"Surely you can," agreed George enthusiastically. "But I'm sorry you won't come to anchor near our camp."

Harriet told him they should be moving frequently; that they hoped to be able to make a complete circuit of the lake before they had finished their vacation. George said that the boys, too, were going to move their camp now and then. He told the girls the Tramp Club had planned to spend a week on one of the islands in the lake, and that they would so arrange the time as to do so when the Meadow-Brook party was in that vicinity.

By the time they had reached the cove where the "Red Rover" lay the boys who had remained behind had gotten nearly all the belongings aboard. Miss Elting and the girls were helping them, Tommy taking it upon herself to "boss" the whole job.

As soon as the motor boat party had landed, Harriet said she must look for the anchor rope, which had not been seen that morning.

"I'll do that," offered Larry Goheen. "You ought to make it secure, so that the boat can't get away," he added.

"I thought I secured it last night. I made a stout loop and slipped it over the cleat on the deck. I don't see how the boat could have gotten away unless the rope broke, which it undoubtedly did."

George said he would see about that. The rowboat had drifted ashore unharmed. Captain George launched the boat and rowed out, paddling about until finally they saw him stop and raise the end of a rope from the water.

"Bring the launch out here, Bill," he called. "Yes, I've found it, and I've found something else too. There's been some crooked work here!"

"What do you mean?" called Harriet.

"I'll tell you when I come in. I've made a find, all right!"

The captain had indeed made a find—one that more than confirmed the suspicions he had formed earlier in the morning.



CHAPTER VII

A MYSTERIOUS NIGHT JOURNEY

Billy Gordon got aboard the launch and paddled it out to where Captain Baker sat examining the rope, the end of which he had picked up from the water.

"What have you found? More mystery?" shouted Crazy Jane.

"Yes. I'll tell you when I get ashore. What kind of an anchor have you down here?"

"Just an anchor, that's all," answered Harriet. "Why?"

"Nothing. I was just wondering."

George climbed over into the launch, tying the rowboat behind it. Then the two lads hauled the anchor aboard the power boat. After examining the anchor, they paddled the launch ashore, towing the smaller boat behind them.

"We have the old anchor. It's a good one too," announced Billy, stepping ashore. "I take back all I said. George has some questions to ask you."

"Yes," nodded young Baker. "Was the anchor rope in good condition when you put out the anchor, Miss Burrell?"

"So far as I know. Did it break?"

"It broke, all right. Will you show me where you made it fast last night?"

Harriet led the way to the forward deck of the "Red Rover," pointing to a hard wood cleat.

"I made a loop in the rope and slipped it over the cleat, drawing it tight. I do not see how it would be possible for the loop to slip off, nor, in fact, for the rope to break."

"Hm-m-m-m!" pondered George, feeling the cleat with critical fingers. "Smooth. No chance for it to have worn through. There is something to be explained in this affair, Miss Burrell."

Harriet gazed searchingly at him, but said nothing.

"I wish you would have a look at the rope. It's there on the shore. Then, after you have examined it, tell me what you think about the matter, but tell me just whatever you wish to. I'm not going to question you about something you don't wish me to know."

"What do you mean, Captain?"

"Have you any enemies up here?"

"I do not know of any. I have a rival here, though."

"Eh? Who?"

"You," answered Harriet, with a smile.

"Oh!" Captain Baker flushed, then he laughed heartily. "That was last summer. You beat us fairly. Of course we wanted to win the race home, and so did you, but you won it fairly and squarely, and that's all there was about it. We got you into trouble by stealing the melons and giving them to you, but honestly, we didn't mean to have the farmer hold you responsible."

"We owe you something for telling George's fortune," laughed Sam.

"Then pay your debts," retorted Harriet.

"Don't you do anything of the sort, boys," warned Jane. "You know what will happen to you, if you do."

"What will happen?" demanded Baker, turning to Crazy Jane.

"Oh, that would be telling. We should be even with you before we had finished, you know. Girls are always more resourceful than boys."

"I don't agree with you," retorted George Baker.

"Do you wish us to prove it to you?" asked Harriet laughingly.

"I'll give you a chance to fail," returned George. "As long as we're going to spend our vacations on this lake we'll give you girls a chance to prove your superiority as strategists. I'll wager you a No. 2 Brownie Camera, to be the joint property of whichever side wins it, that the Tramp Club can completely outwit the Meadow-Brook Girls three times inside of three weeks. What do you say?"

"Shall we accept the challenge, Miss Elting?" asked Harriet. "What do you say, girls?"

"Done!" chorused the girls and their guardian.

"Very well," smiled Harriet. "The contest begins now, and of course all unfair tricks are to be barred out by both sides."

"Of course," agreed George. "But come along and have a look at the rope."

Harriet stepped briskly ashore, followed by Jane and the two boys. She went directly to where the rope and the anchor lay. Picking up the former she ran it through her hands until she came to the loop that had been drawn about the cleat on the deck when the boat had been anchored on the previous afternoon. The Meadow-Brook Girl held the loop on the palm of her left hand, gazing at the rope reflectively. She frowned slightly as she looked at it.

"Well, what do you find?" questioned the captain briskly.

Harriet glanced up at him quickly.

"I understand," she said.

"What is it, Harriet, dear?" asked Miss Elting.

"Oh, what a mess!" muttered Jane, who had been looking over Harriet's shoulder. "Here's more trouble for the Meadow-Brook Girls, and trouble for somebody besides them, too."

"You can see for yourself," replied Harriet, handing the end of the rope to the guardian.

"The loop has been cut!" exclaimed Miss Elting.

Harriet nodded.

"It has, indeed," agreed Jane.

Miss Elting and Harriet Burrell exchanged significant glances. George Baker observed the looks. He nodded to Billy. Larry Goheen winked wisely.

"There is something behind this business then, Miss Elting?" asked the captain.

"I don't mind admitting that there is, Mr. Baker," answered the guardian. "What do you say, girls, shall we tell the boys?" she inquired, turning to her wards.

"If you think best," agreed Harriet.

"Surely. Tell them. Maybe they'll be able to catch the rascal," urged Jane McCarthy.

"This is not the first time we have been troubled by some person who wishes to annoy us," Miss Elting informed the Tramp Club. "Before we began to live on the boat, and while we were getting it ready for occupancy, some person did the same thing. That is, he cut the rope and cast the boat adrift. It was anchored at Johnson's dock. Perhaps you do not know where that is."

"I know," spoke up Billy. "It's about two miles above here. That's where we landed to-day, George."

Captain Baker nodded.

"How do you know they cast the 'Red Rover' adrift?" he asked.

"The rope had been cut," replied Harriet Burrell. "It was just as Miss Elting has told you. The anchor rope had been cut cleanly with a sharp knife. This time the loop, instead of the rope, has been cut."

"I thought you said you had no enemies," observed Sam Crocker.

"Nor have we, as far as we know," answered the guardian.

"I don't know what you would call the person who did this, then. This is all the more reason why you should anchor near our camp."

"Oh, no. We are perfectly able to take care of ourselves," smiled Miss Elting. "Experiences such as these aid in making us self-reliant."

"Have you a revolver on board?" questioned Gordon.

"Miss Elting has a revolver," answered Jane.

"We hope never to be forced to use it, however. The trouble is that our friend doesn't show himself. But just wait. One of these fine nights we'll catch him, then he'll take a bath in the lake."

"You have no idea who he is?"

"I can't say that we have," replied the guardian slowly.

"Do you know Mr. Dickinson?" asked Harriet, looking sharply at Gordon.

"Dee? Yes."

"What sort of person is he?"

"Oh, Dee's all right. He doesn't amount to a whole lot, but he is a good fellow. Why?" He shot a suspicious glance at Harriet.

"Nothing, except that he was looking after the boat for Miss Elting's brother before we came down here."

