George Was Deep in Preparations for Dinner.George Was Deep in Preparations for Dinner.
George Was Deep in Preparations for Dinner.George Was Deep in Preparations for Dinner.
That luncheon was one of the most enjoyable that any member of the party ever recalled having sat down to. No reference was made to the mysterious appearance and disappearance of the Meadow-Brook Girls until near the close of the meal.
"You haven't told us where you have been all the time," said Captain Baker with affected gayety.
"Oh, yes, I have. I told you we had been near here all the time," answered Miss Elting, smiling tolerantly.
"But how did you get over to this side of the lake? That is what you haven't told us," spoke up Billy Gordon.
"You mean that that is what you wish to tell us," replied Harriet. "You towed us over of course during the night. You played the first trick and won. But now you must tell us what became of the 'Red Rover,' the next day."
"But we can't," exclaimed George. "We hunted—"
"Of course you did," laughed Harriet. "We were watching you all the time."
The faces of the boys grew crimson. Forks were dropped on plates with a noisy clatter.
"What's the use?" cried George Baker, getting up hurriedly. "Fellows, we've got to confess that we're beaten in the first round by a lot of girls who are a good deal smarter than we think we are, or than we ever shall be."
George sat down again and began mopping the perspiration from his damp forehead.
"And that isn't all," continued Harriet, laughing. "Unless you are prepared to tell us just how we got back into the lake again we shall consider ourselves entitled to the second honors, too."
The Meadow-Brook Girls shouted with laughter at this speech. Then, after a few seconds of hesitation, the boys of the Tramp Club joined in the merriment.
"You win," replied George. "We can't answer you. Now tell us how you disappeared so mysteriously, boat and all, and reappeared just as suddenly."
"Excuse me, but I don't propose to reveal our methods of procedure," laughed Harriet. "Oh, you can't outwit us. You will find us ready for you every time. We know all about last night, too."
"I'd certainly like to know where you were last night," said Captain Baker.
"We were near you all the time, and you didn't know us," laughed Harriet. "Even when you came out here yesterday you passed us by without a single look. You did not see us. Then last night, when you were chasing some one whom you thought was spying on your camp, you passed us again, and—"
"So that was you, eh?" jeered Larry.
"Who was I?" answered Harriet innocently.
"The mysterious boat we were pursuing," answered George, eyeing her keenly.
"Harriet ith not a boat," averred Tommy.
"No. She is a mermaid," declared George with emphasis.
"I beg to differ with all of you," said Sam. "The Meadow-Brook Girls are the original will o' the wisps. But you haven't seen the last of the Tramp Club yet. You have won twice but you shan't win again. Hereafter we'll be on the alert."
"You'll have to keep a watch on us night and day then," chuckled Jane.
"This pleasant spirit of rivalry makes matters interesting," interjected Miss Elting. "You have been very kind to us and helped to make our vacation enjoyable. We enjoy harmless fun as well as yourselves. I might add that we haven't fully exhausted our resources, either. And we wish to thank you for warning us of your intentions."
The boys blushed sheepishly.
"Sam, you'd better keep still," suggested George.
"That's what I say," nodded Larry.
"Yeth, he talkth too much," agreed Tommy wisely. "But you ought to have been with uth. We've had an awful time, too."
"How so?" questioned Billy politely.
"I fell in the water and Buthter made cuthtard and had no oven to bake it in, and then—"
"Who is talking now?" demanded Margery.
Tommy subsided at once.
"The question is, are you going to run away from us again?" demanded George.
"We never have. Remember, we followed you over here," suggested Jane. "We shall be near here for some time in all probability. We have plenty of time. After we get tired of this spot we probably shall move to some other anchorage, but we'll be here for a few days yet."
"Keep your eyes open, or you will miss us again and your last chance will be gone," warned Harriet.
"We shall keep our eyes open," answered George with an emphatic nod.
The luncheon having been finished, Billy suggested that they spend the afternoon in exploring the island. This suited Harriet. She wanted to see how familiar the boys were with their island. So all started out, leaving the dishes to be washed later. The girls shook their heads disapprovingly.
"Oh, we have a patent dish washing machine," announced Larry. "You see, we dump the whole lot of dishes into the lake after having smeared them with sand. We leave the dishes there and the waves wash them. All we have to do is to take them out and lay them in the sun an hour or so afterwards. As soon as the dishes dry off they are ready for another meal to be served on them."
