I 'ave frogs' legs, deviled kidneys, pigs'
+feet, and calves' brains.'
+
+"'You look it,' declared the lawyer man. 'But what is that to me? I have
+come here to eat--don't tell me your misfortunes.'"
+
+Amid much laughter and chaffing they finally sat down to the
+fish-fry--and if there is anything more toothsome than perch, fresh from
+the water, and fried crisply in a pan with salt pork over the hot coals
+of a campfire, "the deponent knoweth not," as Frank Cameron put it.
+
+Then Tubby got his banjo, Dumont his mandolin, Dave his ocarina, and
+they sang, and played, and told jokes, until a silver crescent moon
+rising over the lake warned them that the hour was growing late. The
+feminine visitors then boarded the _Happy Day_ and under the escort
+of Dave and Ferdinand to work the boat, the girls and their chaperone
+made the run back to Green Knoll Camp, giving the cove where Polly
+Jarley had caught the perch a wide berth.
+
+Dave insisted upon going ashore at Green Knoll and searching the camp
+"for possible burglars," as he laughingly said.
+
+"Do, _do_ look under my bed, Dave!" squealed Frank, in mock
+distraction. "I've always expected to find a man under my bed."
+
+"But it was real nice of him, just the same," admitted Mina Everett,
+when the _Happy Day_ had chugged away. "I feel a whole lot better
+now that he has beaten up the camp."
+
+On the next morning Grace and Percy were not allowed to lag over the
+breakfast dishes till all hours.
+
+"This shall be no lazy girls' camp," declared Mrs. Havel. "The quicker
+you all get your tasks done, the better. Then you can have games, and go
+fishing, and otherwise enjoy yourselves."
+
+The fish-fry they had enjoyed at Cave-in-the-Wood Camp the evening
+before had given them all an appetite for more, and as Polly Jarley
+appeared early, according to promise, Wyn began to bustle around and
+hunt out the fishing tackle.
+
+There probably wasn't a girl in the crowd who was afraid to put a worm
+on a hook, save Mina. She owned up to the fact that they made her
+"squirmy" and she hated to see live bait on a hook.
+
+"But that's what we have to use for lake fish--or river fish, either,"
+Wyn told her. "You're not going to be much good to this fishing party."
+
+"I know it, Wynnie. And I sha'n't go," said the timid one. "Mrs. Havel
+is not going fishing, and I can stay with her."
+
+"You'll have company," snapped Bessie Lavine. "I'm sure _I'm_ not
+going," and she said it with such a significant look at Polly Jarley,
+who had come ashore, that the boatman's daughter, as well as the other
+girls, could not fail to understand _why_ she made the declaration.
+
+"Why, Bess Lavine!" exclaimed Frankie, the outspoken.
+
+Polly's face had flushed deeply, then paled. Bess had avoided her
+before; but now she had come out openly with her animosity.
+
+"Is your name Miss Lavine?" asked the boatman's daughter, her voice
+quivering with emotion.
+
+"What if it is?" snapped Bess.
+
+"Then I guess I know why you speak to me so----"
+
+"Don't flatter yourself, Miss! I don't care to speak to you," said Bess.
+
+"Nor do I care to have anything to do with you," said Polly, plucking up
+a little spirit herself under this provocation. "You are Henry Lavine's
+daughter. I am not surprised at your speech and actions. He has done all
+he could to hurt my father's reputation for years--and you seem to be
+just like him."
+
+"Hurt your father's reputation--Bosh!" cried Bess. "You can't spoil
+a----"
+
+But here Wyn Mallory came to the rescue.
+
+"Stop, Bess! Don't you pay any attention to what she says, Polly. If
+this quarrel goes on, Bess, I shall tell Mrs. Havel immediately. You
+come with us, Polly; if Bessie doesn't wish to go fishing, she can
+remain at camp. Come, girls!"
+
+Bess and Mina remained behind.
+
+"I told you how 'twould be, Miss Wyn," said Polly, her eyes bright and
+hard and the angry flush in her cheek making her handsomer than ever. "I
+shall only make trouble among your friends."
+
+"You don't notice any of the rest of us running up the red flag; do
+you?" interposed Frank Cameron. "Bess's crazy."
+
+"The Lavines have been our worst enemies--worse than Dr. Shelton," said
+Polly, with half a sob. "Mr. Lavine is up here at the lake in the spring
+and fall, usually, and he will always talk to anybody who will listen
+about his old trouble with father. And he is an influential man."
+
+"Don't you cry a tear about it!" exclaimed Frank, wiping her own eyes
+angrily.
+
+Wyn had put a comforting arm over the shoulder of the boatman's
+daughter. "We'll just forget it, my dear," she said, gently.
+
+But it was not so easy to forget--not so easy for Polly, at least,
+although the other girls treated her as nicely as they could. Her face
+remained sad, and she could not respond to their quips and sallies as
+the fleet of four canoes and Polly's skiff got under weigh.
+
+Polly pulled strongly along the shore in her light craft; but of course
+the canoes could have left her far behind had the girls so wished. Their
+guide warned them finally against loud talking and splashing, and soon
+they came to a quiet cove where the trees stood thickly along the lake
+shore, and the water was not much ruffled by the morning breeze.
+
+Polly had brought the right kind of bait for perch, and most of the
+girls of the Go-Ahead Club had no difficulty in arranging their rods and
+lines and casting for the hungry fish. Perch, "shiners," roaches, and an
+occasional "bullhead" began to come into the canoes. These latter scared
+some of the girls; but they were better eating than any of the other
+fish and both Wyn and Frank, as well as Polly, knew how to take them off
+the hook without getting "horned."
+
+Polly did not remain with them more than an hour. She was sure the girls
+would get all the fish they would want right at this spot, and so,
+excusing herself, she rowed back to the landing.
+
+"It's a shame!" exclaimed Frank, the minute she was out of hearing. "I
+don't see what possesses Bess to be so mean."
+
+"I am sorry," rejoined Wyn. "Polly will not come to the camp again--I
+can see that."
+
+"A shame!" cried Percy. "And she seems such a nice girl."
+
+"Bessie ought to be strapped!" declared Frank.
+
+"I am sure Polly seems just as good as we are," Grace remarked. "I don't
+see why Bess has to make herself so objectionable."
+
+"She should be punished for it," declared Percy.
+
+"Turn the tables on her," suggested Frank. "If she will not have
+anything to do with Polly, let's give _her_ the cold shoulder."
+
+"No," said Wyn, firmly. "That would be adding fuel to the flames--and
+would be unfair to Bess."
+
+"Well, Bess is unfair to your Polly Jolly," said Frankie.
+
+"Two wrongs never yet made a right," said the captain of the Go-Ahead
+Club.
+
+"Well!"
+
+"Bessie is a member of our club. She has greater rights at Green Knoll
+Camp than Polly. It is true Polly will not come again, unless Bessie is
+more friendly. The thing, then is to convince Bess that she is wrong."
+
+"Well!" exclaimed Frank again. "I'd like to see you do it."
+
+"I hope you will see me," returned Wyn, placidly. "Or, at least, I hope
+you will see Bessie's mind changed, whether by my efforts, or not. Oh,
+dear! it's so much easier to get along pleasantly in this world if folks
+only thought so. Query: Why is a grouch?"
+
+Percy suddenly uttered a yell and almost plunged out of her canoe. She
+had whipped in her line and there was a small eel on the hook.
+
+It is really wonderful what an excited eel can do in a canoe with a girl
+as his partner in crime! Mr. Eel tangled up Percy's line in the first
+place until it seemed as though somebody must have been playing cat's
+cradle with it.
+
+Percy shrieked and finally bethought her to throw the whole thing
+overboard--tangled line, rod, and Mr. Eel. In his native element, the
+slippery chap in some mysterious way got off the hook; but the linen
+line was a mess, and that stopped the fishing for that morning.
+
+They had a nice string, however, and when the odor of the frying fish on
+the outdoor fire began to spread about Green Knoll Camp, Frank declared:
+
+"The angels flying overhead must stop to sniff--that smell is so
+heavenly!"
+
+"Nonsense, child!" returned Grace. "That thing you see 'way up there
+isn't an angel. It's a fish-hawk."
+
+There were letters to take to the Forge that afternoon, and the girls
+all expected mail, too. But after the fishing bout, and the heavy dinner
+they ate, not many of the Go-Aheads cared to paddle to town.
+
+"The duty devolves on your captain," announced Wyn, good-naturedly. "Of
+course, if anybody else wants to go along----"
+
+"Don't all speak at once," yawned Frank, and rolled over in the shade of
+the beech.
+
+"It's a shame! I'll go with you," said Bessie Lavine, getting up with
+alacrity.
+
+"All right, Bess," said Wyn, cheerfully. "I am glad to have you go."
+
+The other girls had been a little distant to Bess since their return
+from the fishing trip; but not Wyn. She had given no sign that she was
+annoyed by Bessie's demeanor towards Polly Jarley.
+
+Nor did she "preach" while she and Bess paddled to the Forge. That was
+not Wynifred Mallory's way. She knew that, in this case, taking Bess to
+task for her treatment of Polly would do only harm.
+
+Bess had probably offered to come with Wyn for the special purpose of
+finding opportunity to argue the case with the captain of the club. But
+Wyn gave her no opening.
+
+The girls got to the Forge, did their errands, and started back in the
+canoes. Not until they got well out into the lake did they notice that
+there were angry clouds in the northwest. And very soon the sun became
+overcast, while the wind whipped down upon them sharply.
+
+"Oh, dear, me!" cried Bess. "Had we better turn back, Wyn?"
+
+"We're about as far from the Forge as we are from Green Knoll Camp,"
+declared the other girl.
+
+"Then let's run ashore----"
+
+But they had struck right out into the lake from the landing, and it was
+a long way to land--even to the nearest point. While they were
+discussing the advisability of changing their course, there came a lull
+in the wind.
+
+"Maybe we'll get home all right!" cried Bess, and the two bent to their
+paddles again, driving the canoes toward distant Green Knoll.
+
+And almost at once--her words had scarcely passed--the wind whipped down
+upon them from a different direction. The surface of the lake was
+agitated angrily, and in a minute the two girls were in the midst of a
+whirlpool of jumping waves.
+
+In ordinary water the canoes were safe enough. But when Bess tried to
+paddle, a wave caught the blade and whirled the canoe around. She was
+up-set before she could scream.
+
+And in striving to drive her own craft to her friend's assistance, Wyn
+Mallory was caught likewise in a flaw, and she, too, plunged into the
+lake, while both canoes floated bottom upward.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+A SERIOUS ADVENTURE
+
+
+Wyn Mallory was a pretty cool-headed girl; nor was this the first time
+she had been in an accident of this nature.
+
+Naturally, in learning to handle the light cedar craft as expertly as
+they did, the members of the Go-Ahead Club had much experience. While
+the weather was good the girls plied their paddles up and down the
+Wintinooski, but seldom was the river as rough as this open lake in
+which Wyn and Bessie Lavine had been so unexpectedly overturned.
+
+"Oh! am I not the unluckiest girl that--that ever happened?" wailed
+Bess, when she came up puffing.
+
+"N-o-no more than _I_, Bess," stammered Wyn.
+
+"Get your canoe, Wyn!" cried Bess.
+
+"Oh, yes; but we can't turn them over in this sea. Oh! isn't that
+horrid!" as another miniature wave slapped the captain of the club in
+the face and rolled her companion completely over.
+
+Bess lost her grip on her canoe. The latter floated beyond her reach
+while Wyn was striving to get her friend to the surface again.
+
+"Why! we're going to be drowned!" shrieked Bess, suddenly
+horror-stricken.
+
+"Don't you _dare_ lose your nerve," commanded Wynifred. "If we lose
+courage we certainly will be lost."
+
+"Oh, but, Wyn----"
+
+"Oh, but, Bess! Don't you dare. Here! get hold of the keel of my canoe."
+
+"But it won't bear us both up," groaned Bessie Lavine.
+
+"It's got to," declared Wyn. "Have courage; don't be afraid."
+
+"You needn't try to tell me you're not afraid yourself, Wyn Mallory!"
+chattered her friend.
+
+"Of course I am, dear; but I mean, don't lose your head because you
+_are_ afraid," said Wyn. "Come, now! Paddle with one hand and cling
+to the keel with the other. I'll do the same."
+
+"Oh, dear, me! if we were only not so far from the shore," groaned Bess.
+
+"Somebody may see us and come to our help," said Wyn, with more
+confidence in her tone than she really felt.
+
+"The canoes couldn't live in this gale."
+
+"It's only a squall."
+
+"That's all very well; but they wouldn't dare to start out for us from
+Green Knoll."
+
+"But the boys----"
+
+"Their camp isn't in sight of this place, Wyn," moaned Bess. "Oh! we
+_will_ be drowned."
+
+But Wyn had another hope. She remembered, just before the overturn, that
+she had caught a glimpse of the red and yellow cottage behind Jarley's
+Landing.
+
+"Oh, Bess!" she gasped. "Perhaps Mr. Jarley will see us. Perhaps
+Polly----"
+
+Another slapping wave came and rolled them and the canoe over. The frail
+craft came keel up, level full of water. The least weight upon it now
+would send it to the bottom of the lake.
+
+"Oh, oh!" shrieked Bess, when she found her voice. "What shall we do
+now?"
+
+They could both swim; but the lake was rough. The sudden and spiteful
+squall had torn up the surface for many yards around. Yet, as they rose
+upon one of the waves, they saw the sun shining boldly in the westward.
+The squall was scurrying away.
+
+"Come on! we've got to swim," urged Wyn.
+
+[Illustration: THEY COULD BOTH SWIM, BUT THE LAKE WAS ROUGH. _Page
+146._]
+"That's so hard," wailed Bess, but striking out, nevertheless, in the
+way she had been so well taught by the instructor in Denton. All these
+girls had been trained in the public school baths.
+
+"There's the other canoe," said Wyn, hopefully.
+
+"But we--we don't want to go that way," gasped Bess. "It's away from
+land."
+
+Now Wyn knew very well that they had scarcely a chance of swimming to
+the distant shore. In ordinarily calm weather--yes; but in this rough
+sea, and hampered as they were by their bloomers and other clothing--no.
+
+The two girls swam close together, but Wyn dared not offer her comrade
+help. She wanted to, but she feared that if she did so Bess would break
+down and become helpless entirely; and Wyn hoped they would get much
+farther inshore before that happened.
+
+The squall had quite gone over and the sun began to shine. It seemed a
+cruel thing--to drown out there in the sunlight. And yet the buffeting
+little waves, kicked up by the wind-flaw, were so hard to swim through.
+
+Had the waves been of a really serious size the struggle would have been
+less difficult for the two girls. They could have ridden over the big
+waves and managed to keep their heads above water; but every once in a
+while a cross wavelet would slap their faces, and every time one did so
+Bess managed to get a mouthful of water.
+
+"Oh! what will papa do?" moaned Bess.
+
+And Wyn knew what the poor girl meant. She was her father's close
+companion and chum. The other girls in the Lavine family were smaller
+and their mother was devoted to them; but Bess and Mr. Lavine were pals
+all the time.
+
+Bess repeated this exclamation over and over again, until Wyn thought
+she should shriek in nervous despair. She realized quite fully that
+their chance for life was very slim indeed; but moaning and groaning
+about it would not benefit them or change the situation in the slightest
+degree.
+
+Wyn kept her head and saved her breath for work. She raised up now and
+then, breast high in the water, and tried to scan the shore.
+
+Suddenly the sun revealed Green Knoll Camp to her--bathing the little
+hillock, with the tents upon it, in the full strength of his rays. But
+it was quite two miles away.
+
+Wyn could see no moving figures upon the knoll. Nor could her friends
+see her and Bess struggling in the water at that distance. If their
+overset had not been sighted, Mrs. Havel and the four other members of
+the Go-Ahead Club would not be aware of their peril.
+
+And, Wyn believed, the swamping of the canoes could only have been
+observed through a glass. Had anybody along shore been watching the two
+canoes as the squall struck the craft and overset them?
+
+In that possibility, she thought, lay their only hope of rescue.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+THE REPULSE
+
+
+As the squall threatened in the northwest, it had been observed by many
+on the shores of Lake Honotonka--and many on the lake itself, as well.
+Sailing craft had run for havens. The lake could be nasty at times and
+there might be more than a capful of wind in the black cloud that spread
+so quickly over a sky that had--an hour before--been of azure.
+
+Had the two girls from Green Knoll Camp been observed by the watermen as
+they embarked in their canoes at Meade's Forge, they might have been
+warned against venturing far from the shore in those cockleshells. But
+Wynifred and Bessie had not been observed, so were not warned.
+
+The squall had come down so quickly that they were not much to be
+blamed. It had startled other people on the lake--and those much more
+used to its vagaries.
+
+In a cove on the north shore a small cat-rigged boat had been drifting
+since noon-time, its single occupant having found the fishing very good.
+This fisher was the boatman's daughter, Polly Jarley.
+
+She had now a splendid catch and she knew that, if the wind held true, a
+sharp run to the westward would bring her to Braisely Park. At some one
+of the private landings there her fish would be welcomed--she could get
+more for them than she could at the Forge, which was nearer.
+
+But the squall gathered so fast that she had to put aside the thought of
+the run down the lake. The wind would switch about, too, after the
+squall. That was a foregone conclusion.
+
+She waited until the blow was past and then saw that it would be quite
+impossible to make the park that afternoon and return to the landing in
+time for tea. And if she was later her father would be worried.
+
+Mr. Jarley did not like to have his girl go out this way and work all
+day; but there seemed nothing else to be done this summer. They owed so
+much at the stores at the Forge; and the principal and interest on the
+chattel mortgage must be found before New Year or they would lose their
+fleet of boats. And as yet few campers had come to the lake who wished
+to hire Mr. Jarley's boats.
+
+So by fishing (and none of the old fellows who had fished Honotonka for
+years was wiser about the good fishing places than Polly) the girl added
+from one to two dollars every favorable day to the family income.
+Sometimes she was off by light in one boat or another; but she did not
+often come to this northern side of the lake. This cove was at least ten
+miles from home.
+
+As the last breath of the squall passed, the wind veered as she had
+expected, and Polly, having reeled in her two lines and unjointed the
+bamboo poles, stowed everything neatly, raised the anchor, or kedge, and
+set a hand's breadth of the big sail.
+
+The canvas filled, and with the sheet in one hand and the other on the
+arm of the tiller, the girl steered the catboat out of the cove and into
+the rumpus kicked up by the passing squall.
+
+The girls of the Go-Ahead Club would surely have been frightened had
+they been aboard the little _Coquette_, as the catboat was named.
+She rocked and jumped, and the spume flew over her gunwale in an
+intermittent shower. But in this sea, which so easily swamped the
+canoes, the catboat was as safe as a house.
+
+Polly was used to much rougher weather than this. In the summer Lake
+Honotonka was on its best behavior. At other seasons the tempests tore
+down from the north and west and sometimes made the lake so terrible in
+appearance that even the hardiest bateau man in those parts would not
+risk himself in a boat.
+
+Polly knew, however, that the worst of the squall was over. The lake
+would gradually subside to its former calm. And the change in the wind
+was favorable now to a quick passage either to the Forge or to her
+father's tiny landing.
+
+"Can't get any fancy price for the fish at Meade's," thought Polly. "I
+have a good mind to put them in our trap and try again for Braisely Park
+to-morrow morning."
+
+As she spoke she was running outside the horns of the cove. She could
+get a clear sweep now of the lake--as far as it could be viewed from the
+low eminence of the boat--and she rose up to see it.
+
+"Nobody out but I," she thought. "Ah! all those folk at the end of the
+lake ran in when the squall appeared. And the girls and boys over
+yonder----"
+
+She was peering now across the lake ahead of the _Coquette's_ nose,
+toward the little island where was Cave-in-the-Wood Camp, and at Green
+Knoll Camp, where the girls from Denton were staying.
+
+Her face fell as she focused her gaze upon the bit of high, green bank
+on which the sun was now shining again so brilliantly. She remembered
+how badly she had been treated by Bess Lavine only that morning.
+
+"I can't go over there any more," she muttered. "That girl will never
+forget--or let the others forget--that father has been accused of being
+a thief. It's a shame! A hateful shame! And we're every bit as good as
+she is----"
+
+Her gaze dropped to the tumbling wavelets between her and the distant
+green hillock. She was about to resume her seat and catch the tiller,
+which she had held steady with her knee.
+
+But now her breath left her and for a moment she stood motionless--only
+giving to the plunge and jump of the _Coquette_ through the choppy
+waves.
+
+"Ah!" she exclaimed again, after a little intake of breath.
+
+There were two round objects rising and falling in the rough water--and
+far ahead. They looked like cocoanuts.
+
+But a little to one side was a long, black something--a stick of timber
+drifting on the current? No! _An overturned boat._
+
+There was no mistaking the cocoanut-like objects. They were human heads.
+Two capsized people were struggling in the lake.
+
+Polly, in thirty seconds, was keenly alive to what she must do. There
+was no time lost in bewailing the catastrophe, or wondering about the
+identity of the castaways.
+
+Who or whatever they were they must be saved. There was not another boat
+on the lake. And the swimmers were too far from land to be observed
+under any conditions.
+
+The wind was strong and steady. The wavelets were still choppy, but
+Polly Jarley never thought of a wetting.
+
+Up went the sail--up, up, up until the unhelmed catboat lay over almost
+on beam ends. The girl took a sailor's turn of the sheet around the
+cleat and then swung all her weight against the tiller, to bring the
+boat's head up. She held the sheet ready to let go if a warning creak
+from the mast should sound, or the boat refuse to respond.
+
+But in half a minute the _Coquette_ righted. It had been a perilous
+chance--she might have torn the stick out. The immediate peril was past,
+however. The great canvas filled. Away shot the sprightly
+_Coquette_ with the wind--a bone in her teeth.
+
+Now and then she dipped and the spume flew high, drenching Polly. The
+boatman's daughter was not dressed for this rough work, for she was
+hatless and wore merely a blouse and old skirt for outside garments. She
+had pulled off her shoes and stockings while she fished and had not had
+time to put them on again.
+
+So the flying spray wet her through. She dodged occasionally to protect
+her eyes from the spoondrift which slatted so sharply across the deck
+and into the cockpit. The water gathered in the bottom of the old boat
+and was soon ankle-deep.
+
+But Polly knew the craft was tight and that this water could be bailed
+out again when she had time. Just now her mind and gaze were fixed
+mainly upon the round, bobbing objects ahead.
+
+For some minutes, although the catboat was traveling about as fast as
+Polly had ever sailed, save in a power boat, the girl could not be sure
+whether the swamped voyagers were girls or boys. It might be two of the
+Busters, from Gannet Island, for all she knew. She had made up her mind
+that the victims of the accident were from one camp or the other. There
+were no other campers as yet on the shore at this end of the lake.
+
+Then Polly realized that the heads belonged to girls. She could see the
+braids floating out behind. And she knew that they were fighting for
+their lives.
+
+They swam near together; once one of them raised up breast high in the
+water, as though looking shoreward. But neither turned back to see if
+help was coming from behind.
+
+With both hands engaged with sheet and tiller Polly could not make a
+megaphone to carry her voice; but several times she shouted as loud as
+she could:
+
+"Ahoy! Hold on! I'm coming!"
+
+Her voice seemed flung right back into her face--drowned by the slatting
+spray. How viciously that water stung!
+
+The _Coquette_ was traveling at racing speed; but would she be in
+time?
+
+How long could those two girls bear up in the choppy sea?
+
+One of the heads suddenly disappeared. Polly shrieked; but she could do
+nothing to aid.
+
+The spray filled her eyes again and, when she had shaken them free,
+Polly saw that the other swimmer--the stronger one--had gotten her
+comrade above the surface once more.
+
+Indeed, this one was swimming on her back and holding up the girl who
+had gone under. How brave she was!
+
+The sun shone clear upon the two in the water and Polly recognized
+Wynifred Mallory.
+
+"Wyn! Wynnie! Hold to her! Hold up!" cried the boatman's daughter. "I'll
+help you!"
+
+But she was still so far away--it seemed as though the catboat never
+_would_ come within hailing distance. But before she turned over in
+the water to swim with Bessie's hand upon her shoulder, the captain of
+the Go-Ahead Club beheld the catboat rushing down upon them.
+
+She could only wave a beckoning hand. She could not cry out. Wyn was
+well-nigh breathless, and Bessie's only hope was in her. The captain of
+the canoe club had to save her strength.
+
+Down swooped the catboat. Polly was shouting madly; but not for an
+instant did she lose control of the boat or ignore the work she had in
+hand. She wanted to encourage Wyn and the other; but she was taking no
+chances.
+
+Suddenly she let the sheet run and loosed the halliards. The canvas
+fluttered down on the deck with a rustle and crash. The catboat sprang
+to even keel, but shot on under the momentum it had gained in swooping
+down upon the swamped girls.
+
+"Wyn! hold hard! _I've got you!_"
+
+But it was the other girl Polly grasped. Wyn had turned, thrust the
+half-drowned Bessie before her, and Polly, leaning over the gunwale of
+the tossing boat, seized her by the shoulders.
+
+In a moment she heaved up, struggled, dragged the other girl forward,
+and together rescuer and rescued tumbled flat into the cockpit of the
+_Coquette_.
+
+Polly shouted again:
+
+"Wyn! Wyn! I'll come back for you----"
+
+"Give me a hand!" cried Wyn, hanging to the rudder. "Polly! you old
+darling! If you hadn't got here when you did----"
+
+Polly left Bess to her own resources and rushed to the stern. She helped
+Wyn clamber into the boat. Then she hoisted the sail again, and got way
+upon the boat. She raised the canvas only a little, for she had risked
+all the weight she dared upon the mast before.