George put an end to the conversation by announcing that it was time they got the "Red Rover" out. The motor boat was paddled out into deeper water, then the houseboat was fastened to the motor boat and the power started, while all the boys save two pulled and hauled on the heavy houseboat. It floated slowly out into deeper water, while the girls cheered the efforts of the Tramp Club.

The anchor, in the meantime, had been put on board and a new loop made at the end of the rope. The girls now climbed into the rowboat and were rowed out to the "Red Rover," after which the motor boat began towing the "Red Rover" into the lake, with Captain George Baker at the helm. He had remained aboard to give further assistance, if needed.

"This is the worst old tub to steer that ever I took hold of," he declared.

"We found it so," agreed Harriet. "You will get the knack of it soon. When you do, you will find steering it rather easy."

They reached a cove farther up the lake, shortly after noon. Here the Meadow-Brook Girls decided to anchor, as there was a farmhouse on a bluff a little way inland, where they thought they would be able to get milk, eggs and vegetables. George decided that he would call in the motor boat and return to camp, promising to come over and see them later to get their orders for the following day.

Miss Elting and her girls expressed their appreciation of the kindness of Captain Baker and his friends.

"We haven't done anything worth while yet," retorted Captain Baker. "Perhaps we may give you a real opportunity to thank us, later on. On the other hand, you may not wish to thank us," he added, with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

"Now, I wonder what the boy meant by that?" thought Crazy Jane, regarding George shrewdly through half-closed eyes.

Captain Baker went over the side, boarding the motor boat after he had cast anchor for the girls and made everything snug. Then, with many good-byes on both sides, the power boat chugged away toward the Tramp Club camp, the Meadow-Brook Girls turning to the duties of the day.

The first task was to get their clothing in condition. There was now no one to interfere with them. Flatirons were put on the oil stove, which was once more in working order, and the work of pressing out their wrinkled clothing was begun. Harriet and Jane handled the irons. Miss Elting took down the curtains, which also were sadly in need of ironing, while Margery and Hazel prepared the noon meal. Tommy perched herself on the rail of the upper deck, and caroled forth a lisping ditty.

After dinner, Harriet and Jane rowed ashore and purchased supplies from the farmhouse that they had observed on their way to the present anchorage. The day passed all too quickly. Twilight was upon them almost before they realized it. Supper was late that night, and ere they had finished the dishes the motor boat drew up to them and the Tramp Club swarmed over the side of the houseboat with merry greetings.

"It is almost like being boarded by pirates," laughed Harriet. "In this case the pirates are welcome."

The boys had brought with them a bag of early apples, which Captain Baker gravely assured them had been duly bought and paid for. The boys also had brought their harmonicas, and later in the evening there was a harmonica concert on the upper deck of the "Red Rover." Later on the girls served their guests with cake and coffee. Larry Goheen, who, like Jane McCarthy, was gifted with true Irish wit, was the life of the party. He and Crazy Jane bandied words and said witty things to each other to the delight of the rest of the company.

The boys took their leave at ten o'clock. First, they left a lantern for the houseboat, which George Baker lighted and set in place at the stern. The anchor light of the houseboat had been lost in the storm of the previous night, or else it had been stolen, which latter they doubted. The girls were quite ready to retire, and lost no time in turning in after the departure of their guests. Then quiet settled down upon the "Red Rover." A gentle swell on the water lulled the girls into deep, peaceful slumber, until after sunrise next morning.

Tommy, for a wonder, was the first to get out of bed in the morning. Half-asleep she staggered, blinking, to the after deck, and then leaned over to wash the last of the sleep out of her eyes. There followed a sudden, sharp splash, and a moment later the blonde head of Tommy Thompson appeared from out of the lake. Tommy had fallen in again. This time she did not scream. She climbed aboard the boat, grumbling to herself, and proceeded to dress without further delay.

"For goodness' sake, Tommy, what is the matter?" demanded Harriet, sitting up in bed, rubbing her blinking eyes. "Did you fall into the lake again?"

"I gueth I had a bath thith morning," answered Tommy.

"An impromptu plunge, I should call it," answered Harriet smiling. Then she glanced sharply out through the rear door of the cabin. Her eyes narrowed as she gazed. She rose from her cot and walked to the door, looking over the water towards the opposite shore, her forehead wrinkling into a perplexed frown. "Girls! Get up! Come out and view the scenery. I promise you it is well worth seeing this morning. Oh, Miss Elting, do you know where you are?"

"Why—why, what does it mean?" gasped the girls who had hurriedly tumbled out following Harriet's summons.

The guardian could scarcely believe her eyes. They were not in the cove where the boat had been anchored the day before. The scenery on the shore near them was strange and new.

"What does it mean, Harriet?" demanded the guardian.

"I think a fairy must have touched the world with her wand and changed it into something else during the night," replied Harriet. "But don't you know where you are, Miss Elting?"

"I do not. Do you?"

"I think I do."

"I know," piped Tommy. "We are on the water. I wath in it earlier thith morning."

No one gave any heed to Tommy's pleasantry. They were too amazed and perplexed to give thought to anything but the strangeness of their surroundings.

"Then I will tell you," said Harriet, "We are on the other side of the lake. Do you see that white house on the bluff across the lake? Well, that is the farmhouse where we got our milk yesterday."

"But—but——" gasped Miss Elting.

"We are now where we wanted to be, across the lake near the beautiful islands and the pretty wooded shores."

"But how did we get here?" finished Miss Elting.

"I don't know. I know only that we're here. Somehow we must have made a mysterious journey across the lake during the night, or else the fairy that I spoke of has turned the lake around in the night and left us standing exactly as we were. But I can't think on an empty stomach. Let's dress and get breakfast; then we will consider what has happened to us. We are anchored all right, so there is no occasion for worry. The weather is fine too. Our unknown enemy did us a good turn, this time, if he only knew it. Come along, girls."



CHAPTER VIII

THE ISLAND OF DELIGHT

"It is the most mysterious thing I ever encountered," declared Miss Elting at breakfast, after she had stepped to the window again to gaze off over the lake to the cove—in the distance—where the "Red Rover" had lain when they retired the night before.

None of the girls except Harriet and Jane had much appetite for breakfast. They were too excited over the mysterious changing of their position.

"What I cannot understand," continued the guardian, "is how we, who pride ourselves on being woodsmen, trailers and scouts and all the other things, could possibly be carried across a lake, dragged over several miles of water and not know anything about it. Can you explain why we didn't wake up, Harriet Burrell?"

Harriet shook her head.

"And we are anchored just the same as we were last night," remarked Jane. "It's spirits, girls. No mistake about that."

"Now, Jane," laughed Harriet. "You know very well that the mere fact that our anchor was pulled up before we left the other side of the lake, then let down on this side, makes your spirit theory impossible."

"It wath thpookth," declared Tommy. "I thaw one thtanding on the handle of the mop pail latht night after I went to bed. I heard the water thplathh when he jumped in the pail."

"What a marvelous imagination you have," jeered Jane.

"All this talk doesn't help us to solve the mystery," averred Hazel. "How did we get here?"

"We do not know, but we are going to find out," replied Harriet.

"How?"

"I can't tell you. Something will turn up to give us a clue to this and the other mysteries. I have my suspicions of the Tramp Club in this matter. I am very glad that the rope was not cut, this time, or thrown overboard after being removed from the boat. If the boys are responsible for this, rest assured they'll be the first to tell us. You know the island that we admired so much from a distance, Miss Elting?

"We are within a mile of it now. After breakfast, with your permission I'll row over," continued Harriet. "I want to see that island at close range. Jane, will you come with me?" Jane was prompt to accept Harriet's invitation. Miss Elting also was invited, but concluded to remain with the other girls on the houseboat.

