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.
Pages:
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128