+
+"Are you all right, Bess?" cried Wyn.
+
+"I--I'm alive. But, oh! I'm so--so sick," gasped Miss Lavine.
+
+"Brace up, Bess! We're all right now. Polly has saved us."
+
+"Polly?" cried Bess, sitting up, the better to see the boatman's
+daughter as the latter sat again at the helm. "Oh, Polly!"
+
+"You'd better both lie down till we get to the camp. I'll take you right
+there," said the other girl, briefly.
+
+"We'd have been--been drowned, Wyn!" gasped Bess.
+
+"I guess we would. We are still a long way from shore."
+
+"And Polly saved us? All alone? How wonderful!"
+
+But Polly's face was stern. She scarcely spoke to the two Denton girls
+as the _Coquette_ swept across the lake. Wyn told her just how it
+all happened and the condition of the two canoes when they lost sight of
+them.
+
+"I saw one; maybe the other can be found," Polly said. "I'll speak to
+father and, if the moon comes up clear bye and bye, we'll run out and
+see if we can recover them."
+
+But for Bess she had no word, or look, and when the other put out her
+hand timidly and tried to thank her, as they neared the shore, Polly
+only said:
+
+"That's all right. We're used to helping people who get overturned. It
+really is nothing."
+
+She would not see Bessie's hand. The latter felt the repulse and Wyn,
+who watched them both anxiously, dared not say a word.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+TROUBLE "BRUIN"
+
+
+The other girls and Mrs. Havel were all down on the beach to meet the
+catboat and her passengers. To see Wyn and Bessie returning across the
+lake in the sailboat, instead of the canoes, forewarned the Go-Aheads
+that an accident had happened.
+
+But although the girls were wet and bedraggled, the captain of the club
+made light of the affair.
+
+"Where are your canoes?"
+
+"What's happened?"
+
+"Who is it with you?"
+
+"What under the sun did you do--go overboard?"
+
+Wyn answered all questions in a single sentence:
+
+"We were capsized and lost the letters and things; but Polly picked us
+up and brought us home."
+
+Then, amid the excited cries and congratulations, her voice rose again:
+
+"Isn't she brave? What do you think of my Polly Jolly _now_? Can
+you blame me for being proud of her?"
+
+"I tell you wh--what she is!" gasped Bessie. "She's the bravest and
+smartest girl I ever heard of."
+
+"Good for you, Bess!" shouted Frank Cameron, helping the castaways
+ashore. "You're coming to your senses."
+
+"And--and I'm sorry," blurted out Bess, "that I ever treated her so----"
+
+Polly shoved off the catboat and proceeded to get under way again.
+
+"Oh, _do_ come ashore, Polly!" begged Grace.
+
+"I want to hug you, Miss Jarley!" cried Percy.
+
+"What? All wet as I am now?" returned the boatman's daughter,
+laughing--although the laugh was not a pleasant one. "You make too much
+of this matter. We're used to oversets on the lake. It is nothing."
+
+"You do not call saving two girls' lives _nothing_, my
+dear--surely?" proposed Mrs. Havel.
+
+"If I saved them, I am very, very glad of it," returned Polly, gravely.
+"Anybody would be glad of _that_, of course, But you are making too
+much of it----"
+
+"My father will not think so!" exclaimed the almost hysterical Bess.
+"When he learns of this he will not be able to do enough for you----"
+
+"Your father can do nothing for me, Bessie Lavine!" cried the boatman's
+daughter, with sharpness.
+
+"Oh, Polly!" said Wyn, holding out her arms to her.
+
+"He'll--he'll _want_ to," pursued Bess, eagerly. "Oh! he will! He'd
+do anything for you now----"
+
+"There's only one thing Henry Lavine can do for me," cried Polly,
+turning an angry face now toward the shore. "He can stop telling stories
+about my father. He can be kind to him--be decent to him. I don't want
+anything else--and I don't want that as pay for fishing you out of the
+lake!"
+
+She had got the sail up again and now the breeze filled it. The
+_Coquette_ laid over and slipped away from the shore. Her last
+words had silenced all the girls--even Mrs. Havel herself.
+
+Bess burst into tears. She was quite broken down, and Wyn went off with
+her to the tent, her arm over her shoulder, and whispering to her
+comfortingly.
+
+"I don't care. Polly's served her right," declared Frank Cameron.
+
+"I do not know that Polly can be blamed," Mrs. Havel observed. "But--but
+I wish she was more forgiving. It is not for herself that she speaks,
+however. It is for her father."
+
+"And I'll wager he's just as nice a man as ever was," declared Frank.
+"I'm going to ask _my_ father if he will not do something for Mr.
+Jarley."
+
+"Do so, Frances," advised the chaperon. "I think you will do well."
+
+The accident cast a cloud over Green Knoll Camp for the evening. The
+girls who had been swamped went to bed and were dosed with hot drinks
+brewed over the campfire by Mrs. Havel. And when the boys came over in
+their fleet for an evening sing and frolic, they were sent back again to
+the island almost at once.
+
+The boys did not take altogether kindly to this rebuff, and Tubby was
+heard to say:
+
+"Isn't that just like girls? Because they got a little wet they must go
+to bed and take catnip tea, or something, and be quiet. Their nerves are
+all unstrung! Gee! wouldn't that make your ears buzz?"
+
+"Aw, you're a doubting Thomas and always will be, Tub," said Ferd
+Roberts. "You never believe what you're told. You're as suspicious as
+the farmer who went to town and bought a pair of shoes, and when he'd
+paid for 'em the clerk says:
+
+"'Now, sir, can't I sell you a pair of shoe trees?'
+
+"'Don't you get fresh with me, sonny,' says the farmer, his whiskers
+bristling. 'I don't believe shoes kin be raised on trees any more 'n I
+believe rubbers grow on rubber trees, or oysters on oyster plants,
+b'gosh!'"
+
+"Well," snarled the fat youth, as the other Busters laughed, "the girls
+are always making excuses. You can never tell what a girl means,
+anyway--not by what she _says_."
+
+"You know speech was given us to hide our thoughts," laughed Dave.
+
+"Say! I'll get square just the same--paddlin' clear over here for
+nothing. Humph! I know that Hedges girl is afraid there's bears in the
+woods? Say, fellers! I've _got_ it! Yes, I've got it!"
+
+When Tubby spoke in this way, and his eyes snapped and he began to look
+eager, his mates knew that the fat youth's gigantic mind was working
+overtime, and they immediately gathered around and stopped paddling.
+
+As Dave said, chuckling, a little later, "trouble was bruin!"
+
+In the morning the girls found the two lost canoes on the shore below
+the camp. Polly and her father had evidently gone out in the evening,
+after the moon rose, and recovered them. Neither, of course, was
+damaged.
+
+"And we must do something nice to pay them for it!" cried Grace.
+
+Bessie was still deeply concerned over Polly's attitude.
+
+"I am going to write father at once, and tell him all about it," she
+said. "And I _am_ sorry for the way I treated Polly at first. Do
+you suppose she will ever forgive me, Wyn?"
+
+Just as Wyn had once said in discussing Bessie's character: when the
+latter realized that she was in the wrong, or had been unfair to anyone,
+she was never afraid to admit her fault and try to "make it up." But
+this seemed to be a case where it was very difficult for Bessie to
+"square herself."
+
+The boatman's daughter had shown herself unwilling to be friendly with
+Bess. Nor was Polly, perhaps, to be blamed.
+
+However, on this particular morning the girls of Green Knoll Camp had
+something besides Bessie's disturbance of mind and Polly Jarley's
+attitude to think about.
+
+And this "something" came upon them with a suddenness that set the
+entire camp in an uproar. Grace, the dilatory, was picking berries
+before breakfast along the edge of the clearing, and popping them into
+her mouth as fast as she could find ripe ones.
+
+"Come here and help, Grace!" called Percy from the tent where she was
+shaking out the heavy blankets. "I'm not going to do all my work and
+yours, too."
+
+"You come and help _me_. It's more fun," returned Grace, laughing
+at her.
+
+Then the lazy girl turned and reached for a particularly juicy
+blackberry, in the clump ahead of her. Percy saw her struck motionless
+for a second, or two; then the big girl fairly fell backward, rolled
+over, picked herself up, and raced back to the tents, her mouth wide
+open and her hair streaming in the wind.
+
+"What _is_ the matter?" gasped Percy.
+
+"Oh, Grace! you look dreadful! Tell us, what has happened!" begged
+Bessie, as the big girl sank down by the entrance to the tent, her limbs
+too weak to bear her farther.
+
+"What has scared you so, Grace?" demanded Wyn, running up.
+
+Grace's eyes rolled, she shut and opened her mouth again several times.
+Then she was only able to gasp out the one word:
+
+"Bear!"
+
+The other girls came crowding around. "What do you mean, Grace?" "Stop
+trying to scare us, Grace!" "She's fooling," were some of the cries they
+uttered.
+
+But Wyn saw that her friend was really frightened; she was not "putting
+it on."
+
+"You don't mean that it was a _real_ bear?" cried Frank Cameron.
+
+"A bear, I tell you!" moaned Grace, rocking herself to and fro. "I told
+you they were here in the woods."
+
+"Oh, dear me!" screamed Mina. "What shall we do?"
+
+"You didn't _see_ it, Grace?" demanded Wyn, sternly. "You only
+heard it."
+
+"I saw it, I tell you!"
+
+"Not really?"
+
+"Do--do you think I don't know a bear when I see one?" demanded Grace.
+"He--he'll be right after us----"
+
+"No. If it was a real, wild bear he would be just as scared at seeing
+you as you would be at seeing him," remarked the decidedly sensible
+captain.
+
+"He--he _couldn't_ be as scared as I am," moaned Grace, with
+considerable emphasis.
+
+"I don't believe there's a bear within miles and miles of here!"
+declared Frank.
+
+"Well! I declare I hope there isn't," cried Bess.
+
+"I'll look," offered Wyn. "Grace just thought she saw something."
+
+"A great, black and brown hairy beast!" moaned Grace. "He stood right up
+on his hind legs and stretched out his arms to me----"
+
+"Enamored of all your young charms," giggled Frank.
+
+"It's no joke!" gasped the frightened one.
+
+"It _might_ be a bear, you know," quavered Mina.
+
+The breakfast was being neglected. Mrs. Havel was down at the edge of
+the lake washing out some bits of lace. She had not heard the rumpus.
+
+"I'm going to see," announced Frank, and ran back over the course Grace
+had come.
+
+She reached the berry bushes. She parted them and peered through. She
+began to enter the jungle, indeed, in search of bruin.
+
+And then the girls all heard a sort of snuffling growl--just the sort of
+a noise they _thought_ a bear must make. Frank jumped out of those
+bushes as though they had become suddenly afire!
+
+"Wha--what did I tell you?" screamed Grace.
+
+"He's there!" groaned Mina.
+
+Then suddenly a dark object appeared among the saplings and underbrush.
+
+"Look out, Frank! Run!" cried the other girls, in chorus; but Miss
+Cameron needed no urging; she ran with all her might!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+TIT FOR TAT
+
+
+But instead of returning toward the tents she ran straight across the
+clearing. Possibly she did not stop to think where she was going, for
+she came against the underbrush again and that terrific growl was once
+more repeated.
+
+Frankie stopped as though she had been shot. Right in front of her
+loomed a second black, hairy figure.
+
+She glared around wildly. At the back of the clearing was the opening
+into the wood path leading from Windmill Farm down to the boat-landing
+at John Jarley's place. And in that opening, and for an instant,
+appeared likewise a threatening form!
+
+"Come here! Come here, Frank!" shrieked Bess. "There's another of
+them--we're surrounded."
+
+The Cameron girl started again, and let out the last link of speed that
+there was in her. She ran straight down to the shore where Mrs. Havel
+just aroused by the shrieks, was starting to return to camp.
+
+The other girls piled after her. But Wyn brought up the rear. She looked
+around now and then. Three bears! In a place where no bears had been
+seen for years and years! Wyn was puzzled.
+
+"There are bears in the woods, Mrs. Havel!" gasped Grace.
+
+"Nonsense, child!"
+
+"I saw 'em. One almost grabbed me," declared the big girl.
+
+"And _I_ saw them, Auntie," urged Percy Havel.
+
+"This way! this way!" cried Frank, running along the shore under the
+high knoll on which the camp was pitched. "They can't see us down here."
+
+Mrs. Havel was urged along by her niece and Grace. Wyn brought up the
+rear. Oddly enough, none of the bears came out of the bushes--that she
+could see.
+
+The girls plunged along the sand, and through the shallow water for
+several yards. Here the bushes grew right down to the edge of the lake.
+Suddenly Wyn caught sight of something ahead, and uttered a sharp
+command:
+
+"Stop! every one of you! Do you hear me, Frank? Stop!"
+
+"Oh, dear! they can eat us here just as well as anywhere," groaned
+Grace.
+
+"Now be quiet!" said Wynifred, in some heat. "We've all been foolish
+enough. _Those were not bears._"
+
+"Cows, maybe, Wynnie?" asked Mrs. Havel. "But I am quite as afraid of
+cows----"
+
+"Nor cows, either. I guess you wouldn't have been fooled for a minute if
+you had seen them," said Wyn.
+
+"What do you mean, Wyn?" cried Frank. "I tell you I saw them with my own
+eyes----"
+
+"Of course you did. So did I," admitted Wyn. "But we did not see them
+right. They are not bears, walking on their hind legs; they are just
+boys walking on the only legs they've got!"
+
+"The Busters!" ejaculated Frank.
+
+"Oh, Wyn! do you think so?" asked Mina, hopefully.
+
+"Look ahead," commanded Wyn. "There are the boys' canoes. They paddled
+over here this morning and dressed up in those old moth-eaten buffalo
+robes they had over there, on the island, and managed to frighten us
+nicely."
+
+"That's it! They played a joke on us," began Frank, laughing.
+
+But Mrs. Havel was angry. "They should be sent home for playing such a
+trick," she said, "and I shall speak to Professor Skillings about it."
+
+"Pooh!" said Wyn. "They're only boys. And of course they'll be up to
+such tricks. The thing to do is to go them one better."
+
+"How, Wyn, how?" cried her mates.
+
+"I do not know that I can allow this, Wynifred," began Mrs. Havel,
+doubtfully.
+
+"You wish to punish them; don't you, Mrs. Havel?"
+
+"They should be punished--yes."
+
+"Then we have the chance," cried Wyn, gleefully. "You go back to the
+camp, Mrs. Havel, and we girls will take their canoes--every one of
+them. We'll call them the trophies of war, and we'll make the Busters
+pay--and pay well for them--before they get their canoes back. What do
+you say, girls?"
+
+"Splendid!" cried Frank. "And they frightened me so!"
+
+"Look out for the biscuits, Mrs. Havel, please," begged Bess. "I am
+afraid they will be burned."
+
+The lady returned hurriedly to the camp on the top of the hillock. When
+she mounted the rise from the shore, there was a circle of giggling
+youths about the open fireplace and a pile of moth-eaten buffalo hides
+near by. Dave was messing with the Dutch oven in which Bess had just
+before put the pan of biscuit for breakfast.
+
+"Ho, ho!" cried Tubby. "Where are the girls?"
+
+"Bear hunting, I bet!" cried Ferd Roberts.
+
+"Good-morning, Mrs. Havel," said Dave, smiling rather sheepishly. "I
+hope we didn't scare _you_."
+
+"You rather startled me--coming unannounced," admitted Mrs. Havel, but
+smiling quietly. "You surely have not breakfasted so early?"
+
+"No. That's part of the game," declared another youth. "We claim
+forfeit--and in this case take payment in eats."
+
+"I am afraid you are more slangy than understandable," returned Mrs.
+Havel. "Did you come for something particular?"
+
+"Goodness! didn't you see those girls running?" cried Ferd.
+
+"Running? Where to?" queried the chaperone.
+
+Dave began to look more serious.
+
+"Perhaps they are running yet!" squealed Tubby, only seeing the fun of
+it.
+
+"Bet they've gone for help to hunt the bears," laughed another of the
+reckless youngsters.
+
+"They'll get out the whole countryside to find 'em," choked Ferdinand
+Roberts. "That's _too_ rich."
+
+"Are you sure the girls didn't come your way, Mrs. Havel?" asked Dave,
+with anxiety.
+
+"Oh, the girls will be back presently. I came up to see to the biscuit,
+Mr. Shepard. About inviting you to breakfast--You know, I am only a
+guest of Green Knoll Camp myself. I couldn't invite you," said Mrs.
+Havel, demurely.
+
+The boys looked at each other in some surprise and Tubby's face fell
+woefully.
+
+"Ca-can't we do something to help you get breakfast, Mrs. Havel?"
+
+Mrs. Havel had to hide a smile at that, but she remained obdurate. "I
+have really nothing to do with it, Sir Tubby. You must wait for the
+girls to come," she said.
+
+The boys began whispering together; but they did not move. They had
+scuttled over from their own camp early with the express intention of
+"getting one" on the girls, and making a breakfast out of it. But now
+the accomplishment of their purpose seemed doubtful, and there was a
+hollow look about them all that should have made Mrs. Havel pity them.
+
+That lady, however, remembered vividly how she had run along the shore
+in fear of a flock of bears; this was a part of the boys' punishment for
+that ill-begotten joke.
+
+The biscuit were beginning to brown, the coffee sent off a delicious
+odor, and here were eggs ready to drop into the kettle of boiling water
+for their four-minute submersion. Besides, there was mush and milk.
+Every minute the boys became hungrier.
+
+"Aren't the girls ever coming?" sighed Tubby. "They _couldn't_ be
+so heartless."
+
+"They haven't gone far; have they?" queried Dave Shepard. "We saw their
+canoes on the beach."
+
+Just then the laughter of the girls in the distance broke upon the ears
+of those on the hillock. They were approaching along the
+shore--apparently from the direction of Jarley's landing.
+
+"They don't seem to have been much scared, after all," grumbled Tubby to
+Ferd.
+
+"It was a silly thing to do, anyway," returned young Roberts. "Suppose
+we don't get any breakfast?"
+
+At this horrid thought the fat youth almost fainted. The girls came in
+sight, and at once hailed the boys gaily:
+
+"Oh! see who's here!" cried Frank. "What a lovely surprise!"
+
+"Isn't it?" said Bess, but with rather a vicious snap. "We couldn't get
+along, of course, without having a parcel of boys around. 'Morning, Mr.
+Shepard."
+
+Bess made a difference between Dave and the rest of the Busters, for
+Dave had helped her in a serious difficulty.
+
+"Where's the professor?" demanded Grace. "Isn't he here, too?"
+
+"He's having breakfast all by his lonesome over on the island," said
+Ferd, and Tubby groaned at the word "breakfast," while Dave added:
+
+"We--we got a dreadfully early start this morning."
+
+"Quite a start--I should say," returned Wyn, smiling broadly. "And now
+you're hungry, I suppose?"
+
+"Oh, aren't we, just?" cried one of the crowd, hollowly.
+
+"How about it, Bess? Is there enough for so many more?"
+
+Bess was already sifting flour for more biscuit. She said: "I'll have
+another panful in a jiffy. Put in the eggs, Mina. We can make a
+beginning."
+
+"There's plenty of mush," said Mina. "That's one sure thing."
+
+"But we can't all sit down," cried Grace.
+
+"You know, there are but six of these folding seats, and Wyn's been
+sitting on a cracker box ever since we set up the tents."
+
+"Feed 'em where they're sitting," said Wyn, quickly. "Beggars mustn't be
+choosers."
+
+"Jinks! we didn't treat you like this when you came over to our camp,"
+cried Ferd.
+
+"And we didn't come over almost before you were up in the morning,"
+responded Frank, quickly. "How did you know we had made our 'twilights'
+at such an unconscionable hour?"
+
+The girls were all laughing a good deal. Nobody said a word about the
+"bear" fright, and the boys felt a little diffidence about broaching the
+subject. Evidently their joke had fallen flat.
+
+But the girls really had no intention of being mean to the six Busters.
+The first pan of biscuit came out of the oven a golden brown. Grace and
+Percy set them and the bowls of mush on the table, and handed around
+other bowls and a pitcher of milk to the circle of boys, sitting
+cross-legged on the ground like so many tailors.
+
+There was honey for the biscuits, too, as well as golden butter--both
+from Windmill Farm. The eggs were cooked just right, and there were
+plenty of them. Crisp radishes and sliced cucumbers and tomatoes added
+to the fare.
+
+"Gee!" sighed Tubby, "doesn't it take girls to live _right_ in
+camp? And look at those doughnuts."
+
+"I fried them," cried Mina, proudly. "Mrs. Havel showed me how, though."
+
+"Mrs. Havel, come over to Gannet Island and teach us how to cook," cried
+Dave. "We don't have anything like this."
+
+"Not a sweetie except what we buy at the Forge--and that's baker's
+stuff," complained Tubby.
+
+"Don't you think you boys had better be pretty good to us--if you want
+to come to tea--or breakfast--once in a while?" asked Wyn, pointedly.
+
+"Right!" declared Dave.
+
+"Got us there," admitted Ferdinand.
+
+"_I'll_ see that they behave themselves, Wyn," cried Tubby, with
+great enthusiasm. "These fellows are too fresh, anyway----"
+
+But at this the other boys rose up in their might and pitched upon
+Master Blaisdell, rolling him over and over on the grass and making him
+lose half of his last doughnut.
+
+"Now, now, now!" cried Mrs. Havel. "This is no bear-garden. Try to
+behave."
+
+The boys began to laugh uproariously at this. "What do _you_ know
+about a bear-garden, Grace?" Ferd demanded.
+
+"And wasn't that growling of Dave's awe-inspiring?" cried another.
+
+"And weren't _you_ scared, Frank Cameron?" suggested Tubby,
+grinning hugely when his mates had let him up. "I never did know you
+could run so fast."
+
+"Why, pshaw!" responded Frank. "Did you boys really think you had scared
+us with those moth-eaten old robes?"
+
+"How ridiculous!" chimed in Bess. "A boy is usually a good deal of a
+bear, I know; but he doesn't _look_ like one."
+
+"And--and there haven't been any bears in this country for--for years,"
+said Grace, though rather quaveringly.
+
+"Say! what do you know about all this?" demanded Dave, of his mates.
+
+"Do you girls mean to say that you weren't scared pretty near into
+fits?" cried one lad.
+
+"Did we act scared?" laughed Wyn. "I guess we fooled you a little, eh?"
+
+"You're just as much mistaken," said Frank, "as the red-headed man was
+who went to see the doctor because he had indigestion. When the doctor
+told him to diet, it wasn't his hair he meant; but the red-headed man
+got mad just the same. Now, you boys----"
+
+"Aw, come! come!" cried Dave. "You can't say honestly you were not
+scared. You know you were."
+
+"I am afraid your joke fell flat, Davie," laughed Wyn. All the girls
+were enjoying the boys' discomfiture. "Of course, I suppose you thought
+you deserved your breakfast as a forfeit because you got a trick across
+on us. But you'll have to try again, I am afraid. Just because we ran
+doesn't prove that we did not recognize the combination of a boy and a
+buffalo robe."
+
+"Aw, now!" cried one of the boys. "What did you run for?"
+
+"There's a reason," laughed Percy.
+
+"Wait!" advised Frank, shaking her head and her own eyes dancing. "You
+will find out soon enough why we ran."
+
+"'He laughs best who laughs last,'" quoted Grace. "Bears, indeed!"
+
+The boys were puzzled. Breakfast being over the girls went about their
+several tasks and paid their friends of the opposite sex very little
+attention. To all suggestions that they get out the canoes and go across
+to the island with the boys, or on other junkets, the girls responded
+with refusals. They evidently thought they had something like a joke
+themselves on the boys, and finally the latter went off through the
+brush toward the spot where they had tied their canoes, half inclined to
+be angry.
+
+They were gone a long while, and were very quiet. The girls whispered
+together, and kept right near the tents, waiting for the explosion.
+
+"At least," Wyn said, chuckling, "we gave them a good breakfast, so they
+won't starve to death; but if they want to go to the island they will
+have to swim."
+
+"We've given them 'tit for tat,'" said Frankie, nodding her head. "Glad
+of it. And _they'll_ pay the forfeit, instead of us."
+
+"If they don't find the canoes," whispered Grace.
+
+"They wouldn't find them in a week of Sundays," cried Percy.
+
+"Then let's set them a good hard task for payment," suggested Bess.
+
+"That's right. They oughtn't to have tried to scare us so," agreed Mina.
+
+"I guess it is agreed," laughed Wyn, "to show them no mercy. Ah! here
+they come now."
+
+The Busters slowly climbed the knoll in rather woebegone fashion. Their
+feathers certainly were drooped, as Frank remarked.
+
+"Well," said Dave, throwing himself down on the sward, "we must hand it
+to you Go-Aheads. You've got us 'way out on the limb, and if you shake
+the tree very hard we'll drop off."
+
+"No, thanks!" snapped Bess. "We don't care for green fruit."
+
+"Oh, oh!" squealed Ferd. "I bet that hurt me."
+
+"Now, there's no use quarreling," said Dave. "We admit defeat. Where
+under the sun you girls could have hidden our canoes I don't see. And
+your own haven't been used this morning, that's sure."
+
+Wyn and her mates broke into uncontrollable laughter at this.
+
+"Who's the joke on now?" cried Bess.
+
+"What will you give to find your canoes?" exclaimed Frankie.
+
+"Aw--say--don't rub it in," begged Tubby. "We own up to the corn. You
+beat us. Where are the canoes?"
+
+"Ahem!" said Wynifred, clearing her throat loudly, and standing forth.