Harriet and her companion rowed rapidly to the island shortly after breakfast. It was a good sized island, as they discovered by rowing down one side of it, the side nearest to the shore of the mainland near which the houseboat was anchored. The girls rowed in so close that they were able to reach up and touch the foliage overhead and in places it trailed in the water. The island was rocky, still it was heavily wooded. One side of it was popular with picnic parties, but on the side where the girls were few boats ever landed. As they were rowing slowly along the edge, Harriet's eyes were constantly searching the shore.

"This is about what I thought we should find, Jane."

"What are you looking for, dear?"

"I am trying to find a place where we can run the 'Red Rover' in under the trees, and where the boat cannot be seen from the lake on either side of the island."

"You will have to change its color then. Why, in the sunlight you could see that tub fifty miles away."

Harriet did not answer. She had rested on the oars, and was peering over her right shoulder towards the thicket at the shore of the island.

"No, my dear, not where I am going to put the boat provided there is room for it. Do you see that current swirling right into the island there? I saw that from the deck of the 'Red Rover,' this morning, when looking through the glasses. At least I thought it was a current. The water everywhere else was very still, but a slight discoloration there, as you see it, led me to believe there was a creek running into the island."

"You have sharp eyes, Harriet. But where's your creek? I don't see it," laughed Jane.

"Neither do I. There may be no creek there, but if there is, it's going to be a splendid place to hide."

"Hide?" wondered Jane.

"Yes."

"But why should we hide, darlin'?"

"In that way we may be able to get some clue to our unknown enemy," nodded Harriet. "If the boys did tow us over here, of course they'll wonder what became of us."

"Do you think our enemy will try to find us?" asked Jane.

"Yes."

"I don't. We'll be wasting our time. The boys won't look for us, here, either."

"Well, here is the creek, at any rate," exclaimed Harriet, swinging the bow of the boat in as she spoke. "And oh, Jane! Look!"

A smooth sheet of dark water was revealed to the eyes of the girls. It was shimmering in the deep shadow of the foliage under which it flowed until it became lost in the shadows of foliage and rocks. Harriet drove her boat in without the least hesitancy. She saw by glancing above her head that there were no heavy limbs of trees hanging over the little waterway. A sounding with the oar developed the fact that there was only about three feet of water in the stream.

"Do you know where you are going, Harriet?" questioned Jane anxiously.

"No. But I don't care. Do you?"

"Not I. I can go where you go. Oh, look at that hole. It's a cave, Harriet, and the stream goes right into it."

"I think you are mistaken, Jane. That looks to me more as if the water had worn an opening in the rocks. The water must have been very high to make such a large opening. Yes. See! The water swirls in at one side of the opening and comes out on the other side, making a sort of horseshoe shape of the cut-out place. Isn't this a place in which to hide, Jane McCarthy?" cried Harriet triumphantly.

"Hurrah! The greatest hiding place in the world."

"And won't the Tramp Club be amazed when they find we are missing? They'll think their chance of winning the camera is doubtful."

"Perhaps they'll think we're drowned," answered Jane, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

"A little scare will do them good," returned Harriet, the mischievous sparkle appearing in the depths of her brown eyes. "What do you think of it, dear?"

"Fine! It's glorious. We'll have a picnic here. What fun, what fun! And it's such a beautiful place too. What shall we call it?"

"I think we might call it the Island of Delight," answered Harriet, after brief reflection.

"That's the name! Now, let's explore the place."

"Oh, no, not now, Jane. We must go and lay our plan before Miss Elting first. I do not think she will object, but we must ask her, of course, before we make any further arrangements."

"When do you plan to move in here?"

"Just as soon as we are able to get the 'Red Rover' in here. I am in a hurry. The boys are likely to be sailing over here almost any time now. We must get out of sight before they come near here."

"Hurrah!" shouted Crazy Jane.

"Save your breath. You will need it before we have gotten our big boat in. It is going to be a hard pull to get it through all this foliage and then it is going to be another difficult job to get it out again. When we get those boys on the Island of Delight we are going to give them something to think about," chuckled Harriet. "This time, the Meadow-Brook Girls will score."

"I should like to know how you are going to get them here?" wondered Jane.

"Oh, that is easy. One doesn't even need to think to know how to do that," laughed Harriet Burrell.

Jane regarded her admiringly.

"You sure are a wonderful girl. My daddy says he'd give a million if you were his daughter."

"I'm worth much less than that," smiled Harriet. "Now let's go back. We haven't any time to spare. When we get out into the lake both of us will row, but let's be certain that there is no one in sight. We don't want to be seen coming from this place or our plans will be spoiled before we have had a chance to carry them out."

They shoved the rowboat back through the foliage by placing the oars on the bottom and pushing. They made better progress this way than they could have made by rowing, for the low hanging branches of the trees fouled the oars, making rowing a difficult method of travel, as they had learned when they entered the narrow little waterway.

No person was in sight when they emerged. The two girls bent to their oars with a will and made rapid progress on their way back toward the "Red Rover."

Those on the houseboat saw the girls coming.

"Harriet ith in a hurry about thomething," observed Tommy, wrinkling her forehead into sharp little ridges of perplexity. She did not understand how any one could be in a hurry on such a hot day as this.

The rowers reached the "Red Rover," and jumping aboard, their faces flushed and eyes sparkling, proceeded to tell their companions of their great find.

"And what is your plan?" asked the guardian, smiling good-naturedly.

Harriet told her, whispering part of what she had to say, in the ear of Miss Elting.

"That will be fine," glowed the guardian, instantly entering into the spirit of the plan. "We shall at least have a good time there."

"And we'll be hidden from the world so no one will know we are on this island at all," interjected Jane.

"I am with you, girls. But we must not let people get the idea that anything has happened to us. That would not be right, you know."

"No one about here knows, or at least cares, what happens to us, unless it is the Tramp Club," replied Harriet, "Besides, I shall find a way to let them know we are above water, rather than underneath it."

"All right. I suppose you wish to move into this retreat to-day, Captain Harriet?"

"Yes. At once."

"Then get under way, Captain, as soon as you wish. Able seaman Tommy Thompson will heave the anchor for you," averred the guardian merrily.

"Able theaman Tommy will do nothing of the thort," retorted Tommy. "Able theaman Tommy will heave herthelf overboard if thhe trieth to do any heaving at all."

"Miss Elting, I think you can steer the boat. I am needed in the rowboat with Jane," interrupted Harriet.

"Girls, I am afraid it is going to be a pretty hard pull in this heat. Hadn't we better wait until the evening?" suggested the guardian.

Harriet and Jane protested that they didn't mind the heat at all, and that they could pull the big boat over to the island without the least difficulty. Miss Elting offered no further objections. The "Red Rover" was a scene of activity from that moment on. All hands except Tommy assisted in getting the anchor aboard. Harriet and Jane, without loss of time, jumped into the rowboat and began pulling away. It was hard work to get the houseboat started, but once under way it followed along fairly well.

Miss Elting handled the tiller, while Hazel, Margery and Tommy acted as lookouts to inform the rowers if any motor boats were sighted. The lookouts watched the lake through their glasses. The sun glaring down on the red sides of the "Red Rover" made the boat visible as far as eyes could reach. It was even discovered by one of the Tramp Club boys, but so slowly did it move that he was not aware that it was moving at all. From the other side of the lake the houseboat appeared to be standing still, until finally it disappeared altogether. He wondered a little over this at the time, then forgot all about the circumstance until later.



In the meantime Harriet and Crazy Jane were heading toward the Island of Delight, pulling at the oars with backs bent to their task. They were destined to have a most delightful time on this their Island of Delight and to experience some thrills as well, and Harriet's plans were to work out better than she knew.



CHAPTER IX

THE TRAMP CLUB IS ALARMED

Now that they were masked by the island, the girls also were shut off from a view of the lake, save for the narrow ribbon of water that lay between them and the nearby shore, so they rowed faster than before.

"Can you steer into this opening?" called Harriet.

"I am afraid I can't," answered Miss Elting. "You will have to put me aboard, Jane, I'll have Hazel help you pull in; then we shall have to push the rest of the way."