"Ithn't that jutht like a man?" demanded Tommy.
"This is Willow Island," Billy informed them after they had mounted a ridge that commanded a view of about a quarter of the island.
"It used to be," answered Harriet. "We have rechristened it."
"What have you named it?" said Billy, regarding her inquiringly.
"We have named it the 'Island of Delight.' How do you like it?"
"Great!" shouted the boys in chorus.
"Have you been all over it yet?" asked Sam.
"No, we have not," replied Jane, and with truth, for they had not yet explored the entire island. They were going to do so that day.
Harriet wanted to test their woodsmanship, so she skilfully led the boys toward the spot where the "Red Rover" had been so successfully secreted during the time the boys had been searching for them. By making a wide detour Harriet finally brought up right over the place where the cave and the secret creek lay.
Jane turned away that they might not see her laughter. In the meantime Harriet and George were discussing the beauties of the place. She gave him every opportunity to discover the retreat, but George looked about him with unseeing eyes. As a matter of fact, Harriet admitted to herself that had she not known that the stream lay below her she never would have dreamed of its existence.
There were smiles on the faces of all the Meadow-Brook Girls when finally they turned away and slowly beat their trail through the thick growth of vegetation to the lower end of the island. They spent some time there, sitting on rocks, watching the boats on the lake. Many admiring glances were directed toward the girls by the Tramp Club boys who were very much pleased with the straightforward friendly manner of the Meadow-Brook Girls.
Finally they turned their footsteps homeward, reaching the camp late in the afternoon. Larry ran on ahead and gazed out over the water.
"What do you see?" called Jane.
"I was looking to see if that 'Red Rover' had disappeared while we were away," answered the red-headed Larry. "You can't tell about that craft. It's just as likely not to be there as it is to be there," he added lamely, then flushed when his companions laughed at him.
"You're mixed, Larry," jeered Sam.
"The 'Red Rover' behaves well when we are away," said the guardian in reply. "We work our spells on it only when we are aboard. It would be rather embarrassing to have the 'Red Rover' disappear while we were absent. By the way, we should be happy to have you young gentlemen come over and take tea with us this evening. Will you come?"
George shook his head.
"No, thank you. Not to tea. There are too many of us. But I'll tell you what we will do. We will come over later in the evening and have a visit and another concert. Larry plays the banjo. He'll give you an Irish jig if you wish."
"That would be fine," answered Crazy Jane enthusiastically. "Now, if I only had my automobile horn, what a lot of noise we would make, wouldn't we, boys?"
"Bring the banjo by all means," urged Miss Elting.
The boys assisted their guests into the rowboat which had been towed ashore behind the launch. The little boat was well loaded and settled perilously low after all had gotten in. Gordon shook his head and declared it wasn't safe. Miss Elting answered that they didn't mind a wetting.
The rowboat was pushed out, the girls and the boys waving and shouting their adieus. During the rest of the afternoon the girls were busy sewing, ironing, getting their clothes in fit condition. Supper time came all too soon for them. The dishes were washed and put away with all speed that night, and about eight o'clock the boys put off in their own rowboat. Larry was twanging his banjo on the way over. The "Red Rover" was all alight in honor of their coming, and following the arrival of the tramps, a jolly evening was spent. Larry played and the girls sang. Sam essayed to join in, but ceased his efforts when his companions threatened to throw him overboard.
The party broke up about ten o'clock. The boys went home singing "Good night ladies" to the accompaniment of Larry's banjo. The girls stood on the upper deck watching the lads until a shout from the shore told the watchers that their guests had arrived at the camp.
"Now, what are your plans for to-morrow, girls?" asked Miss Elting when they had gone below. "Do you wish to go into retirement?"
"No. The boys have invited us for a ride in the launch to-morrow," answered Harriet. "What troubles me is the matter of leaving the 'Red Rover' alone so long. I think perhaps it would be better for me to remain here to look after the boat while the rest of you go on the motor boat trip."
The girls declared they would not go at all unless Harriet went with them.