+
+"Hear, hear!" cried Mina.
+
+"Oh! you've got it all fixed up for us, I see," muttered Ferd.
+
+"The understanding always has been," said Wyn, calmly, "that if one
+party succeeded in playing a practical joke on the other, and 'getting
+away with it,' as you slangy boys say, the party falling for the trick
+should pay forfeit. Isn't that so?"
+
+"Go on! Do your worst," growled Ferd.
+
+"That's right. You state the case clearly, Miss Mallory," said Dave,
+with a bow of mockery.
+
+"And they never paid a forfeit for the time Tubby slid down our
+boathouse roof, plunk into the water," cried Bessie.
+
+"Aw--that's ancient history," growled Tubby.
+
+"Let us stick to recent events," agreed Wyn, smiling. "If we girls were
+at all frightened by your 'bear-faced' attempt to frighten us this
+morning, we have paid with a breakfast; haven't we?"
+
+"And it was a good one," agreed Dave.
+
+"It's made me go right to cooking again," said Bess. "A swarm of locusts
+would have brought about no greater devastation."
+
+"Then, gentlemen," said Wynifred, "do you admit that the shoe is now on
+the other foot? You cannot find your canoes. Will you pay us to find
+them for you?"
+
+"That's only fair," admitted Dave.
+
+"Say! how do we pay you?" demanded Ferd.
+
+"Shall I tell them what we demand, girls?" asked Wyn.
+
+"Go ahead!" "It'll serve them right!" "They've got to do it!" were some
+of the exclamations from the Go-Aheads.
+
+"Oh, let the blow fall!" groaned Dave.
+
+"Then, gentlemen of the Busters Association, it is agreed by the ladies
+of the Go-Ahead Club that while we remain in camp on Green Knoll this
+summer, you young gentlemen shall cut and stack all the firewood we
+shall need!"
+
+"Ow-ouch!" cried Ferd.
+
+"What a cheek!" gasped Tubby, rolling his eyes.
+
+"_All_ the firewood you use?" repeated one of the other boys.
+"Why--that will be cords and cords!"
+
+"Every stick!" declared Wyn, firmly.
+
+"And I'd be ashamed, if I were you, to complain," pursued Bessie. "If
+you had been gentlemanly you would have offered to cut our wood before.
+You know that that is the _one_ thing that girls can't do easily
+about a camp."
+
+"Gee! you have quite a heap of stove wood yonder," said Tubby.
+
+"That is what Mr. Jarley cut for us," Wyn said. "But it doesn't matter
+what other means we may have for getting our firewood cut. Will you
+accept the forfeit like honorable gentlemen?"
+
+"Why, we've _got_ to!" cried Ferd.
+
+"We're honestly caught," admitted Dave Shepard. "I'll do my share. Two
+of us, for half a day a week, can more than keep you supplied--unless
+you waste it."
+
+"And we can have the canoes back?" demanded one of the other Busters,
+eagerly.
+
+And so it was agreed--"signed, sworn to, and delivered," as Frankie
+said. With great glee the girls led the Busters to the steep bank by the
+waterside, over which a great curtain of wild honeysuckle hung. This
+curtain of fragrant flowers and thick vines dragged upon the ground.
+There was a hollow behind it that Wyn had discovered quite by chance.
+
+And this hollow was big enough to hide the six canoes, one stacked a-top
+of the other. One passing by would never have suspected the hiding
+place, and in hiding the craft the girls had left no tell-tale
+footprints.
+
+So, for once at least, the Go-Aheads got the best of the Busters.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+VISITORS
+
+
+Bessie Lavine had written home, as she said she would, regarding her
+adventure with Wyn when they were overturned by the squall, and all
+about Polly Jarley. But the result of this letter--and the others that
+went along to Denton with it--was not just what the girls had expected.
+
+Although Mrs. Havel, in charge of the Go-Aheads, reported regularly to
+her brother-in-law, Percy's father, the story of the overturn made a
+great stir among the mothers especially, whose consent to the six girls
+living under canvas for the summer had been gained with such difficulty.
+
+"What do you know about this, girls?" cried Frank, on next mail day. "My
+mother and father are coming out here. They can stay but one night; but
+they say they must see with their own eyes just how we are living here."
+
+"And my Uncle Will is coming," announced Grace. "What do you know about
+_that_? Mother has made him promise to come and see if I am all
+right."
+
+"_My_ mother says," quoth Mina, slowly, "that she doesn't doubt
+Mrs. Havel does the very best she can by us; but she and papa are coming
+up here with Mr. and Mrs. Cameron."
+
+Bessie began to laugh, too. "Pa's coming," she said. "It's a plot, I
+believe. He says he has hired the _Sissy Radcliffe_, and all of our
+parents can come if they like. The boat's big enough. He will bring
+another sleeping tent and those who wish can sleep under canvas while
+they remain. The boat has lots of berths in it. Say! maybe we'll have a
+great time."
+
+"I expect," said Mrs. Havel, looking up and smiling, from her own
+letter, "that your mothers, girls, will not really be content until they
+see for themselves how you are getting along. So we may as well make
+ready for visitors. They will arrive on Saturday. Some will remain only
+over Sunday and return by train from the Forge. But Mr. Lavine, I
+believe, and some of the gentlemen, will be here on the lake for a week,
+or more."
+
+"No more oversets, now, girls," said Frankie. "That's what is bringing
+the mothers up here."
+
+"_My_ father is coming to see if he cannot do something for Polly
+Jarley," declared Bessie, with emphasis.
+
+But Wynifred Mallory was quite sure that the Lavines--no matter how good
+their intentions now were toward the boatman's daughter--would find
+Polly rather difficult. Wyn had been down to the boatkeeper's house
+several times alone to see Polly; but the backwoods girl would not be
+shaken from her attitude. She would not come to Green Knoll Camp any
+more, nor would she send any word to Bess Lavine.
+
+Bess really was sorry for what she had said and the way she had treated
+Polly. But the latter was obdurate.
+
+"I don't want anything from those Lavines," she replied to Wyn's urging.
+"Only that Mr. Lavine should treat my father kindly. I'd pull the girl
+out of the lake again--sure! But I don't want her for a friend, and I
+don't want to be paid for doing my duty. _You_ don't offer to pay
+me, Wynnie."
+
+"No, dear. I couldn't pay you for saving my life," Wynifred admitted.
+
+"Neither can they!" retorted Polly, heatedly. "They think they're so
+much above us, because they have money and we have none. They are like
+those millionaires at the other end of the lake--Dr. Shelton and the
+others. I don't want their money!"
+
+But Polly's obstinacy was cutting the boatman's daughter out of a lot of
+fun. This fact became more pronounced, too, when the visitors from
+Denton, in the _Sissy Radcliffe_, came to Green Knoll Camp.
+
+The _Sissy_ was a big motor launch, and there was a good-sized
+party aboard. When the ladies had once seen how the girls and Mrs. Havel
+lived, they were glad to take advantage of the tent Mr. Lavine brought.
+The gentlemen slept aboard the launch, which was anchored at night off
+Green Knoll Camp.
+
+There were indeed gay times, for instead of acting as "wet-blankets" to
+the young folks' fun, the visitors entered into the spirit of the outing
+and, with the Busters and Professor Skillings from Gannet Island, made a
+holiday of the occasion.
+
+Both the girls and boys "showed off" in their canoes in the shallow
+water under the bank, and in their bathing suits. They showed the more
+or less anxious parents just how skillful they were in the management of
+the tricky craft.
+
+When the canoes were overturned, the girls and boys were able to right
+them, bail them out, and scramble aboard again. They could all swim and
+dive like ducks--save Bessie and Tubby. But Bessie was improving every
+day, and Tubby never _could_ really sink, they all declared, unless
+he swallowed so much of the lake for ballast that he would be able to
+wade ashore from the middle.
+
+It was now the height of the camping season and the Busters and
+Go-Aheads, with their friends, were not the only parties along the
+shores of Lake Honotonka. The Jarleys were doing a good business, almost
+all their craft being in use most of the time. A battalion of Boy Scouts
+went into camp about ten miles to the west of Gannet Island and Dave and
+his mates had some friends among them.
+
+Several small steamboats plied the waters of the lake with excursion
+parties. The people at Braisely Park often came down to Gannet Island
+and the neighborhood of Green Knoll in their boats. Altogether there was
+considerable intimacy among the campers and between them and the
+residents of Braisely Park.
+
+This pleasant condition of affairs brought about the idea of the
+regatta, or boating sports. Some of the wealthy men at the west end of
+the lake arranged the events, put up the prizes for certain classes of
+boat trials and other aquatic sports, had the necessary printing and
+advertising done, and
+
+                         HONOTONKA REGATTA DAY
+
+became emblazoned on the billboards along the neighboring highways and
+railroad lines.
+
+The events were entirely amateur and were confined to those actually
+camping on, or living on, the shores of the lake. Arrangements went
+ahead with a rush, the date being set so close that most of the parents
+and friends who had come up with Mr. Lavine from Denton were encouraged
+to stay over.
+
+Some of the Busters were going to enter for the canoeing events, and
+there was a girls' contest, too, that interested our friends. Bessie
+Lavine could paddle a canoe as well as anybody, and she was eager to
+take part in one or two of the races. So she got out early one morning,
+with Wyn and Grace, and Mr. Lavine for referee, and they did some good
+work.
+
+They chanced to get well over toward the Jarley boat landing and
+suddenly Wyn set up a shout:
+
+"Polly! Polly Jolly! I never knew you had a canoe. Come on over here!"
+
+She had caught sight of the boatman's daughter paddling near the shore
+in an Indian canoe. It was of birchbark and Polly shot it along under
+the stroke of her paddle as though it had the weight of a feather. And,
+indeed, it was not so heavy by a good deal as the cedar boats of the
+Go-Ahead girls.
+
+Polly waved her hand and turned the canoe's prow toward Wyn. Not until
+she was right among the other canoes did she realize that in one of them
+sat Bessie Lavine.
+
+"We are very glad to see you, Polly," declared Wyn. "Are you going to
+enter for the girls' races?"
+
+"Good-morning, Polly," cried Grace, equally cordial. "What a pretty boat
+you have!"
+
+Polly stammered some words of welcome and then looked from Bessie to Mr.
+Lavine. Evidently the boatman's daughter suspected who the gentleman
+was.
+
+Mr. Lavine was a pleasant enough man to meet socially. It is true that
+both he and his daughter were impulsive and perhaps prided themselves on
+being "good haters." This does not mean that they were haters of that
+which was good; but that if they considered anybody their enemy the
+enmity was not allowed to die out.
+
+"I am glad to see you again, Polly," Bess said, driving her canoe close
+to that of the boatman's daughter. "Won't you speak to me at all?"
+
+"Oh, Miss Lavine! I would not be so rude as to refuse to speak to you,"
+Polly replied. "But--but it doesn't do any good----"
+
+"Yes, it does, Polly," Bess said, quickly. "This is my father and he
+wants to thank you for saving my life."
+
+"Indeed I do!" exclaimed Mr. Lavine, heartily. "I can't tell you how
+much I appreciate what you did----"
+
+"Oh, yes, sir," said Polly, hurriedly. "I know all about that. You told
+me how you felt in your letter. And I'm sure I am obliged to you----"
+
+"For what?" demanded the gentleman, smiling. "I have done nothing but
+acknowledge in empty phrases your bravery and good sense. I think a deal
+of my Bessie, and I must show you in some more substantial way how much
+I appreciate what you did for her."
+
+"No, sir; you cannot do that," declared Polly, very much flushed, but
+with firmness, too.
+
+"Oh, come, now I My dear girl! Don't be so offish----"
+
+"You have thanked me sufficiently, sir," declared Polly. "If I did not
+know better than to accept anything more substantial myself, my father
+would not allow it."
+
+"Oh, come now! Your father----"
+
+"My father, sir, is John Jarley. He used to be your friend and partner
+in business. You have seen fit to spread abroad tales about him that he
+denies--that are untrue, sir," pursued Polly, her anger making her voice
+tremble.
+
+"From you, Mr. Lavine, we could accept nothing--no charity. If we are
+poor, and if I have no advantages--such advantages as your daughter has,
+for instance--_you_ are as much to blame for it as anybody."
+
+"Oh! come now!"
+
+"It is true. Your libelling of my father ruined his reputation in
+Denton. He could get no business there. And it worried my mother almost
+to death. So he had to come away up here into the woods."
+
+"I really was not to blame for that, Polly," said Mr. Lavine.
+
+"You were! Whether you realize it yourself, or not, you are the cause of
+all our troubles, for they began with your being angry with father over
+the Steel Rivet Corporation deal. I know. He's told me about it
+himself."
+
+Mr. Lavine was putting a strong brake upon his temper. He was deeply
+grateful to Polly; but he was a proud man, too.
+
+"Let us put aside the difference of opinion between John Jarley and
+myself, my dear girl," he said, quietly. "Perhaps he and I had better
+discuss that; not _you_ and I. Bessie, I know, wishes to be your
+friend, and so do I. Had you not rescued her from the lake as you did,
+Polly, I should be mourning her death. It is a terrible thing to think
+of!"
+
+Polly was silenced by this. But if she did not look actually sullen, she
+certainly gave no sign of giving way.
+
+"So, my dear, you must see how strongly we both feel. You would be doing
+a kind action, Polly, if you allowed Bessie to be your friend."
+
+"That is true, Polly," cried Bessie, putting out her hand again. "Do,
+_do_ shake hands with me. Why! I owe you my life!"
+
+"Don't talk that way!" returned the boatman's daughter. But she gave
+Bess her hand. "You make too much of what I did. And I don't want to
+seem mean--and ungrateful.
+
+"But, truly, you can do nothing for me. No, Mr. Lavine; there is nothing
+I could accept. You have wronged my father----"
+
+He put up his hand in denial, but she went on to say:
+
+"At least, _I_ believe so. You can do nothing for me. I would be
+glad if you would right the wrong you did him so long ago; but I do not
+want you to do _that_ in payment for anything I may have done for
+Miss Bessie.
+
+"No, sir. Right my father's wrong because it _is_ a wrong and
+because you realize it to be such--that you were mistaken----"
+
+"I do not see that," Mr. Lavine returned, stiffly.
+
+"Then there is nothing more to be said," declared Polly, and with a
+quick flirt of her paddle, she drove her birchbark out of the huddle of
+other canoes and, in half a minute, was out of earshot.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+THE REGATTA
+
+
+The late July morning that broke upon the scene of the last preparations
+for Honotonka regatta promised as fine a day as heart could wish.
+
+There was a good breeze from early morning. This was fine for the
+catboat races and for the sailing canoes. Yet the breeze was not too
+strong, and there was not much "sea." This latter fact made the paddling
+less difficult.
+
+The camps on Gannet Island and at Green Knoll were deserted soon after
+breakfast. The Busters took their canoes aboard the _Happy Day_,
+while Mr. Lavine's launch, the _Sissy Radcliffe_, carried the
+girls' canoes as well as the girls themselves.
+
+They were two merry boatloads, and the boats themselves were strung with
+banners and pennants. As they shot up the sunlit lake they sighted many
+other craft headed toward Braisely Park, for some contestants had come
+from as far away as the Forge, at the head of the Wintinooski.
+
+Suddenly Wyn, looking through the camp spyglass, recognized the patched
+sail of the _Coquette_, the little catboat in which Polly Jarley
+had come to the rescue of the two members of the Go-Ahead Club on that
+memorable day.
+
+"Polly is aboard," she told Frank Cameron, passing the glass to her
+friend. "But who is the boy with her?"
+
+"That's no boy!" declared the sharp-eyed Frankie. "Why! he's got a
+mustache."
+
+"It's never Mr. Jarley himself?" exclaimed Wyn, in surprise.
+
+"That's exactly who it is."
+
+"I didn't think they'd both leave the landing at the same time. Do you
+suppose they have entered the _Coquette_ in the free-for-all
+catboat race?"
+
+"I shouldn't wonder. She's a fast boat if she _is_ old and
+lubberly-looking. And Dr. Shelton has offered twenty-five dollars for
+the winning boat."
+
+"It takes two to work a catboat properly, too. That is the
+understanding," said Wyn, thoughtfully: "a crew of two."
+
+"Hope they win the race!" declared Frank, generously.
+
+"So do I. And they've got Polly's birch canoe aboard. She will enter for
+the girls' canoe race, I am sure."
+
+"All right," said Frank. "If you don't win the prize in _that_, my
+dear, then I hope Polly does."
+
+"Why, I haven't a chance beside Bess, I am sure."
+
+"That's all right. Bess is too erratic. One day she paddles well and the
+next she is 'way behind. It's her temperament. She's not a steady old
+warhorse like yourself, Wynnie."
+
+"Thanks," laughed Wyn. "How about Polly? What do you call _her_?"
+
+"I don't know. I admire her vastly," said Frank. "But Polly puzzles me.
+And I haven't seen her working at the paddle much. I only know that in a
+skiff she can out row any of the Busters."
+
+"I fancy she can paddle some, too. And her canoe is as light as a
+feather. All those birchbarks are."
+
+"The judges may handicap her, then. But, hullo! what's that Dave Shepard
+up to?"
+
+Wyn turned to look at her next-door neighbor. Dave was writing upon a
+slip of paper. Once he looked across at Frank and Wyn and saw that the
+two girls were watching him.
+
+He seemed confused, started as though to tear the paper up, and then hid
+it under a coil of rope at his feet. But he was very particular to hide
+every particle of the paper.
+
+"What you doing there, Dave?" demanded Frank, with plain curiosity.
+
+"Oh, nothing," responded the youth, and rose up, stretching his arms and
+yawning. It was plain that he did not wish to be questioned.
+
+"What was that paper?" pursued Frank.
+
+"Oh--that--er----It's of no consequence," declared Dave, and walked aft
+so as not to be further questioned.
+
+"Now, he can't fool me!" cried Frank, under her breath. "It _was_
+something of consequence. I--I'm going to see."
+
+"I wouldn't," said Wyn.
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Well--whatever it is, it isn't ours."
+
+"Pooh!"
+
+"And he evidently didn't want us to see it."
+
+"For that very reason I am going to look," declared Frankie. And the
+moment Dave was out of sight she sprang across the deck and lifted up
+the rope enough to pull out the paper.
+
+The moment she scanned it, Wyn saw Frankie's face turn very red. She
+looked angry, and stamped her foot. Then she burst into a giggle, and
+slid the paper back out of sight again.
+
+She came back to her friend with a mixture of emotions expressed on her
+countenance. "What do you suppose?" she demanded.
+
+"Suppose about what?" asked Wyn.
+
+"What do you suppose Dave wrote on that paper?"
+
+"I give it up. Something that didn't concern us, as I told you."
+
+"You're wrong," cried Frank, divided between wrath and amusement. "And
+it's just the very _meanest_ thing!"
+
+"Why, you excite my curiosity," admitted Wyn.
+
+"That's what he did it for," declared Frankie.
+
+"_What_ did he write?" cried Wyn. "Out with it."
+
+"He wrote: 'I bet an ice-cream treat all around that your curiosity will
+not permit you to leave this alone.' Now! could anything be meaner?"
+
+"Ha, ha!" chuckled Wyn.
+
+"Don't you see? We can't claim the treat without giving ourselves away?
+I believe I'll join forces with Bess. There _is_ nothing meaner
+than a boy."
+
+"Never mind," said Wyn. "I'll find some way of making Master Dave pay
+for the ice-cream treat, just the same. You see if I don't."
+
+Soon after this the launches were sent to one side so as to leave the
+course clear, and the races began. The men's and boys' canoe races were
+very interesting, and Dave Shepard won a sweater, while one of the other
+Busters got the second prize of a dollar for quickness in overturning
+and righting a canoe.
+
+Some "funny stunts" followed in the water, and then came a girls'
+swimming race. Here the Go-Ahead girls excelled, although there were
+more than a score of entries. Wyn Mallory won a two-hundred-yard,
+straightaway dash, while Frank was second and Grace Hedges third in the
+same race. The people who had come up from Denton cheered the girls
+enthusiastically. When the parents who had been so afraid for their
+daughters' safety saw how well able the girls were to take care of
+themselves, their anxiety was allayed.
+
+After these swimming contests there was an interval of two hours for
+refreshments. A caterer had prepared tables of sandwiches and cold
+drinks, as well as ice cream and cake, on one of the bigger docks
+belonging to Braisely Park. In fact, it was Dr. Shelton's dock.
+
+The catboat races were to follow the intermission and Wyn found that the
+Jarley _Coquette_ had been entered. She ran over to the dock from
+which the "cats" were to start for the line, and as she approached the
+spot she heard loud voices and saw a little crowd of excited people.
+
+The _Coquette_ was almost the only catboat left. Dr. Shelton had
+backed Mr. Jarley up against a post on the wharf and, in a loud and
+angry voice, was telling the unfortunate boatman what he thought of him.
+
+"_You_ have the cheek to be in this race, John Jarley?" cried the
+angry man. "I don't mind your daughter--I pity her. But I'm hanged if
+I'll let a thief take part in this race--and me offering the prize. Get
+out of here!"
+
+"Hold on, Shelton!" exclaimed one of his friends. "You're going too far
+when you call Jarley a thief."
+
+"Or else you are not going far enough," chimed in another. "If you
+believe Jarley stole those images--and the boat--why don't you go about
+it right? Report it to the county prosecutor and have the man arrested."
+
+"Or, if Jarley is _not_ guilty," added another, "I advise him, as a
+lawyer, to sue you for damages."
+
+"Let him sue and be hanged to him!" cried Dr. Shelton, who was a great,
+rough man, twice the size of the boatman, and with all the confidence of
+his great wealth, as well as his great muscle, behind him. "But he
+sha'n't sail in this race."
+
+"We'll go back home, Father----Oh, let's go back!" cried Polly, from the
+cockpit of the dancing _Coquette_.
+
+But Wyn Mallory knew that the Jarleys must have hoped to win the
+twenty-five dollar prize. The _Coquette_ was being mentioned as a
+possible winner among the knowing ones about the course.
+
+"Dr. Shelton!" she cried, tugging at the angry man's arm. "Do you mind
+if Polly and I sail the boat instead?"
+
+"Eh? _You_--a girl?" grunted the doctor, "Well, why not? I've got
+nothing--as I said before--against his daughter. It's the man himself
+who has no business at this end of the lake. I sent him word so a month
+and more ago. I ought to have him arrested."
+
+Win thought it would be less cruel to do so, and have the matter
+thrashed out in the courts. Mr. Jarley was stooping from the wharf,
+whispering with Polly.
+
+"I can help her," Wyn cried, turning to the abused boatman. "Let
+me--do!"
+
+"You are very kind, Miss Mallory," said Jarley.
+
+The captain of the Go-Ahead Club leaped lightly down into the
+_Coquette_.
+
+"What's our number--sixteen?" she cried. "Pay off the sheet, Polly.
+We're off." Then she added, in a low tone, to the weeping girl in the
+stern: "Don't you mind the doctor, Polly--mean old thing! We'll win the
+prize in spite of him--you see if we don't."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+UNDER WHITE WINGS
+
+
+Already the catboats were getting off from the starting line, in
+rotation of numbers and about two minutes apart. The course was ten
+miles (or thereabout) straightaway to the stake-boat, set far out in the
+lake--quite out of sight from the decks of the boats about the starting
+point--and turning that, to beat back. The wind was free, but not too
+strong. The out-and-return course would prove the boats themselves and
+the seamanship of their crews.
+
+Being a free-for-all race, there had been brought together some pretty
+odd-looking craft beside the smart, new boats belonging to dwellers in
+Braisely Park. But the Jarleys' boat was by no means the worst-looking.
+
+However, it attracted considerable attention because it was the only
+catboat "manned" by girls.
+
+Wynifred Mallory had done this on impulse, and it was not usual for her
+to act in such a way. But her parents had gone home and she had nobody
+to ask permission of but Mrs. Havel--and she did not really know where
+the Go-Aheads' chaperone was.
+
+Beside, there wasn't time to ask. The catboats were already getting
+under way. The _Coquette_ was almost the last to start. Wyn was not
+at all afraid of the task before her, for she had helped Dave sail his
+cousin's catboat on the Wintinooski many times. She knew how to 'tend
+sheet.
+
+The Go-Aheads and Busters recognized Wyn, and began to cheer her and
+Polly before the _Coquette_ came to the line. Other onlookers
+caught sight of the two girls, and whether they knew the crew of the
+_Coquette_ or not, gave them a good "send-off."
+
+Polly had accepted Wyn's help quietly, but with a look that Wyn was not
+likely to forget. It meant much to the Jarleys if the _Coquette_
+won the twenty-five dollars. They needed every dollar they could
+honestly earn.
+
+The boatman's daughter did not stop then to thank her friend. Instead
+she gave her brief, but plain, instructions as to what she was to do,
+and Wyn went about her work in a practical manner.
+
+The catboat was sixteen feet over all, with its mast stepped well
+forward, of course, carrying a large fore-and-aft sail with gaff and
+boom. A single person _can_ sail a cat all right; but to get speed
+out of one, and manoeuver quickly, it takes a sheet-tender as well as
+a steersman.
+
+"Sixteen!" shouted the starter's assistant through his megaphone, and
+Polly brought the _Coquette_ about and shot towards the starter's
+boat.
+
+The boatman's girl had held off some distance from the line. Number
+Fifteen had just crossed and was now swooping away on her first tack
+toward the distant stake-boat. The momentum the _Coquette_ obtained
+racing down to the line was what Polly wanted.
+
+"Go!" shouted the starter, looking at his watch and comparing it with
+the timekeeper's.