Harriet Burrell sprang on board a few minutes later. She set Miss Elting and Margery at work with poles at the stern of the boat pushing, as soon as they entered the shallow water. Tommy had been posted on the upper deck, from which the awning posts had been removed. Tommy's business was to hold her arms out at right angles to her body and by moving them as directed indicate to Harriet which way to steer. It will be remembered that Harriet was unable to see over the deckhouse from where she stood when guiding the craft. She could see only by leaning out on either side.

They entered the narrow channel very slowly. But no sooner had they gotten well in than a cry from Tommy Thompson told them that the little lisping girl was in trouble.

Tommy had been swept from her feet by the foliage. Not only that, but in floundering about she had rolled over the side of the boat. A mighty splash and a second cry gave additional evidence that Tommy was in further difficulties.

"Help me! I'm in the water!" she screamed, coming up sputtering and coughing.

"Stay there and push," answered Harriet, laughing so that she bumped the nose of the houseboat into the bank on the right side of the creek. "You can't get any wetter. The water is shallow. Come. Don't hold up the ship."

Tommy had no intention of pushing. Her sole ambition at this moment was to get aboard.

"You may do your own piloting after thith," she declared, sitting down on the stern of the boat with a suggestion of a sob in her voice.

"There, there, Tommy. You must learn to take the bitter with the sweet. We must do that all through life," comforted Harriet wisely. "You aren't hurt."

"No, but I'm wet. My feelingth are hurt, too."

"Don't think about it any more," advised Harriet. "Go into the cabin and change your wet clothes. Then you'll feel better."

"Will you steer, Miss Elting?" Harriet asked the guardian. "We are slowing down too much. If we stop it will be difficult to get another start."

The boat moved faster when Harriet took hold of the pushing pole. Jane had ceased rowing because she was at the end of her tow line and had proceeded as far into the cave-like opening in the rocks as she could go. She pulled the rowboat to one side and called to the helmswoman of the "Red Rover" not to run her down.

"Snub her nose against the side. We don't want to bump into the rocks," ordered Captain Harriet.

"Thnub whothe nothe?" questioned Tommy apprehensively.

"The boat's, of course, you goose," answered Harriet laughingly. "That's it. Will it go in clear, Jane?"

"Yes, all right."

"Good. I was certain it would."

"How are we going to keep the boat in here? It will drift out with the current, will it not?" asked the guardian.

"We will put out the anchor at the other end, giving it a short rope. That will hold us. The current is not swift."

While she was holding the "Red Rover" in place, Jane and Miss Elting dragged the anchor to the inner end of the opening, put it over and made it fast with a shortened rope.

"There. Now let's sit down and rest our backs," exclaimed Harriet. Her face was red and perspiring. "I'm tired."

"Harriet, you must be tired. You have wonderful endurance," said the guardian.

"Tho am I tired. I'm worn out," declared Tommy.

"Tired? Why, you haven't done a thing, you dear little goose," chuckled Crazy Jane.

"I know that. It maketh me tired to watch you folkth work. Now, what crathy thing are we going to do?"

"After we have rested we are going to explore our Island of Delight. Won't that be splendid?" questioned Harriet, with glowing eyes. "Just imagine that we are on an unknown, mysterious island. Perhaps there are savages, wild beasts and——"

"And thingth," finished Tommy.

"Yes, and things," agreed Harriet.

"Perhaps there is another phase of this game of hide and seek that you have not thought of, Harriet," pondered Miss Elting. "How are we to get fresh supplies?"

"There are several farmhouses within half an hour's row of us. By going to them early in the evening we shall not be discovered."

Miss Elting nodded. Margery wanted to know how long they were going to stay in that hole in the ground.

"Until you girls get tired of it," answered Harriet good-naturedly. "As I understand our arrangement, we have the privilege of expressing our choice in all matters that come up, Miss Elting's decision being final. What a glorious place this is!"

"Aren't we going to explore our Island of Delight now?" demanded Jane.

"It is your discovery—yours and Harriet's," was Miss Elting's smiling reply. "Suit yourselves as to exploring it."

"We have time to look about a little before night," answered Harriet. "It won't be dark for a little while yet."

They were about to start out when the distant chug of a motor boat was heard. "I guess we will not go just yet," she added. "Wait. I'll row down to the mouth and see if it is the Tramp Club's boat."

Harriet paddled part way to the lake edge, then finding the bank accessible, sprang out and crept the rest of the way on shore. She was in time to see a power boat moving slowly past. It was close to the shore of the island. Several young men were aboard. One was standing up, gazing toward the island, one hand shading his eyes. Harriet chuckled when she recognized the standing boy as George Baker. There could be no doubt that the boys were looking for the Meadow-Brook Girls. The watching girl chuckled with delight. Then the thought occurred to her that some way must be found to communicate with the boys soon, so that the latter might know they were safe. Just how that was to be accomplished Harriet did not know. The launch soon passed on out of sight.

As a matter of fact, Captain George Baker and his companions were a little disturbed over not finding the "Red Rover." Sam said he had seen the boat that afternoon, and unless it had picked up a tow the houseboat could not be far away. They moved along the shore, peering into each cove on that side of the lake until twilight fell and it was no longer light enough to see into the shadows.

"It's my opinion that those girls will win the wager unless we do some hustling," declared Larry Goheen, when they had once more returned to their camp on the other side of the lake.

"Harriet Burrell is very clever," answered George. "I wish we had gone ashore over there near where we last saw the 'Red Rover.' I'll tell you what we'll do. We'll run over there to-morrow and make inquiries of the farmers nearby. We ought at least to get some trace of them."

The boat turned homeward after having encircled the island. Harriet, as soon as the motor boat had passed on out of sight, hurried back to her companions.

"Girls! It's the boys," she cried. "They are looking for us. I could see that. They were so close to the island that I could almost have hit them with a stone."

"Provided you could throw straight," interjected Miss Elting.

"Yes. I wouldn't have to be a very good thrower to reach a boat so close as that one was."

"Shall we go exploring now?" asked Margery.

"I don't believe it would be prudent. Those boys are sharp. They may be on the island at this very moment. I don't hear their boat any more," replied Harriet.

"We will postpone exploring until to-morrow," announced Miss Elting. "And now, suppose we get supper? This is a cosy place. I never saw a more delightful nook. To-morrow morning, if the coast be clear, we will look about us. How about the farmhouse?"

"I am going over there as soon as it gets a little darker."

Harriet did not go until after supper, which proved to be one of the most enjoyable meals to which the girls had ever sat down. Their surroundings were so romantic that the situation appealed strongly to each of them. The Meadow-Brook Girls were in high good humor. Later in the evening, Harriet, accompanied by Jane and Hazel, paddled the rowboat out from the island and rowed almost straight across to the shore of the mainland. Hiding their boat in some bushes they made their way to a farmhouse, and there arranged for milk. Harriet had a confidential chat with the woman of the house, who readily agreed to the girl's proposition to assist in fooling the boys. The woman further agreed to provide them with such supplies as they needed. For such as they took with them the girls paid then and there. Harriet chuckled all the way back to the island. She believed that she had planned in such a way as thoroughly to mystify George Baker and his friends, and at the same time convince the latter that the Meadow-Brook Girls were not in trouble.

Reaching the island they found their companions eagerly awaiting them. To Miss Elting, Harriet confided her plan. Then, after a happy evening, the houseboat party went to bed, looking forward with keen expectation to what awaited them on the morrow, when Harriet's new plan was to be tried.



CHAPTER X

THEIR SUSPICIONS AROUSED

That night there was a shower. The rain, beating down on the foliage and the end of the houseboat that protruded from the cave, served to freshen the air and brought out the fragrance of green leaves and flowers. When the sun came out next morning every leaf and petal was glistening, birds were singing overhead and the girls uttered exclamations of delight as they ran out in their bathing suits and jumped into the water for their morning baths.