"That matter already has been settled," replied Miss Elting. "I am the one who will remain aboard the 'Red Rover.' Harriet, you will chaperon the girls on the motor boat ride. That will settle the objections, and you will be every bit as good a chaperon as myself."
The arrangement did not wholly satisfy the Meadow-Brook Girls. All were very fond of their guardian, and they wished her to have a part in all their enjoyments. They had not fully decided upon going when they retired.
"I wonder if those boys are planning anything for to-night?" mused Miss Elting, a moment after turning out the lights.
"Yes," answered Harriet confidently, as if she had been consulted.
"What?" demanded a chorus of voices.
"They are planning to go to bed. I saw them fixing the fire, just before I got into bed."
"Oh, fudge!" groaned Margery.
"Thave me!" wailed Tommy.
Jane suggested that Harriet ought to have a ducking, then one by one the girls dropped off to sleep.
The clock that Harriet consulted showed the hour to be ten minutes after midnight. She had awakened suddenly, and with a feeling that something were not as it should be. The girl rose softly, peering through the window. The "Red Rover" was lying very quietly, there being little movement of the water. No one was about, nor was there a boat in sight. She stepped out on the deck, glancing about in all directions, her eyes finally fixing themselves on the camp of the Tramp Club.
"Those boys are up and moving about," she mused. "They have stirred up the fire." Just then the girl heard the rattle of an oar in a rowboat. The sound seemed to come from the camp. Harriet watched a few minutes. Then turning quickly she went inside.
"What is it?" demanded Miss Elting sharply. "Who is it?"
"Harriet. Those boys are awake, and, I think, getting ready to come out on the lake. I believe they are up to something."
"What do you suspect?"
"I don't know. Would it not be wise to awaken the girls and all get dressed? We don't want to be caught napping, you know."
"I should say not," agreed the guardian. She got up and went to the window. Their conversation had been carried on in so low a tone that none of the others had been awakened. Miss Elting gazed keenly; then, bringing her glasses, peered through them at the camp of the tramps. "Yes, they are up to mischief of some sort," she decided, lowering the glasses and laying them aside. "Girls!"
"Wha—wha-at?" cried Jane, her feet landing on the floor almost ere the words were out of her mouth.
Tommy hopped out of bed a few seconds behind Crazy Jane, but instead of landing on her feet, the little girl went sprawling on the floor on her face.
"Thave me! Are we thinking?" she cried.
"No, you foolish girl. We aren't sinking," answered Harriet laughing.
Margery stood shivering in the middle of the cabin. Hazel had begun to dress.
"Dress yourselves at once," ordered Miss Elting. "Be quick about it. They may not be coming here, but if they are, they will be here in a very few minutes."
"Who will be here?" demanded Crazy Jane. "Why don't you tell us what all the uproar is about?"
"Yes. You might better tell us than to frighten us half to death in this way," complained Margery.
"It is the boys. We think they are coming here to play a trick on us, and if so, we wish to be ready for them," explained Harriet, who was hurriedly dressing. The girls lost no time in putting on their clothes, each dressing herself completely. Their hair, braided down their backs for the night, was left as it was. There was no time to do anything with that.
"The boys are putting off in the rowboat, or at least getting ready to do so," Miss Elting informed the girls, after another look at the camp through the glasses. "What shall we do?"
"I will fix it," answered Harriet. She rummaged about at the rear of the cabin, then ran out to the after deck. They heard her on the upper deck shortly after that. She soon bustled back into the cabin.
"They have started. All of you get up on the deck overhead. Listen! I will tell you briefly what we will do. We will give the boys a scare that they won't soon forget."
There were hurried preparations within the cabin of the "Red Rover," following Harriet Burrell's quick orders, which were approved of by Miss Elting. The girls then crept to the upper deck, where they crouched down, peering across the water that lay between the houseboat and the island.
"There they come! Not a word from now on, girls," warned Miss Elting.
"Take your positions, and don't miss when I give the order to let go," commanded Captain Harriet. "Oh, we won't do a thing to those boys!"
Margery giggled.
"Silence!" The captain's voice was stern.
"If you cannot keep quiet you will have to go below," rebuked Miss Elting. "You will spoil it all. Now, not another word."
