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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/7081.txt b/7081.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9724923 --- /dev/null +++ b/7081.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7164 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Motor Girls on Cedar Lake, by Margaret Penrose + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Motor Girls on Cedar Lake + The Hermit of Fern Island + +Author: Margaret Penrose + +Posting Date: September 1, 2012 [EBook #7081] +Release Date: December, 2004 +First Posted: March 7, 2003 +[Last updated: December 27, 2012] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR GIRLS ON CEDAR LAKE *** + + + + +Produced by Sean Pobuda + + + + + + + + + +THE MOTOR GIRLS ON CEDAR LAKE + +Or + +The Hermit of Fern Island + + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +PUSHING OFF + + +"Oh, Cora! Isn't this perfectly splendid!" exclaimed Bess Robinson. + +"Delightful!" chimed in her twin sister, Belle. + +"I'm glad you like it," said Cora Kimball, the camp hostess. "I +felt that you would, but one can never be sure--especially of Belle. +Jack said she would fall a prey to that clump of white birches over +there, and would want to paint pictures on the bark. But I fancied +she would take more surely to the pines; they are so strong--and, +like the big boys--always to be depended on. But not a word about +camp now. Something more important is on. My new motor boat has +just arrived!" + +"Has it really?" This as a duet. + +"And truly," finished Cora with a smile. "Yes, it has, and there is +not a boy on the premises to show me how to run it. Jack expected +to be here, but he isn't. So now I'm going to try it alone. I +never could wait until evening to start my new boat. And isn't it +lovely that you have arrived in time to take the initial run? I +remember you both took the first spin with me in my auto, the +Whirlwind, and now here you are all ready for the trial performance +of the motor boat. Now Belle, don't refuse. There is absolutely no +danger." + +"But the water," objected the timid Belle. + +"We can all swim," put in her sister, "and you promised, Belle, not +to be nervous this trip. Yes, Cora, I'm all ready. I saw the craft +as we came up. Wasn't it the boat with the new light oak deck and +mahogany gunwale? I am sure it was," + +"Yes, isn't she a beauty? I should have been satisfied with any +sort of a good boat, but mother wanted something really reliable, +and she and Jack did it all before I had a chance to interfere." + +"I wonder what your mother will next bestow upon you?" asked Belle +with a laugh. "She has such absolute confidence in you." + +"Let us hope it will not be a man; we can't let Cora get married, +whatever else she may do," put in Bess, as she shook the dust from +her motor coat, and prepared to follow Cora, who was already leaving +the camp. Belle, too, started, but one could see that she, though +a motor girl, did not exactly fancy experimenting on the water. It +was but a short distance to the lake's edge, for the camp had been +chosen especially on account of the water advantage. + +"There she is! See how she stands out in the clear sunshiny water! +I tell you it is the very prettiest boat on Cedar Lake, and that is +saying something," exclaimed Cora, the proud possessor of the new +motor craft. + +"Beautiful," reiterated the Robinson twins. + +"But what do you know about running it?" queried Belle. + +"Why, I have been studying marine motors in general, and have been +shown about this one in particular," replied Cora. "The man who ran +it up from the freight depot for me gave me a few 'pointers,' as he +called them." + +She stepped into the trim craft and affectionately patted the +shining engine. + +"'It is much simpler to run than a car, and besides, there isn't so +much to get in your way on the water," Cora went on. + +"My!" exclaimed Bess as she stepped in after her hostess. "This is +really--scrumptious!" + +"You take the seat in the stern, Belle, and Bess, you may sit here +near me," said Cora, "as I suppose you will be interested in seeing +how it works. Oh! There is the steamer from the train. Hurry! +Perhaps there are folks aboard we know. Let us act at home, and +pretend we have been running motor boats all our lives." + +Cora took her place at the engine and before Bess or Belle had +really gotten seated she was turning on the gasoline. + +"You see this is the little pipe that feeds the 'gas' from the tank +to the carburetor," she explained. "Now, I just throw in the +switch: that makes the electrical connection: then I have to give +this fly wheel--it's stiff--but I have to swing it around so! +There!" and the wheel "flew" around twice slowly and then began to +revolve very rapidly. "Now we are ready," and the engine started +its regular chug chug. + +"How do you steer?" asked Bess anxiously, for the big steamer with +its cargo of summer folks seemed rather near. + +"I can steer here," and Cora turned a wheel amidships, "or one may +steer at the bow. Suppose you take the forward wheel Bess, as I +may, have enough to do to look after the engine." + +"Very well," acquiesced the girl, "but I hope I make no mistakes." + +"Oh you won't. Just turn the wheel the way you want to go. Now +we'll hurry. I want to show off my boat." + +Bess took up her place at the steering wheel and turned it so that +the boat started on a clear course. Everything seemed to work +beautifully, and presently Bess was so interested in the gentle +swerving of the craft, as the rudder responded to her slightest +touch, that she, too, thought it very much simpler than motoring on +land. + +"There are the Blakes!" suddenly exclaimed Belle. "See, they are +waving to us." + +"Yes," answered Cora as she snatched off her cap and fluttered a +response to the folks on the steamer. "Bess, keep clear out. The +landing is just over there! The steamer makes quite a swell." + +Bess turned, but she did it too suddenly. A wave from the steamer +caught them broadside, and drenched the girls before they knew what +had happened. + +"Oh!" screamed Belle, "--we are running right into the steamer!" + +"Bess! Bess!" called Cora. "Turn! I can't connect--" + +Shouts from the steamer added to their confusion. Would they be run +down on this, their very first attempt at navigation? + +"They are the motor girls!" Cora heard some one on the steamer +shout, and while this much has been told it may be well to acquaint +the reader with further details of the situation. The Motor Girls +were friends whom we have met in the four previous volumes of this +series entitled respectively: "The Motor Girls," "The Motor Girls on +a Tour," "The Motor Girls at Lookout Beach," and "The Motor Girls +Through New England." In each of these volumes we have met Cora +Kimball, the handsome, dashing girl who conquers everything within +reason, but who, herself, is occasionally conquered, both in the +field of sports and in the field of human endeavors. It was she who +had the first automobile, her Whirlwind and while out in it she had +some very trying experiences. + +In the first volume she managed to unravel the mystery of the road. +Bess and Bell, the Robinson twins, were with her, as they were again +in the second volume, the story of a strange promise. This promise, +odd as it was, all three girls kept, to the delight and happiness of +little Wren, the crippled child. Next the girls went to Lookout +Beach, where they had plenty of good fun, as well as time enough to +find the runaways, two very interesting young girls, who had +decamped from the "Strawberry patch." It was like a game of hide +and seek, but in the end the motor girls did capture the runaways. +Then in the story "Through New England," it was Cora who was hidden +away by the gypsies, and what she endured, and how she escaped were +assuredly wonderful. There were brothers and friends of course, +Jack Kimball being the most important person of the first variety, +while Walter Pennington and Ed Foster were friends in need and +friends indeed. + +And now we find these same girls undertaking a new role--that of +running a motor boat, the gift of Mrs. Kimball to her daughter, for +that mother, in her days of widowhood, had learned how safe it was +to repose confidence in her two children, Cora and Jack. + +The camp at Cedar Lake had been taken by Cora and her friends for a +summer vacation on the water, and now, after a day's run from +Chelton, the home town, in their auto, the Flyaway, the Robinson +girls had again joined Cora who had come up the day previous, with a +maid to get the camp to rights. + +The steamer was indeed too close! Cora was frantically trying to +turn the auxiliary steering wheel, but Bess in her fright was +turning the more powerful bow wheel in the very direction of danger! + +"Oh! Mercy!" shrieked Belle. "We are lost!" + +Another wave almost submerged them. The passengers on the steamer +had all run to one side of their boat. + +"Turn right!" shouted Cora as she jumped up and fairly jerked from +Bess the forward wheel. "Turn to the right!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE HAUNTED ISLE + + +For some seconds no one seemed to know just what had happened. The +steamer was clear, and the motor boat was running safely. Three +very wet girls were thanking their good fortune that the water was +their only damage--and water in the shape of a shower of spray is +not much of a matter to complain of, after you escape a collision. + +"What happened?" asked Belle, when she had the courage to uncover +her eyes. + +"Bess turned wrong," said Cora. + +"I couldn't tell which way to go," put in the frightened girl. "I +was simply stage-struck. But what saved us?" + +"I jerked the wheel just enough to get a little to one side, and +then the steamer had a chance to turn away," replied Cora. "I tell +you we had a close shave, but that makes our first trip all the more +interesting. Bess, can I trust you now to take my place while I +look at that wheel? The rope may have slipped?" + +"Oh, don't do anything," pleaded Belle. "Call to that boat over +there, and let us have help. See, they are coming this way." + +"Why, it's the boys--our boys!" exclaimed Cora. "Why have they gone +out without telling me, when they knew I wanted to use my boat?" + +In a canoe that looked like a big eel as it slipped over the water +could be seen Jack, Ed and Walter. + +"Well!" called Jack. "I like that! Where did you get the--ocean +liner, Cora?" + +"Don't say anything about the accident," she had a chance to whisper +to the girls before replying to her brother. "I found my boat tied +up at the dock," she answered gaily. "Isn't she a beauty?" + + +"What are you going to call her?" asked Walter. + +"The Whirlpool, I guess," replied Cora, "that would go nicely with +my Whirlwind, don't you think?" + +"Oh, no, don't," objected Belle. "I should always feel that we were +going to be--" + +"Whirlpooled?" finished Jack. "Better make her the Petrel, Cora, +for two reasons. We bought it from Mr. Peters, and she can walk on +the water like the old original sea-fowl. Just see how she does +saunter along." + +"All right. Petrel will do, but it will be Pet for short," said +Cora as now she allowed the boat to drift a little way from beside +the boys' canoe. + +"What was the matter with the steamer folks?" asked Ed. "Thought I +heard something as we passed." + +"Yes, you might have heard them talking about us if your ears had on +their long distance," replied Cora quickly. "The Blakes are +aboard." + +"I saw their trunks at the station," said Jack "and they were tagged +to The Burrow." + +"That's the hole in the hill, isn't it?" asked Walter. "Well, I'm +glad they have come up--the Benny Blakeses. I like a lot of folks +around here. It is apt to have a depressing effect upon me if +company is scarce and fishing shy." + +"Or weather wet," put in Ed. "But say, Cora, I'd like to try the +Pet." He remembered he was in a blue bathing suit, ever the most +appropriate costume for a canoe. "But I'll wait until later, though +I hate to. We have, as a matter of fact, an engagement at Far +Island. Have you heard?" + +"No, what?" asked the girls in chorus. + +"Just a suspicion yet, but it may be true. We think--shall we give +it away boys?" + +"No; sell it," suggested Jack. "They sold us on this first trip, +why should we give them anything?" + +"Oh, Jack! You know I expected you to take me out the first time," +said Cora reproachfully. + +"Yes, and you know all about a boat, and start out without giving a +fellow the slightest warning." + +"But why didn't you come up when you knew the boat had arrived?" +questioned the sister. + +"Because--but that was what Ed was going to give away. It's a +mysterious secret, and it is situated on Far Island. So long girls, +I suppose you know how to land." + +"Oh, yes indeed," said Cora in spite of the protest that was +trembling on Belle's lips. "We started out, and we will get back +all right. Wish you luck in whatever you are after," and she winked +at Bess, who was now beside her at the engine, as Cora had concluded +to guide the boat by the auxiliary steering wheel. + +The boys veered off. + +"I wonder what they are up to?" asked Cora. "As soon as we can do +so, without being noticed, I think we will follow them. There must +have been something important on, when Jack did not wait to take me +out." + +"Oh, don't let us go farther out on the lake," begged Belle. "I am +nervous yet." + +"Then suppose we take you in? Nettie is at the camp, and then Bess +and I can go out to the island. There was really nothing the matter +with the boat, the mistake was all due to our own nervousness." + +"Well, I would feel better not to sail any farther," admitted the, +pretty blond Belle, as she tossed back some of her breeze stray +curls. "I am subject to sickness on the water, anyhow." + +"On still water?" asked Bess archly. "Well, we will take you in, +Twiny. And we will then go out. I want to redeem myself." + +"Good for you, Bess," said Cora. "There is nothing like courage, +unless it be gasoline," and after starting the engine, she turned +the boat toward the shore. "There are the boys heading for the +other island!" she exclaimed a moment later. + +"They are trying to fool us. I wonder why?" asked Bess. "See, +Belle. There are Nettie and Mary an shore--two of the best maids on +the island. You will be all right with them, won't you, dear?" + +"Of course," replied the twin, rather confusedly. "I don't need +attention." + +"But you are tired," put in Cora, "and those girls have not done a +thing since lunch time. Just command them." + +"'Very well. But do be careful, you two girls. A bad beginning you +know." + +"Oh, don't you worry about us," replied Cora confidently. "I feel +as if this boat was a top in my hands. It is so much easier to +handle than an auto. No gears, differentials or things like that. +Good bye, Belle. Have supper ready when we return," and she sounded +the small whistle that told of the start again. + +"Good bye. Be careful," cautioned Belle. Then the two girls headed +the craft for the little island around which they had just seen the +boys disappear. + +"I thought the boys looked very serious," said Bess, as she put her +hand on the wheel Beside Cora's. "I wonder what is wrong?" + +"Jack certainly had something very important on when he neglected +me," said his sister. "I hope there is nothing really wrong. There +are no people on that island, I believe." + +"Then perhaps we had better not land?" suggested Bess. "It might be +horribly lonely and we might not be able to find the boys." + +"Well, when we get there we will be able to judge of all that," +replied Cora. "Doesn't the Petrel motor beautifully?" + +"And this lake," added Bess. "I never saw anything like it. Why +some of those islands are big enough to inhabit." + +"Yes, there is one island over there," answered Cora, pointing to +the extreme eastern shore of the water, "and since I have seen it I +am just dying to explore it. They call it Fern Island, and the +store man tells the most wonderful tales about it. But we will have +to wait until we all assemble. When did Hazel say she would come?" + +"Tomorrow or next day. She has to take some special 'exams.' I am +sorry that girl is so ambitious. It always interferes with her +vacation." + +"Hazel will make her mark some day, if she does not spoil it all by +having someone make it for her--on a flat stone. But honestly Bess, +I do hope she will come up before the others. Next to you and Belle +I count more on Hazel Hastings than on anyone else in our party." + +"And not a little on her brother Paul?" and Bess laughed in her +teasing way. "Now Cora, Paul Hastings is acknowledged to be the +most useful boy in all the Chelton set. He can fix an auto, fix an +electric bell, fix an alarm clock--" + +"And no doubt could overhaul a motor boat," finished Cora, as she +turned the Petrel toward land. "Well, this is Far Island, and I am +sure the boys headed this way. Let's shout." + +Putting her hands to her mouth, funnel fashion, Cora sent out the +shrill yodel known to all of the motor girls and motor boys. Bess +took up the refrain; but there was no answer. + +"If they were ashore wouldn't their boat be about?" asked Bess. "We +can see all this side of the island, but you said it was too rocky +to land on the other shore." + +Cora looked about. Yes, one edge was all sandy and the other rocks. +If the boys had come ashore they must have done so from the north +side. + +"My, what a lot of boats!" exclaimed Bess. "Cora, just see that +flock," and she pointed to a distant flotilla of various craft +across the lake. + +"Yes, and so many canoes, we could hardly tell the boys in that +throng. Do you suppose they are in that parade?" + +"Oh, no. They had only bathing suits on, and that really looks like +some fleet," replied Bess. "Yes, see there is their club banner. +My! I had no idea that Cedar Lake boasted of such style." + +"We may expect water picnics every day now," said Cora. "But just +see that old man in the rowboat towing that pretty canoe. Do you +suppose he has it for hire?" + +"Likely. But how would anyone hire it out here? Why not from +shore?" questioned Bess. + +"Well, perhaps he is taking it to the dock," and Cora allowed her +boat to touch the island shore. "At any rate if we are to find the +boys we had better be at it, for I want to start back before that +throng of boats gets in my way. I feel sure enough, but I like +room." + +Both girls stepped ashore as Cora caught the boat hook in the strong +root of a tree and pulled the craft in. Then she shouted again. + +"Jack! Jack!" she called. "Isn't it lonely here," she said +suddenly, realizing that while she had expected the boys to be on +the island, they might have gone to any of the other bits of land. + +"Yes," said Bess. "I never felt so far away from everything before. +On an island it is so different from being on real shore!" + +"Yes, it is farther out," and Cora laughed at the description. +"Bess, I guess I was mistaken. The boys do not seem to be here." + +"Then do let's go back," pleaded Bess. "I am actually afraid." + +"Of what? Not those 'jug-er-umms.' Just hear them. You would +think the frogs were trying to drive us away from their territory." + +"I always did hate the noise they make," declared Bess. "It sounds +like a dead, dark night. Why do they croak in the daytime?" + +"Night is coming," Cora explained, "and besides, it is so quiet here +they do not have to wait for nightfall. But listen! Didn't you +hear those dry leaves rustle?" + +"Oh Cora, come!" and Bess pulled at her friend's skirt. "It may be +a great--snake." + +Cora stood and listened. "No," she said, "that was no snake. It +sounded like something running." + +"Come on, Cora dear," begged Bess, so that Cora was obliged to +agree. "See, all the boats have gone the other way. And if +anything happened we might just as well be on this desert island as +on that desert water." + +They had not ventured far into the wood, so that it was but a few +steps back to the boat. Cora loosened the bow line and presently +the engine was chugging away. + +"Oh," sighed Bess, "I felt as if something dreadful was going to +happen. Ever since those gypsies took you, Cora, I am actually +afraid of everything in the country. It did seem safe on the water, +but in those woods--" + +"Now, Bess dear, you are to forget all about the gypsies. I have +almost done so--that is, I have forgotten all the unpleasant part. +Of course, I occasionally hear from Helka. Do you want to steer, +Bess?" + +"I would rather not," confessed Bess, "for I am actually trembling. +Where do you suppose the boys could have gone?" + +"Haven't the least idea, and we have no more time to speculate. +There! Didn't you hear a strange noise on the island? I declare, +that store man must be right. Those islands are haunted!" + +"Wasn't that a queer noise! Oh! I am so glad we are safe in our +boat," and Bess breathed a sigh of relief. "I would have died if +that noise happened while we were there." + +"But I should like to know what it is, and I will never be satisfied +until I find out," declared Cora. "That was neither bird nor +beast--it was human." + +But the motor boat, girls headed straight for shore--the sun seemed +falling into the lake as they reached the camp to be welcomed by +Belle. The story of the trip to the island and the disappearance of +the boys was quickly told. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BOYS + + +"What can have happened to the boys?" murmured Belle. "I am afraid +they are drowned." + +"All of them?" and Cora could not repress a smile. "It would take a +very large sized whale to gobble them all at once, and surely they +could not all have been seized with swimming cramps at the same +moment. No, Belle, I have no such fear. But I am going right out +to investigate. I know Jack would never stay away if he could get +here, especially when he knew this would be your first evening at +the lake. Why, the boys were just wild to try my boat," and she +threw her motor cape over her shoulders. "Come on girls, down to +the steamer landing. There may have been some accident." + +Belle and Bess were ready instantly. Indeed the twins seemed more +alarmed than did Cora, but then they were not used to brothers, and +did not realize how many things may happen and may not happen, to +detain young men on a summer day or even a summer night. + +"Oh dear!" sighed Belle, "I have always dreaded the water. I did +promise mamma and Bess to conquer my nervousness and not make folks +miserable, but now just see how things happen to upset me," and she +was almost in tears. + +"Nothing has happened yet, Belle dear," said Cora kindly, "and we +hope nothing will happen. You see your great mistake comes from +what Jack calls the 'sympathy bug.' You worry about people before +you know they are in trouble. I feel certain the boys will be found +safe and sound, but at the same time I would not be so foolhardy as +to trust to dumb luck." + +"You are a philosopher, Cora," answered the nervous girl, her tone +showing that she meant to compliment her chum. + +"No, merely logical," corrected Cora, as they walked along. "You +know what marks I always get in logic." + +"But it all comes from health," put in Bess. "Mother says Belle +would be just as sensible as I am if she were as strong." + +"Sensible as you are?" and Cora laughed. Bess had such a candid way +of acknowledging her own good points. "Why, we have never noticed +it, Bess." + +"Oh, you know what I mean. I simply mean that I do not fuss," and +Bess let her cheeks glow at least two shades deeper. + +"Well it is sensible not to fuss, Bess, so we will grant your +point," finished Cora as they stepped on the boardwalk that led to +the boat landing. "Why, I didn't suppose they would light up with +that moon," she said. "That's the old watchman over there." + +A man was swinging a lantern from the landing. He held it above his +head, then lowered it, and it was plain he was showing the light to +signal someone on the water. + +Cora's heart did give a quickened response to her nerves as she saw +that something must be wrong. But she said not a word to her +companions. + +"What are they after?" asked Belle timidly. + +"Probably some fishermen casting their nets for bait," Cora answered +evasively. "You stay here, while I speak with old Ben." + +Bess and Belle complied, although Bess felt she should have been the +one to ask questions. What if anything had really happened to the +boys! Jack was Cora's brother. + +"Have you seen anything of some boys in a canoe?" Cora asked of the +man with the lantern. "They set out this afternoon, and have not +yet returned." + +"Boys in a canoe?" repeated Ben, in that tantalizing way country +folk have of delaying their answers. + +"Yes, my brother and two of his friends went out toward Far +Island--" + +"Fern Island?" interrupted the man. + +"No, when we last saw them they were going away from Fern and toward +Far Island," said Cora. + +"Well, if they're on Fern Island at night I pity them. There ain't +never been anyone who put up there after dark who wasn't ready to +die of fright, 'ceptin' Jim Peters. And the old boy hisself +couldn't scare Jim. Guess he's too chununy with him," and the +waterman chuckled at his joke. + +"But you have not heard of any accident?" pressed Cora. + +"I saw them young fellers myself. They was in a green canoe; wasn't +they?" + +"Yes," answered Cora eagerly. + +"Well, I asked Jim Peters if he had sawed 'em, and he said--but then +you can't never believe Jim." + +"What did he say?" excitedly demanded Cora, as Bess and Belle +stepped up to where she was talking. + +"He said they had tied their boat up at the far dock, and had gone +on the shore train to the merry-go-'round." + +"But they were in their bathing suits!" exclaimed Cora. + +"There! Didn't I tell you not to take any stock in Jim's news! I +knowed he was fibbin'. But--say miss. There's this about Jim. He +don't ever take the trouble to make up a yam unless he has a motive. +Now I'll bet Jim knows something about them lads." + +"Where does this man live?" asked Cora. + +"He don't live no place in particular, but in general he stays at +the shanty, when he ain't on the water. But he's a regular fish. +The young 'uns calls him a fish hawk." + +"How could we get to his place? Do you think he is at the shanty +now?" went on Cora, determined to find out something of the man, for +she had reason to believe that the dock-hand knew what he was +talking about. + +"Bless you, child! It ain't no place for young girls like you to go +to any time, much less at night. But I'll tell you what I'll do. +I'll jest take a look around myself. I sort of like a girl who +knows how to talk to old Ben without being sassy." + +"Thank you very much, Ben, but I really must hurry to trace the +boys. I suppose you have no police around the island?" + +"Wall, there's Constable Hannon. He is all right to trace a thing +when you tell him where it is, but Tom Hannon hates to think." Ben +raised the lantern above his head and then, as if satisfied that the +signaling was all finished, he placed the lantern on a hook that +hung over the edge of the dock. + +"Oh, Cora," put in Bess, "it is almost eight O'clock. We must hurry +along." + +"I know, Bess dear, but I had to find out all this man knew. Now I +am satisfied to start for the other end of the lake." + +Cora's voice betrayed the emotion she was feeling in spite of her +outward calm. The matter was now assuming a very serious aspect. + +"One thing seems certain," she said to all who were listening, "they +could not all have been drowned. They were all expert swimmers. +Nor would they go to any merry-go-'round and leave us waiting for +them. The question now is, what could have detained them?" + +"Well, here comes Jim now," said Ben. "Just you keep quiet, and +I'll pump him." + +A man came slouching along the dock. He had the way of seeming much +younger than he pretended to be--that is he walked with his head +down although his shoulders were straight and broad as those of any +well trained athlete. The three girls instantly decided that this +man had some strange motive in his manner. He was shamming, they +thought. + +"Hello there, Ben," he called to the dock hand jokingly. "How's the +tide?" + +"Not much tide on this here lake," replied Ben sharply. "Never +knowed much about them tides, as I've lived at this hole most all my +born days. But how was business to-day? That was quite a fleet. +How'd you make out?" + +"Oh, same as usual," and Jim Peters looked from under his big hat at +the girls. "Got company?" + +"Yes, a couple friends of the old lady's. They're camping here." + +"Oh," half-growled the man understandingly as he made his way to the +water's edge. + +"Where're you goin' now?" asked Ben. + +"Up the lake," replied the man. + +"Oh, say," spoke Ben as if the thought had just occurred to him, +"where did you say them young fellers went? The ones who started +out in a canoe?" + +Now Cora saw that this was the man who had come down the lake with +the canoe trailing behind his rowboat. He stepped into the +lantern's light, and both Bess and Belle must also have recognized +him, for they shot a meaning glance at Cora. + +"What fellows?" drawled the man in answer to Ben's question. + +"The ones I asked you about. You said they went to the +merry-go-'round. Did they?" + +"Yep," replied the man sententiously. + +"Where is that?" asked Cora, unable to restrain herself longer. + +"At the Peak," he said vaguely. Then he stepped into his rowboat +and before anyone could question him further he was pulling up the +lake. + +"Well, I'll be hung! Excuse me ladies, but I am that surprised," +said Ben apologetically. "Say, that fellow knows about the kids, +and we've got to follow him. But how?" + +"In my motor boat," proposed Cora quickly. "We could overtake him +in that before he had any idea we were following him!" + +"Have you a motor boat? Good! Where is it? Here, I'll call Dan. +He kin run faster than a deer. Dan! Dan! Dan!" shouted the old +man, and from a nearby rowboat, where, evidently, some boys were +having some sort of a harmless game, Dan appeared. He was a tall +youth, the sort that seems to grow near the water. "Hey Dan, I want +you to go where this girl tells you, and fetch her boat," said Ben. +"Quick now, we've got something to do." + +"It's up at the new camp," said Cora. "It's the new boat you must +have seen come up this afternoon." + +"Oh, yes'm, I know it, and I know where it is," replied the lad, and +then he was off, his bare feet making no sound. He called back +through the darkness "Got any oil or gas?" + +"Yes," replied Cora, and away he ran. + +"Ain't he a regular dock rat," said Ben with something like pride in +his voice. + +"I hope we do not lose sight of that man," remarked Cora. + +"Oh Jim can't pull as hard as he thinks, especially on a lazy day +when he has been out some," affirmed Ben. "Now suppose you girls +just sit on this plank while you wait? 'Twon't cost you nothin'." + +He dusted off the big plank with his handkerchief, and upon the +board, Cora, Bess and Belle seated themselves. + +"I suppose Dan will haul the boat down," said Cora. "It isn't +locked, but he may not want to start the motor." + +"Oh, you can trust to Dan to get her here. When he isn't a dock rat +he's a canal mule. There! Ain't that him? Yep, there he comes and +he's got her all right," said old Ben proudly. + +The boy could now be seen walking along the water's edge, as he +pulled the motor boat by the bow rope. The girls were quick to +follow Ben to the landing, and there all three, with Ben, got +aboard. + +The girls helped Cora light the port, starboard and aft-lights; then +they were ready to start. + +"Better let me run her," said the man, "as I know all the spots in +this here lake. Besides," and he touched the engine almost fondly, +"there ain't nothin' I like better than a boat, unless it's a fish +line." + +"This is a very simple motor," explained Cora, showing how readily +the gas could be turned on and how promptly the engine responded to +the spark. + +"It's a beauty," agreed Ben, as the "chugchug" answered the first +turn of the flywheel. + +Belle and Bess sat in the stem and Cora went forward. It was a +delightful evening and, but for the urgency of their quest, the +first night sail of the Petrel on Cedar Lake would have been a +perfect success. + +"Isn't that a light?" asked Belle, loud enough for Cora to hear. + +"Yes. Ben see, there is a light. Do you suppose that is on Jim's +boat?" asked Cora. + +"Never," replied Ben, "he's too stingy to light up on a moonlight +night when the water's clear. Of course the law says he must, but +who's goin' to back up the law?" + +"Which way are you going?" she questioned further. + +"See that track of foam over yonder? That's Jim's course. We'll +just pick his trail," said Ben. "Now there! Watch him turn! He's +headin' for Far Island!" + +At this Ben throttled down, and, a few minutes later he turned off +the gas and cut out the switch. + +"We'll just drift a little to give him a chance to settle," he said. +"We don't want to get too close--it might spoil the game." + +Belle and Bess were both too nervous to talk. It seemed like some +pirate story, that they should be following a strange fisherman to a +wild island in the night, in hopes of finding the boys--possibly +captured boys! + +Cora listened eagerly. She, too, was losing courage--it was so +slight a hope that this man would lead them to where the boys might +be. + +"There! See that!" exclaimed Ben. "He's talking to some one on +land." + +"Yes, I heard Jack's voice," exclaimed Cora. "Oh, I am so glad they +are safe!" + +"But how do we know?" asked Belle, her voice trembling. + +"Jack's voice told me," replied Cora, "for if they were in distress +he would not have shouted like that!" + +"But he was mad," said Ben, and in this the old fisherman made no +mistake, for the voices of the boys, in angry protest, could be +heard, as they argued with some one, who succeeded in keeping his +part of the conversation silent from the anxious listeners. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +GETTING BACK + + +A few minutes later the rowboat of Jim Peters came out from Far +Island, and in it were the boys! + +"If we have to bale her out all the way" Ed was saying, "I can't see +why we should pay you a quarter a piece. Seems to me we are earning +our fare." + +They were now almost alongside the drifting motor boat. + +"Jack! Jack," called Cora. "We are here, waiting for you. What +ever happened to you?" + +"Well," exclaimed the boys in great surprise. "Glad to see you +girls--never gladder to see anyone in my life. Can you take us on?" + +"Of course we can," replied Cora. "My! We thought you were lost." + +"Not us, but our boat," answered Walter. "Some one stole our canoe +and left us on the island, high and dry." + +"There," said Ben, "didn't I tell you?" + +"Well, you fellows owe me just the same as if you went all the way," +growled Jim Peters. "I've lost my night hire waitin' fer you." + +"How'd you know about them, Jim?" asked Ben, in a joking sort of +tone. "Wasn't it luck you happened up this way to-night?" + +The other man did not reply. Cora had stepped down to the seat in +front of the engine where Ben sat. + +"Do you think that man stole their canoe?" she asked. + +"Hush! 'Taint no use to fight with Jim. He'd get the best of you +sure, and besides, then he would be your enemy. Just make a joke of +it, and I'll tell you more later," and Ben prepared to start as soon +as the boys, who were climbing into the motor boat, were ready. + +"I'll pay you when we get to land," said Jack to the boatman, "I +have no money in my bathing suit." + +"Well, see that you do," said the man in a rough voice. "I'm not +goin' to leave my work to tow a couple of sports just for the fun of +it." + +"Oh you'll get paid all right," Jack assured him, "and so will the +fellow who stole our boat--when we catch him." + +"I'll chip in for that," said Walter. "Never saw such a trick. +Hello Bess, also howdy Belle. My, isn't it fine to be rescued from +a desert island by three pretty girls?" + +"Wallie! Wallie. There's a stranger aboard," warned Cora. + +"Oh yes, this is Ben--Ben--" + +"Just Ben," interrupted the man at the wheel, with a chuckle. + +"But he has been so kind," added Cora. "Only for him we should +never have found out where you were." + +"If you hadn't taken us off that old sieve," put in Ed, "I think we +would soon have had to swim back to the island. We never could have +made the shore in that thing, neither could we swim that distance." + +"S'long Jim!" called Ben, as the old rowboat was sent off in the +darkness. + +"See, he isn't balin' her now," he told the boys. + +"How's that?" all asked in chorus. + +"Oh, that's a great boat--leaks to order," replied Ben, as he turned +over the fly wheel and Cora's craft shot swiftly away from the +island. + +The boys were too busy talking to the girls, and the latter were too +busy asking questions, to go further into the matter of the leaking +boat, but Cora did not fail to notice that the craft must have +"leaked to order." "What could that man have intended doing? Did +he want to sink the boat?" she was wondering. + +"Well, if we haven't had a pretty time of it," said Ed. "First, we +had to go up trees to get out of the way of something--we are not +yet sure whether it was man or beast. Then when we crawled down, +and made for the shore the canoe was gone clear out of sight." + +"Haven't you any idea who took it?" Cora asked. + +"Wish we had--I'll wager he would have to sleep out of doors +to-night," threatened Jack. "It was the meanest trick." + +Cora gave Bess the signal to keep still about having seen a canoe at +the back of Jim Peter's rowboat that afternoon. Cora was convinced +that Ben knew what he was talking about when he warned her to be +careful of Jim Peters. + +"But why did you go back to the island?" asked Cora. "I thought you +were going to spend the afternoon with us girls?" + +"We were, then again we couldn't," answered her brother. "We had a +very important appointment at Far Island." + +"Ben, don't you want one of us to run her?" asked Ed. "We were to +have had a try--" + +"Nope. This here is the best fun I can have, and this boat is a +beauty," replied the old man. "If I had one that could go like this +and carry so many passengers I'd give up the dock." + +"Yes, a boat like this would earn its own living," agreed Jack. +"Run her as long as you like to, Ben. It gives us a chance--ahem--" + +"To sit nearer your sisters," finished Ben, with a sly laugh. + +"All's well that ends well," quoted Belle to Ed, for she was +scarcely able yet to draw a free breath--her anxiety had been too +keen. "I cannot believe that we are all here together again." + +"Just pinch me," said Ed laughing, "and if I don't give our war +whoop you may be sure this is not me--I am still on the Robinson +ranch--there, that was an unpremeditated pun; I mean the old +Robinson Crusoe and I forgot that he was great-grandfather to the +present Robinson twins." + +"Say, Ed," put in Walter, "what do you say if we buy a houseboat? +This has the camp beaten to a frazzle." + +"It's all right on such a night," replied Ed, "but houseboats, I +believe, cost money, and our camp is rented to us for the season. +Oh fickle Wallie! To fall in love with a motor boat, just because +her name is Pet." + +Walter was talking to Cora before Ed had finished speaking to him. +That was Walter's irresistible way with the girls. + +"No use talking, sis," said Jack, "this sail was worth being +stranded for. If you are in no hurry, Ben, suppose we prolong it. +Take us some place where we haven't been. You know the rounds of +Cedar Lake." + +This plan was agreed to, and, though the boys were not dressed as +they would wish to have been, it was evening on the water, and their +jersey suits were not altogether out of place. + +"But what I would like to get at," began Ed, not being able to +dismiss the subject, "is who stole our boat?" + +"It may have drifted away," suggested Cora wisely. "There was a +great fleet on the lake to-day, and any small boy might have let +your boat go." + +"Well, if I should lay hold of such a chap," declared Jack grimly, +"he will grow up quickly. He will never be a small boy again." + +"Now I'll tell you," offered Ben obligingly. "There's a lot of +strange things likely to happen to you young 'uns while you're at +this here lake. So take my advice an' go slow. Every one here goes +slow, and it's the best way. If you suspicion a feller don't go at +him. Just wait and he will walk right into your hands," and Ben +sounded a warning whistle as he turned a point. + +"He'll eat out of my hands if I get training him," prophesied Jack. +"But all the same, Ben, I think that's first-rate advice. It saves +us much trouble and that's the most important consideration. It +takes time even to polish off such a specimen." + +"And when you're done, you've got dirty hands," went on Ben in rough +philosophy. "All the same, there is them that can't be otherwise +dealt with, and when the time's ripe I'd--help myself. I know a +man or two I'd like first-rate to get at, and stay at till I'd +finished." + +"Then, Ben," spoke Cora, "when you get your man we'll all help you, +and when we get ours you can return the compliment." + +Cora had a way of joking that invariably turned out prophetic--and +this case was no exception. + +"Well, if there ain't Dan sailin' around!" ex, claimed Ben suddenly. +"He's lookin' fer me. Hey there, Dan! What's up?" he cried as he +faced the boat with the brilliant lamp at the stern. + +"Everything!" yelled back Dan. "Come up to the dock! There's +trouble!" + +Ben swung around the timer to gain more speed in a spurt of the +motor. + +"It's that Jim Peters, I'll bet," he declared, as they headed for +Center Landing. "He's there ahead of us. He cut through the +shallow channel." + +Whether Jim Peters had taken leave of his senses or was simply +unreasonably angry, folks were never able to say with certainty. At +any rate, now, on this evening, the man seemed furious about +something. No sooner had the motor boat come up to the dock to +allow Ben to land, than Peters turned upon the young fellows he had +been arguing with at the island, and in unmeasured terms spoke +against all gasoline water craft. He said he couldn't see why the +law allowed them to use the lake, for they made such a racket, +filled the air with vile odors, and scared all the fish. + +"You all ought to be arrested and deported!" he stormed. "The idea +of peaceful folks being bothered with such nuisances! I'm not going +to stand it if there's a law in the land! Why the idea! It's not +right! I'll--" He stopped for breath. + +"Now look here, Jim, you just quit!" said Ben quietly, as the fellow +started off on another tirade, using still stronger language, and +almost boiling over with rage. "Go easy," advised Ben. "There's +that friend of yours, Tony Jones, comin'. Take a jab at him for a +change." + +As Ben got out, Jones sauntered along, and it was easy to see that, +personally, he was quite a contrast to Jim. The situation seemed +somewhat relieved. + +"It's all right now," spoke Cora in a low voice, and with an easier +air. "Let's go." With pleasant words for Ben and Dan she and her +friends prepared to start off again. Walter gave the flywheel a few +vigorous turns, but there was only a sort of apologetic sigh from +the motor. + +"Prime it a bit," suggested Ed. + +With gasoline from a small oil can, Walter injected some of the +fluid into the cylinder through the pet cock. + +"Now for it!" he exclaimed. "Cross your fingers everybody," and +once more he did the street-piano act, as Ed termed it. The engine +only sighed gently. + +Walter gave a quick glance over his shoulder toward the bow. + +"Is that forward switch in?" he asked a bit sharply. + +"Oh!" exclaimed Cora, "I accidentally pulled it out when I removed +the bulkhead to look at the battery connections. There," she added +after a quick motion, "it's in, Walter." + +"Now for it! Hold your breaths," ordered the engineer. There was a +sudden motion to the wheel, a whizzing buzz, a churning of the water +under the stern and the boat moved away. + +"We'll have to have a regular schedule--gasoline, switch, +ground-wire, pet-cocks primed--oil cups up, and all that sort of +thing," murmured Cora as they glided swiftly onward. "I'll print it +on a card and hang it near the engine." + +"Thanks," whispered Walter, as he took the wheel. "Where to?" he +asked. + +"The bath house," suggested Ed. "Our togs are there." + +Gracefully the craft approached the group of bath houses, whence the +boys had started in their canoe that afternoon. But no lights +gleamed out to welcome the returning ones. + +"My word!" exclaimed Walter a bit dubiously, "our togs are likely +locked up in the safe, and here we are, forty miles from the pile of +ready-to wear habiliments that hide behind Jack's trunk! Eh, what?" + +"Sure thing!" agreed Ed with a sigh. + +"Oh, never mind," consoled Cora. "Come over with us for a while, +anyhow, if only to report progress." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A MAN IN THE SHADOW + + +When the engine had been carefully covered, on arrival at the camp +dock, and the boat securely tied up for the night, the party were +all literally shaking hands in gratitude for the rescue. It was +only a short distance along the shore path to where the lads +"bunked," but the young men shivered during the trip. The girls +thought of their own coats and promptly offered them, for Walter, Ed +and Jack were really suffering in their bathing suits. + +"But we have heavy dresses on," insisted Cora, "and really Jack it +is cool. Please take our coats," for her brother had objected. + +"Well, if you insist," replied Jack, "but it seems to me we have had +more than our share of bad luck for one day. First our boat is +stolen, then our clothes are locked up. Who would think that that +old boathouse man would go to bed so early." + +"I am sure you are perfectly welcome to our coats," insisted Belle, +as she and her sister divested themselves of their long automobile +garments, "and they will look--" + +"Lovely on us," put in Walter. "Let me have the blue one, please. +It is so becoming." + +Jack took Cora's heavy linen, Ed accepted the brown that Bess had +worn, while Walter got the blue. + +"Not so bad," said Jack, thrusting his hands deep into the patch +pockets. "Don't know but what I'll get one like this, Cora." + +"And I rather like the empire effect," said Ed turning around so +that all, might admire the short-waisted coat he wore. "This is the +Roman empire I believe, Bess; is it not?" + +"No, the first Empire," corrected the girl. "My but you do look +nice! You have a wonderful--outline." + +"Yes, my nurse always complimented me on my outline. But do behold +Wallie! Isn't he a peach?" + +"He's a picture girl," declared Cora laughing. "Well, it is a good +thing that we girls all wore coats when we went on the rescuing +expedition. But say boys, what do you think was the trouble at the +wharf? Ben seemed quite excited." + +"I didn't like the looks of the fellow who offered us the boat +ride," commented Ed. "And the queer part of it was, how did he know +we were on the island?" + +"And then his boat leaked and stopped. I'll bet his game was to +make us fear drowning, and then save us at so much more per save. +Like the philosopher and the ferryman, don't you know?" + +"What philosopher?" asked Bess innocently. + +"Oh, that old friend of mine who went to sea with his knowledge. +Don't you remember?" + +"I never heard of him," declared Bess falling into the trap. + +"Then let me tell you," and Ed slipped his arm within hers as they +walked along toward Cora's camp. "There was once a boatman and at +the same time there was a philosopher. The former took the latter +to sea, or to cross a small body of water, it doesn't really matter. +All the way as they sailed the philosopher would say: 'Did you ever +study astronomy?' The ferryman had not. 'Then half your life is +gone,' said the philosopher. 'Did you ever study philosophy? No? +Then another quarter of your life is gone.' And so on he went, +Belle dear," continued Ed, "until suddenly the boatman interrupted +him with: 'Say, did you ever study swimming?' And the philosopher +admitted that he had not. 'Then,' said the boatman, 'the whole of +your life is gone for this boat is sinking!' So you see, Belle, our +boatman might have given us that little fairy story and charged +accordingly." + +"Yes, indeed!" put in Jack. "I think it was the luckiest thing that +you girls came along. And Ben! We must give Ben a banquet or +something fit." + +"Ben is a great friend of mine," declared Cora. "I feel we would +all have gone astray but for him. We girls would never have known +enough--" + +Then she stopped. She had no idea of telling the boys that they had +followed Jim Peters with the hope of finding the missing ones +whither he would lead them. Bess and Belle also had taken pains not +to betray their story to the boys, for, as Cora said, Jim Peters was +not a man to quarrel with, and the stolen boat was not a matter to +joke about. + +"Here comes Nettie!" exclaimed Belle. "I wonder what's her hurry." + +"You've got company, miss," the maid said as she came up to the +party walking toward the camp. "Miss Hasting and her brother have +been waiting all evening." + +"Hazel and Paul!" exclaimed Cora, almost running to the bungalow. +"Oh, isn't that splendid!" + +"And us in these!" wailed Walter. "Do you think Hazel will like me +in baby blue?" + +The boys really did look funny in the girls' long coats, but it all +added to the merry-making. Paul Hastings was waiting outside the +bungalow. He stood where the porch light fell upon him, and the +girls all secretly agreed that he had grown handsomer since they had +last seen him. Hazel, too, looked very attractive in her plain blue +dress, with its turn-over collar and Windsor tie. + +"What a pleasant surprise! We were afraid you would not come for +some days Hazel!" said Cora in greeting. + +"Oh, Paul had to come up here. Of course he has taken a position." + +"What did I tell you!" cried Jack, folding the cloak about him in +dramatic style. "Paul Hastings for the enterprise. Cedar Lake is +the field; eh, Paul?" + +"Well, I had a fine offer," said Paul modestly. "And I have been +wanting to get out this way. They say there are all sorts of things +to do in this locality." + +"Looking for work! What do you think of that! Why, Paul dear, we +are looking for a camp cook. Wallie nearly poisoned us on pancakes +today," said Ed, "and if you would accept--" + +"Come in doors," interrupted Cora. "We have had rather a strenuous +afternoon, and I am almost tired. How did you get up from the +train? Or did you come by boat?" she asked the new arrivals. + +"A fellow rowed us up--" + +"Yes and charged us fifty cents each," interrupted Hazel. "Wasn't +that outrageous!" + +"Some one like Jim Peters, I'll bet," said Ed. "But as Cora +advised, let's go in doors. We really haven't dined!" + +"Oh! you poor boys," cried Belle. "We almost forgot that you were +stranded. Let me help Nettie fix up something." + +"Yes, do. Fix up a lot of something," urged Jack. "That's the way +I feel about it. But do we dine in these?" + +By this time Hazel and Paul saw the queer attire of the three young +men. Then a part of the situation was explained. The bungalow was +one of those roomy affairs, built with a clear idea of affording +every summer comfort. Cora was to be the hostess, and with her was +the trusted maid, Nettie. There the girls were to visit as they +chose, while the boys had taken a camp for themselves near the +fishing grounds of the big lake. + +"Now, make that coffee strong, girls," called Jack as the odor of +the beverage came from the kitchen. "We are almost, if not quite, +frozen." + +He cuddled up on a big couch and threatened to do damage to Cora's +pretty cloak. + +"There's someone on the porch," suddenly whispered Bess, for a step +sounded, so soft and stealthy, that she imagined someone was trying +to look in the window. + +"Yes, I heard it," said Ed, getting up and going to the door. A man +stood in the shadow, stepping out quickly at the sight of the youth. + +"I came for my money," he muttered. "You fellers ain't got no right +to try to do me that way." + +"Who tried to do you?" answered Ed, in no pleasant tones. "See +here, Peters! This is not our camp, and we don't carry money in our +bathing suits as we told you before. If you can't wait until +to-morrow for the seventy-five cents you know what you can do." + +"Oh I'll give it to you, Ed," said Cora, fearful that the man might +become abusive. "I have plenty of small change." + +She went into her room and got her purse. It was a pretty little +affair, too frail to have been brought to camp, and too good to have +left in the locked-up Chelton house. As she went back to Ed she +held out the purse. "Here," she said, "take it and help yourself. +My coffee will boil over." + +Ed and Peters were standing near the edge of the porch. As Ed put +his hand out to take Cora's purse it fell over the rail. + +"Well," he exclaimed, "that's too bad. I must get a match." + +At this Ed stepped to the door to ask for a box, while Peters +hurried down the steps to look for the missing trinket. When Ed +came back with a light Peters was looking industriously for the +purse, but declared he had not seen it. + +"Now see here, Peters," cried Ed angrily. "You have picked up that +purse, and I want you to hand it right over here," and Ed dropped +the cloak from his shoulders. "If you don't I'll teach you a +lesson." + +"Oh, you will, eh?" sneered the man. "Well you'd better get at it, +kid," and with that he struck Ed a tantalizing blow on the cheek. + +Ed clutched the man by the arm. By this time the confusion had been +heard within doors, and the other boys hurried out. + +"What's up?" asked Jack, just as Ed, with all his strength, almost +bent the older man over backward. + +Jim Peters was fairly roaring now. He was strong, but this young +giant was a surprise to him, and after the way of the cowardly +class, as soon as he found out he would be bested he "quit," and +begged off. + +"Hand me back that purse," demanded Ed. "I know you've got it as +well as if I had seen you take it." + +"What's that over there?" snarled Peters, pointing to something +bright in the grass. + +Ed picked it up. It was the purse, but it was empty. Ed's +exclamation told them that. + +"My ring," cried Cora. "I had my ring--oh no. I forgot--that was +not the purse," and Cora went in doors, presently returning with +some small coins. "Here, Ed," she said, her voice trembling. "Do +pay that man, and let him go. I--I am so frightened!" + +"Cora," whispered Bess, "was your ring in that purse?" + +"Hush," cautioned the other girl. "Let us try to make things +brighter. Since that man sailed down the lake to-day with our boys' +canoe we have had nothing but mishaps. Now let him go. I'll manage +to reckon with him without endangering the life of anyone. He's too +desperate a character to deal with in the ordinary way. Remember +what Ben told us." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +CORA EXPLOITING + + +There had been three delightful days at Camp Cozy. Cora managed +most of the delight, with the able assistance of Belle and Bess, +while Hazel did much toward discovering things that she declared all +the girls ought to know, for Hazel's happiness was ever in obtaining +knowledge. + +The boys had almost lost hope of getting back their canoe. They had +searched the lake from shore to shore, offered rewards and had gone +through the rest of the lost formula, but the boat was not returned. + +Cora kept to herself her suspicions about Jim Peters. She also said +nothing of the ring that was in the purse when it left her hands, +but not in it when the purse was returned to her. + +It was a splendid morning for a trip on Cedar Lake, and although +Belle and Hazel had planned a trip to the woods, Cora and Bess were +going out in the Petrel. + +Passing Center Landing, Cora called a pleasant good morning to Ben, +who sat on the end string piece, his feet aiming at the water and +his broad brimmed hat caught on halo fashion at the back of his +neck. + +"Oh, I must ask him something," said Cora, suddenly turning her boat +toward the wharf. She drew near enough to speak quietly. + +"Ben," she said, "where is that shanty you told me about--Jim +Peter's place?" + +"Lands sake miss! you ain't goin' there?" asked the man in some +alarm. + +"Why not?" demanded Cora. "Can't I take care of myself in broad +daylight?" + +"But you don't know how ugly that feller can be," insisted Ben. "I +tell you miss, I'd give him plenty of room, if I war you." + +"Don't go," urged Bess. + +"But, Ben," argued Cora, "I am afraid you have all let Jim Peters +bully you. I am going to try him another way. Where does he live?" + +"Well a hour ago he went up the lake. He goes up there every +mornin' regular. Like as if he had some important business on the +island. When I asked him about it he said there was a fellow who +had some dangerous disease, and was campin' out there, and Jim +allowed that he had to fetch him things." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed Cora. "That's a queer story for a man like +Peters. But I'm going to his shack first, even if he is not at +home. It would suit me just as well to find him out on my first +visit." + +"But that young feller who lives with him? He's just as sassy as +Jim, when he's around the shack. Of course he don't stay there +always, as Jim does." + +"Who is he?" questioned Cora. "I hadn't heard of such a person." + +"Oh, he gives the name of Jones but it don't fit him fer a cent. I +wouldn't be surprised if his real name was Macaroni or even Noodles. +He's foreign, sure." + +Cora laughed. "And he's young, you say?" + +"A lot younger than Jim, but he could be that and yet not be very +young, fer I guess Jim has lost track of time," replied Ben. "Yes, +Jones is a swell, all right." + +"But the shack? Where is it? I must be off," insisted Cora. + +"It's quite a trip down the lake. Then you come to a point. Go to +the left of the point, and when you come to a place where the +willows dip into the lake, get off there. The shack is straight +back in the deepest clump of buttonball trees." + +"All right Ben, and thank you," said Cora as she started up the +motor. "I feel like exploring this morning, and your directions +sound interesting. I will come back this way to show you that I am +safe and sound," and with that she sheered off. + +"I hope it will be all right," faltered Bess. "Cora, are you never +afraid to risk such things?" + +"What is there to risk? The land is public, and we have as much +right to follow that track as has Jim Peters or Mr. Jones. I wonder +what Mr. Jones is like?" + +"Maybe he would be very nice--a complete surprise," ventured Bess, +at which remark Cora laughed merrily. + +"You little romancer! Do you imagine that anyone very nice would +chum in with Jim Peters? Isn't there something in your book about +birds of the same quills?" + +"It's aigrettes, in my book," retorted Bess. "But it all applies to +the same sort of birds. Just the same, I am interested in Mr. +Jones." + +"I fancy perhaps that we are," said Cora. "But there is the point +Ben spoke of. We are to turn to the left." + +Gracefully as a human thing, the boat curved around and made its +path through the narrow part of the lake. + +"And there are the willows," announced Bess, as she saw the great +green giants dipped into the water's surface. + +"Yes. I thought it would be much farther on. But this is an ideal +spot for hiding. One could scarcely be found here without a +megaphone." + +"Hear our voices echo," remarked Bess. "An echo always makes me +feel desolate." + +"Don't you like to hear your own voice?" asked Cora lightly. "I +rather fancy listening to mine. An echo was always a delight to +me." + +"There's a man sitting under that tree!" almost gasped Bess. + +"So there is, and I am glad of it. He will be able to direct us. I +shouldn't be surprised if he were Mr. Jones," said Cora turning the +Petrel to shore. + +Under a big willow, in a sort of natural basket seat, formed by the +uncovered roots of the big trees, a man sat, and as the boat grazed +the shore, he looked up from some papers he held in his hands. Cora +could see that he was very dark, and had that almost uncomfortable +manner of affecting extreme politeness peculiar to foreigners of +certain classes, for, as she spoke to him, he arose, slid the paper +into his pocket, and bowed most profusely. + +"I am looking for the cabin of Mr. Peters," said Cora, stepping +ashore toward the tree. "Can you direct me to it?" + +"The cabin of Mr. Peters?" and when the man spoke the foreign +suspicion was confirmed. "Why, who might Mr. Peters be?" + +"Jim Peters; don't you know him?" asked Cora determined not to be +thrown off the track. "He lives just in here--I should think in +that grove--" + +"Oh, my dear miss no! You are mistaken. No one lives around here. +I am simply a rustic, looking about. But Jim Peters?" + +"Are you not Mr. Jones?" blurted out Cora. + +In spite of himself the man started. + +"Mr. Jones?" he repeated. "Well, that name will do as well as any +other. But allow me to tie your boat. Then I will take pleasure in +showing you one of the prettiest strips of land this side of +Naples." + +"Oh, thank you. I have secured it," said Cora. "But I would like +to explore this island." + +Bess tugged at Cora's elbow. "Don't go too far. I am afraid of +that man," she said in a whisper. + +"Were you drawing as we came up?" Cora asked the stranger. "This is +an ideal spot for sketching." + +"Yes, I was drawing," he replied. + +"Couldn't we see your picture?" asked Cora. "I do so love an +outline." + +"Oh, indeed it is not worth looking at. I must show you something +when I have what will be worth while. This is only a bare idea." + +"Well," said Cora starting off through the wood, "I must look for a +cabin, or something like it. I have particular business with Jim +Peters." + +"But you will only hurt your feet miss," objected the man. "Allow +me to show you the island," and he bowed again. "Such wild swamp +flowers I have never seen. It is the everglades, and well worth the +short journey." + +There was something about his insistent civility that betokened a +set purpose, and since Ben (what a wonder Ben was) had told Cora +that a man named Jones "hung out" with Jim Peters, Cora instantly +guessed that this was the man, and that he was determined to keep +her away from the shack. The situation gave zest to her purpose. +Bess was fairly quaking as Cora could see, but what danger could +there be in insisting upon finding that shack? + +"I have only a short time to be out," objected Cora, "and perhaps +some other time I will come to see your everglade. Come, Bess, I +see a path this way, and I fancy if we follow it we will find an end +to the path," she concluded. + +"But may I not have the pleasure of your name?" the man called after +her. "Perhaps we might meet--" + +"Don't," whispered Bess. "Pretend you did not hear him." + +"Oh, just see those flag lilies!" Cora called to Bess, covering the +man's question without answering it. "Let us get some." + +"Oh, aren't they beautiful!" replied Bess, in a strained voice. "I +certainly must secure some of those." + +They hurried away from the dark-browed man. He took his hand out of +his pocket and upon the smallest finger his eyes rested. He sneered +as he looked at a diamond ring that glittered on that slim brown +finger. + +"Foolish maid," he said aloud, and then the web of a strange force +threw its invisible yet unbreakable chains over the summer life of +Cora Kimball. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +DEEP IN THE DARK WOOD + + +"Cora, dear, please do not go any farther. Somehow I am afraid that +man will follow us." + +"Why, Bess! I thought you were going to be interested in Mr. +Jones," and Cora stooped to pick up a wonderful clump of flag +lilies. + +"Jones! How could he be a Jones? He's a Spaniard." + +"I thought so myself, Bess. But we do not have to plant his family +tree. Now don't be a baby, girlie," and Cora squeezed the plump +hand that hung so close to her own. "Let us get to the shack, and +see if the boys' boat is about there. I am determined to run down +Jim Peters." + +Bess sighed. When Cora was determined! But the man had left the +water's edge. + +"Cora, see!" said Bess. "He is getting into a boat!" + +"Yes and the boat belongs to Peters. There! He is surely the one +who helps Jim out in all his affairs. Now we may seek the shack in +safety," said Cora, as she watched the man at the water's edge push +off. "I know the shack is over there, for I smell smoke in that +direction. But we will turn the other way until he has cleared +off," finished Cora as she and Bess stepped lightly over the dainty +ferns that nestled in the damp earth. + +"He is quite a boatman," remarked Bess, watching the man ply his +oars, and make rapid progress up the lake. + +"Yes, he must have been brought up near the water," replied Cora. +"They say such skill as that is not accomplished on dry land. Jack +always declared he could tell a fellow at college who had ever been +near the water when a lad. They take to it like a duck." + +"You can easily see that he is a foreigner," went on Bess with her +speculations. "He must either be an Italian or a Spaniard." + +"Now we may turn up the path. Yes this is a path, for everything is +trodden down on it," declared Cora. "I hope the hut will not be too +deep in the wood." + +"We won't go if it is," objected Bess. "I don't fancy being taken +captive by any wild woods clan." + +"There," exclaimed Cora. "I just caught sight--of--it's a woman's +skirt!" + +"Yes, and there is a woman in it," added Bess. "See, here she +comes." + +"No, I don't think she does. I think she is standing still. We +must have frightened her." + +"What a looking--woman!" + +"Great proportions," described Cora. "I guess wherever she lives +they must feed her well." + +Cora led the way, and Bess timidly followed. + +"Don't go too near," whispered the latter. + +"Why, she cannot eat us," replied Cora, smiling over her shoulder to +the timid one. + +"Well, what do you want?" roared the woman, as soon as she could be +heard by the young ladies. + +"We are looking for Jim Peter's shack," replied Cora bravely. "I +have been sent here to speak with him." + +"Have, eh? Well go ahead. Speak with me. I'm Mrs. Jim Peters," +said the woman with a sneer. + +"My business is with him," again spoke Cora, not in the least +frightened by the voice which she knew was made coarser just to +scare her. + +"Well, he don't have no business that ain't mine," said the woman, +"'specially with young 'uns like you, so you kin just clear off here +before I--" + +"Come on Cora," begged Bess. "I am shaking from head to foot." + +"All right, dear," replied Cora, in a voice for Bess alone. "But, +Mrs. Peters, can you tell me when your husband will be about here? +I have some work to do on a boat and I understand he does that sort +of thing." + +The woman's face changed. "If that's what you want I'll tell him. +You see it is always best to let the woman know first, fer Jim does +do some foolish things. But just now he's got one boat to do?" + +"I wonder if he might have a canoe to sell?" interrupted Cora, as +the thought of thus trapping the woman occurred to her. + +"He will have one in a few days," the other 'answered. "But it has +to be fixed up." + +"Could I see it?" asked Cora. "I may not be able to get over here +again." + +"Well, the shack is locked and I couldn't show it to you, but when +Jim comes I'll tell him. Who will I say?" + +Cora hesitated. "I hardly think it will be worth while really to +order it," she said, "as I must have my brother look it over. I +have a motor boat." + +"I heard it chuggin' and I thought that lazy Tony had got a new way +of wastin' his time. Tony is all right at writin' letters but he's +a lazy bones else ways." + +"Who's Tony?" asked Cora as if indifferently. + +"He's Jim's side partner. Say, girl, I'll just tell you. I came up +here a few weeks ago from a newspaper advertisement. I never knowed +Jim Peters before, but if them two fellers think I'm goin' to cook +in that hut and never go no place off this dock they're foolin' +themselves. They don't know all about Kate Simpson." + +Both girls were utterly surprised by her change of manner. Cora was +quick to take advantage of it. + +"You are quite right," she said. "This is no place for a lone +woman, and some day when I have my brother along I will fetch my +boat, and show you the big islands about here. It would do you good +to get out in the clear--away from these dense woods." + +"That it would, and I'm obliged to you miss," said the woman while +Bess fairly gasped. "I want to go to one island--Fern Island they +call it. Have you ever been there?" + +"I know where it is," replied Cora, wondering what the woman's +interest in that place might be. "I have been all around it." + +"They say it's haunted," and the woman laughed. "It's a great game +to put a haunt on a place to keep others off." + +"Well, some day when you can leave your work, I'll take you over +there," and Cora meant it, for she had not the slightest fear, +either of the woman or her rough ways. + +Besides, she felt instinctively that the woman's help would be +valuable in the possible recovery of her ring and of the lost canoe. + +"I'll be goin' back to the shackt fer if Jim comes along held raise +a row fer me talkin' to strangers. You'd think I was looney the way +he watches me." + +"And is he a stranger to you?" + +"Well, to tell the truth my mother and Jim's was cousins, but I +never knowed him to be such a poor character as he is, or I'd never +have come up here. But I don't have to stay all summer,"' she +finished significantly. + +"Well, good-bye, and I'll see you soon again," said Cora turning +toward her boat. + +"Good-bye, miss, but say," and she half whispered, "is that girl +dumb?" + +Cora burst out laughing. Bess a mute! + +"No indeed, but she always lets me do the talking," answered Cora +with a sty look at the blushing Bess. + +"She has good sense, fer you know how to do it," declared Kate +Simpson. + +They could hear her bend the brush as she passed up the narrow way. + +"What a queer creature," remarked Bess, when she felt that it was +safe to try her voice. + +"She is queer, but I think she knows a lot about things of interest +to us. What did you think of her remark about Fern Island? To that +pretty little spot we will make our next voyage," declared Cora, +pulling on her thick gloves and taking her place in front of the +motor. "Turn out into the open lake," she told Bess as they started +off. "We will make a quick run and get back to the bungalow before +the others have done the marketing. I am glad it is not our turn to +get the lunch for I want to make a trip to Fern Island directly +after we have had a bite. Seems to me," and she increased the speed +of the engine a little, "it takes more time to get a meal at camp +than it does at home. The simple life certainly has its own +peculiar complications." + +"Oh, there comes that man back! I am so glad we are away from that +place," exclaimed Bess, as the boat of Jim Peters, with the smiling +foreigner called "Jones" floated by. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE HAUNT OF FERN ISLAND + + +The four motor girls started out in the Petrel. Never had the lake +seemed so beautiful, nor had the sky appeared a deeper, truer blue. +The pretty Placid lake was dotted all over with summer craft, the +sound of the motor boat being almost constant in its echoing, +"cut-a-cuta" against the wonderful green hills that banked shore +and, island. + +Hazel was steering, and of course Cora was running the engine. The +pennant waved gaily from the bow of the boat, and of the many colors +afloat it seemed that those chosen by the motor girls shone out most +brilliantly on the glistening, silvery waters. + +"I'm not a bit afraid now," admitted Belle, "I do think it is all a +matter of getting used to the water. I thought I should never +breathe again after that first day we went out." + +"Yes," said Cora, "the water has a peculiar fascination when one is +accustomed to it, and I am sure Belle will want to live on a +houseboat before we break camp. There go the boys! What a fine +motor boat!" + +"Yes," said Hazel, "that's one from Paul's garage. Paul promised +Jack he would speak to Mr. Breslin, the owner, about letting it out +for the summer, as the Breslin family is not coming out here until +later. It's the Peter-Pan, and the fastest boat on the lake." + +"See them go! I guess they don't see us,"' remarked Belle. + +"I am glad they do not," Cora said, "for I want to do some +exploring, and if the boys came along they would be sure to have +other plans for us. Now, Hazel, run in there. That is Fern +Island." + +"Oh, there's a canoe!" exclaimed Belle. "See! and a girl is +paddling. What a queer looking girl!" + +"Isn't she!" agreed Bess. "Why she has on a man's hat!" + +"She sees that we are watching her. Look how she is hurrying off," +remarked Cora. "I wonder how far this cove goes in?" + +"We had better not try to find out," cautioned Belle. "I think we +have had enough of happenings around here. This is where the boy's +boat was stolen from; isn't it?" + +"No, it was over there, but I guess we will put in at the front of +the island, as there is no telling how deep the cove is," said Cora. +"But see that girl go! Why she's actually gone! Where can she have +disappeared to?" + +"This ought to be called the 'disappearing' land," suggested Hazel. +"I was sure that little canoe was directly in front of us, but now +it is out of sight." + +"Maybe that is the 'Haunt Girl of Fern Island,'" ventured Cora with +a laugh. "I got a pretty good look at her, and I am willing to say +she looked neither like a summer girl nor a winter girl--that is, +one who might live here the year around. But just what sort of girl +she might be I shouldn't like to speculate. Her hair got loose as +she hurried, and she reminded me of some wild water bird." + +"Be careful getting out," Belle cautioned Bess. "This new boat is +new to slipperiness." + +"Oh, I will get hold of a tree branch," Bess replied. "Then, if the +boat drifts out, I can swing to safety." + +All were ashore but Bess, and as such things often happen when they +are looked for, the Petrel did careen from the waves of a passing +launch, and just as Bess grasped an overhead willow branch, the boat +swung out and she sprang in. Everybody laughed, but Bess lost her +breath, a condition she disliked because it always added to the deep +color of her plump cheeks. + +"There!" cried Belle. "Didn't I tell you?" + +"I wish that next time, Twin, you would leave me to guess!" +exclaimed the other twin, rather pettishly. + +"Isn't this perfectly delightful!" exclaimed Hazel, running over the +soft earth where ferns were matted, and wild flowers grew tangled in +their efforts for freedom. "I never saw such dainty little flowers! +Oh! they are sabatial I have seen them in Massachusetts," and she +fell to gathering the small pink blooms that rival the wild rose in +shade and perfume. + +"Here are the Maiden Hair ferns," called Cora. "No wonder they call +this Fern Island." + +"Let us see how many varieties of fern we can gather," suggested +Belle. "I have ferns pressed since last year, and they look so +pretty on picture mats." + +At this the girls became interested in the number of ferns +gatherable. Belle went one way, Bess another, and so on, until each +had to call to make another hear her. + +Cora ran along fearlessly. She was diving very deep into the ferny +woods, and she was intent on coming out first, if it were only in a +race to get ferns. + +Suddenly she stopped! + +What was that sound? + +Surely it was some one running, and it was none of the girls! + +Standing erect, listening with her nerves as well as with her ears, +Cora waited. That running or rustling through the leaves was very +close by. Should she call the girls? + +But before she could answer herself, she saw something dart across a +big rock that was caressed by a great maple tree that grew over it. + +"Oh!" she screamed involuntarily. Then she saw what it was. A man, +a wild looking man, with long hair and a bushy beard. + +He had stopped just long enough to look in the direction of Cora. +She saw him distinctly. Oh! if he should run toward Bess or Belle! +Hazel would not be so easily alarmed but surely this was a wild man +if ever there was such a creature. + +"That is the ghost of Fern Island," Cora concluded. "I must get +back to the girls." + +She turned and hurried in the direction from which she had heard +voices. "If they have not seen him," she reflected, "I will not say +anything until we get back to camp." + +"I have ten different kinds of ferns," suddenly called Belle, in a +voice which plainly said that no wild man had crossed her path. + +"I've got eight," said Hazel. "How many have you, Cora?" + +Cora glanced at her empty hands. She had dropped her ferns. + +"I have tossed away mine. I was afraid of black spiders," she said +evasively. + +"Isn't that too bad," wailed Bess, "and none of us picked any maiden +hair because we thought you had it. Let us go and get some." + +"Oh, I think we had best not this time," said Cora quickly. "I +really want to get to the post office landing before the mail goes +out. We can come another time when I have something to kill spiders +with. I never saw such huge black fellows as there are around +here." This was no shading of the truth, for indeed the spiders +around Cedar Lake did grow like 'turtles', Jack had declared. + +"Oh, all right," agreed Belle. "But this is the most delightful +island and I am coming out here again. I hope the boys will come +along, for there are such great bushes of huckleberries over there +that we simply couldn't climb to them alone."' + +"We will invite them next time," said Cora, and when she turned over +the fly wheel of her boat her hands that had held the ferns were +still trembling. She looked uneasily at the shore as they darted +off. + +"What's the matter, Cora?" asked Hazel. "You look as if you had +seen the ghost of Fern Island." + +"I have," said Cora, but the girls thought she had only agreed with +Hazel to avoid disagreeing. + +"What boat is that?" asked Bess a moment later, looking at a small +rowing craft just leaving the other side of the island. + +"It's Jim Peters'" replied Cora, "we were lucky to get back into +ours before he saw it. I wouldn't wonder but what he might like to +take a motor boat ride in the Petrel." + +"Do you suppose he really would steal a boat?" exclaimed Belle. + +"He might like to try a motor, I said," replied Cora. "They say +that Jim Peters tries everything on Cedar Lake, even to running a +shooting gallery. But see! He is reading a letter! Where ever did +he get a letter on this barren island?" + +"Maybe he carries the mail for the ghost," said Hazel, with a laugh. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +JACK AND CORA + + +"Cora, where is your ring?" + +The sister looked at her finger. "Oh Jack," she replied, "I will +get it--but not just now. Why?" + +"I thought you always wore that ring when you put on your frills, +and I haven't seen you so dressed up since you came to camp. +Somehow, Cora, I feared you might have lost it." + +"I did," she said simply. + +"Your new diamond!" + +"Yes, but I feel sure of finding it. Now, Jackie dear, please don't +cross question me. I shouldn't have taken it off, but I did, so and +that is how I came to lose it. But I want to tell you something +while we are alone. I saw the ghost of Fern Island to-day." + +"Nonsense! A ghost?" sneered Jack. "Why, Cora, if the other girls +said that I should laugh at them." + +"Well I want to tell you. We were on the island-the girls and I--and +I got a little away from them when suddenly the wildest looking +man rushed across the path. He had a beard like Rip Van Winkle and +looked a lot like him too." + +"Rip might be summering out this way, though I rather thought he had +taken a trip in an airship," said Jack. "But honestly, Cora, what +was the man like? Paul had a story of that sort. He declares he, +too, saw this famous ghost." + +"Do you suppose he might have taken the canoe? The wild man I mean. +We saw a strange looking girl in a canoe and somehow she vanished. +We could see her boat and then we couldn't, although we could not +make out where she went to. It was the queerest thing. There must +be some strange curves on those islands." + +"Oh there are, lots of them. They are as curvy as a ball-twirler's +best pitch. But the ghost. That is what interests me, since--ahem--since +he has a daughter. Was she pretty?" + +"I should say she was rather pretty," replied Cora, quite seriously, +"but she did have a wild look too. I do believe she is a daughter +to the wild man, whoever he may be." + +"Well, everyone around here declares that is land is haunted, but +fisher-folk are always so superstitious. Yet we must hunt it up. I +will go out with you the next time you go. Did the other girls see +him?" went on the brother. + +"No, and I decided not to tell them. You know how timid Bess and +Belle are, and if they thought there was such a creature about the +island I would never get them to put foot on shore there again, and +I do so want to investigate that matter. I believe Jim Peters has +something to do with it for I saw him coming away from there with a +letter. Now what would he be doing with a letter out on a barren +island?" + +"Oh Jim is a foxy one. I wouldn't trust him as far as the end of my +nose. But here come the others. Will you go over to the Casino +this evening." + +"Yes, we had planned to go. That is why I am dressed up. Hazel may +have to go to town to-morrow, and I want her to see something before +she goes," replied Cora, just as the girls, and Walter, Ed and Paul +strode up to the bungalow. + +"Oh! we have had the greatest time," blurted out Bess. "Cora, you +should have been with us. Ben got angry with Jim Peters, and he and +Dan threatened to throw Jim overboard, and--" + +"Jim seems to have a hankering after fights," put in Ed. "I haven't +settled with him yet." + +"Ed, you promised me you would call that off," Cora reminded him. +"You know it was all about me, and you have given me your promise +not to take it up again. That Jim Peters is an ugly man." + +"All the same we heard that you were not afraid of him," said Walter +with a tug at Cora's elbow. "Didn't you beard the lion in his den?" + +"Who said I did?" asked Cora flushing. + +"I promised--crossed my heart not to tell," said Walter. "But all +the same the folks at the landing are talking about the pretty girl +who went all the way up the cove, and stopped at the place where +Peters and his pal land. I would advise you to be careful. They +say that tribe is not of the best social standing," went on Walter +quite seriously. + +"I won't go there again," put in Bess. + +"What! Were you along?" demanded Jack. "Then you must have been +the pretty girl referred to at the landing." + +"I was a pretty scared girl," declared Bess. "I tell you, I don't +want to meet any more Peters or Joneses or Kates," she finished. + +"But what was the trouble between Jim and Ben?" asked Cora. + +"Let me tell it," Belle exclaimed. "We were just standing by the +boathouse, watching some men fish, when Jim Peters, came along. He +stopped and took a paper out of his pocket. The wind suddenly blew +up--" + +"And took the paper out of his hand," interrupted Hazel. "It blew +across to where Dan was standing, and what was more natural than +that Dan should pick it up?" + +"And did Jim get angry at that?" inquired Cora. + +"Angry! He fairly fell upon poor Dan," put in Walter, "and when Ben +saw him--I tell you Ben may stand a lot of trouble on his own +account, but, when it comes to anyone trying to do Dan, Ben is right +there to fight for him. Didn't he almost put Jim over the rail?" + +"There must have been quite a lively time," said Jack. "Sorry I +missed it. There is so little excitement around here that we need +all we can get. And what was the answer?" + +"Jim took his old letter and slunk off," finished Belle. "And Dan +said he couldn't have read even the name on the out side if he had +tried. He said it must have been written in Greek," and Belle +laughed at the idea of the classics getting mixed up in any such +small affair. + +"Seems to me," said Cora thoughtfully, "that Jim had some very +important reason for fearing that one might see that letter." + +"Yes," declared Hazel, "that struck me right away. I shouldn't be +surprised if it had been addressed to--the ghost!" + +"Well, if you young ladies intend to see what is going on at the +Casino this evening," Ed reminded them, "we had better make a start. +This is amateur night, I believe." + +"And the Blake girls are going to sing," announced Jack. "Then I +shall have a chance to clap my hands at pretty Mabel," and he went, +through one of those inimitable boys' pranks, neither funny nor +tragic, but just descriptive. + +"I think it is awfully nice of the Blake girls to take part," said +Cora, "for in this little summer colony everyone ought to be +agreeable." + +"But I notice you are not taking part," Ed said with a laugh. "Just +fancy Cora Kimball on the Casino platform." + +"Don't fancy anything of the kind," objected Bess. "We are willing +to be sociable but we have no ambition to shine." + +"Come along," called Jack, who was on ahead with Hazel, "and mind, +if anything brushes up against you, it is apt to be a coon, not a +cat, as Belle thought the other night." + +They started off for the path that led to the public pavilion on the +lake shore. Cora was with Ed, Walter had Belle on one side and Bess +on the other, because he declared that the twins should always go +together to "balance" him. Jack and Hazel led the way. + +At the pavilion the seats were almost all occupied, for campers from +all sides of the lake flocked there on the entertainment evenings. +A band was dreaming over some tune, each musician evidently being +his own leader. + +The elder Miss Blake, Jeannette, who sat on an end seat, arose as +they entered and made room for the Chelton folks to sit beside her, +meanwhile gushing over the prospect of the evening's good time, and +the good luck of "meeting girls from home." + +Walter allowed Bess and Belle to pass to the chairs beyond Miss +Blake and thus placed himself beside the not any too desirable +spinster. + +He made a wry face aside to Jack. He liked girls but the elder Miss +Blake! + +"Mabel is going to sing 'Dreams,'" she said sweetly. "I do love +Mabel's voice in 'Dreams.'" + +"Yes, I think I should too," said Walter, but the joke was lost on +Jeannette. "Who is that dark man over there?" he asked. + +"Oh that's a foreigner. They call him Jones, but that's because his +name is so unpronounceable. Isn't he handsome?" asked the lady. + +"Rather odd looking I should say," returned Walter, "but it seems to +me he is attracted in this direction. Why should he stare over this +way so?" + +"He knows me," replied Miss Blake, bowing vigorously to "Jones" who +was almost turned around in his chair in his determination to see +the Chelton party. + +"He's mighty rude, I think," Walter complained again, leaning over +to speak to Cora who was just beyond Bess. "Do you feel the draft +from that window, Cora?" he asked. + +"Oh I--" then she stopped. Something in Walter's voice told her +that it was not the window draft he was referring to. She glanced +across the room, and her eyes fell upon the man she had met at Jim +Peter's landing place. + +"I think those seats over there--up near the stage are much +pleasanter," said Jack, who also saw that something was wrong. +"Suppose we change?" + +"All right" assented Cora, taking the cue. "There are just four." + +"I will stay here with Hazel, while you and Wallie go over there +with the girls," suggested Jack. "And say Wallie," he whispered, +"if I catch you fanning that young lady in the row ahead I'll--duck +you on the way home." + +Walter apologized profusely for leaving Miss Blake. She evidently +was sorry that the window had been open for she was "so enjoying +talking of dear old Chelton." The place had only been thus +mentioned by herself. + +"Who is that dark man?" Hazel inquired of Jack, for, as if his eyes +were magnets, every girl in the group felt they were riveted upon +her. + +"I don't know," replied Jack, "but he seems to be very much +interested in someone here. There, he is watching Cora. I wonder +who the fellow is?" + +The curtain rising interrupted the speculation. A man cushioned +like a cozy corner laughed at himself while waiting for his audience +to do so. Then he gave a yell and started to sing a ridiculous song +about the milkmaid and the summer boarder. When he had finished one +verse he took another "fit" of laughter, but somehow the audience +did not see it his way, and when he tried it again, he broke off +with an explanation. He felt sure that the people did not quite +understand the joke, and he tried to tell them how very funny it +was. To relieve the situation another person came on. One side of +the figure was draped in the evening garb of a lady, while the other +wore the full dress suit of a gentleman. The illusion was not at +all bad, especially when the "person" waltzed with himself, with his +arms around the other side of the evening dress the effect was +really funny. + +"That's Spencer," declared Jack to Hazel. "He did that at college. +Isn't it great?" + +"Very funny," admitted Hazel, while the man made in halves bowed on +one side first, then on the other, to his applause. + +"Mabel is going to sing now," announced Miss Blake getting a firmer +hold on her chair. "I just love to hear Mabel sing." + +Jack said he did also, then outside the dropped curtain stepped +Mabel. + +She was pretty, a little thing with brown eyes and brown hair. She +wore the most babyish dress made in empire, and it was evident she +knew something about making up for good effect on the stage. + +Applause instantly greeted Mabel, and Jack was not the one who first +tired of clapping his hands. This pleased Miss Jeannette immensely, +and she did not fail to express her pleasure to those about her. + +The dark man in the seat across the aisle glanced first at the stage +and then at the seat where the elderly lady sat. Jack was watching +him, and noted his peculiar glances. Presently Mabel started to +sing. Her voice was sweet, and her stage manners attractive. + +"Isn't she lovely!" exclaimed Bess to Ed. "I do believe she is +studying for the stage." + +"Shouldn't wonder," replied the young man under his breath. Then +the girl finished the song and bowed with such pretty piquancy that +everybody demanded more of her talent. + +Jack was still watching the dark man. As the girl left the platform +the latter left his seat and went outside of the pavilion. + +Presently a messenger tapped Miss Blake on the shoulder, "Your niece +wishes to speak to you," the boy said, and at that Jeanette Blake +also left her seat and the room. + +"Something mysterious about that," said Jack to Hazel, "and I +propose seeing it out if I can. I will take you over to the others, +and run outside." + +Just as he said that, a boy appeared on the platform and announced that +owing to an important message Miss Blake was obliged to leave the hall +and could not accommodate with her second number, but that some one +else would try to fill her place. + +A murmur of dissent arose from the audience. + +"How could she get an important message here," Cora asked Ed. +"Where in the world could it come from?" + +Jack pushed a chair for Hazel in line with the others. + +"I am going outside for a moment," he said. "Take care of the girls +until I come back." + +"All right," agreed the other young men. + +"But don't run after Mabel," put in Walter with a laugh. + +But that was exactly what Jack Kimball did. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +MYSTERY UPON MYSTERY + + +Cora, healthy though she was, did not sleep well that night. Jack +did not return to the hall, and had left word with the doorkeeper +that he could not get back in time to see his sister but would run +up from his bungalow early the next morning. It was early now, and +next morning, but Jack had not kept his word. + +No one but Cora and Hazel had any idea that this might mean anything +important. + +"It was so strange, the way that man acted," said Hazel to Cora, as +the two made their way to the spring for fresh water. "First he +watched you, then when Mabel Blake appeared he kept his eye on her. +And such eyes! I believe he could hypnotize any one." + +"I hope he did not hypnotize Mabel," replied Cora. + +"Or Jack," added Hazel. + +"No fear of the latter," declared the sister. "Jack is too +level-headed to take any cue in that direction." + +"That's just the way I feel about Paul," spoke Hazel. "Isn't it +lovely to have such splendid brothers?" + +"Nothing could be more satisfactory," declared Cora, "unless it +would be having a sister besides. I have often wondered what I +should have done if I had not had such splendid girl friends. Do +you feel as if a sister would have made your life more complete?" + +"I have never thought of it," said Hazel. + +"But Cora! Look at that woman!" + +Almost creeping through the tall grass the form of a woman could be +distinguished. She had evidently come from a boat that was lying +along shore--a rowboat. Seeing the girls, the woman stood up. + +"It's Kate Simpson!" exclaimed Cora, "and she seems to be looking +for our camp!" + +"Miss!" called the woman, her voice shaking. "Wait, wait for poor +Kate! Oh! I'm droppin' down!" + +"What is it, Kate?" asked Cora kindly. "You seem exhausted." + +"Oh, indeed I am that," replied the woman, brushing the straggling +hair from her forehead. "I am all but dead!" + +"What has happened?" asked Cora further. + +"I can't tell you here. They might find me, and they'd know the +boat." + +"We can hide the boat in the bushes, and you may come up to the +camp," suggested Cora. "That boat is not hard to lift." + +"If you only could, but I'm too done up to help," faltered the +woman. + +Cora and Hazel easily shifted the light canoe up into the deep +grass. Kate got on her feet again, and, following the girls, all +made their way to a spot entirely closed in with heavy hemlock +trees. + +"We may talk here," suggested Cora. "This is what we call our +annex--the annex to our camp." + +"It's better than the shack I've been living in," murmured the +woman. "I'm done with that. Here," and she slipped her hand in her +dress, carefully taking from a patched place in her skirt a small +article. "This is yours--I know it!" + +"My ring!" + +Cora's eyes sparkled akin to the gem at which she was gazing. Hazel +looked on dumbfounded. + +"Yes, it's your ring, but don't ask me how I got it," said Kate, +"though I'm pretty sure you can guess." + +"I knew who had it, and I felt I would get it back," Cora replied, +"but I never dreamed how I might recover it. Mother gave it to me +on my last birthday." + +"Well I'll tell you this much, miss," and Kate Simpson glanced +furtively around her, to make sure that no one might be approaching. +"If there ever was two bigger villains than Jim Peters and Tony +whatever-his-other-name-is-if-he's-got one, then I never heard tell +of them. They're up to some new trick every day and another new one +every night. But the worst--" + +She seemed afraid to go on. Evidently even a woman so used to +hardship as this one could be frightened. + +"The worst?" asked Cora. + +"Is the one that goes on at Fern Island," almost whispered the +strange creature. + +"Goes on?" exclaimed Hazel, who had hitherto been silent, too +interested to interrupt. + +"Yes, miss, it goes on, and it will go on I'm afraid while them +villains live." + +There was a shout from the camp. The others were looking for Hazel +and Cora. The familiar yodel was sent back, then Cora told Hazel: + +"You run over, Hazel, and do something to interest them, while I +take Kate up the back way. I want to get her some of those things +the last maid left, and I want to refresh her a little." + +"But I couldn't wait, dear," sighed Kate. "If I don't get a train +or boat away from this place soon, they'll be sure to catch me." + +"But you have done nothing wrong! Why shouldn't you go or come as +you want to?" asked Cora. + +"I can't tell you, miss, but them men seem to have some power and I +want to get away from it. Where might I find a train or a boat?" + +"If you have to go, I'll take you to the landing in my motor boat," +replied Cora. "It has a canopy and you will not be seen on the +water." + +"If you could. I'd be very thankful. You see I'm not much used to +the water, and rowing over from the shack nearly did me up." + +"But I want to give you something for getting me my ring," insisted +Cora. "It is quite valuable, you know." + +"I heard them say so, and now that the other girl is gone I'll tell +you this much. Never you go over to that shack again," and the +woman raised a warning finger. "It was a good thing you met me +instead of Jim Peters the day you did go over. They'll be like +tigers when they find I've got the ring. It was last night that +gave me the chance. They had been out very late, and Tony didn't +have any letters to copy so he fell asleep and--and I slipped away +with it. I slept a bit under a tree, but indeed I was glad to see +daylight." + +"And you have been out all night? You must not think of taking a +journey without first having something to eat. If you are afraid to +come up to camp I'll have something put in the boat for you," +declared Cora. "But let me ask you, did you overhear anything about +a girl named Miss Blake? I saw Jones leave a hall where she was +singing last night, and I suspect he met her as she went out. My +brother followed, but I have not seen him since. He stops at the +boys' camp," Cora explained. + +"Blake? So that was the pretty girl who sang. Well, she had better +be careful that she doesn't join the ghosts at Fern Island," said +the woman, mysteriously. + +"I know the girl. She's from my home place. And that is why my +brother went to see that nothing happened to her," Cora said. + +"Well, you are good people, one can see that," declared Kate. "But +wait. I can't read much, but I picked this up to wrap the ring in." + +She handed Cora a soiled and crumpled telegram blank. Upon it was +made out, in message form, these words: + +"Can place your friend at twenty-five week. Answer at once." + BENEDICT. + +Cora pondered for a moment. "Who could have sent Jones such a +message?" she asked. + +"Sent it?" repeated Kate. "He sends his own messages. He can copy +any handwriting. I heard him say the trick worked," she finished. + +The truth flashed into Cora's mind. That man somehow knew the +Blakes. He was pretending to place little vain Mabel with some +theatrical company. When he left the Casino it was to show her the +bogus message. And Jack must have been somewhere around within +hearing distance. Surely things were getting complicated and +mysterious in the summer colony. But Cora had her ring back, and +for the rest she felt certain that the "ghost" of Fern Island, also +the wild looking girl of whom they had gotten a glimpse, were in +some way being wronged by Jim Peters and his associate, the +handwriting expert. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE RACES + + +"Of course we will enter," declared Cora. "I know my boat and I +think it is as good as any little motor craft on the water." + +"But suppose we should get stuck away out in the lake," objected +Bess. "Then what would we do?" + +The girls and boys were talking together a few days after Cora had +helped mysterious Kate to get away, and had entered the water +contest. + +"There would be plenty of boats to give us a tow," replied Cora, "but +I have not the slightest idea of getting stuck. My engine works +splendidly." + +She found an opportunity to whisper to her brother: "What about Miss +Blake?" + +"I'll tell you later, sis," he whispered back. "It isn't very +important. Don't ask me now," and then he went on fussing over the +engine and oil cups. + +"If we only had our canoe," wailed Jack. + + "That was different from any boat I have seen here. It was built +on racing lines. Funny what became of it." + +"Funny?" repeated Ed. "Tragic I think!" and he gave his sleeves +another upward turn just to be doing something. + +"Deplorable," added Walter. "I think I looked just sweet in that +canoe. Don't you, Hazel?" + +"Well, when I saw you--you did," she admitted, "but three boys in a +canoe are not quite as attractive--" + +"As one girl and one boy," he put in. "Well, that is my own +opinion, but Jack and Ed are so inartistic. I never can get them to +see things my way." + +"We will race in the Peter Pan," Ed announced. "Of course she +cannot be beaten. But it is not half as much fun to depend upon an +engine as to rely upon muscle. The canoe for me." + +"But the glory!" exclaimed Belle. "That boat is beautiful." + +"The boat is! Look at us," and Jack stood almost on his head. +"Boats are all right, but in the beauty class we come first." + +"What time do they start?" Cora inquired. "I've forgotten." + +"Motors at three, smaller craft earlier. I am going over to the +Point to see the hand-boats," said Jack. "Of course everybody is +interested in them." + +"Then girls," advised Cora, "get ready. We will have an early +lunch, and go out for the afternoon. Perhaps we will bring the cup +back." + +"Lucky if you bring your boat back," Jack cautioned. "Don't you +want me to look the engine over, Cora?" + +"No, indeed. That would be a dangerous thing to do, for I now have +every part clear. I have put on a bigger oil cup, have had the +water circulation increased so the engine can not heat so, I have +had a throttle control put up at the steering wheel so that I can +slow down from there, and I tell you, Jackie, I have worked out the +secrets of that engine until there are no more." + +"I should say you had, sis. I never knew there were so many +attachments. Well, I know I can depend upon you to keep up the +honor of the Kimball family. Come along fellows. Let's see that +the Peter Pan is not done by the 'Peter Petrel.' I noticed she was +puffing out a lot of oil this morning as we came over." + +"Then," said Cora, "you want to be careful. Your oil will run out +and the best engine made will stop short if that happens." + +"Whew!" exclaimed Ed. "Suppose we get Cora to look over our boat? +She seems to know." + +"Better have Paul do it," suggested Cora. "That boat is worth three +thousand dollars, and I wonder they ever allowed you boys to rent +it." + +"They would not if Paul had not vouched for them," Hazel explained. +"They have a great regard for Paul's skill." + +"And is he not going in the races?" asked Bess. + +"I haven't heard him say," replied the sister. + +"Bet he'll be a dark horse," suggested Ed. "Well, we can't wish +Paul any too much good luck, but I do wish he would not stick so +dose to his boats and tools. We scarcely see anything of him." + +"Nor do I," agreed Hazel with a sigh. "I miss him dreadfully." + +"Poor child," and Walter affected to put his big brown arm around +the girl. "Let me make up for Paul. Does he kiss you very often?" +and he brushed her cheek. + +"Walter Pennington!" gasped the circumspect Hazel, "Do have sense!" + +"That's what Cora taught me--to help the needy," he floundered. + +"Come now, no more nonsense," ordered Cora. "If we are to race we +have to get ready." A few hours later Cedar Lake was alive with +craft. The rowboats and canoes were lined up first and our friends +from Chelton, the girls in the Petrel and the boys in the Peter Pan, +kept a sharp look out for the lost canoe. Of course they knew it +would be repainted, but the lines being different from those of +other boats they hoped to be able to distinguish it, should it +appear for the races. + +The judges had taken their places. The platform at the Point was +gaily decorated for the occasion, and all sorts of banners were +flying. The course was to cover one mile, and it ran clear out into +the open lake so that the delightful view was unobstructed. + +Of all the canoes a bright red craft with a girl in Indian garb +attracted most attention. The girl had her hair flying and was +indeed a striking figure in the brilliant bark. + +There were many green boats, all having Indian names, and there were +those of wood in the natural color. Girls vied with boys in point +of numbers, and had it all their own way in point of attractiveness. + +"They are all ready," Cora told her friends, as the man on the bench +who held the pistol allowed it to glimmer in the sunlight. The next +moment a crack rent the air and the boats shot off. + +For some moments no one spoke. All attention was riveted on the +graceful canoes that so motionlessly covered the deep blue lake. +The dip of the paddles was the only sign of movement although the +dainty boats were making good time in covering the courses. +Suddenly when all others had left and were off a light canoe shot +out from some place, and a girl with her hair flying, and dressed +most peculiarly, started off after them all. + +"She gave them a handicap," said Cora, then something occurred to +her. The same thought came to the others for each held her breath. + +"The ghost girl!" whispered Belle, finally. "However did she get +in?" + +"It surely is! See her go! And there--there is that man from +Peters'," exclaimed Bess to Cora, "and he, too, is in the race." + +"They can beat anything on the lake," declared Hazel. "See her go!" + +"See him go!" + +In a few seconds those who had so mysteriously entered, the race +were far up in the line with those who had first started. The girl +was wonderfully graceful, and the man showed marked skill at the +paddle. He was trying to keep close to her, that was evident, but +at a cheer from the shore and from the outlying boats the girl shot +ahead and was soon out of hearing of the man, who evidently was her +companion. + +"She will beat him--she will beat them all!" declared Cora, and this +was the opinion of most of the thousands of spectators. + +"But if she does," faltered Belle, "do you suppose she will go to +the stand dressed like that to receive the prize?" + +"We shall see," said Cora. "At any rate this combination is far +more interesting than the real race." + +A red canoe was alongside the girl in the light one. For a few +moments it seemed she would be outdone. Then, with a clever light +dip of her paddle, that scarcely seemed to touch the water, the Fern +Island girl was again ahead. + +The first course had been covered and the boats were turned back for +the final run. + +"The man has dropped out," said Belle, "See there he is just +floating along." + +"He wouldn't be beaten, I suppose," Cora surmised, "Any one could +see that the girl would come in first." + +"They are coming back and she has not started," said Belle, who had +the marine glasses. + +"But she will," declared Cora. + +"Yes, there she comes! Oh isn't it exciting! To have the queer +girl beat all those who pride themselves on their skill. I wonder +who or what she can be?" queried Hazel. + +"Here come our boys," said Belle, as the beautiful golden Peter Pan +motored over to the smaller Petrel. + +"What do you think of that?" called Jack. "Look at the Wild Duck!" + +"Isn't she a--bird!" confirmed the voice of Ed. + +"A Sea Gull," added the more polite Walter. "I say, girls, do you +happen to know her?" + +"Yes," called back Cora, "We have met her." + +Then there was an exchange of words understandable only to those +expressing them, and to those for whom they were expressed, but any +one might have guessed that the boys in the Peter Pan were asking +the girls in the Petrel to let them "meet" the wild bird of the +light canoe. + +"They are almost in," said Bess, breathlessly. "Oh I hope she does +not back out." + +"No danger," said Cora. "One can see that she is making for the +finish line." + +"There are two boys who have been saving themselves," Hazel +remarked. "I shouldn't wonder if they could beat our friend." + +"Oh, I hope not," exclaimed Belle. "I should be so disappointed." + +"And it would be impolite of them," added the innocent Bess, whereat +every one laughed. + +The boys had been saving their strength. Now they paddled off and +their craft, one of brown and one green, seemed equal to any of the +others. + +"Hello there!" called Jack. "Did you notice?" + +"What?" asked Cora. + +"The canoe--the Gerkin?" + +"He means it has lines like the lost boat," said Cora. "I have not +seen it enough to know," she finished, but at the same time she took +the glasses to look at the new rival of the wild girl. + +"Yes it has, I remember," said Bess. "I had a good look at it the +afternoon that they lost it. I was waiting for you to fix up your +boat Cora, and I saw the boys' canoe." + +"Well, I suppose they could never be certain, as there must be more +than one boat built even on those lines," said Cora. "My! See how +close they are--the girl and the boys!" + +"She's ahead!" exclaimed Belle, clapping her hands. "How I hope she +wins!" + +"We all do!" declared Hazel. + +Then they were silent. The first canoe was almost in, and it was +the one called the Gerkin, paddled by the boys. + +"Go it girl!" screamed the boys from the Peter Pan. + +"Beat them, girlie!" called the girls from the Petrel. + +For one brief second the wild-looking girl turned in the direction +from which the voices had come. Hats were waved to her, +handkerchiefs flaunted and then she paddled--paddled straight ahead +and came into the finish first! + +"Hurrah! Hurrah!" went up shout after shout. + +"I knew it!" cried Cora joyously. "Now let us watch her." + +"There's that dark man!" Bess told them. "Oh! I just wish he would +keep away from her." + +But he did not. The girl in the light canoe turned from the +spectators as if she had been deaf and dumb. And it was the dark +man--the fellow called Tony Jones--who went up to the judges to get +their verdict. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +ONE WAY TO WIN + + +"We have no time now," Jack told Cora, "but as soon as the races are +over I will ask what that fellow told the judges. Certainly he must +have said that he had a right to, the girl's prize, or they would +not have given it to him." + +"But how the poor thing hurried off! Why, she hardly had a chance +to know that she won," replied the sister. "I think it a shame that +the creature should be treated like something really wild," and she +turned to watch the foamy wake that the little canoe was tracing, as +the girl from Fern Island hurried to hide herself again where ever +she might go. The signal precluded the possibility of further +interest just then in the strange case, but indeed Cora's mind was +not so readily shifted. She wanted to know about that girl. + +The speed boats were next to be tried out. What a splendid showing! +Who would have dreamed that such handsome craft were on the waters +of Cedar Lake? Of course they were all private boats, and their +flags flaunted proudly before the spellbound spectators. + +The Peter Pan was among the very finest. In this were our boy +friends from Chelton, and as they lined up the admiration expressed +was unstinted. The Sprint was another splendid speed boat, built +with torpedo stern and a queer spray hood at the bow. This was +being run by a girl--a young lady noted for her skill at any sort of +motor. + +"Oh, I hope our boys win," exclaimed Bess, as if that hope needed to +be made known. + +"They have a good chance," argued Cora. "Of course so many things +may happen that there is absolutely no surety of any machinery on +the water." She looked to see that the oil cup levers of the Petrel +were down to prevent the lubricant flowing before it was needed and +also gave a critical survey of the little wire that connected on the +cylinder. It emitted a clear "fat" spark as she touched it to the +metal, and this seemed to satisfy her. + +"I guess ours is all right; isn't it?" asked Hazel. "Wouldn't it be +fine if we won something!" + +"I fully intend to," declared Cora. + +"That means that we will," responded Belle. "If Cora intends!" + +"They're off!" called out Hazel, "look at Jack!" + +He was standing over the engine evidently making sure that even at +the start he should not loose a single atom of the power that +twirled the propeller. Ed was at the steering wheel. Walter was at +the side, and with him was Paul Hastings. + +"There's Paul!" exclaimed Bess, when they could make out that the +fourth figure in the boat was that of the boy's friend. "I thought +he would run another boat." + +"He wouldn't want any other to beat the Peter Pan," explained Hazel, +"and at the same time he would not take the glory of it from the +boys who have it for the season. That's Paul," she finished +proudly. + +The first "leg" of the course had been covered, and the three best +boats, the Peter Pan, the Sprint, and the Lady B. were all in line. +A dozen others were trailing, and while they showed less speed it +was not safe to say that they could not catch up with the three +stars. From buoy to buoy over the triangular course the boats +fairly shot, and a beautiful sight they made on the green-hilled +basin of Cedar Lake. + +The course was covered once and then the second round was started by +the boats that had qualified. These were only five in number, one +of them being a very queer looking craft, built high on the sides +like a huge box and showing at the bow a double point, like a pair +of slippers. This of course attracted considerable attention, and +it shot past the Sprint, which was run by the young lady who had +hoped to meet with no rival such as a home-made boat, to say the +least. + +"Can't that go? Look at it!" the spectators were exclaiming. + +"See, Paul is at the Peter Pan's engine!" said Cora, as the color +of that boy's cap made it plain that he had taken Jack's place. "I +hope Jack has not strained his wrist, or done anything like that." + +"Very likely Paul is just seeing if everything is right," said +Hazel. "See, there, Jack has his place again." + +During the second and third trials all interest was centered on the +Peter Pan, the Hague, (the home-made boat), and the Sprint. Now this +would be ahead, and now that, until it seemed that there could be +but little difference in the merits of any of the three. Of course +most of the sympathy was with the Sprint, because a girl was +striving to outdo the boys. At the same time, the Hague, being such +an oddity, and the lake folks knowing that this had been built by +the boys who were running it, came in for its share of applause. + +"There is not a boat on the lake that can fairly beat the Peter +Pan," Hazel declared almost feverishly, for the others were +threatening to do so. "I have heard Paul say so." + +"He ought to know," said Cora with a sly wink, "but that big tub, +the Hague, is something new. Perhaps it has the power of a +destroyer." + +"It is big and clumsy enough to have any sort of power," remarked +Belle. "I should just be sick if it did win." + +"All's fair, in a fair race," remarked Cora. "See the Hague is +ahead!" + +One more course was to be made, and every eye and every mind was +centered on this, the final test. + +The Peter Pan shot out bravely and safely. The Sprint made a +splendid second! Then the Hague! Something seemed wrong. It was +"missing." That could plainly be heard from the girl's boat. Away +they flew, yard after yard being made in wonderfully short time. +The Sprint was doing well with the Peter Pan. The Hague suddenly +shot forward, passed every thing--passed the Sprint--passed the +Peter Pan and won! + +"Hurrah for the tub!" yelled the crowd. "Hurrah for home talent!" +shouted the throng. But the young lady in the Sprint throttled down +and her boat drifted over to the boys. + +"How was that?" she asked breathlessly. + +"I don't know," replied Paul "but I'm going to find out. We were +second and you made a splendid run--but I'm going to look into the +glories of the Tub!" + +So keen was the disappointment of the girls in the Petrel that they +seem to have lost heart for their own race, which came next. But +when Ed and Jack called out to them, and Paul waved his cap in his +own quiet way, the encouragement dispelled their lost of interest. + +Cora spun the flywheel, and the boat took its place. She looked +every inch a girl to win, while Hazel kept close to the steering +wheel and the twins did their part in just looking pretty. The +motor girls' boat was the cynosure of every eye, as it happened to +be the only boat in that class run by girls. + +The signal was given and they started off. + +"Steady!" Jack called. "Go it, sis!" + +He should hardly have done this, but his boyish love for the girls +and their boat could not be restrained. Then they waved, and the +maroon and white flag stood out tense and defiant like some animate +thing. + +Not a word was spoken by the girls. It seemed so important to pay +all attention to the machine upon which depended the loss or gain of +a victory--if we may say that a victory can be lost. + +"Look out!" called Hazel suddenly and a boat crossed their path so +closely that Cora was obliged to throttle down, and Hazel had to run +straight for a buoy to avoid a collision, and the craft hit the +course marker. Then the Petrel stopped short! It simply wouldn't +move! + +"Oh!" sighed Belle and Bess in one voice, but Cora jumped up and +tried for a spark. None came! + +She looked at the connections. They seemed all right. + +"Maybe it's in the gas," she said nervously, while the other boats +were passing them by. + +She yanked down the bulkhead board that hid the gasoline tank. Then +she saw the cause of the trouble. + +"Short circuited!" she exclaimed. "That happened when we struck +the buoy. It jarred the battery wires together," and the next +instant she had adjusted the difficulty and the engine, glad to be +off again, seemed to try to make up for the lost seconds. + +Every one in the Petrel breathed a sigh of relief. The anxiety had +been intense. + +"I was certainly afraid we would have to row to shore," Belle said, +taking a more comfortable position. + +"We will make up for it," declared Cora, throwing on full speed and +directing Hazel as to the best way to hold the wheel exactly +straight and in doing so to get all possible distance out of each +explosion of the engine. + +They finished in a tie over the first course. This was encouraging, +for the little Mischief, their closest opponent, was acknowledged a +fine boat. + +Two more courses were to finish the race, unless there was another +tie. The girls scarcely noticed the frantic efforts of the boys in +the Peter Pan who were encouraging and directing at the top of their +lungs. The young men in the Mischief were anxious. They could +never stand it to be beaten by a couple of country girls! But, on +the second trial Cora's boat won, and then came the final test. + +Up the lake they went again! Now the Petrel was ahead and now the +Mischief until the closeness of the two became absorbing. + +"The best race of the day!" the judges were declaring. "Neither has +it all her own way!" + +"Plucky girls," said another of the men at the stand. "Whatever +happened when they stopped they must have been well able to handle, +from the way they caught up again. I thought they were out of it +that time!" + +"We all did," put in some one else, "but I have seen that little +girl on the lake before. She knows something about a motor boat." + +"Here they come!" Jack yelled. "Just look at Cora! Isn't she +fine!" + +"And Hazel!" put in Paul with a smile. + +"How about Bess and Belle?" asked the fickle Walter. "I think they +look just sweet!" + +Only two more "legs," and the Petrel was still ahead! + +One was covered, with the Mischief so close that only those in the +best position could tell which one led. + +"Steady, Hazel!" cautioned Cora. Straight as an arrow she directed +the wheel. + +Then there was a splash from a nearby motor boat. A shout and +screams! + +"Overboard!" yelled the frantic onlookers. "A child overboard!" + +It was just at the side of the Petrel! + +"Hazel! The engine! Bess, the wheel!" shouted Cora, and before any +one knew what she was about, she had jumped into the water and was +making for the spot were the child had gone under. + +The boys in the Mischief did not stop. Hazel took the engine and +Bess the wheel, realizing that Cora meant for them to finish. + +Presently she came up with the child in her arms! + +"Go it, girls!" she called, "Win! Win!" + +The Mischief was close alongside. Cora was clinging to the side of +the boat from which the child had dropped, while the almost fainting +mother was recovering her little one. The others assisted Cora in, +and forgot all about her race. + +But Cora stood spellbound in the cockpit, dripping wet. She stood +there ignoring the thanks poured out on her. + +"Steady, Hazel!" she called. "Win--win for me!" + +That was enough. The motor girls, those in the Petrel, realizing +that their leader was safe, now determined to "win for her." + +The Mischief had gained in the time that Cora swung overboard, and +now was just abreast of the Petrel. The slight change of course +also told in the last few yards, but now Hazel and Bess forgot +everything but the call of Cora to win, and their boat, like a +flash, sprang up to its opponent and passed it by the closest record +made in any of the races. + +"Hurrah! Hurrah!" rang out in their ears. + +"A double victory!" shouted one of the judges. Then the Petrel was +turned back to get Cora who was in the other motor boat. + +The boys in the Peter Pan had not seen Cora dive over for the child, +but as quickly as they heard the report, that was now being spread +about, they made for the boat from which the accident occurred. + +Back with them went the boat of the accident crew, and when Cora +finally returned to her own craft she had an escort of honor to the +judges stand. + +"First prize for the Petrel!" announced the head judge. "And the +honor medal for life-saving to Miss Cora Kimball, the leader of our +brave little crew of motor girls." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +VICTORS AND SPOILS + + +"Wasn't it exciting!" Belle was saying to the little party that had +gathered around Cora as she received their praise and congratulations +after it was all over. "I never dreamed that boat races could furnish +so many kinds of excitement." + +"I don't call it all delightful," objected Bess putting her arms +around the still wet form of the girl who had made the rescue, "and +I don't want to see Cora jump overboard that way again. I shall +never forget it." + +"A good way to find out how much folks think of me" replied Cora. +"I really didn't mind it a bit, once I knew that I could get the +child before she got under a boat. That was all that worried me." + +"Your cup is a beauty though, sis," said Jack, who was examining the +trophy. "I think it's prettier than the one we lost. Paul is not +satisfied that we lost fairly though, and he's up there now +disputing it." + +"What good can that do now?" asked Belle. + +"No telling. Paul knows what he is about," replied Jack. "But say, +did you know that the wild girl in the canoe is deaf and dumb?" + +"No!" exclaimed all the girls in one voice. + +"Yes that's what the dark fellow who was trailing her told the +judges, and that is why, I guess, she scampered off so. Too bad! +She is pretty too." + +"And did the man take her prize?" asked Cora. + +"Sure thing," replied the brother. "He said he was her guardian." + +Cora thought for a moment. "Seems to me," she said finally, "that +she turned towards us when we shouted to her." + +"Sometimes deaf people know such things by instinct," Jack offered +as an explanation. "I thought too, that she gave us a knowing +glance." + +"Pure conceit," said Ed. "Wallie claimed the glance, but I saw her +hair float in my direction." + +"She's a star canoeist," declared Jack, "and I should like to be +better acquainted with her." + +"Can you talk with your fingers?" asked Belle. "I know a little of +the sign language, but I would not be too sure that I could carry on +a conversation." + +"But you could introduce one," insisted Jack, "and once she knew I +wanted to know her--I might depend upon--true love to make known all +the rest." + +"Here! Here! Jackie!" cautioned Cora, "you are not to talk of +love--until mother comes home. You have promised to look after me." + +"As if Ed and Walter couldn't do that ten times better than I can. +But hello! Here comes Paul--the Paul." + +"It's ours," called Paul, before he was dose enough to talk in the +regulation tones. "Come on up! The judges want to see the crew of +the Peter Pan!" + +"Ours!" echoed Jack, Ed and Walter. + +"It certainly is ours. Those fellows had the gasoline doped?" + +"What's that?" asked Ed. + +"They had camphor and some other stuff in their gas," went on Paul, +"and the engine nearly kicked out of the boat." + +"Did they admit it?" inquired Ed. + +"Not until I charged them with it," replied Paul. "I knew there was +something up when they got ahead on that jump. Then I asked if I +might take a look at that freak engine, and they allowed me to do +so. I smelled camphor the minute I stepped aboard. They even had +not sense enough to hide the bottle, and it's against the present +racing rules on this lake to doctor gas. So I taxed them with it, +and they finally admitted it and we went together to the judges. +They were pretty decent chaps and did not seem to mind, very much, +relinquishing the prize. You know what it is, don't you?" + +"Certainly, it's a dandy canoe," said Jack, "And you really mean +that it is to be ours?" + +"If you don't hurry along some one else may claim it," said Paul. +"It isn't mine, it's yours." + +"And to think that we and our boys both got prizes!" exclaimed +Hazel. "Isn't it too good to be true?" + +"And too good to be false," answered Paul. "Now, boys, let's run +along. I have something to do before evening." + +"And I had better make for camp," said Cora. "These togs are wet." + +"Of course," said Belle with sympathy in her voice. "But when do +you get your medal, Cora?" + +"I believe it comes from Philadelphia. Some wealthy man has it +stored there waiting to be claimed." + +"It's a wonder the mother of that little girl didn't want to adopt +you, Cora," said Jack, as the boys started off with Paul. "I +thought from the way she hung on to you she had intentions. Well, +so long. We will give you first ride in our new canoe, and let us +hope we will have better luck with this one than we had with the +other," and then the boys went off for the prize. + +"I can't get over that girl being deaf and dumb," said Hazel, as the +girls made their way to the camp. "I can scarcely believe it." + +"Well, now we have a double interest on Fern Island," Cora answered. +"If there is really such an unfortunate creature hid or hiding there +she ought to be rescued. I cannot understand, either, how that +foreigner can be her guardian." + +"That Jones?" asked Bess, as innocently as if she had not seen the +girl race and heard about the man claiming her prize. + +"Why, yes, of course," replied Cora. "And he says she is deaf and +dumb. Who's calling? Didn't you hear some one?" + +"Yes, there's Mabel Blake hurrying after us," said Belle. "She +looks excited." + +The girl who was running along the path did indeed "look excited." +The motor girls waited. + +"Oh, I thought I would never catch up to you!" Mabel panted. "You +do walk at such a pace!" + +"Why, how are you, Mabel?" asked Cora graciously. "I heard you had +gone back to Chelton." + +"We did intend to--but we haven't," she faltered. "Jeannette has +been ill." + +"Ill!" exclaimed more than one voice. + +"Yes, that's what I want to see you about. I don't know what to +do," and Mabel's pretty brown eyes filled to the lashes. + +"Can we help you?" Cora asked. + +"I would like to speak with you alone, Cora," she said. "But I know +what you did this afternoon, and I see you have still to change your +clothing." + +"They are almost dry now," Cora replied. "Yet if you could wait +five minutes I could easily change in that time. Here we are. Home +again. And there! Nettie has heard all about our victories; +haven't you Nettie?" + +"Indeed yes, Miss Cora. But I was afraid for you," replied the +maid. "The child's father sent a message up here to ask when he +might see you?" + +"Oh, they make too much fuss over a trifle," replied Cora. "Sit +here on the porch with the girls, Mabel. I will be out soon." + +Finally Mabel pressed her handkerchief to her eyes and murmuring +some sort of unintelligible excuse she rushed indoors. + +She was met in the hall by Cora. + +"Why, what is it, Mabel?" she asked, putting her arms about the +sobbing one. + +"Oh, I cannot stand it," wailed Mabel. "The disgrace!" + +"What disgrace?" + +"The--that--man!" she stammered. "But I must go back to Jeannette. +I am afraid she is losing her mind. Of course, you could not go +with me, Cora. It would be too much after your hard afternoon. But +Jeannette got your letter." + +"Yes? I hope she understood it." + +Mabel tried to dry her eyes. "I suppose she did if any one could +understand such a thing," she replied. "But to think it is in the +Chelton paper!" + +"When was it in?" Cora asked. + +"It will be out to-morrow!" replied the tearful one. + +"To-morrow," Cora repeated thoughtfully. "Perhaps Jack could stop +it. He is well acquainted with the editor." + +"Oh, if he only could," and Mabel brightened up. "That's what makes +Jeannette feel so dreadfully." + +"It was very unfortunate," Cora said. "He is a dangerous man." + +"Dangerous! I think he should be put in jail," declared Mabel +hotly. + +"But it is so difficult to catch such people," Cora remarked. "You +could scarcely name your charge against him?" + +"Name it? Never!" exclaimed the girl. + +"There you are. One woman who might put him in jail flies off to +New York. You could at least accuse him of fraud and you refuse. I +myself know of one wrong doing that affected me and I prefer to keep +quiet--for the present at least. You see what cowards we all are +where our pride is concerned. + +"You are not a coward, Cora Kimball," exclaimed Mabel, "and I know +perfectly well you would denounce him if you thought that safest." + +"At any rate, Mabel, I think it will all come out right," Cora +assured her. "Just wait until I have a glass of milk and I will go +over and see Jeannette." + +"I can never tell how it all happened," sighed Mabel, "I really +think he had me hypnotized." + +"He is a clever rogue," agreed Cora, and she knew now more about his +roguery than she cared to sum up even to herself. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +TALKING IT OVER + + +The interview with Miss Jeannette Blake was not altogether +satisfactory, but Cora was too careful of the sick one's feelings to +ask deliberate questions. She could not really find out how far the +Blakes had gone with Tony Jones in the matter of paying him for the +alleged placement of Mabel with a theatrical company, but she +guessed they had either actually paid a large sum, or had given +a note that might be equally compelling. + +Also the notices that had been prepared for the press announcing her +coming "debut" were very embarrassing. + +It was the day after the races, and Cora sat with her brother on the +porch of their bungalow. She had told him of Mabel's plight and was +asking him to help her clear up some of the shades and shadows. + +"Tell me, Jack," she asked, "what happened the night you followed +Mabel out of the pavilion--the night that man gave her the false +message?" Jack thrust his hands deep into his pockets, and looked +very serious--for him. "To tell the truth, Cora," he began, "I had +to make love to Mabel to get her out of his clutches." + +"Make love to her, Jack!" + +"Nothing smaller would do but you know, sis, the love was only a +sort of sample, the kind a fellow might safely give away to any +girl." + +Cora laughed. "You funny boy," she said, "to flatter a girl to save +her from--flattery." + +"But didn't you ask me to? Didn't you say to watch Mabel that time +you whispered as I was leaving? You are the funny one. It was you +that put the wicked plot in my fair young head," and he sighed in +mock sincerity. + +"But honestly, did you see that man give her the telegram? It seems +to me you might be a witness should there be trouble." + +Jack jumped up. "Oh, no, you don't, sis!" he declared. "You don't +get me in any further mischief. Mabel is too fond of me now." + +"Jack, don't be silly! I want you to wire the editor of the Chelton +paper that, owing to the sudden illness of Miss Jeannette Blake, her +niece, Miss Mabel Blake, has been compelled to stop her musical +studies, and postpone her debut as a singer. That is all true and +if the other notice does appear you can arrange to have this given +as the latest." + +"Foxy!" declared jack. "'Not a word of fib and not a grain of +truth. Well, you would beat Jones if you went at his game, but I do +think it a good idea to wire Nat Phillips. I'll go and do so at +once," he added, feeling in his pocket to make sure he had with him +change enough to pay for the message. + +"And Jack," Cora went on, "since you have been so good, don't you +think it would be lovely for you to sort of keep track of Mabel for +a day or two? That man, I am afraid, has her under some sort of +influence, and there is no telling what he might not try to do to +get some Blake money." + +"Make more love to her? Suppose she takes me up?" + +"I really cannot explain it all, Jack," said Cora gravely, "but the +man has frightened more than Mabel. The woman who kept house for +him and Peters was so afraid that he would find out she was leaving, +that I could scarcely persuade her to wait while I changed the +batteries in my boat. She kept saying she wanted to get out of his +power. And now Mabel declares he had her hypnotized. Then that +sort of queer girl who won the canoe race--surely he has her somehow +in his power, as they express it." + +"Powerful man," answered Jack, "but how is it, Cora, that you talked +with him and he did not hoodoo you?" + +"Oh I'm immune I suppose," and she smiled with her handsome face +turning up in becoming hauteur. + +"Guess Ed thinks that, too," said the brother mischievously. "He +has been growling to me about it." + +"Ed is a dear, nice boy," she said simply. + +"That's the sort of compliment a girl always pays the fellow she is +going to turn down," Jack declared. + +"I think, brother, making love to Mabel has gone to your head. But +hurry along to the station and send off the message." + +Cora sat there silent for a few moments. There was no one about the +camp but herself, and she would soon go down to the lake for a run +in her boat. She was thinking that of all the peculiar cases of +other people's troubles in which she felt she had a right to +interfere that of the girl who was said to be deaf and dumb and who +was probably hidden somewhere on Fern Island was the case most +urgent. If only she could really find her, and find that poor +demented old man who had so strangely crossed her path. Cora had +not the least fear of either of them and suddenly she resolved to go +alone to Fern Island and try to find them. + +Ten minutes later, when she had left a note dangling from the +hanging lamp in the dining room, saying to the girls that she would +be back by supper time, Cora was gliding up Cedar Lake in the +Petrel. + +She was glad that she did not meet any of her friends who would, of +course, ask where she was going. And now she was too far away to +meet any boats of summer fisher folks or pleasure seekers. + +"I am beginning to believe in the psychic," she mused, "for I have a +feeling that a cry for help comes from that perfectly silent +island." + +Her heart beat quickly as she throttled down her engine, stopped it, +and finally stepped ashore. Her landing was made on a different +side of the island than before and she saw instantly that feet had +been treading down the ferns from shore to inland. This path served +to guide her along. Then she noticed particles of food. + +"Hardly picnic folks along here," she thought. "Perhaps the canoe +girl is somewhere about--" + +But what was her terror when she faced the shore at a dear spot in +the woods and against it saw the boat of the man Peters. + +"Oh!" she gasped. "He must be on the island!" + +Then she listened. Yes, there was a step! She sank down behind a +clump of thick bushes and while hiding there she saw, not Peters, +but Jones saunter down to the water's edge! + +How she trembled! A half-fainting sensation overcame her. From a +crouching attitude she sank flat on the ground and felt too weak to +attempt to raise herself. + +Meanwhile the man had reached his rowboat and pushed off. He +glanced along and saw the motor boat. + +"That girl!" he muttered. "She is interfering with my plans again. +This would be an ideal place for a--" Then he stopped. "Bah! I'll +just give her a chance to think over her courage." + +Cora was still under the bush, and did not hear the gentle purr of +her engine as the man started down Cedar Lake in her own precious +motor boat, dragging his rowboat behind. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +TWO GIRLS ON THE ISLE + + +"He's gone!" Cora murmured, as creeping out from her hiding place, +she could see that the rowboat had left the shore. "Well, I am safe +again, for I have not the slightest fear of any one who may be on +this island--now." + +Cora glanced about her in a dazed way. Then she noticed that the +bent grass and fern led toward a hill in a deep part of the wood. + +"Strange," she was thinking. "I feel so absolutely certain that the +young girl is about here, and that she needs help." + +The path was so faintly outlined that Cora could scarcely trace it, +but she knew if any one was in hiding the place of concealment must +be at the end of the path. + +Several times she looked back of her to make sure that the man Jones +was not following. Then suddenly she thought she heard a faint +moan! + +She listened. Yes, that was a sob and in a girl's weak voice. Cora +quickened her steps, and forgetting now to watch the path she was +covering, forgetting all except that a human creature must be in +pain, and that she could probably help that person. Cora Kimball +almost ran until she reached the hill, where she saw a sort of +screen made from the broken branches of trees. + +Another moan! It was behind that screen! Quick as a flash Cora +jerked down the branches, thrust her head into a cave and there +beheld the one who was sobbing and moaning. + +It was the canoe girl! She lay on a bed of pine needles her pretty +face as pale as death, and her lovely hair tangled in the pine +pallet. + +As Cora pushed her way into the queer cave, the girl turned, and +seeing her, screamed--such a scream as one might expect from the +insane. At the same moment the brush was again pushed from the door +and there stood the wild man! His white hair and his white beard +showed Cora that he was the same person who had so strangely crossed +her path in the woods the day she was fern-gathering. + +"I want to help you," Cora spoke timidly, while the girl on the +ground moaned pitifully. + +"Help?" whispered the man, and his voice was as gentle and soft as a +woman's. "They have killed my girl," and he knelt down beside the +prostrate figure. He kissed her passionately. Then she opened her +eyes. + +"Father, dear," she murmured, "You must go--quick!" + +He kissed her again; then he turned to Cora. + +"Young woman," he said gravely, "you must not harm my darling. She +is innocent." Then he left the cave. + +What could she do? What should she do? This girl was neither deaf +nor dumb, and for that Cora was grateful, but if that dangerous man, +who had said she was both, should return, and find Cora with her! + +"Dear," said Cora gently, "try to trust me. Tell me what I can do +for you?" + +"Oh, if I could but die!" the girl sobbed, "but there is father!" + +Then Cora saw that she was becoming unconscious. Feeling about the +half-dark cave place Cora came upon a pail of water. Beside it was +a tin cup and this she filled and carried to the sick girl's lips. + +"Try to drink," she whispered. "Then if you can stand I will take +you to my house in my boat." + +The girl did sip some of the water. Again she opened those +wonderful eyes and looked at Cora. + +"You are kind," she said. "He did not send you?" + +"No one sent me, dear, and I promise never to betray you." + +"At last," she murmured, "a friend!" + +"Yes, a friend," Cora assured her, "and I am going to prove it to +you. I saw you one day as we--some girls and myself came to this +island. Then I saw you win that splendid race, and since then I +have been determined to find you." + +"'He made me do it, he made me go in the race," said the girl, "and +now he brings this letter." + +"What has shocked you so?" Cora asked. "Was it the letter?" + +"Yes, he says they are coming for father!" + +"Who?" Cora asked, but the girl's face went so white that again she +pressed the tin cup to her lips. + +"There," Cora went on, "we will talk of nothing now but of what we +shall do to make you well again. Could you walk ever so little a +distance? To my motor boat?" + +"If I could, what then?" asked the girl. + +"Then loving hands would bring back the color into your checks, and +then the best boys in the world would come to help your father." + +"Help father!" she repeated. "But that can never be done. Father +is--an outcast!" + +"But he has no disease," Cora said, remembering what Kate, had told +her was Tony's excuse for going to see a victim of some dreadful +disease, who was on Fern Island. + +"No, thank God, his body is well, but his soul is sick--so very +sick." + +"Let me see if you can sit up?" asked Cora. "It will soon be night +and we must try to get away." + +"It will, be much better to leave him, and return, soon, well and +strong enough to comfort him again," Cora said, "than to stay here, +and perhaps die." + +"You are right," said the stranger getting up on her elbow. "Oh, +what it means to speak with a girl again. Heaven must have sent +you." + +"There, you are up now," spoke Cora quickly, realizing the +importance of urging the girl to get up while she felt so inclined. +"See, you can stand! There, now you can walk." + +"But I must say good-bye to father. Oh! should I leave him?" she +sobbed. + +"Just for a little while, dear," Cora again assured her. Then the +girl put her finger to her mouth and gave a queer whistle. + +"I will be outside so he will know that I am better," said the girl. +"Father has been so frightened." + +The next moment the man appeared again. + +"Father," said the girl, "I am going with this friend some place to +get well. Should I go?" + +"Friend? Yes, she is all of that. Daughter go!" and the man +pressed her to his breast. + +"And you will be all right? No one will come for you?" + +A look of horror swept over his face. "They shall not find me," he +faltered, releasing his daughter from the embrace. + +"Let me tell you, sir," ventured Cora, "that the man I just saw +leave this island is a villain. Don't believe one word he says." + +"Villain? Yes! He is that, for he would have carried off my +Laurel!" + +"Hush father, you showed him that you had more strength than a +coward can have. I feel so much better. I am almost cured since +this girl has taken my hand." + +"My name is Cora Kimball," said our heroine, "and I have a camp at +the lower end of the lake. It is there I am taking Laurel." + +"And she may come to see me?" almost sobbed the aged man. "My +little wild Laurel." + +"Yes, indeed, and some day I feel that we may take you, too, away +from this island. There, I do not mean anything to harm you. Come, +dear, it is growing dark." + +"I will leave a branch of laurel to guide you back to me," the man +said to his daughter. "When you come, look for it as I shall place +it fresh every day." + +"Go now, before I go," his daughter urged. "Then I shall feel that +you are safe." + +He turned, and the girls stood to watch the last of that queer form +as it disappeared over the hill. He was going to one of his many +woodland haunts. + +"Now we may go," said the lonely one. "Poor, dear father!" + +"Be brave," urged Cora, as she led her toward the shore. "I am so +glad I found you." + +"If you had not I feel I should have gone insane. That man was +always terrible, but today he wanted to take me away!" + +"Once in my little boat and you will almost forget all those +terrible things," said Cora. "I left--it--here!" + +Then she stopped in dismay, as she saw that the boat was gone! + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A TERRIBLE NIGHT + + +"The boat is gone!" Cora almost gasped. Then the girl, the sick +frail creature, did a remarkable thing--she came to the rescue of +the stronger one. + +"No matter," she said calmly. "I feel so much better with a girl to +speak to, that if you will put up with my strange life for a night, +perhaps it will be all right in the morning. There," as Cora +showed by her change of color that she felt it would be a risk, +"lots of people think sleeping, out of doors is the very best sort +of life. Don't you want to try it?"' and her arm stole around +Cora's waist. + +"Why, of course we can only try, but I am afraid that you will +suffer, Laurel. You are very weak," said Cora. + +"No, I was only frightened," and she made an effort to show that she +did really feel better. "Now, when we go back we must not let +father know that we are still on the island." + +Cora did not question this. That the girl had a good reason for +keeping her presence a secret from her father she felt certain. But +to turn back to those woods! And night so near! + +"I suppose there is absolutely no way of getting a boat?" Cora +questioned. + +"Even my canoe is gone. That awful man is to blame," replied the +girl. + +"Did he take it?" asked Cora. + +"When I refused to go with him, he said I might die here," replied +Laurel. "That was to get more money from father. Oh, you cannot +know how I have wished to speak with some one!" and her big, brown +eyes filled with tears. + +"And I am so glad I did come," Cora assured her, "even if our first +night must be a lonely one. I am used to queer experiences." + +"Then I will have no fear in showing you how I have lived here. Of +course, it was for father." + +They retraced their steps, and in spite of all the assurances that +each pledged to the other it was surely lonely. + +"Shall we go to your little pine cave?" Cora asked. + +"I think it would be better not to," replied Laurel, "for indeed, +one never knows what that man might do. He might come back just to +frighten me." + +"And he saw how ill you were?" + +"Oh, most men think girls get ill to order. Very likely he thought +I was acting," and the strange girl almost laughed. + +"Our folks will be frightened about me," Cora said. "Are there no +means of getting away from here?" + +"There is not a person on this island that I know of," replied +Laurel. "Of course, Brentano took your boat." + +"Brentano?" Cora repeated. + +"Yes. Did you not know his name?" + +"He seems to have a collection of names. One calls him Tony, +another Jones, and now it is Brentano." + +"But we knew him abroad. That is his name." + +Cora wondered, but did not feel inclined to ask further questions +then. It was almost dark, and under the pine trees shadows fell in +gloomy foreboding. + +"Hark!" exclaimed Cora. "I thought I heard an engine!" + +They listened. "Yes it is an engine," replied Laurel, "but I am +afraid it is over at Far Island." + +"Couldn't we shout?" + +"I would rather not. You see father wants to stay here," she said +hesitatingly. + +"You mean if any one came for us they would know we were not alone +here?" + +"They might suspect. Or they might just happen to see father." + +Cora was sorry. She wanted so much to call to the possible +passerby, but she saw that the other girl had some very strong +motive in wishing to leave the island secretly. + +"Do you never go away from here?" she asked. + +"Only when I am forced to, as I was the day of the race. He made me +race, threatening to expose father if I did not." + +"And then he said that you were deaf and dumb," added Cora +indignantly. + +"I did not mind that at all. In fact it was the easiest way for me +to get out of meeting people." Laurel sighed heavily. "I do wonder +when our lives will change," she said finally. + +"Let us hope very soon," Cora said. "I, of course, do not know your +story, but I feel that in some way that man is wronging you." + +"Yes, he has been our evil genius ever since he crossed our path. +You see father's mind is not entirely clear, and I do not myself +know what to believe." + +In the distance they could now see the lights of several boats, and +behind the great hill that made Far Island look like some strange +mountain place, the sun was all but lost in the forest blackness. + +"Oh," sighed Laurel suddenly. "I feel faint again." + +She sank down before Cora could support her. And they were away +from the little hut where the water was! Away from every thing but +the pitiless night! + +"Oh, how dreadful," moaned Cora. "What shall I do?" + +For a long time Laurel lay there so still that Cora feared she might +really die. Then at last, she managed to sit up and grasp Cora's +hand. + +"I have never been ill in my life," she said. "It was all from that +shock the day he compelled me to go in the race." + +"Then you have every chance of getting perfectly well again," Cora +assured her. "If that dreadful man had only left my boat." + +"Perhaps in the morning we may be able to go," Laurel said. "Now +that I have made up my mind I feel it will be better for father as +well as for me, for if anything happened to me I fear he would die." + +A light in the distance for a time gave them hope that a boat might +be coming to the island, but, like a number of others, it turned +toward the pleasure end of the lake. + +"I guess we will have to make the best of it for to-night," Cora +sighed. "Shall I try to find the hut and get you some food?" + +"And you have not eaten! In my misery I forgot you. Of +course--there now--I am better, and we will have to make our way to +the pine hut. But if that man comes back!" and she shuddered. + +"Why does he hold such power over you?" asked Cora, as she put her +arm protectingly around her companion. "Does he supply you with +your things out here?" + +"We supply him," replied the girl bitterly. "He is never satisfied +but always demanding more, until father will soon have nothing +left." + +Cora was mystified but this was no time for the strange story. She +must help the girl to the pine hut. + +"I believe you are more weak for want of food than from illness," +Cora said. "I hope we find something to eat." + +"Oh, yes, he brought things, but he should have done so before. I +am weak for food." + +It was difficult to find the way back now in the darkness, but the +two lonely, frightened girls trudged on. At last Laurel was able to +feel the stone on the path that gave the clue to her little hut. + +"Does Brentano know you?" she asked Cora suddenly. + +"I know him. I have been to his shack, and I have heard a lot about +him from a housekeeper who left Peters. Do you know he is a +handwriting expert?" + +"A hand-writing expert!" gasped the girl. "Does that mean he could +copy a signature?" + +"Perfectly," replied Cora, "but how you tremble? What is it now?" + +"Girl! girl!" she gasped. "What that may mean to us! Oh, I must +find father! He will know. I must signal to him." + +"Please do not to-night," begged Cora, fearing a new collapse from +the excitement. "Wait until daylight. Here, now we shall get our +food." + +They were within the pine hut and had lighted a lantern. A loaf of +bread and some salt meat were easy to find in the rudely-made box +that served for a closet. + +"I am actually starved," Cora remarked, with an effort to be +pleasant. "I guess your pine trees make one hungry." + +"Hark!" breathed Laurel. "I heard a step!" + +The next moment Cora stood at the entrance to the hut, and waited. +The step was coming closer and closer! And it was plainly that of a +man! + +"Oh, what can it be?" gasped Laurel. "Or who is it?" + +"I--I don't know," whispered Cora, her voice trembling in spite of +herself. "But we must be brave, Laurel, brave." + +"Oh, yes, I will be! Oh I how glad I am that some one is with +me--that you are here!" + +Cora felt the other's frail body trembling as she put her own strong +arms around the shrinking girl. Then Cora peered from the door of +the hut. Still that stealthy footstep till the approach of that +unknown. Cora felt as if she must scream, yet she held her fears in +check--not so much for her own sake as for the other. + +Suddenly there was a crash in the underbrush, the crackling of +brushes, the breaking of twigs. + +"He--he's fallen!" gasped Laurel. + +"Tripped over something," added Cora. "Oh, maybe he will turn back +now." + +Them was silence for a moment and then, to the relief of the girls, +they heard footsteps in retreat. Their unwelcome visitor was going +away. + +"Oh, he's gone! He's gone!" gasped Laurel in delight. + +"Maybe it wasn't a man at all," suggested the practical Cora. "It +might have been a bear--or--er some animal." + +"There are no bears on this island," replied her companion with a +wan smile--"no animals bigger than coons, and they couldn't make so +much a noise. Besides, I heard him grunt, or moan, as he fell. So +it must have been a man." + +"Well, he's gone," rejoined Cora, "and, now that he's left us alone +I'm going to hope that he didn't hurt himself. He interrupted our +supper and now it's time we finished it," and in the dim light of +the lantern they ate the coarse food and waited--waited for what +would happen next. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE SEARCHING PARTY + + +"I know something has happened to Cora," Hazel was lamenting, "and I +am afraid we have lost good time in not going with the boys. Let us +get ready at once. Here Bess and Belle, you take these lanterns, +Nettie carry matches--and take a strong mountain stick, and--" + +"Oh, mercy!" exclaimed Belle, in terror, "why should we need a +strong stick!" + +"To make our way with," replied the practical Hazel. "It is not +easy to get about in woods on a dark night like this," and she gave +a look at the lights to make sure they were all right. "The boys +were to send word here, or to leave word with Ben if they found her. +Now let's hurry." + +It was a sad little party that started off from Camp Cozy. When, +that evening, according to the note Cora had left on the hanging +lamp, she did not appear, for some little time, there was scarcely +any anxiety. Cora was so reliable, and of course they could +conjecture a dozen things that might have detained her. But when an +hour passed, and she then was not to be found, Jack jumped up, Ed +and Walter followed, and as they hurried off, left the word that +through Ben, or by message to camp, they would report to the girls. + +Now another whole hour had passed, and there was no message. + +"Which way shall we go--?" asked tenderhearted Bess. + +"To the landing first," Hazel replied. She was always leader in +Cora's absence. + +This was but a short way from the camp. At the landing stood Ben +with his faithful lantern. + +"They've got her boat," he blurted out. + +"Where?" asked the girls in chorus. + +"Just in the cove. But nothin' could hev hurt her there. She ain't +drownded in that cove." + +"But how could her boat get there?" demanded Hazel. + +"No way but to be run in there," answered Ben. "I tell you, girls, +this is some trick. 'Taint her fault of course, but she's all right +somewhere." + +The thought of the man Jones flashed through Hazel's mind. And he +had threatened Cora. She had interfered in taking away Kate, the +house keeper, she had found out about the man and girl on Fern +Island, and she had saved little Mabel Blake! Now all that-- + +"Trick!" repeated Bess. "That could not be called a trick." + +"For want of a better word," said Ben, with apology in his voice. +"But when the boys found the boat they started off in her and left +word you were not to follow." + +"But we must," insisted Hazel. "We might find her and they might +not. But how can we go?" + +"I could get you another boat if you're set on it," offered Ben, +"but I wouldn't like to displease the young men." + +"Oh, we will answer for that," Hazel assured him, "just get the +boat. We will go up the lake." + +"Yes, you've got it right. Up the lake, fer I saw Tony comin' down +the lake." + +Only Hazel understood him. He, too, suspected the man of many +names. + +It was not more than five minutes later that Dan brought the small +motor boat from the dock, and scarcely more than another five +minutes passed before the girls were off. + +There were many small boats dotted about the water, and the girls +looked keenly for the flag of the Petrel which they could have +distinguished even in the darkness for the white head-light always +showed up its maroon and white, but old Ben took no heed of the +craft in the lower end of the cove. He headed straight for either +Far or Fern Island--the twin spots of land far away. + +Out in the broadest part of the water they suddenly came upon a +rowboat without a light. + +"Look out there!" shouted Ben. "Where's your light?" + +There was no answer. Ben turned as far out of his course as it was +possible to do at the rate his own boat was running. + +"There is no one in that boat," declared Hazel. "See, it is just +drifting." + +"Might be," said Ben, throttling down his gasoline so that he might +turn nearer the other craft for inspection. + +"There does not seem to, be any one in it," declared Bess, who also +looked over the edge of the smaller boat. + +Ben did not reply. He had recognized the other craft as that +belonging to Jim Peters, and guessed that the man might be up to +some trick. When he had almost stopped his motor he jumped up and +peered into the rowboat. + +"'Low there!" he called "Sleepin--?" + +There was no answer. + +"Hum," he sniffed, "thought so. It's Jim. Say there Jim, you're +not over friendly." + +Thus taunted the man in the other boat moved to the low seat. He +growled rather than spoke, but Ben was not the sort to take offence +at a fellow like Jim. + +"Joy riding?" persisted Ben. + +"Say, you smart 'un," spoke Peters, "when you want to be funny +better try it on some 'un else. Leave me alone," and he picked up +the oars and sculled off. + +"What do you suppose he was hiding for?" asked Belle. + +"Oh he always has somethin' up his sleeve," replied Ben with a light +laugh, "and the best we can do is to follow him." + +"But then we cannot look farther for Cora," Objected Hazel. + +"The best way to find her is to make sure that he does not find her +first," said Ben. "She's all right so long as we keep her away from +her enemies," and he turned the boat down the lake toward the +landing. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +FOUND + + +From the finding of Cora's boat to the landing at Fern Island the +boys lost little time. Somehow Jack felt the night's work had to do +with the hermit and his daughter; also he feared that the man Jones +might know of it, so that he lost no time in hurrying to the far end +of the lake in hope of there finding his sister. + +Few words were spoken by the three boys as they landed, took the +lanterns from the motor boat, and after detaching the batteries, to +make sure no one would run off with the craft, they sought a path in +the wilderness. + +Good fortune, or kind fate, led them in the right direction. They +could see that the way had been beaten down. They walked on, one +ahead of the other, when Jack, who was in the lead, stopped. + +"What's this?" he exclaimed, stooping to pick up a white thing from +the ground. "A letter," he finished, holding out a square envelope. + +The other young men drew nearer to Jack, to examine what might prove +to be an unexpected clew. + +"What do you make of it?" asked Ed. + +"It's--er--" Jack paused suddenly. On the envelope he had caught, +in the light of a slanting ray from a lantern a girl's +name--"Laurel." He had been on the point of taking the missive from +its cover, but the glimpse of that name prevented him. Somehow he +felt that it might have to do with the disappearance of Cora--she +was always getting mixed up with girls, he reflected. And it might +not be just the best thing to publish broadcast what this was Jack +dissimulated. + +"I guess it's some shooting license a hunter has dropped," he +completed his half-finished sentence. "I'll just stick it in my +pocket until we get to a place where I can look at it better. I +might lose something from the envelope in the woods. Come on, +boys." + +"I think we're on the right trail," spoke Walter. + +"But where in the world can Cora be?" asked Jack. He was beginning +to be very much disturbed and was under a great mental strain. + +"Let's yell!" suggested Ed. "If Cora is within hearing distance +she'll hear us." + +"Good!" cried Jack. "All together now!" + +They raised their voices in a shrill cry that carried far. + +As the echoes died away there seemed to come, from a distance, an +echo of an echo. They all started as they heard it. + +"Hark!" commanded Jack, standing at attention. + +"It's a voice all right--an answer," declared Walter. + +"Yes," agreed Cora's brother. "It was over this way. Come on, +boys!" + +Together they dashed through the bushes, trampling the underbrush +beneath their feet. The lanterns they carried gave but poor light +and more than once they crashed into trees. But they kept on, +stopping now and then to call again and listen for the answer. + +"Look! A light!" suddenly cried Jack, pointing off to the left. + +"Come on!" shouted Ed, and they changed their course. Five minutes +more of difficult going, for they had gotten off the path, brought +them to the pine hut. In the doorway stood two girls with their +arms about each other. + +"Cora!" gasped Walter and Ed in one voice. "And the other may +be--Laurel," murmured Jack, and then he too cried: "Cora!" + +The next instant he had his sister in his arms, and there arose a +confused clamor of joyful voices, each person trying to talk above +the others. + +"And--and you are really alive!" cried Jack, holding his sister off +at arm's length and gazing fondly at her. + +"Yes, Jack," was the glad response. "You see, Jack dear, it takes a +good deal to do away with me." + +"But--but something surely happened!" he insisted. + +"Of course it did, but I'm not going to tell you about it now." + +"Yes, make her, Jack!" insisted Walter and Ed. + +"And your friend," added Cora's brother in a low voice. + +"Oh, I almost forgot," she replied. "Boys, this is Laurel--Wild +Laurel if you like. Laurel, these are the boys, including my +brother. You can easily tell who he is," she added dryly. "More +formal introductions can wait." + +"Tell us what happened," demanded Jack, and then Cora briefly +related what had taken place since she came to the island, how she +had discovered the loss of her boat and had found Laurel and the old +hermit. She told of their parting from Laurel's father and how she +and her companion had returned to the hut. + +"And then--then some one came toward the hut after we got here," she +finished. "And, oh, how frightened we were! But whoever it was +went away again and didn't bother us. Then we ate something +and--and well, you know the rest." + +"It's all right," Ed soothed, realizing that both girls had been +terribly frightened. "We just came from the lake by your path. It's +splendid to find you Cora," and he went over to press her hand. +"And I am sure you and your friend are glad to be found." + +Cora looked up, and in the dim lantern light she could be seen to +smile. "It was all because someone took my boat," she said in a +braver voice. "Laurel and I were just going to the main land." + +"As soon as you feel able we will take you to the boat," suggested +Jack. "It must have been very bad here for you, and with some one +else loose in the woods." + +"Oh, it was," said Cora. "Jack, I have been in many dreadful +places, but on an island with an enemy prowling about seems to be +the most fearful." + +"An enemy?" repeated Walter. + +"Yes, that man Tony, or Jones, took my boat," declared Cora, +indignantly, "and this time I will not try to make the laws myself. +I am sure he took your canoe, and now my boat!" + +"Well, we have you anyway," said Jack giving his sister a great warm +embrace, "and now we are going to take you both back to +civilization. Walter, can you care for Miss Laurel?" + +And then Jack, seeing a good chance, slipped into Laurel's hand the +envelope he had picked up in the woods. The girl started, stared at +him for a moment, and then hid the missive from sight. She did not +speak, but looked her thanks to Jack. + +So happy were the girls to get away and to be in such safe company, +that the shock and exhaustion following it were almost forgotten. +Cora felt much stronger, and so did Laurel. They looked like two +very much tossed and tousled girls, but the boys were not thinking +of their looks just then. + +"Are we going in my own boat?" asked Cora, showing how the ownership +of that boat had been so dear to her. + +"In the Pet!" replied Ed, "Jack, let me help Cora; you take the +light." + +Walter, waited for Laurel. She seemed to have things to take with +her from the hut. "A queer camp, isn't it?" she asked, "but it's a +great little place on a warm clay." + +"Or a dark night," dared Walter, whereat Ed threatened to take both +girls and so leave the wily Walter alone--for punishment. + +The girls laughed. "Walter is our champion," explained Cora. "I +shouldn't wonder if it were he who found us." + +"Never," contradicted Jack. "I--found you." + +"That's a good, dear, old Jackie," replied Cora assuming something +of her old-time lightheartedness. "Of course, Jack, you knew!" + +Laurel was fumbling in her blouse. The others noticed the movement. +"Just a picture I want to take," she explained. "You see, this is +quite an old camp." + +They saw but they did not understand. Then they started out in the +darkness. + +"Did you ever see such a black night?" asked Cora, "I had no idea +Cedar lake was so--so threatening!" + +"Never!" replied Ed. + +"But the water is just as friendly as ever," declared Jack. "Now +let us try it." He untied the boat, and the party stepped in. Cora +pressed Laurel's hand in silent encouragement for she saw her +turning her eyes toward Fern Island. + +"A lovely boat," Laurel remarked too quietly for the young men to +hear her. + +"Shall I speed her?" asked Jack opening the gas valve. + +"Oh, yes, let us get home," begged Cora. "The girls must be +frightened to death." + +"They are," Walter assured her. "Belle was smelling kerosene to +keep up, when we left," he went on superciliously. + +"And Hazel was looking for a club," Jack announced. + +"What about Bess, Ed?" asked Cora. + +"Bess--oh Bess, she was puffing--for breath. Bess had the puffs," +he volunteered in a weak attempt at nonsense. + +They were running down the lake. It seemed as if the boat knew +exactly where to go, and also that her own mistress was aboard. + +"Why, there's the landing!" exclaimed Cora, "how quickly we got +here." + +"And there is a crowd around. I'll wager they are there to welcome +us," said Jack happily. + +For a few moments all waited to see how the crowd would take the +news of the finding of Cora. + +"There are a lot of lights," remarked Ed in puzzled tones. + +"And boats," added Walter. + +They were looking intently at the center of the crowd on the water. + +"What's going on over there?" asked Jack, looking up from the engine +which he was slowing down. + +"Something must have happened," answered Cora. "Hark! There's a +lot of excited talk." + +Across the water floated the murmur of voices, some of them raised +high in discussion. + +"What's going on?" called Jack to a man who slipped past the side of +the Petrel in a rowboat. + +"Fight!" was the quick answer. "Jim Peters and a fellow they call +Tony. They had a quarrel about some papers and a girl, and I don't +know what not." + +"A girl?" gasped Cora, wondering if she could be involved in the +unpleasantness. + +"Well, that's what some say. I don't rightly know. Guess it didn't +amount to much. Anyhow they've got Peters over there in his boat. +They're bringing him to a doctor. It seems Tony whacked him with a +boat hook, and then, thinking he'd done serious damage, he leaped +overboard and swam for it. They can't find him." + +"And I don't believe they ever will," put in another voice, and as a +second boat came up Cora recognized old Ben. "Ah, it's Miss Kimball +and her friends," he added as he saw Cora and those in the Petrel. +"Now here's a chance for you to use your brains, Miss Cora. Can't +you find Tony for us?" + +"No, why should I," she answered somewhat coolly. + +She did not quite like this familiarity. + +"Oh, I didn't know," laughed Ben genially. "I just thought you +always like to be doing things." + +"Not that kind," put in Jack. + +"Is Peters much hurt?" asked Ed. + +"It's hard to say," answered Ben. "He's pretty tough and I guess +it's hard to do him much damage. I'm going over to see about it." + +He rowed over toward where the other boats were congregated and the +Petrel with the slow progress of which he had been keeping pace, +swung on to the dock. Cora and the others could see the return of +the little flotilla about the boat in which was Jim Peters. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +IN BRIGHTER MOOD + + +It takes but a small happening to furnish excitement for a small +place, and the fact that Jim and Tony had quarreled, and that near +the landing, created quite a buzz. Of course, much disliked as Jim +was, he was one of the regular fishermen, while Tony was a +comparative stranger. This caused the latter to disappear when he +saw that he had knocked Jim down and had perhaps seriously injured +him. + +The landing of Cora and the meeting with her friends was almost +unnoticed. It was the fight, and the possible hope of more of it, +that occupied the morbid crowd. + +"Cora! Cora!" the girls were exclaiming, each evidently trying to +be the most exclamatory. + +"Where have you been?" asked the ever-wise Hazel. + +"Why, just getting Laurel," replied Cora as Belle loosed her hold on +Cora's neck. "Belle dear, be careful," she begged, "my neck is +awfully sunburned." + +"We were scared to death," declared Bess, fanning herself with her +handkerchief. "We thought you had been kidnapped." + +"No, it was the boat that was kidnapped," replied Cora, "A boat is +more useful than--" + +"Now, Cora," interrupted Ed, "just be careful. Didn't we go after +you? And didn't we carry you off?" + +Laurel had taken Jack's advice and was resting on an old beam that +lay alongside the dock. She was very pale, as one could see even in +the uncertain light. Yet her sudden restoration to something like +strength might be accounted for by the fact that she had eaten some +food in the hut, the previous fast having weakened her greatly. Or +was it the letter Jack gave her? + +"It's wonderful to be back again," remarked Cora. "You have no idea +how far away Fern Island is at night." + +"Oh, dreadful!" exclaimed Belle. "I would have died." + +"Poor place for dying," put in Ed. "'Twould be like the babes in +the wood, and the birdies and the leaves and all that sort of thing. +Even to die, Belle, one may do it up in style." + +"I don't think you should make a joke of death," objected Belle, +pouting. + +"Oh, I didn't," declared Ed. "I was only trying to make a joke out +of the idea of you being able to die--any place. You never will, +Belle. You will go on being nice forever, like the brook." + +The crowd had now scattered, so that the girls might make their way +along to camp without brushing through the throng. They had left +their boat at the landing, in order to see the girls, who, Jack +declared, were waiting there. They could now go aboard again and +finish the journey. + +"Say folks," said Ed in a merry voice, "I propose that we make for +the camp. We are starved, every one of us. + +"And Laurel must be actually weak," added Cora, "for all sorts of +adventures interfered with our supper." + +Seeing the canoe girl, the others drew up to her. Whispered remarks +were politely passed, but Jack kept winking and making queer signs +toward Walter. Cora joined in the mirth as well as she could but +was still nervous. As Cora's boat was setting out, Ben leaned over +and whispered: + +"Don't listen to word from any one, and what's more, if you know +anything about the cause for this fight keep it close-to yourself. +I told your brother the rest," and he covered her small white hand +with his own brown rough palm. + +"Thank you, Ben, and yes, I will remember," said Cora, with more +stress in her voice than in her words. Then the Petrel puffed up to +Camp Cozy. + +There all attention was bestowed upon Laurel. The girl had gone +from shock to shock until she was really in need of rest and +nourishment. Of course Cora made light of her own predicament. She +admitted she had been frightened when she found the boat gone, and +Laurel sick, but tried to laugh and call it just one more +experience, that would add to her general knowledge. But her face +was white, and even Belle and Bess who had risen from prostration to +over-joy could not be deceived. + +"It's about that man Peters," Bess whispered to Belle. "You know +she had some interest in him because she felt he knew about the +hermit and the girl. But the girl is here now," she finished, +unable further to explain Cora's agitation. + +It was Jack who made the opportunity for Cora to talk privately with +him, and the sister was not averse to seizing it. + +Jack called her to the side porch directly after she had had some +refreshments. + +"What's worrying you, sis?" he asked kindly, putting his arm around +her. + +"Oh, Jack, I don't know. If you hadn't come!" and she shivered as +she thought of that dire possibility. + +"Oh, but we did come. We found you much sooner than we thought we +would, and I must say you weren't half so frightened as you had a +right to be under the circumstances. You are one of the bravest +girls I ever saw--that's right and so is that Wild Laurel." + +"Oh, I just love her Jack," said Cora warmly, "and if only this +other thing about her father comes right, I shall not in the least +regret the experience that brought us together. It is a great +story, Jack. You know we have still to rescue her father." + +"The hermit?" he asked. + +"Yes, an outcast, for some mysterious reason. But we shall soon +clear that up when Laurel is strong enough to be questioned. I feel +so much better," and she kissed him as if he and she were just the +babies they felt themselves to be on such occasions. + +"Jack," she whispered, a little later, "I am just going to think it +is all right. You can count on me. I am not going to have nervous +prostration from so small a thing as to-night's happenings." + +"Good, sis," and his second kiss was applause for her own. "Of +course, you are the brickiest kind of brick. And so is Laurel, a +Russet brick. Isn't she that?" + +"Exactly that," and Cora started toward the room. "She will be a +perfectly dear girl when she gets back to civilized ways. Hush, +here she comes?" + +"Cora," breathed Laurel, who now had on a robe that Belle insisted +had been made for her, though her own mother had ordered it for +Belle, "Cora, who was the man in the boat that was hurt?" + +Wondering how the girl could have escaped overhearing the name +Peters, Cora replied: + +"A fisherman I believe, but he may not have been much hurt. Folks +in such places as these cling to every sensation, and fix it up to +suit themselves." + +"But how will they find his assailant?" asked the girl, interested +for some unknown reason. + +Cora glanced at Jack. "They will look for him of course," Jack +replied for his sister. + +"Where was he hurt?" Laurel persisted. + +"We have no reason to think he was hurt at all," said Jack +decidedly. "It's only rumor, and if you don't mind my dictation, I +should suggest that this be a forbidden subject. It is about the +worst thing either of you can think of." + +"Right brother, always right!" said Cora. "Now let us go in and try +to make the girls happy with a little part of our story. You can +trust me, Laurel," she said aside. "I know just what they want to +know." + +"Oh," breathed Bess, as Cora and Laurel entered the pretty, bright, +little sitting room, "is it possible that our troubles are over for +one night?" + +"No, I see more kinds of trouble ahead," and of course she looked at +the irresistible and irrisisting Walter. "Don't they match?" aside +to Belle, whose ideas of color schemes and whose regard for the +beautiful were blamed for the inflection of nerves. + +"They do," she agreed. "Her hair is just russet-brown, and her eyes +hazel. Oh, I have always loved that sort of face when it goes with +the olive skin." + +"How did you know that I had named her Russet?" asked Jack, touching +with mock concern one stray yellow curl that threatened Belle's +sight. + +"I did not," she replied, "but I think it suits her exactly. And +Walter is all of a shade." + +"Oh, Belle. I am going to tell him? Wallie shady!" + +"You know perfectly well, Jack Kimball, I said shade--in color." + +"Oh, yes. Color blind. Poor, afflicted Wallie. I have often +wondered about his neckties. But doesn't Laurel take to him? And +isn't she a beaut in that bag?" + +"Bag! My best kimono! Look what teeth she has when she laughs." + +"And you not jealous? Belle I think, after all, I shall have to +return to my first love," and he slipped his arm all the way back of +her steamer chair, for Jack dearly loved to tease either Bess or +Belle, declaring what happened to one twin would react on the other. + +"Hazel cannot take her eyes off of Cora. I might be jealous there," +reported the blonde twin. + +"You may 'jell' all you like on that score," Jack consented. "But +hello! Here's Paul!" + +The tall, dark boy, Paul Hastings, Hazel's brother, had just entered +the door. Instantly he was overcome with the welcome, for while the +boys fell to kissing him and smoothing his hair in the most approved +lover-like way, the girls crowded around and offered him empty +plates and glasses of flowers, to say nothing of Bess, with the +Japanese parasol, who stood over his chair while Cora fanned him. + +Laurel looked on like one who enjoys a play. There seemed in her +eyes something to indicate that such a scene was not entirely new to +her, but was for some time forgotten. Presently Cora remembered +that Laurel had not met Paul before, and so introduced them. She +merely said Laurel in mentioning names, but the omission of anything +so unimportant as a last title would never be noticed among these +young folks. + +"Say now, let a fellow breathe" begged Paul, "and also let him puff +out a little. There! I feel better! And I just want to remark +that I have found the lost canoe!" + +At the words "lost canoe" Laurel started. Cora saw her, and slipped +over to her side. + +"You need not worry, dear. Everything is safe with us," whispered +Cora, pressing the other's hand. + +"Our old original! You don't mean it?" exclaimed Ed. + +"None other," declared Paul. "And I wonder you did not find it +before." + +"Where was it?" asked Walter. + +"Tied up to your own dock. I just spied it as I landed." + +"Oh, you go on," threatened Jack. "Do you think we are teething?" + +"No, jollying," vowed Paul. "I just this minute guessed it." + +Without more comment the entire party hurried out the door, and made +for the dock. Jack won first place and so held the lantern. + +"She's red," he declared. "While ours was green." + +"Just a matter of time," said Paul in his delightfully easy way. +"Most girls are green when they come up here, and--" + +Ed's hand was over Paul's mouth so he could not complete the joke. +Jack was looking for the tell-tale piece of wood that had been +inserted in the end of the canoe to mend a slight break. + +"Yep, sure it's her," he declared. + +"SHE!"' yelled the girls. "Jack!" Cora's voice came, "how can you +so shock our English?" + +"Pardon me, ladies," he murmured. "But this is it." + +"Painted red," Belle was trying to realize out loud. + +"Yes, and it's right becoming," agreed Ed, "but where did she get +the sun-burn?" + +"The Mystery of her Complexion, or, the Shade of Her Pretty Nose," +quoth Jack. "Well, I don't mind. But I would like to get hold of +The Silent Artist of Cedar Lake," he finished, in crude eloquence. + +Paul was looking carefully inside the canoe. Presently he stood up +straight, and held a note in his hand. "Let's have the light Jack?" +he asked. "I have something." + +Jack held the lantern so that it's gleam fell on the paper. "Miss +Cora Kimball," they both read, then they handed the paper to Cora. + +It was enclosed in an envelope of very fine linen; Cora saw this +instantly, for she felt, as well as saw, the texture. Just as she +was about to tear open the missive a thought occurred to her. + +"I had best wait until I get indoors," she said. "I might drop +something out of it here and break the charm." + +A murmur of disapproval followed this remark. But Cora won out, and +with much apprehension carried the strange letter inside. Under the +light she looked first at the signature. It was Brentano! + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +LAUREL'S FLIGHT + + +"What is it? What is it?" demanded the girls in chorus. + +Cora made light of her actions as she hid the note, but in reality +she had no idea of reading it before any one. What might it not +contain? + +"I get so few love letters," she remarked, "that I want a chance to +enjoy them." + +"Then as that's the case," said Ed, "it's us for the Bungle. Come +on, boys," and he pretended offence, "Us is hurt." + +"Now Ed, I said letters--not lovers," corrected Cora. + +"The pen and ink!" demanded Ed. "I will to thee a letter indite," +and he opened the small desk in the darkest corner of the room. + +This was a signal for every boy to pretend to write a love letter to +every girl. Jack could get nothing better than a feather from the +Indian headpiece that hung on the wall. This he dipped in Belle's +shoe dressing, and wrote a note on the back of Cora's best piece of +sheet music. Walter sat on the floor poking his whittled stick +into the dead embers in the fire-place, and managed to scratch +something on a fan--it belonged to Bess. Paul did not much care for +nonsense, but appropriately made Indian characters on the wooden +bowl with his pen knife. The whole turned out more fun than was +expected. + +Walter proffered his love letter to Laurel, and she surprised them +all by reading this: + +"My Mountain Laurel: + +Meet me when the buds come and we will wait for the blossoms. + +Your Bending Bough." + +The cue that Laurel furnished was taken up by the others and when +Jack offered his "note" to Hazel she read. + +"My Dear Burr: + +Be patient and you will loose the green, Hazelnuts are never soft! + +Yours, + +The Fellow Who Fell Down Hill with Jill." + +Cora read what Ed did not write: + +"My Reef: + +When stranded I know what to grab--Your larder is ever my rock of +refuge. + +Yours, Co-Ed." + +Belle and Bess both partook of Paul's note, and as Paul was +acknowledged the artist of them all the double missive was gladly +accepted by the twins--as doubles. + +Belle pretended to read: + +"Two to one, or two in one, + +Double the wish and double the fun." + +The merry making that followed this little farce was of too varied a +character to describe. Some of the boys insisted on standing on +their heads while others took up a low mournful dirge that might +have done credit to the days of the red men and wigwams. + +Finally, Cora insisted that it was late--disgracefully late--for +campers to have lights burning, and the boys were obliged to leave +for their own quarters. Going out, Jack whispered to Cora: + +"Ben told Paul to say to you that under no circumstances were you to +go down to the landing to-morrow. I know he has some good reason +for the warning. The row between Peters and Brentano may not have +ended there," and he kissed her good night. "We have had a jolly +time and to-morrow when I come you must let me see the mysterious +love letter." + +Cora promised, and then the lights were turned out. + +Making sure that all, even Laurel, were sleeping Cora slipped out +into the sitting room, relighted the lamp and unfolded the note that +had been found in the canoe. + +She felt her heart quicken. Why did she fear and yet long to know +what that man had to tell her? She read: + +"YOUNG LADY: + +When you receive this I shall be too far away to further meet your +daring, baffling challenge of my plans. What I intend to do I can +not even tell myself, for everything seemed so easy of evil until +you crossed my path. So easy was it that there was even no victory +in the spoils. But first you came boldly to the den of poor Peters. +Then you deliberately took from us that simple-minded, harmless old +woman, Kate; next you did not call out when she gave you back your +ring--not call out against us. All this to me was incomprehensible. +Why should a young girl not fear us? Why should she not denounce +us? Then you saved that little doll, Mabel Blake, until finally I +began to wonder why I, a talented high-born Italian, should pretend +to love crime when a mere girl could be a noble defender? + +The difference made me feel like a coward, and I decided finally to +go away. Before I left I had trouble with Peters. This hurried me +and I have not time to write more now. I know you got back from the +island--boys of your kin do not wait long to find their sisters. By +to-morrow noon, if all goes well with me on the journey, I shall be +able to write that to poor little Laurel which will release her from +her bondage. I will send the letter care of you. Thank the boys +for use of their canoe. + +BRENTANO." + +For some moments Cora sat looking blankly at that fine foreign +paper. What a splendid hand! What direct diction! + +And her conduct had influenced him to turn away from his evil ways. +She had done nothing more than others, except perhaps she had more +courage, born of better and more complete experience. She sighed a +sigh of satisfaction as she again hid the paper in her gown. Then +with one great heart-beat of prayerful thanksgiving, she, too, +sought "tired nature's sweet restorer." + +It was the sound of dishes and the tinkle of pans that awoke Cora +next morning. Day so soon! And all the others up! + +"Now, we have fooled you," said Belle with a light laugh. "You have +slept longest!" + +Cora had been dreaming very heavily, and her sleep seemed but a +reflection of the previous day's troubles. Now she was awake and +instantly she remembered it all about Ben telling her not to go near +the landing; then about the letter. + +"Is Laurel up?" she asked. + +"No, we let her sleep to keep you company," said Hazel, "and we are +going to give you such a surprise for breakfast! Don't tell, +girls." + +Cora slipped into a robe and stepped across the room to peer into +the little corner where Laurel had gone to her rest. + +"Laurel is up," she declared. "She is not here!" + +"Not there! Not in bed! Laurel--she has not gotten up yet," +declared Belle, who with frying pan in hand had hurried from the +kitchen when Cora spoke. + +"She certainly is not in bed," again declared Cora. "You may see +for yourselves." + +"Laurel gone!" exclaimed more than one of the astonished girls. + +"She may have gone out," suggested Hazel. "I thought I heard someone +about very early." + +Following this thought the girls looked around called, and again +returned to the empty room. + +"What is this?" asked Bess, seeing a piece of ribbon-tied paper +floating from the night lamp. + +Hazel was first to handle it. She saw that it was a note addressed +to Cora. + +"It's for you, Cora," she said as she snapped the fragile ribbon +from its fastening. + +Cora read aloud: + +"Forgive me for going this way but I could not wait longer to know +about my father. I will return before dark and bring with me the +canoe I have borrowed. You may, trust me and need not be anxious. + +Gratefully, + +LAUREL STARR." + +"Gone in the canoe!" + +"I know why, girls," Cora admitted, "and if you will all come in +here together I will tell you as much, as I myself know. The real +story I have not yet been able to learn, but must do so very soon." + +Then she told of the first discovery of the man on Fern Island, +following with the account of her second and third visits there, and +finally of how she found poor Laurel in such distress the night of +her own exile. The loss of her boat they all knew about, and that +part was a certain kind of clear mystery. + +"Laurel has gone back to see about her father," she finished. "It +is only natural, and I should have thought it strange had she not +done so." + +"Of course," added Bess, brushing away a tear. "Poor little wild +Laurel had to go back, it was almost as cruel to keep her as to pen +up a brown bunny." + +In spite of the seriousness of the moment every one smiled. First +Laurel was russet, now compared to a little brown rabbit. + +"We had just gotten acquainted with her," murmured Belle. "I +thought her so romantic." + +"And I thought her so intelligent," put in the ever-studious Hazel. +"Even Paul took the trouble to notice her." + +"Well, we will have her back again," promised Cora. "I am positive +she will keep her word. I think her a splendid girl. All she needs +is the chance to get over the state of chronic fright she has been +living in. Then she will be just as normal as any of us." + +"Then, that being the case," said Hazel, with a jump, "I propose we +keep normal by eating our breakfast. I am famished, and those boys +almost emptied the ice-box." + +"Nettie had to go away into town for eggs," Bess orated, "and +therefore we had to do all the cooking." + +"It smells all right," Cora said, as they pulled the chairs to the +table. "Let us hope we will get through one meal without +interruption. My appetite is positively canned." + +"And I took the trouble to gather those morning glories," Belle +announced. "I thought Laurel would like them." + +"They are beautiful, Belle," said Cora, looking with admiration at +the dainty green vines with their freshly-blown, colored bells that +trailed from the glass bowl in the center of the table. "Nothing +could be more artistic, and we enjoy them even if Laurel has missed +them," Cora finished. + +"But the food," demanded Hazel. "It is of that we sing. Food, +food! Isn't it good; a girl is a loon who can't eat what she +could," sang Hazel, with more mirth than English. + +"Eggs, eggs, bacon and eggs." + +"She eats all she can, then sits up and begs," sang Cora helping +herself to that portion of the fare, and keeping time with the +humming toast. + +Bess was taking her third slice of bread. That inspired Belle. + +"Bread, bread, Nettie's good bread--" + +"When Bess took the loaf, we nearly fell dead," sang out Belle, +rescuing the much-worn loaf from which Bess was trying to get a +slice. + +"The toasts are very well as far as they go," commented Cora, "but I +notice that the food stuffs go farther." + +"And the boys are coming at ten," remarked Hazel. "I'm glad I +cooked. I don't have to wash the dishes." + +"But the boys were going out in the canoe and now it's gone," Belle +reminded them. "They were going to take the prize canoe, and the +red one, and we would all then have a chance to float out together. +Now, of course, we won't be able to go." + +"We can go in our own boat," Cora said, "and really the lake is +quite rough for canoeing this morning. When Laurel comes back she +will likely bring her own boat and then we will have three in our +fleet." + +"Why couldn't you, and she come home in her canoe when you found +your boat gone, Cora?" asked Bess suddenly. + +"Hers was not at the dock--someone had borrowed it," Cora explained +without explaining. + +They had about finished their meal. Belle was already snatching the +dishes, in spite of protests that there was some perfectly good +eating which had not yet been eaten. + +"There come the boys now," announced Hazel. "They look sort +of-gloomy." + +Cora glanced out of the window and saw Ed, Jack and Walter strolling +along the path. She, too, thought they looked "gloomy," but it was +not her practice to anticipate trouble. + +The "hellos" were exchanged before the young men had time to enter +the camp. Then Belle asked: + +"Aren't we going canoeing?" + +"Guess not to-day," replied Ed, his handsome black hair almost +sparkling in the sunshine as he tossed his head in nonchalance. "We +are still too cramped up. Had to sleep on the roof last night." + +"Why?" demanded Cora. + +"Choosin' that. My little joke," he replied, "Girls, I'm cuttin' +up," and he tried to hide a serious air with a ridiculous remark. +"But we'll do something. We'll go fishin"' he declared. + +"We thought it best to keep out in the cove this morning," Jack was +explaining to Cora. "There is so much going on around the landing." + +"What is going on?" she asked rather nervously. + +"Oh, that Peter's affair," replied her brother with assumed +indifference. "They are looking him over to-day to see how much +he's hurt." + +"Oh!" said Cora vaguely. Then she went indoors from the porch to +prepare for the fishing trip. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +MOTOR TROUBLES + + +"It is strange Laurel does not come back," remarked Bess, as the +girls sat on the porch after a most unsuccessful fishing trip (as +far as fish were concerned), "Somehow I feel she would if she +could." + +"That's it exactly," Cora corroborated. "If she could get back here +this afternoon, we would have seen her. But then her father may +have been too lonely without her, or any of many other things may +have detained her." + +Cora jumped up suddenly, and skipped down the path to where her +motor boat was fastened. She would look over the engine. The wire +connections had slipped, and she would tighten them, and make some +other minor adjustments. + +Cora found more to do on her boat than she had expected. The boys +had had the craft out latest and had neglected to put down the oil +cup levers. This caused the cylinder to be flooded with lubricant, +and if there was one thing Cora disliked more than another it was to +run an oil puffing boat, and "inhale the fumes." + +She pulled on her heavy gloves and got to work to drain out the oil +through the base cock. Bending over her task she did not see, +neither did she hear, an approaching person. It was Ben. + +"Busy, eh?" he said in his splendid, candid way. Cora was so glad +it was only Ben. + +"Oh yes," she replied, "the boys never seem to know how to leave a +boat. This is thoroughly oil-soaked." + +"They're careless that way," admitted Ben, stepping into the boat to +see what the trouble was. "If I were you I would make some rules and +tack 'em down by the license card." + +"They would never read them," Cora declared. "There--just look at +that oil," as she collected some in a funnel. "This would have made +the muffler smoke like a locomotive." + +Ben looked at the oil cups. "There isn't any thing meaner than +running a boat that throws out soft coal smoke," he admitted. +"Those boys left the plungers up. But I say, girl, where's your new +friend?" + +"Laurel?" asked Cora as she put the wrench in the tool box. + +"Yes. I thought she had come down here to stay." + +"Well, we thought so too, but then she could not be expected to +leave the island--all at once," and Cora wondered if she were saying +too much. + +"It's queer to me," went on Ben. "Them fellows have something to do +with that," and he nodded his head toward the landing. + +"You mean--Peters and Tony?" + +"Yes. And what I want to say, Miss, is this. You had best keep +clear of them. The row at the landing isn't exactly fixed up. I +think it had to do with something at Fern Island." + +"About Laurel?" + +"Yes. I have suspected for a long time that the little runs that +Peters makes up there must have paid him pretty well. Now that he +has fallen out with Tony, likely it'll all come to Jim. Best thing +we can do, miss, is to keep a sharp look out for the girl. If you +can get her to come to camp with you I fancy all the rest will soon +straighten itself." + +Cora wondered just how much Ben knew of the mystery of that island. +She felt obliged to withhold Laurel's secret, yet she felt, too, +that Ben would do everything to help her get the girl and the hermit +away from their place of exile. + +"I'll tell you, Ben," she said finally. "I'll come to you for +advice just as soon as I find it is time to act. Depend upon it we +are not going to leave Cedar Lake until the mystery of Fern Island +is cleared up." + +This seemed to satisfy Ben, for beneath the deep brown of his cheeks +there showed the glow of color that came with pleasure. + +"All right, little girl," he said, "if you want me before I come +again, just let me know. Ben will be only too glad to stick by you +and all the rest of them," meaning the campers at Camp Cozy and +those who bungalowed at the Bungle. + +He went off, shambling along with his face turned toward the sky and +his feet taking care of themselves. Cora looked after him. + +"Dear old Ben," Cora mused, "everything seems worth while when it +takes 'everything' to make such a friend as you can be." Then she +went back to her engine. She must tighten the wires, and leave the +craft in readiness for a quick run. + +"Oh, Cora!" came the voice of Bess suddenly, "you've missed it. We +have had the most glorious time." + +Bess approached, her cheeks as red as the sumac she carried, and her +eyes as bright as the very ragged sailors that hung rather +dangerously from her belt. "Hasn't Laurel come yet?" + +"No, not yet," replied Cora, intent upon her task at the wires. "I +am afraid she will hardly come to-night." + +"Then we have got to go after her," declared Bess. "Jack said so. +He said she could not stay alone on that island all night." + +"Oh, did he?" Cora replied in an absent-minded way. "I have had +such--a time--with this boat," and she pulled on the wires to make +them taut, breaking one and necessitating a splice. + +"Can't we take the boat to look for Laurel?" persisted Bess, with +more concern than she usually showed. + +"Why, of course, I suppose so," said Cora. "There, I guess that +will do," and she straightened up with a sigh, for the use of the +pliers made her hands ache. + +"Why, Cora!" exclaimed Bess, "you look actually pale. You must be +awfully tired." + +"Me pale," and she laughed. "Now, Bess, don't get romantic. Just +fancy me being pale!" + +"Well, you are, and I insist that you come back to camp at once and +get a drink of warm milk. Cora Kimball, you--look--scared!" + +"Oh, I am. Think what it would mean if the boys had knocked my +engine out. And it did seem for a time that there was no 'if' in +it." Cora jumped lightly out of the boat and was ready to greet the +other girls. Soon a discussion of color and its causes was in +progress, Cora maintaining that her cause of anxiety had been that +awful engine and its troubles. + +Ed, Walter and Jack had joined the others. + +"I say," began Ed, "where do we, go to look for the wild Olive or +was it the mountain Laurel? Jack is in a fit, and Walter can't be +held. What do you say if we all start out in a searching party? No +one has been lost for twenty-four hours, and this state of affairs +is getting monotonous." + +Without waiting for an answer the girls and boys clambered into the +Petrel while Bess went to the camp with Cora who insisted upon +washing her hands before making the trip. + +"Did anything happen, Cora, while we were away?" asked Bess kindly. + +"Not a thing, Bess. I only wish something real would happen; we +have so many imitations of excitement." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE LAW AND THE LIGHTS + + +"I want to find her this time," insisted Jack. "Cora, please let +me? I promise not to frighten her, and not even to speak to her if +you object, but I do so want to find her." + +"Seems to me you found her last time," objected Walter who was +looking particularly well to-night, for his suit of Khaki and his +brown skin seemed all of a piece. "You nearly knocked me down in +your haste to find the hut first." + +"But," Cora said seriously, "Laurel may not want you boys to find +her. She may not even want me to do so. I am just taking chances. +Suppose you allow Bess and me or Hazel or any two of us to go up to +the hut first? Please do be reasonable, and not silly," Cora +finished in a voice she seldom assumed. + +"You may come along as dose as you like, until we are just up to the +hut," Bess consented, with marked good sense, "as the woods are so +thick and black, but when we get to the hut--" + +"We can 'hut' it I suppose," snapped Jack. "All right, girls; all I +can say is I hope a couple of Brownies, or a mountain lion pay their +respects to you both for being so daring." + +The boat was running beautifully. The cleaning out that Cora gave +the base, and the regulating of the oil cups together with adjusting +the wires, helped to make the mechanism run more smoothly, and she +glided along without "missing," which means, of course that every +explosion was in perfect rhythm to every other explosion. There was +a "hot fat" spark as Cora explained. + +"There's a big steamer," remarked Hazel, as a large boat glided +along. + +Cora swung so that the red light of the Petrel showed she was going +to the right. The steamer gave two whistles indicating a left +course. Cora answered with one blast which meant right. The +steamer insisted on left and gave one more signal. + +"What's the matter with them?" Jack demanded, taking the steering +wheel from Cora. "They seem to own the lake." + +No sooner had he said this than the big boat came so close to the +smaller craft that a huge wave swept over the small forward deck and +instantly the colored lights went out, being drenched. For a moment +every one seemed stunned! The shock to the Petrel was as if she had +been suddenly dipped into the depths of the lake. But as quickly as +it happened just as quickly was it righted, and the offending boat +steamed off majestically, as if it had merely bowed to an old +acquaintance. + +"What do you think of that!" exclaimed Walter, indignantly. + +"I think a lot of it," replied Ed, "but the captain of that steamer +would not likely want to see my thoughts." + +"Small trick," declared Jack, "Even if he had the right to pass us +so close, common lake manners obliged him to give in to the smaller +boat." + +"The lights are both out," Cora said anxiously. + +"Well, we are almost to shore," Jack replied, "and it won't be worth +while to stop here. We can light up again when we get in." + +This seemed reasonable enough and so they sailed along. + +"Hello!" exclaimed Walter, "is this another boat trying the same +trick?" + +A launch was steering very dose to the Petrel. The lights were +conspicuously bright, and the engine ran almost noiselessly. + +"What is it?" asked Jack, seeing that the captain wanted to speak +with some one. + + "I want you," replied a voice of authority. "You have no lights." + +"Oh, you're the inspector," said Jack candidly. "Well, that steamer +that just passed doused our lights, and we are going to land here to +relight." + +"Sorry, but that's against the law," replied the officer. "You +fellows always have an excuse ready, and I can't accept it. You +will have to come along with me." + +"Arrested!" exclaimed Belle aghast. + +"That's about what it amounts to," replied the man coolly. "Can you +get in here?" + +"Who?" asked Jack. + +"The captain," replied the officer grimly. + +"Where does he go?" Jack further questioned. + +"See here, young man," spoke the inspector rather sharply. "Do you +think I've got all night to bother with you?" + +"I don't know as I do," replied Jack in the same voice, "but if you +will just explain what you want us to do we will give you no further +trouble." Jack knew one thing--to refuse to comply with the request +of an officer is about the last thing to do if one values either +money or liberty. + +"That's the way to talk," replied the inspector. "So just suppose +you take this rope and I'll tow, you along. I fancy the party +would, rather come than let one go alone." + +"Of course we would," declared Cora. "In fact I am the captain of +this boat." + +Jack gave her a meaning bump on the arm--it meant, "let me do the +talking," and Cora understood perfectly. + +"But where are we going?" wailed Belle, as the man threw the towline +to Ed. + +"Not far," answered the man. "I just have to take you in, and then +you have to do the rest." + +"What's the rest?" inquired Walter. + +"Oh, pay a fine," said the man carelessly. + +"How much?" inquired Ed. + +"From five to twenty-five; as the judge sees fit. There, are you +fast?" + +"Guess so," growled Jack, to whom the arrest seemed like a case of +"Captain Kidding." + +"And we can't go to Laurel?" Hazel inquired with a sigh. + +"Shame," commented Walter under his breath, "but Jack knows the best +thing to do with the law is to jolly it." + +"Law nothing," muttered Ed, as he took the steering wheel, Jack +being busy with the towing line. + +"Never mind," Cora suggested. "It will give us a new experience. I +had the fool-hardiness to wish for some real excitement this very +afternoon." + +"But to be arrested!" gasped Bess with a frightened look. + +"A distinctly new sensation," said Hazel with an attempt to laugh. +"Just think of going before a real, live judge!" + +But evidently the other girls did not want to think of it. They +would rather have thought of anything else just then. + +"Which way are you going?" Jack asked the man in the official boat. +"I thought your judge lived on the East side?" + +"He does, but we may take some other fellows in yet to-night. This +is only one catch," and the inspector laughed unpleasantly. + +"They are actually going to tour the lake with us," declared Ed. +"If that isn't nerve!" + +"Don't complain," cautioned Cora, "perhaps the longer the run the +lighter the fine. And we are just waiting for our next allowance." + +"And, being a pretty motor-boat, they will make it a pretty fine," +mused Walter. "I would like to dip that fellow." + +"Yes, they are going to let us tour the lake hitched on to the +police boat! The situation is most unpleasant. But there is no way +out of it," said Ed, sullenly. + +"Suppose they won't take a fine, and want to lock us up?" asked +Belle. + +"If it were only one night in jail, I'd take it just to fool the man +who wants the money, but I am afraid it might be ten days and that +would be inconvenient," Jack remarked, as the police boat steamed +off with the Petrel trailing. "They call this law. It may be the +law but not its intention. We were almost landed, and just about to +light up. I tell you they just need the money." + +When they reached the bungalow, where judge Brown held his court, +the three young men entered with the inspector, and when the judge +had satisfied himself that he could not ask more than five dollars +and costs for this "first offence" the fine was paid and the matter +settled. Belle and Bess were greatly relieved when the culprits +came back to the Petrel. They had a hidden fear that something else +disgraceful might happen; perhaps the judge would detain the boys, +or perhaps the girls would have to go in to testify. Cora's mind +was pre-occupied however, and when the Petrel started off, and Jack +asked her where to, she said back to Fern Island. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +A NIGHT ON THE ISLE + + +It was too late now for Cora to think of making her way to the pine +hut without the boys, too dark, too late and too uncertain, so she +agreed to allow Ed and Jack to go with her while Walter and the +girls followed at some distance. + +"There's a light," announced Jack, when they had covered the first +hill. + +"Yes, that's in the hut," Cora said. + +Hurrying before her brother, Cora reached the thatched doorway. She +pushed back the screen and saw Laurel leaning over the bed on the +floor. As she entered Laurel motioned her not to speak. Then Cora +saw that the girl was bending over her father. + +"They shall not take me," he murmured. "I am innocent!" + +"Hush, father dear," his daughter soothed. "'There is no one here, +just your own Laurel," and she bathed his head with her wet +handkerchief. + +Cora instantly withdrew. She whispered to Jack, and he turned to +meet the others, to prevent them coming nearer. Laurel followed her +to the open air. + +"Father is so changed!" she said under her breath, "while he seems +worse, his mind is clearer, and I almost hope he will soon remember +everything of the past." + +"If his mind is clearer there is every hope for him," Cora replied. +"I do hope, Laurel dear, that your exile and his will soon end." + +Laurel put her hand to her head as if to check its throbbing. Yes, +if it only would soon end! + +"What happened?" asked Cora. + +"He fell and struck his head on a rock," answered Laurel. "It was +that night we were in the hut. It was he who came walking along in +the darkness, and we thought it was some one else. He came to look +for me after I signaled that time. It was my father!" + +"He slipped and fell," she resumed in a moment. "We heard him, you +remember, and then--then he went away--my poor father!" + +Cora gasped in surprise. "Is he badly hurt?" she managed to ask. + +"No, hardly at all. It was only a slight cut on his head, but the +shock of it brought him to him self--restored his reason that was +tottering. When he got up and staggered off his mind was nearly +clear, but he did not dare come to the hut where we were for fear it +might contain some of his enemies. He went looking for me, but I +had gone with you. + +"Since then he has talked of matters he has not mentioned in years +and years. But he is not altogether better. Oh, Cora, if his mind +would only become strong again, so he could clear up all the +mystery!" + +'The girls clung lovingly to each other. Then a moan from the hut +suddenly called Laurel away, Cora knew Jack was waiting for her in +the woods, and she hastened to him. + +One whispered sentence to her brother was enough to explain it all +to him. + +"We must arrange to get him away from here--Laurel's father," he +said, as he put his arms about Cora. "Do you think he is strong +enough to be moved?" + +"I'll ask Laurel," replied Cora joyfully. If only now both the +hermit and his daughter could leave that awful island. The other +girls stepped to the door in answer to Cora's signal. + +"Oh, I am afraid he is too weak for that now," Laurel whispered. +"But when he is able I will have him taken to a hospital. That man +kept us in terror. Now he is gone and I feel almost free." + +"You have heard that he is gone?" questioned Cora. + +"I had a letter," replied the other simply, and this answer only +served to make a new matter of query for Cora. But she could not +ask it now. + +"He is sleeping," said Laurel. "Look!" + +Cora went over to the pallet and looked down at the man who lay +there. Yes, he was noble looking in spite of the growth of his hair +and beard, and Cora could see wherein his daughter resembled him. +There seemed something like a benediction in that hut, and as the +thought stole over her, Cora breathed a prayer that it should not +come in the shape of death. + +"He's lovely," Cora said to Laurel. "Let us go out and not disturb +him." + +Jack and the others were waiting silently outside. Cora spoke to +her brother. He understood. + +"You girls had better go back," he said, "Ed and I will stay here to +help Laurel." + +"Oh, no, I must stay too. Perhaps in the morning we can take him +away," insisted Cora. + +Bess and Belle clung together. They had a fear of "the wild man" +and it had not yet been dispelled. Hazel tried to induce Laurel to +go back to camp and allow her and Cora to care for the father, but +of course such an appeal was useless. Laurel would not think of +leaving the sick man. It was finally arranged that Cora and Jack +should remain, and then reluctantly the others started off with the +promise of returning very early the next morning. + +"I have some things to eat," Laurel told them. "I thought poor +father would like a change, and I got them when I was at the Point." + +"Oh, you save them," Jack said. "We had a good supper, and will +make out all right until morning. But now tell me where I can get +you fresh water." + +Cora knew, and she took the extra lantern and started off with her +brother. They talked of many things as they stumbled on through the +woods. + +"There's the spring. Look out! Don't fall in. My isn't that water +clear even in the lantern light!" exclaimed Cora suddenly. + +Jack filled the pail easily and then they turned back. + +"But Jack," Cora began again, "you know there is some mystery about +Mr. Starr. That must be his name, for Laurel signed hers so in the +note she left." + +"Whatever the mystery is, I feet certain it is nothing disgraceful," +Jack assured her. "Very likely it was some plot to injure them, +concocted by that fellow Jones." + +The unfailing reason of this astonished Cora. How could Jack have +guessed so near the facts? + +"At any rate I think the poor man will be able to be moved in the +morning," she finished, as they made their way up the hill. "It +will be a wonderful thing if, after all, it comes out all right; +that he is a free man, and that his slight injury may restore his +scattered faculties." + +"Let us hope so," said Jack fervently. + +Cora wanted to tell him about the letter from Jones otherwise +Brentano, but there was not time to do so before they reached the +hut, so she reasoned it would be best to postpone it. + +Laurel was sitting, holding her father's injured head when they +entered the hut. He was awake now, and looking with such great, +hungry eyes into his daughter's face. + +"Now we have fresh water, father," she said. "Do you know my +friends?" + +"The girl, yes," he said 'feebly. "But the boy?" + +"Her brother," said Laurel quickly, delight showing in her voice. +"Isn't it good to have friends, father?" + +"Good, very good," he said. Then he dosed his eyes again, and +neither Cora nor Jack ventured to speak. + +"It does not seem possible that he can talk so rationally," Laurel +whispered. "Oh, I have now such hopes that he will get well." + +"Of course he will," Jack assured her. "But you girls had better +get some rest. I will sit up and watch." + +Cora added her entreaties to those of her brother, and Laurel +finally agreed to throw herself down on the straw bed in the far +corner of the hut. Cora found room at the other end of the same +bed, and presently their young natures gave in to the urgent demands +of rest. Jack sat alone watching the white faced man who tossed and +turned, muttering incoherent words. + +"I did not do it," he would say. "I never saw the note." + +"There, you want a drink," said Jack kindly, pressing the tin cup to +the trembling lips. + +"But Breslin knows! Oh, if I could only find Breslin!" + +"Breslin," Jack repeated, astonished. + +"Yes, Brendon Breslin. He knows!" + +"Brendon Breslin!" Jack said again. This was the name of the +wealthy man for whom Paul Hastings ran the fast steam launch. + +"Oh, my head!" moaned the man, closing his eyes in pain. + +Jack realized that this remark about the millionaire might mean a +sudden return of memory, and he resolved to test it further, even at +the risk of giving the aching head more pain. For if the memory +lapsed again it might never be awakened. + +"What does Breslin know?" he asked, leaning very dose to the sick +man. + +To his surprise the hermit sat bolt upright. "He knows that I never +forged the note. It was that sneaking office boy." + +That was the story! This man had been made to believe he had forged +a note. His exile on the island was because of the supposed crime! + +"Of course he knows," Jack soothed. "And to-morrow he will come to +see you." + +But the sick man was either unconscious, or sleeping. He did not +reply. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE UNEXPECTED + + +"I heard a boat," Cora whispered to Jack, as on the following +morning, he rubbed his eyes endeavoring to put sight into them. + +"Well, what of it?" he asked. + +"It seemed to stop at this landing," replied the sister. + +"The girls most likely," and he got to his feet. "How is the old +gentleman?" + +"Much stronger, and his mind, Laurel thinks, is clearing." + +"I think so too. It is an outrage that he has been allowed to +suffer here without help. That scoundrel Jones must have fixed this +up." + +"Did you sleep any, Jack dear?" Cora asked. "I'm afraid you had a +lonely vigil." + +"Oh, I got a wink or two, and my patient was no trouble. Is that +Laurel talking to him?" + +"Yes, she seems overjoyed that he can talk rationally to her. But +listen Jack! There are voices." + +Brother and sister hurried to the door. Strangers were approaching--two +men. + +"Is--er--Miss Cora Kimball here?" asked one of them, in rather a +hesitating voice. + +"Yes, what is it?" asked Jack, suspiciously for somehow he did not +like the appearance of the strangers. + +"We'll do business with her," put in the taller of the two men. + +Cora gave a gasp. Somehow she felt as if something unpleasant was +about to happen. + +"No, you won't do any business with her!" exclaimed Jack, "that is, +not until you tell me first. What is it? Out with it!" + +"Say, you're quite high and mighty for a young fellow," sneered the +short man. "Who be you, anyhow, a lawyer? Because if you are you +ought to have sense enough to know that we're detectives, after +information, and if we can't get it peaceable we'll get it +otherwise. How about that?" + +"It doesn't worry me a particle," declared Jack easily. "Now, Cora, +leave this to me," for he saw that his sister was much affected. +"I'm her brother," he went on, turning to the men, "and not a +lawyer, but I guess I can do just as well in this case. Now, what +do you want?" + +"Well, it's this way," began the tall one. "We heard that Miss +Kimball might know something about the quarrel between Peters and +Tony, or whatever his name was, and she might be able to put us on +his track. Peters is hurt worse than we thought he was at first, +and we want Tony. Does she know where he is?" + +"No, she doesn't!" exclaimed Jack, before his sister could speak. + +"Well, we have a tip about her and another girl being in a hut on +Fern Island and being scared by a man," persisted the tall man. "No +offense you know, only we thought she could help us out. The man +who scared her and her friend may have been Tony." + +"I--I didn't see any one--it was dark," explained Cora, before Jack +could speak. "Some one approached, fell down and went away again." + +"That may have been Tom!" excitedly said the short detective. + +"'No, it was--" began Cora. + +"Wait a minute," cried Jack. "Before she answers I want to know if +you really have a right to the information. How do I know but you +may be some one seeking to get evidence for a civil suit for Peters +or Tony, and will drag us in as witnesses?" + +"Oh, we're not," said the tall man hastily. + +"Here's my court-house badge," and he displayed it. "This has +nothing to do with a lawsuit. We just want to find Tony. If that +wasn't him on the island who scared the girls, who was it? Surely +she can't object to telling; it can't hurt her. Who was it?" + +Before Cora could answer there was a sound at the door of the hut +and a voice exclaimed: + +"It was my father!" + +There stood Laurel, and the officers shifted their gaze from Cora to +her. They started eagerly forward, hoping to get the information +they sought from the new witness. + +"Tell us about it," urged the short man. + +"No, let me, Laurel dear," interrupted Cora. "I can explain, Jack, +and have it all over with. Really it's very simple." + +Then, without at all going into the details of the mystery of the +hermit, which information Cora felt the detectives had no right to +possess, she told how she and Laurel had been in the hut and how the +unknown man who so frightened, them had turned out to be Laurel's +father, and that even now he was under care because of the injury he +received. + +"And he lived on Fern Island all this while?" asked one of the +officers. "Why did he do that?" + +"For his health I guess," said Jack sharply. "That doesn't concern +your case against Tony, or whatever his name was, and this Peters. +You've found out that my sister doesn't know anything to help you +in your hunt, and you might as well skip out. This is private +ground, you know." + +"That doesn't make any difference to the law," growled the short +man. + +"Oh, yes it does," said Jack sweetly. "You're trespassers as much +as any one else if you haven't a warrant, and I don't believe you +have." + +"No, I guess you're right," admitted the tall man, with as good +grace as possible. "Come on," this to his companion, "we can't +learn anything here. Let's go see old Ben." + +Cora and Laurel had gone into the house. Jack did not want them +annoyed again, and he wondered how the men had come to think that +Cora might know something of the quarrel between Peters and Tony. + +"It was probably just a guess," decided Jack. "There is certainly +something like a mystery about the hermit, and--" + +He interrupted his thoughts as he saw one of the men coming back. + +"Hang it all! I wonder what he wants now?" thought Jack. The man +soon informed him. + +"I say, do you think the hermit, as you call him, would be well +enough to testify in court about this case?" the detective asked. + +"What case?" inquired Jack, wondering if the man suspected the +reason for the hermit's exile. + +"The Peters case." + +"No, I don't think he would," was the young man's answer, and once +more the man went to his boat. + +As he and his companion started off, Jack saw the Petrel containing +Bess, Hazel, Walter and Ed swinging up to the small dock. The +young, folks looked closely at the two detectives. + +"He may have to testify whether he wants to or not!" called the +short officer back to Jack who was still watching them. "The law +gets what it wants you know. This isn't the only case against Tony. +He is an old offender." + +"All right, have your own way about it," responded Jack easily, and +he noted that the occupants of the Petrel seemed rather alarmed. +Then they hastened to disembark as the police boat chugged away, and +Jack ran down to meet them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +AWAKENED MEMORIES + + +"Oh, where is Cora!" gasped Bess, as she landed at the island rock, +and almost fell fainting into Jack's arms. + +"Why, she is with Laurel--in the hut. What ever is the matter, +Bess?" + +"We thought--thought they had taken you all to jail! Oh, those +horrible men! Those detectives!" + +"You silly," exclaimed Jack, seeing that the poor girl was really +exhausted from fright. "Don't you know better than that?" + +"But they would not believe us! They made us tell them where you +were, and Belle is sick in bed. Their boat passed ours as we were +coming in. We had a delay. Oh, we've been so alarmed!" + +"Poor Belle," Jack murmured. "Now, Bess, just step up here and make +sure for yourself that Cora is just as intact as when you last saw +her. I am here to speak for myself. If anything she is better for +a night's rest in the open. We expect to start a camp on this plan. +It can't be beat." + +Ed motioned Jack aside. "Wasn't that the police boat?" he asked. + +"Yes, and Cora and I gave them all the clues they wanted. None at +all in other words. They're after Tony." + +"Oh! and Cora, is she all right?" Ed questioned further. + +"Splendid. Did you hear the latest?" + +"Which?" asked Ed, significantly. + +"Laurel's father is almost better. The hermit, you know." + +"You don't say! Can he testify?" asked Ed. + +"He may be able to if they require it. But the queer part is it +seems to have been the shock that awakened his brain. I have read +of such cases." + +Ed was silent, for the girls were returning. Hazel had her brown +arms around Cora while Bess looked at Laurel as if she expected +every moment her chum might evaporate. Walter towed on behind the +little party. + +"I must go down to the landing, Jack," Cora said. "I expect a +registered letter, and it is most important that I get it at once." + +Now this was the very thing that Jack did not want her to do--to get +into the crowd of curious ones that would be sure to be congregated +about the landing. + +"Could I not fetch it? You don't want to leave the girls when they +have just come up," Jack interposed. + +"I am afraid this time I will have to get my own mail," said Cora +with a smile. "Ed can run me down and we will come straight back." + +This was finally agreed upon, although Jack did not like the +arrangements. He called Ed aside and warned him not to let Cora +leave the boat, not to let her speak to anyone, and not to let any +one intercept her. "You can tell about those lawyer fellows," he +finished. "They might think it their legal duty to interview her, +for they know she has been let into the hermit's secret." + +Ed readily promised all Jack said, punctuating his remarks with a +display of arm muscle which meant that anyone would have to pass +pretty close to it to reach Cora while she was in his company. Then +they left. + +Jack sat down on the ledge near the water. He was not given to the +"glooms" but surely he had had more than his share of serious +business lately. How it would end was his cause for anxiety. So he +was pondering when Laurel touched his arm. + +"Father would like to speak to you," she said in a faint voice. "He +seems to think he knows you." + +Jack jumped up suddenly. "He spoke to me very rationally last +night," he said; "perhaps that is what he means." + +He followed Laurel into the hut. The old man had gotten up and was +as nicely washed and fixed as a sick person is usually when loving +hands hover around. + +"Good morning, sir," Jack said pleasantly, taking the seat beneath +the opening in the boughs that served as a window. + +"Good morning, good morning, and a really good morning it is," said +the older man. "I wanted to speak with you. Laurel dear, is there +not water to fetch?" + +Laurel took the cue and hurried out, leaving Jack alone with the +hermit. + +"Young man," he began, "something has happened to clear my brain. A +shock some fifteen years ago, if I have not lost all track of time, +almost, if not altogether, deprived me of my reason." He paused and +put his hand to his brown forehead, in a motion that seemed more a +matter of habit than of necessity. "Then I came here, or he brought +me here. I was all alone. Little Laurel must have been a baby, +when one morning I found her at my side. Dear, sweet little cherub. +He told me since that her mother had died!" + +Jack did not venture an interruption. It all seemed too sacred for +the lips of strangers to break in upon. + +"Then we lived here. That man--!" He clenched his fist and Jack +feared the excitement might be bad for his weakened head. + +"Don't let us talk of him," Jack advised. "Let us consider what is +best to do now." + +"My brave boy!" and the hermit put his arm on Jack's shoulder. +"That is always the mighty question for right; what is best to do +now?" + +A flush had stolen into his sunken cheeks, but Jack could see that +it was not years, but trouble, that had marred his handsome face. + +"He said I would be convicted--of that... crime!" The words seemed +to burn his throat, for he put, his hand up as if to, choke further +utterance. + +"A crime you never committed," Jack ventured, without having the +slightest knowledge of what it might mean to his listener. + +"Can you prove it? Can you prove it!" gasped the man and for the +moment Jack was frightened. He felt he was again in the presence of +the mad hermit of Fern Island. + +"Of course we can prove it. My sister has gone now for the absolute +proof!" Jack was daring more and more each second. "But you spoke +of Breslin. You said you knew him." + +"I do! Where is he! Breslin always believed in me, and he could +save me now," replied the man. + +"Well, listen and try to be calm, or Laurel will not let me talk +further to you," Jack cautioned. "Last night you mentioned the name +of a wealthy banker, for whom my best friend works. This friend is +a mechanical genius and he runs a racer boat for Brendon Breslin, +the banker!" + +"Where? Here? On these shores?" and the man was panting. + +"Only a short distance off. But I tell you, Mr.--?" + +"Starr," volunteered the man. + +"Mr. Starr, if you will only get strong enough you can do a great +deal for yourself and Laurel. The night that you fell a man was on +this Island. Did you know Jim Peters?" + +"Jim Peters!" repeated the hermit. "Yes, he was here the night +Laurel went away with that nice young lady who looks like you." + +Jack started at that. The night Laurel went away was the night Jim +Peters had quarreled with Tony and been hurt. + +"Did he come to the hunt?" asked Jack. + +"No, but the other man did. Brentano and he quarreled, and he drove +Jim Peters down to his boat. I saw them for I was wandering about +wishing for Laurel, and I remember it all." + +"If that man, Brentano, you call him, chased Peters into the boat +did he get in with him?" Jack asked anxiously. + +"Yes, I saw them shove off, but Peters was ugly and wanted to come +back." + +"Did he?" + +"I had to hide then, as they might have injured me if they caught +me. I did not see the boat go out or come back. I went to one of my +many hiding places," finished the old man with evident effort. + +"Well, Mr. Starr, you have relieved my mind greatly, and I hope I +have not taxed your brain too strongly. But the fact is the +detectives are trying to find out about those men and every bit of +information helps. The police, you know, like to clear things up to +suit themselves," Jack said. + +At the word "police," the man winced. Jack noticed the change of +manner, and at once turned the subject to that of the health of his +listener. He urged him to get up enough strength to leave the +island, for Laurel's sake, as well as for his own. + +"But I have lived here like a wild man," argued Mr. Starr, "in fact +I fear I have grown to be one in ways and manners. Solitude may be +good for some, but for those in distress--" + +"Exactly. But you are not going to have any more solitude. You see +we have invaded your camp, and when my sister Cora makes a discovery +she always insists upon developing it. I never did see the beat of +Cora for finding things out," and the pride in Jack's voice matched +the toss of his handsome head. + +"And my little girl will have a friend," mused the elder man. +"Well, in moments when I could think, that torturing thought of my +dragging her down with me was too much. It drove me back always to +the old, old despair." The look of terror, that Jack noticed before +came back into the haggard face. It was as if he feared to hope. + +Laurel was at the door. Her face was a picture of happiness as she +stood there gazing at her father. Her skin was as dark as the +leaves that outlined the entrance to the hut; her eyes lighted up +the rude archway: and her lithe figure completed the bronze +statuette. + +Jack's eyes fell upon her in unstinted admiration. Generations of +culture are not easily undone even by the wild life of a forest. + +"You are better every minute, father," she said simply, "I think the +cure you need comes from pleasant company." + +"None could be more pleasant than your own, my dear," he answered, +"but now I want to go and see my birds. And I must feed that +cripple rabbit. He was shot," to Jack, "but the leg is mending +nicely. I missed him so, for he knew us so well and would eat from +our hands. You see we established a little kingdom here. Laurel +was queen and we, the birds and other life creatures, were all her +subjects." + +Laurel blushed through her tan. "Yes, he had to do something," she +said, "else the days would have been too long." + +The chug of a motor-boat interrupted them. "That's Cora," said +Jack, and so it was. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +IN SEARCH OF HONOR + + +Cora brought back with her the letter promised by Brentano in his +note of mystery. This time she confided in Laurel her scheme for +unraveling the tangled skein in the web of dishonor that had been +woven about the strange girl's father. + +Ben had spoken to Cora at the Landing. He seemed to think that Cora +might know more about the trouble between Peters and Tony than he +had expected at first. + +"But I don't, Ben," she insisted, while Ed was absent getting mail. +"You give me credit for being better able to solve mysteries than I +am. Is he worse hurt than they thought, Ben?" + +"Much worse, miss. Of course, he's not dangerous, but the officers +want Tony the worst way. Now if you could tell where to find him--" + +"But I can't," she explained. "They came to me--" + +And then she stopped suddenly. If Ben did not know of the visit of +the detectives she was not going to tell him. She had had a faint +suspicion that Ben might have sent them to her. But he evidently +had not. + +"Yes--yes," he said eagerly. "You were sayin', Miss Cora, that--" + +"Oh, nothing, Ben," she answered quickly. "I think I am really so +happy at having helped Laurel, that I don't know what I am saying." + +"Yes, indeed you can well be, Miss," and Ben looked at her with what +Cora thought a strange gaze. Still, she might be mistaken. Then +she made some excuse to stroll away. + +Walter had rambled off with Hazel and Bess. The day was now one of +those so wonderful in August, when nature seems tired of her +anxieties, and rests in a perfect ocean of content. The haze had +cleared from the water, the hills were shimmering in the rival +honors of sunlight and shadows, and Cedar Lake from far and near was +glorious. Not a breeze broke the spell: + +"No brisk fairy feet, bend the air, strangely sweet, +For nature is wedding her lover!" + +This line prompted Cora. Somehow the joy of relief was the one +thing that had ever overcome her, and now, although nothing in all, +the strange things that had happened around her, or had warped the +life of Laurel and her father seemed really cleared away, still +there was that odd look on old Ben's face, there was a new light in +Laurel's eyes, and something like vigor in the voice of Mr. Starr. +Oh, if he could and would only tell about that note! Then +everything else might await time for adjustment. + +Cora took Jack and Laurel down under the broken chestnut tree to +tell them about the letter. It was best, she concluded not to +mention it yet to Mr. Starr. + +"You know," she began, "that Brentano, that is the man of many +names," she explained to Jack, "promised to send me information that +would clear Mr. Starr of his supposed crime." + +Laurel drew a deep breath. The word crime made her almost shudder. + +"And this is to-day's letter." She opened the bulky envelope. "He +says so much about a girl's power of influence," Cora explained, as +if not wanting to read that part of the letter. Then he says this: + +"'I have some excuse for my folly. When I was a very little child +my mother died. My farther was an expert mathematician employed by +the Mexican government. From a tiny lad I watched him make those +fascinating rows of figures, and I always wanted to know what they +meant. He told me money, riches, gold, and I got to believe that +the way to acquire money was to make figures, and do wonderful +things with pen and ink. When I was twelve years old my father +died, and I was left, with considerable money, in the care of an old +nurse who idolized me. Poor old Maximina! She meant no wrong, but +who was to guide me? Then the money was gone and the nurse was also +gone. I had to follow some occupation, and a friend coming to +America brought me with him. At fifteen I was a bank runner. It +was there I met Mr. Starr, the respected first clerk of the bank. +He liked me, talked to me and was my friend. Then I got in with a +set of so called scientific cranks. I knew something about the ways +of hypnotism, and when I wanted money the temptation came." + +Cora stopped, for Laurel had clutched at Jack's arm. Her face was a +faded yellow and her eyes were twitching. + +"Shall we wait for the rest, Laurel?" Cora asked. "Perhaps it +is--too painful for you now!" + + "Oh, no! It is not pain, it is agony. This boy whom my father +befriended!" + +"But you see he was not born a scoundrel," Jack interrupted. "He is +now trying to make amends." + +"Yes," sighed Laurel, "please go on, Cora." + +Cora read: "I have kept proofs of everything, but if the authorities +refuse to accept these proofs I am willing to come back to America +and give myself up. You will find the papers marked 'bank records' +in a chest in the back kitchen of Peters shack. They are sealed in +a big tin can marked 'red paint.' What are they saying about +Peters? That must be a hard nut for the Lake people to crack, but +since they know so much, or they think they know, it might be a good +thing to let them find out how little they really do know. I am +sorry for poor Peters. He got ugly, however, and it was his own +fault?" + +As Cora read these last few words her, eyes left the paper. What +did he mean? Why did he not say more? He knew Peters' shack held +the needed proofs of that forgery case. It would take many days to +write to and hear from Mexico. All this was dashing before Cora's +confused mind. + +"The thing to do," spoke Jack, "is to go to the shack at once. When +we find those papers we may believe the man." + +"I believe him now," said Laurel, "for all that he says of my father +I have heard in his ravings. Poor, dear father! And to think I was +too young to help him!" + +"It was evidently not a question of age," said Jack, "when one is +hypnotized into the belief that he has committed a crime it would +take scientific treatment to restore him to his correct view of the +case. To remove you from the possibility of this, I suppose, is the +very reason that Brentano brought you here." + +"We cannot go for the papers to-day," Cora said, "for we must, if +possible, get Mr. Starr either to the boys' bungalow, or to our +camp. Which do you think, Jack?" + +"We will take him to our bungalow, certainly. And it seems to me he +is smart and bright enough for the trip now. If we wait later he +might have some reaction," Jack replied. + +Laurel agreed with him, and presently they broached the matter to +Mr. Starr. + +"But I cannot go just now," the hermit argued. "I have that little +lame rabbit--" + +"Why, father," and Laurel folded her arms around him, "don't you +think it would be dreadful to disappoint our friends when they have +waited the whole night? And they must want to get back to their +comfortable quarters." + +"Looking at it that way," he faltered, "I suppose I ought to. But +how can a man leave the woods when he has been in them for ten +years?" + +"It must be hard," Cora agreed, "and if you want to come back we +could arrange to build you a real camp out here, one in which Laurel +might have some comforts. But first you must get strong. Just +think of beef tea-broth--can't you smell it?" + +"Girl! Girl!" he exclaimed with a real smile brightening his +benevolent face, "you have a way! Laurel, we have no trunks to +pack," he said, half grimly, "have we?" + +"But we have things to take with us," 'and she jumped up so pleased, +believing that he had almost, if not entirely, consented to go. + +"Where's that rabbit?" asked Jack. + +Walter and the girls were coming the other way. + +"It's in a mossy bed just back of where Bess stands," said Laurel. + +"Then he's the first thing to be packed," said Jack, walking +straight for the path where the others stood. + +From that time until the Petrel landed at the lower end of Cedar +Lake Mr. Starr, the hermit, felt that he was in a dream. At the +same time he allowed himself to be guided and managed with the +simplicity of a child, for his awakened memory seemed stunned by +this new turn of affairs. He was weak, of course, but with all the +hands that now crowded around him his every need was well looked +after. + +"I'll get Dr. Rand," Ed volunteered. "They say he is wonderful on +mental cases." + +"But he needs rest first," insisted the busy Cora, for she and +Laurel had gone directly to the boys' bungalow with Mr. Starr. + +Between them all the illness seemed overwhelmed. In fact, the man's +eyes, the safest signal of the brain, were as dear as those of the +young persons who so eagerly watched his every move. + +Dr. Rand came at once. He diagnosed the case as one of mental +shock, and called the patient convalescent. A nurse however was +called in to hurry the recovery, and this necessitated the renting +of another bungalow for the boys. + +There had never been more excitement around the wood camp. The boys +ran this way and that, each anxious to outdo the other in the +accomplishment of something important. Finally Cora suggested that +they all go away to make sure that Mr. Starr would have real quiet. + +"Can't we go for the papers? To the shack?" Laurel ventured. + +"We might," Jack replied. "I see no reason why we should not." + +"Let us three go," proposed Cora, "I mean you and Laurel and I, +Jack. It might be best not to attract attention." + +Once more the Petrel sailed up the lake, this time toward the +Everglades. Cora thought of that day when she and Bess dared take +the same journey, when the strange man sat at the willowed shore +ostensibly making sketches. She thought now that his work then must +have been the forging of a letter to hand the poor demented hermit +of Fern Island. + +"The shack is just over there, Jack," she said, pointing out the +willows. + +"There's another boat anchored there," Jack said. "It looks like an +important craft too." + +He had seen it before. It was the very boat in which the detective +and the police officer sailed up to the far island the morning they +came searching for evidence in the Jones' case. + +"The path is narrow," Cora said, "but I happen to know it." She led +the way. + +"There are men!" exclaimed Laurel as they neared the shack. + +Two men were trying to force open the low window. Cora drew back, +for one of the men was in uniform. + +"I suppose they have not finished the case," Jack ventured, and at +that very moment he would have given a great deal to have had his +sister and Laurel back at camp. + +The men had not yet seen them. They forced open the window, and +were now inside. + +"Let us turn back," Jack suggested. "They may ask us questions--" + +"But the papers," begged Laurel. "They mean so much to father. And +what if those men should take them?" + +"They will likely take everything they can lay their hands on," Jack +answered, "and I suppose it will be best for us to go on." + +"Certainly," Cora said, knowing well that it was on her account that +Jack hesitated. "They cannot do more than ask questions." + +But scarcely had she uttered the words than they saw the two men +walk out of the shack, and one of them had the can marked "red +paint!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +A BOLD RESOLVE + + +Seeing their precious papers, or the receptacle that was said to +contain them, in the hands of the detective, Cora and Laurel both +drew back. They could not now demand them, was the thought that +flashed to the mind of each, and yet to leave them in possession of +the officers, was the very worst thing that could have happened, for +there was always the danger of the old story coming up and then the +risk to Mr. Starr, after all his years of evading the law! + +"They have no right to them," Jack said under his breath. + +"Hush!" Cora whispered, "they are going the other way!" + +The two men were talking. Suddenly one of them said loudly enough +for the listeners to hear: + +"It might be dynamite. Not for me! Here goes!" and he carefully +set the can down under a bush. + +"Yes," said the other man. "You are right. Those two fellows were +up to most anything. We will get Mulligan. He could smell +dynamite," and with that they turned, took a new path toward the +shore, and were soon sailing off in their boat. + +For a few moments neither of the three, who were standing there +watching, spoke. Then Cora's face brightened. + +"They are ours, Laurel's," she said, "and we have a right to take +them." + +"But the law is queer on such points," Jack argued. "I have known +men to be put in jail for what they call interfering with an officer +when the officer could not do just what he wanted to with some +spunky citizen. I should not like to touch the can of red paint." + +"But my father," said Laurel, in the most pleading of tones. "Think +what it means! How we have suffered; and now, when this is at our +very hands!" + +"But suppose it were something other than the papers," cautioned +Jack. "Those men had a pretty bad reputation." + +"I will take all the risks," declared Cora, and before Jack could +detain her she ran to the bush, pushed it aside, and grasped the +can. + +Jack hurried to take it from her. "Let me have it, Cora; if there +is a risk it must be mine." + +"All right, Jack dear," she replied, "I am sure there is nothing in +it heavier than papers. Wouldn't you think those men could have +guessed that?" + +"Perhaps they did not want to," said Jack. "You can never tell what +they want or mean. They have a system even the country fellows, and +it covers a multitude of failures." He shook the can, put it to his +ear, rolled it a few feet, picked it up again and laughed. "Mr. +Mulligan won't find this can," he said, "Somehow it is attractive, +and I am anxious as you girls to see what is in it. If we get in +trouble for taking it--well, we'll see," and he led the way down to +the Petrel. + +On the water they passed the police boat, but the can of "red +paint," was snugly resting under Laurel's skirts in the bottom of +the boat. + +"Will you tell your father at once, Laurel?" Cora asked. + +"If he is well enough. Oh, I can scarcely wait. Coral, what +wonderful good luck you brought to us," and she reached out her hand +to press Cora's. + +"Don't be too sure," cautioned the other, "it is not all cleared up +yet." + +"But I feel sure," she insisted. "Brentano was too clever to do +anything half way." + +"He certainly was a star," Jack admitted. "But I hope he will not +insist upon keeping up the correspondence with Cora. He might give +us the hoo-doo." + +They were soon at their dock. The Peter Pan was tied, there, and +that meant that Paul Hastings was at the bungalow. Jack thought +instantly of Paul's employer, the banker, whose name Mr. Starr had +mentioned. It did seem now that things were shaping themselves to +tell all the story. + +"Who is the stranger?" Cora asked, noticing a man in a dressing robe +sitting on the little rustic porch. + +"I--wonder--" Jack said. + +"It's father," almost screamed Laurel, "and he has had his hair cut +and his beard taken off! Doesn't he look lovely!" + +"It can't be," Cora said hesitatingly. "That man is so young!" + +"He's my dear father, just the same," declared the delighted girl, +hurrying from the boat up to the bungalow. + +The man did not turn his head to greet her, but she was not to be +deceived by his little ruse. "What a surprise!" she exclaimed. "I +scarcely knew you." + +"But you did know me," he replied, with a happy smile. "I feel +years and years younger, my dear." + +"Indeed you look it," Cora said. "I wonder how you ever hid such +good looks." + +The nurse was fetching the beef tea, Paul took the cup from her +hand. Jack made a wry face at Laurel, indicating that they would +have to watch Paul and the pretty new nurse. Then he took the chair +nearest Mr. Starr. The can of "red paint" had been safely hidden in +a locker of the Petrel. + +"Your friend has been telling me the wonders of his fast boat," +began Mr. Starr to Jack, speaking of Paul. + +"Yes. This is the young man who is employed by Brendon Breslin," +Jack replied. + +"Employed by Brendon Breslin!" exclaimed Mr. Starr. "Is Mr. Breslin +around here?" + +"Gone to the city to-day," replied Paul, "but I take him home every +night in the Peter Pan. That's what he wants the best boat on the +lake for." + +"He always believed me, and never wanted me to go away," Mr. Starr +said. "And now if I could see him--" + +"I don't see why you cannot," put in Jack. "He often rides by here, +doesn't he Paul?" + +"He thinks this the prettiest end of the lake," Paul replied. "But +if you ever knew him and he was your friend I am sure he would be +only too glad to make a special trip to see you, for he boasts he +never forgets an old friend," Paul said. + +"That's him--that's Brendon," exclaimed Mr. Starr, moving uneasily +in his chair. "I feel I must be dreaming." + +There was a general pause--for realization. Everyone felt indeed it +was like a dream, and almost beyond human power to grasp. Mr. Starr +swept his hand over his forehead. + +"Laurel," he called, "I wonder if I couldn't take a ride in the +Peter Pan. Ask the nurse, please--?" + +"Oh, no," objected that young lady. "It would not be wise for you +to take another boat ride to-day. We will ask the doctor about it +tomorrow." + +"Don't be impatient, father," pleaded Laurel. "You must not forget +how weak your head has been." + +"All right, child. But I want it cleared up," he murmured. "I feel +there is no safety for me until I'm vindicated." + +"Come on, Jack," whispered Cora. "We must open that can." + +Paul was leaving. Cora and Jack walked to the dock with him. He +assured them both that Mr. Breslin would call very soon, and also +promised to be on hand on the following Wednesday evening when the +girls and boys were planning to have a celebration. + +"They will never know but that it is really paint," Cora remarked, +as she and Jack walked boldly up the path with the precious tin can. +"Just take it around to the back, and be careful opening it." + +"Dynamite?" asked Jack with a smile. + +"No, but you might damage something," she replied. + +"No worry about damaging myself?" he persisted. "Well, Cora, I hope +it contains--some jewels. Wouldn't that be nice?" + +There was no chance for further conversation. Cora went to the +porch while her brother carried out her instructions. Presently she +made some excuse, and left Laurel alone, talking with her father. + +She found Jack sitting on the wash bench with the can opened and in +his hands. + +"Didn't go off?" she asked, peering into the tin. + +"Not a go," replied Jack, "but look! What did I tell you! There's +an envelope marked for Laurel, and feel! Are they not stones? +Diamonds or pearls?" + +"You romancer!" exclaimed Cora, as she felt the bulky envelope. "I +admit they do feel like stones, but they may be merely corals. But +oh, Jack! Do let me see!" + +"Lets call Laurel," he suggested. "We cannot read any of those +papers. They are for her, or her father, to open." + +"Oh, of course," and Cora looked rebuked. "I had no idea of reading +anything, but I thought we should make sure of what was in the can +before we got Laurel excited over it," and she slipped around the +side of the bungalow to beckon to Laurel. + +The girl's face turned white when she saw why she was wanted. "I am +so afraid of disappointment," she murmured with a sigh. + +"Well, there's something in here," Jack told her. "Look at this," +and he handed her the heavy envelope. + +She read her name--then she tore open the paper. A necklace fell +out on her lap! + +"Mother's!" she exclaimed, pressing the golden chain to her lips +reverently. "Darling mother's!" + +"And the stones are amethysts!" Cora exclaimed as Laurel held up the +gems. + +"Yes, it was father's wedding present to mother," Laurel told them. +"Oh, I scarcely know how to tell him all this." + +"Tony was a pretty decent robber after all," remarked Jack. "He +kept them for you, at any rate." + +"Yes, poor man. Perhaps, as he said, his one temptation was to do +clever things with a pen. Let us look over the papers." + +"Perhaps your father had best see you do that," Jack suggested. + +"Oh no. I think I had better know first," Laurel insisted. "Let me +open this," and she carefully broke a large red seal on a packet of +documents yellow with age. + +Paper after paper she took out. Finally what she was looking for +she found. It was a check that had been cashed and cancelled! It +bore the marks also of "forgery!" + +"That's it," she exclaimed. "That is the ten thousand dollar +check!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +ALL ENDS WELL-CONCLUSION + + +"I remember it all--it's like a book open before me!" + +Laurel had insisted upon her father reclining in the hammock, and +she was now fussing with his pillows, that he might nestle deeper in +their softness. It was he who was speaking. On the porch sat +Brendon Breslin, looking into Peter Starr's face like one enchanted. +There was Cora moving a big fan so that apparently without her doing +it, the breeze reached the man in the hammock. Jack was there and +Ed was inside the bungalow teasing Walter who had "discovered" the +new nurse. Hazel, Bess and Belle were busy--there was to be +"something doing." + +A day had passed since the opening of the can of "red paint." In +fact it was the evening following that eventful performance. Paul +had only to say "Peter Starr"' to Mr. Breslin, and the latter was +ready to be at the bungaloafers' camp. So the story was unwinding. + +"Do you really feel able to talk?" asked the millionaire banker. "I +will insist now--you got, the better of me once, Peter." + +"Yes, Mr. Starr," Cora added to the request. "Do be careful." + +"And she asks me to be careful!" He actually seized Cora in his +trembling arms. "She! Why she risked her life for us. It was she +who found my Laurel! She who came to us at night to be sure we +would not repel her! She who followed up that--" + +"Oh, please, hush!" Cora begged, "or it will be she who causes your +relapse," she insisted. + +"Indeed no," and the man held in his hands before him the flushed +face of Cora. "What you have done cannot be told of in this rude +way." + +"Father, I'll be jealous," said Laurel, trying to relieve the +tension. + +Cora slipped away. It was Mr. Breslin who spoke next. + +"And you really remember?" he asked of Mr. Starr. "How was it that +you ran away?" + +"The bank president's name had been forged to a check for ten +thousand dollars!" + +"Yes, I know that well," said Mr. Breslin. + +"And they traced the forgery to me!" + +"But you knew you were innocent!" + +"I knew it, but I was frightened by the accusation, and they had +found trials of the signature in my desk!" + +"I have a letter that explains that," Cora imparted, and then she +told how Brentano had confessed to the forgery, and to his almost +hypnotic influence over Mr. Starr. + +"And then?" inquired Mr. Breslin. + +"Brentano told me I must go. He fixed everything. I have been on +the island ten years," and the hermit sighed heavily. + +"How did you live?" asked the banker. + +"He fixed that," and there was bitterness in his tone. "He brought +me letters regularly. These were alleged to come from those who +would prosecute me if I did not keep on paying money!" + +At this statement the banker dashed up from his seat. "The +scoundrel!" he almost hissed. "He ought to be jailed! If I had him +here I'd do it too. I'm mayor of this borough." + +"Oh, Mr. Breslin!" exclaimed Laurel. "He must not have been +entirely bad. See how he saved the papers--the proofs--and how he +kept for me my mother's jewels." + +"That's the sentimental mire that foreign criminals wallow in," he +replied with irony. "I cannot see that it mitigates the crime." + + "And yet," interrupted Mr. Starr, "see how the influence of a mere +girl turned him to right? I did like that boy!" + +Cora and Laurel had crept away to the far end of the porch. Two men +came up the path. + +"Hello!" said Mr. Breslin. "Officers!" + +There was surprise on the officers' faces when they saw Mr. Breslin, +their superior officer, the mayor of Cedar Lake, sitting on the +porch. Greetings were exchanged and finally they ventured to make +known their mission. + +They had heard that someone saw Cora Kimball take the state's +evidence--the can of "red paint!" + +"But what was a can of paint?" asked the mayor. "As if a girl would +want that," and his voice was almost mocking. + +"Well, it might have been dynamite," and the man who wore brass +buttons shook his head sagely. + +"A girl steal a can of dynamite," repeated Mr. Breslin mockingly. + +The officers were trying to see who was in the hammock. But the man +therein sank back into the cushions, while Jack carelessly slipped +his chair directly in front of him. + +"Why didn't you take it when you saw it?" asked the town's mayor. + +"Well," explained the other man, "we didn't fancy the blow-up. We +went for Mulligan who knows about such things, and when we came back +it was gone." + +"You had better tell that story before the jury," and the sarcasm in +Mr. Breslin's tone was unmistakable. "Suppose you tell them that a +girl took what you were afraid to touch!" + +Seeing that it was useless to argue with the mayor, they turned to +leave. + +"Wait," he said good naturedly, "I have my boat here. Take a ride +with me. It's better than walking the dusty roads. Good evening," +he said. "Mr. Fennelly," (to Mr. Starr,) "I hope you will regain +your health by the time your son has to return to college!" + +"Fennelly," said one officer to the other. "That's not the name, it +was Starr! We're on the wrong trail." And they hurried away. Thus +had Mr. Breslin saved the hermit from having to testify. + +"Laurel," Cora said wearily, "let us go for a little walk. My +nerves are all snarled up, and only a walk will unravel them. We +will have time to go as far as the hemlocks before those girls and +boys make up their minds to disband." + +"But it is dark," objected Laurel. + +"All the better; the quiet will be more effective. Come on, Laurel. +Surely you do not mind a dark evening." + +"Oh, no indeed, Cora," she replied, winding her arm, about her +friend's waist, "but I was thinking it might shower." + +"Oh, we could beat any shower," insisted, Laurel, "Come let us get +away before they miss us." + +It was getting very dark indeed, but they heeded it not, so +interested were they in their chat. + +They talked of many things, as girls will, and Laurel told much of +her half-wild life, on Fern Island, while Cora related some of her +own experiences. Then they returned to the house, where they found +the others assembled. + +"Let's have some fun," suggested Walter. + +"I vote for charades," said Jack. "I'll be a fish." + +"All right!" exclaimed the nurse, entering into the spirit of the +fun, "here's where you swim!" and she poured a glass of water down +Jack's back. He accepted the challenge and made exaggerated motions +as if he were struggling in deep water. There was a gale of +laughter, and that was the beginning of a gay time. The troubles of +the past seemed all forgotten. + +The now happy party remained together for several days and in the +meanwhile there were many developments. + +Through the efforts of Mr. Breslin everything regarding the former +hermit was cleared up, and his name was once more restored to its +untarnished honor. There was absolutely no charge against him, and +on learning this, his health took a big change for the better. As +for Laurel, she was happier than she had been in many years. + +The injury to Jim Peters did not amount to as much as had been +feared at first and he gradually recovered. There was no trace of +"Tony," as everyone called Brentano. The search for him was given +up, but the officers who had been fooled by the can of "red paint" +had a hard time living down the joke against them. Cora destroyed +all the correspondence she had received. It was like a bad dream, +all but that part about helping Laurel and her father, and she +wanted to forget it. Laurel also destroyed the letter Jack had +picked up the night of the search. It was one from Brentano, and +she, too, wanted no remembrance of him. This epistle had a slight +connection with the mystery. + +Old Ben proved a good friend and Cora was sorry for the momentary +feeling she had had against him. He showed the boys many woodland +haunts and took them to secret fishin' "holes" unknown to the +general public. The lads voted him a "brick." + +It was a bright, beautiful day and every one was happy--happy +because of the fine weather and because everything had turned out so +well. + +"I feel just like doing something!" exclaimed Cora, who, came in +from a walk in the woods. + +"What, sis?" asked Jack, making a grab for her which she adroitly +avoided. + +"Oh--almost anything. Since so much of our summer was spoiled in +exploring and in solving mysteries, suppose we dispel the gloom with +a spell of reckless gaiety." + +"Suppose," agreed Hazel. "What shall it be? I vote for water fun. +We can have parties and that sort of stuff all winter." + +"Fishing! The very thing!" exclaimed Cora, "and give prizes for +fish, near fish, and no fish." + +"Oh, the boys would be sure to win on the fish number," said Hazel, +"but let's try it. We have to have live bait, I suppose." + +"And we can haul the bait nets. Did you ever see them cast one of +those thirty feet ones?" asked Cora. + +"Never," replied Hazel. "But when shall we start, and what do we +start? I'll dig for worms." + +"To-night we will go for the bait, and you can go out with a lantern +in the darkest parts of the woods to dig for worms," Cora said, +knowing, that this would put an end to Hazel's offer. + +"In the woods? In our own back yard. I know how to turn stones +over. I have often helped Paul," Hazel attested. + +But it was casting the big thirty foot net that really furnished the +best sport. It was dropped from a rowboat by Bess and Cora while +Laurel and Belle rowed. Then when it was all spread out they had to +row very quickly in a circle to close the bottom and to drag in the +unsuspecting little fishes that were to make the live bait. + +The first trial resulted in Belle resigning as oarsman. She had +lost a gold-rimmed side-comb overboard, besides getting very wet +when the boat turned suddenly and "took a wave." + +"I can row alone," insisted Laurel. "Cora and Hazel must manage the +net." + +This time they did bring up some fish--a whole drove of wiggling, +frightened little minnies. + +"How do we get them out?" asked Bess, more frightened than the fish. + +"Pick them out and put them in the bait box," Cora explained, while +Bess made a negative face. + +"It seems a shame to use them for bait," Laurel said, as on the pier +they opened the net carefully and saw the pretty silvery things slip +around. "Couldn't we put them some place to grow up?" + +"The fish-orphans' home," suggested Cora. "But I must have a few. +You know, girls, fish have no brains. That's the reason I suppose +they go into the brain business when they get a chance at humans." + +The very next afternoon the girl's fishing party rowed out from +Center Landing. Walter went along to take the fish off the hooks of +Belle and Bess who declared they would never be able to do that. +The other boy's composed a rival party. + +Ben was at the landing, and he wished them all sorts of luck besides +telling them the secret spots where fish dwelt. They went deep into +the cove, as Ben said the pickerel loved to lay in the grasses +there. + +Bess and Belle insisted upon following the directions on the box of +a patent "plug" they had purchased and cast near a lily pond, +reeling in so slowly that Hazel and Cora had both had "strikes" +before the twins saw their white make believe fish come to the +surface. This sort of casting was for bass of course. + +"I've got one! I've got one!" shouted Cora, as she pulled in a +handsome big, black bass. + +This won the first and last prize, for it was an exceptionally fine +specimen. + +"We knew you would have the best luck, Cora," Hazel said without +malice, as she dragged up a very small, scared sunny. "We knew it. +You always do." + +"It isn't luck," added Laurel, "It's skill. She knew that she must +pull up as soon as the fish struck. I lost something. It might +have been a snake but it got away because I was not quick enough." + +There was quite a laugh when Jack, after a hard struggle, during +which he protested that he must have the biggest pickerel in the +lake, pulled in a large mud turtle. Later, however, he redeemed +himself by catching one of the long fish which gave him quite a +battle of the line. The other boys did well, and the girls were not +far behind them. + +"Well," remarked Cora, during a lull in the proceedings when they +had gone ashore to eat the lunch they had brought along, "we really +haven't had so much fun as this since we came to the lake. There +was so much excitement." + +"There are other vacations coming," predicted Ed. "There is no +telling what may happen since she has learned to adjust a spark +plug, and regulate a timer." + +Ed was right; there were other adventures in store for the motor +girls, and what they consisted of will be related in the next volume +of this series to be entitled "The Motor Girls on the Coast or The +Waif from the Sea." + +The afternoon waned. No one felt like going fishing after lunch. +Besides, as Cora said, they, had enough, and they were all cleaned +up from the "mess" of baiting hooks. + +And now, for a time we will take leave of the girls, as they are +sitting on the shady shores of Cedar Lake, talking--talking--and the +boys listening, with occasional remarks. + +"And I'm so glad it all came out right," Cora murmured. "You are to +go to school with me, Laurel--mother has planned about that." + +"And it was so good of Mr. Breslin to arrange to have father do +clerical work for him," added the woodland maid. "Oh, how lovely +everything is!" + +And the sun, sinking to rest, cast a rosy glow over the peaceful +waters of the lake. + +THE END + + + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Motor Girls on Cedar Lake, by Margaret Penrose + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR GIRLS ON CEDAR LAKE *** + +***** This file should be named 7081.txt or 7081.