For several moments they splashed about in the shallow water, then, scrambling aboard their houseboat, enjoyed brisk rub downs, after which their appetites were sufficiently sharpened to cause them to hurry the breakfast with all possible speed. They ate under the light of the lamp that hung from the cabin ceiling. Had the foliage not been so wet they would have permitted the "Red Rover" to drift out from under the rocks, but it was decided that the trees were too wet for this, so they ate in the darkened cave.

Immediately after breakfast they put on their old khaki skirts, that they had worn part of the time on their long tramp across country the previous season, and started out on their deferred exploring trip about the island. Exclamations of delight were frequent. The island was full of rocky nooks and dells; there were numerous wild flowers, while in the great trees that overhung the shore of the island an occasional squirrel whisked back and forth.

"It really is the Island of Delight!" cried Crazy Jane. "How I wish my dear old dad were here! Wouldn't he want to buy this island? I'm going to ask him to come here some day, but I'm afraid he'll say he hasn't the time."

"This island is too large to explore this morning," declared Miss Elting.

"It may take some days," Harriet nodded, as they strolled about, "but it will be delightful work."

On the outer side they discovered evidences that picnic parties had been there. And then they came upon the remains of a campfire, but it was a small one, as though there had been but a solitary camper, and that some time back.

"I hope no one comes while we're here," murmured Margery.

"How selfish!" laughed Hazel.

By seven o'clock the delighted girls began to retrace their steps toward the houseboat.

"Now, let's go down to the shore and take a look out over the lake," proposed Harriet, and this was done.

There were several boats in sight, but at the distance these looked like mere specks. A large excursion steamer was passing in the middle of the lake. Feeling quite certain that they were in no danger of being discovered the girls found a place in the sunlight and there sat down to bask in the pleasant warmth of the sun.

"Get back, at once!" cried Harriet, suddenly springing to her feet, then crouching. "We don't want to be seen."

The girls retreated up the shore in some confusion, not stopping to ask questions until they were concealed.

"Oh, now I hear it," cried Hazel. "A motor boat coming! Do you think it's the one the boys are using?"

"I don't know," Harriet replied, "but it's heading straight for the island, and we must be ready to seek hiding on the 'Red Rover.'"

Anxious eyes peered through the bushes, watching the approaching boat for some time.

"It is the boys!" announced Miss Elting finally.

Tommy leaped up, and started to run.

"Wait!" commanded Harriet. "Let's make sure what they are going to do before we run away. We may have to creep across that open space there. I think they can see it from the lake. If they are coming to land on the island they will have to go farther to the right. That will be our time to get back."

But the Tramp Club had no intention of landing at that moment. They were nearing the island for the purpose of looking it over. When they had come as close as they cared to run they turned the boat sharply and moved along at a slower rate of speed. They were out of sight of the girls a few moments after that.

"Now for the boat. They are going around to the other side of the island," declared Harriet. "I think our plan is going to work."

* * * * *

For some reason George Baker was considerably interested in that island. There were many other islands in the lake, but this one had come to hold a sort of fascination for him.

"I don't believe they are over there," reflected George.

"We should have seen them yesterday if they had been," answered Billy Gordon. "It's a jolly place, though. We'll come over here and camp when we get ready. It is seldom that any one goes there."

"Where's that farmhouse we saw yesterday?" questioned Sam.

"On the other side of the lake, about half way down," answered Gordon. "There is a pier there so we can land."

Of course all of this the Meadow-Brook Girls did not hear. But, having reached the houseboat, they made their way down the inlet, and were near the mouth of it when they sighted the motor boat on that side of the island. The girls saw it head straight for the pier where Harriet had landed the previous evening on her way to the farmhouse for supplies. The boys tied up the boat and two of them got out and went up the slope toward the farmhouse.

The two boys, George and Billy, returned to the motor boat walking rapidly.

"Did you find out anything?" called Sam.

"Yes."

"Anything wrong?" asked Larry.

"I don't know. It's a puzzle," replied Captain Baker. "Two of them were up at that farmhouse last night. The queer thing about it is that the woman up there saw the 'Red Rover' lying down here yesterday. Then the boat was gone when she looked again. I don't understand it."

"Some one gave them a tow. Don't you tumble to that?" asked Sam.

"Where to?"

"I give it up. I don't know."

"If nothing has happened them they can't be far away, or the girls wouldn't have gone up there last night."

"What time were they there, George?"

"Some time after dark. I didn't ask the time. I asked the woman if they were coming again. She said she didn't know. I told her we would come back later in the day, and, if she saw either of the girls in the meantime, to tell them that we wished to know where they are, as we had something to tell them. It was after dark when they were there. I don't know what to make of it."

"Well, they are all right, so what's the use in worrying?" asked Larry.

"Yes, they aren't drowned. I haven't any too much confidence in that old scow. It is likely to spring a leak and go down any old time," declared Billy Gordon. "I wouldn't trust myself in it over night."

"You are not likely to get the chance," jeered Sam. "What are we going to do now?"

"Go on to Wantagh, then to camp. We will come back before supper. While we are out we'll make inquiries. Some one may have seen the boat. It probably is laid up in a cove somewhere along this shore," decided George.

"We should have seen it if it had been," replied Billy.

"How about that island? Is there any place along the shore where they could hide the boat?" questioned Baker.

Billy shook his head.

"You have seen the whole island. We went all the way around it yesterday. It is my opinion that they are going to tie the score."

"I am beginning to think so myself. But we'll beat them yet," chuckled Larry Goheen.

"We will have to wake up in the morning earlier than we usually do," returned George. "You ought to have seen the way they won that walking match. Outwit the Meadow-Brook Girls three times in succession. Well, try it!"

"If they are so smart, what's the use in bothering about them?" answered Larry.

"Because I don't propose to have them get the best of us every time," returned George. "That's why I made this wager."

"They didn't get the best of us the other night, did they?" grinned Billy. "We're one trick ahead." All the boys except George laughed heartily over some little joke of their own.

"Look here, fellows," said Baker. "We think we are mighty smart, but I'm telling you that we may not be as smart as we believe. They may be laughing at us all the time."

The two boys got into the launch and Billy started the motor. The launch backed away, turned slowly about, then followed nearly the same course that it had on the previous day. This time it crept along still closer to the Island of Delight. The girls, who were watching it, crouched low, almost flattening themselves on the ground in their efforts to avoid discovery. The boys, at one time, seemed to be gazing right at them.

Yet even with this keen study of the shores of the island the Tramp Club boys passed by the entrance to the anchorage of the "Red Rover" without having discovered the little inlet.

"I'm going over there to find out what they found out," cried Harriet. "Who is going along? Tommy, I'll take you, Hazel and Margery this time if you wish to go. You haven't been out with me at all."

The four got into the small boat and rowed across the water to the same landing where less than half an hour before the boys' boat had been tied up. What Harriet learned at the farmhouse, filled her with delight.

"The boys know we are all right now. They are coming back again this afternoon. They are going to get another surprise, girls. Oh, we'll win that camera, won't we? Won't Miss Elting be amused when she hears what we have to tell her?" said Harriet.

"I gueth they won't want to thee uth again," suggested Tommy.

"Yes, they will. They have something to tell us," returned Harriet mysteriously.

"What is it?" asked Margery.

"I am not going to say. At least, not until I am sure it is so. I wonder if they will get suspicious of the island and search it for us?"

The Meadow-Brook Girls were on the alert all the rest of the day. They posted a lookout for the boys, in the person of Hazel Holland, who was to be depended upon. They drew the "Red Rover" into the cave as far as it would go, only the tip of the after deck protruding from the mouth of the cave. There was no more exploring that day. They did not dare get too far away from their hidden home, fearing lest the boys might come upon them unawares. Every boat on the lake in the vicinity was regarded with suspicion. But it was not until nearly five o'clock that Hazel came in with the report that the launch was heading across the upper end of the island, evidently making for the dock visited by it earlier in the day.