The silence of sleep settled over the "Red Rover." A gentle ripple at the bows gave off a soothing, musical sound, but that was all. The girls were now able to see a boat approaching them from the island, though unable to make out the forms of the occupants of the craft. Miss Elting, with glasses in hand, was studying the approaching boat. Fortunately the night was dark, though the stars were shining brilliantly.
"All lie down!" came the quiet command from the captain of the "Red Rover." All except Harriet flattened themselves on the deck. The rowboat drew slowly up toward the scow, then was permitted to drift in the rest of the way. When almost alongside, the boys in the rowboat decided to go around to the other side. This nearly upset the plans of Harriet Burrell, but she quickly moved her force to the opposite side of the deck near the stern end. Had the boys been sufficiently alert they might have caught a faint rattle and a scuffle of feet. They were too intent on their mission, however, to realize that anything out of the ordinary was going on aboard the houseboat.
A whispered conversation ensued in the rowboat, then two boys got cautiously to the deck of the cockpit. There followed a period of silence and a low-spoken command from below.
A mighty yell suddenly broke from the midnight visitors. Howls and shrieks, Indian war-whoops and beating on the cabin with sticks, accompanied the shouts.
"Pirates! Surrender!" howled a voice that was easily recognizable as belonging to the red-headed Larry Goheen. "Whoop! Hi-yi-yip yah!"
"We will settle the pirates," muttered Harriet.
"Just listen to those lads," chuckled Crazy Jane.
"Let go!" The command came sharp and incisive. A rattle of tin dishes followed. Pails and pans were raised to the rail as five figures stood up suddenly. "Stand by to repel boarders!" was the second command. Five pans and pails of water were tilted, sending a flood of water down on the heads of the surprised "pirates." From a tub of water on deck the pails were quickly refilled and the water dumped over the rail. Not many drops were wasted. Nearly every drop reached a pirate.
Crazy Jane uttered a shrill war-whoop, then the girls grabbed and shook her. The amazed pirates were in a panic. Three of them had been left on the lower deck of the "Red Rover." The rowboat had been quickly pushed off as soon as the occupants recovered from their first surprise. The three Tramps made a leap for the rowboat. They landed in the lake with a splash and went floundering toward the small boat.
Tommy climbed to the rail and hurled a pan at the beaten pirates. But in hurling the pan she lost her balance.
"Thave me!" she screamed. Tommy plunged sideways from the rail, making a complete turn in the air, landing in the lake with a mighty splash.
Harriet dived off after her, fearing that her little companion might have been stunned by striking the water on her back. But Tommy came up before Harriet rose from her dive.
"Oh, thave me!" wailed Tommy in a choking voice.
All this had happened without the boys understanding what was going on. They had taken aboard their three companions and were pulling into the shadow of the island with all speed. Miss Elting and Jane had run down to the lower deck. The guardian cast a rope. Harriet and Tommy brushed the rope aside and swam easily to the end of the boat, where Harriet assisted Tommy up, afterwards being herself assisted aboard by Crazy Jane. The two thoroughly soaked girls staggered into the cabin, where Harriet sat down on the floor, laughing hysterically.
Miss Elting pulled down the shades and lighted the lamp. She stood regarding her charges with a quizzical twinkle in her eyes.
"What a mess! What a mess," laughed Crazy Jane. "But we repelled the boarders, didn't we, darlin'?"
"They won't try to play any tricks on us after this, I am sure," agreed the guardian. "I'll warrant they are still wondering what happened to them. But it was too bad. What a wetting they did get!"
"Too bad!" exploded Harriet.
"No. It served them right," interjected Hazel. "Why, they might have frightened us to death."
"They will be at our feet to-morrow," giggled Jane. "Tommy, did you ever have any one fall at your feet!"
"Yeth. You know Jake Thpooner? Well, he had a conniption fit, one day, in the thtreet, and fell down right at my feet."
"You mean an epileptic fit. But you shouldn't joke about a serious matter like that," rebuked Miss Elting.
"I wathn't joking. He did. It wath Buthter who laughed. I didn't. But Buthter ith fat, you know. Fat folkth alwayth laugh when they thhouldn't. They thhake all over when they laugh. I'm glad I'm not fat like Buthter."
Margery's face was flushed and indignant. Her companions were laughing merrily at her expense. Harriet had gotten up and was removing her wet clothing. Miss Elting lifted Tommy, who also had sat down, and gave her a gentle push toward the dressing room.