+
+The _Coquette_ flashed past the line of motor-boats and smaller
+craft that lined the course for some distance. The course was not very
+well policed and one of the small steamers, with a party of
+excursionists aboard, got right in the way of the racing boats.
+
+"Look out, Wynnie!" shouted Polly. "I'm going to tack to pass those
+boats."
+
+Wyn fell flat on the decked-over portion of the _Coquette_, and the
+boom swung across. With gathering speed the catboat flew on and on.
+Although her sail was patched, and she was shabby-looking in the
+extreme, the _Coquette_ showed her heels that day to many handsomer
+craft.
+
+The various boats raced with each other--first one ahead, and then
+another. There were not many important changes in the positions of the
+contesting boats, however, until the stake-boat was reached.
+
+But Number Sixteen passed Thirteen, Fifteen, and Twelve for good and
+all, before five miles of the course were sailed. The _Coquette_,
+when once she had dropped an opponent behind, never was caught by it.
+
+Wyn was on the _qui vive_ every moment. She sprang to obey Captain
+Polly's commands, and the latter certainly knew how to sail a catboat.
+She never let an advantage slip. She tacked at just the right time. Yet
+she sailed very little off the straight course.
+
+The motor boats and steamboats came hooting after the racing catboats
+that their passengers might have a good view of the contest. These
+outside boats were a deal of a nuisance, and two of the tail-enders in
+the race dropped out entirely because of the closeness of the pleasure
+boats' pursuit.
+
+[Illustration: THE _COQUETTE_ SHOT OVER THE COURSE, LIKE A GREAT
+SWOOPING BIRD. _Page 212._]
+"But they couldn't win anyway," Polly confided to Wynifred. "Get a
+bucket of water, dear. Dip it right up. That's right! Now throw it on
+the sail. Another! Another! It will hold the wind better if it is wet."
+
+"What a scheme!" cried Wyn. "Oh, Polly! I wish you lived in Denton and
+went to our school and belonged to the Go-Ahead Club."
+
+But Polly only shook her head. That was beyond the reach of possibility
+for her, she believed. But she thanked Wyn for suggesting it.
+
+Neither girl let her attention to the present business fail, however.
+They were on their mettle, being the only girls in the race.
+
+Some of the other crews had jollied them at the start; but the old
+_Coquette_ passed first one and then another of the competing
+boats, and none of the other craft passed her.
+
+Because of the fact that the boats had started about two minutes apart
+it was rather difficult to tell which was really winning. The leading
+boats were still far ahead when the _Coquette_ rounded the
+stake-boat.
+
+Polly took the turn as shortly as any craft in the race--and as cleanly.
+The _Coquette_ made a long leg of her first tack, then a short one.
+Whereas it seemed as though at first the other craft were crowding Polly
+and Wyn close, in a little while the _Coquette_ was shown to be
+among the flock of leading craft!
+
+"Only Numbers One, Three, Four, Seven, and Nine ahead of us, Polly
+Jolly!" reported Wynifred. "And we're Sixteen! Why, it's wonderful! We
+are sailing two lengths to one of some of them, I verily believe!"
+
+"But Conningsby's _Elf_, and the _Pretty Sue_ are good
+sailers--I've watched 'em," said Polly. "And the _Waking Up_ is
+splendidly manned. If our sail would only hold the wind! It's a regular
+old sieve."
+
+Wyn splashed bucket after bucket of water into the bellying sail. On the
+long tacks the _Coquette_ shot over the course like a great,
+swooping bird. When she passed near one of the excursion boats the
+spectators cheered the two girls vociferously.
+
+Half-way back to the starting boat the _Happy Day_, into which the
+Go-Aheads and all the Busters had piled, shot alongside the racing
+catboat manned by the two girls, and from that point on their friends
+"rooted" for the _Coquette_.
+
+The _Coquette_ passed Numbers Seven and Nine; It did seem as though
+she must have sailed the course fast enough to bring her well up among
+the leaders, so many higher numbers than her own had been passed.
+
+But Wyn and Polly were not sure, when they crossed the line, how they
+stood in the race.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+THE CANOE RACE
+
+
+Dave Shepard, at the wheel of the _Happy Day_, ran directly behind
+the judges' boat and stopped.
+
+"Who won?" cried the boys, in chorus. "Where does Number Sixteen stand?"
+
+"How can we tell you until all the boats are in?" returned one of the
+gentlemen, smiling.
+
+"Of course we know," declared Dr. Shelton. "And you are quite right to
+cheer them, boys. The _Coquette_ is 'way ahead of everything
+else--those two girls are corkers!"
+
+Instantly the Busters and the Go-Aheads began to cheer anew. The older
+members of their party aboard the _Sissy Radcliffe_ took up the
+chorus. Wyn Mallory and Polly Jarley had beaten out the other catboats
+in the dingy old craft, and had won the twenty-five-dollar prize.
+
+"It's all for you, dear," cried Wyn, when Polly kissed and thanked her.
+"Of course I don't need the money, while you and your father do. You'll
+take it from me--for friendship's sake, dear?"
+
+"Yes, Wyn. From _you_," returned the boatman's daughter, with
+trembling lips.
+
+"And now you are coming to try for the canoe prize, too? That will be a
+five-dollar gold piece. But you will have to fight all us Go-Ahead girls
+for it. I shall beat you myself, if I can," laughed Wynifred.
+
+Dave had rushed the motor boat over to the landing and he got Wyn's and
+Polly's canoes into the water. The whistle had blown for the girls'
+canoe race the minute before, and the other girls were out on the lake.
+
+Altogether there were forty-three canoes. Some were birchbarks like
+Polly's; but the large majority were cedar boats.
+
+"Birchbarks line up at Dr. Shelton's landing!" bellowed the starter's
+voice through his megaphone. "Get me? Shelton's landing!"
+
+Polly and the few other girls who had the Indian canoes waved their
+hands and got into position. They kept a pretty straight line.
+
+"Now at the starting line here for you cedars!" cried the man, and Wyn,
+with her five mates, and the rest of the girl canoeists from all about
+the lake, tried to obey the command.
+
+But there were so many of them that it was not altogether easy to get
+into line. Nearly forty canoes were "some bunch," to quote the slangy
+Frank, who was, by the way, just as eager as any of the other
+contestants.
+
+Although Frank believed that Wyn, and perhaps Bess, as well as Polly and
+Grace, had a better chance than _she_ of winning the race; there
+was, of course, a chance of the very best canoeist getting a spill and
+so being put out of the race.
+
+It is not always the best paddler who wins; there is too much
+uncertainty in handling the "tippy" craft--especially in moments of
+excitement, and among many other similar craft.
+
+So there was hope for any and all. The eager faces of the girls in the
+canoes showed it. They scuffled somewhat to get place on the line; but
+the entries had all been numbered, so it was merely a case of getting in
+right and leaving enough space on either side of one's bobbing canoe.
+
+One of the starters was pulled up and down the line in a skiff to
+criticise. Not every girl was as fair-minded to her opponents as the
+girls from Green Knoll Camp, and there was some little bickering before
+the starter shouted for the whole crowd--both cedars and birches--to get
+ready.
+
+"At the shot, remember," he cried through the megaphone. "Once around
+the stake-boat, to the right, and return. The birchbarks finish at this
+line, like the cedars. Now!"
+
+A moment later the pistol shot rang out. There was a splash of
+paddles--even a clash of them, for some of the girls were too near each
+other and too eager.
+
+The spectators cheered--the boys from Gannet Island doing especially
+well in that line. They were determined to root indiscriminately for the
+girls of Green Knoll Camp.
+
+But within a very few minutes Dave Shepard shouted to his friends:
+
+"Look what's coming up, fellows! See Polly!"
+
+"Polly Jolly!" yelled the excitable Ferd. "Is that her in the first
+birchbark?"
+
+"Of course it is," responded Tubby Blaisdell. "Well! did you ever see a
+girl like that before? Look at those arms. She's got better biceps than
+_you_ have, Dave, m' boy!"
+
+For the girls were in their bathing dresses and Polly's bare arms were
+displayed to the best advantage as she flashed past the motor boat. Her
+face was set--her eyes bright. And she weaved back and forth as she
+drove the paddle with the steadiness of a machine.
+
+"Hooray for Polly Jolly!" yelled Ferd Roberts, again.
+
+The Busters took up the chorus. They could not restrain their
+enthusiasm, for the pace at which Polly was overhauling the cedar boats
+was really marvelous.
+
+Of course, it was a foregone conclusion that some of the contestants
+would drop out. These canoes Polly passed as though they were standing
+still.
+
+In the lead were Wyn, Bess, Grace, Frank, and half a dozen other girls
+from about the lake. There were already two spills, and several slight
+collisions followed. The handicap on the birch canoes was really greater
+than was expected, for being in the rear, they had to dodge all the
+overset boats and the other paddlers who did not know enough to keep out
+of the course.
+
+But Polly Jarley had taken the outside and she shot by all the trouble
+easily. She was soon clinging to the skirts of the head canoes and it
+looked, before the turn, as though she would soon be in the lead
+herself.
+
+Up ahead Wyn and Bess and Grace were struggling almost neck and neck
+with two strange girls. The captain of the Go-Aheads wanted to win--she
+wanted to do so very much. She was a good sport, and therefore a good
+loser; but that does not necessarily mean that one _likes_ to lose.
+
+Bessie Lavine was paddling splendidly for her--it was evidently one of
+her good days. Frank Cameron had fallen behind--indeed, she had clashed
+with another girl and both were out of the race.
+
+Grace Hedges was almost as big and strong as Polly Jarley; but she
+lacked the training of the boatman's daughter. Polly was used to hard
+work every day of her life. That is different from gymwork and a little
+paddling, or swimming, or other athletic fun a few times a week.
+
+But Grace was doing finely and she even might have won had she not tried
+unwisely to pass one of her rivals. Her paddle clashed with that of the
+other girl. Both canoeists were straining hard--and their tempers were a
+bit strained, too.
+
+"I wish you'd look where you're going, Miss!" snapped the other girl,
+and before Grace could return the compliment--had she so wished--the two
+canoes crashed together and both girls were spilled into the lake.
+
+There was no danger in these spills. Two motor boats followed behind and
+picked up the swamped contestants.
+
+But before Grace was picked up she saw Polly Jarley flash by in the
+birchbark. There were but three cedar boats ahead of the boatman's
+daughter, and all were coming down the return course, the paddlers
+straining to do their very best.
+
+Wyn had a splendid, even stroke; Bess was getting heated, and bit her
+lip as she paddled. It always hurt Bess when she lost. Up from the rear
+Polly urged her birchbark with long, steady heaves that seemed to prove
+her magnificent muscles tireless.
+
+The spectators began to shout for the boatman's daughter. They saw that
+she was making a magnificent attempt to win the race.
+
+But when Wyn heard them shouting for another number rather than her
+own--she did not notice which!--she put forth every ounce of spare
+strength she possessed.
+
+Bess was left behind by the captain of the Go-Ahead Club. Her canoe
+quivering, her paddle actually bending under her work, Wyn dashed on.
+Bess and the other girl were out of the race--hopelessly. It lay between
+Wyn and the birchbark canoe.
+
+Polly did not withhold her paddle when she saw her friend dart ahead; it
+was a perfectly fair race. But the boatman's girl had done so well at
+first, considering her handicap and all, that there was little wonder if
+she could not keep up the gruelling work. She had no reserve force, as
+Wyn had.
+
+The latter dashed over the mark with undiminished speed. Polly only
+halted long enough to congratulate her.
+
+"It's dear of you to be glad, Polly, when I know you wanted the prize,"
+cried Wyn. "But we couldn't both have it."
+
+"You have helped me enough to-day, Wynifred," replied Polly, softly.
+"Now father and I will go home. He told me how it would be, if he came
+down here; but at least we won the big prize, thanks to you, and money
+means so much to us now!"
+
+The day was not over yet for the Go-Aheads and the Busters, although the
+races were finished. Somehow the news was spread among the campers on
+Gannet Island and Green Knoll that there was to be a "grand treat" at
+the ice-cream tables, and they gathered "like eagles to the kill,"
+Frankie poetically declared.
+
+The waiter brought heaping dishes of cream, there were nice cakes, and
+Tubby's unctuous smile at one end of the table radiated cheer. They were
+all very jolly and nobody asked who was to pay the piper until the
+waiter gravely brought Dave Shepard the check and a slip of paper.
+
+"Hi! did _I_ order this feed?" demanded Dave, startled by the size
+of the check.
+
+"I was ordered to give the check to you--and the paper," quoth the
+waiter, calmly.
+
+"Gee, Dave! somebody's stung you!" croaked Tubby, with his mouth still
+full.
+
+Dave unfolded the paper slowly, and read in his own handwriting: "I bet
+an ice-cream treat all around to the Go-Ahead girls that your curiosity
+would not permit you to leave this alone."
+
+"You don't deny your own handwriting; do you, sir?" queried the waiter,
+with a perfectly grave face. "I served the company on that order, Mr.
+Shepard."
+
+"That Wyn Mallory! She got me!" groaned Dave, and paid up like a man.
+
+"But what's the use of trying to put a joke over on those girls?" he
+said to Tubby afterward. "They're always turning the tables on a
+fellow."
+
+"Very good table, too--very good table," agreed Tubby, smacking his
+lips. "But you're so reckless with your promises, Dave."
+
+Mr. Lavine's man took the _Happy Day_ and the canoes back to camp,
+while the whole party of young folk piled aboard the larger
+_Sissy_. They had a fine time sailing down the lake and reached the
+Cave-in-the-Wood Camp at late supper time.
+
+There was still light enough on the water for the voyagers to see a boat
+rocking on the waves in the little cove where Polly Jarley had first
+been introduced to the two canoe clubs.
+
+"And that's Polly and her father there now," said Dave, quickly.
+
+"Yes. It's the _Coquette_," agreed Wyn.
+
+"What are they doing in there?" asked Frankie. "See! he is standing up
+and gesticulating--not to us. He's talking to Polly."
+
+"That is the place where he had the misfortune to lose Dr. Shelton's
+motor boat last winter," said Wyn. "Don't you remember?"
+
+"You see," Dave cried, "he is showing her the place where the limb fell
+again--and the direction the boat must have taken in the fog."
+
+"A lot _he_ knows where it went," said Tubby, scornfully. "He was
+swept overboard, and as far as he knows the _Bright Eyes_ might
+have gone right up into the air!"
+
+"But it didn't explode, you see, nor did it have wings," laughed
+Wynifred. "So it took no aerial voyage--we may be sure of that. I'd give
+anything to find where it sank."
+
+"So would I, Wyn," cried Dave. "If we could locate the sunken boat, Mr.
+Jarley could easily prove he had neither stolen it nor the silver
+images."
+
+"I'd give something handsome to have the mystery explained, myself,"
+said Mr. Lavine, suddenly.
+
+"What would you give, Father?" asked his daughter.
+
+"I'll tell you," he replied, smiling. "I understand both of your
+clubs--the Go-Aheads and the Busters--are anxious to really _own_ a
+motor boat. Frank Dumont, here, tells me he has got to go home with the
+_Happy Day_ to-morrow, as his vacation is ended.
+
+"Now, I'll make you boys and girls an offer," pursued Mr. Lavine, more
+earnestly. "You'll hunt in packs, anyway--the boys together and the
+girls together. If the girls find the sunken boat I'll present them with
+a motor boat as good as the _Happy Day_; and if the boys have the
+luck, then the boat shall belong to the Busters. What say?"
+
+"We say 'Thanks!'" cried Dave, instantly.
+
+"_We_ think it is very handsome of you, sir," declared Wyn, coming
+over to the gentleman and taking his hand. "And I know why you do it,
+sir--so I thank you twice. If poor Mr. Jarley could be absolved of Dr.
+Shelton's accusation, it would help a whole lot."
+
+"Humph!" muttered Mr. Lavine, "I heard Shelton going on about Jarley
+myself to-day, and it made me ashamed--I'm free to own it. I never
+_did_ think John as bad as all that!"
+
+"It sounds different when you hear somebody else say it," whispered Dave
+in Wynifred's ear.
+
+Mr. Lavine's proposal, however, met with enthusiastic favor on the part
+of both clubs. A motor boat would be just the finest thing to own! Both
+boys and girls determined to find the lost _Bright Eyes_ before the
+season was out.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+THE WAY OF THE WIND
+
+
+"Did you know," said Professor Skillings, visiting Camp Green Knoll with
+the Busters several days later, "that there are several thousand Poles
+in the Wintinooski Valley?"
+
+"You surprise me," remarked Mrs. Havel.
+
+"Fine things to grow beans on, Professor," declared Dave, coming up with
+a brimming bucket of water from the spring.
+
+"Not the right kind of poles, my boy--not the right kind of poles," said
+the professor, smiling gently, and offering Mrs. Havel a cocoanut-cup of
+the sparkling water. "You see what a misunderstanding of terms will do,"
+the professor added, in his argumentative way. "A little
+knowledge--especially a little scientific knowledge--is a dangerous
+thing."
+
+"You are right, Professor," cried Tubby, who was within hearing
+distance. "Did you hear about what Dr. Mackenzie's servant girl did?"
+
+"Dr. Mackenzie is very erudite," commented the professor, dreamily.
+
+"That's right. Anyhow, the girl heard a lot of talk about bugs, and
+grubs, and germs, and the like--and it proves just what Professor
+Skillings says about the danger of knowing a little science."
+
+"How's that, Tubby?" queried one of the interested young folk.
+
+"Why, one day the doctor's wife asked this servant for a glass of water,
+and the girl brought it.
+
+"'It has a very peculiar taste, Mary,' said Mrs. Mackenzie.
+
+"'Sure, ma'am, it's all right, ma'am. There ain't a germ in it, for I
+ran it through the colander before I brought it to you, ma'am!' says
+Mary. Oh, Mary had picked up some scientific notions, all right, all
+right!"
+
+"I believe there would be more breeze up on Windmill Farm," observed
+Wynifred Mallory.
+
+"Wish I was up there, then," growled Tubby, who had quite collapsed
+after telling his joke.
+
+"Let's go!" suggested Frankie.
+
+"There will be plenty of wind bye and bye," said Dave, thoughtfully
+eyeing the clouds on the horizon.
+
+"Listen to the weather prophet," scoffed Ferdinand.
+
+"I tell you!" cried Frankie, jumping up. "Let's go up into the windmill
+and see how far one can really _see_ from that height. The farmer's
+wife says it is a great view--doesn't she, Wyn?"
+
+"I'm game," responded Wyn. "We'll be no warmer walking than we are
+sitting here talking about the heat."
+
+She and Frankie and Dave started off ahead; but Tubby would not come,
+nor would Grace Hedges. The others, however, saw some prospect of
+amusement and were willing to pay the price.
+
+They began to be paid for their walk as soon as they came out into the
+open fields of Windmill Farm. A little breeze had sprung up and,
+although it was fitful at first, it soon grew to a steady wind from
+across the lake.
+
+The distant haze was dissipated, and when the boys and girls reached the
+top of the hill they were glad they had come.
+
+"I bet we have a storm bye and bye," Dave said. "But isn't the air up
+here cool?"
+
+"Let's climb up into the loft," Frank urged. "The farmer's wife said we
+could."
+
+"They're all away from home to-day," Wyn said. "But I don't believe they
+will mind. When we came up for the milk this morning Mrs. Prosser told
+us they were going on a Sunday school picnic."
+
+"I'd like to set the old thing to working," remarked the inquisitive
+Ferdinand. "What do you know about it, Dave?"
+
+"It starts by throwing in this clutch," replied the bigger boy, just
+inside the door. "If the wind keeps on the farmer will probably grind a
+grist when he comes back. You see, there are several bags of corn and
+wheat yonder."
+
+The girls were already finding their way up the dusty ladders, from loft
+to loft of the tower. Frank got to the top floor first and called out
+her delight at the view.
+
+"Come on up!" she cried. "There is plenty of room. It's bigger up here
+than you think--and the breeze is nice. There are two windows, and that
+makes a fine draught."
+
+The boys trooped up behind the Go-Aheads--all but Ferdinand. But none of
+them missed him for some minutes.
+
+What a view was obtained from the window of the mill! The whole panorama
+of Lake Honotonka and its shores, with a portion of the Wintinooski
+Valley, lay spread like a carpet at their feet--woods and fields,
+cultivated land in the foreground, the rocky ridges of Gannet Island,
+Jarley's Landing, the Forge, the steep shore of the lake beyond the
+Wintinooski, and so around to the fine houses in Braisely Park and the
+smoke of the big city to the west.
+
+In the midst of their exclamations there came a sudden jar through the
+heavily-timbered building that startled them.
+
+"What's that?" cried Mina.
+
+"An earthquake!" laughed Frankie.
+
+"It's the sails!" yelled Dave, starting for the ladder. "What are you
+doing down there, Ferd?"
+
+The groaning and shaking continued. The arms of the windmill were going
+round and round--every revolution increasing their speed.
+
+"Stop that, Ferd!" shouted Dave again, starting to descend the ladder.
+
+"Isn't that just like a boy?" demanded Bess, in disgust. "He just
+_had_ to fool with the machinery."
+
+"What do you suppose the miller will say?" queried Wyn, anxiously.
+
+The roar of the whirling arms almost drowned their voices. The wind had
+increased to a brisk breeze. With the sails so well filled the arms
+turned at top-notch speed. The tower shook as though it were about to
+tumble down.
+
+"Oh, dear me!" moaned Mina, the timid one. "Let us get out of here."
+
+"Why doesn't Dave make him stop it?" shouted Frankie.
+
+"Why doesn't the foolish Ferd stop it himself?" was Wyn's demand.
+
+The other boys were already tumbling down the ladder, and the girls
+followed as fast as possible. It was rather dark below, and when they
+came to the ground floor, it was full of dancing dust-particles. Dave
+and Ferd were busy over the machinery near the door.
+
+"Can't you stop it, Dave?" shrieked Percy.
+
+"The confounded thing is broken!" announced Dave, in disgust.
+
+"Goodness me!" cried Frank. "I want to get out of here."
+
+She started for the door; but Wyn grabbed her just in time. Past the
+open door whirled the sails of the mill--one after the other--faster and
+faster. And so close were the sails to the doorway that there was not
+room for the very smallest of the Go-Ahead girls to get out without
+being struck.
+
+Dave stared around at the others. It was almost impossible to hear each
+other speak--and what was there to say? Each boy and girl realized the
+situation in which Ferd's meddling had placed them.
+
+Until the wind subsided they were prisoners in the tower.
+
+Ferd Roberts subsided into a corner, and hid his face in his hands. He
+had done something that scared his inquisitive soul to the very bottom.
+
+He had started the sails, and then, in trying to throw out the clutch,
+he had started the millstones as well. _They_ made most of this
+noise that almost deafened them.
+
+Finally, however, Dave pushed the power belt from the flywheel, and the
+stones stopped turning; but there was no way of stopping the sails. To
+step outside the door was to court instant death, and until the wind
+stopped blowing it seemed as though there would be no escape.
+
+"And the wind blows sometimes two or three days at a stretch!" cried
+Frankie.
+
+"It's lucky Tubby isn't up here with us," Dave said, grimly. "He would
+want to cast lots at once to see which one of the party should be eaten
+first."
+
+"Ugh! don't joke like that, Dave," begged Mina. "Maybe we _will_ be
+dreadfully hungry before we get out of this place."
+
+"I'm hungry now," announced Frankie.
+
+"It _is_ near time for luncheon," agreed Wyn.
+
+"'Luncheon'! Huh!" ejaculated Dave. "I s'pose that's the feminine of
+'lunch.' I could eat a stack of pancakes and a whole can of beans right
+now. I'm too hungry for any mere 'luncheon.'"
+
+"Oh, dear! It's so hot down here," sighed Percy. "If we've got to stay,
+let's go upstairs again, where there is some air stirring."
+
+"Let's wave a signal from the window. Maybe somebody will see it and
+come to our rescue," suggested Frank.
+
+"And what could they do?" demanded Wyn, "These sails can't be stopped
+from the outside; can they, Dave?"
+
+"Not that I know of," replied Dave. "If there was a tree near, a fellow
+might tie a kedge rope to it, and then throw the kedge over one of the
+arms. But that would tear the machinery all to pieces, I suppose, it
+would stop it with such a jerk."
+
+Just then Mina Everett uttered a shrill cry of alarm. "Look! Look!" she
+cried. "It's afire! We'll burn up in here! Oh, oh, Wynnie! what shall we
+do?"
+
+The others turned, aghast There _was_ blue smoke spurting out
+around the shaft above their heads.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+THE PRISONERS OF THE TOWER
+
+
+"Fire!" cried Percy Havel. "Oh! what _shall_ we do?"
+
+"Well, your yelling about it won't put it out," snapped Frank.
+
+But Dave Shepard had sprung up the ladder and immediately announced the
+trouble.
+
+"The axle is getting overheated. See that can of oil yonder, Ferd? Come
+out of your trance and do something useful, boy! Quick! hand me the
+can."
+
+But it was Wyn who got it to him. Dave quickly refilled the oil cups and
+squirted some of the lubricant into the cracks about the shaft. The
+smoke immediately drifted away.
+
+"The rest of you go up where it's cooler," he commanded. "I will remain
+here and play engineer. And for goodness' sake, pray for the wind to die
+down!"
+
+The situation was really serious; nobody among the prisoners of the
+tower knew what to do.
+
+While the wind swung the arms of the mill round and round, there was no
+chance to get out. Not that they did not all cudgel their brains within
+the next hour to that end. There were enough suggestions made to lead to
+a dozen escapes; only--none of the suggestions were practical.
+
+It was less noisy, now that Dave had stopped the millstones; but the
+building continued to tremble, and the great wheel to creak.