After reaching the landing, Captain Baker went up to the farmhouse alone. With his companions he had been searching along the lake the greater part of the afternoon for information about the "Red Rover," but without result. It was therefore with some misgivings that he once more knocked at the door of the farmhouse.

"Have you seen anything of the young ladies?" he asked the instant the door was opened in response to his knock.

"Oh! You are the young man who was here this morning? Yes, I've heard from them," replied the woman, with a twinkle in her eyes that Captain Baker failed to observe.

"You have? What have you heard?"

"The young women were here very shortly after you left this morning."

"You don't say so? Thank you ever so much. Did they say where they were stopping?" he questioned eagerly.

The woman shook her head.

"But they must be near here?"

"Maybe they are and maybe they ain't." The farmer's wife did not know exactly where the girls were, so she had told him no untruth.

"Haven't you seen their boat?"

"Not since the other day."

"That is queer. I don't understand it," pondered George. "Did they leave any message for us?"

"Yes," laughed the farmer's wife, keenly enjoying the puzzled look on Baker's face. "The young lady left word that if you wanted to see them you'd have to find them."

"That's the word, is it?" demanded George grimly, pulling his hat down over his eyes. "The challenge is accepted, and we'll find them!"

"Not!" added Larry Goheen skeptically, when he heard of George's confident answer.



CHAPTER XI

MARGERY MAKES A CUSTARD

"Oh, dear, but I jutht do wonder what the boyth are going to do!" lisped Tommy, as the motor boat started once more on its travels.

"There's nothing very uncertain, in their own minds," laughed Harriet. "Just see how fast they're going. They've decided upon something."

"They're going back to their camp, but I've an idea they're going to come over soon," guessed Hazel, "and make a regular search for us."

"Something of that sort," agreed Miss Elting.

"Well," said Jane sagely, "from their speed and the comfortable way they're all sitting, I'm sure the boys are not doing any guessing about their plans."

"No. They've pathed the guething over to uth," lisped Tommy sagely.

"Anyway," said Jane McCarthy, "if our friends can't find us, then our enemies can't, either."

"I hadn't thought of that," Harriet nodded.

"I wish I knew what the boys' plan is. At any rate we must begin to think of outwitting them a second time."

"How?" asked Hazel eagerly.

"Oh, I have the greatest scheme! That is, if they come back again," added Harriet. "We will just have those boys so mystified that they won't know what they are doing."

"What do you propose to do?" asked Hazel.

"That is a dark secret. We won't even whisper it to the little birds yet, lest they carry it to our friends the tramps. I have an idea that our friends will be back here to-night. Just what they are going to do I don't know, but I think they are going to spy on the farmhouse. I wish they would come over to our Island of Delight. There are a number of things we could do to puzzle them. And then—"

"And then the wise housekeeper forgot all about her supper," interrupted Miss Elting, amid a chorus of laughter and many blushes from Harriet, who, in the excitement of planning to get the better of George Baker and his friends, had forgotten her household duties.

"Very good. I will confess that I have been dilatory. What do you girls wish for supper?"

"The same old thing—the old stand-by, bacon and eggs and coffee, and—"

"I know what I am going to have," interrupted Margery. "I'm going to have some custard. I haven't had any custard since I left home."

"Can you make it?" asked the guardian.

"Of course I can."

"You are quite sure of that?" teased Harriet.

"I guess I know. I've made it ever so many times. You will like it, if you get a chance to eat any of it. I am making this for myself."

"Thelfithh," jeered Tommy. "Make me thome plum pudding and thome angel food while you are about it. I jutht love angel food and plum duff, ath my father callth it."

"Custard is good enough for you, Tommy Thompson," laughed Margery. "May I make the custard, Miss Elting?"

The guardian nodded smilingly.

"If you think you can."

"I'll show you. Where are the milk and the eggs and the other things?"

"The milk is in that pail that hangs over the side at the other end of the boat. The eggs are in the paper box behind the stove. The rest of your materials are in the supply box. As for water, there is a lake full of it, enough to make custard for the whole world," remarked Miss Elting.

"Now you are teasing me—and you, too, Harriet. You will be glad I thought of it, however, after you have tasted the custard."

"After I have tasted it, yes," returned Harriet significantly.

That there was some hidden meaning in Harriet's remark, Margery well knew. That was as near as she got to understanding just then. Later on she understood more fully.

"I am afraid you haven't time to make the custard for supper," added Harriet.

"It will do for dessert later in the evening. We don't have to eat everything all at once, you know." Margery was in a flurry of importance, over the idea of making the custard. Tommy, despite her apparent indifference, was eagerly waiting for the custard. It was one of her favorite dishes.

Buster broke the eggs in an agate dish, then added the milk, a cupful for each person. The eggs, of course, had first been beaten up and the sugar added. Harriet, with her skirt pinned up, was frying bacon and potatoes until the smoke in the cabin was so thick as to drive out those who were not actively engaged in getting the supper. Harriet and Margery stuck to their posts, Tommy Thompson watched the operations from the deck, now and then coughing to remind them that she was there.

"There, I think everything is ready," announced Buster. "How soon are you going to finish with the oil stove?"

"Please do not wait for me. I shall not be done here for some little time. The coffee isn't ground yet. What part of the stove do you require for your custard?"

"The oven, of course. Don't you know how to make custard?"

"Oh, yes." Harriet turned her face from her companion, apparently to avoid the smoke, but in reality that Margery might not observe her laughter. "Help yourself to the oven."

Margery groped about underneath the oil stove, burned her fingers and bumped her forehead against the edge of the stove.

"If you please, don't knock the top of the stove off. We are some distance from another stove," reminded Harriet.

"I—I can't find the oven," wailed Margery.

"Don't you know why?"

"No-o."

"That is strange."

"Where is the oven?"

"There isn't any on this stove. Hadn't you discovered that yet, you silly?"

"No—oven?" repeated Buster.

"No. No oven."

"Then I've mixed my custard for nothing?"

"I am afraid you have unless you can turn the mixture to some other purpose."

Margery stared at Harriet in silence, then carefully setting the dish on the little shelf above the stove she sat down on the floor and burst into tears.

Harriet left her frying pan, and, taking Buster firmly by an arm, lifted the girl to her feet and led her out to the after deck.

"Wha—at are you go—oing to do?"

"Bathe your face for you and set you down on the deck to cool off," replied Harriet.

"You knew all the time that there wasn't any oven," sobbed Buster.

"Yes, of course I did. So should you have known. I let you go on—"

"Because you are mean," interjected the unhappy Margery.

"No. To teach you to use your eyes. You should learn to be observing. Didn't you hear us talking about that oven when Jane brought home the stove?"

"Ye—es. I had forgotten."

"Of course you had. Now get ready for supper. To-morrow I will make an oven of stones on the shore and you shall make your custard and you shall have it all to yourself, if you wish, just to punish us for being so mean to you. Will that satisfy you, Buster?"

"Ye—ye—yes," answered Buster, with three distinct catches in her voice.

"Come, now, dry your eyes, that's a dear," urged Harriet. "Tommy!"

"Yeth?"

"Will you kindly place the chairs. Supper will be served in the cabin as soon as the coffee is ready."

Tommy proceeded noisily about her task of putting the chairs in place at the table. Soon after that Harriet with a dish towel whipped the smoke out of the cabin and then announced that supper was ready. Margery's eyes were red and she had little to say, but her appetite was unaffected by her late bitter disappointment.

"Now tell us of your latest scheme, Harriet," urged the guardian after they had settled down to their supper.

"My scheme? Which scheme?"

There was a laugh at Harriet's expense.

"There, girls! You see. Harriet has so many schemes and plans in her head that she doesn't know which is which. I mean your second scheme for fooling the Tramp Club, Harriet."