"Take off your wet clothes and get on your kimono. Girls, you may as well prepare for bed, too. I don't believe we shall be troubled by pirates again this night," said the guardian, with a merry twinkle in her eyes. "You will not want to get up in the morning when you are called. I fear we are losing too much sleep these nights."
While they were preparing for bed Miss Elting took a final look at the camp of the Tramp Club. There was activity there, but not nearly so much of it as the last time she had examined the camp through her glasses. The guardian smiled grimly at thought of the surprise they had given those fun-loving boys. They had thought to make good their boast to get the better of the Meadow-Brook Girls, but had met an ignominious defeat.
"I should not be surprised to see that camp deserted to-morrow morning," mused Miss Elting. "I hope not. They are nice boys."
"Are they coming out again?" asked a voice at the guardian's side.
"No, Harriet. I think not. I am just taking a final look their way before retiring. Did we leave the pails and pans upstairs?"
"Yes. Shall I bring them down?"
"Oh, no. It is not necessary. Morning will be time enough. Now go to bed. We shall not be disturbed again to-night. Good night, girls. Sweet dreams."
"And pleathant nightmareth," mumbled Tommy from under the blanket. She was found curled up in a ball when the guardian went over to see that the little girl was comfortable for the night. The light was blown out just as Harriet sought her cot. Miss Elting was in bed a moment afterwards, and peace and quiet again settled over the clumsy "Red Rover." This peace, however, was not destined to last long. It was to be rudely broken ere the morning dawned. From down the lake a canoe was coming, propelled swiftly and silently by a pair of muscular arms. The canoe, if it continued on its present course, would hit the "Red Rover" fairly on its nose. But just before reaching the houseboat, the canoe veered to one side a little and the paddle trailed the water behind. The canoe glided along to one side of the "Red Rover," then stopped.
The same dark canoe that Harriet Burrell had seen shoot out into the lake before her the night she was reconnoitering near the camp of the Tramp Club was now hovering about the houseboat. It would have appeared almost uncanny to one not experienced in canoeing to observe the absolute noiselessness with which the frail little craft was propelled about the larger boat. When it was turned, it was as though the boat were swinging on a pivot. When the half of its length was let down to the water after such a swing, there followed not the slightest suggestion of a splash.
Lulled by the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the boat, the Meadow-Brook Girls slept soundly. On shore the boys of the Tramp Club also were sleeping. The girls on board the "Red Rover," as already mentioned, had no fear of a second attack that night, nor had the youthful pirates the slightest intention of repeating the experiment that had turned out so badly for them and so triumphantly for the Meadow-Brook Girls. It was quite evident that the newcomer did not belong to the Tramp Club. His face looked dark and swarthy in the moonlight. He had straight black hair and high cheek bones and there was a revengeful light in his sharp black eyes as he scanned the silent houseboat.
Once more the canoe shifted its position and slid to a point directly under one of the little windows. The window was open, the curtains were streaming out through the opening. The intruder stood up in his canoe without disturbing its balance in the least.
Just about this time Tommy Thompson awoke with a little gasp. She had been dreaming that Buster, in the guise of a pirate, was trying to smother her with a sofa pillow. Tommy had been skirting the edge of one of the "pleathant nightmareth" she had prophesied for the girls on retiring. She sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes. Suddenly she uttered a terrified scream.
For the second time that night the Meadow-Brook Girls scrambled from their beds in alarm.
"Tommy, Tommy, what is the matter?" cried Harriet, springing to the little girl's side.
"I thaw the motht terrible fathe," moaned Tommy. "Oh, thave me."
"Nonsense, Tommy," laughed Harriet.
"You've just had one of those nightmares you were talking about when you bade us good night."
"No, thir," reiterated Tommy. "I thaw thomething. It wath a man and he thtood right in front of the window. You thee I wath dreaming that Buthter wath a pirate, and wath trying to thmother me with a thofa pillow and all of a thudden I that up in bed and thaw thith fathe looking in the window at me. That ith why I thcreamed," concluded Tommy, with dignity. "I didn't have the nightmare. I tell you I thaw a fathe."
"How ridiculous," sniffed Buster. "How could she see a face when we are away out here on the lake. Why look!" she continued, stepping to the window. "It's bright moonlight, and there isn't a boat to be seen on the water."