+
+"What a donkey the man was to let them cut his door right behind the
+arms," exclaimed Frankie.
+
+"And with no proper means of stopping the sails from inside, once the
+wind began to blow," added Percy.
+
+"No. That's my fault," admitted Ferdinand. "I broke the gear some way."
+
+"Well, if we only had an axe," said one of the other boys, "we might cut
+our way out of the building on the side opposite the door."
+
+But Dave had already searched the mill for tools. There wasn't even a
+rope. Had there been, they could have let themselves down from the high
+window to the ground.
+
+"It should be against the law to build windmills without proper
+fire-escapes," declared Frank, trying to laugh.
+
+But it was hard to joke about the matter. It looked altogether too
+serious.
+
+The wind continued to blow steadily--a little harder, indeed, as time
+passed; but the sun grew hotter. It came noon, and they knew that those
+at Green Knoll Camp had long since expected them back.
+
+Finally a figure appeared upon the path far down the hill. They
+recognized Tubby Blaisdell trudging painfully up the slope in the hot
+sun, evidently an unwilling messenger from Mrs. Havel and Professor
+Skillings.
+
+They began to shout to Tubby, although they knew very well it was
+useless. He couldn't have heard their voices down there, even if the
+windmill hadn't made so much noise.
+
+But the girls fluttered their hats from the window and, bye and bye, the
+stolid fat youth, glancing up while he mopped his brow, caught sight of
+the signals. He halted, glared up at the window from under his hand, and
+then hurried his steps.
+
+"Oh, you Tubby!" shouted Frank, at last, thrusting her tousled curls out
+of the window. "Can't you help us?"
+
+He heard these words, and looked more bewildered than ever.
+
+"Say! what do you want?" he bellowed up at them. "Don't ask me to climb
+up those ladders, for I can't. And Mrs. Havel and the prof. say for you
+to come back to camp. They think a storm is coming. Besides--aren't you
+hungry?"
+
+"Hungry! why, Tub," yelled down Ferd, "if we could only get at you, we'd
+eat you alive!"
+
+Tubby looked more than a little startled, and glanced behind him to see
+that the way of retreat was clear.
+
+"Well, why don't you come down and get your lunch, then?" demanded young
+Blaisdell.
+
+"We can't," said Wyn, and she explained their predicament.
+
+"Can't stop those sails?" gasped Tubby. "Why--why--Where's the man who
+owns the old contraption?"
+
+They explained further. Tubby went around to the other side and caught a
+glimpse of Dave playing engineer. The chums shouted back and forth to
+each other for some time.
+
+Tubby wanted to see if he couldn't stop the sails by making a grab at
+them.
+
+"You do it, Tubby, and the blamed things will throw you a mile through
+the air," declared Dave. "Besides, we don't want to smash the farmer's
+mill. We have done enough harm as it is. So, there's no use in backing
+one of those heavy wagons into it and wrecking the sails. No. I guess
+we've got to stand it here for a while."
+
+They heard one of the girls calling, and Tubby lumbered around to see
+Frankie gesticulating from the window.
+
+"Oh, Tubby! don't leave us to starve--and we're so _awfully_
+thirsty, too," cried Wyn, pushing her friend to one side. "Get us a
+bucket of water from the well, first of all."
+
+"Gee! how am I going to get it up to you--throw it?" cackled the fat
+youth.
+
+"You get the bucket--and a rope," commanded Wyn.
+
+"But if he can throw a rope up to us, we can get out of this fix,"
+Ferdinand cried. "Can't we, Dave?" he asked of his captain, who had come
+up the ladders for a breath of fresh air.
+
+"Tubby couldn't throw a coil of rope for a cent. He couldn't learn to
+use a lasso, you know."
+
+"And we girls could not get down on a rope," objected Bess.
+
+"We could lower you," Ferd declared.
+
+"It would have to be a pretty strong rope," said Dave. "And maybe there
+isn't anything bigger than clothes line about the farm."
+
+Which proved to be the case. At least, Tubby could find nothing else and
+finally brought the brimming bucket and the line he had found on the
+drying green behind the farmhouse.
+
+"I can't throw the thing up so high," complained Tubby, after two or
+three attempts.
+
+"Wait!" commanded Wyn.
+
+"Hold on! Wynnie's great mind is at work."
+
+"Everybody sit down and unlace his or her shoes. I want the lacings,"
+declared Wynifred.
+
+"Hurray!" exclaimed Ferd. "Wait a bit, Tubby; don't wear your poor
+little self to a grease spot trying to throw that rope over the mill."
+
+Tubby, nothing loath, sat down and breathed heavily. The day _was_
+hot in spite of the high wind.
+
+Wyn got all the shoe strings and tied them together, with a bolt
+fastened to the lower end for a sinker, and let it down to the ground.
+There Tubby attached the end of the clothes line and they pulled it up.
+It was long enough, and strong enough, and Dave carefully raised the
+bucket of water--and oh! how good it tasted to the thirsty prisoners.
+
+They were all provided with cups, for the Academy teachers and the
+Denton mothers were rather insistent on that point.
+
+"But, oh, golly!" burst forth Frank, "if they'd only made us always
+carry an emergency ration."
+
+"We didn't expect to be cast away on a desert island in this fashion,"
+said Dave.
+
+But Wyn had another idea.
+
+"There are melons on the back porch. I saw them there this morning. Go
+get us a lot, Tubby. Send 'em up by the bucket-full. And there are
+tomatoes in the garden, and some summer apples on that tree by the fence
+corner. We'll make it all right with Mrs. Prosser. Why, say! we sha'n't
+starve."
+
+"I'll get you some eggs if you want 'em," suggested the willing youth.
+"I hear the hens cackling."
+
+But all objected to raw eggs and thought the melons and fresh tomatoes
+would suffice.
+
+"You go back to camp and report," ordered Dave, through the window. "The
+prof, and Mrs. Havel will be having conniption fits if these girls don't
+show up pretty soon. Tell 'em we're all right--but goodness knows we
+want the wind to stop blowing."
+
+It did not seem, however, as though the wind had any such intention.
+After Tubby Blaisdell departed it blew even stronger.
+
+It was hard to keep the whole party in good temper. The imprisonment was
+getting on their nerves. Besides, the sky was growing darker, although
+it was not yet mid-afternoon; and not long after the fat youth was out
+of sight, heavy drops of rain began to fall.
+
+Rather, the wind whipped the raindrops in at the tower window. Patter,
+patter, patter, they fell, faster and faster, and in the distance
+thunder rumbled.
+
+The picnicking farmers should be home ahead of this storm; yet, if they
+came, they could not stop the sails of the windmill. The shaft groaned
+and smoked, but Dave kept the oil cups filled.
+
+Nearer and nearer came the thunder, and the lightning began to flash.
+Some of the girls were frightened. Nor was this a pleasant place in
+which to be imprisoned during an electrical storm. The tall, revolving
+arms seemed just the things to attract the lightning.
+
+They all were glad--boys as well as girls--to retire to the ground floor
+of the mill while the elements shrieked overhead and the rain pounded
+upon the roof and the sails. It was really a most unpleasant situation.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+WYN HITS SOMETHING
+
+
+In the midst of the storm a voice hailed them from outside. Dave went to
+the doorway and saw--through the falling rain--Farmer Prosser, standing
+by his horses' heads. He had just brought his family home from the
+picnic and they had scurried into the house.
+
+"What are you doing in there?" demanded the farmer. "Can't you stop the
+sails?"
+
+Dave explained, making it as light for Ferd as possible.
+
+"Well! I've been expecting something like this ever since the mill was
+put up. We can't do anything about it now. But I believe the wind will
+shift soon. And if it does, perhaps I can stop the sails from outside
+here."
+
+It was nearly dark, however, and quite supper-time, before the farmer's
+prophecy came true. Then the rain suddenly ceased to fall (the thunder
+and lightning had long since rolled away into the distance) and the wind
+dropped.
+
+The farmer and his man rigged a brake to fall against the narrow breadth
+of shaft which extended outside of the mill wall, and so brought
+pressure to bear upon the revolving axle. This helped bring the sails to
+a stop.
+
+How thankfully the Go-Aheads and the Busters got out of that tower, it
+would be difficult to express. Professor Skillings had started up
+through the rain to see what he could do; but on the way he had picked
+up a white pebble washed out of the roadside by the rain, and there
+being something peculiar about it, he stopped under a hedge to examine
+it by the light of his pocket lamp. Then he must needs proceed with his
+ever-present geological hammer to break the stone in two. Long after
+dark his electric lamp was flashing down there on the hillside like some
+huge wavering firefly.
+
+Not that he could have done a thing to help his young friends. Mrs.
+Prosser, the farmer's wife, had the most practical idea of anybody; for,
+the minute the boys and girls were out of the mill, she insisted that
+they troop into the farmhouse kitchen and there sit down to her long
+table and "get outside of" great bowls of milk and bread, with a host of
+ginger cookies on the side.
+
+So the incident ended happily after all, though Ferdinand Roberts's
+spirits drooped for several days. It was well for him to suffer in
+spirit--as Frankie said: it might teach him a lesson. And he had to pay
+the farmer for the damage he had done to the machinery.
+
+Ferdinand never had any money. He spent his allowance in advance,
+borrowing of the other Busters whenever he could. When he got money from
+home he had to sit down and apportion it all out to his creditors, and
+then had to begin borrowing again.
+
+He had hard work scraping together the wherewithal to pay Mr. Prosser;
+but the boys made it up for him, and the girls would have helped--only
+Dave Shepard had instilled it into Ferd's mind that it was not honorable
+to borrow from a girl.
+
+However, having cleaned his own pocket and strained his credit to the
+snapping point, Ferdinand was over at the Forge with Tubby a couple of
+days afterward and beheld something in a store window that he thought he
+wanted.
+
+"Oh, Tubby!" he cried. "Lend me half a dollar; will you? I must have
+that."
+
+Tubby looked at him out of heavy-lidded eyes, and croaked: "Snow again,
+brother; I don't get your drift!"
+
+When Ferd went from one to the other of his mates they all refused--if
+not quite as slangily as the fat youth, Ferd found himself actually a
+pauper, with all lines of credit shut to him. It made him serious.
+
+"If all you fellows, and the old prof., should suddenly die on me up
+here--what would I do?" gasped Ferd. "Why--I'd have to walk home!"
+
+"Or swim," said Dave, heartlessly. "You'd pawn your canoe, I s'pose."
+
+Speaking of swimming, that was an art in which several of the boys, as
+well as Bessie Lavine and Mina Everett, needed practice. Beside the
+early morning dip, both clubs often held swimming matches either at
+Green Knoll Camp, or off the boys' camp on Gannet Island.
+
+The boys built a good diving raft and anchored it in deep water after
+much hard work. The good swimmers among the girls--especially Wyn and
+Grace--liked to paddle over to the raft and dive from it.
+
+Late in the afternoon the Go-Aheads had come to the raft in their canoes
+dressed only in their bathing suits, and found that the boys had gone
+off on some excursion, and that even Professor Skillings was not in
+sight at Cave-in-the-Wood Camp.
+
+"Oh, goody!" exclaimed Bess, with satisfaction. "Now we can have a good
+time without those trifling boys bothering us. I'm going to learn to
+dive properly, Wyn."
+
+"Sure," returned her friend and captain, encouragingly. "Now's the
+time," and she gave Bess a good deal of attention for some few minutes.
+
+The other girls disported themselves in the deep water to their vast
+enjoyment. Bessie learned a good bit about diving and finally sat upon
+the edge of the float to rest.
+
+Wyn dived overboard.
+
+She had taken a long slant out from the float, but once under the
+surface she turned and went deeper. She was like an otter in the water,
+and having stuffed her ears with cotton she felt prepared to remain
+below a long time.
+
+Once she had opened her eyes while diving with Bess, and she thought she
+saw a shadowy something on the bottom of the lake that was neither a
+boulder nor a waterlogged snag.
+
+She beat her way to the bottom as rapidly as possible; but the light did
+not follow her. She could see nothing when she opened her eyes. It
+seemed as though something overshadowed her.
+
+The water was tugging at her; she could not remain below for long. But
+as she turned to drift up again, her shoulder touched something. She
+struck out and reached it. But the blow really pushed her away and she
+floated upward toward the surface.
+
+When she paddled to the raft she was panting, and Frank demanded:
+
+"What's the matter, Wyn? You look as if you'd seen a ghost I believe you
+stay down too long."
+
+"No," gasped Wyn. "I--I hit something."
+
+"What was it?"
+
+"Why--why, it looked like a wagon. 'Twas something."
+
+"I suppose so!" laughed Frank. "Wagon with a load of hay on it--eh?"
+
+Wyn said nothing more. She sat upon the float, with her knees drawn up
+and hugged in her brown arms, and thought. The other girls could get
+nothing out of her.
+
+She wasn't dreaming, however. She was thinking to a serious purpose.
+
+It _had_ looked like a wagon--as much as it looked like anything
+else. But, of course, she had seen it very dimly. She knew by the touch
+that it was of wood; but it was no waterlogged tree, although there was
+slime upon it It was not rough; but smooth.
+
+Of course, it wasn't a wagon. Nor was it a huge box. Neither wagon nor
+box could have got out here, fifteen or twenty rods off Gannet Island.
+
+Wyn glanced over toward the island and saw that she could look right
+into the cove where John Jarley had met with his accident. According to
+the boatman's story, as he went overboard from the motor boat he gave
+the wheel a twist that should have shot her directly out of the cove
+toward the middle of the lake.
+
+"But suppose the boat didn't respond, after all, to the twist of the
+wheel?" Wyn was thinking. "Or, suppose the slant of the rudder was not
+as great as he supposed?"
+
+She fixed in her mind about the spot where the thing lay she had hit,
+and then glanced back to the tree on the bank of the cove, that showed
+the long scar where the branch was torn off.
+
+The line between the two was clear. The motor boat might have run out
+exactly on that course and missed the wooded point which guarded the
+entrance to the cove.
+
+Suppose the thing she had hit when she dived was the _Bright Eyes_,
+Dr. Shelton's lost motor boat?
+
+Wyn was about to shout to the other girls--to call them around her to
+divulge the idea that had come into her mind--when a hail from the water
+announced the return of the Busters.
+
+She remembered Mr. Lavine's promise. The two clubs were rivals in this
+matter. Wouldn't it be a fine thing for the Go-Aheads to own a motor
+boat all by themselves!
+
+Wyn got up and dived again. But she did not dive toward the mysterious
+something that she had previously found. She swam stoutly instead to
+meet the coming Busters.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+THE NIGHT ALARM
+
+
+Wyn Mallory had "another mind," as the saying is, before the Go-Aheads
+left the island and paddled swiftly for their own camp.
+
+She determined not to say anything to her girl friends of the club about
+the sunken object she had hit under the water. Perhaps it was nothing of
+any consequence; then they would laugh at her. If it _was_ the lost
+motor boat, to tell the girls might spread the story farther than it
+ought to be spread at once.
+
+The Go-Aheads and the Busters were rivals. Mr. Lavine had promised the
+prize to whichever club found the sunken boat and the box of silver
+images that Dr. Shelton had accused John Jarley of stealing.
+
+"And it may not be anything, after all," thought Wyn. "It may be a false
+alarm. Then the _boys_ would have the laugh on us."
+
+To make sure of what she had hit when she dived seemed to Wyn to be the
+principal thing. And how could she make sure of this without going down
+specially to examine the mystery?
+
+"How under the sun am I going to do that without the boys seeing me?"
+she mused. "And if I take the girls into my confidence they will all
+want to be there, too--and then sure enough the Busters will catch us at
+it. Dear me! I don't know what to do--really."
+
+She had half a mind to take Frank into her confidence; but, then, Frank
+was such a joker. The girls and boys had often talked about hunting for
+the missing motor boat; but since Mr. Lavine had gone back to Denton,
+after the regatta, neither club had seriously attempted a search for the
+_Bright Eyes_.
+
+Polly had told Wyn how men from Meade's Forge had searched for the boat
+when she was first lost; and some of the bateau men had kept up the
+search for a long time. Had the motor boat and the silver images been
+found, Dr. Shelton might have been obliged to pay a large reward to
+obtain them, for not all of the bateau men of the lake were honest.
+
+"Some of them bothered father a good deal while he was first laid up
+from his accident, coming by night and trying to get him to give them
+details which he hadn't given to the other searchers. They thought he
+must know just where the _Bright Eyes_ was sunk," Polly had told
+the captain of the Go-Ahead Club. "But they got tired of that after a
+while. They saw he really did not know what had become of the boat."
+
+Polly! She was the one to confide in, Wyn decided. And the captain of
+the Go-Ahead Club did not decide upon this until after the other girls
+in the big tent, and Mrs. Havel, were all asleep. Wyn had been awake an
+hour wondering what she would better do.
+
+Now, convinced that the boatman's daughter would be a wiser as well as
+safer confidante at this stage than Frank or the others, Wyn wriggled
+out of her blanket and seized her bathing suit. It was a beautiful warm
+night. She was no more afraid of the woods and lake at this hour than
+she was by daylight.
+
+So she slipped into the suit, got out of the tent without rousing any of
+the others, selected her own paddle from the heap by the fireplace, and
+ran barefooted down to the shore. It took but a minute to push her canoe
+into the water.
+
+She paddled away around the rushes at the end of the strip of sand below
+the knoll, driving the canoe toward the Jarley Landing. Out of the
+rushes came a sudden splashing, and some water-fowl, disturbed by her
+passing, spattered deeper into hiding.
+
+Wyn only laughed. The warm, misty night wrapped her around like a cloak;
+yet there was sufficient light on the surface of the lake for her to see
+her course a few yards ahead.
+
+_This_ was a real adventure--out in her canoe alone in the dark.
+And how fast she made the light craft travel through the still water!
+
+She reached the landing in a very short time. Hopping out, she hauled up
+the canoe. Was that the water splashing--or was there a sound behind her
+on the float? Was it a footstep--somebody hastening away?
+
+Now, for the first time, Wyn felt a little tremor. But she was naturally
+too brave to be particularly disturbed by such a fancy. Who would be
+lurking about the Jarleys' place at this hour?
+
+So, after a moment, she shook off her doubt, and ran lightly up the
+float and along the path to the little cottage. She knew Polly's window
+well enough, and dark as it was, she soon found the spot.
+
+It was shuttered, and the shutter was bolted on the inside; but Wyn
+scratched upon the blind and after doing so a second time she heard a
+movement within.
+
+"Polly!" she breathed.
+
+She did not want to awaken Mr. Jarley. She just felt that she could not
+explain to _him_. Of course, what she had hit under the water might
+have nothing to do with the sunken boat, and Wyn shrank from disturbing
+the boatman himself about it.
+
+"Polly!" she exclaimed, again in a whisper, "it's I--Wyn--Wyn Mallory."
+
+At once she heard her friend's voice in return. The shutter opened.
+Polly blinked at Wyn through the darkness.
+
+"My _dear_! What do you want? What has happened?" asked the girl of
+the woods.
+
+"Come on out--do, Polly. I've got something to tell you. Just put on
+your bathing suit," Wyn whispered.
+
+"For pity's sake! What is it?"
+
+"Don't awaken your father. Come."
+
+"Just a minute," whispered the sleepy Polly, and in not much longer than
+the time stated she crept through the window.
+
+"I'd wake father if I went out by the door," she said. "Now come down to
+the landing. What are you doing 'way over here at this time o' night?"
+
+"I have the most surprising thing to tell you."
+
+"What about?"
+
+"I wish you'd go over to Gannet Island with me and see if I'm right. The
+moon will be up bye and bye; won't it?"
+
+"Yes. But what do you mean? What is the mystery?" inquired Polly. Then
+she seized Wyn's arm and demanded that she "Hush!" although Wyn's lips
+were not open at the moment.
+
+"I declare I thought I heard something just then," whispered Polly.
+
+"You're bound to hear things in the dark," returned Wyn, cheerfully.
+
+"But it was somebody coughing."
+
+"A bird?" ventured Wyn. "I heard one splashing in the sedges as I came
+along in the canoe."
+
+"A bird clearing its throat?" laughed Polly. "Not likely!"
+
+She did not bother about it again, but squeezed Wyn's arm. "Tell me what
+the matter is. It must be something very important to bring you 'way
+over here alone at night."
+
+"That's right. It is," replied Wyn, and she related to Polly the thing
+that was troubling her.
+
+"And, oh, Polly! if that thing I hit under the water should be that
+boat----"
+
+"Oh, Wyn! What would father say?"
+
+"He'd be delighted. So would we all. And we must find out for sure."
+
+"I'll tell him in the morning. We'll go there and see----"
+
+But Wyn stopped her. She showed her how necessary it was for the matter
+to be looked into secretly. Mr. Lavine had promised to give a motor boat
+to whichever club found the sunken _Bright Eyes_ and the silver
+images. And the Busters must not know a thing about it until they were
+sure----
+
+"Then Mr. Lavine believes father's story about the boat?" burst in
+Polly.
+
+"I believe he does, Polly, dear. I think, Polly, that he would be very,
+very glad to have Mr. Jarley cleared of all suspicion. He is sorry for
+your father's trouble. I think his attitude, toward your father has
+changed from what it must have been at one time."
+
+"It ought to be!" exclaimed Polly.
+
+"Of course. But we none of us always do all we ought to do," observed
+Wyn mildly.
+
+"If we are going to try and find that place where you dived to-day, Wyn,
+we'd better be about it," Polly urged.
+
+"You'll go now?" cried Wyn.
+
+"Of course I will. The boys will be asleep up in their camp. We will
+take the _Coquette_. There is a breeze."
+
+"Let's tow my canoe behind, then," said Wyn, eagerly. "Come on! I'm just
+crazy to dive for the thing again. If it _is_ the _Bright
+Eyes_----"
+
+Polly insisted upon hunting out a couple of old blankets to wrap about
+them if the wind should turn chill.
+
+"And after you have been overboard you'll want something to protect you
+from the night air," she said.
+
+"Oh, Polly! do you suppose I can find the place again?" cried Wyn,
+infinitely more eager than the boatman's daughter.
+
+"You say it's right off the boys' float? Well! we can look, I guess."
+
+"Feel, you mean," laughed Wyn. "For _I_ couldn't see anything down
+there even by daylight--it was so deep."
+
+"All right. We'll look with our hands. I shall know if it's a boat, Wyn,
+once I reach it."
+
+"And I hope it _is_" gasped Wyn. "Not alone for _your_ sake,
+Polly. Why, if it is the _Bright Eyes_, the Go-Aheads will own a
+motor boat their very own selves. Won't that be fine?"
+
+But Polly was too busy getting the catboat ready to answer. The
+_Coquette_ was moored just a little way off the landing, and the
+two girls went out to her in Wyn's canoe.
+
+There was a lantern in her cuddy and Polly lit it. Then they slipped the
+buoyed moorings and spread a little canvas. There was quite a breeze,
+and it was fair for their course to Gannet Island. Soon the catboat was
+laying over a bit, and the foam was streaking away behind them in a
+broad wake.
+
+"What a lovely night!" sighed Wyn. "And it will be the very gladdest
+night I ever saw if that thing I hit proves to be the _Bright
+Eyes_."
+
+Polly had glanced behind them frequently. "Don't you hear anything?" she
+asked finally.
+
+"Hear what?"
+
+"Hush! that's somebody getting up a sail. Can't you hear it?"
+
+Wyn listened, and then murmured: "Your ears must be sharper than mine,
+Polly. I hear nothing but the slap of the water."
+
+"No. There is another sailboat under weigh. Where can it be from?"
+
+"You don't suppose your father was aroused, and is coming after us?"
+asked Wyn.
+
+"Of course not. Beside, the _Coquette_ is the only sailing
+boat--except a canoe--that we have at present. The other cat is loaned
+for a week. And I heard the hoops creaking on the mast as a heavy sail
+went up."
+
+"Some crowd of fishermen?" suggested Wyn.
+
+"But where's their light?"
+
+Wyn stared all around. "You're right," she gasped. "There isn't a single
+twinkling lantern--except ashore."
+
+Polly, sitting in the stern seat, reached for their own lantern and
+smothered its rays. "We won't show a gleam, either," she muttered.
+
+"Why! who could it possibly be?" cried Wyn. "Do you think somebody may
+be following us?"
+
+"I don't know," returned Polly, grimly. "But I thought I heard something
+back there at our house. We were talking loud. If those silver images
+were worth all Dr. Shelton says they were, there are more than us girls
+who would like to find them."
+
+"My goodness me! I didn't think of _that_," observed Wyn Mallory,
+with a little shiver. "Do you suppose we really are being followed?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+THE STRANGE BATEAU
+
+
+Polly laughed a little. Yet she spoke seriously.
+
+"You needn't be so worried, Wyn. I know most of the men who do business
+on the lake. Some of them are mighty fine fellows, and others are just
+the opposite; but I'm not afraid of the worst of them."
+
+"If they followed us, and we _did_ find the sunken motor boat,
+couldn't they grapple for the box of silver images, and steal them?"
+demanded Wyn.
+
+"Not easily. You see, they don't know where the box was stowed. Father
+told nobody but me. The _Bright Eyes_ was a good-sized boat, and
+they'd have some trouble getting up the box without raising the boat
+herself."
+
+"I suppose that's so," admitted Wyn, less anxiously, as the
+_Coquette_ carried them swiftly toward Gannet Island. "But these
+men you speak of might interfere with us."
+
+"Yes. That's so. But they'd get as good as they sent, I reckon," said
+Polly, who didn't seem to have a bit of fear.
+
+Wyn was no coward; she had shown that the time she and Bessie Lavine
+were spilled out of their canoes in the middle of the lake. But she had
+not lived, like Polly, in the woods with few but rough people for
+associates.