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/0/8/7081/ + +Produced by Sean Pobuda + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Motor Girls On Cedar Lake + The Hermit of Fern Island + +Author: Margaret Penrose + +Release Date: December, 2004 [EBook #7081] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on March 7, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR GIRLS ON CEDAR LAKE *** + + + + +This eBook was produced by Sean Pobuda + + + + +THE MOTOR GIRLS ON CEDAR LAKE + +Or + +The Hermit of Fern Island + + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +PUSHING OFF + + +"Oh, Cora! Isn't this perfectly splendid!" exclaimed Bess Robinson. + +"Delightful!" chimed in her twin sister, Belle. + +"I'm glad you like it," said Cora Kimball, the camp hostess. "I +felt that you would, but one can never be sure--especially of Belle. +Jack said she would fall a prey to that clump of white birches over +there, and would want to paint pictures on the bark. But I fancied +she would take more surely to the pines; they are so strong--and, +like the big boys--always to be depended on. But not a word about +camp now. Something more important is on. My new motor boat has +just arrived!" + +"Has it really?" This as a duet. + +"And truly," finished Cora with a smile. "Yes, it has, and there is +not a boy on the premises to show me how to run it. Jack expected +to be here, but he isn't. So now I'm going to try it alone. I +never could wait until evening to start my new boat. And isn't it +lovely that you have arrived in time to take the initial run? I +remember you both took the first spin with me in my auto, the +Whirlwind, and now here you are all ready for the trial performance +of the motor boat. Now Belle, don't refuse. There is absolutely no +danger." + +"But the water," objected the timid Belle. + +"We can all swim," put in her sister, "and you promised, Belle, not +to be nervous this trip. Yes, Cora, I'm all ready. I saw the craft +as we came up. Wasn't it the boat with the new light oak deck and +mahogany gunwale? I am sure it was," + +"Yes, isn't she a beauty? I should have been satisfied with any +sort of a good boat, but mother wanted something really reliable, +and she and Jack did it all before I had a chance to interfere." + +"I wonder what your mother will next bestow upon you?" asked Belle +with a laugh. "She has such absolute confidence in you." + +"Let us hope it will not be a man; we can't let Cora get married, +whatever else she may do," put in Bess, as she shook the dust from +her motor coat, and prepared to follow Cora, who was already leaving +the camp. Belle, too, started, but one could see that she, though +a motor girl, did not exactly fancy experimenting on the water. It +was but a short distance to the lake's edge, for the camp had been +chosen especially on account of the water advantage. + +"There she is! See how she stands out in the clear sunshiny water! +I tell you it is the very prettiest boat on Cedar Lake, and that is +saying something," exclaimed Cora, the proud possessor of the new +motor craft. + +"Beautiful," reiterated the Robinson twins. + +"But what do you know about running it?" queried Belle. + +"Why, I have been studying marine motors in general, and have been +shown about this one in particular," replied Cora. "The man who ran +it up from the freight depot for me gave me a few 'pointers,' as he +called them." + +She stepped into the trim craft and affectionately patted the +shining engine. + +"'It is much simpler to run than a car, and besides, there isn't so +much to get in your way on the water," Cora went on. + +"My!" exclaimed Bess as she stepped in after her hostess. "This is +really--scrumptious!" + +"You take the seat in the stern, Belle, and Bess, you may sit here +near me," said Cora, "as I suppose you will be interested in seeing +how it works. Oh! There is the steamer from the train. Hurry! +Perhaps there are folks aboard we know. Let us act at home, and +pretend we have been running motor boats all our lives." + +Cora took her place at the engine and before Bess or Belle had +really gotten seated she was turning on the gasoline. + +"You see this is the little pipe that feeds the 'gas' from the tank +to the carburetor," she explained. "Now, I just throw in the +switch: that makes the electrical connection: then I have to give +this fly wheel--it's stiff--but I have to swing it around so! +There!" and the wheel "flew" around twice slowly and then began to +revolve very rapidly. "Now we are ready," and the engine started +its regular chug chug. + +"How do you steer?" asked Bess anxiously, for the big steamer with +its cargo of summer folks seemed rather near. + +"I can steer here," and Cora turned a wheel amidships, "or one may +steer at the bow. Suppose you take the forward wheel Bess, as I +may, have enough to do to look after the engine." + +"Very well," acquiesced the girl, "but I hope I make no mistakes." + +"Oh you won't. Just turn the wheel the way you want to go. Now +we'll hurry. I want to show off my boat." + +Bess took up her place at the steering wheel and turned it so that +the boat started on a clear course. Everything seemed to work +beautifully, and presently Bess was so interested in the gentle +swerving of the craft, as the rudder responded to her slightest +touch, that she, too, thought it very much simpler than motoring on +land. + +"There are the Blakes!" suddenly exclaimed Belle. "See, they are +waving to us." + +"Yes," answered Cora as she snatched off her cap and fluttered a +response to the folks on the steamer. "Bess, keep clear out. The +landing is just over there! The steamer makes quite a swell." + +Bess turned, but she did it too suddenly. A wave from the steamer +caught them broadside, and drenched the girls before they knew what +had happened. + +"Oh!" screamed Belle, "--we are running right into the steamer!" + +"Bess! Bess!" called Cora. "Turn! I can't connect--" + +Shouts from the steamer added to their confusion. Would they be run +down on this, their very first attempt at navigation? + +"They are the motor girls!" Cora heard some one on the steamer +shout, and while this much has been told it may be well to acquaint +the reader with further details of the situation. The Motor Girls +were friends whom we have met in the four previous volumes of this +series entitled respectively: "The Motor Girls," "The Motor Girls on +a Tour," "The Motor Girls at Lookout Beach," and "The Motor Girls +Through New England." In each of these volumes we have met Cora +Kimball, the handsome, dashing girl who conquers everything within +reason, but who, herself, is occasionally conquered, both in the +field of sports and in the field of human endeavors. It was she who +had the first automobile, her Whirlwind and while out in it she had +some very trying experiences. + +In the first volume she managed to unravel the mystery of the road. +Bess and Bell, the Robinson twins, were with her, as they were again +in the second volume, the story of a strange promise. This promise, +odd as it was, all three girls kept, to the delight and happiness of +little Wren, the crippled child. Next the girls went to Lookout +Beach, where they had plenty of good fun, as well as time enough to +find the runaways, two very interesting young girls, who had +decamped from the "Strawberry patch." It was like a game of hide +and seek, but in the end the motor girls did capture the runaways. +Then in the story "Through New England," it was Cora who was hidden +away by the gypsies, and what she endured, and how she escaped were +assuredly wonderful. There were brothers and friends of course, +Jack Kimball being the most important person of the first variety, +while Walter Pennington and Ed Foster were friends in need and +friends indeed. + +And now we find these same girls undertaking a new role--that of +running a motor boat, the gift of Mrs. Kimball to her daughter, for +that mother, in her days of widowhood, had learned how safe it was +to repose confidence in her two children, Cora and Jack. + +The camp at Cedar Lake had been taken by Cora and her friends for a +summer vacation on the water, and now, after a day's run from +Chelton, the home town, in their auto, the Flyaway, the Robinson +girls had again joined Cora who had come up the day previous, with a +maid to get the camp to rights. + +The steamer was indeed too close! Cora was frantically trying to +turn the auxiliary steering wheel, but Bess in her fright was +turning the more powerful bow wheel in the very direction of danger! + +"Oh! Mercy!" shrieked Belle. "We are lost!" + +Another wave almost submerged them. The passengers on the steamer +had all run to one side of their boat. + +"Turn right!" shouted Cora as she jumped up and fairly jerked from +Bess the forward wheel. "Turn to the right!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE HAUNTED ISLE + + +For some seconds no one seemed to know just what had happened. The +steamer was clear, and the motor boat was running safely. Three +very wet girls were thanking their good fortune that the water was +their only damage--and water in the shape of a shower of spray is +not much of a matter to complain of, after you escape a collision. + +"What happened?" asked Belle, when she had the courage to uncover +her eyes. + +"Bess turned wrong," said Cora. + +"I couldn't tell which way to go," put in the frightened girl. "I +was simply stage-struck. But what saved us?" + +"I jerked the wheel just enough to get a little to one side, and +then the steamer had a chance to turn away," replied Cora. "I tell +you we had a close shave, but that makes our first trip all the more +interesting. Bess, can I trust you now to take my place while I +look at that wheel? The rope may have slipped?" + +"Oh, don't do anything," pleaded Belle. "Call to that boat over +there, and let us have help. See, they are coming this way." + +"Why, it's the boys--our boys!" exclaimed Cora. "Why have they gone +out without telling me, when they knew I wanted to use my boat?" + +In a canoe that looked like a big eel as it slipped over the water +could be seen Jack, Ed and Walter. + +"Well!" called Jack. "I like that! Where did you get the--ocean +liner, Cora?" + +"Don't say anything about the accident," she had a chance to whisper +to the girls before replying to her brother. "I found my boat tied +up at the dock," she answered gaily. "Isn't she a beauty?" + + +"What are you going to call her?" asked Walter. + +"The Whirlpool, I guess," replied Cora, "that would go nicely with +my Whirlwind, don't you think?" + +"Oh, no, don't," objected Belle. "I should always feel that we were +going to be--" + +"Whirlpooled?" finished Jack. "Better make her the Petrel, Cora, +for two reasons. We bought it from Mr. Peters, and she can walk on +the water like the old original sea-fowl. Just see how she does +saunter along." + +"All right. Petrel will do, but it will be Pet for short," said +Cora as now she allowed the boat to drift a little way from beside +the boys' canoe. + +"What was the matter with the steamer folks?" asked Ed. "Thought I +heard something as we passed." + +"Yes, you might have heard them talking about us if your ears had on +their long distance," replied Cora quickly. "The Blakes are +aboard." + +"I saw their trunks at the station," said Jack "and they were tagged +to The Burrow." + +"That's the hole in the hill, isn't it?" asked Walter. "Well, I'm +glad they have come up--the Benny Blakeses. I like a lot of folks +around here. It is apt to have a depressing effect upon me if +company is scarce and fishing shy." + +"Or weather wet," put in Ed. "But say, Cora, I'd like to try the +Pet." He remembered he was in a blue bathing suit, ever the most +appropriate costume for a canoe. "But I'll wait until later, though +I hate to. We have, as a matter of fact, an engagement at Far +Island. Have you heard?" + +"No, what?" asked the girls in chorus. + +"Just a suspicion yet, but it may be true. We think--shall we give +it away boys?" + +"No; sell it," suggested Jack. "They sold us on this first trip, +why should we give them anything?" + +"Oh, Jack! You know I expected you to take me out the first time," +said Cora reproachfully. + +"Yes, and you know all about a boat, and start out without giving a +fellow the slightest warning." + +"But why didn't you come up when you knew the boat had arrived?" +questioned the sister. + +"Because--but that was what Ed was going to give away. It's a +mysterious secret, and it is situated on Far Island. So long girls, +I suppose you know how to land." + +"Oh, yes indeed," said Cora in spite of the protest that was +trembling on Belle's lips. "We started out, and we will get back +all right. Wish you luck in whatever you are after," and she winked +at Bess, who was now beside her at the engine, as Cora had concluded +to guide the boat by the auxiliary steering wheel. + +The boys veered off. + +"I wonder what they are up to?" asked Cora. "As soon as we can do +so, without being noticed, I think we will follow them. There must +have been something important on, when Jack did not wait to take me +out." + +"Oh, don't let us go farther out on the lake," begged Belle. "I am +nervous yet." + +"Then suppose we take you in? Nettie is at the camp, and then Bess +and I can go out to the island. There was really nothing the matter +with the boat, the mistake was all due to our own nervousness." + +"Well, I would feel better not to sail any farther," admitted the, +pretty blond Belle, as she tossed back some of her breeze stray +curls. "I am subject to sickness on the water, anyhow." + +"On still water?" asked Bess archly. "Well, we will take you in, +Twiny. And we will then go out. I want to redeem myself." + +"Good for you, Bess," said Cora. "There is nothing like courage, +unless it be gasoline," and after starting the engine, she turned +the boat toward the shore. "There are the boys heading for the +other island!" she exclaimed a moment later. + +"They are trying to fool us. I wonder why?" asked Bess. "See, +Belle. There are Nettie and Mary an shore--two of the best maids on +the island. You will be all right with them, won't you, dear?" + +"Of course," replied the twin, rather confusedly. "I don't need +attention." + +"But you are tired," put in Cora, "and those girls have not done a +thing since lunch time. Just command them." + +"'Very well. But do be careful, you two girls. A bad beginning you +know." + +"Oh, don't you worry about us," replied Cora confidently. "I feel +as if this boat was a top in my hands. It is so much easier to +handle than an auto. No gears, differentials or things like that. +Good bye, Belle. Have supper ready when we return," and she sounded +the small whistle that told of the start again. + +"Good bye. Be careful," cautioned Belle. Then the two girls headed +the craft for the little island around which they had just seen the +boys disappear. + +"I thought the boys looked very serious," said Bess, as she put her +hand on the wheel Beside Cora's. "I wonder what is wrong?" + +"Jack certainly had something very important on when he neglected +me," said his sister. "I hope there is nothing really wrong. There +are no people on that island, I believe." + +"Then perhaps we had better not land?" suggested Bess. "It might be +horribly lonely and we might not be able to find the boys." + +"Well, when we get there we will be able to judge of all that," +replied Cora. "Doesn't the Petrel motor beautifully?" + +"And this lake," added Bess. "I never saw anything like it. Why +some of those islands are big enough to inhabit." + +"Yes, there is one island over there," answered Cora, pointing to +the extreme eastern shore of the water, "and since I have seen it I +am just dying to explore it. They call it Fern Island, and the +store man tells the most wonderful tales about it. But we will have +to wait until we all assemble. When did Hazel say she would come?" + +"Tomorrow or next day. She has to take some special 'exams.' I am +sorry that girl is so ambitious. It always interferes with her +vacation." + +"Hazel will make her mark some day, if she does not spoil it all by +having someone make it for her--on a flat stone. But honestly Bess, +I do hope she will come up before the others. Next to you and Belle +I count more on Hazel Hastings than on anyone else in our party." + +"And not a little on her brother Paul?" and Bess laughed in her +teasing way. "Now Cora, Paul Hastings is acknowledged to be the +most useful boy in all the Chelton set. He can fix an auto, fix an +electric bell, fix an alarm clock--" + +"And no doubt could overhaul a motor boat," finished Cora, as she +turned the Petrel toward land. "Well, this is Far Island, and I am +sure the boys headed this way. Let's shout." + +Putting her hands to her mouth, funnel fashion, Cora sent out the +shrill yodel known to all of the motor girls and motor boys. Bess +took up the refrain; but there was no answer. + +"If they were ashore wouldn't their boat be about?" asked Bess. "We +can see all this side of the island, but you said it was too rocky +to land on the other shore." + +Cora looked about. Yes, one edge was all sandy and the other rocks. +If the boys had come ashore they must have done so from the north +side. + +"My, what a lot of boats!" exclaimed Bess. "Cora, just see that +flock," and she pointed to a distant flotilla of various craft +across the lake. + +"Yes, and so many canoes, we could hardly tell the boys in that +throng. Do you suppose they are in that parade?" + +"Oh, no. They had only bathing suits on, and that really looks like +some fleet," replied Bess. "Yes, see there is their club banner. +My! I had no idea that Cedar Lake boasted of such style." + +"We may expect water picnics every day now," said Cora. "But just +see that old man in the rowboat towing that pretty canoe. Do you +suppose he has it for hire?" + +"Likely. But how would anyone hire it out here? Why not from +shore?" questioned Bess. + +"Well, perhaps he is taking it to the dock," and Cora allowed her +boat to touch the island shore. "At any rate if we are to find the +boys we had better be at it, for I want to start back before that +throng of boats gets in my way. I feel sure enough, but I like +room." + +Both girls stepped ashore as Cora caught the boat hook in the strong +root of a tree and pulled the craft in. Then she shouted again. + +"Jack! Jack!" she called. "Isn't it lonely here," she said +suddenly, realizing that while she had expected the boys to be on +the island, they might have gone to any of the other bits of land. + +"Yes," said Bess. "I never felt so far away from everything before. +On an island it is so different from being on real shore!" + +"Yes, it is farther out," and Cora laughed at the description. +"Bess, I guess I was mistaken. The boys do not seem to be here." + +"Then do let's go back," pleaded Bess. "I am actually afraid." + +"Of what? Not those 'jug-er-umms.' Just hear them. You would +think the frogs were trying to drive us away from their territory." + +"I always did hate the noise they make," declared Bess. "It sounds +like a dead, dark night. Why do they croak in the daytime?" + +"Night is coming," Cora explained, "and besides, it is so quiet here +they do not have to wait for nightfall. But listen! Didn't you +hear those dry leaves rustle?" + +"Oh Cora, come!" and Bess pulled at her friend's skirt. "It may be +a great--snake." + +Cora stood and listened. "No," she said, "that was no snake. It +sounded like something running." + +"Come on, Cora dear," begged Bess, so that Cora was obliged to +agree. "See, all the boats have gone the other way. And if +anything happened we might just as well be on this desert island as +on that desert water." + +They had not ventured far into the wood, so that it was but a few +steps back to the boat. Cora loosened the bow line and presently +the engine was chugging away. + +"Oh," sighed Bess, "I felt as if something dreadful was going to +happen. Ever since those gypsies took you, Cora, I am actually +afraid of everything in the country. It did seem safe on the water, +but in those woods--" + +"Now, Bess dear, you are to forget all about the gypsies. I have +almost done so--that is, I have forgotten all the unpleasant part. +Of course, I occasionally hear from Helka. Do you want to steer, +Bess?" + +"I would rather not," confessed Bess, "for I am actually trembling. +Where do you suppose the boys could have gone?" + +"Haven't the least idea, and we have no more time to speculate. +There! Didn't you hear a strange noise on the island? I declare, +that store man must be right. Those islands are haunted!" + +"Wasn't that a queer noise! Oh! I am so glad we are safe in our +boat," and Bess breathed a sigh of relief. "I would have died if +that noise happened while we were there." + +"But I should like to know what it is, and I will never be satisfied +until I find out," declared Cora. "That was neither bird nor +beast--it was human." + +But the motor boat, girls headed straight for shore--the sun seemed +falling into the lake as they reached the camp to be welcomed by +Belle. The story of the trip to the island and the disappearance of +the boys was quickly told. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BOYS + + +"What can have happened to the boys?" murmured Belle. "I am afraid +they are drowned." + +"All of them?" and Cora could not repress a smile. "It would take a +very large sized whale to gobble them all at once, and surely they +could not all have been seized with swimming cramps at the same +moment. No, Belle, I have no such fear. But I am going right out +to investigate. I know Jack would never stay away if he could get +here, especially when he knew this would be your first evening at +the lake. Why, the boys were just wild to try my boat," and she +threw her motor cape over her shoulders. "Come on girls, down to +the steamer landing. There may have been some accident." + +Belle and Bess were ready instantly. Indeed the twins seemed more +alarmed than did Cora, but then they were not used to brothers, and +did not realize how many things may happen and may not happen, to +detain young men on a summer day or even a summer night. + +"Oh dear!" sighed Belle, "I have always dreaded the water. I did +promise mamma and Bess to conquer my nervousness and not make folks +miserable, but now just see how things happen to upset me," and she +was almost in tears. + +"Nothing has happened yet, Belle dear," said Cora kindly, "and we +hope nothing will happen. You see your great mistake comes from +what Jack calls the 'sympathy bug.' You worry about people before +you know they are in trouble. I feel certain the boys will be found +safe and sound, but at the same time I would not be so foolhardy as +to trust to dumb luck." + +"You are a philosopher, Cora," answered the nervous girl, her tone +showing that she meant to compliment her chum. + +"No, merely logical," corrected Cora, as they walked along. "You +know what marks I always get in logic." + +"But it all comes from health," put in Bess. "Mother says Belle +would be just as sensible as I am if she were as strong." + +"Sensible as you are?" and Cora laughed. Bess had such a candid way +of acknowledging her own good points. "Why, we have never noticed +it, Bess." + +"Oh, you know what I mean. I simply mean that I do not fuss," and +Bess let her cheeks glow at least two shades deeper. + +"Well it is sensible not to fuss, Bess, so we will grant your +point," finished Cora as they stepped on the boardwalk that led to +the boat landing. "Why, I didn't suppose they would light up with +that moon," she said. "That's the old watchman over there." + +A man was swinging a lantern from the landing. He held it above his +head, then lowered it, and it was plain he was showing the light to +signal someone on the water. + +Cora's heart did give a quickened response to her nerves as she saw +that something must be wrong. But she said not a word to her +companions. + +"What are they after?" asked Belle timidly. + +"Probably some fishermen casting their nets for bait," Cora answered +evasively. "You stay here, while I speak with old Ben." + +Bess and Belle complied, although Bess felt she should have been the +one to ask questions. What if anything had really happened to the +boys! Jack was Cora's brother. + +"Have you seen anything of some boys in a canoe?" Cora asked of the +man with the lantern. "They set out this afternoon, and have not +yet returned." + +"Boys in a canoe?" repeated Ben, in that tantalizing way country +folk have of delaying their answers. + +"Yes, my brother and two of his friends went out toward Far +Island--" + +"Fern Island?" interrupted the man. + +"No, when we last saw them they were going away from Fern and toward +Far Island," said Cora. + +"Well, if they're on Fern Island at night I pity them. There ain't +never been anyone who put up there after dark who wasn't ready to +die of fright, 'ceptin' Jim Peters. And the old boy hisself +couldn't scare Jim. Guess he's too chununy with him," and the +waterman chuckled at his joke. + +"But you have not heard of any accident?" pressed Cora. + +"I saw them young fellers myself. They was in a green canoe; wasn't +they?" + +"Yes," answered Cora eagerly. + +"Well, I asked Jim Peters if he had sawed 'em, and he said--but then +you can't never believe Jim." + +"What did he say?" excitedly demanded Cora, as Bess and Belle +stepped up to where she was talking. + +"He said they had tied their boat up at the far dock, and had gone +on the shore train to the merry-go-'round." + +"But they were in their bathing suits!" exclaimed Cora. + +"There! Didn't I tell you not to take any stock in Jim's news! I +knowed he was fibbin'. But--say miss. There's this about Jim. He +don't ever take the trouble to make up a yam unless he has a motive. +Now I'll bet Jim knows something about them lads." + +"Where does this man live?" asked Cora. + +"He don't live no place in particular, but in general he stays at +the shanty, when he ain't on the water. But he's a regular fish. +The young 'uns calls him a fish hawk." + +"How could we get to his place? Do you think he is at the shanty +now?" went on Cora, determined to find out something of the man, for +she had reason to believe that the dock-hand knew what he was +talking about. + +"Bless you, child! It ain't no place for young girls like you to go +to any time, much less at night. But I'll tell you what I'll do. +I'll jest take a look around myself. I sort of like a girl who +knows how to talk to old Ben without being sassy." + +"Thank you very much, Ben, but I really must hurry to trace the +boys. I suppose you have no police around the island?" + +"Wall, there's Constable Hannon. He is all right to trace a thing +when you tell him where it is, but Tom Hannon hates to think." Ben +raised the lantern above his head and then, as if satisfied that the +signaling was all finished, he placed the lantern on a hook that +hung over the edge of the dock. + +"Oh, Cora," put in Bess, "it is almost eight O'clock. We must hurry +along." + +"I know, Bess dear, but I had to find out all this man knew. Now I +am satisfied to start for the other end of the lake." + +Cora's voice betrayed the emotion she was feeling in spite of her +outward calm. The matter was now assuming a very serious aspect. + +"One thing seems certain," she said to all who were listening, "they +could not all have been drowned. They were all expert swimmers. +Nor would they go to any merry-go-'round and leave us waiting for +them. The question now is, what could have detained them?" + +"Well, here comes Jim now," said Ben. "Just you keep quiet, and +I'll pump him." + +A man came slouching along the dock. He had the way of seeming much +younger than he pretended to be--that is he walked with his head +down although his shoulders were straight and broad as those of any +well trained athlete. The three girls instantly decided that this +man had some strange motive in his manner. He was shamming, they +thought. + +"Hello there, Ben," he called to the dock hand jokingly. "How's the +tide?" + +"Not much tide on this here lake," replied Ben sharply. "Never +knowed much about them tides, as I've lived at this hole most all my +born days. But how was business to-day? That was quite a fleet. +How'd you make out?" + +"Oh, same as usual," and Jim Peters looked from under his big hat at +the girls. "Got company?" + +"Yes, a couple friends of the old lady's. They're camping here." + +"Oh," half-growled the man understandingly as he made his way to the +water's edge. + +"Where're you goin' now?" asked Ben. + +"Up the lake," replied the man. + +"Oh, say," spoke Ben as if the thought had just occurred to him, +"where did you say them young fellers went? The ones who started +out in a canoe?" + +Now Cora saw that this was the man who had come down the lake with +the canoe trailing behind his rowboat. He stepped into the +lantern's light, and both Bess and Belle must also have recognized +him, for they shot a meaning glance at Cora. + +"What fellows?" drawled the man in answer to Ben's question. + +"The ones I asked you about. You said they went to the +merry-go-'round. Did they?" + +"Yep," replied the man sententiously. + +"Where is that?" asked Cora, unable to restrain herself longer. + +"At the Peak," he said vaguely. Then he stepped into his rowboat +and before anyone could question him further he was pulling up the +lake. + +"Well, I'll be hung! Excuse me ladies, but I am that surprised," +said Ben apologetically. "Say, that fellow knows about the kids, +and we've got to follow him. But how?" + +"In my motor boat," proposed Cora quickly. "We could overtake him +in that before he had any idea we were following him!" + +"Have you a motor boat? Good! Where is it? Here, I'll call Dan. +He kin run faster than a deer. Dan! Dan! Dan!" shouted the old +man, and from a nearby rowboat, where, evidently, some boys were +having some sort of a harmless game, Dan appeared. He was a tall +youth, the sort that seems to grow near the water. "Hey Dan, I want +you to go where this girl tells you, and fetch her boat," said Ben. +"Quick now, we've got something to do." + +"It's up at the new camp," said Cora. "It's the new boat you must +have seen come up this afternoon." + +"Oh, yes'm, I know it, and I know where it is," replied the lad, and +then he was off, his bare feet making no sound. He called back +through the darkness "Got any oil or gas?" + +"Yes," replied Cora, and away he ran. + +"Ain't he a regular dock rat," said Ben with something like pride in +his voice. + +"I hope we do not lose sight of that man," remarked Cora. + +"Oh Jim can't pull as hard as he thinks, especially on a lazy day +when he has been out some," affirmed Ben. "Now suppose you girls +just sit on this plank while you wait? 'Twon't cost you nothin'." + +He dusted off the big plank with his handkerchief, and upon the +board, Cora, Bess and Belle seated themselves. + +"I suppose Dan will haul the boat down," said Cora. "It isn't +locked, but he may not want to start the motor." + +"Oh, you can trust to Dan to get her here. When he isn't a dock rat +he's a canal mule. There! Ain't that him? Yep, there he comes and +he's got her all right," said old Ben proudly. + +The boy could now be seen walking along the water's edge, as he +pulled the motor boat by the bow rope. The girls were quick to +follow Ben to the landing, and there all three, with Ben, got +aboard. + +The girls helped Cora light the port, starboard and aft-lights; then +they were ready to start. + +"Better let me run her," said the man, "as I know all the spots in +this here lake. Besides," and he touched the engine almost fondly, +"there ain't nothin' I like better than a boat, unless it's a fish +line." + +"This is a very simple motor," explained Cora, showing how readily +the gas could be turned on and how promptly the engine responded to +the spark. + +"It's a beauty," agreed Ben, as the "chugchug" answered the first +turn of the flywheel. + +Belle and Bess sat in the stem and Cora went forward. It was a +delightful evening and, but for the urgency of their quest, the +first night sail of the Petrel on Cedar Lake would have been a +perfect success. + +"Isn't that a light?" asked Belle, loud enough for Cora to hear. + +"Yes. Ben see, there is a light. Do you suppose that is on Jim's +boat?" asked Cora. + +"Never," replied Ben, "he's too stingy to light up on a moonlight +night when the water's clear. Of course the law says he must, but +who's goin' to back up the law?" + +"Which way are you going?" she questioned further. + +"See that track of foam over yonder? That's Jim's course. We'll +just pick his trail," said Ben. "Now there! Watch him turn! He's +headin' for Far Island!" + +At this Ben throttled down, and, a few minutes later he turned off +the gas and cut out the switch. + +"We'll just drift a little to give him a chance to settle," he said. +"We don't want to get too close--it might spoil the game." + +Belle and Bess were both too nervous to talk. It seemed like some +pirate story, that they should be following a strange fisherman to a +wild island in the night, in hopes of finding the boys--possibly +captured boys! + +Cora listened eagerly. She, too, was losing courage--it was so +slight a hope that this man would lead them to where the boys might +be. + +"There! See that!" exclaimed Ben. "He's talking to some one on +land." + +"Yes, I heard Jack's voice," exclaimed Cora. "Oh, I am so glad they +are safe!" + +"But how do we know?" asked Belle, her voice trembling. + +"Jack's voice told me," replied Cora, "for if they were in distress +he would not have shouted like that!" + +"But he was mad," said Ben, and in this the old fisherman made no +mistake, for the voices of the boys, in angry protest, could be +heard, as they argued with some one, who succeeded in keeping his +part of the conversation silent from the anxious listeners. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +GETTING BACK + + +A few minutes later the rowboat of Jim Peters came out from Far +Island, and in it were the boys! + +"If we have to bale her out all the way" Ed was saying, "I can't see +why we should pay you a quarter a piece. Seems to me we are earning +our fare." + +They were now almost alongside the drifting motor boat. + +"Jack! Jack," called Cora. "We are here, waiting for you. What +ever happened to you?" + +"Well," exclaimed the boys in great surprise. "Glad to see you +girls--never gladder to see anyone in my life. Can you take us on?" + +"Of course we can," replied Cora. "My! We thought you were lost." + +"Not us, but our boat," answered Walter. "Some one stole our canoe +and left us on the island, high and dry." + +"There," said Ben, "didn't I tell you?" + +"Well, you fellows owe me just the same as if you went all the way," +growled Jim Peters. "I've lost my night hire waitin' fer you." + +"How'd you know about them, Jim?" asked Ben, in a joking sort of +tone. "Wasn't it luck you happened up this way to-night?" + +The other man did not reply. Cora had stepped down to the seat in +front of the engine where Ben sat. + +"Do you think that man stole their canoe?" she asked. + +"Hush! 'Taint no use to fight with Jim. He'd get the best of you +sure, and besides, then he would be your enemy. Just make a joke of +it, and I'll tell you more later," and Ben prepared to start as soon +as the boys, who were climbing into the motor boat, were ready. + +"I'll pay you when we get to land," said Jack to the boatman, "I +have no money in my bathing suit." + +"Well, see that you do," said the man in a rough voice. "I'm not +goin' to leave my work to tow a couple of sports just for the fun of +it." + +"Oh you'll get paid all right," Jack assured him, "and so will the +fellow who stole our boat--when we catch him." + +"I'll chip in for that," said Walter. "Never saw such a trick. +Hello Bess, also howdy Belle. My, isn't it fine to be rescued from +a desert island by three pretty girls?" + +"Wallie! Wallie. There's a stranger aboard," warned Cora. + +"Oh yes, this is Ben--Ben--" + +"Just Ben," interrupted the man at the wheel, with a chuckle. + +"But he has been so kind," added Cora. "Only for him we should +never have found out where you were." + +"If you hadn't taken us off that old sieve," put in Ed, "I think we +would soon have had to swim back to the island. We never could have +made the shore in that thing, neither could we swim that distance." + +"S'long Jim!" called Ben, as the old rowboat was sent off in the +darkness. + +"See, he isn't balin' her now," he told the boys. + +"How's that?" all asked in chorus. + +"Oh, that's a great boat--leaks to order," replied Ben, as he turned +over the fly wheel and Cora's craft shot swiftly away from the +island. + +The boys were too busy talking to the girls, and the latter were too +busy asking questions, to go further into the matter of the leaking +boat, but Cora did not fail to notice that the craft must have +"leaked to order." "What could that man have intended doing? Did +he want to sink the boat?" she was wondering. + +"Well, if we haven't had a pretty time of it," said Ed. "First, we +had to go up trees to get out of the way of something--we are not +yet sure whether it was man or beast. Then when we crawled down, +and made for the shore the canoe was gone clear out of sight." + +"Haven't you any idea who took it?" Cora asked. + +"Wish we had--I'll wager he would have to sleep out of doors +to-night," threatened Jack. "It was the meanest trick." + +Cora gave Bess the signal to keep still about having seen a canoe at +the back of Jim Peter's rowboat that afternoon. Cora was convinced +that Ben knew what he was talking about when he warned her to be +careful of Jim Peters. + +"But why did you go back to the island?" asked Cora. "I thought you +were going to spend the afternoon with us girls?" + +"We were, then again we couldn't," answered her brother. "We had a +very important appointment at Far Island." + +"Ben, don't you want one of us to run her?" asked Ed. "We were to +have had a try--" + +"Nope. This here is the best fun I can have, and this boat is a +beauty," replied the old man. "If I had one that could go like this +and carry so many passengers I'd give up the dock." + +"Yes, a boat like this would earn its own living," agreed Jack. +"Run her as long as you like to, Ben. It gives us a chance--ahem--" + +"To sit nearer your sisters," finished Ben, with a sly laugh. + +"All's well that ends well," quoted Belle to Ed, for she was +scarcely able yet to draw a free breath--her anxiety had been too +keen. "I cannot believe that we are all here together again." + +"Just pinch me," said Ed laughing, "and if I don't give our war +whoop you may be sure this is not me--I am still on the Robinson +ranch--there, that was an unpremeditated pun; I mean the old +Robinson Crusoe and I forgot that he was great-grandfather to the +present Robinson twins." + +"Say, Ed," put in Walter, "what do you say if we buy a houseboat? +This has the camp beaten to a frazzle." + +"It's all right on such a night," replied Ed, "but houseboats, I +believe, cost money, and our camp is rented to us for the season. +Oh fickle Wallie! To fall in love with a motor boat, just because +her name is Pet." + +Walter was talking to Cora before Ed had finished speaking to him. +That was Walter's irresistible way with the girls. + +"No use talking, sis," said Jack, "this sail was worth being +stranded for. If you are in no hurry, Ben, suppose we prolong it. +Take us some place where we haven't been. You know the rounds of +Cedar Lake." + +This plan was agreed to, and, though the boys were not dressed as +they would wish to have been, it was evening on the water, and their +jersey suits were not altogether out of place. + +"But what I would like to get at," began Ed, not being able to +dismiss the subject, "is who stole our boat?" + +"It may have drifted away," suggested Cora wisely. "There was a +great fleet on the lake to-day, and any small boy might have let +your boat go." + +"Well, if I should lay hold of such a chap," declared Jack grimly, +"he will grow up quickly. He will never be a small boy again." + +"Now I'll tell you," offered Ben obligingly. "There's a lot of +strange things likely to happen to you young 'uns while you're at +this here lake. So take my advice an' go slow. Every one here goes +slow, and it's the best way. If you suspicion a feller don't go at +him. Just wait and he will walk right into your hands," and Ben +sounded a warning whistle as he turned a point. + +"He'll eat out of my hands if I get training him," prophesied Jack. +"But all the same, Ben, I think that's first-rate advice. It saves +us much trouble and that's the most important consideration. It +takes time even to polish off such a specimen." + +"And when you're done, you've got dirty hands," went on Ben in rough +philosophy. "All the same, there is them that can't be otherwise +dealt with, and when the time's ripe I'd--help myself. I know a +man or two I'd like first-rate to get at, and stay at till I'd +finished." + +"Then, Ben," spoke Cora, "when you get your man we'll all help you, +and when we get ours you can return the compliment." + +Cora had a way of joking that invariably turned out prophetic--and +this case was no exception. + +"Well, if there ain't Dan sailin' around!" ex, claimed Ben suddenly. +"He's lookin' fer me. Hey there, Dan! What's up?" he cried as he +faced the boat with the brilliant lamp at the stern. + +"Everything!" yelled back Dan. "Come up to the dock! There's +trouble!" + +Ben swung around the timer to gain more speed in a spurt of the +motor. + +"It's that Jim Peters, I'll bet," he declared, as they headed for +Center Landing. "He's there ahead of us. He cut through the +shallow channel." + +Whether Jim Peters had taken leave of his senses or was simply +unreasonably angry, folks were never able to say with certainty. At +any rate, now, on this evening, the man seemed furious about +something. No sooner had the motor boat come up to the dock to +allow Ben to land, than Peters turned upon the young fellows he had +been arguing with at the island, and in unmeasured terms spoke +against all gasoline water craft. He said he couldn't see why the +law allowed them to use the lake, for they made such a racket, +filled the air with vile odors, and scared all the fish. + +"You all ought to be arrested and deported!" he stormed. "The idea +of peaceful folks being bothered with such nuisances! I'm not going +to stand it if there's a law in the land! Why the idea! It's not +right! I'll--" He stopped for breath. + +"Now look here, Jim, you just quit!" said Ben quietly, as the fellow +started off on another tirade, using still stronger language, and +almost boiling over with rage. "Go easy," advised Ben. "There's +that friend of yours, Tony Jones, comin'. Take a jab at him for a +change." + +As Ben got out, Jones sauntered along, and it was easy to see that, +personally, he was quite a contrast to Jim. The situation seemed +somewhat relieved. + +"It's all right now," spoke Cora in a low voice, and with an easier +air. "Let's go." With pleasant words for Ben and Dan she and her +friends prepared to start off again. Walter gave the flywheel a few +vigorous turns, but there was only a sort of apologetic sigh from +the motor. + +"Prime it a bit," suggested Ed. + +With gasoline from a small oil can, Walter injected some of the +fluid into the cylinder through the pet cock. + +"Now for it!" he exclaimed. "Cross your fingers everybody," and +once more he did the street-piano act, as Ed termed it. The engine +only sighed gently. + +Walter gave a quick glance over his shoulder toward the bow. + +"Is that forward switch in?" he asked a bit sharply. + +"Oh!" exclaimed Cora, "I accidentally pulled it out when I removed +the bulkhead to look at the battery connections. There," she added +after a quick motion, "it's in, Walter." + +"Now for it! Hold your breaths," ordered the engineer. There was a +sudden motion to the wheel, a whizzing buzz, a churning of the water +under the stern and the boat moved away. + +"We'll have to have a regular schedule--gasoline, switch, +ground-wire, pet-cocks primed--oil cups up, and all that sort of +thing," murmured Cora as they glided swiftly onward. "I'll print it +on a card and hang it near the engine." + +"Thanks," whispered Walter, as he took the wheel. "Where to?" he +asked. + +"The bath house," suggested Ed. "Our togs are there." + +Gracefully the craft approached the group of bath houses, whence the +boys had started in their canoe that afternoon. But no lights +gleamed out to welcome the returning ones. + +"My word!" exclaimed Walter a bit dubiously, "our togs are likely +locked up in the safe, and here we are, forty miles from the pile of +ready-to wear habiliments that hide behind Jack's trunk! Eh, what?" + +"Sure thing!" agreed Ed with a sigh. + +"Oh, never mind," consoled Cora. "Come over with us for a while, +anyhow, if only to report progress." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A MAN IN THE SHADOW + + +When the engine had been carefully covered, on arrival at the camp +dock, and the boat securely tied up for the night, the party were +all literally shaking hands in gratitude for the rescue. It was +only a short distance along the shore path to where the lads +"bunked," but the young men shivered during the trip. The girls +thought of their own coats and promptly offered them, for Walter, Ed +and Jack were really suffering in their bathing suits. + +"But we have heavy dresses on," insisted Cora, "and really Jack it +is cool. Please take our coats," for her brother had objected. + +"Well, if you insist," replied Jack, "but it seems to me we have had +more than our share of bad luck for one day. First our boat is +stolen, then our clothes are locked up. Who would think that that +old boathouse man would go to bed so early." + +"I am sure you are perfectly welcome to our coats," insisted Belle, +as she and her sister divested themselves of their long automobile +garments, "and they will look--" + +"Lovely on us," put in Walter. "Let me have the blue one, please. +It is so becoming." + +Jack took Cora's heavy linen, Ed accepted the brown that Bess had +worn, while Walter got the blue. + +"Not so bad," said Jack, thrusting his hands deep into the patch +pockets. "Don't know but what I'll get one like this, Cora." + +"And I rather like the empire effect," said Ed turning around so +that all, might admire the short-waisted coat he wore. "This is the +Roman empire I believe, Bess; is it not?" + +"No, the first Empire," corrected the girl. "My but you do look +nice! You have a wonderful--outline." + +"Yes, my nurse always complimented me on my outline. But do behold +Wallie! Isn't he a peach?" + +"He's a picture girl," declared Cora laughing. "Well, it is a good +thing that we girls all wore coats when we went on the rescuing +expedition. But say boys, what do you think was the trouble at the +wharf? Ben seemed quite excited." + +"I didn't like the looks of the fellow who offered us the boat +ride," commented Ed. "And the queer part of it was, how did he know +we were on the island?" + +"And then his boat leaked and stopped. I'll bet his game was to +make us fear drowning, and then save us at so much more per save. +Like the philosopher and the ferryman, don't you know?" + +"What philosopher?" asked Bess innocently. + +"Oh, that old friend of mine who went to sea with his knowledge. +Don't you remember?" + +"I never heard of him," declared Bess falling into the trap. + +"Then let me tell you," and Ed slipped his arm within hers as they +walked along toward Cora's camp. "There was once a boatman and at +the same time there was a philosopher. The former took the latter +to sea, or to cross a small body of water, it doesn't really matter. +All the way as they sailed the philosopher would say: 'Did you ever +study astronomy?' The ferryman had not. 'Then half your life is +gone,' said the philosopher. 'Did you ever study philosophy? No? +Then another quarter of your life is gone.' And so on he went, +Belle dear," continued Ed, "until suddenly the boatman interrupted +him with: 'Say, did you ever study swimming?' And the philosopher +admitted that he had not. 'Then,' said the boatman, 'the whole of +your life is gone for this boat is sinking!' So you see, Belle, our +boatman might have given us that little fairy story and charged +accordingly." + +"Yes, indeed!" put in Jack. "I think it was the luckiest thing that +you girls came along. And Ben! We must give Ben a banquet or +something fit." + +"Ben is a great friend of mine," declared Cora. "I feel we would +all have gone astray but for him. We girls would never have known +enough--" + +Then she stopped. She had no idea of telling the boys that they had +followed Jim Peters with the hope of finding the missing ones +whither he would lead them. Bess and Belle also had taken pains not +to betray their story to the boys, for, as Cora said, Jim Peters was +not a man to quarrel with, and the stolen boat was not a matter to +joke about. + +"Here comes Nettie!" exclaimed Belle. "I wonder what's her hurry." + +"You've got company, miss," the maid said as she came up to the +party walking toward the camp. "Miss Hasting and her brother have +been waiting all evening." + +"Hazel and Paul!" exclaimed Cora, almost running to the bungalow. +"Oh, isn't that splendid!" + +"And us in these!" wailed Walter. "Do you think Hazel will like me +in baby blue?" + +The boys really did look funny in the girls' long coats, but it all +added to the merry-making. Paul Hastings was waiting outside the +bungalow. He stood where the porch light fell upon him, and the +girls all secretly agreed that he had grown handsomer since they had +last seen him. Hazel, too, looked very attractive in her plain blue +dress, with its turn-over collar and Windsor tie. + +"What a pleasant surprise! We were afraid you would not come for +some days Hazel!" said Cora in greeting. + +"Oh, Paul had to come up here. Of course he has taken a position." + +"What did I tell you!" cried Jack, folding the cloak about him in +dramatic style. "Paul Hastings for the enterprise. Cedar Lake is +the field; eh, Paul?" + +"Well, I had a fine offer," said Paul modestly. "And I have been +wanting to get out this way. They say there are all sorts of things +to do in this locality." + +"Looking for work! What do you think of that! Why, Paul dear, we +are looking for a camp cook. Wallie nearly poisoned us on pancakes +today," said Ed, "and if you would accept--" + +"Come in doors," interrupted Cora. "We have had rather a strenuous +afternoon, and I am almost tired. How did you get up from the +train? Or did you come by boat?" she asked the new arrivals. + +"A fellow rowed us up--" + +"Yes and charged us fifty cents each," interrupted Hazel. "Wasn't +that outrageous!" + +"Some one like Jim Peters, I'll bet," said Ed. "But as Cora +advised, let's go in doors. We really haven't dined!" + +"Oh! you poor boys," cried Belle. "We almost forgot that you were +stranded. Let me help Nettie fix up something." + +"Yes, do. Fix up a lot of something," urged Jack. "That's the way +I feel about it. But do we dine in these?" + +By this time Hazel and Paul saw the queer attire of the three young +men. Then a part of the situation was explained. The bungalow was +one of those roomy affairs, built with a clear idea of affording +every summer comfort. Cora was to be the hostess, and with her was +the trusted maid, Nettie. There the girls were to visit as they +chose, while the boys had taken a camp for themselves near the +fishing grounds of the big lake. + +"Now, make that coffee strong, girls," called Jack as the odor of +the beverage came from the kitchen. "We are almost, if not quite, +frozen." + +He cuddled up on a big couch and threatened to do damage to Cora's +pretty cloak. + +"There's someone on the porch," suddenly whispered Bess, for a step +sounded, so soft and stealthy, that she imagined someone was trying +to look in the window. + +"Yes, I heard it," said Ed, getting up and going to the door. A man +stood in the shadow, stepping out quickly at the sight of the youth. + +"I came for my money," he muttered. "You fellers ain't got no right +to try to do me that way." + +"Who tried to do you?" answered Ed, in no pleasant tones. "See +here, Peters! This is not our camp, and we don't carry money in our +bathing suits as we told you before. If you can't wait until +to-morrow for the seventy-five cents you know what you can do." + +"Oh I'll give it to you, Ed," said Cora, fearful that the man might +become abusive. "I have plenty of small change." + +She went into her room and got her purse. It was a pretty little +affair, too frail to have been brought to camp, and too good to have +left in the locked-up Chelton house. As she went back to Ed she +held out the purse. "Here," she said, "take it and help yourself. +My coffee will boil over." + +Ed and Peters were standing near the edge of the porch. As Ed put +his hand out to take Cora's purse it fell over the rail. + +"Well," he exclaimed, "that's too bad. I must get a match." + +At this Ed stepped to the door to ask for a box, while Peters +hurried down the steps to look for the missing trinket. When Ed +came back with a light Peters was looking industriously for the +purse, but declared he had not seen it. + +"Now see here, Peters," cried Ed angrily. "You have picked up that +purse, and I want you to hand it right over here," and Ed dropped +the cloak from his shoulders. "If you don't I'll teach you a +lesson." + +"Oh, you will, eh?" sneered the man. "Well you'd better get at it, +kid," and with that he struck Ed a tantalizing blow on the cheek. + +Ed clutched the man by the arm. By this time the confusion had been +heard within doors, and the other boys hurried out. + +"What's up?" asked Jack, just as Ed, with all his strength, almost +bent the older man over backward. + +Jim Peters was fairly roaring now. He was strong, but this young +giant was a surprise to him, and after the way of the cowardly +class, as soon as he found out he would be bested he "quit," and +begged off. + +"Hand me back that purse," demanded Ed. "I know you've got it as +well as if I had seen you take it." + +"What's that over there?" snarled Peters, pointing to something +bright in the grass. + +Ed picked it up. It was the purse, but it was empty. Ed's +exclamation told them that. + +"My ring," cried Cora. "I had my ring--oh no. I forgot--that was +not the purse," and Cora went in doors, presently returning with +some small coins. "Here, Ed," she said, her voice trembling. "Do +pay that man, and let him go. I--I am so frightened!" + +"Cora," whispered Bess, "was your ring in that purse?" + +"Hush," cautioned the other girl. "Let us try to make things +brighter. Since that man sailed down the lake to-day with our boys' +canoe we have had nothing but mishaps. Now let him go. I'll manage +to reckon with him without endangering the life of anyone. He's too +desperate a character to deal with in the ordinary way. Remember +what Ben told us." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +CORA EXPLOITING + + +There had been three delightful days at Camp Cozy. Cora managed +most of the delight, with the able assistance of Belle and Bess, +while Hazel did much toward discovering things that she declared all +the girls ought to know, for Hazel's happiness was ever in obtaining +knowledge. + +The boys had almost lost hope of getting back their canoe. They had +searched the lake from shore to shore, offered rewards and had gone +through the rest of the lost formula, but the boat was not returned. + +Cora kept to herself her suspicions about Jim Peters. She also said +nothing of the ring that was in the purse when it left her hands, +but not in it when the purse was returned to her. + +It was a splendid morning for a trip on Cedar Lake, and although +Belle and Hazel had planned a trip to the woods, Cora and Bess were +going out in the Petrel. + +Passing Center Landing, Cora called a pleasant good morning to Ben, +who sat on the end string piece, his feet aiming at the water and +his broad brimmed hat caught on halo fashion at the back of his +neck. + +"Oh, I must ask him something," said Cora, suddenly turning her boat +toward the wharf. She drew near enough to speak quietly. + +"Ben," she said, "where is that shanty you told me about--Jim +Peter's place?" + +"Lands sake miss! you ain't goin' there?" asked the man in some +alarm. + +"Why not?" demanded Cora. "Can't I take care of myself in broad +daylight?" + +"But you don't know how ugly that feller can be," insisted Ben. "I +tell you miss, I'd give him plenty of room, if I war you." + +"Don't go," urged Bess. + +"But, Ben," argued Cora, "I am afraid you have all let Jim Peters +bully you. I am going to try him another way. Where does he live?" + +"Well a hour ago he went up the lake. He goes up there every +mornin' regular. Like as if he had some important business on the +island. When I asked him about it he said there was a fellow who +had some dangerous disease, and was campin' out there, and Jim +allowed that he had to fetch him things." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed Cora. "That's a queer story for a man like +Peters. But I'm going to his shack first, even if he is not at +home. It would suit me just as well to find him out on my first +visit." + +"But that young feller who lives with him? He's just as sassy as +Jim, when he's around the shack. Of course he don't stay there +always, as Jim does." + +"Who is he?" questioned Cora. "I hadn't heard of such a person." + +"Oh, he gives the name of Jones but it don't fit him fer a cent. I +wouldn't be surprised if his real name was Macaroni or even Noodles. +He's foreign, sure." + +Cora laughed. "And he's young, you say?" + +"A lot younger than Jim, but he could be that and yet not be very +young, fer I guess Jim has lost track of time," replied Ben. "Yes, +Jones is a swell, all right." + +"But the shack? Where is it? I must be off," insisted Cora. + +"It's quite a trip down the lake. Then you come to a point. Go to +the left of the point, and when you come to a place where the +willows dip into the lake, get off there. The shack is straight +back in the deepest clump of buttonball trees." + +"All right Ben, and thank you," said Cora as she started up the +motor. "I feel like exploring this morning, and your directions +sound interesting. I will come back this way to show you that I am +safe and sound," and with that she sheered off. + +"I hope it will be all right," faltered Bess. "Cora, are you never +afraid to risk such things?" + +"What is there to risk? The land is public, and we have as much +right to follow that track as has Jim Peters or Mr. Jones. I wonder +what Mr. Jones is like?" + +"Maybe he would be very nice--a complete surprise," ventured Bess, +at which remark Cora laughed merrily. + +"You little romancer! Do you imagine that anyone very nice would +chum in with Jim Peters? Isn't there something in your book about +birds of the same quills?" + +"It's aigrettes, in my book," retorted Bess. "But it all applies to +the same sort of birds. Just the same, I am interested in Mr. +Jones." + +"I fancy perhaps that we are," said Cora. "But there is the point +Ben spoke of. We are to turn to the left." + +Gracefully as a human thing, the boat curved around and made its +path through the narrow part of the lake. + +"And there are the willows," announced Bess, as she saw the great +green giants dipped into the water's surface. + +"Yes. I thought it would be much farther on. But this is an ideal +spot for hiding. One could scarcely be found here without a +megaphone." + +"Hear our voices echo," remarked Bess. "An echo always makes me +feel desolate." + +"Don't you like to hear your own voice?" asked Cora lightly. "I +rather fancy listening to mine. An echo was always a delight to +me." + +"There's a man sitting under that tree!" almost gasped Bess. + +"So there is, and I am glad of it. He will be able to direct us. I +shouldn't be surprised if he were Mr. Jones," said Cora turning the +Petrel to shore. + +Under a big willow, in a sort of natural basket seat, formed by the +uncovered roots of the big trees, a man sat, and as the boat grazed +the shore, he looked up from some papers he held in his hands. Cora +could see that he was very dark, and had that almost uncomfortable +manner of affecting extreme politeness peculiar to foreigners of +certain classes, for, as she spoke to him, he arose, slid the paper +into his pocket, and bowed most profusely. + +"I am looking for the cabin of Mr. Peters," said Cora, stepping +ashore toward the tree. "Can you direct me to it?" + +"The cabin of Mr. Peters?" and when the man spoke the foreign +suspicion was confirmed. "Why, who might Mr. Peters be?" + +"Jim Peters; don't you know him?" asked Cora determined not to be +thrown off the track. "He lives just in here--I should think in +that grove--" + +"Oh, my dear miss no! You are mistaken. No one lives around here. +I am simply a rustic, looking about. But Jim Peters?" + +"Are you not Mr. Jones?" blurted out Cora. + +In spite of himself the man started. + +"Mr. Jones?" he repeated. "Well, that name will do as well as any +other. But allow me to tie your boat. Then I will take pleasure in +showing you one of the prettiest strips of land this side of +Naples." + +"Oh, thank you. I have secured it," said Cora. "But I would like +to explore this island." + +Bess tugged at Cora's elbow. "Don't go too far. I am afraid of +that man," she said in a whisper. + +"Were you drawing as we came up?" Cora asked the stranger. "This is +an ideal spot for sketching." + +"Yes, I was drawing," he replied. + +"Couldn't we see your picture?" asked Cora. "I do so love an +outline." + +"Oh, indeed it is not worth looking at. I must show you something +when I have what will be worth while. This is only a bare idea." + +"Well," said Cora starting off through the wood, "I must look for a +cabin, or something like it. I have particular business with Jim +Peters." + +"But you will only hurt your feet miss," objected the man. "Allow +me to show you the island," and he bowed again. "Such wild swamp +flowers I have never seen. It is the everglades, and well worth the +short journey." + +There was something about his insistent civility that betokened a +set purpose, and since Ben (what a wonder Ben was) had told Cora +that a man named Jones "hung out" with Jim Peters, Cora instantly +guessed that this was the man, and that he was determined to keep +her away from the shack. The situation gave zest to her purpose. +Bess was fairly quaking as Cora could see, but what danger could +there be in insisting upon finding that shack? + +"I have only a short time to be out," objected Cora, "and perhaps +some other time I will come to see your everglade. Come, Bess, I +see a path this way, and I fancy if we follow it we will find an end +to the path," she concluded. + +"But may I not have the pleasure of your name?" the man called after +her. "Perhaps we might meet--" + +"Don't," whispered Bess. "Pretend you did not hear him." + +"Oh, just see those flag lilies!" Cora called to Bess, covering the +man's question without answering it. "Let us get some." + +"Oh, aren't they beautiful!" replied Bess, in a strained voice. "I +certainly must secure some of those." + +They hurried away from the dark-browed man. He took his hand out of +his pocket and upon the smallest finger his eyes rested. He sneered +as he looked at a diamond ring that glittered on that slim brown +finger. + +"Foolish maid," he said aloud, and then the web of a strange force +threw its invisible yet unbreakable chains over the summer life of +Cora Kimball. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +DEEP IN THE DARK WOOD + + +"Cora, dear, please do not go any farther. Somehow I am afraid that +man will follow us." + +"Why, Bess! I thought you were going to be interested in Mr. +Jones," and Cora stooped to pick up a wonderful clump of flag +lilies. + +"Jones! How could he be a Jones? He's a Spaniard." + +"I thought so myself, Bess. But we do not have to plant his family +tree. Now don't be a baby, girlie," and Cora squeezed the plump +hand that hung so close to her own. "Let us get to the shack, and +see if the boys' boat is about there. I am determined to run down +Jim Peters." + +Bess sighed. When Cora was determined! But the man had left the +water's edge. + +"Cora, see!" said Bess. "He is getting into a boat!" + +"Yes and the boat belongs to Peters. There! He is surely the one +who helps Jim out in all his affairs. Now we may seek the shack in +safety," said Cora, as she watched the man at the water's edge push +off. "I know the shack is over there, for I smell smoke in that +direction. But we will turn the other way until he has cleared +off," finished Cora as she and Bess stepped lightly over the dainty +ferns that nestled in the damp earth. + +"He is quite a boatman," remarked Bess, watching the man ply his +oars, and make rapid progress up the lake. + +"Yes, he must have been brought up near the water," replied Cora. +"They say such skill as that is not accomplished on dry land. Jack +always declared he could tell a fellow at college who had ever been +near the water when a lad. They take to it like a duck." + +"You can easily see that he is a foreigner," went on Bess with her +speculations. "He must either be an Italian or a Spaniard." + +"Now we may turn up the path. Yes this is a path, for everything is +trodden down on it," declared Cora. "I hope the hut will not be too +deep in the wood." + +"We won't go if it is," objected Bess. "I don't fancy being taken +captive by any wild woods clan." + +"There," exclaimed Cora. "I just caught sight--of--it's a woman's +skirt!" + +"Yes, and there is a woman in it," added Bess. "See, here she +comes." + +"No, I don't think she does. I think she is standing still. We +must have frightened her." + +"What a looking--woman!" + +"Great proportions," described Cora. "I guess wherever she lives +they must feed her well." + +Cora led the way, and Bess timidly followed. + +"Don't go too near," whispered the latter. + +"Why, she cannot eat us," replied Cora, smiling over her shoulder to +the timid one. + +"Well, what do you want?" roared the woman, as soon as she could be +heard by the young ladies. + +"We are looking for Jim Peter's shack," replied Cora bravely. "I +have been sent here to speak with him." + +"Have, eh? Well go ahead. Speak with me. I'm Mrs. Jim Peters," +said the woman with a sneer. + +"My business is with him," again spoke Cora, not in the least +frightened by the voice which she knew was made coarser just to +scare her. + +"Well, he don't have no business that ain't mine," said the woman, +"'specially with young 'uns like you, so you kin just clear off here +before I--" + +"Come on Cora," begged Bess. "I am shaking from head to foot." + +"All right, dear," replied Cora, in a voice for Bess alone. "But, +Mrs. Peters, can you tell me when your husband will be about here? +I have some work to do on a boat and I understand he does that sort +of thing." + +The woman's face changed. "If that's what you want I'll tell him. +You see it is always best to let the woman know first, fer Jim does +do some foolish things. But just now he's got one boat to do?" + +"I wonder if he might have a canoe to sell?" interrupted Cora, as +the thought of thus trapping the woman occurred to her. + +"He will have one in a few days," the other 'answered. "But it has +to be fixed up." + +"Could I see it?" asked Cora. "I may not be able to get over here +again." + +"Well, the shack is locked and I couldn't show it to you, but when +Jim comes I'll tell him. Who will I say?" + +Cora hesitated. "I hardly think it will be worth while really to +order it," she said, "as I must have my brother look it over. I +have a motor boat." + +"I heard it chuggin' and I thought that lazy Tony had got a new way +of wastin' his time. Tony is all right at writin' letters but he's +a lazy bones else ways." + +"Who's Tony?" asked Cora as if indifferently. + +"He's Jim's side partner. Say, girl, I'll just tell you. I came up +here a few weeks ago from a newspaper advertisement. I never knowed +Jim Peters before, but if them two fellers think I'm goin' to cook +in that hut and never go no place off this dock they're foolin' +themselves. They don't know all about Kate Simpson." + +Both girls were utterly surprised by her change of manner. Cora was +quick to take advantage of it. + +"You are quite right," she said. "This is no place for a lone +woman, and some day when I have my brother along I will fetch my +boat, and show you the big islands about here. It would do you good +to get out in the clear--away from these dense woods." + +"That it would, and I'm obliged to you miss," said the woman while +Bess fairly gasped. "I want to go to one island--Fern Island they +call it. Have you ever been there?" + +"I know where it is," replied Cora, wondering what the woman's +interest in that place might be. "I have been all around it." + +"They say it's haunted," and the woman laughed. "It's a great game +to put a haunt on a place to keep others off." + +"Well, some day when you can leave your work, I'll take you over +there," and Cora meant it, for she had not the slightest fear, +either of the woman or her rough ways. + +Besides, she felt instinctively that the woman's help would be +valuable in the possible recovery of her ring and of the lost canoe. + +"I'll be goin' back to the shackt fer if Jim comes along held raise +a row fer me talkin' to strangers. You'd think I was looney the way +he watches me." + +"And is he a stranger to you?" + +"Well, to tell the truth my mother and Jim's was cousins, but I +never knowed him to be such a poor character as he is, or I'd never +have come up here. But I don't have to stay all summer,"' she +finished significantly. + +"Well, good-bye, and I'll see you soon again," said Cora turning +toward her boat. + +"Good-bye, miss, but say," and she half whispered, "is that girl +dumb?" + +Cora burst out laughing. Bess a mute! + +"No indeed, but she always lets me do the talking," answered Cora +with a sty look at the blushing Bess. + +"She has good sense, fer you know how to do it," declared Kate +Simpson. + +They could hear her bend the brush as she passed up the narrow way. + +"What a queer creature," remarked Bess, when she felt that it was +safe to try her voice. + +"She is queer, but I think she knows a lot about things of interest +to us. What did you think of her remark about Fern Island? To that +pretty little spot we will make our next voyage," declared Cora, +pulling on her thick gloves and taking her place in front of the +motor. "Turn out into the open lake," she told Bess as they started +off. "We will make a quick run and get back to the bungalow before +the others have done the marketing. I am glad it is not our turn to +get the lunch for I want to make a trip to Fern Island directly +after we have had a bite. Seems to me," and she increased the speed +of the engine a little, "it takes more time to get a meal at camp +than it does at home. The simple life certainly has its own +peculiar complications." + +"Oh, there comes that man back! I am so glad we are away from that +place," exclaimed Bess, as the boat of Jim Peters, with the smiling +foreigner called "Jones" floated by. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE HAUNT OF FERN ISLAND + + +The four motor girls started out in the Petrel. Never had the lake +seemed so beautiful, nor had the sky appeared a deeper, truer blue. +The pretty Placid lake was dotted all over with summer craft, the +sound of the motor boat being almost constant in its echoing, +"cut-a-cuta" against the wonderful green hills that banked shore +and, island. + +Hazel was steering, and of course Cora was running the engine. The +pennant waved gaily from the bow of the boat, and of the many colors +afloat it seemed that those chosen by the motor girls shone out most +brilliantly on the glistening, silvery waters. + +"I'm not a bit afraid now," admitted Belle, "I do think it is all a +matter of getting used to the water. I thought I should never +breathe again after that first day we went out." + +"Yes," said Cora, "the water has a peculiar fascination when one is +accustomed to it, and I am sure Belle will want to live on a +houseboat before we break camp. There go the boys! What a fine +motor boat!" + +"Yes," said Hazel, "that's one from Paul's garage. Paul promised +Jack he would speak to Mr. Breslin, the owner, about letting it out +for the summer, as the Breslin family is not coming out here until +later. It's the Peter-Pan, and the fastest boat on the lake." + +"See them go! I guess they don't see us,"' remarked Belle. + +"I am glad they do not," Cora said, "for I want to do some +exploring, and if the boys came along they would be sure to have +other plans for us. Now, Hazel, run in there. That is Fern +Island." + +"Oh, there's a canoe!" exclaimed Belle. "See! and a girl is +paddling. What a queer looking girl!" + +"Isn't she!" agreed Bess. "Why she has on a man's hat!" + +"She sees that we are watching her. Look how she is hurrying off," +remarked Cora. "I wonder how far this cove goes in?" + +"We had better not try to find out," cautioned Belle. "I think we +have had enough of happenings around here. This is where the boy's +boat was stolen from; isn't it?" + +"No, it was over there, but I guess we will put in at the front of +the island, as there is no telling how deep the cove is," said Cora. +"But see that girl go! Why she's actually gone! Where can she have +disappeared to?" + +"This ought to be called the 'disappearing' land," suggested Hazel. +"I was sure that little canoe was directly in front of us, but now +it is out of sight." + +"Maybe that is the 'Haunt Girl of Fern Island,'" ventured Cora with +a laugh. "I got a pretty good look at her, and I am willing to say +she looked neither like a summer girl nor a winter girl--that is, +one who might live here the year around. But just what sort of girl +she might be I shouldn't like to speculate. Her hair got loose as +she hurried, and she reminded me of some wild water bird." + +"Be careful getting out," Belle cautioned Bess. "This new boat is +new to slipperiness." + +"Oh, I will get hold of a tree branch," Bess replied. "Then, if the +boat drifts out, I can swing to safety." + +All were ashore but Bess, and as such things often happen when they +are looked for, the Petrel did careen from the waves of a passing +launch, and just as Bess grasped an overhead willow branch, the boat +swung out and she sprang in. Everybody laughed, but Bess lost her +breath, a condition she disliked because it always added to the deep +color of her plump cheeks. + +"There!" cried Belle. "Didn't I tell you?" + +"I wish that next time, Twin, you would leave me to guess!" +exclaimed the other twin, rather pettishly. + +"Isn't this perfectly delightful!" exclaimed Hazel, running over the +soft earth where ferns were matted, and wild flowers grew tangled in +their efforts for freedom. "I never saw such dainty little flowers! +Oh! they are sabatial I have seen them in Massachusetts," and she +fell to gathering the small pink blooms that rival the wild rose in +shade and perfume. + +"Here are the Maiden Hair ferns," called Cora. "No wonder they call +this Fern Island." + +"Let us see how many varieties of fern we can gather," suggested +Belle. "I have ferns pressed since last year, and they look so +pretty on picture mats." + +At this the girls became interested in the number of ferns +gatherable. Belle went one way, Bess another, and so on, until each +had to call to make another hear her. + +Cora ran along fearlessly. She was diving very deep into the ferny +woods, and she was intent on coming out first, if it were only in a +race to get ferns. + +Suddenly she stopped! + +What was that sound? + +Surely it was some one running, and it was none of the girls! + +Standing erect, listening with her nerves as well as with her ears, +Cora waited. That running or rustling through the leaves was very +close by. Should she call the girls? + +But before she could answer herself, she saw something dart across a +big rock that was caressed by a great maple tree that grew over it. + +"Oh!" she screamed involuntarily. Then she saw what it was. A man, +a wild looking man, with long hair and a bushy beard. + +He had stopped just long enough to look in the direction of Cora. +She saw him distinctly. Oh! if he should run toward Bess or Belle! +Hazel would not be so easily alarmed but surely this was a wild man +if ever there was such a creature. + +"That is the ghost of Fern Island," Cora concluded. "I must get +back to the girls." + +She turned and hurried in the direction from which she had heard +voices. "If they have not seen him," she reflected, "I will not say +anything until we get back to camp." + +"I have ten different kinds of ferns," suddenly called Belle, in a +voice which plainly said that no wild man had crossed her path. + +"I've got eight," said Hazel. "How many have you, Cora?" + +Cora glanced at her empty hands. She had dropped her ferns. + +"I have tossed away mine. I was afraid of black spiders," she said +evasively. + +"Isn't that too bad," wailed Bess, "and none of us picked any maiden +hair because we thought you had it. Let us go and get some." + +"Oh, I think we had best not this time," said Cora quickly. "I +really want to get to the post office landing before the mail goes +out. We can come another time when I have something to kill spiders +with. I never saw such huge black fellows as there are around +here." This was no shading of the truth, for indeed the spiders +around Cedar Lake did grow like 'turtles', Jack had declared. + +"Oh, all right," agreed Belle. "But this is the most delightful +island and I am coming out here again. I hope the boys will come +along, for there are such great bushes of huckleberries over there +that we simply couldn't climb to them alone."' + +"We will invite them next time," said Cora, and when she turned over +the fly wheel of her boat her hands that had held the ferns were +still trembling. She looked uneasily at the shore as they darted +off. + +"What's the matter, Cora?" asked Hazel. "You look as if you had +seen the ghost of Fern Island." + +"I have," said Cora, but the girls thought she had only agreed with +Hazel to avoid disagreeing. + +"What boat is that?" asked Bess a moment later, looking at a small +rowing craft just leaving the other side of the island. + +"It's Jim Peters'" replied Cora, "we were lucky to get back into +ours before he saw it. I wouldn't wonder but what he might like to +take a motor boat ride in the Petrel." + +"Do you suppose he really would steal a boat?" exclaimed Belle. + +"He might like to try a motor, I said," replied Cora. "They say +that Jim Peters tries everything on Cedar Lake, even to running a +shooting gallery. But see! He is reading a letter! Where ever did +he get a letter on this barren island?" + +"Maybe he carries the mail for the ghost," said Hazel, with a laugh. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +JACK AND CORA + + +"Cora, where is your ring?" + +The sister looked at her finger. "Oh Jack," she replied, "I will +get it--but not just now. Why?" + +"I thought you always wore that ring when you put on your frills, +and I haven't seen you so dressed up since you came to camp. +Somehow, Cora, I feared you might have lost it." + +"I did," she said simply. + +"Your new diamond!" + +"Yes, but I feel sure of finding it. Now, Jackie dear, please don't +cross question me. I shouldn't have taken it off, but I did, so and +that is how I came to lose it. But I want to tell you something +while we are alone. I saw the ghost of Fern Island to-day." + +"Nonsense! A ghost?" sneered Jack. "Why, Cora, if the other girls +said that I should laugh at them." + +"Well I want to tell you. We were on the island-the girls and I-- +and I got a little away from them when suddenly the wildest looking +man rushed across the path. He had a beard like Rip Van Winkle and +looked a lot like him too." + +"Rip might be summering out this way, though I rather thought he had +taken a trip in an airship," said Jack. "But honestly, Cora, what +was the man like? Paul had a story of that sort. He declares he, +too, saw this famous ghost." + +"Do you suppose he might have taken the canoe? The wild man I mean. +We saw a strange looking girl in a canoe and somehow she vanished. +We could see her boat and then we couldn't, although we could not +make out where she went to. It was the queerest thing. There must +be some strange curves on those islands." + +"Oh there are, lots of them. They are as curvy as a ball-twirler's +best pitch. But the ghost. That is what interests me, since--ahem--since +he has a daughter. Was she pretty?" + +"I should say she was rather pretty," replied Cora, quite seriously, +"but she did have a wild look too. I do believe she is a daughter +to the wild man, whoever he may be." + +"Well, everyone around here declares that is land is haunted, but +fisher-folk are always so superstitious. Yet we must hunt it up. I +will go out with you the next time you go. Did the other girls see +him?" went on the brother. + +"No, and I decided not to tell them. You know how timid Bess and +Belle are, and if they thought there was such a creature about the +island I would never get them to put foot on shore there again, and +I do so want to investigate that matter. I believe Jim Peters has +something to do with it for I saw him coming away from there with a +letter. Now what would he be doing with a letter out on a barren +island?" + +"Oh Jim is a foxy one. I wouldn't trust him as far as the end of my +nose. But here come the others. Will you go over to the Casino +this evening." + +"Yes, we had planned to go. That is why I am dressed up. Hazel may +have to go to town to-morrow, and I want her to see something before +she goes," replied Cora, just as the girls, and Walter, Ed and Paul +strode up to the bungalow. + +"Oh! we have had the greatest time," blurted out Bess. "Cora, you +should have been with us. Ben got angry with Jim Peters, and he and +Dan threatened to throw Jim overboard, and--" + +"Jim seems to have a hankering after fights," put in Ed. "I haven't +settled with him yet." + +"Ed, you promised me you would call that off," Cora reminded him. +"You know it was all about me, and you have given me your promise +not to take it up again. That Jim Peters is an ugly man." + +"All the same we heard that you were not afraid of him," said Walter +with a tug at Cora's elbow. "Didn't you beard the lion in his den?" + +"Who said I did?" asked Cora flushing. + +"I promised--crossed my heart not to tell," said Walter. "But all +the same the folks at the landing are talking about the pretty girl +who went all the way up the cove, and stopped at the place where +Peters and his pal land. I would advise you to be careful. They +say that tribe is not of the best social standing," went on Walter +quite seriously. + +"I won't go there again," put in Bess. + +"What! Were you along?" demanded Jack. "Then you must have been +the pretty girl referred to at the landing." + +"I was a pretty scared girl," declared Bess. "I tell you, I don't +want to meet any more Peters or Joneses or Kates," she finished. + +"But what was the trouble between Jim and Ben?" asked Cora. + +"Let me tell it," Belle exclaimed. "We were just standing by the +boathouse, watching some men fish, when Jim Peters, came along. He +stopped and took a paper out of his pocket. The wind suddenly blew +up--" + +"And took the paper out of his hand," interrupted Hazel. "It blew +across to where Dan was standing, and what was more natural than +that Dan should pick it up?" + +"And did Jim get angry at that?" inquired Cora. + +"Angry! He fairly fell upon poor Dan," put in Walter, "and when Ben +saw him--I tell you Ben may stand a lot of trouble on his own +account, but, when it comes to anyone trying to do Dan, Ben is right +there to fight for him. Didn't he almost put Jim over the rail?" + +"There must have been quite a lively time," said Jack. "Sorry I +missed it. There is so little excitement around here that we need +all we can get. And what was the answer?" + +"Jim took his old letter and slunk off," finished Belle. "And Dan +said he couldn't have read even the name on the out side if he had +tried. He said it must have been written in Greek," and Belle +laughed at the idea of the classics getting mixed up in any such +small affair. + +"Seems to me," said Cora thoughtfully, "that Jim had some very +important reason for fearing that one might see that letter." + +"Yes," declared Hazel, "that struck me right away. I shouldn't be +surprised if it had been addressed to--the ghost!" + +"Well, if you young ladies intend to see what is going on at the +Casino this evening," Ed reminded them, "we had better make a start. +This is amateur night, I believe." + +"And the Blake girls are going to sing," announced Jack. "Then I +shall have a chance to clap my hands at pretty Mabel," and he went, +through one of those inimitable boys' pranks, neither funny nor +tragic, but just descriptive. + +"I think it is awfully nice of the Blake girls to take part," said +Cora, "for in this little summer colony everyone ought to be +agreeable." + +"But I notice you are not taking part," Ed said with a laugh. "Just +fancy Cora Kimball on the Casino platform." + +"Don't fancy anything of the kind," objected Bess. "We are willing +to be sociable but we have no ambition to shine." + +"Come along," called Jack, who was on ahead with Hazel, "and mind, +if anything brushes up against you, it is apt to be a coon, not a +cat, as Belle thought the other night." + +They started off for the path that led to the public pavilion on the +lake shore. Cora was with Ed, Walter had Belle on one side and Bess +on the other, because he declared that the twins should always go +together to "balance" him. Jack and Hazel led the way. + +At the pavilion the seats were almost all occupied, for campers from +all sides of the lake flocked there on the entertainment evenings. +A band was dreaming over some tune, each musician evidently being +his own leader. + +The elder Miss Blake, Jeannette, who sat on an end seat, arose as +they entered and made room for the Chelton folks to sit beside her, +meanwhile gushing over the prospect of the evening's good time, and +the good luck of "meeting girls from home." + +Walter allowed Bess and Belle to pass to the chairs beyond Miss +Blake and thus placed himself beside the not any too desirable +spinster. + +He made a wry face aside to Jack. He liked girls but the elder Miss +Blake! + +"Mabel is going to sing 'Dreams,'" she said sweetly. "I do love +Mabel's voice in 'Dreams.'" + +"Yes, I think I should too," said Walter, but the joke was lost on +Jeannette. "Who is that dark man over there?" he asked. + +"Oh that's a foreigner. They call him Jones, but that's because his +name is so unpronounceable. Isn't he handsome?" asked the lady. + +"Rather odd looking I should say," returned Walter, "but it seems to +me he is attracted in this direction. Why should he stare over this +way so?" + +"He knows me," replied Miss Blake, bowing vigorously to "Jones" who +was almost turned around in his chair in his determination to see +the Chelton party. + +"He's mighty rude, I think," Walter complained again, leaning over +to speak to Cora who was just beyond Bess. "Do you feel the draft +from that window, Cora?" he asked. + +"Oh I--" then she stopped. Something in Walter's voice told her +that it was not the window draft he was referring to. She glanced +across the room, and her eyes fell upon the man she had met at Jim +Peter's landing place. + +"I think those seats over there--up near the stage are much +pleasanter," said Jack, who also saw that something was wrong. +"Suppose we change?" + +"All right" assented Cora, taking the cue. "There are just four." + +"I will stay here with Hazel, while you and Wallie go over there +with the girls," suggested Jack. "And say Wallie," he whispered, +"if I catch you fanning that young lady in the row ahead I'll--duck +you on the way home." + +Walter apologized profusely for leaving Miss Blake. She evidently +was sorry that the window had been open for she was "so enjoying +talking of dear old Chelton." The place had only been thus +mentioned by herself. + +"Who is that dark man?" Hazel inquired of Jack, for, as if his eyes +were magnets, every girl in the group felt they were riveted upon +her. + +"I don't know," replied Jack, "but he seems to be very much +interested in someone here. There, he is watching Cora. I wonder +who the fellow is?" + +The curtain rising interrupted the speculation. A man cushioned +like a cozy corner laughed at himself while waiting for his audience +to do so. Then he gave a yell and started to sing a ridiculous song +about the milkmaid and the summer boarder. When he had finished one +verse he took another "fit" of laughter, but somehow the audience +did not see it his way, and when he tried it again, he broke off +with an explanation. He felt sure that the people did not quite +understand the joke, and he tried to tell them how very funny it +was. To relieve the situation another person came on. One side of +the figure was draped in the evening garb of a lady, while the other +wore the full dress suit of a gentleman. The illusion was not at +all bad, especially when the "person" waltzed with himself, with his +arms around the other side of the evening dress the effect was +really funny. + +"That's Spencer," declared Jack to Hazel. "He did that at college. +Isn't it great?" + +"Very funny," admitted Hazel, while the man made in halves bowed on +one side first, then on the other, to his applause. + +"Mabel is going to sing now," announced Miss Blake getting a firmer +hold on her chair. "I just love to hear Mabel sing." + +Jack said he did also, then outside the dropped curtain stepped +Mabel. + +She was pretty, a little thing with brown eyes and brown hair. She +wore the most babyish dress made in empire, and it was evident she +knew something about making up for good effect on the stage. + +Applause instantly greeted Mabel, and Jack was not the one who first +tired of clapping his hands. This pleased Miss Jeannette immensely, +and she did not fail to express her pleasure to those about her. + +The dark man in the seat across the aisle glanced first at the stage +and then at the seat where the elderly lady sat. Jack was watching +him, and noted his peculiar glances. Presently Mabel started to +sing. Her voice was sweet, and her stage manners attractive. + +"Isn't she lovely!" exclaimed Bess to Ed. "I do believe she is +studying for the stage." + +"Shouldn't wonder," replied the young man under his breath. Then +the girl finished the song and bowed with such pretty piquancy that +everybody demanded more of her talent. + +Jack was still watching the dark man. As the girl left the platform +the latter left his seat and went outside of the pavilion. + +Presently a messenger tapped Miss Blake on the shoulder, "Your niece +wishes to speak to you," the boy said, and at that Jeanette Blake +also left her seat and the room. + +"Something mysterious about that," said Jack to Hazel, "and I +propose seeing it out if I can. I will take you over to the others, +and run outside." + +Just as he said that, a boy appeared on the platform and announced that +owing to an important message Miss Blake was obliged to leave the hall +and could not accommodate with her second number, but that some one +else would try to fill her place. + +A murmur of dissent arose from the audience. + +"How could she get an important message here," Cora asked Ed. +"Where in the world could it come from?" + +Jack pushed a chair for Hazel in line with the others. + +"I am going outside for a moment," he said. "Take care of the girls +until I come back." + +"All right," agreed the other young men. + +"But don't run after Mabel," put in Walter with a laugh. + +But that was exactly what Jack Kimball did. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +MYSTERY UPON MYSTERY + + +Cora, healthy though she was, did not sleep well that night. Jack +did not return to the hall, and had left word with the doorkeeper +that he could not get back in time to see his sister but would run +up from his bungalow early the next morning. It was early now, and +next morning, but Jack had not kept his word. + +No one but Cora and Hazel had any idea that this might mean anything +important. + +"It was so strange, the way that man acted," said Hazel to Cora, as +the two made their way to the spring for fresh water. "First he +watched you, then when Mabel Blake appeared he kept his eye on her. +And such eyes! I believe he could hypnotize any one." + +"I hope he did not hypnotize Mabel," replied Cora. + +"Or Jack," added Hazel. + +"No fear of the latter," declared the sister. "Jack is too +level-headed to take any cue in that direction." + +"That's just the way I feel about Paul," spoke Hazel. "Isn't it +lovely to have such splendid brothers?" + +"Nothing could be more satisfactory," declared Cora, "unless it +would be having a sister besides. I have often wondered what I +should have done if I had not had such splendid girl friends. Do +you feel as if a sister would have made your life more complete?" + +"I have never thought of it," said Hazel. + +"But Cora! Look at that woman!" + +Almost creeping through the tall grass the form of a woman could be +distinguished. She had evidently come from a boat that was lying +along shore--a rowboat. Seeing the girls, the woman stood up. + +"It's Kate Simpson!" exclaimed Cora, "and she seems to be looking +for our camp!" + +"Miss!" called the woman, her voice shaking. "Wait, wait for poor +Kate! Oh! I'm droppin' down!" + +"What is it, Kate?" asked Cora kindly. "You seem exhausted." + +"Oh, indeed I am that," replied the woman, brushing the straggling +hair from her forehead. "I am all but dead!" + +"What has happened?" asked Cora further. + +"I can't tell you here. They might find me, and they'd know the +boat." + +"We can hide the boat in the bushes, and you may come up to the +camp," suggested Cora. "That boat is not hard to lift." + +"If you only could, but I'm too done up to help," faltered the +woman. + +Cora and Hazel easily shifted the light canoe up into the deep +grass. Kate got on her feet again, and, following the girls, all +made their way to a spot entirely closed in with heavy hemlock +trees. + +"We may talk here," suggested Cora. "This is what we call our +annex--the annex to our camp." + +"It's better than the shack I've been living in," murmured the +woman. "I'm done with that. Here," and she slipped her hand in her +dress, carefully taking from a patched place in her skirt a small +article. "This is yours--I know it!" + +"My ring!" + +Cora's eyes sparkled akin to the gem at which she was gazing. Hazel +looked on dumbfounded. + +"Yes, it's your ring, but don't ask me how I got it," said Kate, +"though I'm pretty sure you can guess." + +"I knew who had it, and I felt I would get it back," Cora replied, +"but I never dreamed how I might recover it. Mother gave it to me +on my last birthday." + +"Well I'll tell you this much, miss," and Kate Simpson glanced +furtively around her, to make sure that no one might be approaching. +"If there ever was two bigger villains than Jim Peters and Tony +whatever-his-other-name-is-if-he's-got one, then I never heard tell +of them. They're up to some new trick every day and another new one +every night. But the worst--" + +She seemed afraid to go on. Evidently even a woman so used to +hardship as this one could be frightened. + +"The worst?" asked Cora. + +"Is the one that goes on at Fern Island," almost whispered the +strange creature. + +"Goes on?" exclaimed Hazel, who had hitherto been silent, too +interested to interrupt. + +"Yes, miss, it goes on, and it will go on I'm afraid while them +villains live." + +There was a shout from the camp. The others were looking for Hazel +and Cora. The familiar yodel was sent back, then Cora told Hazel: + +"You run over, Hazel, and do something to interest them, while I +take Kate up the back way. I want to get her some of those things +the last maid left, and I want to refresh her a little." + +"But I couldn't wait, dear," sighed Kate. "If I don't get a train +or boat away from this place soon, they'll be sure to catch me." + +"But you have done nothing wrong! Why shouldn't you go or come as +you want to?" asked Cora. + +"I can't tell you, miss, but them men seem to have some power and I +want to get away from it. Where might I find a train or a boat?" + +"If you have to go, I'll take you to the landing in my motor boat," +replied Cora. "It has a canopy and you will not be seen on the +water." + +"If you could. I'd be very thankful. You see I'm not much used to +the water, and rowing over from the shack nearly did me up." + +"But I want to give you something for getting me my ring," insisted +Cora. "It is quite valuable, you know." + +"I heard them say so, and now that the other girl is gone I'll tell +you this much. Never you go over to that shack again," and the +woman raised a warning finger. "It was a good thing you met me +instead of Jim Peters the day you did go over. They'll be like +tigers when they find I've got the ring. It was last night that +gave me the chance. They had been out very late, and Tony didn't +have any letters to copy so he fell asleep and--and I slipped away +with it. I slept a bit under a tree, but indeed I was glad to see +daylight." + +"And you have been out all night? You must not think of taking a +journey without first having something to eat. If you are afraid to +come up to camp I'll have something put in the boat for you," +declared Cora. "But let me ask you, did you overhear anything about +a girl named Miss Blake? I saw Jones leave a hall where she was +singing last night, and I suspect he met her as she went out. My +brother followed, but I have not seen him since. He stops at the +boys' camp," Cora explained. + +"Blake? So that was the pretty girl who sang. Well, she had better +be careful that she doesn't join the ghosts at Fern Island," said +the woman, mysteriously. + +"I know the girl. She's from my home place. And that is why my +brother went to see that nothing happened to her," Cora said. + +"Well, you are good people, one can see that," declared Kate. "But +wait. I can't read much, but I picked this up to wrap the ring in." + +She handed Cora a soiled and crumpled telegram blank. Upon it was +made out, in message form, these words: + +"Can place your friend at twenty-five week. Answer at once." + BENEDICT. + +Cora pondered for a moment. "Who could have sent Jones such a +message?" she asked. + +"Sent it?" repeated Kate. "He sends his own messages. He can copy +any handwriting. I heard him say the trick worked," she finished. + +The truth flashed into Cora's mind. That man somehow knew the +Blakes. He was pretending to place little vain Mabel with some +theatrical company. When he left the Casino it was to show her the +bogus message. And Jack must have been somewhere around within +hearing distance. Surely things were getting complicated and +mysterious in the summer colony. But Cora had her ring back, and +for the rest she felt certain that the "ghost" of Fern Island, also +the wild looking girl of whom they had gotten a glimpse, were in +some way being wronged by Jim Peters and his associate, the +handwriting expert. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE RACES + + +"Of course we will enter," declared Cora. "I know my boat and I +think it is as good as any little motor craft on the water." + +"But suppose we should get stuck away out in the lake," objected +Bess. "Then what would we do?" + +The girls and boys were talking together a few days after Cora had +helped mysterious Kate to get away, and had entered the water +contest. + +"There would be plenty of boats to give us a tow," replied Cora, "but +I have not the slightest idea of getting stuck. My engine works +splendidly." + +She found an opportunity to whisper to her brother: "What about Miss +Blake?" + +"I'll tell you later, sis," he whispered back. "It isn't very +important. Don't ask me now," and then he went on fussing over the +engine and oil cups. + +"If we only had our canoe," wailed Jack. + + "That was different from any boat I have seen here. It was built +on racing lines. Funny what became of it." + +"Funny?" repeated Ed. "Tragic I think!" and he gave his sleeves +another upward turn just to be doing something. + +"Deplorable," added Walter. "I think I looked just sweet in that +canoe. Don't you, Hazel?" + +"Well, when I saw you--you did," she admitted, "but three boys in a +canoe are not quite as attractive--" + +"As one girl and one boy," he put in. "Well, that is my own +opinion, but Jack and Ed are so inartistic. I never can get them to +see things my way." + +"We will race in the Peter Pan," Ed announced. "Of course she +cannot be beaten. But it is not half as much fun to depend upon an +engine as to rely upon muscle. The canoe for me." + +"But the glory!" exclaimed Belle. "That boat is beautiful." + +"The boat is! Look at us," and Jack stood almost on his head. +"Boats are all right, but in the beauty class we come first." + +"What time do they start?" Cora inquired. "I've forgotten." + +"Motors at three, smaller craft earlier. I am going over to the +Point to see the hand-boats," said Jack. "Of course everybody is +interested in them." + +"Then girls," advised Cora, "get ready. We will have an early +lunch, and go out for the afternoon. Perhaps we will bring the cup +back." + +"Lucky if you bring your boat back," Jack cautioned. "Don't you +want me to look the engine over, Cora?" + +"No, indeed. That would be a dangerous thing to do, for I now have +every part clear. I have put on a bigger oil cup, have had the +water circulation increased so the engine can not heat so, I have +had a throttle control put up at the steering wheel so that I can +slow down from there, and I tell you, Jackie, I have worked out the +secrets of that engine until there are no more." + +"I should say you had, sis. I never knew there were so many +attachments. Well, I know I can depend upon you to keep up the +honor of the Kimball family. Come along fellows. Let's see that +the Peter Pan is not done by the 'Peter Petrel.' I noticed she was +puffing out a lot of oil this morning as we came over." + +"Then," said Cora, "you want to be careful. Your oil will run out +and the best engine made will stop short if that happens." + +"Whew!" exclaimed Ed. "Suppose we get Cora to look over our boat? +She seems to know." + +"Better have Paul do it," suggested Cora. "That boat is worth three +thousand dollars, and I wonder they ever allowed you boys to rent +it." + +"They would not if Paul had not vouched for them," Hazel explained. +"They have a great regard for Paul's skill." + +"And is he not going in the races?" asked Bess. + +"I haven't heard him say," replied the sister. + +"Bet he'll be a dark horse," suggested Ed. "Well, we can't wish +Paul any too much good luck, but I do wish he would not stick so +dose to his boats and tools. We scarcely see anything of him." + +"Nor do I," agreed Hazel with a sigh. "I miss him dreadfully." + +"Poor child," and Walter affected to put his big brown arm around +the girl. "Let me make up for Paul. Does he kiss you very often?" +and he brushed her cheek. + +"Walter Pennington!" gasped the circumspect Hazel, "Do have sense!" + +"That's what Cora taught me--to help the needy," he floundered. + +"Come now, no more nonsense," ordered Cora. "If we are to race we +have to get ready." A few hours later Cedar Lake was alive with +craft. The rowboats and canoes were lined up first and our friends +from Chelton, the girls in the Petrel and the boys in the Peter Pan, +kept a sharp look out for the lost canoe. Of course they knew it +would be repainted, but the lines being different from those of +other boats they hoped to be able to distinguish it, should it +appear for the races. + +The judges had taken their places. The platform at the Point was +gaily decorated for the occasion, and all sorts of banners were +flying. The course was to cover one mile, and it ran clear out into +the open lake so that the delightful view was unobstructed. + +Of all the canoes a bright red craft with a girl in Indian garb +attracted most attention. The girl had her hair flying and was +indeed a striking figure in the brilliant bark. + +There were many green boats, all having Indian names, and there were +those of wood in the natural color. Girls vied with boys in point +of numbers, and had it all their own way in point of attractiveness. + +"They are all ready," Cora told her friends, as the man on the bench +who held the pistol allowed it to glimmer in the sunlight. The next +moment a crack rent the air and the boats shot off. + +For some moments no one spoke. All attention was riveted on the +graceful canoes that so motionlessly covered the deep blue lake. +The dip of the paddles was the only sign of movement although the +dainty boats were making good time in covering the courses. +Suddenly when all others had left and were off a light canoe shot +out from some place, and a girl with her hair flying, and dressed +most peculiarly, started off after them all. + +"She gave them a handicap," said Cora, then something occurred to +her. The same thought came to the others for each held her breath. + +"The ghost girl!" whispered Belle, finally. "However did she get +in?" + +"It surely is! See her go! And there--there is that man from +Peters'," exclaimed Bess to Cora, "and he, too, is in the race." + +"They can beat anything on the lake," declared Hazel. "See her go!" + +"See him go!" + +In a few seconds those who had so mysteriously entered, the race +were far up in the line with those who had first started. The girl +was wonderfully graceful, and the man showed marked skill at the +paddle. He was trying to keep close to her, that was evident, but +at a cheer from the shore and from the outlying boats the girl shot +ahead and was soon out of hearing of the man, who evidently was her +companion. + +"She will beat him--she will beat them all!" declared Cora, and this +was the opinion of most of the thousands of spectators. + +"But if she does," faltered Belle, "do you suppose she will go to +the stand dressed like that to receive the prize?" + +"We shall see," said Cora. "At any rate this combination is far +more interesting than the real race." + +A red canoe was alongside the girl in the light one. For a few +moments it seemed she would be outdone. Then, with a clever light +dip of her paddle, that scarcely seemed to touch the water, the Fern +Island girl was again ahead. + +The first course had been covered and the boats were turned back for +the final run. + +"The man has dropped out," said Belle, "See there he is just +floating along." + +"He wouldn't be beaten, I suppose," Cora surmised, "Any one could +see that the girl would come in first." + +"They are coming back and she has not started," said Belle, who had +the marine glasses. + +"But she will," declared Cora. + +"Yes, there she comes! Oh isn't it exciting! To have the queer +girl beat all those who pride themselves on their skill. I wonder +who or what she can be?" queried Hazel. + +"Here come our boys," said Belle, as the beautiful golden Peter Pan +motored over to the smaller Petrel. + +"What do you think of that?" called Jack. "Look at the Wild Duck!" + +"Isn't she a--bird!" confirmed the voice of Ed. + +"A Sea Gull," added the more polite Walter. "I say, girls, do you +happen to know her?" + +"Yes," called back Cora, "We have met her." + +Then there was an exchange of words understandable only to those +expressing them, and to those for whom they were expressed, but any +one might have guessed that the boys in the Peter Pan were asking +the girls in the Petrel to let them "meet" the wild bird of the +light canoe. + +"They are almost in," said Bess, breathlessly. "Oh I hope she does +not back out." + +"No danger," said Cora. "One can see that she is making for the +finish line." + +"There are two boys who have been saving themselves," Hazel +remarked. "I shouldn't wonder if they could beat our friend." + +"Oh, I hope not," exclaimed Belle. "I should be so disappointed." + +"And it would be impolite of them," added the innocent Bess, whereat +every one laughed. + +The boys had been saving their strength. Now they paddled off and +their craft, one of brown and one green, seemed equal to any of the +others. + +"Hello there!" called Jack. "Did you notice?" + +"What?" asked Cora. + +"The canoe--the Gerkin?" + +"He means it has lines like the lost boat," said Cora. "I have not +seen it enough to know," she finished, but at the same time she took +the glasses to look at the new rival of the wild girl. + +"Yes it has, I remember," said Bess. "I had a good look at it the +afternoon that they lost it. I was waiting for you to fix up your +boat Cora, and I saw the boys' canoe." + +"Well, I suppose they could never be certain, as there must be more +than one boat built even on those lines," said Cora. "My! See how +close they are--the girl and the boys!" + +"She's ahead!" exclaimed Belle, clapping her hands. "How I hope she +wins!" + +"We all do!" declared Hazel. + +Then they were silent. The first canoe was almost in, and it was +the one called the Gerkin, paddled by the boys. + +"Go it girl!" screamed the boys from the Peter Pan. + +"Beat them, girlie!" called the girls from the Petrel. + +For one brief second the wild-looking girl turned in the direction +from which the voices had come. Hats were waved to her, +handkerchiefs flaunted and then she paddled--paddled straight ahead +and came into the finish first! + +"Hurrah! Hurrah!" went up shout after shout. + +"I knew it!" cried Cora joyously. "Now let us watch her." + +"There's that dark man!" Bess told them. "Oh! I just wish he would +keep away from her." + +But he did not. The girl in the light canoe turned from the +spectators as if she had been deaf and dumb. And it was the dark +man--the fellow called Tony Jones--who went up to the judges to get +their verdict. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +ONE WAY TO WIN + + +"We have no time now," Jack told Cora, "but as soon as the races are +over I will ask what that fellow told the judges. Certainly he must +have said that he had a right to, the girl's prize, or they would +not have given it to him." + +"But how the poor thing hurried off! Why, she hardly had a chance +to know that she won," replied the sister. "I think it a shame that +the creature should be treated like something really wild," and she +turned to watch the foamy wake that the little canoe was tracing, as +the girl from Fern Island hurried to hide herself again where ever +she might go. The signal precluded the possibility of further +interest just then in the strange case, but indeed Cora's mind was +not so readily shifted. She wanted to know about that girl. + +The speed boats were next to be tried out. What a splendid showing! +Who would have dreamed that such handsome craft were on the waters +of Cedar Lake? Of course they were all private boats, and their +flags flaunted proudly before the spellbound spectators. + +The Peter Pan was among the very finest. In this were our boy +friends from Chelton, and as they lined up the admiration expressed +was unstinted. The Sprint was another splendid speed boat, built +with torpedo stern and a queer spray hood at the bow. This was +being run by a girl--a young lady noted for her skill at any sort of +motor. + +"Oh, I hope our boys win," exclaimed Bess, as if that hope needed to +be made known. + +"They have a good chance," argued Cora. "Of course so many things +may happen that there is absolutely no surety of any machinery on +the water." She looked to see that the oil cup levers of the Petrel +were down to prevent the lubricant flowing before it was needed and +also gave a critical survey of the little wire that connected on the +cylinder. It emitted a clear "fat" spark as she touched it to the +metal, and this seemed to satisfy her. + +"I guess ours is all right; isn't it?" asked Hazel. "Wouldn't it be +fine if we won something!" + +"I fully intend to," declared Cora. + +"That means that we will," responded Belle. "If Cora intends!" + +"They're off!" called out Hazel, "look at Jack!" + +He was standing over the engine evidently making sure that even at +the start he should not loose a single atom of the power that +twirled the propeller. Ed was at the steering wheel. Walter was at +the side, and with him was Paul Hastings. + +"There's Paul!" exclaimed Bess, when they could make out that the +fourth figure in the boat was that of the boy's friend. "I thought +he would run another boat." + +"He wouldn't want any other to beat the Peter Pan," explained Hazel, +"and at the same time he would not take the glory of it from the +boys who have it for the season. That's Paul," she finished +proudly. + +The first "leg" of the course had been covered, and the three best +boats, the Peter Pan, the Sprint, and the Lady B. were all in line. +A dozen others were trailing, and while they showed less speed it +was not safe to say that they could not catch up with the three +stars. From buoy to buoy over the triangular course the boats +fairly shot, and a beautiful sight they made on the green-hilled +basin of Cedar Lake. + +The course was covered once and then the second round was started by +the boats that had qualified. These were only five in number, one +of them being a very queer looking craft, built high on the sides +like a huge box and showing at the bow a double point, like a pair +of slippers. This of course attracted considerable attention, and +it shot past the Sprint, which was run by the young lady who had +hoped to meet with no rival such as a home-made boat, to say the +least. + +"Can't that go? Look at it!" the spectators were exclaiming. + +"See, Paul is at the Peter Pan's engine!" said Cora, as the color +of that boy's cap made it plain that he had taken Jack's place. "I +hope Jack has not strained his wrist, or done anything like that." + +"Very likely Paul is just seeing if everything is right," said +Hazel. "See, there, Jack has his place again." + +During the second and third trials all interest was centered on the +Peter Pan, the Hague, (the home-made boat), and the Sprint. Now this +would be ahead, and now that, until it seemed that there could be +but little difference in the merits of any of the three. Of course +most of the sympathy was with the Sprint, because a girl was +striving to outdo the boys. At the same time, the Hague, being such +an oddity, and the lake folks knowing that this had been built by +the boys who were running it, came in for its share of applause. + +"There is not a boat on the lake that can fairly beat the Peter +Pan," Hazel declared almost feverishly, for the others were +threatening to do so. "I have heard Paul say so." + +"He ought to know," said Cora with a sly wink, "but that big tub, +the Hague, is something new. Perhaps it has the power of a +destroyer." + +"It is big and clumsy enough to have any sort of power," remarked +Belle. "I should just be sick if it did win." + +"All's fair, in a fair race," remarked Cora. "See the Hague is +ahead!" + +One more course was to be made, and every eye and every mind was +centered on this, the final test. + +The Peter Pan shot out bravely and safely. The Sprint made a +splendid second! Then the Hague! Something seemed wrong. It was +"missing." That could plainly be heard from the girl's boat. Away +they flew, yard after yard being made in wonderfully short time. +The Sprint was doing well with the Peter Pan. The Hague suddenly +shot forward, passed every thing--passed the Sprint--passed the +Peter Pan and won! + +"Hurrah for the tub!" yelled the crowd. "Hurrah for home talent!" +shouted the throng. But the young lady in the Sprint throttled down +and her boat drifted over to the boys. + +"How was that?" she asked breathlessly. + +"I don't know," replied Paul "but I'm going to find out. We were +second and you made a splendid run--but I'm going to look into the +glories of the Tub!" + +So keen was the disappointment of the girls in the Petrel that they +seem to have lost heart for their own race, which came next. But +when Ed and Jack called out to them, and Paul waved his cap in his +own quiet way, the encouragement dispelled their lost of interest. + +Cora spun the flywheel, and the boat took its place. She looked +every inch a girl to win, while Hazel kept close to the steering +wheel and the twins did their part in just looking pretty. The +motor girls' boat was the cynosure of every eye, as it happened to +be the only boat in that class run by girls. + +The signal was given and they started off. + +"Steady!" Jack called. "Go it, sis!" + +He should hardly have done this, but his boyish love for the girls +and their boat could not be restrained. Then they waved, and the +maroon and white flag stood out tense and defiant like some animate +thing. + +Not a word was spoken by the girls. It seemed so important to pay +all attention to the machine upon which depended the loss or gain of +a victory--if we may say that a victory can be lost. + +"Look out!" called Hazel suddenly and a boat crossed their path so +closely that Cora was obliged to throttle down, and Hazel had to run +straight for a buoy to avoid a collision, and the craft hit the +course marker. Then the Petrel stopped short! It simply wouldn't +move! + +"Oh!" sighed Belle and Bess in one voice, but Cora jumped up and +tried for a spark. None came! + +She looked at the connections. They seemed all right. + +"Maybe it's in the gas," she said nervously, while the other boats +were passing them by. + +She yanked down the bulkhead board that hid the gasoline tank. Then +she saw the cause of the trouble. + +"Short circuited!" she exclaimed. "That happened when we struck +the buoy. It jarred the battery wires together," and the next +instant she had adjusted the difficulty and the engine, glad to be +off again, seemed to try to make up for the lost seconds. + +Every one in the Petrel breathed a sigh of relief. The anxiety had +been intense. + +"I was certainly afraid we would have to row to shore," Belle said, +taking a more comfortable position. + +"We will make up for it," declared Cora, throwing on full speed and +directing Hazel as to the best way to hold the wheel exactly +straight and in doing so to get all possible distance out of each +explosion of the engine. + +They finished in a tie over the first course. This was encouraging, +for the little Mischief, their closest opponent, was acknowledged a +fine boat. + +Two more courses were to finish the race, unless there was another +tie. The girls scarcely noticed the frantic efforts of the boys in +the Peter Pan who were encouraging and directing at the top of their +lungs. The young men in the Mischief were anxious. They could +never stand it to be beaten by a couple of country girls! But, on +the second trial Cora's boat won, and then came the final test. + +Up the lake they went again! Now the Petrel was ahead and now the +Mischief until the closeness of the two became absorbing. + +"The best race of the day!" the judges were declaring. "Neither has +it all her own way!" + +"Plucky girls," said another of the men at the stand. "Whatever +happened when they stopped they must have been well able to handle, +from the way they caught up again. I thought they were out of it +that time!" + +"We all did," put in some one else, "but I have seen that little +girl on the lake before. She knows something about a motor boat." + +"Here they come!" Jack yelled. "Just look at Cora! Isn't she +fine!" + +"And Hazel!" put in Paul with a smile. + +"How about Bess and Belle?" asked the fickle Walter. "I think they +look just sweet!" + +Only two more "legs," and the Petrel was still ahead! + +One was covered, with the Mischief so close that only those in the +best position could tell which one led. + +"Steady, Hazel!" cautioned Cora. Straight as an arrow she directed +the wheel. + +Then there was a splash from a nearby motor boat. A shout and +screams! + +"Overboard!" yelled the frantic onlookers. "A child overboard!" + +It was just at the side of the Petrel! + +"Hazel! The engine! Bess, the wheel!" shouted Cora, and before any +one knew what she was about, she had jumped into the water and was +making for the spot were the child had gone under. + +The boys in the Mischief did not stop. Hazel took the engine and +Bess the wheel, realizing that Cora meant for them to finish. + +Presently she came up with the child in her arms! + +"Go it, girls!" she called, "Win! Win!" + +The Mischief was close alongside. Cora was clinging to the side of +the boat from which the child had dropped, while the almost fainting +mother was recovering her little one. The others assisted Cora in, +and forgot all about her race. + +But Cora stood spellbound in the cockpit, dripping wet. She stood +there ignoring the thanks poured out on her. + +"Steady, Hazel!" she called. "Win--win for me!" + +That was enough. The motor girls, those in the Petrel, realizing +that their leader was safe, now determined to "win for her." + +The Mischief had gained in the time that Cora swung overboard, and +now was just abreast of the Petrel. The slight change of course +also told in the last few yards, but now Hazel and Bess forgot +everything but the call of Cora to win, and their boat, like a +flash, sprang up to its opponent and passed it by the closest record +made in any of the races. + +"Hurrah! Hurrah!" rang out in their ears. + +"A double victory!" shouted one of the judges. Then the Petrel was +turned back to get Cora who was in the other motor boat. + +The boys in the Peter Pan had not seen Cora dive over for the child, +but as quickly as they heard the report, that was now being spread +about, they made for the boat from which the accident occurred. + +Back with them went the boat of the accident crew, and when Cora +finally returned to her own craft she had an escort of honor to the +judges stand. + +"First prize for the Petrel!" announced the head judge. "And the +honor medal for life-saving to Miss Cora Kimball, the leader of our +brave little crew of motor girls." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +VICTORS AND SPOILS + + +"Wasn't it exciting!" Belle was saying to the little party that had +gathered around Cora as she received their praise and congratulations +after it was all over. "I never dreamed that boat races could furnish +so many kinds of excitement." + +"I don't call it all delightful," objected Bess putting her arms +around the still wet form of the girl who had made the rescue, "and +I don't want to see Cora jump overboard that way again. I shall +never forget it." + +"A good way to find out how much folks think of me" replied Cora. +"I really didn't mind it a bit, once I knew that I could get the +child before she got under a boat. That was all that worried me." + +"Your cup is a beauty though, sis," said Jack, who was examining the +trophy. "I think it's prettier than the one we lost. Paul is not +satisfied that we lost fairly though, and he's up there now +disputing it." + +"What good can that do now?" asked Belle. + +"No telling. Paul knows what he is about," replied Jack. "But say, +did you know that the wild girl in the canoe is deaf and dumb?" + +"No!" exclaimed all the girls in one voice. + +"Yes that's what the dark fellow who was trailing her told the +judges, and that is why, I guess, she scampered off so. Too bad! +She is pretty too." + +"And did the man take her prize?" asked Cora. + +"Sure thing," replied the brother. "He said he was her guardian." + +Cora thought for a moment. "Seems to me," she said finally, "that +she turned towards us when we shouted to her." + +"Sometimes deaf people know such things by instinct," Jack offered +as an explanation. "I thought too, that she gave us a knowing +glance." + +"Pure conceit," said Ed. "Wallie claimed the glance, but I saw her +hair float in my direction." + +"She's a star canoeist," declared Jack, "and I should like to be +better acquainted with her." + +"Can you talk with your fingers?" asked Belle. "I know a little of +the sign language, but I would not be too sure that I could carry on +a conversation." + +"But you could introduce one," insisted Jack, "and once she knew I +wanted to know her--I might depend upon--true love to make known all +the rest." + +"Here! Here! Jackie!" cautioned Cora, "you are not to talk of +love--until mother comes home. You have promised to look after me." + +"As if Ed and Walter couldn't do that ten times better than I can. +But hello! Here comes Paul--the Paul." + +"It's ours," called Paul, before he was dose enough to talk in the +regulation tones. "Come on up! The judges want to see the crew of +the Peter Pan!" + +"Ours!" echoed Jack, Ed and Walter. + +"It certainly is ours. Those fellows had the gasoline doped?" + +"What's that?" asked Ed. + +"They had camphor and some other stuff in their gas," went on Paul, +"and the engine nearly kicked out of the boat." + +"Did they admit it?" inquired Ed. + +"Not until I charged them with it," replied Paul. "I knew there was +something up when they got ahead on that jump. Then I asked if I +might take a look at that freak engine, and they allowed me to do +so. I smelled camphor the minute I stepped aboard. They even had +not sense enough to hide the bottle, and it's against the present +racing rules on this lake to doctor gas. So I taxed them with it, +and they finally admitted it and we went together to the judges. +They were pretty decent chaps and did not seem to mind, very much, +relinquishing the prize. You know what it is, don't you?" + +"Certainly, it's a dandy canoe," said Jack, "And you really mean +that it is to be ours?" + +"If you don't hurry along some one else may claim it," said Paul. +"It isn't mine, it's yours." + +"And to think that we and our boys both got prizes!" exclaimed +Hazel. "Isn't it too good to be true?" + +"And too good to be false," answered Paul. "Now, boys, let's run +along. I have something to do before evening." + +"And I had better make for camp," said Cora. "These togs are wet." + +"Of course," said Belle with sympathy in her voice. "But when do +you get your medal, Cora?" + +"I believe it comes from Philadelphia. Some wealthy man has it +stored there waiting to be claimed." + +"It's a wonder the mother of that little girl didn't want to adopt +you, Cora," said Jack, as the boys started off with Paul. "I +thought from the way she hung on to you she had intentions. Well, +so long. We will give you first ride in our new canoe, and let us +hope we will have better luck with this one than we had with the +other," and then the boys went off for the prize. + +"I can't get over that girl being deaf and dumb," said Hazel, as the +girls made their way to the camp. "I can scarcely believe it." + +"Well, now we have a double interest on Fern Island," Cora answered. +"If there is really such an unfortunate creature hid or hiding there +she ought to be rescued. I cannot understand, either, how that +foreigner can be her guardian." + +"That Jones?" asked Bess, as innocently as if she had not seen the +girl race and heard about the man claiming her prize. + +"Why, yes, of course," replied Cora. "And he says she is deaf and +dumb. Who's calling? Didn't you hear some one?" + +"Yes, there's Mabel Blake hurrying after us," said Belle. "She +looks excited." + +The girl who was running along the path did indeed "look excited." +The motor girls waited. + +"Oh, I thought I would never catch up to you!" Mabel panted. "You +do walk at such a pace!" + +"Why, how are you, Mabel?" asked Cora graciously. "I heard you had +gone back to Chelton." + +"We did intend to--but we haven't," she faltered. "Jeannette has +been ill." + +"Ill!" exclaimed more than one voice. + +"Yes, that's what I want to see you about. I don't know what to +do," and Mabel's pretty brown eyes filled to the lashes. + +"Can we help you?" Cora asked. + +"I would like to speak with you alone, Cora," she said. "But I know +what you did this afternoon, and I see you have still to change your +clothing." + +"They are almost dry now," Cora replied. "Yet if you could wait +five minutes I could easily change in that time. Here we are. Home +again. And there! Nettie has heard all about our victories; +haven't you Nettie?" + +"Indeed yes, Miss Cora. But I was afraid for you," replied the +maid. "The child's father sent a message up here to ask when he +might see you?" + +"Oh, they make too much fuss over a trifle," replied Cora. "Sit +here on the porch with the girls, Mabel. I will be out soon." + +Finally Mabel pressed her handkerchief to her eyes and murmuring +some sort of unintelligible excuse she rushed indoors. + +She was met in the hall by Cora. + +"Why, what is it, Mabel?" she asked, putting her arms about the +sobbing one. + +"Oh, I cannot stand it," wailed Mabel. "The disgrace!" + +"What disgrace?" + +"The--that--man!" she stammered. "But I must go back to Jeannette. +I am afraid she is losing her mind. Of course, you could not go +with me, Cora. It would be too much after your hard afternoon. But +Jeannette got your letter." + +"Yes? I hope she understood it." + +Mabel tried to dry her eyes. "I suppose she did if any one could +understand such a thing," she replied. "But to think it is in the +Chelton paper!" + +"When was it in?" Cora asked. + +"It will be out to-morrow!" replied the tearful one. + +"To-morrow," Cora repeated thoughtfully. "Perhaps Jack could stop +it. He is well acquainted with the editor." + +"Oh, if he only could," and Mabel brightened up. "That's what makes +Jeannette feel so dreadfully." + +"It was very unfortunate," Cora said. "He is a dangerous man." + +"Dangerous! I think he should he put in jail," declared Mabel +hotly. + +"But it is so difficult to catch such people," Cora remarked. "You +could scarcely name your charge against him?" + +"Name it? Never!" exclaimed the girl. + +"There you are. One woman who might put him in jail flies off to +New York. You could at least accuse him of fraud and you refuse. I +myself know of one wrong doing that affected me and I prefer to keep +quiet--for the present at least. You see what cowards we all are +where our pride is concerned. + +"You are not a coward, Cora Kimball," exclaimed Mabel, "and I know +perfectly well you would denounce him if you thought that safest." + +"At any rate, Mabel, I think it will all come out right," Cora +assured her. "Just wait until I have a glass of milk and I will go +over and see Jeannette." + +"I can never tell how it all happened," sighed Mabel, "I really +think he had me hypnotized." + +"He is a clever rogue," agreed Cora, and she knew now more about his +roguery than she cared to sum up even to herself. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +TALKING IT OVER + + +The interview with Miss Jeannette Blake was not altogether +satisfactory, but Cora was too careful of the sick one's feelings to +ask deliberate questions. She could not really find out how far the +Blakes had gone with Tony Jones in the matter of paying him for the +alleged placement of Mabel with a theatrical company, but she +guessed they had either actually paid a large sum, or had given +a note that might be equally compelling. + +Also the notices that had been prepared for the press announcing her +coming "debut" were very embarrassing. + +It was the day after the races, and Cora sat with her brother on the +porch of their bungalow. She had told him of Mabel's plight and was +asking him to help her clear up some of the shades and shadows. + +"Tell me, Jack," she asked, "what happened the night you followed +Mabel out of the pavilion--the night that man gave her the false +message?" Jack thrust his hands deep into his pockets, and looked +very serious--for him. "To tell the truth, Cora," he began, "I had +to make love to Mabel to get her out of his clutches." + +"Make love to her, Jack!" + +"Nothing smaller would do but you know, sis, the love was only a +sort of sample, the kind a fellow might safely give away to any +girl." + +Cora laughed. "You funny boy," she said, "to flatter a girl to save +her from--flattery." + +"But didn't you ask me to? Didn't you say to watch Mabel that time +you whispered as I was leaving? You are the funny one. It was you +that put the wicked plot in my fair young head," and he sighed in +mock sincerity. + +"But honestly, did you see that man give her the telegram? It seems +to me you might be a witness should there be trouble." + +Jack jumped up. "Oh, no, you don't, sis!" he declared. "You don't +get me in any further mischief. Mabel is too fond of me now." + +"Jack, don't be silly! I want you to wire the editor of the Chelton +paper that, owing to the sudden illness of Miss Jeannette Blake, her +niece, Miss Mabel Blake, has been compelled to stop her musical +studies, and postpone her debut as a singer. That is all true and +if the other notice does appear you can arrange to have this given +as the latest." + +"Foxy!" declared jack. "'Not a word of fib and not a grain of +truth. Well, you would beat Jones if you went at his game, but I do +think it a good idea to wire Nat Phillips. I'll go and do so at +once," he added, feeling in his pocket to make sure he had with him +change enough to pay for the message. + +"And Jack," Cora went on, "since you have been so good, don't you +think it would be lovely for you to sort of keep track of Mabel for +a day or two? That man, I am afraid, has her under some sort of +influence, and there is no telling what he might not try to do to +get some Blake money." + +"Make more love to her? Suppose she takes me up?" + +"I really cannot explain it all, Jack," said Cora gravely, "but the +man has frightened more than Mabel. The woman who kept house for +him and Peters was so afraid that he would find out she was leaving, +that I could scarcely persuade her to wait while I changed the +batteries in my boat. She kept saying she wanted to get out of his +power. And now Mabel declares he had her hypnotized. Then that +sort of queer girl who won the canoe race--surely he has her somehow +in his power, as they express it." + +"Powerful man," answered Jack, "but how is it, Cora, that you talked +with him and he did not hoodoo you?" + +"Oh I'm immune I suppose," and she smiled with her handsome face +turning up in becoming hauteur. + +"Guess Ed thinks that, too," said the brother mischievously. "He +has been growling to me about it." + +"Ed is a dear, nice boy," she said simply. + +"That's the sort of compliment a girl always pays the fellow she is +going to turn down," Jack declared. + +"I think, brother, making love to Mabel has gone to your head. But +hurry along to the station and send off the message." + +Cora sat there silent for a few moments. There was no one about the +camp but herself, and she would soon go down to the lake for a run +in her boat. She was thinking that of all the peculiar cases of +other people's troubles in which she felt she had a right to +interfere that of the girl who was said to be deaf and dumb and who +was probably hidden somewhere on Fern Island was the case most +urgent. If only she could really find her, and find that poor +demented old man who had so strangely crossed her path. Cora had +not the least fear of either of them and suddenly she resolved to go +alone to Fern Island and try to find them. + +Ten minutes later, when she had left a note dangling from the +hanging lamp in the dining room, saying to the girls that she would +be back by supper time, Cora was gliding up Cedar Lake in the +Petrel. + +She was glad that she did not meet any of her friends who would, of +course, ask where she was going. And now she was too far away to +meet any boats of summer fisher folks or pleasure seekers. + +"I am beginning to believe in the psychic," she mused, "for I have a +feeling that a cry for help comes from that perfectly silent +island." + +Her heart beat quickly as she throttled down her engine, stopped it, +and finally stepped ashore. Her landing was made on a different +side of the island than before and she saw instantly that feet had +been treading down the ferns from shore to inland. This path served +to guide her along. Then she noticed particles of food. + +"Hardly picnic folks along here," she thought. "Perhaps the canoe +girl is somewhere about--" + +But what was her terror when she faced the shore at a dear spot in +the woods and against it saw the boat of the man Peters. + +"Oh!" she gasped. "He must be on the island!" + +Then she listened. Yes, there was a step! She sank down behind a +clump of thick bushes and while hiding there she saw, not Peters, +but Jones saunter down to the water's edge! + +How she trembled! A half-fainting sensation overcame her. From a +crouching attitude she sank flat on the ground and felt too weak to +attempt to raise herself. + +Meanwhile the man had reached his rowboat and pushed off. He +glanced along and saw the motor boat. + +"That girl!" he muttered. "She is interfering with my plans again. +This would be an ideal place for a--" Then he stopped. "Bah! I'll +just give her a chance to think over her courage." + +Cora was still under the bush, and did not hear the gentle purr of +her engine as the man started down Cedar Lake in her own precious +motor boat, dragging his rowboat behind. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +TWO GIRLS ON THE ISLE + + +"He's gone!" Cora murmured, as creeping out from her hiding place, +she could see that the rowboat had left the shore. "Well, I am safe +again, for I have not the slightest fear of any one who may be on +this island--now." + +Cora glanced about her in a dazed way. Then she noticed that the +bent grass and fern led toward a hill in a deep part of the wood. + +"Strange," she was thinking. "I feel so absolutely certain that the +young girl is about here, and that she needs help." + +The path was so faintly outlined that Cora could scarcely trace it, +but she knew if any one was in hiding the place of concealment must +be at the end of the path. + +Several times she looked back of her to make sure that the man Jones +was not following. Then suddenly she thought she heard a faint +moan! + +She listened. Yes, that was a sob and in a girl's weak voice. Cora +quickened her steps, and forgetting now to watch the path she was +covering, forgetting all except that a human creature must be in +pain, and that she could probably help that person. Cora Kimball +almost ran until she reached the hill, where she saw a sort of +screen made from the broken branches of trees. + +Another moan! It was behind that screen! Quick as a flash Cora +jerked down the branches, thrust her head into a cave and there +beheld the one who was sobbing and moaning. + +It was the canoe girl! She lay on a bed of pine needles her pretty +face as pale as death, and her lovely hair tangled in the pine +pallet. + +As Cora pushed her way into the queer cave, the girl turned, and +seeing her, screamed--such a scream as one might expect from the +insane. At the same moment the brush was again pushed from the door +and there stood the wild man! His white hair and his white beard +showed Cora that he was the same person who had so strangely crossed +her path in the woods the day she was fern-gathering. + +"I want to help you," Cora spoke timidly, while the girl on the +ground moaned pitifully. + +"Help?" whispered the man, and his voice was as gentle and soft as a +woman's. "They have killed my girl," and he knelt down beside the +prostrate figure. He kissed her passionately. Then she opened her +eyes. + +"Father, dear," she murmured, "You must go--quick!" + +He kissed her again; then he turned to Cora. + +"Young woman," he said gravely, "you must not harm my darling. She +is innocent." Then he left the cave. + +What could she do? What should she do? This girl was neither deaf +nor dumb, and for that Cora was grateful, but if that dangerous man, +who had said she was both, should return, and find Cora with her! + +"Dear," said Cora gently, "try to trust me. Tell me what I can do +for you?" + +"Oh, if I could but die!" the girl sobbed, "but there is father!" + +Then Cora saw that she was becoming unconscious. Feeling about the +half-dark cave place Cora came upon a pail of water. Beside it was +a tin cup and this she filled and carried to the sick girl's lips. + +"Try to drink," she whispered. "Then if you can stand I will take +you to my house in my boat." + +The girl did sip some of the water. Again she opened those +wonderful eyes and looked at Cora. + +"You are kind," she said. "He did not send you?" + +"No one sent me, dear, and I promise never to betray you." + +"At last," she murmured, "a friend!" + +"Yes, a friend," Cora assured her, "and I am going to prove it to +you. I saw you one day as we--some girls and myself came to this +island. Then I saw you win that splendid race, and since then I +have been determined to find you." + +"'He made me do it, he made me go in the race," said the girl, "and +now he brings this letter." + +"What has shocked you so?" Cora asked. "Was it the letter?" + +"Yes, he says they are coming for father!" + +"Who?" Cora asked, but the girl's face went so white that again she +pressed the tin cup to her lips. + +"There," Cora went on, "we will talk of nothing now but of what we +shall do to make you well again. Could you walk ever so little a +distance? To my motor boat?" + +"If I could, what then?" asked the girl. + +"Then loving hands would bring back the color into your checks, and +then the best boys in the world would come to help your father." + +"Help father!" she repeated. "But that can never be done. Father +is--an outcast!" + +"But he has no disease," Cora said, remembering what Kate, had told +her was Tony's excuse for going to see a victim of some dreadful +disease, who was on Fern Island. + +"No, thank God, his body is well, but his soul is sick--so very +sick." + +"Let me see if you can sit up?" asked Cora. "It will soon be night +and we must try to get away." + +"It will, be much better to leave him, and return, soon, well and +strong enough to comfort him again," Cora said, "than to stay here, +and perhaps die." + +"You are right," said the stranger getting up on her elbow. "Oh, +what it means to speak with a girl again. Heaven must have sent +you." + +"There, you are up now," spoke Cora quickly, realizing the +importance of urging the girl to get up while she felt so inclined. +"See, you can stand! There, now you can walk." + +"But I must say good-bye to father. Oh! should I leave him?" she +sobbed. + +"Just for a little while, dear," Cora again assured her. Then the +girl put her finger to her mouth and gave a queer whistle. + +"I will be outside so he will know that I am better," said the girl. +"Father has been so frightened." + +The next moment the man appeared again. + +"Father," said the girl, "I am going with this friend some place to +get well. Should I go?" + +"Friend? Yes, she is all of that. Daughter go!" and the man +pressed her to his breast. + +"And you will be all right? No one will come for you?" + +A look of horror swept over his face. "They shall not find me," he +faltered, releasing his daughter from the embrace. + +"Let me tell you, sir," ventured Cora, "that the man I just saw +leave this island is a villain. Don't believe one word he says." + +"Villain? Yes! He is that, for he would have carried off my +Laurel!" + +"Hush father, you showed him that you had more strength than a +coward can have. I feel so much better. I am almost cured since +this girl has taken my hand." + +"My name is Cora Kimball," said our heroine, "and I have a camp at +the lower end of the lake. It is there I am taking Laurel." + +"And she may come to see me?" almost sobbed the aged man. "My +little wild Laurel." + +"Yes, indeed, and some day I feel that we may take you, too, away +from this island. There, I do not mean anything to harm you. Come, +dear, it is growing dark." + +"I will leave a branch of laurel to guide you back to me," the man +said to his daughter. "When you come, look for it as I shall place +it fresh every day." + +"Go now, before I go," his daughter urged. "Then I shall feel that +you are safe." + +He turned, and the girls stood to watch the last of that queer form +as it disappeared over the hill. He was going to one of his many +woodland haunts. + +"Now we may go," said the lonely one. "Poor, dear father!" + +"Be brave," urged Cora, as she led her toward the shore. "I am so +glad I found you." + +"If you had not I feel I should have gone insane. That man was +always terrible, but today he wanted to take me away!" + +"Once in my little boat and you will almost forget all those +terrible things," said Cora. "I left--it--here!" + +Then she stopped in dismay, as she saw that the boat was gone! + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A TERRIBLE NIGHT + + +"The boat is gone!" Cora almost gasped. Then the girl, the sick +frail creature, did a remarkable thing--she came to the rescue of +the stronger one. + +"No matter," she said calmly. "I feel so much better with a girl to +speak to, that if you will put up with my strange life for a night, +perhaps it will be all right in the morning. There," as Cora +showed by her change of color that she felt it would be a risk, +"lots of people think sleeping, out of doors is the very best sort +of life. Don't you want to try it?"' and her arm stole around +Cora's waist. + +"Why, of course we can only try, but I am afraid that you will +suffer, Laurel. You are very weak," said Cora. + +"No, I was only frightened," and she made an effort to show that she +did really feel better. "Now, when we go back we must not let +father know that we are still on the island." + +Cora did not question this. That the girl had a good reason for +keeping her presence a secret from her father she felt certain. But +to turn back to those woods! And night so near! + +"I suppose there is absolutely no way of getting a boat?" Cora +questioned. + +"Even my canoe is gone. That awful man is to blame," replied the +girl. + +"Did he take it?" asked Cora. + +"When I refused to go with him, he said I might die here," replied +Laurel. "That was to get more money from father. Oh, you cannot +know how I have wished to speak with some one!" and her big, brown +eyes filled with tears. + +"And I am so glad I did come," Cora assured her, "even if our first +night must be a lonely one. I am used to queer experiences." + +"Then I will have no fear in showing you how I have lived here. Of +course, it was for father." + +They retraced their steps, and in spite of all the assurances that +each pledged to the other it was surely lonely. + +"Shall we go to your little pine cave?" Cora asked. + +"I think it would be better not to," replied Laurel, "for indeed, +one never knows what that man might do. He might come back just to +frighten me." + +"And he saw how ill you were?" + +"Oh, most men think girls get ill to order. Very likely he thought +I was acting," and the strange girl almost laughed. + +"Our folks will be frightened about me," Cora said. "Are there no +means of getting away from here?" + +"There is not a person on this island that I know of," replied +Laurel. "Of course, Brentano took your boat." + +"Brentano?" Cora repeated. + +"Yes. Did you not know his name?" + +"He seems to have a collection of names. One calls him Tony, +another Jones, and now it is Brentano." + +"But we knew him abroad. That is his name." + +Cora wondered, but did not feel inclined to ask further questions +then. It was almost dark, and under the pine trees shadows fell in +gloomy foreboding. + +"Hark!" exclaimed Cora. "I thought I heard an engine!" + +They listened. "Yes it is an engine," replied Laurel, "but I am +afraid it is over at Far Island." + +"Couldn't we shout?" + +"I would rather not. You see father wants to stay here," she said +hesitatingly. + +"You mean if any one came for us they would know we were not alone +here?" + +"They might suspect. Or they might just happen to see father." + +Cora was sorry. She wanted so much to call to the possible +passerby, but she saw that the other girl had some very strong +motive in wishing to leave the island secretly. + +"Do you never go away from here?" she asked. + +"Only when I am forced to, as I was the day of the race. He made me +race, threatening to expose father if I did not." + +"And then he said that you were deaf and dumb," added Cora +indignantly. + +"I did not mind that at all. In fact it was the easiest way for me +to get out of meeting people." Laurel sighed heavily. "I do wonder +when our lives will change," she said finally. + +"Let us hope very soon," Cora said. "I, of course, do not know your +story, but I feel that in some way that man is wronging you." + +"Yes, he has been our evil genius ever since he crossed our path. +You see father's mind is not entirely clear, and I do not myself +know what to believe." + +In the distance they could now see the lights of several boats, and +behind the great hill that made Far Island look like some strange +mountain place, the sun was all but lost in the forest blackness. + +"Oh," sighed Laurel suddenly. "I feel faint again." + +She sank down before Cora could support her. And they were away +from the little hut where the water was! Away from every thing but +the pitiless night! + +"Oh, how dreadful," moaned Cora. "What shall I do?" + +For a long time Laurel lay there so still that Cora feared she might +really die. Then at last, she managed to sit up and grasp Cora's +hand. + +"I have never been ill in my life," she said. "It was all from that +shock the day he compelled me to go in the race." + +"Then you have every chance of getting perfectly well again," Cora +assured her. "If that dreadful man had only left my boat." + +"Perhaps in the morning we may be able to go," Laurel said. "Now +that I have made up my mind I feel it will be better for father as +well as for me, for if anything happened to me I fear he would die." + +A light in the distance for a time gave them hope that a boat might +be coming to the island, but, like a number of others, it turned +toward the pleasure end of the lake. + +"I guess we will have to make the best of it for to-night," Cora +sighed. "Shall I try to find the hut and get you some food?" + +"And you have not eaten! In my misery I forgot you. Of +course--there now--I am better, and we will have to make our way to +the pine hut. But if that man comes back!" and she shuddered. + +"Why does he hold such power over you?" asked Cora, as she put her +arm protectingly around her companion. "Does he supply you with +your things out here?" + +"We supply him," replied the girl bitterly. "He is never satisfied +but always demanding more, until father will soon have nothing +left." + +Cora was mystified but this was no time for the strange story. She +must help the girl to the pine hut. + +"I believe you are more weak for want of food than from illness," +Cora said. "I hope we find something to eat." + +"Oh, yes, he brought things, but he should have done so before. I +am weak for food." + +It was difficult to find the way back now in the darkness, but the +two lonely, frightened girls trudged on. At last Laurel was able to +feel the stone on the path that gave the clue to her little hut. + +"Does Brentano know you?" she asked Cora suddenly. + +"I know him. I have been to his shack, and I have heard a lot about +him from a housekeeper who left Peters. Do you know he is a +handwriting expert?" + +"A hand-writing expert!" gasped the girl. "Does that mean he could +copy a signature?" + +"Perfectly," replied Cora, "but how you tremble? What is it now?" + +"Girl! girl!" she gasped. "What that may mean to us! Oh, I must +find father! He will know. I must signal to him." + +"Please do not to-night," begged Cora, fearing a new collapse from +the excitement. "Wait until daylight. Here, now we shall get our +food." + +They were within the pine hut and had lighted a lantern. A loaf of +bread and some salt meat were easy to find in the rudely-made box +that served for a closet. + +"I am actually starved," Cora remarked, with an effort to be +pleasant. "I guess your pine trees make one hungry." + +"Hark!" breathed Laurel. "I heard a step!" + +The next moment Cora stood at the entrance to the hut, and waited. +The step was coming closer and closer! And it was plainly that of a +man! + +"Oh, what can it be?" gasped Laurel. "Or who is it?" + +"I--I don't know," whispered Cora, her voice trembling in spite of +herself. "But we must be brave, Laurel, brave." + +"Oh, yes, I will be! Oh I how glad I am that some one is with me-- +that you are here!" + +Cora felt the other's frail body trembling as she put her own strong +arms around the shrinking girl. Then Cora peered from the door of +the hut. Still that stealthy footstep till the approach of that +unknown. Cora felt as if she must scream, yet she held her fears in +check--not so much for her own sake as for the other. + +Suddenly there was a crash in the underbrush, the crackling of +brushes, the breaking of twigs. + +"He--he's fallen!" gasped Laurel. + +"Tripped over something," added Cora. "Oh, maybe he will turn back +now." + +Them was silence for a moment and then, to the relief of the girls, +they heard footsteps in retreat. Their unwelcome visitor was going +away. + +"Oh, he's gone! He's gone!" gasped Laurel in delight. + +"Maybe it wasn't a man at all," suggested the practical Cora. "It +might have been a bear--or--er some animal." + +"There are no bears on this island," replied her companion with a +wan smile--no animals bigger than coons, and they couldn't make so +much a noise. Besides, I heard him grunt, or moan, as he fell. So +it must have been a man." + +"Well, he's gone," rejoined Cora, "and, now that he's left us alone +I'm going to hope that he didn't hurt himself. He interrupted our +supper and now it's time we finished it," and in the dim light of +the lantern they ate the coarse food and waited--waited for what +would happen next. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE SEARCHING PARTY + + +"I know something has happened to Cora," Hazel was lamenting, "and I +am afraid we have lost good time in not going with the boys. Let us +get ready at once. Here Bess and Belle, you take these lanterns, +Nettie carry matches--and take a strong mountain stick, and--" + +"Oh, mercy!" exclaimed Belle, in terror, "why should we need a +strong stick!" + +"To make our way with," replied the practical Hazel. "It is not +easy to get about in woods on a dark night like this," and she gave +a look at the lights to make sure they were all right. "The boys +were to send word here, or to leave word with Ben if they found her. +Now let's hurry." + +It was a sad little party that started off from Camp Cozy. When, +that evening, according to the note Cora had left on the hanging +lamp, she did not appear, for some little time, there was scarcely +any anxiety. Cora was so reliable, and of course they could +conjecture a dozen things that might have detained her. But when an +hour passed, and she then was not to be found, Jack jumped up, Ed +and Walter followed, and as they hurried off, left the word that +through Ben, or by message to camp, they would report to the girls. + +Now another whole hour had passed, and there was no message. + +"Which way shall we go--?" asked tenderhearted Bess. + +"To the landing first," Hazel replied. She was always leader in +Cora's absence. + +This was but a short way from the camp. At the landing stood Ben +with his faithful lantern. + +"They've got her boat," he blurted out. + +"Where?" asked the girls in chorus. + +"Just in the cove. But nothin' could hev hurt her there. She ain't +drownded in that cove." + +"But how could her boat get there?" demanded Hazel. + +"No way but to be run in there," answered Ben. "I tell you, girls, +this is some trick. 'Taint her fault of course, but she's all right +somewhere." + +The thought of the man Jones flashed through Hazel's mind. And he +had threatened Cora. She had interfered in taking away Kate, the +house keeper, she had found out about the man and girl on Fern +Island, and she had saved little Mabel Blake! Now all that-- + +"Trick!" repeated Bess. "That could not be called a trick." + +"For want of a better word," said Ben, with apology in his voice. +"But when the boys found the boat they started off in her and left +word you were not to follow." + +"But we must," insisted Hazel. "We might find her and they might +not. But how can we go?" + +"I could get you another boat if you're set on it," offered Ben, +"but I wouldn't like to displease the young men." + +"Oh, we will answer for that," Hazel assured him, "just get the +boat. We will go up the lake." + +"Yes, you've got it right. Up the lake, fer I saw Tony comin' down +the lake." + +Only Hazel understood him. He, too, suspected the man of many +names. + +It was not more than five minutes later that Dan brought the small +motor boat from the dock, and scarcely more than another five +minutes passed before the girls were off. + +There were many small boats dotted about the water, and the girls +looked keenly for the flag of the Petrel which they could have +distinguished even in the darkness for the white head-light always +showed up its maroon and white, but old Ben took no heed of the +craft in the lower end of the cove. He headed straight for either +Far or Fern Island--the twin spots of land far away. + +Out in the broadest part of the water they suddenly came upon a +rowboat without a light. + +"Look out there!" shouted Ben. "Where's your light?" + +There was no answer. Ben turned as far out of his course as it was +possible to do at the rate his own boat was running. + +"There is no one in that boat," declared Hazel. "See, it is just +drifting." + +"Might be," said Ben, throttling down his gasoline so that he might +turn nearer the other craft for inspection. + +"There does not seem to, be any one in it," declared Bess, who also +looked over the edge of the smaller boat. + +Ben did not reply. He had recognized the other craft as that +belonging to Jim Peters, and guessed that the man might be up to +some trick. When he had almost stopped his motor he jumped up and +peered into the rowboat. + +"'Low there!" he called "Sleepin--?" + +There was no answer. + +"Hum," he sniffed, "thought so. It's Jim. Say there Jim, you're +not over friendly." + +Thus taunted the man in the other boat moved to the low seat. He +growled rather than spoke, but Ben was not the sort to take offence +at a fellow like Jim. + +"Joy riding?" persisted Ben. + +"Say, you smart 'un," spoke Peters, "when you want to be funny +better try it on some 'un else. Leave me alone," and he picked up +the oars and sculled off. + +"What do you suppose he was hiding for?" asked Belle. + +"Oh he always has somethin' up his sleeve," replied Ben with a light +laugh, "and the best we can do is to follow him." + +"But then we cannot look farther for Cora," Objected Hazel. + +"The best way to find her is to make sure that he does not find her +first," said Ben. "She's all right so long as we keep her away from +her enemies," and he turned the boat down the lake toward the +landing. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +FOUND + + +From the finding of Cora's boat to the landing at Fern Island the +boys lost little time. Somehow Jack felt the night's work had to do +with the hermit and his daughter; also he feared that the man Jones +might know of it, so that he lost no time in hurrying to the far end +of the lake in hope of there finding his sister. + +Few words were spoken by the three boys as they landed, took the +lanterns from the motor boat, and after detaching the batteries, to +make sure no one would run off with the craft, they sought a path in +the wilderness. + +Good fortune, or kind fate, led them in the right direction. They +could see that the way had been beaten down. They walked on, one +ahead of the other, when Jack, who was in the lead, stopped. + +"What's this?" he exclaimed, stooping to pick up a white thing from +the ground. "A letter," he finished, holding out a square envelope. + +The other young men drew nearer to Jack, to examine what might prove +to be an unexpected clew. + +"What do you make of it?" asked Ed. + +"It's--er--" Jack paused suddenly. On the envelope he had caught, +in the light of a slanting ray from a lantern a girl's +name--"Laurel." He had been on the point of taking the missive from +its cover, but the glimpse of that name prevented him. Somehow he +felt that it might have to do with the disappearance of Cora--she +was always getting mixed up with girls, he reflected. And it might +not be just the best thing to publish broadcast what this was Jack +dissimulated. + +"I guess it's some shooting license a hunter has dropped," he +completed his half-finished sentence. "I'll just stick it in my +pocket until we get to a place where I can look at it better. I +might lose something from the envelope in the woods. Come on, +boys." + +"I think we're on the right trail," spoke Walter. + +"But where in the world can Cora be?" asked Jack. He was beginning +to be very much disturbed and was under a great mental strain. + +"Let's yell!" suggested Ed. "If Cora is within hearing distance +she'll hear us." + +"Good!" cried Jack. "All together now!" + +They raised their voices in a shrill cry that carried far. + +As the echoes died away there seemed to come, from a distance, an +echo of an echo. They all started as they heard it. + +"Hark!" commanded Jack, standing at attention. + +"It's a voice all right--an answer," declared Walter. + +"Yes," agreed Cora's brother. "It was over this way. Come on, +boys!" + +Together they dashed through the bushes, trampling the underbrush +beneath their feet. The lanterns they carried gave but poor light +and more than once they crashed into trees. But they kept on, +stopping now and then to call again and listen for the answer. + +"Look! A light!" suddenly cried Jack, pointing off to the left. + +"Come on!" shouted Ed, and they changed their course. Five minutes +more of difficult going, for they had gotten off the path, brought +them to the pine hut. In the doorway stood two girls with their +arms about each other. + +"Cora!" gasped Walter and Ed in one voice. "And the other may +be--Laurel," murmured Jack, and then he too cried: "Cora!" + +The next instant he had his sister in his arms, and there arose a +confused clamor of joyful voices, each person trying to talk above +the others. + +"And--and you are really alive!" cried Jack, holding his sister off +at arm's length and gazing fondly at her. + +"Yes, Jack," was the glad response. "You see, Jack dear, it takes a +good deal to do away with me." + +"But--but something surely happened!" he insisted. + +"Of course it did, but I'm not going to tell you about it now." + +"Yes, make her, Jack!" insisted Walter and Ed. + +"And your friend," added Cora's brother in a low voice. + +"Oh, I almost forgot," she replied. "Boys, this is Laurel--Wild +Laurel if you like. Laurel, these are the boys, including my +brother. You can easily tell who he is," she added dryly. "More +formal introductions can wait." + +"Tell us what happened," demanded Jack, and then Cora briefly +related what had taken place since she came to the island, how she +had discovered the loss of her boat and had found Laurel and the old +hermit. She told of their parting from Laurel's father and how she +and her companion had returned to the hut. + +"And then--then some one came toward the hut after we got here," she +finished. "And, oh, how frightened we were! But whoever it was +went away again and didn't bother us. Then we ate something +and--and well, you know the rest." + +"It's all right," Ed soothed, realizing that both girls had been +terribly frightened. "We just came from the lake by your path. It's +splendid to find you Cora," and he went over to press her hand. +"And I am sure you and your friend are glad to be found." + +Cora looked up, and in the dim lantern light she could be seen to +smile. "It was all because someone took my boat," she said in a +braver voice. "Laurel and I were just going to the main land." + +"As soon as you feel able we will take you to the boat," suggested +Jack. "It must have been very bad here for you, and with some one +else loose in the woods." + +"Oh, it was," said Cora. "Jack, I have been in many dreadful +places, but on an island with an enemy prowling about seems to be +the most fearful." + +"An enemy?" repeated Walter. + +"Yes, that man Tony, or Jones, took my boat," declared Cora, +indignantly, "and this time I will not try to make the laws myself. +I am sure he took your canoe, and now my boat!" + +"Well, we have you anyway," said Jack giving his sister a great warm +embrace, "and now we are going to take you both back to +civilization. Walter, can you care for Miss Laurel?" + +And then Jack, seeing a good chance, slipped into Laurel's hand the +envelope he had picked up in the woods. The girl started, stared at +him for a moment, and then hid the missive from sight. She did not +speak, but looked her thanks to Jack. + +So happy were the girls to get away and to be in such safe company, +that the shock and exhaustion following it were almost forgotten. +Cora felt much stronger, and so did Laurel. They looked like two +very much tossed and tousled girls, but the boys were not thinking +of their looks just then. + +"Are we going in my own boat?" asked Cora, showing how the ownership +of that boat had been so dear to her. + +"In the Pet!" replied Ed, "Jack, let me help Cora; you take the +light." + +Walter, waited for Laurel. She seemed to have things to take with +her from the hut. "A queer camp, isn't it?" she asked, "but it's a +great little place on a warm clay." + +"Or a dark night," dared Walter, whereat Ed threatened to take both +girls and so leave the wily Walter alone--for punishment. + +The girls laughed. "Walter is our champion," explained Cora. "I +shouldn't wonder if it were he who found us." + +"Never," contradicted Jack. "I--found you." + +"That's a good, dear, old Jackie," replied Cora assuming something +of her old-time lightheartedness. "Of course, Jack, you knew!" + +Laurel was fumbling in her blouse. The others noticed the movement. +"Just a picture I want to take," she explained. "You see, this is +quite an old camp." + +They saw but they did not understand. Then they started out in the +darkness. + +"Did you ever see such a black night?" asked Cora, "I had no idea +Cedar lake was so--so threatening!" + +"Never!" replied Ed. + +"But the water is just as friendly as ever," declared Jack. "Now +let us try it." He untied the boat, and the party stepped in. Cora +pressed Laurel's hand in silent encouragement for she saw her +turning her eyes toward Fern Island. + +"A lovely boat," Laurel remarked too quietly for the young men to +hear her. + +"Shall I speed her?" asked Jack opening the gas valve. + +"Oh, yes, let us get home," begged Cora. "The girls must be +frightened to death." + +"They are," Walter assured her. "Belle was smelling kerosene to +keep up, when we left," he went on superciliously. + +"And Hazel was looking for a club," Jack announced. + +"What about Bess, Ed?" asked Cora. + +"Bess--oh Bess, she was puffing--for breath. Bess had the puffs," +he volunteered in a weak attempt at nonsense. + +They were running down the lake. It seemed as if the boat knew +exactly where to go, and also that her own mistress was aboard. + +"Why, there's the landing!" exclaimed Cora, "how quickly we got +here." + +"And there is a crowd around. I'll wager they are there to welcome +us," said Jack happily. + +For a few moments all waited to see how the crowd would take the +news of the finding of Cora. + +"There are a lot of lights," remarked Ed in puzzled tones. + +"And boats," added Walter. + +They were looking intently at the center of the crowd on the water. + +"What's going on over there?" asked Jack, looking up from the engine +which he was slowing down. + +"Something must have happened," answered Cora. "Hark! There's a +lot of excited talk." + +Across the water floated the murmur of voices, some of them raised +high in discussion. + +"What's going on?" called Jack to a man who slipped past the side of +the Petrel in a rowboat. + +"Fight!" was the quick answer. "Jim Peters and a fellow they call +Tony. They had a quarrel about some papers and a girl, and I don't +know what not." + +"A girl?" gasped Cora, wondering if she could be involved in the +unpleasantness. + +"Well, that's what some say. I don't rightly know. Guess it didn't +amount to much. Anyhow they've got Peters over there in his boat. +They're bringing him to a doctor. It seems Tony whacked him with a +boat hook, and then, thinking he'd done serious damage, he leaped +overboard and swam for it. They can't find him." + +"And I don't believe they ever will," put in another voice, and as a +second boat came up Cora recognized old Ben. "Ah, it's Miss Kimball +and her friends," he added as he saw Cora and those in the Petrel. +"Now here's a chance for you to use your brains, Miss Cora. Can't +you find Tony for us?" + +"No, why should I," she answered somewhat coolly. + +She did not quite like this familiarity. + +"Oh, I didn't know," laughed Ben genially. "I just thought you +always like to be doing things." + +"Not that kind," put in Jack. + +"Is Peters much hurt?" asked Ed. + +"It's hard to say," answered Ben. "He's pretty tough and I guess +it's hard to do him much damage. I'm going over to see about it." + +He rowed over toward where the other boats were congregated and the +Petrel with the slow progress of which he had been keeping pace, +swung on to the dock. Cora and the others could see the return of +the little flotilla about the boat in which was Jim Peters. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +IN BRIGHTER MOOD + + +It takes but a small happening to furnish excitement for a small +place, and the fact that Jim and Tony had quarreled, and that near +the landing, created quite a buzz. Of course, much disliked as Jim +was, he was one of the regular fishermen, while Tony was a +comparative stranger. This caused the latter to disappear when he +saw that he had knocked Jim down and had perhaps seriously injured +him. + +The landing of Cora and the meeting with her friends was almost +unnoticed. It was the fight, and the possible hope of more of it, +that occupied the morbid crowd. + +"Cora! Cora!" the girls were exclaiming, each evidently trying to +be the most exclamatory. + +"Where have you been?" asked the ever-wise Hazel. + +"Why, just getting Laurel," replied Cora as Belle loosed her hold on +Cora's neck. "Belle dear, be careful," she begged, "my neck is +awfully sunburned." + +"We were scared to death," declared Bess, fanning herself with her +handkerchief. "We thought you had been kidnapped." + +"No, it was the boat that was kidnapped," replied Cora, "A boat is +more useful than--" + +"Now, Cora," interrupted Ed, "just be careful. Didn't we go after +you? And didn't we carry you off?" + +Laurel had taken Jack's advice and was resting on an old beam that +lay alongside the dock. She was very pale, as one could see even in +the uncertain light. Yet her sudden restoration to something like +strength might be accounted for by the fact that she had eaten some +food in the hut, the previous fast having weakened her greatly. Or +was it the letter Jack gave her? + +"It's wonderful to be back again," remarked Cora. "You have no idea +how far away Fern Island is at night." + +"Oh, dreadful!" exclaimed Belle. "I would have died." + +"Poor place for dying," put in Ed. "'Twould be like the babes in +the wood, and the birdies and the leaves and all that sort of thing. +Even to die, Belle, one may do it up in style." + +"I don't think you should make a joke of death," objected Belle, +pouting. + +"Oh, I didn't," declared Ed. "I was only trying to make a joke out +of the idea of you being able to die--any place. You never will, +Belle. You will go on being nice forever, like the brook." + +The crowd had now scattered, so that the girls might make their way +along to camp without brushing through the throng. They had left +their boat at the landing, in order to see the girls, who, Jack +declared, were waiting there. They could now go aboard again and +finish the journey. + +"Say folks," said Ed in a merry voice, "I propose that we make for +the camp. We are starved, every one of us. + +"And Laurel must be actually weak," added Cora, "for all sorts of +adventures interfered with our supper." + +Seeing the canoe girl, the others drew up to her. Whispered remarks +were politely passed, but Jack kept winking and making queer signs +toward Walter. Cora joined in the mirth as well as she could but +was still nervous. As Cora's boat was setting out, Ben leaned over +and whispered: + +"Don't listen to word from any one, and what's more, if you know +anything about the cause for this fight keep it close-to yourself. +I told your brother the rest," and he covered her small white hand +with his own brown rough palm. + +"Thank you, Ben, and yes, I will remember," said Cora, with more +stress in her voice than in her words. Then the Petrel puffed up to +Camp Cozy. + +There all attention was bestowed upon Laurel. The girl had gone +from shock to shock until she was really in need of rest and +nourishment. Of course Cora made light of her own predicament. She +admitted she had been frightened when she found the boat gone, and +Laurel sick, but tried to laugh and call it just one more +experience, that would add to her general knowledge. But her face +was white, and even Belle and Bess who had risen from prostration to +over-joy could not be deceived. + +"It's about that man Peters," Bess whispered to Belle. "You know +she had some interest in him because she felt he knew about the +hermit and the girl. But the girl is here now," she finished, +unable further to explain Cora's agitation. + +It was Jack who made the opportunity for Cora to talk privately with +him, and the sister was not averse to seizing it. + +Jack called her to the side porch directly after she had had some +refreshments. + +"What's worrying you, sis?" he asked kindly, putting his arm around +her. + +"Oh, Jack, I don't know. If you hadn't come!" and she shivered as +she thought of that dire possibility. + +"Oh, but we did come. We found you much sooner than we thought we +would, and I must say you weren't half so frightened as you had a +right to be under the circumstances. You are one of the bravest +girls I ever saw--that's right and so is that Wild Laurel." + +"Oh, I just love her Jack," said Cora warmly, "and if only this +other thing about her father comes right, I shall not in the least +regret the experience that brought us together. It is a great +story, Jack. You know we have still to rescue her father." + +"The hermit?" he asked. + +"Yes, an outcast, for some mysterious reason. But we shall soon +clear that up when Laurel is strong enough to be questioned. I feel +so much better," and she kissed him as if he and she were just the +babies they felt themselves to be on such occasions. + +"Jack," she whispered, a little later, "I am just going to think it +is all right. You can count on me. I am not going to have nervous +prostration from so small a thing as to-night's happenings." + +"Good, sis," and his second kiss was applause for her own. "Of +course, you are the brickiest kind of brick. And so is Laurel, a +Russet brick. Isn't she that?" + +"Exactly that," and Cora started toward the room. "She will be a +perfectly dear girl when she gets back to civilized ways. Hush, +here she comes?" + +"Cora," breathed Laurel, who now had on a robe that Belle insisted +had been made for her, though her own mother had ordered it for +Belle, "Cora, who was the man in the boat that was hurt?" + +Wondering how the girl could have escaped overhearing the name +Peters, Cora replied: + +"A fisherman I believe, but he may not have been much hurt. Folks +in such places as these cling to every sensation, and fix it up to +suit themselves." + +"But how will they find his assailant?" asked the girl, interested +for some unknown reason. + +Cora glanced at Jack. "They will look for him of course," Jack +replied for his sister. + +"Where was he hurt?" Laurel persisted. + +"We have no reason to think he was hurt at all," said Jack +decidedly. "It's only rumor, and if you don't mind my dictation, I +should suggest that this be a forbidden subject. It is about the +worst thing either of you can think of." + +"Right brother, always right!" said Cora. "Now let us go in and try +to make the girls happy with a little part of our story. You can +trust me, Laurel," she said aside. "I know just what they want to +know." + +"Oh," breathed Bess, as Cora and Laurel entered the pretty, bright, +little sitting room, "is it possible that our troubles are over for +one night?" + +"No, I see more kinds of trouble ahead," and of course she looked at +the irresistible and irrisisting Walter. "Don't they match?" aside +to Belle, whose ideas of color schemes and whose regard for the +beautiful were blamed for the inflection of nerves. + +"They do," she agreed. "Her hair is just russet-brown, and her eyes +hazel. Oh, I have always loved that sort of face when it goes with +the olive skin." + +"How did you know that I had named her Russet?" asked Jack, touching +with mock concern one stray yellow curl that threatened Belle's +sight. + +"I did not," she replied, "but I think it suits her exactly. And +Walter is all of a shade." + +"Oh, Belle. I am going to tell him? Wallie shady!" + +"You know perfectly well, Jack Kimball, I said shade--in color." + +"Oh, yes. Color blind. Poor, afflicted Wallie. I have often +wondered about his neckties. But doesn't Laurel take to him? And +isn't she a beaut in that bag?" + +"Bag! My best kimono! Look what teeth she has when she laughs." + +"And you not jealous? Belle I think, after all, I shall have to +return to my first love," and he slipped his arm all the way back of +her steamer chair, for Jack dearly loved to tease either Bess or +Belle, declaring what happened to one twin would react on the other. + +"Hazel cannot take her eyes off of Cora. I might be jealous there," +reported the blonde twin. + +"You may 'jell' all you like on that score," Jack consented. "But +hello! Here's Paul!" + +The tall, dark boy, Paul Hastings, Hazel's brother, had just entered +the door. Instantly he was overcome with the welcome, for while the +boys fell to kissing him and smoothing his hair in the most approved +lover-like way, the girls crowded around and offered him empty +plates and glasses of flowers, to say nothing of Bess, with the +Japanese parasol, who stood over his chair while Cora fanned him. + +Laurel looked on like one who enjoys a play. There seemed in her +eyes something to indicate that such a scene was not entirely new to +her, but was for some time forgotten. Presently Cora remembered +that Laurel had not met Paul before, and so introduced them. She +merely said Laurel in mentioning names, but the omission of anything +so unimportant as a last title would never be noticed among these +young folks. + +"Say now, let a fellow breathe" begged Paul, "and also let him puff +out a little. There! I feel better! And I just want to remark +that I have found the lost canoe!" + +At the words "lost canoe" Laurel started. Cora saw her, and slipped +over to her side. + +"You need not worry, dear. Everything is safe with us," whispered +Cora, pressing the other's hand. + +"Our old original! You don't mean it?" exclaimed Ed. + +"None other," declared Paul. "And I wonder you did not find it +before." + +"Where was it?" asked Walter. + +"Tied up to your own dock. I just spied it as I landed." + +"Oh, you go on," threatened Jack. "Do you think we are teething?" + +"No, jollying," vowed Paul. "I just this minute guessed it." + +Without more comment the entire party hurried out the door, and made +for the dock. Jack won first place and so held the lantern. + +"She's red," he declared. "While ours was green." + +"Just a matter of time," said Paul in his delightfully easy way. +"Most girls are green when they come up here, and--" + +Ed's hand was over Paul's mouth so he could not complete the joke. +Jack was looking for the tell-tale piece of wood that had been +inserted in the end of the canoe to mend a slight break. + +"Yep, sure it's her," he declared. + +"SHE!"' yelled the girls. "Jack!" Cora's voice came, "how can you +so shock our English?" + +"Pardon me, ladies," he murmured. "But this is it." + +"Painted red," Belle was trying to realize out loud. + +"Yes, and it's right becoming," agreed Ed, "but where did she get +the sun-burn?" + +"The Mystery of her Complexion, or, the Shade of Her Pretty Nose," +quoth Jack. "Well, I don't mind. But I would like to get hold of +The Silent Artist of Cedar Lake," he finished, in crude eloquence. + +Paul was looking carefully inside the canoe. Presently he stood up +straight, and held a note in his hand. "Let's have the light Jack?" +he asked. "I have something." + +Jack held the lantern so that it's gleam fell on the paper. "Miss +Cora Kimball," they both read, then they handed the paper to Cora. + +It was enclosed in an envelope of very fine linen; Cora saw this +instantly, for she felt, as well as saw, the texture. Just as she +was about to tear open the missive a thought occurred to her. + +"I had best wait until I get indoors," she said. "I might drop +something out of it here and break the charm." + +A murmur of disapproval followed this remark. But Cora won out, and +with much apprehension carried the strange letter inside. Under the +light she looked first at the signature. It was Brentano! + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +LAUREL'S FLIGHT + + +"What is it? What is it?" demanded the girls in chorus. + +Cora made light of her actions as she hid the note, but in reality +she had no idea of reading it before any one. What might it not +contain? + +"I get so few love letters," she remarked, "that I want a chance to +enjoy them." + +"Then as that's the case," said Ed, "it's us for the Bungle. Come +on, boys," and he pretended offence, "Us is hurt." + +"Now Ed, I said letters--not lovers," corrected Cora. + +"The pen and ink!" demanded Ed. "I will to thee a letter indite," +and he opened the small desk in the darkest corner of the room. + +This was a signal for every boy to pretend to write a love letter to +every girl. Jack could get nothing better than a feather from the +Indian headpiece that hung on the wall. This he dipped in Belle's +shoe dressing, and wrote a note on the back of Cora's best piece of +sheet music. Walter sat on the floor poking his whittled stick +into the dead embers in the fire-place, and managed to scratch +something on a fan--it belonged to Bess. Paul did not much care for +nonsense, but appropriately made Indian characters on the wooden +bowl with his pen knife. The whole turned out more fun than was +expected. + +Walter proffered his love letter to Laurel, and she surprised them +all by reading this: + +"My Mountain Laurel: + +Meet me when the buds come and we will wait for the blossoms. + +Your Bending Bough." + +The cue that Laurel furnished was taken up by the others and when +Jack offered his "note" to Hazel she read. + +"My Dear Burr: + +Be patient and you will loose the green, Hazelnuts are never soft! + +Yours, + +The Fellow Who Fell Down Hill with Jill." + +Cora read what Ed did not write: + +"My Reef: + +When stranded I know what to grab--Your larder is ever my rock of +refuge. + +Yours, Co-Ed." + +Belle and Bess both partook of Paul's note, and as Paul was +acknowledged the artist of them all the double missive was gladly +accepted by the twins--as doubles. + +Belle pretended to read: + +"Two to one, or two in one, + +Double the wish and double the fun." + +The merry making that followed this little farce was of too varied a +character to describe. Some of the boys insisted on standing on +their heads while others took up a low mournful dirge that might +have done credit to the days of the red men and wigwams. + +Finally, Cora insisted that it was late--disgracefully late--for +campers to have lights burning, and the boys were obliged to leave +for their own quarters. Going out, Jack whispered to Cora: + +"Ben told Paul to say to you that under no circumstances were you to +go down to the landing to-morrow. I know he has some good reason +for the warning. The row between Peters and Brentano may not have +ended there," and he kissed her good night. "We have had a jolly +time and to-morrow when I come you must let me see the mysterious +love letter." + +Cora promised, and then the lights were turned out. + +Making sure that all, even Laurel, were sleeping Cora slipped out +into the sitting room, relighted the lamp and unfolded the note that +had been found in the canoe. + +She felt her heart quicken. Why did she fear and yet long to know +what that man had to tell her? She read: + +"YOUNG LADY: + +When you receive this I shall be too far away to further meet your +daring, baffling challenge of my plans. What I intend to do I can +not even tell myself, for everything seemed so easy of evil until +you crossed my path. So easy was it that there was even no victory +in the spoils. But first you came boldly to the den of poor Peters. +Then you deliberately took from us that simple-minded, harmless old +woman, Kate; next you did not call out when she gave you back your +ring--not call out against us. All this to me was incomprehensible. +Why should a young girl not fear us? Why should she not denounce +us? Then you saved that little doll, Mabel Blake, until finally I +began to wonder why I, a talented high-born Italian, should pretend +to love crime when a mere girl could be a noble defender? + +The difference made me feel like a coward, and I decided finally to +go away. Before I left I had trouble with Peters. This hurried me +and I have not time to write more now. I know you got back from the +island--boys of your kin do not wait long to find their sisters. By +to-morrow noon, if all goes well with me on the journey, I shall be +able to write that to poor little Laurel which will release her from +her bondage. I will send the letter care of you. Thank the boys +for use of their canoe. + +BRENTANO." + +For some moments Cora sat looking blankly at that fine foreign +paper. What a splendid hand! What direct diction! + +And her conduct had influenced him to turn away from his evil ways. +She had done nothing more than others, except perhaps she had more +courage, born of better and more complete experience. She sighed a +sigh of satisfaction as she again hid the paper in her gown. Then +with one great heart-beat of prayerful thanksgiving, she, too, +sought "tired nature's sweet restorer." + +It was the sound of dishes and the tinkle of pans that awoke Cora +next morning. Day so soon! And all the others up! + +"Now, we have fooled you," said Belle with a light laugh. "You have +slept longest!" + +Cora had been dreaming very heavily, and her sleep seemed but a +reflection of the previous day's troubles. Now she was awake and +instantly she remembered it all about Ben telling her not to go near +the landing; then about the letter. + +"Is Laurel up?" she asked. + +"No, we let her sleep to keep you company," said Hazel, "and we are +going to give you such a surprise for breakfast! Don't tell, +girls." + +Cora slipped into a robe and stepped across the room to peer into +the little corner where Laurel had gone to her rest. + +"Laurel is up," she declared. "She is not here!" + +"Not there! Not in bed! Laurel--she has not gotten up yet," +declared Belle, who with frying pan in hand had hurried from the +kitchen when Cora spoke. + +"She certainly is not in bed," again declared Cora. "You may see +for yourselves." + +"Laurel gone!" exclaimed more than one of the astonished girls. + +"She may have gone out," suggested Hazel. "I thought I heard someone +about very early." + +Following this thought the girls looked around called, and again +returned to the empty room. + +"What is this?" asked Bess, seeing a piece of ribbon-tied paper +floating from the night lamp. + +Hazel was first to handle it. She saw that it was a note addressed +to Cora. + +"It's for you, Cora," she said as she snapped the fragile ribbon +from its fastening. + +Cora read aloud: + +"Forgive me for going this way but I could not wait longer to know +about my father. I will return before dark and bring with me the +canoe I have borrowed. You may, trust me and need not be anxious. + +Gratefully, + +LAUREL STARR." + +"Gone in the canoe!" + +"I know why, girls," Cora admitted, "and if you will all come in +here together I will tell you as much, as I myself know. The real +story I have not yet been able to learn, but must do so very soon." + +Then she told of the first discovery of the man on Fern Island, +following with the account of her second and third visits there, and +finally of how she found poor Laurel in such distress the night of +her own exile. The loss of her boat they all knew about, and that +part was a certain kind of clear mystery. + +"Laurel has gone back to see about her father," she finished. "It +is only natural, and I should have thought it strange had she not +done so." + +"Of course," added Bess, brushing away a tear. "Poor little wild +Laurel had to go back, it was almost as cruel to keep her as to pen +up a brown bunny." + +In spite of the seriousness of the moment every one smiled. First +Laurel was russet, now compared to a little brown rabbit. + +"We had just gotten acquainted with her," murmured Belle. "I +thought her so romantic." + +"And I thought her so intelligent," put in the ever-studious Hazel. +"Even Paul took the trouble to notice her." + +"Well, we will have her back again," promised Cora. "I am positive +she will keep her word. I think her a splendid girl. All she needs +is the chance to get over the state of chronic fright she has been +living in. Then she will be just as normal as any of us." + +"Then, that being the case," said Hazel, with a jump, "I propose we +keep normal by eating our breakfast. I am famished, and those boys +almost emptied the ice-box." + +"Nettie had to go away into town for eggs," Bess orated, "and +therefore we had to do all the cooking." + +"It smells all right," Cora said, as they pulled the chairs to the +table. "Let us hope we will get through one meal without +interruption. My appetite is positively canned." + +"And I took the trouble to gather those morning glories," Belle +announced. "I thought Laurel would like them." + +"They are beautiful, Belle," said Cora, looking with admiration at +the dainty green vines with their freshly-blown, colored bells that +trailed from the glass bowl in the center of the table. "Nothing +could be more artistic, and we enjoy them even if Laurel has missed +them," Cora finished. + +"But the food," demanded Hazel. "It is of that we sing. Food, +food! Isn't it good; a girl is a loon who can't eat what she +could," sang Hazel, with more mirth than English. + +"Eggs, eggs, bacon and eggs." + +"She eats all she can, then sits up and begs," sang Cora helping +herself to that portion of the fare, and keeping time with the +humming toast. + +Bess was taking her third slice of bread. That inspired Belle. + +"Bread, bread, Nettie's good bread--" + +"When Bess took the loaf, we nearly fell dead," sang out Belle, +rescuing the much-worn loaf from which Bess was trying to get a +slice. + +"The toasts are very well as far as they go," commented Cora, "but I +notice that the food stuffs go farther." + +"And the boys are coming at ten," remarked Hazel. "I'm glad I +cooked. I don't have to wash the dishes." + +"But the boys were going out in the canoe and now it's gone," Belle +reminded them. "They were going to take the prize canoe, and the +red one, and we would all then have a chance to float out together. +Now, of course, we won't be able to go." + +"We can go in our own boat," Cora said, "and really the lake is +quite rough for canoeing this morning. When Laurel comes back she +will likely bring her own boat and then we will have three in our +fleet." + +"Why couldn't you, and she come home in her canoe when you found +your boat gone, Cora?" asked Bess suddenly. + +"Hers was not at the dock--someone had borrowed it," Cora explained +without explaining. + +They had about finished their meal. Belle was already snatching the +dishes, in spite of protests that there was some perfectly good +eating which had not yet been eaten. + +"There come the boys now," announced Hazel. "They look sort +of-gloomy." + +Cora glanced out of the window and saw Ed, Jack and Walter strolling +along the path. She, too, thought they looked "gloomy," but it was +not her practice to anticipate trouble. + +The "hellos" were exchanged before the young men had time to enter +the camp. Then Belle asked: + +"Aren't we going canoeing?" + +"Guess not to-day," replied Ed, his handsome black hair almost +sparkling in the sunshine as he tossed his head in nonchalance. "We +are still too cramped up. Had to sleep on the roof last night." + +"Why?" demanded Cora. + +"Choosin' that. My little joke," he replied, "Girls, I'm cuttin' +up," and he tried to hide a serious air with a ridiculous remark. +"But we'll do something. We'll go fishin"' he declared. + +"We thought it best to keep out in the cove this morning," Jack was +explaining to Cora. "There is so much going on around the landing." + +"What is going on?" she asked rather nervously. + +"Oh, that Peter's affair," replied her brother with assumed +indifference. "They are looking him over to-day to see how much +he's hurt." + +"Oh!" said Cora vaguely. Then she went indoors from the porch to +prepare for the fishing trip. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +MOTOR TROUBLES + + +"It is strange Laurel does not come back," remarked Bess, as the +girls sat on the porch after a most unsuccessful fishing trip (as +far as fish were concerned), "Somehow I feel she would if she +could." + +"That's it exactly," Cora corroborated. "If she could get back here +this afternoon, we would have seen her. But then her father may +have been too lonely without her, or any of many other things may +have detained her." + +Cora jumped up suddenly, and skipped down the path to where her +motor boat was fastened. She would look over the engine. The wire +connections had slipped, and she would tighten them, and make some +other minor adjustments. + +Cora found more to do on her boat than she had expected. The boys +had had the craft out latest and had neglected to put down the oil +cup levers. This caused the cylinder to be flooded with lubricant, +and if there was one thing Cora disliked more than another it was to +run an oil puffing boat, and "inhale the fumes." + +She pulled on her heavy gloves and got to work to drain out the oil +through the base cock. Bending over her task she did not see, +neither did she hear, an approaching person. It was Ben. + +"Busy, eh?" he said in his splendid, candid way. Cora was so glad +it was only Ben. + +"Oh yes," she replied, "the boys never seem to know how to leave a +boat. This is thoroughly oil-soaked." + +"They're careless that way," admitted Ben, stepping into the boat to +see what the trouble was. "If I were you I would make some rules and +tack 'em down by the license card." + +"They would never read them," Cora declared. "There--just look at +that oil," as she collected some in a funnel. "This would have made +the muffler smoke like a locomotive." + +Ben looked at the oil cups. "There isn't any thing meaner than +running a boat that throws out soft coal smoke," he admitted. +"Those boys left the plungers up. But I say, girl, where's your new +friend?" + +"Laurel?" asked Cora as she put the wrench in the tool box. + +"Yes. I thought she had come down here to stay." + +"Well, we thought so too, but then she could not be expected to +leave the island--all at once," and Cora wondered if she were saying +too much. + +"It's queer to me," went on Ben. "Them fellows have something to do +with that," and he nodded his head toward the landing. + +"You mean--Peters and Tony?" + +"Yes. And what I want to say, Miss, is this. You had best keep +clear of them. The row at the landing isn't exactly fixed up. I +think it had to do with something at Fern Island." + +"About Laurel?" + +"Yes. I have suspected for a long time that the little runs that +Peters makes up there must have paid him pretty well. Now that he +has fallen out with Tony, likely it'll all come to Jim. Best thing +we can do, miss, is to keep a sharp look out for the girl. If you +can get her to come to camp with you I fancy all the rest will soon +straighten itself." + +Cora wondered just how much Ben knew of the mystery of that island. +She felt obliged to withhold Laurel's secret, yet she felt, too, +that Ben would do everything to help her get the girl and the hermit +away from their place of exile. + +"I'll tell you, Ben," she said finally. "I'll come to you for +advice just as soon as I find it is time to act. Depend upon it we +are not going to leave Cedar Lake until the mystery of Fern Island +is cleared up." + +This seemed to satisfy Ben, for beneath the deep brown of his cheeks +there showed the glow of color that came with pleasure. + +"All right, little girl," he said, "if you want me before I come +again, just let me know. Ben will be only too glad to stick by you +and all the rest of them," meaning the campers at Camp Cozy and +those who bungalowed at the Bungle. + +He went off, shambling along with his face turned toward the sky and +his feet taking care of themselves. Cora looked after him. + +"Dear old Ben," Cora mused, "everything seems worth while when it +takes 'everything' to make such a friend as you can be." Then she +went back to her engine. She must tighten the wires, and leave the +craft in readiness for a quick run. + +"Oh, Cora!" came the voice of Bess suddenly, "you've missed it. We +have had the most glorious time." + +Bess approached, her cheeks as red as the sumac she carried, and her +eyes as bright as the very ragged sailors that hung rather +dangerously from her belt. "Hasn't Laurel come yet?" + +"No, not yet," replied Cora, intent upon her task at the wires. "I +am afraid she will hardly come to-night." + +"Then we have got to go after her," declared Bess. "Jack said so. +He said she could not stay alone on that island all night." + +"Oh, did he?" Cora replied in an absent-minded way. "I have had +such--a time--with this boat," and she pulled on the wires to make +them taut, breaking one and necessitating a splice. + +"Can't we take the boat to look for Laurel?" persisted Bess, with +more concern than she usually showed. + +"Why, of course, I suppose so," said Cora. "There, I guess that +will do," and she straightened up with a sigh, for the use of the +pliers made her hands ache. + +"Why, Cora!" exclaimed Bess, "you look actually pale. You must be +awfully tired." + +"Me pale," and she laughed. "Now, Bess, don't get romantic. Just +fancy me being pale!" + +"Well, you are, and I insist that you come back to camp at once and +get a drink of warm milk. Cora Kimball, you--look--scared!" + +"Oh, I am. Think what it would mean if the boys had knocked my +engine out. And it did seem for a time that there was no 'if' in +it." Cora jumped lightly out of the boat and was ready to greet the +other girls. Soon a discussion of color and its causes was in +progress, Cora maintaining that her cause of anxiety had been that +awful engine and its troubles. + +Ed, Walter and Jack had joined the others. + +"I say," began Ed, "where do we, go to look for the wild Olive or +was it the mountain Laurel? Jack is in a fit, and Walter can't be +held. What do you say if we all start out in a searching party? No +one has been lost for twenty-four hours, and this state of affairs +is getting monotonous." + +Without waiting for an answer the girls and boys clambered into the +Petrel while Bess went to the camp with Cora who insisted upon +washing her hands before making the trip. + +"Did anything happen, Cora, while we were away?" asked Bess kindly. + +"Not a thing, Bess. I only wish something real would happen; we +have so many imitations of excitement." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE LAW AND THE LIGHTS + + +"I want to find her this time," insisted Jack. "Cora, please let +me? I promise not to frighten her, and not even to speak to her if +you object, but I do so want to find her." + +"Seems to me you found her last time," objected Walter who was +looking particularly well to-night, for his suit of Khaki and his +brown skin seemed all of a piece. "You nearly knocked me down in +your haste to find the hut first." + +"But," Cora said seriously, "Laurel may not want you boys to find +her. She may not even want me to do so. I am just taking chances. +Suppose you allow Bess and me or Hazel or any two of us to go up to +the hut first? Please do be reasonable, and not silly," Cora +finished in a voice she seldom assumed. + +"You may come along as dose as you like, until we are just up to the +hut," Bess consented, with marked good sense, "as the woods are so +thick and black, but when we get to the hut--" + +"We can 'hut' it I suppose," snapped Jack. "All right, girls; all I +can say is I hope a couple of Brownies, or a mountain lion pay their +respects to you both for being so daring." + +The boat was running beautifully. The cleaning out that Cora gave +the base, and the regulating of the oil cups together with adjusting +the wires, helped to make the mechanism run more smoothly, and she +glided along without "missing," which means, of course that every +explosion was in perfect rhythm to every other explosion. There was +a "hot fat" spark as Cora explained. + +"There's a big steamer," remarked Hazel, as a large boat glided +along. + +Cora swung so that the red light of the Petrel showed she was going +to the right. The steamer gave two whistles indicating a left +course. Cora answered with one blast which meant right. The +steamer insisted on left and gave one more signal. + +"What's the matter with them?" Jack demanded, taking the steering +wheel from Cora. "They seem to own the lake." + +No sooner had he said this than the big boat came so close to the +smaller craft that a huge wave swept over the small forward deck and +instantly the colored lights went out, being drenched. For a moment +every one seemed stunned! The shock to the Petrel was as if she had +been suddenly dipped into the depths of the lake. But as quickly as +it happened just as quickly was it righted, and the offending boat +steamed off majestically, as if it had merely bowed to an old +acquaintance. + +"What do you think of that!" exclaimed Walter, indignantly. + +"I think a lot of it," replied Ed, "but the captain of that steamer +would not likely want to see my thoughts." + +"Small trick," declared Jack, "Even if he had the right to pass us +so close, common lake manners obliged him to give in to the smaller +boat." + +"The lights are both out," Cora said anxiously. + +"Well, we are almost to shore," Jack replied, "and it won't be worth +while to stop here. We can light up again when we get in." + +This seemed reasonable enough and so they sailed along. + +"Hello!" exclaimed Walter, "is this another boat trying the same +trick?" + +A launch was steering very dose to the Petrel. The lights were +conspicuously bright, and the engine ran almost noiselessly. + +"What is it?" asked Jack, seeing that the captain wanted to speak +with some one. + + "I want you," replied a voice of authority. "You have no lights." + +"Oh, you're the inspector," said Jack candidly. "Well, that steamer +that just passed doused our lights, and we are going to land here to +relight." + +"Sorry, but that's against the law," replied the officer. "You +fellows always have an excuse ready, and I can't accept it. You +will have to come along with me." + +"Arrested!" exclaimed Belle aghast. + +"That's about what it amounts to," replied the man coolly. "Can you +get in here?" + +"Who?" asked Jack. + +"The captain," replied the officer grimly. + +"Where does he go?" Jack further questioned. + +"See here, young man," spoke the inspector rather sharply. "Do you +think I've got all night to bother with you?" + +"I don't know as I do," replied Jack in the same voice, "but if you +will just explain what you want us to do we will give you no further +trouble." Jack knew one thing--to refuse to comply with the request +of an officer is about the last thing to do if one values either +money or liberty. + +"That's the way to talk," replied the inspector. "So just suppose +you take this rope and I'll tow, you along. I fancy the party +would, rather come than let one go alone." + +"Of course we would," declared Cora. "In fact I am the captain of +this boat." + +Jack gave her a meaning bump on the arm--it meant, "let me do the +talking," and Cora understood perfectly. + +"But where are we going?" wailed Belle, as the man threw the towline +to Ed. + +"Not far," answered the man. "I just have to take you in, and then +you have to do the rest." + +"What's the rest?" inquired Walter. + +"Oh, pay a fine," said the man carelessly. + +"How much?" inquired Ed. + +"From five to twenty-five; as the judge sees fit. There, are you +fast?" + +"Guess so," growled Jack, to whom the arrest seemed like a case of +"Captain Kidding." + +"And we can't go to Laurel?" Hazel inquired with a sigh. + +"Shame," commented Walter under his breath, "but Jack knows the best +thing to do with the law is to jolly it." + +"Law nothing," muttered Ed, as he took the steering wheel, Jack +being busy with the towing line. + +"Never mind," Cora suggested. "It will give us a new experience. I +had the fool-hardiness to wish for some real excitement this very +afternoon." + +"But to be arrested!" gasped Bess with a frightened look. + +"A distinctly new sensation," said Hazel with an attempt to laugh. +"Just think of going before a real, live judge!" + +But evidently the other girls did not want to think of it. They +would rather have thought of anything else just then. + +"Which way are you going?" Jack asked the man in the official boat. +"I thought your judge lived on the East side?" + +"He does, but we may take some other fellows in yet to-night. This +is only one catch," and the inspector laughed unpleasantly. + +"They are actually going to tour the lake with us," declared Ed. +"If that isn't nerve!" + +"Don't complain," cautioned Cora, "perhaps the longer the run the +lighter the fine. And we are just waiting for our next allowance." + +"And, being a pretty motor-boat, they will make it a pretty fine," +mused Walter. "I would like to dip that fellow." + +"Yes, they are going to let us tour the lake hitched on to the +police boat! The situation is most unpleasant. But there is no way +out of it," said Ed, sullenly. + +"Suppose they won't take a fine, and want to lock us up?" asked +Belle. + +"If it were only one night in jail, I'd take it just to fool the man +who wants the money, but I am afraid it might be ten days and that +would be inconvenient," Jack remarked, as the police boat steamed +off with the Petrel trailing. "They call this law. It may be the +law but not its intention. We were almost landed, and just about to +light up. I tell you they just need the money." + +When they reached the bungalow, where judge Brown held his court, +the three young men entered with the inspector, and when the judge +had satisfied himself that he could not ask more than five dollars +and costs for this "first offence" the fine was paid and the matter +settled. Belle and Bess were greatly relieved when the culprits +came back to the Petrel. They had a hidden fear that something else +disgraceful might happen; perhaps the judge would detain the boys, +or perhaps the girls would have to go in to testify. Cora's mind +was pre-occupied however, and when the Petrel started off, and Jack +asked her where to, she said back to Fern Island. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +A NIGHT ON THE ISLE + + +It was too late now for Cora to think of making her way to the pine +hut without the boys, too dark, too late and too uncertain, so she +agreed to allow Ed and Jack to go with her while Walter and the +girls followed at some distance. + +"There's a light," announced Jack, when they had covered the first +hill. + +"Yes, that's in the hut," Cora said. + +Hurrying before her brother, Cora reached the thatched doorway. She +pushed back the screen and saw Laurel leaning over the bed on the +floor. As she entered Laurel motioned her not to speak. Then Cora +saw that the girl was bending over her father. + +"They shall not take me," he murmured. "I am innocent!" + +"Hush, father dear," his daughter soothed. "'There is no one here, +just your own Laurel," and she bathed his head with her wet +handkerchief. + +Cora instantly withdrew. She whispered to Jack, and he turned to +meet the others, to prevent them coming nearer. Laurel followed her +to the open air. + +"Father is so changed!" she said under her breath, "while he seems +worse, his mind is clearer, and I almost hope he will soon remember +everything of the past." + +"If his mind is clearer there is every hope for him," Cora replied. +"I do hope, Laurel dear, that your exile and his will soon end." + +Laurel put her hand to her head as if to check its throbbing. Yes, +if it only would soon end! + +"What happened?" asked Cora. + +"He fell and struck his head on a rock," answered Laurel. "It was +that night we were in the hut. It was he who came walking along in +the darkness, and we thought it was some one else. He came to look +for me after I signaled that time. It was my father!" + +"He slipped and fell," she resumed in a moment. "We heard him, you +remember, and then--then he went away--my poor father!" + +Cora gasped in surprise. "Is he badly hurt?" she managed to ask. + +"No, hardly at all. It was only a slight cut on his head, but the +shock of it brought him to him self--restored his reason that was +tottering. When he got up and staggered off his mind was nearly +clear, but he did not dare come to the hut where we were for fear it +might contain some of his enemies. He went looking for me, but I +had gone with you. + +"Since then he has talked of matters he has not mentioned in years +and years. But he is not altogether better. Oh, Cora, if his mind +would only become strong again, so he could dear up all the +mystery!" + +'The girls clung lovingly to each other. Then a moan from the hut +suddenly called Laurel away, Cora knew Jack was waiting for her in +the woods, and she hastened to him. + +One whispered sentence to her brother was enough to explain it all +to him. + +"We must arrange to get him away from here--Laurel's father," he +said, as he put his arms about Cora. "Do you think he is strong +enough to be moved?" + +"I'll ask Laurel," replied Cora joyfully. If only now both the +hermit and his daughter could leave that awful island. The other +girls stepped to the door in answer to Cora's signal. + +"Oh, I am afraid he is too weak for that now," Laurel whispered. +"But when he is able I will have him taken to a hospital. That man +kept us in terror. Now he is gone and I feel almost free." + +"You have heard that he is gone?" questioned Cora. + +"I had a letter," replied the other simply, and this answer only +served to make a new matter of query for Cora. But she could not +ask it now. + +"He is sleeping," said Laurel. "Look!" + +Cora went over to the pallet and looked down at the man who lay +there. Yes, he was noble looking in spite of the growth of his hair +and beard, and Cora could see wherein his daughter resembled him. +There seemed something like a benediction in that hut, and as the +thought stole over her, Cora breathed a prayer that it should not +come in the shape of death. + +"He's lovely," Cora said to Laurel. "Let us go out and not disturb +him." + +Jack and the others were waiting silently outside. Cora spoke to +her brother. He understood. + +"You girls had better go back," he said, "Ed and I will stay here to +help Laurel." + +"Oh, no, I must stay too. Perhaps in the morning we can take him +away," insisted Cora. + +Bess and Belle clung together. They had a fear of "the wild man" +and it had not yet been dispelled. Hazel tried to induce Laurel to +go back to camp and allow her and Cora to care for the father, but +of course such an appeal was useless. Laurel would not think of +leaving the sick man. It was finally arranged that Cora and Jack +should remain, and then reluctantly the others started off with the +promise of returning very early the next morning. + +"I have some things to eat," Laurel told them. "I thought poor +father would like a change, and I got them when I was at the Point." + +"Oh, you save them," Jack said. "We had a good supper, and will +make out all right until morning. But now tell me where I can get +you fresh water." + +Cora knew, and she took the extra lantern and started off with her +brother. They talked of many things as they stumbled on through the +woods. + +"There's the spring. Look out! Don't fall in. My isn't that water +clear even in the lantern light!" exclaimed Cora suddenly. + +Jack filled the pail easily and then they turned back. + +"But Jack," Cora began again, "you know there is some mystery about +Mr. Starr. That must be his name, for Laurel signed hers so in the +note she left." + +"Whatever the mystery is, I feet certain it is nothing disgraceful," +Jack assured her. "Very likely it was some plot to injure them, +concocted by that fellow Jones." + +The unfailing reason of this astonished Cora. How could Jack have +guessed so near the facts? + +"At any rate I think the poor man will be able to be moved in the +morning," she finished, as they made their way up the hill. "It +will be a wonderful thing if, after all, it comes out all right; +that he is a free man, and that his slight injury may restore his +scattered faculties." + +"Let us hope so," said Jack fervently. + +Cora wanted to tell him about the letter from Jones otherwise +Brentano, but there was not time to do so before they reached the +hut, so she reasoned it would be best to postpone it. + +Laurel was sitting, holding her father's injured head when they +entered the hut. He was awake now, and looking with such great, +hungry eyes into his daughter's face. + +"Now we have fresh water, father," she said. "Do you know my +friends?" + +"The girl, yes," he said 'feebly. "But the boy?" + +"Her brother," said Laurel quickly, delight showing in her voice. +"Isn't it good to have friends, father?" + +"Good, very good," he said. Then he dosed his eyes again, and +neither Cora nor Jack ventured to speak. + +"It does not seem possible that he can talk so rationally," Laurel +whispered. "Oh, I have now such hopes that he will get well." + +"Of course he will," Jack assured her. "But you girls had better +get some rest. I will sit up and watch." + +Cora added her entreaties to those of her brother, and Laurel +finally agreed to throw herself down on the straw bed in the far +corner of the hut. Cora found room at the other end of the same +bed, and presently their young natures gave in to the urgent demands +of rest. Jack sat alone watching the white faced man who tossed and +turned, muttering incoherent words. + +"I did not do it," he would say. "I never saw the note." + +"There, you want a drink," said Jack kindly, pressing the tin cup to +the trembling lips. + +"But Breslin knows! Oh, if I could only find Breslin!" + +"Breslin," Jack repeated, astonished. + +"Yes, Brendon Breslin. He knows!" + +"Brendon Breslin!" Jack said again. This was the name of the +wealthy man for whom Paul Hastings ran the fast steam launch. + +"Oh, my head!" moaned the man, closing his eyes in pain. + +Jack realized that this remark about the millionaire might mean a +sudden return of memory, and he resolved to test it further, even at +the risk of giving the aching head more pain. For if the memory +lapsed again it might never be awakened. + +"What does Breslin know?" he asked, leaning very dose to the sick +man. + +To his surprise the hermit sat bolt upright. "He knows that I never +forged the note. It was that sneaking office boy." + +That was the story! This man had been made to believe he had forged +a note. His exile on the island was because of the supposed crime! + +"Of course he knows," Jack soothed. "And to-morrow he will come to +see you." + +But the sick man was either unconscious, or sleeping. He did not +reply. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE UNEXPECTED + + +"I heard a boat," Cora whispered to Jack, as on the following +morning, he rubbed his eyes endeavoring to put sight into them. + +"Well, what of it?" he asked. + +"It seemed to stop at this landing," replied the sister. + +"The girls most likely," and he got to his feet. "How is the old +gentleman?" + +"Much stronger, and his mind, Laurel thinks, is clearing." + +"I think so too. It is an outrage that he has been allowed to +suffer here without help. That scoundrel Jones must have fixed this +up." + +"Did you sleep any, Jack dear?" Cora asked. "I'm afraid you had a +lonely vigil." + +"Oh, I got a wink or two, and my patient was no trouble. Is that +Laurel talking to him?" + +"Yes, she seems overjoyed that he can talk rationally to her. But +listen Jack! There are voices." + +Brother and sister hurried to the door. Strangers were approaching--two +men. + +"Is--er--Miss Cora Kimball here?" asked one of them, in rather a +hesitating voice. + +"Yes, what is it?" asked Jack, suspiciously for somehow he did not +like the appearance of the strangers. + +"We'll do business with her," put in the taller of the two men. + +Cora gave a gasp. Somehow she felt as if something unpleasant was +about to happen. + +"No, you won't do any business with her!" exclaimed Jack, "that is, +not until you tell me first. What is it? Out with it!" + +"Say, you're quite high and mighty for a young fellow," sneered the +short man. "Who be you, anyhow, a lawyer? Because if you are you +ought to have sense enough to know that we're detectives, after +information, and if we can't get it peaceable we'll get it +otherwise. How about that?" + +"It doesn't worry me a particle," declared Jack easily. "Now, Cora, +leave this to me," for he saw that his sister was much affected. +"I'm her brother," he went on, turning to the men, "and not a +lawyer, but I guess I can do just as well in this case. Now, what +do you want?" + +"Well, it's this way," began the tall one. "We heard that Miss +Kimball might know something about the quarrel between Peters and +Tony, or whatever his name was, and she might be able to put us on +his track. Peters is hurt worse than we thought he was at first, +and we want Tony. Does she know where he is?" + +"No, she doesn't!" exclaimed Jack, before his sister could speak. + +"Well, we have a tip about her and another girl being in a hut on +Fern Island and being scared by a man," persisted the tall man. "No +offense you know, only we thought she could help us out. The man +who scared her and her friend may have been Tony." + +"I--I didn't see any one--it was dark," explained Cora, before Jack +could speak. "Some one approached, fell down and went away again." + +"That may have been Tom!" excitedly said the short detective. + +"'No, it was--" began Cora. + +"Wait a minute," cried Jack. "Before she answers I want to know if +you really have a right to the information. How do I know but you +may be some one seeking to get evidence for a civil suit for Peters +or Tony, and will drag us in as witnesses?" + +"Oh, we're not," said the tall man hastily. + +"Here's my court-house badge," and he displayed it. "This has +nothing to do with a lawsuit. We just want to find Tony. If that +wasn't him on the island who scared the girls, who was it? Surely +she can't object to telling; it can't hurt her. Who was it?" + +Before Cora could answer there was a sound at the door of the hut +and a voice exclaimed: + +"It was my father!" + +There stood Laurel, and the officers shifted their gaze from Cora to +her. They started eagerly forward, hoping to get the information +they sought from the new witness. + +"Tell us about it," urged the short man. + +"No, let me, Laurel dear," interrupted Cora. "I can explain, Jack, +and have it all over with. Really it's very simple." + +Then, without at all going into the details of the mystery of the +hermit, which information Cora felt the detectives had no right to +possess, she told how she and Laurel had been in the hut and how the +unknown man who so frightened, them had turned out to be Laurel's +father, and that even now he was under care because of the injury he +received. + +"And he lived on Fern Island all this while?" asked one of the +officers. "Why did he do that?" + +"For his health I guess," said Jack sharply. "That doesn't concern +your case against Tony, or whatever his name was, and this Peters. +You've found out that my sister doesn't know anything to help you +in your hunt, and you might as well skip out. This is private +ground, you know." + +"That doesn't make any difference to the law," growled the short +man. + +"Oh, yes it does," said Jack sweetly. "You're trespassers as much +as any one else if you haven't a warrant, and I don't believe you +have." + +"No, I guess you're right," admitted the tall man, with as good +grace as possible. "Come on," this to his companion, "we can't +learn anything here. Let's go see old Ben." + +Cora and Laurel had gone into the house. Jack did not want them +annoyed again, and he wondered how the men had come to think that +Cora might know something of the quarrel between Peters and Tony. + +"It was probably just a guess," decided Jack. "There is certainly +something like a mystery about the hermit, and--" + +He interrupted his thoughts as he saw one of the men coming back. + +"Hang it all! I wonder what he wants now?" thought Jack. The man +soon informed him. + +"I say, do you think the hermit, as you call him, would be well +enough to testify in court about this case?" the detective asked. + +"What case?" inquired Jack, wondering if the man suspected the +reason for the hermit's exile. + +"The Peters case." + +"No, I don't think he would," was the young man's answer, and once +more the man went to his boat. + +As he and his companion started off, Jack saw the Petrel containing +Bess, Hazel, Walter and Ed swinging up to the small dock. The +young, folks looked closely at the two detectives. + +"He may have to testify whether he wants to or not!" called the +short officer back to Jack who was still watching them. "The law +gets what it wants you know. This isn't the only case against Tony. +He is an old offender." + +"All right, have your own way about it," responded Jack easily, and +he noted that the occupants of the Petrel seemed rather alarmed. +Then they hastened to disembark as the police boat chugged away, and +Jack ran down to meet them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +AWAKENED MEMORIES + + +"Oh, where is Cora!" gasped Bess, as she landed at the island rock, +and almost fell fainting into Jack's arms. + +"Why, she is with Laurel--in the hut. What ever is the matter, +Bess?" + +"We thought--thought they had taken you all to jail! Oh, those +horrible men! Those detectives!" + +"You silly," exclaimed Jack, seeing that the poor girl was really +exhausted from fright. "Don't you know better than that?" + +"But they would not believe us! They made us tell them where you +were, and Belle is sick in bed. Their boat passed ours as we were +coming in. We had a delay. Oh, we've been so alarmed!" + +"Poor Belle," Jack murmured. "Now, Bess, just step up here and make +sure for yourself that Cora is just as intact as when you last saw +her. I am here to speak for myself. If anything she is better for +a night's rest in the open. We expect to start a camp on this plan. +It can't be beat." + +Ed motioned Jack aside. "Wasn't that the police boat?" he asked. + +"Yes, and Cora and I gave them all the clues they wanted. None at +all in other words. They're after Tony." + +"Oh! and Cora, is she all right?" Ed questioned further. + +"Splendid. Did you hear the latest?" + +"Which?" asked Ed, significantly. + +"Laurel's father is almost better. The hermit, you know." + +"You don't say! Can he testify?" asked Ed. + +"He may be able to if they require it. But the queer part is it +seems to have been the shock that awakened his brain. I have read +of such cases." + +Ed was silent, for the girls were returning. Hazel had her brown +arms around Cora while Bess looked at Laurel as if she expected +every moment her chum might evaporate. Walter towed on behind the +little party. + +"I must go down to the landing, Jack," Cora said. "I expect a +registered letter, and it is most important that I get it at once." + +Now this was the very thing that Jack did not want her to do--to get +into the crowd of curious ones that would be sure to be congregated +about the landing. + +"Could I not fetch it? You don't want to leave the girls when they +have just come up," Jack interposed. + +"I am afraid this time I will have to get my own mail," said Cora +with a smile. "Ed can run me down and we will come straight back." + +This was finally agreed upon, although Jack did not like the +arrangements. He called Ed aside and warned him not to let Cora +leave the boat, not to let her speak to anyone, and not to let any +one intercept her. "You can tell about those lawyer fellows," he +finished. "They might think it their legal duty to interview her, +for they know she has been let into the hermit's secret." + +Ed readily promised all Jack said, punctuating his remarks with a +display of arm muscle which meant that anyone would have to pass +pretty close to it to reach Cora while she was in his company. Then +they left. + +Jack sat down on the ledge near the water. He was not given to the +"glooms" but surely he had had more than his share of serious +business lately. How it would end was his cause for anxiety. So he +was pondering when Laurel touched his arm. + +"Father would like to speak to you," she said in a faint voice. "He +seems to think he knows you." + +Jack jumped up suddenly. "He spoke to me very rationally last +night," he said; "perhaps that is what he means." + +He followed Laurel into the hut. The old man had gotten up and was +as nicely washed and fixed as a sick person is usually when loving +hands hover around. + +"Good morning, sir," Jack said pleasantly, taking the seat beneath +the opening in the boughs that served as a window. + +"Good morning, good morning, and a really good morning it is," said +the older man. "I wanted to speak with you. Laurel dear, is there +not water to fetch?" + +Laurel took the cue and hurried out, leaving Jack alone with the +hermit. + +"Young man," he began, "something has happened to clear my brain. A +shock some fifteen years ago, if I have not lost all track of time, +almost, if not altogether, deprived me of my reason." He paused and +put his hand to his brown forehead, in a motion that seemed more a +matter of habit than of necessity. "Then I came here, or he brought +me here. I was all alone. Little Laurel must have been a baby, +when one morning I found her at my side. Dear, sweet little cherub. +He told me since that her mother had died!" + +Jack did not venture an interruption. It all seemed too sacred for +the lips of strangers to break in upon. + +"Then we lived here. That man--!" He clenched his fist and Jack +feared the excitement might be bad for his weakened head. + +"Don't let us talk of him," Jack advised. "Let us consider what is +best to do now." + +"My brave boy!" and the hermit put his arm on Jack's shoulder. +"That is always the mighty question for right; what is best to do +now?" + +A flush had stolen into his sunken cheeks, but Jack could see that +it was not years, but trouble, that had marred his handsome face. + +"He said I would be convicted--of that... crime!" The words seemed +to burn his throat, for he put, his hand up as if to, choke further +utterance. + +"A crime you never committed," Jack ventured, without having the +slightest knowledge of what it might mean to his listener. + +"Can you prove it? Can you prove it!" gasped the man and for the +moment Jack was frightened. He felt he was again in the presence of +the mad hermit of Fern Island. + +"Of course we can prove it. My sister has gone now for the absolute +proof!" Jack was daring more and more each second. "But you spoke +of Breslin. You said you knew him." + +"I do! Where is he! Breslin always believed in me, and he could +save me now," replied the man. + +"Well, listen and try to be calm, or Laurel will not let me talk +further to you," Jack cautioned. "Last night you mentioned the name +of a wealthy banker, for whom my best friend works. This friend is +a mechanical genius and he runs a racer boat for Brendon Breslin, +the banker!" + +"Where? Here? On these shores?" and the man was panting. + +"Only a short distance off. But I tell you, Mr.--?" + +"Starr," volunteered the man. + +"Mr. Starr, if you will only get strong enough you can do a, great +deal for yourself and Laurel._ The night that you fell a man was on +this Island. Did you know Jim Peters?" + +"Jim Peters!" repeated the hermit. "Yes, he was here the night +Laurel went away with that nice young lady who looks like you." + +Jack started at that. The night Laurel went away was the night Jim +Peters had quarreled with Tony and been hurt. + +"Did he come to the hunt?" asked Jack. + +"No, but the other man did. Brentano and he quarreled, and he drove +Jim Peters down to his boat. I saw them for I was wandering about +wishing for Laurel, and I remember it all." + +"If that man, Brentano, you call him, chased Peters into the boat +did he get in with him?" Jack asked anxiously. + +"Yes, I saw them shove off, but Peters was ugly and wanted to come +back." + +"Did he?" + +"I had to hide then, as they might have injured me if they caught +me. I did not see the boat go out or come back. I went to one of my +many hiding places," finished the old man with evident effort. + +"Well, Mr. Starr, you have relieved my mind greatly, and I hope I +have not taxed your brain too strongly. But the fact is the +detectives are trying to find out about those men and every bit of +information helps. The police, you know, like to clear things up to +suit themselves," Jack said. + +At the word "police," the man winced. Jack noticed the change of +manner, and at once turned the subject to that of the health of his +listener. He urged him to get up enough strength to leave the +island, for Laurel's sake, as well as for his own. + +"But I have lived here like a wild man," argued Mr. Starr, "in fact +I fear I have grown to be one in ways and manners. Solitude may be +good for some, but for those in distress--" + +"Exactly. But you are not going to have any more solitude. You see +we have invaded your camp, and when my sister Cora makes a discovery +she always insists upon developing it. I never did see the beat of +Cora for finding things out," and the pride in Jack's voice matched +the toss of his handsome head. + +"And my little girl will have a friend," mused the elder man. +"Well, in moments when I could think, that torturing thought of my +dragging her down with me was too much. It drove me back always to +the old, old despair." The look of terror, that Jack noticed before +came back into the haggard face. It was as if he feared to hope. + +Laurel was at the door. Her face was a picture of happiness as she +stood there gazing at her father. Her skin was as dark as the +leaves that outlined the entrance to the hut; her eyes lighted up +the rude archway: and her lithe figure completed the bronze +statuette. + +Jack's eyes fell upon her in unstinted admiration. Generations of +culture are not easily undone even by the wild life of a forest. + +"You are better every minute, father," she said simply, "I think the +cure you need comes from pleasant company." + +"None could be more pleasant than your own, my dear," he answered, +"but now I want to go and see my birds. And I must feed that +cripple rabbit. He was shot," to Jack, "but the leg is mending +nicely. I missed him so, for he knew us so well and would eat from +our hands. You see we established a little kingdom here. Laurel +was queen and we, the birds and other life creatures, were all her +subjects." + +Laurel blushed through her tan. "Yes, he had to do something," she +said, "else the days would have been too long." + +The chug of a motor-boat interrupted them. "That's Cora," said +Jack, and so it was. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +IN SEARCH OF HONOR + + +Cora brought back with her the letter promised by Brentano in his +note of mystery. This time she confided in Laurel her scheme for +unraveling the tangled skein in the web of dishonor that had been +woven about the strange girl's father. + +Ben had spoken to Cora at the Landing. He seemed to think that Cora +might know more about the trouble between Peters and Tony than he +had expected at first. + +"But I don't, Ben," she insisted, while Ed was absent getting mail. +"You give me credit for being better able to solve mysteries than I +am. Is he worse hurt than they thought, Ben?" + +"Much worse, miss. Of course, he's not dangerous, but the officers +want Tony the worst way. Now if you could tell where to find him--" + +"But I can't," she explained. "They came to me--" + +And then she stopped suddenly. If Ben did not know of the visit of +the detectives she was not going to tell him. She had had a faint +suspicion that Ben might have sent them to her. But he evidently +had not. + +"Yes--yes," he said eagerly. "You were sayin', Miss Cora, that--" + +"Oh, nothing, Ben," she answered quickly. "I think I am really so +happy at having helped Laurel, that I don't know what I am saying." + +"Yes, indeed you can well be, Miss," and Ben looked at her with what +Cora thought a strange gaze. Still, she might be mistaken. Then +she made some excuse to stroll away. + +Walter had rambled off with Hazel and Bess. The day was now one of +those so wonderful in August, when nature seems tired of her +anxieties, and rests in a perfect ocean of content. The haze had +cleared from the water, the hills were shimmering in the rival +honors of sunlight and shadows, and Cedar Lake from far and near was +glorious. Not a breeze broke the spell: + +"No brisk fairy feet, bend the air, strangely sweet, +For nature is wedding her lover!" + +This line prompted Cora. Somehow the joy of relief was the one +thing that had ever overcome her, and now, although nothing in all, +the strange things that had happened around her, or had warped the +life of Laurel and her father seemed really cleared away, still +there was that odd look on old Ben's face, there was a new light in +Laurel's eyes, and something like vigor in the voice of Mr. Starr. +Oh, if he could and would only tell about that note! Then +everything else might await time for adjustment. + +Cora took Jack and Laurel down under the broken chestnut tree to +tell them about the letter. It was best, she concluded not to +mention it yet to Mr. Starr. + +"You know," she began, "that Brentano, that is the man of many +names," she explained to Jack, "promised to send me information that +would clear Mr. Starr of his supposed crime." + +Laurel drew a deep breath. The word crime made her almost shudder. + +"And this is to-day's letter." She opened the bulky envelope. "He +says so much about a girl's power of influence," Cora explained, as +if not wanting to read that part of the letter. Then he says this: + +"'I have some excuse for my folly. When I was a very little child +my mother died. My farther was an expert mathematician employed by +the Mexican government. From a tiny lad I watched him make those +fascinating rows of figures, and I always wanted to know what they +meant. He told me money, riches, gold, and I got to believe that +the way to acquire money was to make figures, and do wonderful +things with pen and ink. When I was twelve years old my father +died, and I was left, with considerable money, in the care of an old +nurse who idolized me. Poor old Maximina! She meant no wrong, but +who was to guide me? Then the money was gone and the nurse was also +gone. I had to follow some occupation, and a friend coming to +America brought me with him. At fifteen I was a bank runner. It +was there I met Mr. Starr, the respected first clerk of the bank. +He liked me, talked to me and was my friend. Then I got in with a +set of so called scientific cranks. I knew something about the ways +of hypnotism, and when I wanted money the temptation came." + +Cora stopped, for Laurel had clutched at Jack's arm. Her face was a +faded yellow and her eyes were twitching. + +"Shall we wait for the rest, Laurel?" Cora asked. "Perhaps it +is--too painful for you now!" + + "Oh, no! It is not pain, it is agony. This boy whom my father +befriended!" + +"But you see he was not born a scoundrel," Jack interrupted. "He is +now trying to make amends." + +"Yes," sighed Laurel, "please go on, Cora." + +Cora read: "I have kept proofs of everything, but if the authorities +refuse to accept these proofs I am willing to come back to America +and give myself up. You will find the papers marked 'bank records' +in a chest in the back kitchen of Peters shack. They are sealed in +a big tin can marked 'red paint.' What are they saying about +Peters? That must be a hard nut for the Lake people to crack, but +since they know so much, or they think they know, it might be a good +thing to let them find out how little they really do know. I am +sorry for poor Peters. He got ugly, however, and it was his own +fault?" + +As Cora read these last few words her, eyes left the paper. What +did he mean? Why did he not say more? He knew Peters' shack held +the needed proofs of that forgery case. It would take many days to +write to and hear from Mexico. All this was dashing before Cora's +confused mind. + +"The thing to do," spoke Jack, "is to go to the shack at once. When +we find those papers we may believe the man." + +"I believe him now," said Laurel, "for all that he says of my father +I have heard in his ravings. Poor, dear father! And to think I was +too young to help him!" + +"It was evidently not a question of age," said Jack, "when one is +hypnotized into the belief that he has committed a crime it would +take scientific treatment to restore him to his correct view of the +case. To remove you from the possibility of this, I suppose, is the +very reason that Brentano brought you here." + +"We cannot go for the papers to-day," Cora said, "for we must, if +possible, get Mr. Starr either to the boys' bungalow, or to our +camp. Which do you think, Jack?" + +"We will take him to our bungalow, certainly. And it seems to me he +is smart and bright enough for the trip now. If we wait later he +might have some reaction," Jack replied. + +Laurel agreed with him, and presently they broached the matter to +Mr. Starr. + +"But I cannot go just now," the hermit argued. "I have that little +lame rabbit--" + +"Why, father," and Laurel folded her arms around him, "don't you +think it would be dreadful to disappoint our friends when they have +waited the whole night? And they must want to get back to their +comfortable quarters." + +"Looking at it that way," he faltered, "I suppose I ought to. But +how can a man leave the woods when he has been in them for ten +years?" + +"It must be hard," Cora agreed, "and if you want to come back we +could arrange to build you a real camp out here, one in which Laurel +might have some comforts. But first you must get strong. Just +think of beef tea-broth--can't you smell it?" + +"Girl! Girl!" he exclaimed with a real smile brightening his +benevolent face, "you have a way! Laurel, we have no trunks to +pack," he said, half grimly, "have we?" + +"But we have things to take with us," 'and she jumped up so pleased, +believing that he had almost, if not entirely, consented to go. + +"Where's that rabbit?" asked Jack. + +Walter and the girls were coming the other way. + +"It's in a mossy bed just back of where Bess stands," said Laurel. + +"Then he's the first thing to be packed," said Jack, walking +straight for the path where the others stood. + +From that time until the Petrel landed at the lower end of Cedar +Lake Mr. Starr, the hermit, felt that he was in a dream. At the +same time he allowed himself to be guided and managed with the +simplicity of a child, for his awakened memory seemed stunned by +this new turn of affairs. He was weak, of course, but with all the +hands that now crowded around him his every need was well looked +after. + +"I'll get Dr. Rand," Ed volunteered. "They say he is wonderful on +mental cases." + +"But he needs rest first," insisted the busy Cora, for she and +Laurel had gone directly to the boys' bungalow with Mr. Starr. + +Between them all the illness seemed overwhelmed. In fact, the man's +eyes, the safest signal of the brain, were as dear as those of the +young persons who so eagerly watched his every move. + +Dr. Rand came at once. He diagnosed the case as one of mental +shock, and called the patient convalescent. A nurse however was +called in to hurry the recovery, and this necessitated the renting +of another bungalow for the boys. + +There had never been more excitement around the wood camp. The boys +ran this way and that, each anxious to outdo the other in the +accomplishment of something important. Finally Cora suggested that +they all go away to make sure that Mr. Starr would have real quiet. + +"Can't we go for the papers? To the shack?" Laurel ventured. + +"We might," Jack replied. "I see no reason why we should not." + +"Let us three go," proposed Cora, "I mean you and Laurel and I, +Jack. It might be best not to attract attention." + +Once more the Petrel sailed up the lake, this time toward the +Everglades. Cora thought of that day when she and Bess dared take +the same journey, when the strange man sat at the willowed shore +ostensibly making sketches. She thought now that his work then must +have been the forging of a letter to hand the poor demented hermit +of Fern Island. + +"The shack is just over there, Jack," she said, pointing out the +willows. + +"There's another boat anchored there," Jack said. "It looks like an +important craft too." + +He had seen it before. It was the very boat in which the detective +and the police officer sailed up to the far island the morning they +came searching for evidence in the Jones' case. + +"The path is narrow," Cora said, "but I happen to know it." She led +the way. + +"There are men!" exclaimed Laurel as they neared the shack. + +Two men were trying to force open the low window. Cora drew back, +for one of the men was in uniform. + +"I suppose they have not finished the case," Jack ventured, and at +that very moment he would have given a great deal to have had his +sister and Laurel back at camp. + +The men had not yet seen them. They forced open the window, and +were now inside. + +"Let us turn back," Jack suggested. "They may ask us questions--" + +"But the papers," begged Laurel. "They mean so much to father. And +what if those men should take them?" + +"They will likely take everything they can lay their hands on," Jack +answered, "and I suppose it will be best for us to go on." + +"Certainly," Cora said, knowing well that it was on her account that +Jack hesitated. "They cannot do more than ask questions." + +But scarcely had she uttered the words than they saw the two men +walk out of the shack, and one of them had the can marked "red +paint!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +A BOLD RESOLVE + + +Seeing their precious papers, or the receptacle that was said to +contain them, in the hands of the detective, Cora and Laurel both +drew back. They could not now demand them, was the thought that +flashed to the mind of each, and yet to leave them in possession of +the officers, was the very worst thing that could have happened, for +there was always the danger of the old story coming up and then the +risk to Mr. Starr, after all his years of evading the law! + +"They have no right to them," Jack said under his breath. + +"Hush!" Cora whispered, "they are going the other way!" + +The two men were talking. Suddenly one of them said loudly enough +for the listeners to hear: + +"It might be dynamite. Not for me! Here goes!" and he carefully +set the can down under a bush. + +"Yes," said the other man. "You are right. Those two fellows were +up to most anything. We will get Mulligan. He could smell +dynamite," and with that they turned, took a new path toward the +shore, and were soon sailing off in their boat. + +For a few moments neither of the three, who were standing there +watching, spoke. Then Cora's face brightened. + +"They are ours, Laurel's," she said, "and we have a right to take +them." + +"But the law is queer on such points," Jack argued. "I have known +men to be put in jail for what they call interfering with an officer +when the officer could not do just what he wanted to with some +spunky citizen. I should not like to touch the can of red paint." + +"But my father," said Laurel, in the most pleading of tones. "Think +what it means! How we have suffered; and now, when this is at our +very hands!" + +"But suppose it were something other than the papers," cautioned +Jack. "Those men had a pretty bad reputation." + +"I will take all the risks," declared Cora, and before Jack could +detain her she ran to the bush, pushed it aside, and grasped the +can. + +Jack hurried to take it from her. "Let me have it, Cora; if there +is a risk it must be mine." + +"All right, Jack dear," she replied, "I am sure there is nothing in +it heavier than papers. Wouldn't you think those men could have +guessed that?" + +"Perhaps they did not want to," said Jack. "You can never tell what +they want or mean. They have a system even the country fellows, and +it covers a multitude of failures." He shook the can, put it to his +ear, rolled it a few feet, picked it up again and laughed. "Mr. +Mulligan won't find this can," he said, "Somehow it is attractive, +and I am anxious as you girls to see what is in it. If we get in +trouble for taking it--well, we'll see," and he led the way down to +the Petrel. + +On the water they passed the police boat, but the can of "red +paint," was snugly resting under Laurel's skirts in the bottom of +the boat. + +"Will you tell your father at once, Laurel?" Cora asked. + +"If he is well enough. Oh, I can scarcely wait. Coral, what +wonderful good luck you brought to us," and she reached out her hand +to press Cora's. + +"Don't be too sure," cautioned the other, "it is not all cleared up +yet." + +"But I feel sure," she insisted. "Brentano was too clever to do +anything half way." + +"He certainly was a star," Jack admitted. "But I hope he will not +insist upon keeping up the correspondence with Cora. He might give +us the hoo-doo." + +They were soon at their dock. The Peter Pan was tied, there, and +that meant that Paul Hastings was at the bungalow. Jack thought +instantly of Paul's employer, the banker, whose name Mr. Starr had +mentioned. It did seem now that things were shaping themselves to +tell all the story. + +"Who is the stranger?" Cora asked, noticing a man in a dressing robe +sitting on the little rustic porch. + +"I--wonder--" Jack said. + +"It's father," almost screamed Laurel, "and he has had his hair cut +and his beard taken off! Doesn't he look lovely!" + +"It can't be," Cora said hesitatingly. "That man is so young!" + +"He's my dear father, just the same," declared the delighted girl, +hurrying from the boat up to the bungalow. + +The man did not turn his head to greet her, but she was not to be +deceived by his little ruse. "What a surprise!" she exclaimed. "I +scarcely knew you." + +"But you did know me," he replied, with a happy smile. "I feel +years and years younger, my dear." + +"Indeed you look it," Cora said. "I wonder how you ever hid such +good looks." + +The nurse was fetching the beef tea, Paul took the cup from her +hand. Jack made a wry face at Laurel, indicating that they would +have to watch Paul and the pretty new nurse. Then he took the chair +nearest Mr. Starr. The can of "red paint" had been safely hidden in +a locker of the Petrel. + +"Your friend has been telling me the wonders of his fast boat," +began Mr. Starr to Jack, speaking of Paul. + +"Yes. This is the young man who is employed by Brendon Breslin," +Jack replied. + +"Employed by Brendon Breslin!" exclaimed Mr. Starr. "Is Mr. Breslin +around here?" + +"Gone to the city to-day," replied Paul, "but I take him home every +night in the Peter Pan. That's what he wants the best boat on the +lake for." + +"He always believed me, and never wanted me to go away," Mr. Starr +said. "And now if I could see him--" + +"I don't see why you cannot," put in Jack. "He often rides by here, +doesn't he Paul?" + +"He thinks this the prettiest end of the lake," Paul replied. "But +if you ever knew him and he was your friend I am sure he would be +only too glad to make a special trip to see you, for he boasts he +never forgets an old friend," Paul said. + +"That's him--that's Brendon," exclaimed Mr. Starr, moving uneasily +in his chair. "I feel I must be dreaming." + +There was a general pause--for realization. Everyone felt indeed it +was like a dream, and almost beyond human power to grasp. Mr. Starr +swept his hand over his forehead. + +"Laurel," he called, "I wonder if I couldn't take a ride in the +Peter Pan. Ask the nurse, please--?" + +"Oh, no," objected that young lady. "It would not be wise for you +to take another boat ride to-day. We will ask the doctor about it +tomorrow." + +"Don't be impatient, father," pleaded Laurel. "You must not forget +how weak your head has been." + +"All right, child. But I want it cleared up," he murmured. "I feel +there is no safety for me until I'm vindicated." + +"Come on, Jack," whispered Cora. "We must open that can." + +Paul was leaving. Cora and Jack walked to the dock with him. He +assured them both that Mr. Breslin would call very soon, and also +promised to be on hand on the following Wednesday evening when the +girls and boys were planning to have a celebration. + +"They will never know but that it is really paint," Cora remarked, +as she and Jack walked boldly up the path with the precious tin can. +"Just take it around to the back, and be careful opening it." + +"Dynamite?" asked Jack with a smile. + +"No, but you might damage something," she replied. + +"No worry about damaging myself?" he persisted. "Well, Cora, I hope +it contains--some jewels. Wouldn't that be nice?" + +There was no chance for further conversation. Cora went to the +porch while her brother carried out her instructions. Presently she +made some excuse, and left Laurel alone, talking with her father. + +She found Jack sitting on the wash bench with the can opened and in +his hands. + +"Didn't go off?" she asked, peering into the tin. + +"Not a go," replied Jack, "but look! What did I tell you! There's +an envelope marked for Laurel, and feel! Are they not stones? +Diamonds or pearls?" + +"You romancer!" exclaimed Cora, as she felt the bulky envelope. "I +admit they do feel like stones, but they may be merely corals. But +oh, Jack! Do let me see!" + +"Lets call Laurel," he suggested. "We cannot read any of those +papers. They are for her, or her father, to open." + +"Oh, of course," and Cora looked rebuked. "I had no idea of reading +anything, but I thought we should make sure of what was in the can +before we got Laurel excited over it," and she slipped around the +side of the bungalow to beckon to Laurel. + +The girl's face turned white when she saw why she was wanted. "I am +so afraid of disappointment," she murmured with a sigh. + +"Well, there's something in here," Jack told her. "Look at this," +and he handed her the heavy envelope. + +She read her name--then she tore open the paper. A necklace fell +out on her lap! + +"Mother's!" she exclaimed, pressing the golden chain to her lips +reverently. "Darling mother's!" + +"And the stones are amethysts!" Cora exclaimed as Laurel held up the +gems. + +"Yes, it was father's wedding present to mother," Laurel told them. +"Oh, I scarcely know how to tell him all this." + +"Tony was a pretty decent robber after all," remarked Jack. "He +kept them for you, at any rate." + +"Yes, poor man. Perhaps, as he said, his one temptation was to do +clever things with a pen. Let us look over the papers." + +"Perhaps your father had best see you do that," Jack suggested. + +"Oh no. I think I had better know first," Laurel insisted. "Let me +open this," and she carefully broke a large red seal on a packet of +documents yellow with age. + +Paper after paper she took out. Finally what she was looking for +she found. It was a check that had been cashed and cancelled! It +bore the marks also of "forgery!" + +"That's it," she exclaimed. "That is the ten thousand dollar +check!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +ALL ENDS WELL-CONCLUSION + + +"I remember it all--it's like a book open before me!" + +Laurel had insisted upon her father reclining in the hammock, and +she was now fussing with his pillows, that he might nestle deeper in +their softness. It was he who was speaking. On the porch sat +Brendon Breslin, looking into Peter Starr's face like one enchanted. +There was Cora moving a big fan so that apparently without her doing +it, the breeze reached the man in the hammock. Jack was there and +Ed was inside the bungalow teasing Walter who had "discovered" the +new nurse. Hazel, Bess and Belle were busy--there was to be +"something doing." + +A day had passed since the opening of the can of "red paint." In +fact it was the evening following that eventful performance. Paul +had only to say "Peter Starr"' to Mr. Breslin, and the latter was +ready to be at the bungaloafers' camp. So the story was unwinding. + +"Do you really feel able to talk?" asked the millionaire banker. "I +will insist now--you got, the better of me once, Peter." + +"Yes, Mr. Starr," Cora added to the request. "Do be careful." + +"And she asks me to be careful!" He actually seized Cora in his +trembling arms. "She! Why she risked her life for us. It was she +who found my Laurel! She who came to us at night to be sure we +would not repel her! She who followed up that--" + +"Oh, please, hush!" Cora begged, "or it will be she who causes your +relapse," she insisted. + +"Indeed no," and the man held in his hands before him the flushed +face of Cora. "What you have done cannot be told of in this rude +way." + +"Father, I'll be jealous," said Laurel, trying to relieve the +tension. + +Cora slipped away. It was Mr. Breslin who spoke next. + +"And you really remember?" he asked of Mr. Starr. "How was it that +you ran away?" + +"The bank president's name had been forged to a check for ten +thousand dollars!" + +"Yes, I know that well," said Mr. Breslin. + +"And they traced the forgery to me!" + +"But you knew you were innocent!" + +"I knew it, but I was frightened by the accusation, and they had +found trials of the signature in my desk!" + +"I have a letter that explains that," Cora imparted, and then she +told how Brentano had confessed to the forgery, and to his almost +hypnotic influence over Mr. Starr. + +"And then?" inquired Mr. Breslin. + +"Brentano told me I must go. He fixed everything. I have been on +the island ten years," and the hermit sighed heavily. + +"How did you live?" asked the banker. + +"He fixed that," and there was bitterness in his tone. "He brought +me letters regularly. These were alleged to come from those who +would prosecute me if I did not keep on paying money!" + +At this statement the banker dashed up from his seat. "The +scoundrel!" he almost hissed. "He ought to be jailed! If I had him +here I'd do it too. I'm mayor of this borough." + +"Oh, Mr. Breslin!" exclaimed Laurel. "He must not have been +entirely bad. See how he saved the papers--the proofs--and how he +kept for me my mother's jewels." + +"That's the sentimental mire that foreign criminals wallow in," he +replied with irony. "I cannot see that it mitigates the crime." + + "And yet," interrupted Mr. Starr, "see how the influence of a mere +girl turned him to right? I did like that boy!" + +Cora and Laurel had crept away to the far end of the porch. Two men +came up the path. + +"Hello!" said Mr. Breslin. "Officers!" + +There was surprise on the officers' faces when they saw Mr. Breslin, +their superior officer, the mayor of Cedar Lake, sitting on the +porch. Greetings were exchanged and finally they ventured to make +known their mission. + +They had heard that someone saw Cora Kimball take the state's +evidence--the can of "red paint!" + +"But what was a can of paint?" asked the mayor. "As if a girl would +want that," and his voice was almost mocking. + +"Well, it might have been dynamite," and the man who wore brass +buttons shook his head sagely. + +"A girl steal a can of dynamite," repeated Mr. Breslin mockingly. + +The officers were trying to see who was in the hammock. But the man +therein sank back into the cushions, while Jack carelessly slipped +his chair directly in front of him. + +"Why didn't you take it when you saw it?" asked the town's mayor. + +"Well," explained the other man, "we didn't fancy the blow-up. We +went for Mulligan who knows about such things, and when we came back +it was gone." + +"You had better tell that story before the jury," and the sarcasm in +Mr. Breslin's tone was unmistakable. "Suppose you tell them that a +girl took what you were afraid to touch!" + +Seeing that it was useless to argue with the mayor, they turned to +leave. + +"Wait," he said good naturedly, "I have my boat here. Take a ride +with me. It's better than walking the dusty roads. Good evening," +he said. "Mr. Fennelly," (to Mr. Starr,) "I hope you will regain +your health by the time your son has to return to college!" + +"Fennelly," said one officer to the other. "That's not the name, it +was Starr! We're on the wrong trail." And they hurried away. Thus +had Mr. Breslin saved the hermit from having to testify. + +"Laurel," Cora said wearily, "let us go for a little walk. My +nerves are all snarled up, and only a walk will unravel them. We +will have time to go as far as the hemlocks before those girls and +boys make up their minds to disband." + +"But it is dark," objected Laurel. + +"All the better; the quiet will be more effective. Come on, Laurel. +Surely you do not mind a dark evening." + +"Oh, no indeed, Cora," she replied, winding her arm, about her +friend's waist, "but I was thinking it might shower." + +"Oh, we could beat any shower," insisted, Laurel, "Come let us get +away before they miss us." + +It was getting very dark indeed, but they heeded it not, so +interested were they in their chat. + +They talked of many things, as girls will, and Laurel told much of +her half-wild life, on Fern Island, while Cora related some of her +own experiences. Then they returned to the house, where they found +the others assembled. + +"Let's have some fun," suggested Walter. + +"I vote for charades," said Jack. "I'll be a fish." + +"All right!" exclaimed the nurse, entering into the spirit of the +fun, "here's where you swim!" and she poured a glass of water down +Jack's back. He accepted the challenge and made exaggerated motions +as if he were struggling in deep water. There was a gale of +laughter, and that was the beginning of a gay time. The troubles of +the past seemed all forgotten. + +The now happy party remained together for several days and in the +meanwhile there were many developments. + +Through the efforts of Mr. Breslin everything regarding the former +hermit was cleared up, and his name was once more restored to its +untarnished honor. There was absolutely no charge against him, and +on learning this, his health took a big change for the better. As +for Laurel, she was happier than she had been in many years. + +The injury to Jim Peters did not amount to as much as had been +feared at first and he gradually recovered. There was no trace of +"Tony," as everyone called Brentano. The search for him was given +up, but the officers who had been fooled by the can of "red paint" +had a hard time living down the joke against them. Cora destroyed +all the correspondence she had received. It was like a bad dream, +all but that part about helping Laurel and her father, and she +wanted to forget it. Laurel also destroyed the letter Jack had +picked up the night of the search. It was one from Brentano, and +she, too, wanted no remembrance of him. This epistle had a slight +connection with the mystery. + +Old Ben proved a good friend and Cora was sorry for the momentary +feeling she had had against him. He showed the boys many woodland +haunts and took them to secret fishin' "holes" unknown to the +general public. The lads voted him a "brick." + +It was a bright, beautiful day and every one was happy--happy +because of the fine weather and because everything had turned out so +well. + +"I feel just like doing something!" exclaimed Cora, who, came in +from a walk in the woods. + +"What, sis?" asked Jack, making a grab for her which she adroitly +avoided. + +"Oh--almost anything. Since so much of our summer was spoiled in +exploring and in solving mysteries, suppose we dispel the gloom with +a spell of reckless gaiety." + +"Suppose," agreed Hazel. "What shall it be? I vote for water fun. +We can have parties and that sort of stuff all winter." + +"Fishing! The very thing!" exclaimed Cora, "and give prizes for +fish, near fish, and no fish." + +"Oh, the boys would be sure to win on the fish number," said Hazel, +"but let's try it. We have to have live bait, I suppose." + +"And we can haul the bait nets. Did you ever see them cast one of +those thirty feet ones?" asked Cora. + +"Never," replied Hazel. "But when shall we start, and what do we +start? I'll dig for worms." + +"To-night we will go for the bait, and you can go out with a lantern +in the darkest parts of the woods to dig for worms," Cora said, +knowing, that this would put an end to Hazel's offer. + +"In the woods? In our own back yard. I know how to turn stones +over. I have often helped Paul," Hazel attested. + +But it was casting the big thirty foot net that really furnished the +best sport. It was dropped from a rowboat by Bess and Cora while +Laurel and Belle rowed. Then when it was all spread out they had to +row very quickly in a circle to close the bottom and to drag in the +unsuspecting little fishes that were to make the live bait. + +The first trial resulted in Belle resigning as oarsman. She had +lost a gold-rimmed side-comb overboard, besides getting very wet +when the boat turned suddenly and "took a wave." + +"I can row alone," insisted Laurel. "Cora and Hazel must manage the +net." + +This time they did bring up some fish--a whole drove of wiggling, +frightened little minnies. + +"How do we get them out?" asked Bess, more frightened than the fish. + +"Pick them out and put them in the bait box," Cora explained, while +Bess made a negative face. + +"It seems a shame to use them for bait," Laurel said, as on the pier +they opened the net carefully and saw the pretty silvery things slip +around. "Couldn't we put them some place to grow up?" + +"The fish-orphans' home," suggested Cora. "But I must have a few. +You know, girls, fish have no brains. That's the reason I suppose +they go into the brain business when they get a chance at humans." + +The very next afternoon the girl's fishing party rowed out from +Center Landing. Walter went along to take the fish off the hooks of +Belle and Bess who declared they would never be able to do that. +The other boy's composed a rival party. + +Ben was at the landing, and he wished them all sorts of luck besides +telling them the secret spots where fish dwelt. They went deep into +the cove, as Ben said the pickerel loved to lay in the grasses +there. + +Bess and Belle insisted upon following the directions on the box of +a patent "plug" they had purchased and cast near a lily pond, +reeling in so slowly that Hazel and Cora had both had "strikes" +before the twins saw their white make believe fish come to the +surface. This sort of casting was for bass of course. + +"I've got one! I've got one!" shouted Cora, as she pulled in a +handsome big, black bass. + +This won the first and last prize, for it was an exceptionally fine +specimen. + +"We knew you would have the best luck, Cora," Hazel said without +malice, as she dragged up a very small, scared sunny. "We knew it. +You always do." + +"It isn't luck," added Laurel, "It's skill. She knew that she must +pull up as soon as the fish struck. I lost something. It might +have been a snake but it got away because I was not quick enough." + +There was quite a laugh when Jack, after a hard struggle, during +which he protested that he must have the biggest pickerel in the +lake, pulled in a large mud turtle. Later, however, he redeemed +himself by catching one of the long fish which gave him quite a +battle of the line. The other boys did well, and the girls were not +far behind them. + +"Well," remarked Cora, during a lull in the proceedings when they +had gone ashore to eat the lunch they had brought along, "we really +haven't had so much fun as this since we came to the lake. There +was so much excitement." + +"There are other vacations coming," predicted Ed. "There is no +telling what may happen since she has learned to adjust a spark +plug, and regulate a timer." + +Ed was right; there were other adventures in store for the motor +girls, and what they consisted of will be related in the next volume +of this series to be entitled "The Motor Girls on the Coast or The +Waif from the Sea." + +The afternoon waned. No one felt like going fishing after lunch. +Besides, as Cora said, they, had enough, and they were all cleaned +up from the "mess" of baiting hooks. + +And now, for a time we will take leave of the girls, as they are +sitting on the shady shores of Cedar Lake, talking--talking--and the +boys listening, with occasional remarks. + +"And I'm so glad it all came out right," Cora murmured. "You are to +go to school with me, Laurel--mother has planned about that." + +"And it was so good of Mr. Breslin to arrange to have father do +clerical work for him," added the woodland maid. "Oh, how lovely +everything is!" + +And the sun, sinking to rest, cast a rosy glow over the peaceful +waters of the lake. + +THE END + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Motor Girls On Cedar Lake, by Margaret Penrose + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR GIRLS ON CEDAR LAKE *** + +This file should be named tmgol10.txt or tmgol10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, tmgol11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, tmgol10a.txt + +This eBook was produced by Sean Pobuda + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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