"Buthter doethn't know what I thaw," retorted Tommy angrily. "Thhe hathn't my eyeth hath thhe? Buthter maketh me tired."
"There, there, girls," reproved Miss Elting. "That will do. Harriet, I think you and I had better dress, then get into the rowboat and do a little investigating. Perhaps some prowler has visited the boat while we were asleep. Light the lamp, Jane, and we'll see if all our belongings are safe."
Jane and Hazel made a rapid search about the boat while Harriet and Miss Elting were dressing. Meanwhile Tommy and Margery sat on the edges of their cots and conducted a spirited argument as to whether Tommy really had seen a "fathe" at the window.
"All ready," called Harriet as she ran to where the rowboat was fastened. Then she gave a little cry of alarm that brought Miss Elting and the others to her side on the run.
"What is it, Harriet?" cried the guardian.
Harriet stood looking out over the water, a piece of rope in her hand. "Some one has stolen our rowboat," she gasped. "See, the rope has been cut."
"Then the Tramp Club must have come over here again in the night and stolen it," decided Miss Elting. "Still that would hardly account for the face Tommy saw at the window, and she is positive that she really saw some one. I am inclined to think, however, that she had the nightmare, and simply dreamed about that frightful face."
"I can't see that there is anything particularly clever or original about stealing a rowboat in the dead of night," said Harriet slowly, "and I don't believe that the boys would think so either. There is something peculiar about this affair and I believe that the Tramp Club have had nothing to do with this latest puzzle."
"That ith what I think," agreed Tommy. "It wathn't thothe boyth that thcared me tho."
"Nothing has been stolen from the boat," declared Hazel, "so it looks as though our midnight prowler vanished when he heard Tommy's first scream."
"I'm going to mount guard for the rest of the night," announced Jane. "It's half past two now, and by five o'clock it will be light. The rest of you can go back to bed, and if any one else comes sneaking around this boat, he'll have to come forward and state his business to Jane McCarthy."
It seemed to the tired girls as though they had hardly closed their eyes when they heard Jane call out: "Seven o'clock. All hands on deck."
"I'm tho thleepy," murmured Tommy as she struggled into her clothes.
"I'm pretty near dead," growled Hazel. "I think I'll never get rested."
"Do let's hurry and have breakfast," pleaded Margery, "I'm so hungry."
"Chronic thtate," murmured Tommy.
"I don't have nightmares and wake every one up in the middle of the night," retorted Margery, "even if I do get hungry sometimes."
"My nightmare wath utheful, Buthter," returned Tommy calmly. "It helped uth to dithcover that our boat wath gone. But your appetite ithn't the leatht bit utheful, not even to yourthelf."
"I'll never speak to you again, Tommy Thompson," declared Buster wrathfully.
"That maketh me feel very thad, Buthter," replied Tommy sarcastically.
Breakfast was prepared and eaten in record time that morning. Then the dishes were speedily washed and put away. The Tramp Club's camp showed no activity until after eight o'clock, when the smoke from their cook fire was observed curling up through the foliage on the shore of the Island of Delight. A long-drawn "Hoo-oo-oo" from the camp told the girls that they had been observed by some of the boys.
Before nine o'clock the launch put out and sailed rapidly over to the "Red Rover."
"We didn't come to call. We just ran over to see what time you wished to go for a sail?" asked Billy Gordon.
"Come right on board, boys. We finished our work shortly after daylight this morning. You see we are early risers," replied Miss Elting.
The lads needed no urging. They hopped to the after deck of the houseboat. But no sooner had they come aboard than they perceived that something was amiss. George glanced at Harriet inquiringly.
"What's the matter with you girls, this morning?" he asked lamely.
"We had considerable excitement here last night. We were visited by pirates," said the guardian.
The boys flushed guiltily.
"But that is not all," added Jane McCarthy. "We were visited later in the night by a real thief."
"Wha—at!" gasped George, somehow feeling that they were involved.
"We will tell you all about it. Come upstairs, where we can sit down in comfort and talk. Perhaps we may ask you to assist us in finding the thief," said Miss Elting.