+
+Soon they passed Green Knoll Camp, lying peacefully in the light of the
+moon that was just then rising above the Forge. Its rays silvered all
+the knoll and made the camp a charming spot.
+
+"I hope none of them will wake up and find me gone," remarked Wyn,
+chuckling.
+
+Polly gave the tiller and sheet to her friend and stood up to get a
+better view of the lake astern of them. At first she saw nothing but the
+dim shores and the silvering water. Then, some distance out, Polly
+caught sight of a ghostly sail drifting across the path of moonlight.
+
+"A bateau!" she exclaimed. "And--with the wind the way it is--she must
+have come right out of our cove, Wynnie."
+
+"Do--do you really think anybody was listening to us when we were
+talking there on the landing, Polly?" Wyn asked. "And are they aboard
+_that_ bateau?"
+
+"I don't know. But I know I heard something then."
+
+"But that boat isn't following us."
+
+"It may be. We can't tell. They can watch us just as easily as we can
+watch them."
+
+But when the _Coquette_ got around to the side of Gannet Island
+where the boys' camp was established, the shadow of the high, wooded
+ridge was thrown out so far across the lake that the swimming raft and
+its neighborhood were in darkness.
+
+The catboat, with her sail dropped and her nose just touching the edge
+of the float, was quite hidden by this shadow of the island, which was
+all the darker in contrast with the brilliant moonlight lying on the
+water farther out.
+
+"I'll carry the kedge to the float," whispered Polly, "and then we'll
+pay out the line till the _Coquette_ floats about over the spot
+where you think the thing you hit lies."
+
+"Let's get my canoe out of the way, too," urged Wyn. "Oh! I hope the
+boys will not wake up."
+
+"What's that light up there?" exclaimed Polly, suddenly.
+
+"That's the spark of their campfire. It's in the rocks, so no harm can
+come from it; they don't trouble to cover it when they go to bed."
+
+"Now, Wyn--push the boat off."
+
+They worked the catboat from the float for several yards. "Wait,"
+whispered Wyn. "Let's try here."
+
+"Are you going to dive?"
+
+"Yes. It will make some splash; but I don't believe I can reach the
+bottom of the lake otherwise, it is so deep here."
+
+"Careful!" cautioned Polly. "You may hurt yourself on whatever is down
+there."
+
+"I'll look out," returned Wyn, again filling her ears with cotton. She
+slipped off the skirt of her bathing suit, too, so as to have more
+freedom. Then she poised herself for a moment on the decked-over part of
+the sailboat--a slim, lithe figure in the semi-darkness--and gradually
+bent over with her arms outstretched to part the water.
+
+As she dived forward she thought she heard a quick exclamation from
+Polly; but Wyn believed it to be an encouraging cry. At least, she gave
+it no attention as she clove the water and went down, down, down into
+the depths of the lake.
+
+She opened her eyes, but, of course, saw nothing but a great, shadowy
+mass below her. Toward this mass she swam eagerly; the lake seemed much
+deeper than it had by daylight.
+
+Struggling against the uplift of the water, she beat her way down into
+the depths for more than a minute. That was a goodly length of time for
+the first submersion. And she did not reach the bottom, nor find any
+object like the thing she had struck against some hours before.
+
+It was necessary for her to rise. As she turned over, a luminous spot
+appeared over her head, and toward this spot she sprang. With aching
+chest she reached the surface, and sprang breast high out of the
+water--some yards from the catboat. There was a strong current here.
+
+"Polly!" she gasped.
+
+"Sh!" hissed her comrade's voice, in warning.
+
+Surprised, Wyn obeyed the warning. Causing scarcely a ripple in the
+water, she paddled to the boat. There she clung to the rail and
+listened. She could not see Polly.
+
+"Dunno where they went to in that cat, Eb," growled a hoarse voice out
+of the darkness.
+
+Wyn darted a glance over her shoulder. There, looming gray and ghostly,
+was the tall sail they had seen once before. The strange, square-nosed
+bateau was drifting by, but at some distance. Evidently the catboat was
+well hidden in the shadow of the island.
+
+Suddenly Polly reached over the edge of the boat and seized Wyn's
+shoulders. "Don't try to climb in," she whispered. "They'll see or hear
+the splash."
+
+"All right," breathed back the captain of the Go-Aheads.
+
+"It's Eb Lornigan and some of his friends. Eb is a disgrace to the lake.
+He's been in jail more than once," whispered Polly.
+
+But Wyn's shoulders began to feel cold. The night air, after all, was
+not really warm. "I'm going down again," she whispered.
+
+"Did--did you find it?" queried Polly.
+
+"No. But I will," declared the other girl, confidently, and slipped into
+the water.
+
+She ventured under the bottom of the catboat and, turning suddenly,
+braced her feet against it, and so flung herself down into the depths.
+
+She descended more swiftly with the momentum thus gained, traveling
+toward the bottom on a different slant than before. With her hands far
+before her she defended her head from collision with any sunken object
+there might be down here. And this time she actually did hit something
+again.
+
+She turned quickly and grabbed at it with both hands. It seemed like a
+sharp, smooth pole sticking almost upright in the water. There was a bit
+of rag, or marine plant of some kind, attached to it.
+
+She struggled to pull herself down by the staff, but she had been below
+now longer than before. Just what the staff could be she did not imagine
+until she had again turned and "kicked" her way upward.
+
+"It's the pennant staff of the sunken boat!" she gasped, as she came to
+the surface and could open her mouth once more.
+
+"Hush! what's the matter with you?" demanded Polly, in a low voice,
+directly at hand.
+
+"Oh! have they gone?"
+
+"The bateau is out of hearing distance. But you _do_ splash like a
+porpoise."
+
+"Nonsense! Let me climb up."
+
+Polly gave her some help and in a few moments Wyn lay panting in the
+tiny cockpit of the boat.
+
+"Did--did you find anything?" queried Polly, anxiously.
+
+Wyn told her what she believed she had found underneath the water, and
+the position of the staff. "It must be lying bow on to us here," she
+said.
+
+"Oh! do you suppose it really _is_ the _Bright Eyes_?"
+
+"It's something," replied Wyn, confidently, pulling one of the blankets
+around her.
+
+"I'm going down myself," declared Polly, sharply.
+
+"All right. Maybe you can find more of the boat. It's there."
+
+Polly sprang up into the bow of the catboat, poised herself for a moment
+and then dived overboard. She could outswim and outdive any of the
+Go-Ahead girls--and why not? She was in, or on, the lake from early
+spring until late autumn.
+
+Polly was under the surface no longer than Wyn; but when she came up she
+struck out for the _Coquette_ and scrambled immediately into the
+boat.
+
+"What is it? Am I right? Is it a boat?" cried the anxious Wynnie.
+
+"Yes! It's there. Oh, Wynifred Mallory! My father is going to be so
+relieved! It's--it's just heavenly! How can we ever thank you?"
+
+Wyn was crying softly. "I'm so delighted, dear Polly. It--it is
+_sure_ the _Bright Eyes_?"
+
+"It is a motor boat. I went right down to the deck, and scrambled around
+it. There are surely not _two_ motor boats sunk in Lake Honotonka,"
+declared Polly.
+
+"Hush, then!" urged Wyn. "We'll keep still about it. It is my find and
+I'll telegraph to Mr. Lavine as quick as I can. The Go-Ahead girls are
+going to own a motor boat! Won't that be fine?"
+
+"Say nothing to any of the others. I'll tell father," said Polly,
+beginning to haul in on the kedge line. "And he'll know what to do about
+raising the launch. He'll have to go to the Forge----"
+
+"Then he can send the message to Mr. Lavine for me. Tell him the girls
+have found the sunken boat, and sign my name to it. That will bring
+Bessie's father up here in a hurry."
+
+The girls got their anchor and the canoe, and put up the sail again. As
+the _Coquette_ shot away from the boys' swimming float, the ghostly
+sail of the strange bateau again crossed the path of moonlight at the
+other end of the island.
+
+"I'd feel better," muttered Polly, "if those, fellows were not hanging
+about so close."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+THE BOYS TO THE RESCUE
+
+
+Wyn got into her canoe in sight of Green Knoll Camp, and leaving Polly
+to work the _Coquette_ home alone, paddled to the shore, drew out
+the canoe and turned it over on the beach with the six other canoes
+belonging to the camp, and so stole up the hill and prepared for bed
+again.
+
+Nobody seemed to have missed her, although it was now two hours after
+midnight. The captain of the girls' club felt a glow of satisfaction at
+her heart as she composed herself for sleep. She believed she was going
+to have a great and happy surprise for the girls of the Go-Ahead Club;
+and in addition the Jarleys would be relieved of the cloud of suspicion
+that had hung over Mr. Jarley ever since Dr. Shelton's motor boat was
+lost.
+
+Wyn slept so late that all the other girls were up and had run down for
+their morning dip ere Mrs. Havel shook her.
+
+"You must have had your bath very early, Wynnie," said that lady. "Here
+is your bathing suit all wet."
+
+"Yes, ma'am," responded Wyn, sleepily.
+
+"Now, rouse up. The whole camp is astir," said Mrs. Havel, and Wyn was
+fully dressed when the other girls came back. There were not too many
+questions asked, so her secret remained safe.
+
+She became considerably disturbed, however, when the hours of the
+forenoon passed and she neither heard from nor saw anything of the
+Jarleys.
+
+Once a big bateau went drifting by and disappeared behind Gannet Island,
+under a lazy sail and with two men at the long sweeps, or oars. When it
+was lost to view Wyn was troubled by the thought that it might be the
+same mysterious craft that had followed the catboat the night before.
+Had it anchored off the boys' camp now?
+
+So, to calm her own mind, she suggested that they all paddle over to
+Cave-in-the-Wood Camp and take their luncheon with them.
+
+"Goodness me, Wynifred!" exclaimed Bess, the boy-despiser, "can't you
+keep away from those boys for a single day?"
+
+"I notice we usually have a good time when the boys are around,"
+returned Wyn, cheerfully.
+
+"Oh, they're quite a 'necessary evil,'" drawled Frank. "But I feel
+myself like Johnny Bloom's aunt when we get rid of the Busters for a
+time."
+
+"What about Johnny's aunt?" queried Mina.
+
+"Why, do you know that Johnny belongs to the Scouts and one law of the
+Scouts is that they shall each do something for somebody each day to
+make the said somebody happy."
+
+"Rather involved in your English, Miss, but we understand you," said
+Grace.
+
+"So far," agreed Percy Havel. "But where do Johnny Bloom and his aunt
+come in?"
+
+"Why, any day he can't think of any other kindness to render his
+friends," chuckled Frankie, "he goes to see his aunt. She is so glad
+when he goes home again--she detests boys--that Johnny feels all the
+thrill of having performed a good deed."
+
+"Now, Frank!" laughed Wyn, "you know it isn't as bad as all
+_that_."
+
+"Yes, it is," chuckled Frankie. "You don't know Johnny Bloom as well as
+his neighbors do. He lives on my street."
+
+"Humph! most boys are just as bad," declared Bess. "Just the same, if
+Wyn says 'Gannet Island' I reckon we'll all have to go."
+
+"And we'll have some fun diving," Grace Hedges declared. "I wish we had
+a diving float over here."
+
+Mrs. Havel preferred to remain at the camp and the six girls were a very
+hilarious party as they set forth in their canoes and fresh bathing
+suits for the island.
+
+By this time every member of the Go-Ahead Club was as brown as a berry,
+inured to exposure in the sun, and enjoying the outdoor life of woods
+and lake to the full.
+
+Mina's timidity had worn off, Percy was not so "finicky" in her tastes,
+Bessie was more careful of other people's feelings, Grace really seemed
+almost cured of laziness, Frank was by no means so hoydenish as she once
+was, and as for Wynifred, she was just as hearty and happy as it seemed
+a girl could be. Their independent, busy life on Green Knoll was doing
+them all a world of good.
+
+As the little squadron of canoes drew near to the easterly end of the
+Island the girls were suddenly excited by a great disturbance in the
+bushes on the hill above them. This end of the island was exceedingly
+steep and rocky.
+
+"Oh, what's that?" cried Mina, as some object flashed into view for a
+moment and then disappeared.
+
+"It's one of the goats," squealed Frankie.
+
+Gannet Island was grazed by a good-sized herd of goats, but they
+remained mostly at this end and kept away from the boys' camp at the
+other. The girls had seldom seen any of the herd, although they had
+heard the kids bleating now and then, and the boys had described the old
+rams and how ugly they were.
+
+Here, right above them, was going on a striking domestic wrangle, for in
+a moment they saw that two of the rams were having a set-to among the
+bushes on the side-hill, while several mild-eyed Nannies and their
+progeny looked on.
+
+The rams would back away a little in the brush and then charge each
+other. When their hard horns collided, they rang like steel, and several
+times the antagonists were both overborne by the shock and rolled upon
+the ground.
+
+"What a place for a fight!" exclaimed Frank. "What do you know about
+_that_, girls?"
+
+"It's a shame," quavered Mina. "Somebody ought to separate them."
+
+"Sure! I vote that you go right up and do so, Miss Everett," said Grace,
+briskly.
+
+However, Frank's criticism of the judgment of the combating goats was
+correct. It was no place for a fair fight. One of the animals happened
+to get "up hill" and at the next charge the lower goat was lifted
+completely off its feet and came tumbling down the steep descent with
+the speed of an avalanche.
+
+The girls screamed, the other goats bleated--while the conquering Billie
+took a commanding position on a rock and gazed down upon his falling
+enemy. The latter could not stop. Twice he tried to scramble to his
+sharp little hoofs, but could not accomplish the feat. So, then, quite
+helpless, he fell the entire distance and came finally, with a mighty
+splash, into the deep water under the bank.
+
+"Oh! the poor creature will be drowned!" cried Wyn, in great distress at
+this catastrophe, although some of the other girls were inclined to
+laugh, for the goat _did_ look more than a little comical.
+
+He had been battered a good deal and had received a wound upon one side
+of his face that did not improve his looks at all. And while he had been
+so lively and pugnacious up on the hillside, now he splashed about in
+the lake quite helplessly.
+
+The shore of the island just here was altogether too abrupt to afford
+the unlucky goat any foot-hold. And the goat is not naturally an aquatic
+animal.
+
+"Come on!" urged Bessie. "Let's leave him. We can't do any good here."
+
+"Of course we can help him," cried Wyn. "Grab him by the other horn,
+Frank!"
+
+She had driven her own canoe to the far side of the goat and now seized
+the beast's horn. He could not fight in the water and Wyn and Frank
+slowly guided him along the shore until they reached a sloping piece of
+beach where he could, at least, get a footing. But he lay down, half in
+and half out of the water, seemingly exhausted.
+
+"He can never climb that bank," declared Mina.
+
+"We'll boost him up, then," said Frank, with confidence. "Having set out
+to be twin Good Samaritans, we'll finish the job properly; eh, Wyn?"
+
+Her friend agreed, laughing, and both girls sprang ashore. They didn't
+mind getting a little wet, considering how they were dressed.
+
+The goat bleated forlornly as they seized upon him; he was quite all the
+two girls could lift, and they actually had to drag him up the steeper
+part of the hill by his legs.
+
+Their friends below chaffed them a good deal, for it was a ridiculous
+sight. Soon, however, Wyn and Frank got their awkward burden to the
+mouth of an easily sloping gully, that led toward the interior of the
+island. As soon as he could, the animal scrambled upon his feet.
+
+Once firmly set, however, this ungrateful goat's temper changed most
+surprisingly. Or he may have felt that his dignity had been ruffled by
+the treatment he had received at the hands of his rescuers.
+
+So he began stamping his little sharp hoofs and lowered his head,
+shaking the latter threateningly.
+
+"What did I tell you?" called Bess, from below. "Next you two sillies
+know he'll butt you."
+
+"Oh, come along, Wyn!" gasped Frankie. "Plague the goat, anyway!" as she
+dodged the enraged animal's first charge.
+
+The goat was headed up the gully, away from the shore, or he might have
+gone head first into the lake again. As the girls escaped him, Wyn,
+laughing immoderately, looked back. A big beech tree cropped out of the
+bank not far away, and under this tree she descried a figure lying.
+
+"Oh, Frank!" she cried.
+
+Her friend turned and saw the figure, too.
+
+"Oh, Wyn!"
+
+Their ejaculations seemed to have attracted Mr. William Goat's attention
+to the same reclining figure. Outstretched upon the sward, with a large
+handkerchief over his face as a protection from gnats and other insects,
+and with his fat fingers interlaced across what Dave Shepard wickedly
+termed his chum's "bow-window," lay the quite unconscious Tubby
+Blaisdell.
+
+"Tubby!" shrieked the girls in chorus.
+
+The fat boy sat up as though a spring had been released. The
+handkerchief was still over his face, and he grunted blindly.
+
+It was a challenge to Mr. Goat. He charged. Amid the screams of the
+girls the goat hurtled through the air, all four feet gathered beneath
+him, and landed head-and-horns in the middle of poor Tubby's waistcoat!
+
+It wasn't a very big goat. 'Twas lucky for Master Blaisdell that this
+was so. Tubby went back with an awful grunt, heels in the air, and the
+goat turned a complete somersault. But the latter scrambled to his feet
+a whole lot quicker than did Tubby.
+
+"Run--run, Tubby!" shrieked Frank.
+
+"Look out for him, Ralph!" cried Wyn.
+
+Back the goat came. This time he took Master Blaisdell from the rear and
+butted him so hard that he actually seemed to lift the fat boy to his
+feet.
+
+The youth had scratched the handkerchief from his face, and now could
+see the enemy. Tubby had emitted nothing but a series of excruciating
+grunts; but now, when he saw the goat making ready for another charge,
+he met the animal with a yell, leaping into the air with his legs
+a-straddle, so that the Billie ran between them, and then Tubby footed
+it up the gully as fast as he could travel.
+
+The goat, headed down hill again, saw his old enemies, the two girls,
+and made as though to attack them. Wyn and Frank, almost dead with
+laughter, managed to roll down the bank and so get out of the erratic
+goat's sight. The other girls had only heard the noise of the conflict,
+and did not understand; nor could Wyn and Frankie explain when they
+first scrambled into their canoes.
+
+"Poor Tubby! Poor Tubby!" was all Wyn could say. "Let's paddle around to
+the boys' camp. He's run for home."
+
+"It was a home run, all right!" gasped Frank.
+
+But three minutes later, when the canoes got into the cove where Polly's
+father had met with his accident in the _Bright Eyes_, Wyn suddenly
+found something more serious than Tubby Blaisdell's experience to worry
+about. There was the big bateau, its sail furled, almost over the spot
+where Wyn and Polly were sure the lost motor boat lay!
+
+"Oh, dear me!" cried Bess. "Now we can't have any fun on the raft. Those
+men will be in our way. What do you suppose they are poking around there
+in the water with those poles for?"
+
+Wyn began to paddle fast. She shot ahead of the other girls and aimed
+directly for the bit of beach on which the boys' canoes were drawn.
+
+The noise and laughter up at the camp assured her that Tubby had arrived
+and that all the Busters were at home. Wyn had made up her mind quickly
+that, if she must, she would rather take the boys into her confidence
+about the sunken boat than let those bateau men find it.
+
+"Boys! Dave!" she hailed them from the water.
+
+Young Shepard appeared at once and, seeing Wyn, ran down to the shore.
+
+"Will you help us?" gasped Wyn. "Quick! get the boys! Move your diving
+float where I tell you; those men will find it first, if you don't."
+
+"Find what?" demanded Dave. "Are you sensible, Wynnie?"
+
+The explanation tumbled out of Wyn Mallory's lips then in rather a
+jumbled fashion; but Dave understood. He turned and gave the view-halloa
+for his mates. They all tumbled down the bank save Tubby.
+
+"Get a move on, fellows," commanded the leader of the Busters. "We've
+got to move that raft. Wyn will tell us where. And later we'll tell you
+_why_. But the word is now: Look sharp!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+
+IS IT THE "BRIGHT EYES"?
+
+
+With a whirl and clash of paddles the little flotilla of canoes shot out
+to the diving float. The bateau was only a few yards away. The two
+rough-looking men in her were sounding the lake bottom, with long poles;
+but as yet they had not got around to the right spot.
+
+Wyn breathlessly told the boys to move the raft to the place to which
+she paddled. The other girls were excitedly asking questions but neither
+Wyn nor Dave answered.
+
+The captain of the Go-Aheads thought that if the raft could be held
+stationary--anchored in some way--directly over the sunken boat, the
+prize would be safe until Mr. Jarley, or somebody else in authority,
+came to claim the _Bright Eyes_. Of course, providing this sunken
+boat was she.
+
+Polly had seemed so positive, and so eager to get her father started
+after the motor boat he had lost, that Wyn could not understand why the
+Jarleys were not already on the spot.
+
+"Hey, there! what are you boys doing?" demanded one of the bateau men,
+hailing Dave and his friends on the raft.
+
+"Moving our float," replied the captain of the Busters, promptly.
+
+"Well, don't you git in our way," said the man, crossly.
+
+"Hel-_lo_!" exclaimed the saucy Ferd Roberts. "I've always wondered
+who owned Lake Honotonka, and now I know."
+
+"You'll know a whole lot more if you don't look out, Young Fresh,"
+growled the other boatman.
+
+"I shouldn't wonder," laughed Ferd. "But I'm not going to school to
+_you_, Mister."
+
+"Do be quiet, Ferd," advised Dave. "Now, Wynnie! What do you say to
+this?"
+
+Meantime the boys had raised the two big stones that served the raft as
+anchors, and had poled the float near to Wyn's canoe.
+
+"Oh! a little farther, Dave, please," cried the anxious girl.
+
+"Say! I wanter know what you young ones are up to?" repeated the first
+boatman.
+
+"Can't you see?" returned Dave. "We're shifting our raft."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"Cat's fur! To make kittens' breeches of, 'cause we couldn't get dog
+fur--_now_ do you know?" snapped Ferd.
+
+"Shut up, Ferd!" commanded Dave, again.
+
+"He'd better shut up," growled the man, "or something'll happen to
+him--the young shrimp!"
+
+"Oh, dear me, Wyn!" cried Bessie Lavine; "let's go back to camp."
+
+"You'd all better scatter--both gels and boys," said the boatman,
+threateningly. "We're busy here an' we don't want to be bothered by
+shrimps."
+
+"I guess we'll stay a while longer, Mister," Dave said, boldly.
+
+"We were here first," cried the irrepressible Ferd.
+
+"You youngsters air in our way. Get out," commanded the Boatman.
+
+He was working the bateau nearer to the raft, using one of the long
+sweeps for that purpose.
+
+"Heave over the anchors again, fellows," said Dave, quietly. "Then stand
+by with your paddles to repel boarders. We mustn't let 'em have the
+raft, or move it."
+
+"Oh, Wyn!" begged Mina Everett, "let's go away."
+
+The girls had all paddled near Wyn Mallory. Now they clustered about her
+in plain anxiety. The boys had climbed upon the raft and all five were
+plainly intending to offer resistance to the ugly boatmen.
+
+"Now, girls," begged the captain of the Go-Aheads, firmly, "let us show
+_some_ courage, at least. The boys are willing to fight our
+battle----"
+
+"_Our_ battle?" gasped Bessie. "What do you mean?"
+
+In a whisper Wyn explained to the wondering and frightened girls what it
+was all about.
+
+"Polly and I believe the lost motor boat lies right beneath us here. We
+must keep those men off, for they are hunting for the sunken boat, too,"
+concluded Wynnie.
+
+"My goodness! how exciting!" cried Grace Hedges.
+
+"And we'll actually win the prize your father offered us, Bess!" gasped
+Percy Havel.
+
+"I don't see that _we_ have had much to do with it," said Frank.
+"Wyn made the discovery."
+
+"What is for one is for all," declared Wynnie. "But we won't win Mr.
+Lavine's prize unless the boat is raised and the silver images are
+delivered to Dr. Shelton. If those men get hold of the boat----"
+
+Suddenly one of the boatmen--a long-legged fellow with a cast in one eye
+and lantern jaws sparsely covered with sandy whisker--came forward to
+the bow of the bateau and poised himself for a leap to the diving float.
+
+"Keep off!" Dave warned him, swinging his paddle over his head. "You
+jump over here and you'll catch this where Kellup caught the hen--right
+in the neck! You let us alone and we'll let you alone."
+
+The boatman told him, in no very choice language, what he would do to
+Dave when he caught him; but the captain of the Busters did not appear
+to be much shaken.
+
+"Hold, on, Eb!" yelled the other boatman. "I'll run that raft down and
+spill 'em all off."
+
+"You try it and you'll likely smash your boat," shouted Dave. "I warn
+you."
+
+Mina Everett began to cry softly, for the suggestion of a pitched battle
+between the boys and the boatmen frightened her dreadfully. Bess began
+to grow excited.
+
+"Aren't those men just _mean_? I wish I had something to hit them
+with--I do! I believe I'll get out on the raft with _my_ paddle."
+
+"That wouldn't be a bad idea," said Grace. "I think the boys are as nice
+to us as they can be."
+
+Suddenly, while the attention of all the others was held by the exciting
+situation on the raft, Frank Cameron cried out:
+
+"Who's this coming? Oh, girls! isn't that Polly? Look, Wyn!"
+
+Wyn almost overturned her canoe in her eagerness to back out of the
+group and whirl her canoe about that she might see. Down upon the scene
+was bearing one of the larger power boats from the other end of the
+lake.
+
+"It's Dr. Shelton's _Sunshine Boy_!" cried Percy Havel.
+
+"And that _is_ Polly Jolly in the bow," exclaimed Wyn. "Hurrah!"