"Oh, yes. I know. I am not going to put it into operation until to-morrow. You may not approve of it, but I hope you will."

"I don't think you have reason to complain of my opposing your plans, Harriet. To tell the truth, I enjoy them as much as you. But before we go any further with our discussion, do you not think it would be an excellent idea to hang a blanket over that rear door. The light might attract attention from the lake and bring undesirable persons here."

"Thank you. I never thought of it." Harriet rose at once. Selecting a long blanket, she fastened it over the doorway, after which she drew down the shades. The door at the other end of the boat opened on to a solid wall of rock, so that no light could escape from that end. Harriet was about to resume her seat at the table, when she paused sharply, raising her hand as a signal for silence.

"What is it, dear?" asked Miss Elting in a low voice.

"I heard a shout. There is it again. Did you hear?"

The guardian and the other girls nodded.

"It isn't far from here. May I go down to the end of the creek and find out what it means?"

"Wait a moment." The guardian turned down the light, then stepped out to the after deck, followed by the girls. From the deck they could hear the shouts much more plainly, but the shouters were too far away to make it possible to distinguish what they were saying.

"Yes, you may go, but do nothing imprudent," added Miss Elting.

"I will try not to do so."

"May I go with you, Harriet?" asked Jane.

"Perhaps it would be better for me to go alone." Miss Elting agreed with this, fearing that the girls might begin to laugh or talk and thus attract attention to themselves. Harriet quickly got the rowboat and began pushing her way down through the overhanging foliage that smote her in the face with every move of the oar.

The night was very dark. She had to feel her way along, but even at that the boat frequently bumped into the bank. Reaching the lake, she paused to look and listen. Not more than ten rods above she saw lights on the shore of the island and a light on the water. A motor boat chugged a few times, the plash of an oar followed, then more shouts.

"I simply must find out what is going on there," muttered Harriet. "I wonder if it can be—Yes, I'll row a little further along. No one will see me unless I get within range of the lanterns there."

Taking careful note of the entrance to their secret creek that she might recognize the spot when she returned, Harriet crept to the stern of the rowboat and using one oar as a paddle propelled the boat through the water as quietly as possible.

As she neared the scene of activity the voices of the newcomers grew louder. Harriet finally ceased paddling and permitted her boat to drift, steering well into the shadows, hugging the shore of the island until she could touch it with an oar. Unless she splashed with the oar, she was reasonably certain of being able to avoid discovery. The Meadow-Brook girl was now within a few yards of where the operations were going on. Her eyes were fixed on the outlines of a launch in which two persons appeared to be working, when all at once and with a suddenness that nearly brought a cry to her lips, a canoe shot out of the shadows directly ahead of her and sped noiselessly out into the lake. The girl did not even remember to have seen any one in the canoe so quickly had it appeared and disappeared. She wondered, too, at the skill that enabled one to paddle without noise. A gentle ripple—the wake of the canoe—splashed against the bows of her own boat.

"Surely, I am not dreaming," whispered the girl. "I must have startled the man. Who could it have been, and is it possible that he has been here watching us?" A number of surmises entered the mind of Harriet Burrell. She collected her thoughts quickly and held her boat with the oar, for she was drifting perilously close to the launch. She was now in plain sight of the campers on shore. She could hear every word that was uttered there.

Harriet listened for fully fifteen minutes. All at once, she swung the rowboat about, leaning her body to one side to assist in the turning. The second oar that had been laid across the seats lengthwise of the boat rolled to the other side with a rumble and a clatter that to her strained nerves sounded like thunder.

"Who's there?" called a voice from the launch.

There was no reply. Harriet, in her haste to get away, splashed noisily. She heard a quick exclamation, then the sound of two people jumping into a rowboat. She knew it was the rowboat she had seen lying alongside the launch. She knew, too, that the rowers were pursuing her. But even then Harriet did not lose her presence of mind. Instead of doing so, she dipped her oars and sent the boat shooting ahead, with the water rippling away from the bows, making a noise that she feared her pursuers would hear and thus be able to locate her position accurately. Harriet had not once glanced over her shoulder, but her ears were on the alert and by the sense of sound she was able to gauge the distance between herself and the pursuing boat.

"They're gaining on me!" she muttered. "But I'm going to fool them just the same."



CHAPTER XII

MAKING AN EXCITING DISCOVERY

The Meadow-Brook girl did not dare to go on and enter the secret channel for fear of exposing the hiding place of the houseboat. She was watching for some other nook into which to drive her boat. In case her pursuers discovered her she determined to jump out and make her escape as best she could, leaving the boat on the beach. Then a sudden idea occurred to her.

Harriet picked up a tin dipper that lay in the boat and that had been used for bailing. This she hurled as far out in the lake as she could throw it. The dipper fell with a splash that was plainly heard both by herself and those in the pursuing boat.

"Out there he is!" cried a voice in the other boat. She heard the pursuers head out. Harriet took advantage of the opportunity to move her rowboat ahead a few rods. She then turned it sharply to the shore. The girl was fortunate in being able to find cover in the overhanging foliage, behind which she took refuge. The water was quite shallow there. The keel of the rowboat touched bottom. She heard the grating sound as the boat grounded, but knew that she was not so firmly aground that she could not get away.

The men in the rowboat found neither the dipper nor the boat of which they were in pursuit. Instead of rowing on, they craftily turned sharply in toward shore in order to get the benefit of the shadows. One within the shadow could see out fairly well, but to one who was out in the lake, the shores and the water for some rods about were enveloped in blackness.

"Pull out a little, but keep close to the shore," commanded a voice. "That fellow played some sort of trick on us and has gone on. It's curious we didn't hear him. Row fast and I'll keep watch. If he gets out into the lake we've got him."

The rowboat shot past Harriet Burrell's hiding place so close that she might have reached out an oar and touched it. She was tempted to give the person in the stern of the boat a poke with her oar, but wisely refrained from doing anything of the sort. After the boat had passed, Harriet sat perfectly still, arms folded, a quiet smile on her face.

"Harriet Burrell, you are a pretty good scout, after all. You wouldn't have made such a bad Indian. I'll rap on wood."

She drummed on the gunwale of the boat. "I hope they won't go far. The girls will worry if I do not return soon. Still, Miss Elting will know that there is a good reason for my remaining away so long. There they come."

The rowboat was returning. The rowers were moving more slowly now, talking and wondering as to the man who had been spying on them. They passed her talking loudly. One of them was threatening vengeance. The girl waited until they had rowed a safe distance from her, after which she cautiously pushed her boat out and began rowing toward home. Harriet was chuckling under her breath, but her eyes and ears were on the alert. She had not forgotten that canoe. Any person who could paddle like that was well worth looking out for.

Harriet rowed past the entrance to their retreat without having observed it. But it was only a few moments later when she discovered her error. She turned her boat more carefully this time, then rowed it into the secret waterway. So quietly did she enter that her companions did not discover her until the nose of her rowboat bumped the scow.

There was a little scream, quickly suppressed by Miss Elting.

"Is that you, Harriet?" she questioned, with no trace of alarm in her voice.

"Yes."

"You were so quiet about it that you gave me the creeps," declared Margery.

"Did you find them, Harriet?" asked Jane.

"Yes. And they came near to finding me too. They chased me nearly all the way home. I hid in the bushes and waited. They passed me and came on this way, I should judge nearly up to the entrance, after which they turned about and went back. That isn't the only strange experience I have had since I left you." Harriet related the incident of the mysterious canoe.

"What were the men doing?"

"They were pitching camp. We are going to have near neighbors," answered Harriet, unshipping the oar and tying the rowboat to the scow.

"Of course, you do not know who they are?"

"Yes, I do. It is George Baker and his friends."

A chorus of exclamations greeted this announcement.

"They have come over here to find us. I think we will play our second trick on them to-night. It won't do to wait until to-morrow. We will get caught if we do."