The boys followed the girls to the upper deck, and after they had seated themselves Miss Elting related what had happened. "Now, boys," she concluded, "have you the remotest idea as to who could have taken the boat?"
For a moment George stared at the guardian in silence, then he said gravely, "Perhaps you think, Miss Elting, that one of us sneaked over here last night. I'll admit that we did play pirates, and got the worst of it, but none of our fellows left camp after we got back from that pirate trip. There is something strange about this, and it looks to me as though you had a really malicious enemy."
"That is what I think," replied Harriet. "You know, of course, of our previous experiences. Some one is seeking to drive us away. To me it is the work of a man who for some reason is our enemy. I thought we had given him the slip, but he has found us again."
"I will tell you what to do, ladies," spoke up George after pondering the subject briefly. "You had better run your boat right up on the shore at one end of our camp, where we can keep our eyes on you. When you wish to move we will move with you. In that way you will have no further trouble."
"You boys wouldn't be of any help to us," interrupted Jane.
"Why not?" demanded Larry Goheen, bristling.
"Because you sleep too well."
"I don't believe I should dare to spend a night on that island," said Harriet Burrell, regarding the shores of the Island of Delight with troubled eyes.
"Why not?" repeated Larry.
"There are strange things there," said Harriet, pointing. "Haven't you seen them?"
"Good gracious, no," answered Billy. "What do you mean, Miss Burrell?"
"Ghosts!" answered Harriet, leaning toward their guests. The boys fairly jumped at the words, then laughed heartily.
"There aren't any such things," scoffed George. "Besides, if there were, do you think we men would be afraid of them? I guess not. I'd like to see the ghost that I would be afraid of. You bring out your ghosts! We'll show you how quickly we will lay them."
"Oh, I can't bring them out," murmured Harriet. "I thought perhaps you had seen them."
"Have you?" demanded Sam, turning on her sharply.
"Oh, don't ask me," begged Harriet, in such apparent distress that Sam did not question her further.
"What's this that Harriet is telling you?" asked Miss Elting.
"She's been seeing things, and thinks it queer that we have not, too," answered George. "I wish we might. Then you don't think you would like to run the boat ashore at the camp, so as to be where we can look after you?"
"I should not mind. But the girls think they are able to take care of themselves, and I must say that I agree with them, George. Don't you think they are?" asked the guardian.
"They beat any boys I've ever seen. But then, you see, there are a lot of us fellows, and then again, your enemies won't be so bold when they know there are men around the premises," declared George pompously.
Harriet turned her head away that they might not see her laughter.
"Any way, let us tow you in closer to shore," urged George.
Harriet shook her head.
"Thank you, but we will fight our own battles. If we find we are getting the worst of it we will scream for you. That is, if you are able to see us. You gentlemen are short-sighted at times. The very idea of your hunting all over the lake for us when we were here fairly before your eyes! Look out that you're not so careless as to lose us again. Remember it will be the winning stroke for us."
Harriet's manner was so superbly disdainful, yet there was so much pity in her tone, that the boys flushed painfully.
"You won't lose us again the same way—don't worry about that," George Baker retorted, with some heat. "But when are you going for a ride in the launch with us?"
"Why, I think we are ready now," smiled Miss Elting. "For one, I would like very much to go to Wantagh, if you will be kind enough to take me there. Harriet, I have changed my mind about remaining with the 'Red Rover' and I shall accept your suggestion to leave you as watchman on the 'Red Rover.'"
"By all means, Miss Elting," replied Harriet.
"I don't like to see you remaining alone," protested Hazel, as she stepped, half-reluctantly, into the launch. "I know you'll be dreadfully lonesome."
Harriet, however, was far from lonesome. It was really pleasant to be all by herself for a little while.
When the launch reached Wantagh the girls promptly went shopping, with the exception of Jane, who went to engage a rowboat, and Miss Elting, to hunt up Dee Dickinson. It was an uncomfortable half hour for Dee, for Miss Elting reported the loss of the rowboat and said very plainly to him that she believed he understood the cause of the persecutions the girls were undergoing. Still, Dee could not be made to talk freely. Miss Elting left him, dissatisfied.
"That man knows the cause of our troubles, and he simply won't tell me," said the guardian indignantly to herself, as she walked away. "And just a hint or two might enable us to save ourselves a good deal of annoyance, and even protect us from real dangers. I wonder what it all means."