+
+She drove her paddle into the water and sent her canoe driving for the
+approaching motor boat.
+
+"Polly! Polly!" she called, long before the boatman's daughter could
+hear her.
+
+But Polly recognized her just the same, and waved her hand; there was a
+gentleman pacing the deck, too, who came to lean on the rail and look at
+the flying canoe. Wyn next saw Mr. Jarley, in his working clothes, put
+his head out of the cabin that housed the motor.
+
+"It's Dr. Shelton," Wyn thought. "Then he and Mr. Jarley have made it
+up. I'm so glad!"
+
+But the motor boat was coming fast and Wyn drove her canoe as though she
+were racing. Swerving the craft quickly, the girl brought it very nicely
+into a berth beside the motor boat. Polly leaned down and steadied the
+canoe with the boat hook, and her friend hopped aboard. Then together
+they hoisted over the rail the almost swamped canoe.
+
+"What's all this? What's all this?" demanded Dr. Shelton. "You girls are
+regular acrobats. Hullo! This is the young miss who won the canoe race
+and the swimming match for girls, the other day. Am I right?"
+
+"Yes, sir," said Polly, presenting Wyn proudly. "This is Miss Wynifred
+Mallory, my very dear friend."
+
+"The girl who thinks she has found our old motor boat--eh?" asked the
+burly doctor.
+
+"I am sure she has found it, sir," declared Polly. "And what are Eb and
+his chum, Billy Smith, trying to do there at the raft, Wyn?"
+
+"They suspect something; but the boys have got the float right over the
+sunken boat and have promised to hold the bateau men off----"
+
+Just then Dr. Shelton turned quickly, picked up a megaphone and bawled
+through it to the bateau men, one of whom had leaped aboard the boys,
+raft.
+
+"Hey, you! Get off that raft and keep off it, or I'll put you both in
+jail at the Forge. Understand me?"
+
+It was evident that the boatmen _did_ understand the doctor, for
+the trespasser aboard the raft leaped back into the bateau without a
+blow being struck, although the boys were ready for him. The big sail of
+the craft was immediately raised and she had borne off to some distance
+when the _Sunshine Boy_ was allowed to drift in close to the float.
+
+"Now, boys," said Dr. Shelton, genially, "I understand you have found my
+old _Bright Eyes_ under water here and have been guarding it from
+all comers. Is that right?"
+
+"No, Doctor," returned Dave. "We fellows have had mighty little to do
+with it. It's the girls----"
+
+"It's Wyn!" cried Frank, "and nobody else."
+
+"Wyn did it all," agreed Bess.
+
+"But those men, poking around here, might have found it and laid claim
+to it, sir, if the boys had not come to the rescue," declared the
+captain of the Go-Aheads, warmly.
+
+"You seem to be a Mutual Admiration Society," laughed the doctor.
+"However, if the boat is here and that express box intact, as Jarley
+says, I certainly owe somebody something handsome for finding it."
+
+"Oh, no, sir!" murmured Wyn, quickly, standing by his side. "You owe me
+nothing. Mr. Lavine has promised our club a present, and Polly and her
+father are going to be made very happy if it turns out all right.
+_That_ is reward enough for us."
+
+"Humph! you feel that way about it; do you, Miss Mallory?" queried the
+doctor. "Just the same, if the _Bright Eyes_ really is sunk here I
+must show my gratitude to somebody."
+
+"Then do something for Polly," Wyn whispered. "Give her a chance to go
+to school--to Denton Academy with the rest of us girls. That would be
+fine! She wouldn't let Mr. Lavine do that for her; but I know she'll
+accept it from you, when her father has proved himself clear of
+suspicion."
+
+"Ha! John Jarley is a better man than I am," grunted Dr. Shelton. "I had
+no business to talk to him the way I did regatta day. I'm free to admit
+I was wrong, whether we recover the _Bright Eyes_ and the silver
+images, or not!"
+
+And the question, Is it the _Bright Eyes_? was the principal
+subject of discussion among them all. The boys were just as eager as
+were the girls over the affair.
+
+"If the sunken boat is all right--and the images," said Dave Shepard,
+"you girls will be lucky enough to sail a motor boat of your own."
+
+"And we'd never own it if you boys hadn't come forward as you did,"
+declared Wyn. "Isn't that so, Bess?"
+
+Bess had to admit the fact, much as she disliked praising boys.
+
+"Oh, we'll let you boys sail in our new boat once in a while," she said.
+
+"Goodness me! I should say yes!" exclaimed Frank, suddenly. "For we've
+got to have somebody teach us how to run a motor boat; haven't we?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII
+
+A FRIEND IN NEED
+
+
+It was early on the next day that Bessie received a message from her
+father for the whole club:
+
+    "Look for me in a few hours. Shall run up to see what Wyn has
+    done as soon as I can get away. If it is all right, you shall
+    have new boat this season.--Henry Lavine."
+
+A man brought it over from the Forge. The girls were delighted with the
+news. A guard had been set over the spot where the sunken boat lay and
+Dr. Shelton and Mr. Jarley were making arrangements to have a derrick
+barge towed up to Gannet Island, so that the old _Bright Eyes_
+could be brought to the surface quickly.
+
+Naturally the Busters were too much interested in these proceedings to
+come over to Green Knoll Camp; and the girls had had so much excitement
+and exercise of late that they were inclined to take matters quietly for
+the time being.
+
+Therefore, there was not a canoe on the lake when a fussy, smoky little
+motor boat, late in the afternoon, came into the lake from the
+Wintinooski and puffed out into deep water, evidently bound for either
+the Island or Green Knoll Camp.
+
+The deep cove, at the head of which the little red and yellow cottage of
+the Jarleys was set, was like a big bay in the contour of the lake
+shore. It was out here in this deep water that Wyn Mallory and Bess
+Lavine had been swamped by the squall. From the docks at the Forge to
+the point east of Green Knoll, where the girls' camp was situated, was
+all of eight miles. When this little motor boat had sputtered along
+until she was about half way between those two points, she suddenly
+stopped.
+
+The girls had been lazily on the lookout for Mr. Lavine's appearance and
+earlier in the day had kept the camp spyglass busy. Now Frank suddenly
+caught it up again and focused it almost at once on the stalled motor
+boat.
+
+"Oh! what's that?" was her excited demand. "Girls! there's a boat we
+missed before."
+
+"Where?" drawled Grace, lazily.
+
+"It isn't father; is it?" demanded Bess.
+
+"How do I know? It's a power boat----Goodness, what's that?"
+
+She jumped so that Wyn came to her side quickly. "Let me see, Frank,"
+she begged.
+
+"There's--there's a fire!" gasped Frankie.
+
+The girls came running at her cry. Even Mrs. Havel left her seat and
+stepped out of the shade of the beech tree to scan the water under her
+hand.
+
+"I see smoke!" cried Percy.
+
+"Dear me! is the boat really afire?" demanded Mina Everett.
+
+"Of course, it can't be father," declared Bess. "He knows how to take
+care of a motor boat."
+
+Through the glass Wyn, who now had it, saw the flames leaping from under
+the hood of the boat, while a dense plume of smoke began to reel away on
+the breeze that was blowing.
+
+"It is afire!" she gasped "Oh! it _is_! What can we do?"
+
+"We could never reach it in our canoes before the boat burns to the
+water's edge," cried Frankie.
+
+They could see two figures on the doomed boat. Through the glass Wyn
+could see them so plainly that she knew one to be a waterman, while the
+other was much better dressed. Indeed, she feared that she recognized
+the figure of this second man.
+
+"Let me have the glass, Wyn," said Bessie, eagerly.
+
+But Wyn, for once, was disobliging. "You can't see anything--much," she
+said. "Come on, Bess! let's try and paddle out to them."
+
+"And have them swamp our canoes if they tried to climb in," said Miss
+Lavine. "No, thanks!"
+
+"Come on!" cried Frank, joining in. "We ought to try and help."
+
+"What's the use?" drawled Bessie, walking away. "And you're mean not to
+let me have the glass, Wyn."
+
+"Oh, come on and take it!" gasped Wyn.
+
+"Don't want it now," snapped Bess, who took offense rather easily at
+times. "You can keep the old thing."
+
+Wyn sighed with relief. Then she whirled quickly and ran down to the
+beach, with Frank right at her heels. They were the only two girls who
+launched their canoes. Wyn had brought the glass with her.
+
+"Now I _know_ Bess won't see him," she exclaimed, almost in a
+whisper.
+
+"What's that?" demanded Frankie, who overheard. "What do you mean, Wyn?"
+
+"I believe that is Mr. Lavine out there," said the captain of the
+Go-Aheads. "Oh, Frank! paddle hard!"
+
+And it _was_ Mr. Lavine. He had hired this little gasoline boat,
+with its owner to run it, at Denton, and had paid the owner an extra
+five-dollar bill to force the boat to its very highest speed (and that
+wasn't much) all the way up the Wintinooski. Mr. Lavine was in a hurry;
+he was in too much of a hurry, as it proved.
+
+Somewhere off Meade's Forge he began to smell the gasoline all too
+strongly. There was a leak somewhere; but the boat kept on.
+
+Finally even the reckless driver grew frightened and shut off the spark.
+
+"There's a leak, boss," he drawled. "Sure as aigs is aigs!"
+
+Mr. Lavine tore up one of the boards under his feet in the cockpit. A
+man with half an eye could have seen the scum of gasoline on the bilge
+in the cockpit.
+
+"Leak!" he exclaimed, wrathfully. "I should say you had been using the
+boat's bottom for a gasoline tank. Why! we might have been blown up a
+dozen times."
+
+"I expect the leak's in the feed pipe," confessed the boatman. "But I
+thought I'd got her fixed las' week."
+
+"You've got _us_ fixed," snapped Mr. Lavine. "'Way out here in the
+middle of Lake Honotonka, too--and I in a hurry."
+
+"Wal," said the man, "I'll putty up the leak and you see if you kin swab
+out the boat. I wouldn't dare try and ignite her again with so much
+gasoline around."
+
+"I--should--say--not!" gasped the gentleman, and removed his coat,
+rolled up his sleeves and his trousers, and set to work.
+
+They both labored like beavers for half an hour and then the boatman did
+the very silliest thing one can imagine. He had worked hard and, being a
+man addicted to tobacco, he felt the need of a smoke.
+
+He pulled out his pipe, filled it, unnoticed by Mr. Lavine, who was
+still trying to swab out the last of the bilge and gasoline, and
+scratched a match. He was directly in front of the hood of the boat when
+he did it. The next moment there was a flash, a roar, and the man was
+flung the length of the boat, against Mr. Lavine in the stern, and the
+two almost went overboard.
+
+The foolish smoker lost his mustache, eyebrows, and lashes, and a lot of
+his front hair. He was scorched quite severely, too; but the peril which
+menaced them with the front of the boat in flames drove the thought of
+his burns from the fellow's mind.
+
+"And I can't swim a stroke, boss!" he cried.
+
+"You have nothing on me there," declared Mr. Lavine. "I have never been
+able to master more than the first few motions in the art of swimming."
+
+But the flames were springing higher and they had nothing with which to
+throw water on the fire. The man had not even a bailing tin in his
+moribund old craft. Mr. Lavine had been using a swab and was covered
+with grease and dirty water.
+
+This became a small thing, however--and that within a very few minutes.
+The boat was doomed and both knew it.
+
+Mr. Lavine tried to tear up more of the grating under foot so as to make
+something that would float and upon which they might bear themselves up
+in the water. But the boards were too thin.
+
+Then he tried to unship the rudder (the singed boatman was no use at all
+in this emergency) and so make use of that as a float. But the bolts
+were rusted and the boat had begun to swing around so that the fire blew
+right into the stern.
+
+They both had to leap overboard.
+
+It was a serious situation indeed. By Mr. Lavine's advice they paddled
+toward the bow, one on either side of the boat, for the flames were
+rushing aft.
+
+The bow was a mere shell, however. The flames had already almost
+consumed it, and soon the fire fairly ate through the bows at the water
+level. The water rushed in and so sank the boat by the head.
+
+Not that the boat went straight down. The stern rose in the water and
+the two men, in their desperate strait, gazed at the flames above their
+heads.
+
+Had it been night the fire would have been like a great torch in the
+middle of the lake--and it would have brought help from all directions.
+As it was, the black smoke first thrown off, and then the steam,
+attracted more than the girls of Green Knoll Camp to the scene.
+
+At the landing Mr. Jarley was splicing some heavy rope which he expected
+to use the next day when the sunken _Bright Eyes_ would be actually
+raised. Polly saw the smoke first from the cottage and ran out to tell
+him.
+
+"One of those motor boats is afire, Father!" she cried. Instantly the
+boatman set about going to the rescue. It was a fair day, but there was
+a good breeze blowing. Jarley took the _Coquette_.
+
+He had no idea to whom he was playing the friend in need when he sailed
+the catboat down upon the scene of the disaster. It was a chance to help
+two fellow beings and the boatman cared not who they were.
+
+Of course the sailing craft beat out the two frantically paddling girls
+from Green Knoll Camp. Yet it was still a long way from the spot when
+the last of the burning boat seemed to sink completely and the flames
+were snuffed out by the waters of the lake.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX
+
+THE SUNKEN TREASURE
+
+
+Wyn and Frank were in despair when they saw the last of the flames wink
+out and the balloon of smoke sail away upon the breeze. They were too
+far away to be able to see the men struggling in the water--if they were
+still there.
+
+"Oh! suppose Mr. Jarley doesn't reach them in time?" cried the captain
+of the girls' club.
+
+"He must! he must!" groaned Frank, beating the water as hard as she
+could with her paddle.
+
+"You'll have your canoe over!" exclaimed Wyn. "Look out, Frank!"
+
+"I don't care! I don't care!" repeated the good-hearted Frances. "Oh,
+dear me! Suppose Mr. Lavine should be drowned? What would Bessie do? And
+they so much to each other!"
+
+The girls saw the catboat round to suddenly, and Mr. Jarley drop the
+sail. The _Coquette_ seemed to drive straight across the spot where
+the burned motor boat had gone down.
+
+They saw the boatman bend over the rail once--and then again. Each time
+he lifted in--or helped lift in--some object; but whether it was the men
+he picked up, or some of the floating wreckage, the girls could not see.
+
+They drove their canoes on, however, and Mr. Jarley saw them when he
+brought the catboat about. So he sailed down to pick them up likewise.
+
+"Did you get them? Did you get them?" shouted Wyn, resting on her
+paddle.
+
+Frankie was crying--and she was not a "weepy" girl as a general thing.
+But the peril seemed so terrible that she could not control herself for
+the moment.
+
+Mr. Jarley--whose figure was all the girls could see in the
+catboat--leaned over and waved his hand to the girls. Was it meant to be
+reassuring? They did not know until the _Coquette_ tacked so as to
+run down very close to them.
+
+"Is that his girl with you, Miss Mallory?" demanded Polly's father.
+
+"No. She did not come. She doesn't know," cried Wyn. "Oh, Mr. Jarley! is
+he all right?"
+
+At that Mr. Lavine's head and shoulders appeared above the rail.
+
+"We're alive, girls," he called, hoarsely. "This brave fellow caught us
+just in time. Where's Bess?"
+
+"She doesn't even know it was you in the burning boat," cried Wyn. "But
+Frank and I started out for you."
+
+"You'd been awfully wet before ever we could have reached you, though,
+Mr. Lavine," choked Frank, quickly turning from tears to laughter, as
+was her nature.
+
+Mr. Jarley had dropped the sail again, and beckoned the girls to
+approach.
+
+"Come aboard," he said, gravely, "and I'll tow your canoes behind us.
+Shall I take this gentleman to your camp, Miss Mallory?"
+
+But Wyn was thinking to good purpose. She saw that Mr. Jarley, like his
+daughter, wished to have nothing to do with the Lavines. She knew that
+now Mr. Lavine would be doubly grateful to the boatman and that the time
+was ripe for the old friends to come to a better understanding.
+
+"Why, Mr. Jarley," she said, "we haven't a thing at the camp he can put
+on--or the other man. No, sir. I don't know what we should do with them
+there."
+
+Jarley's face flushed and he glanced back at the Forge. But it was near
+sunset already, and the Forge was much farther away than his own
+landing. The case was obvious.
+
+"Well," he said, "I can take them home. Polly will find something for
+them to put on while their clothing is being dried. Yes! that may be
+best."
+
+"And you take us girls right along with you and we'll paddle home from
+the landing," declared Wyn.
+
+Wyn wanted to see Polly. After all, she believed, it lay with the
+boatman's daughter to make friends between the Jarleys and the Lavines.
+The captain of the Go-Ahead Club felt as though her long and exciting
+vacation under canvas would come to a very happy conclusion if she could
+see the two men who had once been such close friends, reunited.
+
+Wyn was the first one ashore when the bow of the catboat touched the
+landing. Polly came running from the cottage, for she had spied their
+approach.
+
+"Oh, Wynnie!" she cried, "what was it? Did father get them safely?"
+
+"He saved them both--the most wonderful thing, Polly Jolly!" cried Wyn.
+
+"Not so wonderful," corrected Polly, with pride. "My father has saved
+the lives of people from the lake before."
+
+"But it _is_ wonderful," quoth Wyn, "because one of the men saved
+is Bessie's father."
+
+"Mr. Lavine!" gasped Polly.
+
+"Yes. Now he owes his life to your father, just as Bess owes hers to
+you."
+
+"Don't talk so, Wyn," begged Polly. "It's nothing."
+
+"Nothing! It's everything! Don't stand in the way of your father and
+Bessie's being good friends again."
+
+"Why, Wynnie!" gasped Polly, with a deeper color in her cheek.
+
+"Don't you dare to act 'offish,'" warned Wyn. "The Lavines feel very
+kindly toward you--you know it. And now I am sure Mr. Lavine will feel
+more than kindly toward your father. Bring them together, Polly."
+
+"You talk as though _I_ could do anything," responded the boatman's
+girl.
+
+"You can. You can do everything! Show your father that you feel kindly
+toward Mr. Lavine. That will break down _his_ coldness quicker than
+anything," declared the inspired young peacemaker.
+
+Wet and bedraggled, Mr. Lavine and his companion stepped ashore.
+
+"Hi, Polly!" shouted her father. "Take Mr. Lavine up to the house and
+see if he can wear some of my things while his clothes are drying. I can
+find something at the shed here, for Bill."
+
+Polly hesitated just a moment. The eager Wyn gave her a little push from
+behind. The boatman's girl ran forward to greet Mr. Lavine.
+
+"Oh, sir!" she cried, timidly, "I am _so_ sorry you had this
+accident."
+
+"I don't know yet whether I am sorry, or not," said Mr. Lavine, grasping
+her hand.
+
+She turned and walked beside him and her other hand sought his arm in a
+friendly way. John Jarley stood on the landing and followed them with
+his eyes. The expression upon his face pleased Wyn immensely.
+
+She beckoned Frank away. "Come on! let's hurry back to the camp before
+it gets dark. Mrs. Havel will be worried about us."
+
+"And leave Mr. Lavine here?" queried Frank.
+
+"He couldn't be in better hands; could he?"
+
+"I don't know that he could, Wyn!" cried her friend, suddenly. "What a
+smart girl you are!"
+
+But Wyn would not accept that praise without qualifying it. "The
+accident was providential," she declared, gravely. "And without
+_my_ assistance I am sure Polly knows how to do the right thing."
+
+Perhaps Polly did. At least she gave much attention to their visitor,
+and her father could not help but see that Polly and Mr. Lavine were
+very good friends.
+
+In half an hour Mr. Lavine appeared from the cottage dressed in Mr.
+Jarley's best suit of clothes. He shook hands with Polly, and then
+suddenly drew her to him and kissed her on the forehead.
+
+"You are a dear girl, Polly," he declared, with some emotion. "I have to
+thank you for my little girl's life; and now I am going to thank your
+father for _mine_."
+
+He walked straight down to the landing where Mr. Jarley was apparently
+very busy.
+
+"Bill, here, says he will row you over to that camp if you care to go,
+Mr. Lavine," said the boatman.
+
+"I don't want to see Bill, John," said the real estate man. "I want to
+see _you_. I am going to take advantage of my position as your
+guest, John. You cannot turn me off, or refuse to talk with me. You
+always were a gentleman, John, and I am sure you will listen to me now."
+
+Mr. Jarley looked at him a good deal as Polly had looked (at first) at
+Wyn Mallory.
+
+"Come! don't hold a grudge, John, just because _I_ have been wicked
+enough to hold one all these years. I was wrong. I freely admit it. Come
+and sit down here, old man, and let's talk all that old matter over and
+see where our misunderstanding lay."
+
+"Misunderstanding?"
+
+"Aye," said the other, warmly. "Misunderstanding. For I am convinced now
+that a brave and generous man like you, John Jarley, would never have
+knowingly done what--all these years--I have held you to be guilty of!"
+
+He had put his arm through the boatman's. Together they walked aside and
+sat down upon an upturned skiff. And they were sitting there long after
+it grew pitch dark upon the landing, with only the glow of Polly's lamp
+in the kitchen window and that uncertain radiance upon the lake which
+seems the reflection of the distant stars.
+
+Finally the two men stepped into a skiff and Mr. Jarley rowed it over to
+Green Knoll Camp. They did not reach the camp until nearly bedtime, and
+they came so softly to the shore that the girls did not hear the
+scraping of the boat's keel.
+
+Lavine seized his old friend's hand before leaping ashore.
+
+"Then it's understood, John? You're to get out of this place and come
+back to Denton? I'm sorry Dr. Shelton is ahead of me in giving Polly
+something substantial; but you and I are going to begin just where we
+left off in that Steel Rivet Corporation deal, John.
+
+"About next month I'll have a bigger thing than _that_ in sight,
+and you shall have the same share in it that you would have had in the
+old deal. You used to be mighty good in handling your end of the game,
+John; I want you to take hold of it in just the same way again. Will you
+agree, old man?"
+
+And Mr. Jarley gave him his hand upon it.
+
+The girls put their visitor to sleep in the cook tent that night and the
+next morning the whole party went over to Gannet Island to see the work
+of raising the sunken motor boat carried on. The Busters were as excited
+as the girls themselves over the affair, and Cave-in-the-Wood Camp was a
+lively place indeed that day.
+
+Tubby Blaisdell was the only person in the party who wore an aggrieved
+air. At first he could hardly be made to believe that the girls had not
+"sicked" the goat upon him two days before when he had stolen away from
+the other boys for a nap in the woods. Tubby walked lame and could have
+displayed bruises for several days.
+
+The derrick barge had been towed over to the place where the _Bright
+Eyes_ was sunk, the evening before. The boys helped put the chains
+around the hull of the sunken boat, for they were all good divers--save
+the fat youth, who remained on the invalid list.
+
+Before noon the lost boat was raised to the surface and lashed to the
+side of the barge. Mr. Jarley very quickly tacked a tarpaulin over the
+hole in her bottom, and then she was pumped out. Further repairs were
+made and by night the _Bright Eyes_ was riding safely to her own
+anchor and Mr. Jarley pried open the rusted lock of the cabin.
+
+Dr. Shelton had come over in the _Sunshine Boy_ and received from
+Mr. Jarley the box containing the silver images intact. It made Polly
+Jarley very happy to hear what the quick-tempered doctor said to her
+father; and it made Wyn Mallory blush to listen to what they _all_
+said to her!
+
+"You can't get out of it, girlie!" laughed Frank Cameron. "What they say
+is quite true. If it hadn't been for you they never would have found the
+boat, and of course the images would have remained hidden. You're
+_it_, Wyn Mallory--no getting away from that!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX
+
+STRIKING CAMP
+
+
+It was a glorious September morning--and no other month of all the year
+can display such beauties of sky and landscape, such invigorating air,
+or all Nature in so delightful a mood.
+
+It was a still morning. The newly-kindled fire on Green Knoll sent a
+spiral of blue smoke mounting skyward. There was the delicious odor of
+pancakes and farm-made sausage hovering all about the camp of the
+Go-Ahead girls. Windmill Farm had supplied these first "goodies" of the
+autumn and the members of the club enjoyed them to the full.
+
+"But, thanks be! there will be no more dishes to wash for a while,"
+declared Grace Hedges.
+
+"Nor beds to make," agreed her partner, Percy Havel.
+
+"Nor fires to kindle," sighed Bessie Lavine.
+
+"Well!" exclaimed Frank Cameron, "an outing in the woods isn't
+_all_ it's cracked up to be, I admit. One might just as well accept
+a situation as servant in a very untidy household. It would be about the
+same thing. But my! we've had some fun between times."
+
+"And such excitement!" declared Mina Everett. "Think of all that's
+happened to us since we paddled up from Denton two months and more ago."
+
+"And happened to the boys, too," said Frank, "I understand that Tubby
+Blaisdell has put on ten additional pounds of flesh since yesterday
+morning."
+
+"Now, Frank! how could he?" gasped Grace.
+
+"Nobody could be much fatter than Tubby already is," added Bess,
+laughing.
+
+"You never know till you try," chided Mina. "You have put on some flesh
+yourself, Miss Lavine."
+
+"Bah! they'll soon work it off of me when we're back in school," groaned
+Bessie. "That's the worst of a vacation--there's always work at the end
+of it."
+
+"Lazy!" cried Percy. "I believe I'll _love_ study when I'm back to
+the 'scholastic grind.'"
+
+"You can have my share," grumbled Bess. "But what about Tubby's
+additional avoirdupois, Frankie? He's as big as a haystack anyway."
+
+    "'All flesh is grass,' the Scriptures say,
+    So Tubby B.'s a load of hay!"