She said nothing to the girls about having seen Dickinson, when finally she joined them at the pier. The girls had filled every available space in the boat with their purchases and the new dingy was fastened to the stern. The run back in the late afternoon was a delightful one. When they came in sight of the "Red Rover" they uttered cries of delight. The "Red Rover" looked like a huge flame in the sunlight.
"It doesn't seem possible that such a boat could be lost sight of anywhere, does it?" questioned Jane brightly, turning to Captain Baker.
"No," he answered gloomily. "And it won't be again."
"You can't tell, you know. It may disappear from the face of the waters this very night."
George looked at Billy. Jane had given them a hint that they were not slow to catch. They did not know that she was teasing them for the very purpose of making their surprise greater when it did come.
The boys left their passengers at the "Red Rover" and then sailed over to their own camp. The girls were glad to be back. The houseboat had come to be a real home to them, one that they would be sorry to leave when their vacation came to an end.
Jane had purchased a dozen colored lanterns in town. As soon as darkness fell, these were lighted and strung above the upper deck. The interior was brightly lighted, so that the "Red Rover," that evening, stood out more prominently than anything else on that part of the lake. Later in the evening, after having disposed of their work, the girls took out the new rowboat and rowed slowly round and round the "Red Rover" singing. The boys came out at that and joined them. Together, the two boats drifted about until the hour grew late and Miss Elting called to the girls that it was time to come in. They responded promptly. The boys rowed up alongside and holding to the gunwale of the "Red Rover," chatted for a few moments.
"So long! We will see you in the morning," called George as they pushed the rowboat off.
"Yes. In the morning—maybe," answered Harriet laughingly.
"It's my opinion that those girls are going to try to play more tricks to-night," declared Billy, after they had gotten a short distance from the "Red Rover." He was speaking in a tone louder than he imagined. Harriet heard every word he said.
"Yes," agreed George. "I'll tell you what we'll do. We'll put a boy on watch to-night. Then, if they try to run away from us, we will just follow and give them a surprise. We can't let those girls get the better of us this time."
That was the last that Harriet heard. They had rowed so far away that their words were inaudible. But what she had heard was quite sufficient.
"And about those ghosts?" questioned Larry.
"A bluff," scoffed George. "You don't believe in ghosts, do you?"
"Well, I don't know. I have heard of such things," admitted Larry solemnly.
"Nonsense. I guess we will elect you to watch the houseboat to-night. How about it?" demanded George.
"I don't care."
"But don't you dare go to sleep."
"What if I do?"
"You will get a ducking," interjected Sam. "You will get your distinguished head held under water until you're wide awake."
The plan, however, was put into operation soon after their arrival at the camp. They watched the "Red Rover" together until all the lights except the anchor light, had been put out. They knew, by this sign, that the Meadow-Brook Girls had retired for the night. The Tramp Club then went to bed, leaving Larry on guard. All he could see of the "Red Rover" was the anchor light, the night being very dark and a little hazy. But he never lost sight of this anchor light for more than a few moments at a time. Were the girls to get away without his discovering it he knew what to expect at the hands of his companions. Then again, Larry Goheen prided himself on his keenness. It would be very humiliating to be outwitted by the girls. He, with the rest of the boys fully believed that the girls were planning some trick for that night.
Larry watched that anchor light until just before the break of day, when he called Sam to come out and take the watch until breakfast time. The daylight had not yet become pronounced enough to make out objects distinctly, but shortly after Sam took the watch the day broke bright and clear. The anchor light seemed to fade away and merge into thin air before his very eyes. He did not stop to reason that this was because the morning light had become stronger than that of the lantern.
Sam blinked and rubbed his eyes. He could hardly believe what they told him. He uttered a yell that brought his companions out on the run.
"What's up?" shouted Billy.
"Everything. They've tricked us! They've gone!" cried Sam.
"They have, I do declare," added George in a hushed tone. "When did they go?"
"Just now. I saw them."
"You were asleep," rebuked Billy.
"I wasn't! They disappeared! They went up in thin air."
Just then they were interrupted by a long, piercing wail that seemed to come from the air above and around them. The boys gazed into each others faces.
"It's a banshee's wail," whispered Larry. "Somebody's going to die."