+
+chuckled Frank. "Is that it? And Tubby is all swelled up now--as big as
+a barrel."
+
+"That's an awful fib, Frank," declared Mina. "He couldn't be."
+
+"Well, Ferd says he _looks_ so. The boys found a bumble bees' nest
+and Tubby didn't have any paddle to hit them with. So they all went for
+poor Tubby and they stung him so that his face is twice as big as
+usual--so Ferd says."
+
+"Something is always happening to that boy," said Bess, laughing.
+"Hullo! where have _you_ been, Wyn?"
+
+Wyn came up from the shore. "I know where she's been," cried Frank. "She
+has been down there gloating!"
+
+"Gloating?" repeated Percy.
+
+"Over the boat. Is it all there, Wyn?"
+
+The girls ran to the brow of the bank. There, floating off their beach,
+was a freshly painted motor boat, its brasswork shining, and everything
+spick and span about it. A very commodious and handsome craft she was,
+with "Go-Ahead" painted on either side of her bow and on her
+stern-board.
+
+"Oh, she's all there! nobody has run off with her in the night," laughed
+Wyn. "And Mr. Lavine couldn't have found a better boat if he had
+tried--Mr. Jarley says so."
+
+"It was good of Dr. Shelton to sell the _Bright Eyes_ to father,"
+said Bessie Lavine. "And they made a good job of it at the boatyard at
+the Forge."
+
+"She's such a fine and roomy boat," declared Frankie. "We couldn't have
+expected such a big one, otherwise."
+
+"And it's big enough for the Busters and Professor Skillings to sail
+home with us, too," said Percy. "Mr. Jarley is going to take charge of
+the boys' canoes, as well as ours, and ship them to us."
+
+"Bully! An all-day cruise on the lake and then down the Wintinooski by
+moonlight to-night," sighed Wyn. "It will be just scrumptious!"
+
+"Come, then, girls," warned Mrs. Havel. "We must strike camp. Everything
+must be rolled up and secured, ready for shipment on the bateau when it
+comes. I saw the sail of the bateau going past the point of Gannet
+Island early this morning. I expect the boys are all ready before this
+time."
+
+"Let's wait for them," said the languid Bess. "What's the use of having
+boy friends if you don't make use of them?"
+
+"Listen to her!" exclaimed Wyn, with scorn. "Depend upon the boys?
+I--rather--guess--not!"
+
+"Don't be so independent, Miss," returned Miss Lavine. "You'll be glad
+to have Davie at your beck and call again when we get back home."
+
+Wyn laughed. "It's all right to have them within reach if need should
+arise----"
+
+"Like a mouse, or a snake," put in Frank Cameron.
+
+"Goodness!" drawled Grace. "After all the bugs, and worms, and
+caterpillars, and other monsters we have faced--alone and
+single-handed--here in the woods, I don't believe I'll _ever_
+squeal if I put my hand upon a mouse in the pantry."
+
+"Pshaw!" said Frank. "You only _think_ that. It's the frailties of
+the sex we cannot get over. You all know very well that a boy with a
+teenty, tinty garter-snake on the end of a stick could chase this whole
+crowd either into the lake, or into hysterics."
+
+"Shame!" cried Wyn. "That is rank treachery to the 'manhood' of us girls
+of the Go-Ahead Club."
+
+"You are right, Wyn," agreed Mina. "Why, we none of us have any nerves
+now--but plenty of _nerve_, of course."
+
+"Oh!" exclaimed Frank, starting back suddenly. "See that! Is it a spider
+over your head, Mina?"
+
+Miss Everett uttered an ear-piercing shriek and sprang up, to run madly
+from the spot. Frank burst into laughter.
+
+"How brave! Such nerve! My, my! we'll none of us ever be afraid
+again----"
+
+They all pitched upon the joker, and Mrs. Havel had to come to her
+rescue with the reminder that time was flying.
+
+"If you want to show the boys that you are really fit to camp out alone,
+get to work!" she commanded.
+
+The next hour was a busy one for the Go-Aheads. But how much more
+handily they went about the striking of the tents than they had about
+raising them two months before!
+
+Life in the open had really done wonders for the girls from Denton. They
+knew how to do things that they had never dreamed of doing at home. Most
+of them had learned how to swing an axe, although the boys had
+faithfully paid their forfeit by cutting the firewood for Green Knoll
+Camp all summer. The girls could use a hammer, too, and tie workman-like
+knots, and do a host of other things that had never come into their
+lives before.
+
+"It is well to be sufficient unto one's self," Mrs. Havel told them. "A
+girl cannot always expect to find a boy at her beck and call. It is nice
+to be waited on by the male sex--and it is good for boys to learn to
+attend properly upon their girl friends; it is better, however, to know
+how to accept favors gracefully from our boy friends, and yet not really
+_need_ their assistance."
+
+So Green Knoll Camp presented a very orderly appearance when the boys
+and Professor Skillings appeared ahead of the bateau that was to take
+all their goods and chattels back to their home town.
+
+"Goodness! aren't you girls smart?" cried Dave Shepard, the first
+ashore. "Are you _all_ ready?"
+
+"Every bit," declared Wyn.
+
+"Then we can get off in the _Go-Ahead_ at once?"
+
+"Right," declared Frank, laughing. "And as soon as you can teach Wyn and
+me how to manage the motor boat, we girls sha'n't need you boys at all."
+
+"A fine lot of suffragettes you are going to make," growled Dave.
+
+"No; we'll never be 'suffering-cats,' Davie," returned Frank, laughing.
+"We don't need to. Let us alone for being able to get the best of you
+Busters whenever we want to."
+
+"Isn't she right?" cried Ferdinand Roberts, admiringly. "You can't beat
+'em!"
+
+"No, you can't," snarled Tubby Blaisdell, very puffy about his face, and
+with a wry smile. "They even get the goats to help 'em."
+
+"They got your goat, old man," said Dave, chuckling, "that's sure. But
+you blame them for a crime they did not commit, I believe. Remember how
+many times you have tried to trick _them_?"
+
+"Huh!" snorted the fat youth. "Did I ever succeed?"
+
+"I hope," said Mrs. Havel, breaking in upon this "give and take"
+conversation, "that your parents will not blame me if you all
+appear--both girls and boys--to have lost your good manners here in the
+woods. Do simmer down. Remember, you return to civilization to-day."
+
+"Oh, dear! don't remind us--don't, dear Mrs. Havel," cried Frank.
+
+"Just think!" scoffed Ferd. "You girls will have to be all 'dolled up'
+on Sunday again. Won't you _hate_ it?"
+
+"Rather go around in a tramping skirt and without a hat," admitted Wyn,
+frankly.
+
+"The tastes of girlhood are much different now from what they were in
+_my_ day," said the lady, with a sigh. "When I was young we never
+thought of doing the things you girls do now."
+
+"Isn't that why you didn't do them?" asked Frank, slily. "Perhaps we
+girls of this generation have better-developed imaginations."
+
+"Oh, sure!" cried Ferd, with sarcasm. "You girls are wonders--just as
+smart as little Hen Rogers was last term when Miss Haley asked him if he
+could name any town in Alaska."
+
+"What did he say?" asked Frank, with interest.
+
+"He said, 'Nome'--and she sent him to the foot of the class," chuckled
+Ferd.
+
+"Oh! aren't you smart?" railed Bessie. "That joke is the twin to the one
+about the boy who was asked by the professor in physics if he knew what
+'nasal organ' meant. And the boy said 'No, sir' and got a 'perfect'
+mark."
+
+"Come on, folks!" cried Wyn. "Stop telling silly jokes and bear a hand
+here. All these things have to go into the boat."
+
+Mr. Jarley and Polly joined them just then, Mr. Jarley to collect the
+canoes and take them to the Forge, while Polly was to go with the two
+clubs aboard the newly-named _Go-Ahead_ to Denton.
+
+Polly, in a brand-new boating costume, was so pretty that the boys
+couldn't keep their eyes away from her. She was happy, too, and this
+fact gave an entirely different expression to her face.
+
+She was to go home with Wyn, and in a few weeks her father would follow
+and establish a home for them both in Denton. He was going, as Mr.
+Lavine declared, to start in his old home town just where he had left
+off more than ten years before. And Polly was to enter the academy with
+the girls of Green Knoll Camp on the opening day.
+
+The party got under weigh on the _Go-Ahead_ and were some miles
+down the lake ere it was discovered that Professor Skillings had
+forgotten both his shoes and his hat, for he had paddled over to the
+girls' camp barefoot as usual. It was too late to go back then, for the
+baggage had all been put aboard the bateau.
+
+So the professor went home with a handkerchief tied around his head and
+a pair of moccasins on his feet--the latter borrowed from Dr. Shelton,
+at whose dock they stopped for luncheon.
+
+The bluff doctor insisted that the whole party come ashore and lunch
+with him. He had arranged for Polly's tuition at the Denton Academy, had
+bought her text-books, and when the party left for home that day he
+thrust into Polly Jolly's hand a silver chain purse with more money in
+it than the boatman's daughter had ever possessed before.
+
+Polly Jolly was beginning to live up to the loving name that Wyn Mallory
+had given to her. She was the very gayest of the gay as the
+_Go-Ahead_ proceeded down the lake and then down the Wintinooski to
+Denton.
+
+The last of the journey was taken after they had had a picnic supper,
+and under the brilliant light of the September moon. The boys and girls
+sang and told stories, and otherwise enjoyed themselves. But as they
+drew near home they quieted down.
+
+The summer was behind them. For more than two months they had skylarked,
+and enjoyed themselves to the full on the lake and in the woods. They
+"were going back to civilization," as Frankie said, and it made them a
+bit thoughtful.
+
+"I expect," said Mina Everett, "that we have had just the best time that
+we will ever have in all our lives."
+
+"Why so?" demanded Bess. "Can't we go camping again?"
+
+"Sure we will!" declared Dave Shepard.
+
+"I see what Mina means--and I guess she is right," Wyn remarked,
+earnestly. "We may go camping again; but it will never be just like this
+first time. For the girls, I mean. We had never done such a thing
+before. And then--if we go next summer--we'll be a whole year older. And
+a year is a long, long time."
+
+"Long enough to spoil some of you girls, I expect," grumbled Ferdinand.
+
+"Spoil us, Mister? How's that?" snapped Bess, at once taking up the
+gauntlet.
+
+"You'll be wanting to put up your hair and let down your skirts, and
+will be wearing all the new-style folderols by next summer," retorted
+Ferd.
+
+"Oh, won't they, just!" groaned Tubby, in agreement.
+
+"You wait and see, Smartie!" cried Frank Cameron.
+
+"We are not like the girls you are thinking of," declared Grace, with
+some warmth.
+
+"No, indeed," agreed Percy.
+
+"The Go-Aheads are going to fool you, Ferdie," said Wyn, laughing. "Just
+you watch us. _All_ girls aren't in a hurry to grow up and ape
+their mothers and older sisters. We're going in for athletics and the
+'simple life' strongly; aren't we, girls?"
+
+Her fellow club members agreed in a hearty chorus. "Besides," added
+Bess, "we can have all the fun the other kind of girls have as well as
+our own kind. We can dance, and go to parties, and wear pretty frocks
+for _part_ of the time."
+
+"What did I tell you?" demanded Ferd, grinning.
+
+"Never mind, Ferd, never mind," said Dave, softly. "We'll be a bit that
+way ourselves before the winter's over. You know, Ferd, that your folks
+will insist on your keeping your hair cut and your finger-nails
+manicured."
+
+"And of course I'll have a blister on my heel from wearing dancing pumps
+before the season is over," groaned Tubby. "Oh, well! it's not
+altogether our fault that we grow up so fast. Our folks make us," and he
+groaned again, for dancing school was one of the fat youth's pet
+aversions.
+
+"That is what youth is for," advised Mrs. Havel, who overheard all this.
+"It is a preparation for manhood and womanhood."
+
+"Dear me! Dear me! let's forget it," cried Dave. "This is no time for
+feeling solemn. Thank goodness, for two solid months we have forgotten
+all about the 'duty we owe to posterity,' as the professor expresses it.
+Maybe next year we can forget it again in our camps upon the shores of
+Lake Honotonka."
+
+"Well expressed, little boy--well expressed," agreed Wynifred, tweaking
+one of Dave's curls that would _not_ lie down, no matter what he
+did to them. "My! but we _have_ grown serious. This is no way to
+end our camping days, girls. Come! another lively song----"
+
+The motor boat drifted in to the boathouse landing to the lilt of a
+familiar rowing song. Wyn's camping days were over; the outing of the
+Go-Ahead Club was at an end.
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+SOMETHING ABOUT
+
+AMY BELL MARLOWE
+
+AND HER BOOKS FOR GIRLS
+
+In these days, when the printing presses are turning out so many books
+for girls that are good, bad and indifferent, it is refreshing to come
+upon the works of such a gifted authoress as Miss Amy Bell Marlowe, who
+is now under contract to write exclusively for Messrs. Grosset & Dunlap.
+
+In many ways Miss Marlowe's books may be compared with those of Miss
+Alcott and Mrs. Meade, but all are thoroughly modern and wholly American
+in scene and action. Her plots, while never improbable, are exceedingly
+clever, and her girlish characters are as natural as they are
+interesting.
+
+On the following pages will be found a list of Miss Marlowe's books.
+Every girl in our land ought to read these fresh and wholesome tales.
+They are to be found at all booksellers. Each volume is handsomely
+illustrated and bound in cloth, stamped in colors. Published by Grosset
+& Dunlap, New York. A free catalogue of Miss Marlowe's books may be had
+for the asking.
+
+
+
+
+THE OLDEST OF FOUR
+
+"I don't see any way out!"
+
+It was Natalie's mother who said that, after the awful news had been
+received that Mr. Raymond had been lost in a shipwreck on the Atlantic.
+Natalie was the oldest of four children, and the family was left with
+but scant means for support.
+
+"I've got to do something--yes, I've just got to!" Natalie said to
+herself, and what the brave girl did is well related in "The Oldest of
+Four; Or, Natalie's Way Out." In this volume we find Natalie with a
+strong desire to become a writer. At first she contributes to a local
+paper, but soon she aspires to larger things, and comes in contact with
+the editor of a popular magazine. This man becomes her warm friend, and
+not only aids her in a literary way but also helps in a hunt for the
+missing Mr. Raymond.
+
+Natalie has many ups and downs, and has to face more than one bitter
+disappointment. But she is a plucky girl through and through.
+
+"One of the brightest girls' stories ever penned," one well-known author
+has said of this book, and we agree with him. Natalie is a thoroughly
+lovable character, and one long to be remembered. Published as are all
+the Amy Bell Marlowe books, by Grosset & Dunlap, New York, and for sale
+by all booksellers. Ask your dealer to let you look the volume over.
+
+
+
+
+THE GIRLS OF HILLCREST FARM
+
+"We'll go to the old farm, and we'll take boarders! We can fix the old
+place up, and, maybe, make money!"
+
+The father of the two girls was broken down in health and a physician
+had recommended that he go to the country, where he could get plenty of
+fresh air and sunshine. An aunt owned an abandoned farm and she said the
+family could live on this and use the place as they pleased. It was
+great sport moving and getting settled, and the boarders offered one
+surprise after another. There was a mystery about the old farm, and a
+mystery concerning one of the boarders, and how the girls got to the
+bottom of affairs is told in detail in the story, which is called, "The
+Girls of Hillcrest Farm; Or, The Secret of the Rocks."
+
+It was great fun to move to the farm, and once the girls had the scare
+of their lives. And they attended a great "vendue" too.
+
+"I just had to write that story--I couldn't help it," said Miss Marlowe,
+when she handed in the manuscript. "I knew just such a farm when I was a
+little girl, and oh! what fun I had there! And there was a mystery about
+that place, too!"
+
+Published, like all the Marlowe books, by Grosset & Dunlap, New York,
+and for sale wherever good books are sold.
+
+
+
+
+A LITTLE MISS NOBODY
+
+"Oh, she's only a little nobody! Don't have anything to do with her!"
+
+How often poor Nancy Nelson heard those words, and how they cut her to
+the heart. And the saying was true, she _was_ a nobody. She had no
+folks, and she did not know where she had come from. All she did know
+was that she was at a boarding school and that a lawyer paid her tuition
+bills and gave her a mite of spending money.
+
+"I am going to find out who I am, and where I came from," said Nancy to
+herself, one day, and what she did, and how it all ended, is absorbingly
+related in "A Little Miss Nobody; Or, With the Girls of Pinewood Hall."
+Nancy made a warm friend of a poor office boy who worked for that
+lawyer, and this boy kept his eyes and ears open and learned many
+things.
+
+The book tells much about boarding school life, of study and fun mixed,
+and of a great race on skates. Nancy made some friends as well as
+enemies, and on more than one occasion proved that she was "true blue"
+in the best meaning of that term.
+
+Published by Grosset & Dunlap, New York, and for sale by booksellers
+everywhere. If you desire a catalogue of Amy Bell Marlowe books send to
+the publishers for it and it will come free.
+
+
+
+
+THE GIRL FROM SUNSET RANCH
+
+Helen was very thoughtful as she rode along the trail from Sunset Ranch
+to the View. She had lost her father but a month before, and he had
+passed away with a stain on his name--a stain of many years' standing,
+as the girl had just found out.
+
+"I am going to New York and I am going to clear his name!" she resolved,
+and just then she saw a young man dashing along, close to the edge of a
+cliff. Over he went, and Helen, with no thought of the danger to
+herself, went to the rescue.
+
+Then the brave Western girl found herself set down at the Grand Central
+Terminal in New York City. She knew not which way to go or what to do.
+Her relatives, who thought she was poor and ignorant, had refused to
+even meet her. She had to fight her way along from the start, and how
+she did this, and won out, is well related in "The Girl from Sunset
+Ranch; Or, Alone in a Great City."
+
+This is one of the finest of Amy Bell Marlowe's books, with its
+true-to-life scenes of the plains and mountains, and of the great
+metropolis. Helen is a girl all readers will love from the start.
+
+Published by Grosset & Dunlap, New York, and for sale by booksellers
+everywhere.
+
+
+
+
+WYN'S CAMPING DAYS
+
+"Oh, girls, such news!" cried Wynifred Mallory to her chums, one day.
+"We can go camping on Lake Honotonka! Isn't it grand!"
+
+It certainly was, and the members of the Go-Ahead Club were delighted.
+Soon they set off, with their boy friends to keep them company in
+another camp not far away. Those boys played numerous tricks on the
+girls, and the girls retaliated, you may be sure. And then Wyn did a
+strange girl a favor, and learned how some ancient statues of rare value
+had been lost in the lake, and how the girl's father was accused of
+stealing them.
+
+"We must do all we can for that girl," said Wyn. But this was not so
+easy, for the girl campers had many troubles of their own. They had
+canoe races, and one of them fell overboard and came close to drowning,
+and then came a big storm, and a nearby tree was struck by lightning.
+
+"I used to love to go camping when a girl, and I love to go yet," said
+Miss Marlowe, in speaking of this tale, which is called, "Wyn's Camping
+Days; Or, The Outing of the Go-Ahead Club." "I think all girls ought to
+know the pleasures of summer life under canvas."
+
+A book that ought to be in the hands of all girls. Issued by Grosset &
+Dunlap, New York, and for sale by booksellers everywhere.
+
+
+
+
+THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH SERIES
+
+By GERTRUDE W. MORRISON
+
+12mo. BOUND IN CLOTH. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING
+
+Here is a series full of the spirit of high school life of to-day. The
+girls are real flesh-and-blood characters, and we follow them with
+interest in school and out. There are many contested matches on track
+and field, and on the water, as well as doings in the classroom and on
+the school stage. There is plenty of fun and excitement, all clean,
+pure and wholesome.
+
+THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH
+  Or Rivals for all Honors.
+
+A stirring tale of high school life, full of fun, with a touch of
+mystery and a strange initiation.
+
+THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH ON LAKE LUNA
+  Or The Crew That Won.
+
+Telling of water sports and fun galore, and of fine times in camp.
+
+THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH AT BASKETBALL
+  Or The Great Gymnasium Mystery.
+
+Here we have a number of thrilling contests at basketball and in
+addition, the solving of a mystery which had bothered the high school
+authorities for a long while.
+
+THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH ON THE STAGE
+  Or The Play That Took the Prize.
+
+How the girls went in for theatricals and how one of them wrote a play
+which afterward was made over for the professional stage and brought
+in some much-needed money.
+
+THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH ON TRACK AND FIELD
+  Or The Girl Champions of the School League
+
+This story takes in high school athletics in their most approved and
+up-to-date fashion. Full of fun and excitement.
+
+THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH IN CAMP
+  Or The Old Professor's Secret.
+
+The girls went camping on Acorn Island and had a delightful time at
+boating, swimming and picnic parties.
+
+Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
+
+
+
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS SERIES
+
+By LAURA LEE HOPE
+
+Author of "The Bobbsey Twins Series."
+
+12mo. BOUND IN CLOTH. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING
+
+The adventures of Ruth and Alice DeVere. Their father, a widower, is
+an actor who has taken up work for the "movies." Both girls wish to
+aid him in his work and visit various localities to act in all sorts
+of pictures.
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS
+  Or First Appearance in Photo Dramas.
+
+Having lost his voice, the father of the girls goes into the movies
+and the girls follow. Tells how many "parlor dramas" are filmed.
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT OAK FARM
+  Or Queer Happenings While Taking Rural Plays.
+
+Full of fun in the country, the haps and mishaps of taking film plays,
+and giving an account of two unusual discoveries.
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS SNOWBOUND
+  Or The Proof on the Film.
+
+A tale of winter adventures in the wilderness, showing how the
+photo-play actors sometimes suffer.
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS UNDER THE PALMS
+  Or Lost in the Wilds of Florida.
+
+How they went to the land of palms, played many parts in dramas before
+the camera; were lost, and aided others who were also lost.
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT ROCKY RANCH
+  Or Great Days Among the Cowboys.
+
+All who have ever seen moving pictures of the great West will want to
+know just how they are made. This volume gives every detail and is
+full of clean fun and excitement.
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT SEA
+  Or a Pictured Shipwreck that Became Real.
+
+A thrilling account of the girls' experiences on the water.
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS IN WAR PLAYS
+  Or The Sham Battles at Oak Farm.
+
+The girls play important parts in big battle scenes and have plenty of
+hard work along with considerable fun.
+
+Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
+
+
+
+
+THE OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES
+
+By LAURA LEE HOPE
+
+Author of the "Bobbsey Twin Books" and "Bunny Brown" Series.
+
+12mo. BOUND IN CLOTH. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING.
+
+These tales take in the various adventures participated in by several
+bright, up-to-date girls who love outdoor life. They are clean and
+wholesome, free from sensationalism, absorbing from the first chapter
+to the last.
+
+THE OUTDOOR GIRLS OF DEEPDALE
+  Or Camping and Tramping for Fun and Health.
+
+Telling how the girls organized their Camping and Tramping Club, how
+they went on a tour, and of various adventures which befell them.
+
+THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT RAINBOW LAKE
+  Or Stirring Cruise of the Motor Boat Gem.
+
+One of the girls becomes the proud possessor of a motor boat and
+invites her club members to take a trip down the river to Rainbow
+Lake, a beautiful sheet of water lying between the mountains.
+
+THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A MOTOR CAR
+  Or The Haunted Mansion of Shadow Valley.
+
+One of the girls has learned to run a big motor car, and she invites
+the club to go on a tour to visit some distant relatives. On the way
+they stop at a deserted mansion and make a surprising discovery.
+
+THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A WINTER CAMP
+  Or Glorious Days on Skates and Ice Boats.
+
+In this story, the scene is shifted to a winter season. The girls have
+some jolly times skating and ice boating, and visit a hunters' camp in
+the big woods.
+
+THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN FLORIDA.
+  Or Wintering in the Sunny South.
+
+The parents of one of the girls have bought an orange grove in
+Florida, and her companions are invited to visit the place. They take
+a trip into the interior, where several unusual things happen.
+
+THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT OCEAN VIEW
+  Or The Box that Was Found in the Sand.
+
+The girls have great fun and solve a mystery while on an outing along
+the New England coast.
+
+THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON PINE ISLAND
+  Or A Cave and What it Contained.
+
+A bright, healthful story, full of good times at a bungalow camp on
+Pine Island.
+
+Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
+
+
+
+
+THE BOBBSEY TWINS BOOKS
+
+For Little Men and Women
+
+By LAURA LEE HOPE
+
+Author of "The Bunny Brown" Series, Etc.
+
+12mo. BOUND IN CLOTH. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING.
+
+Copyright publications which cannot be obtained elsewhere. Books that
+charm the hearts of the little ones, and of which they never tire.
+Many of the adventures are comical in the extreme, and all the
+accidents that ordinarily happen to youthful personages happened to
+these many-sided little mortals. Their haps and mishaps make decidedly
+entertaining reading.
+
+THE BOBBSEY TWINS
+
+THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY
+
+THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORE
+
+THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL
+
+Telling how they go home from the seashore; went to school and were
+promoted, and of their many trials and tribulations.
+
+THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SNOW LODGE
+
+Telling of the winter holidays, and of the many fine times and
+adventures the twins had at a winter lodge in the big woods.
+
+THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON A HOUSEBOAT
+
+Mr. Bobbsey obtains a houseboat, and the whole family go off on a
+tour.
+
+THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT MEADOW BROOK
+
+The young folks visit the farm again and have plenty of good times and
+several adventures.
+
+THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT HOME
+
+The twins get into all sorts of trouble--and out again--also bring aid
+to a poor family.
+
+Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Wyn's Camping Days, by Amy Bell Marlowe
+
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