"Those boys certainly are persistent. They must suspect that we are in hiding somewhere hereabouts."

"Yes. I wanted them to think so. I did not wish them to believe we had been drowned and have the entire lakeside out looking for us. That wouldn't be fun. It is more fun to tease and tantalize them."

"Maybe they've got an oven tho Buthter can make her cuthtard," suggested Tommy Thompson.

"Please do be quiet, Tommy. We want to hear about the Tramp Club and what we are to do to outwit them," said Miss Elting. "Did they bring their tent with them, Harriet?"

"Yes. At least they have a small tent. I don't believe they have moved their permanent camp, but they are here in force, that is certain. Now, I'll tell you about the surprise I propose to give them."

Harriet explained briefly. At first the girls were not in favor of it, but after she had gone into further details they grew enthusiastic.

"You certainly do love to work, don't you, Harriet Burrell?" said Miss Elting with a laugh. "But it is good for you. I like to see you all active. One is likely to grow lazy on a houseboat."

"Not on thith houtheboat," complained Tommy. "It keepeth me tired out all the time watching other folkth work. My boneth ache all night long, I am tho tired. When I get home I'll thleep for a month to make up for lotht time."

"Had we better start now, Harriet?" asked the guardian.

"Oh, mercy, no; The boys are up yet and perhaps out on the lake. I propose that we go to bed, setting our alarm clock for two o'clock in the morning."

"Help, help!" moaned Margery. "You'll be the death of me."

"Thave me!" murmured Tommy.



CHAPTER XIII

AN EARLY MORNING SURPRISE

Half an hour after Harriet had outlined her scheme to surprise their friends, the girls were in bed. They were tired, as usual, and went promptly to sleep.

In the meantime the Tramp Club boys had been busy making camp. They built up a campfire, and, before going to bed, cooked some fish that had been caught by one of their number that day.

"I don't believe the Meadow-Brook Girls are in these parts at all," declared Larry Goheen.

"It's a lark coming over here for a night's camping out, anyway," answered Billy Gordon, "It is like being real Indians."

"We aren't Indians," answered George, "It is those girls who are the Indians. I'd just like to see any other girls in the state of New Hampshire make the hike they did that last day we were on the trail. They may be twenty miles from here by this time. If we don't find them to-morrow I, for one, shall be in favor of making a trip around the lake in the launch. We can pretend that we had to go on an errand, or for some fishing bait or something of the sort. We mustn't let them know we have been looking for them."

It was after midnight when the boys turned in. They, too, went sound asleep directly they rolled up in their blankets in their little tent. Two hours later while the Tramp Club were oblivious to sound and time, the alarm clock on the "Red Rover" went off with a thrilling whirr. The girls sprang from their cots, Margery and Tommy protesting over being awakened at that unseemly hour, as they characterized it. Harriet lighted the oil stove and put the kettle on. The others went out to the deck to wash their faces. Harriet, having finished her labors for the time being, followed them.

The air was chill at that hour. The girls were shivering, Tommy's teeth, chattered. She stammered as well as lisped when she essayed to speak now.

"One more night like this, and Tommy won't be able to talk at all," chuckled Jane.

"My kingdom for another such a night, then!" returned Margery fervently.

"Buthter ith too fat to feel the cold," observed Tommy Thompson. She loved to tease Margery, and to mention her weight always annoyed Buster. Margery was unable to think of anything sufficiently irritating to fit that particular case, so she tossed her head and remained silent, while Tommy's twinkling eyes were fixed upon her.

By the time they had washed and dressed the tea kettle was singing merrily. It was a welcome sound and made the girls feel almost warm. Miss Elting, being first dressed, made the coffee. Harriet set out some biscuits, together with the milk and sugar.

"Now, I think we are ready," she announced.

After drinking the hot coffee the girls felt themselves equal to almost any task. The fire was put out and the light in the cabin extinguished, then Harriet and Jane stepped noiselessly into the rowboat after fastening the tow line to the scow.

"All aboard," called Harriet softly.

The "Red Rover" moved to the sound of muffled splashes; then a few moments later silence settled over the secret channel.

* * * * *

It was early on the following morning that Captain George Baker opened his eyes sleepily. He yawned, blinked and sat up.

"I guess I'll take an early morning plunge," he decided. "I won't wake up all day if I don't." Donning his bathing suit he stumbled out to the lake and permitted himself to fall in. The captain splashed and paddled about in the cool water for a quarter of an hour. His companions were still sleeping. George did not awaken them, preferring to take a solitary swim and rub down before calling them out.

At last the captain of the Tramp Club emerged dripping from the water and ran quickly for the tent. A few minutes later he appeared dressed for the day. Walking down to the shore of the lake he gazed across the water then uttered a sudden yell and began dancing up and down.

"Come out, fellows! Come out!" he howled, "Look! Look!"

Larry Goheen, Billy Gordon and the others came tumbling out, rubbing their eyes and blinking sleepily.

"What's the row?" cried Billy.

"Mean shame to play pranks on a fellow when he's dead for sleep," growled Sam.

"Now, what did you do it for?" demanded Larry. "Explain, or in the lake you go!"

"I've already been in the lake. I'm dressed for the day. But open your eyes. You are the sleepiest lot of fellows I ever saw. Why, a baby could stalk you and you'd never hear it say 'goo.' Come, don't you sleepy-heads see anything that interests you?"

Instead of looking out over the lake they were looking at George.

"Wait, I'll draw a map of the scene and write a directory to the map. Even then you'd need a private tutor to explain it to you. Look over there? Do you see anything? Wait, I'll get the telescope."

Following the direction indicated by Captain George's upraised arm the boys gazed and as they gazed their eyes grew wide with wonder. Then suddenly an ear-splitting yell rose from the lips of the Tramp Club.

"It's the 'Red Rover'!" shouted Sam.

"We've found them at last, the tramps!" cried Larry Goheen, his shock of fiery red hair fairly standing on end.

"We've found them?" scoffed George. "Guess again, Reddy. You mean they have found themselves for us."

"Well, what do you know about that?" wondered Billy. "Where in the world did they come from?"

"They probably rose from the sea like Neptune," scoffed George.

The "Red Rover" lay idly rising and falling on the slight swell, standing out a glistening flame in the bright morning sunlight. There were no signs of life on board. The boat was anchored some distance from the camp occupied by the boys, but not far out from the shore of the island. Naturally the houseboat was a little distance from the secret channel.

"Come on, fellows, let's go out and see them," urged Larry enthusiastically.

George gave him a withering look.

"The girls are not yet up. Can't you see that? A fine opinion of us they would have, were we to go out there at this hour. Do you know what time it is?"

"I can't see well enough in the morning to tell the time of day," replied Larry, with a wry twist of his mouth.

"Well, it is a quarter after five."

The boys groaned.

"Fine time to get a party of gentlemen out of bed," growled Sam. "What are we going to do about it, anyway?"

"You fellows are going to take a cold plunge, then get into your clothes. We will have breakfast. I will start the fire while you are bathing."

The boys hurried into their bathing suits, and with many a shout and yell, plunged into the lake. They were making all the noise they could, hoping to attract the attention of the girls so as to have the opportunity to get out to the houseboat as early as possible. But eagerly as the lads gazed up the lake, the houseboat showed no activity.

"They must be good sleepers over there," said Larry.

Captain George smiled to himself.

"They are only shamming," he muttered under his breath.

Breakfast was served about an hour later. The fire warmed the boys, and the coffee and food did likewise. After they had finished their breakfast they were in great good humor. At half past eight, there still being no signs of life on board the houseboat, Billy declared that he was going out in the launch to see if he couldn't stir up something. All hands piled into the launch. It was a matter of only a few moments to run to the houseboat. The boys circled the scow slowly, talking loudly. The windows of the house were open, the curtains flapping in the gentle breeze, but the doors at either end were tightly closed.

Having failed to attract any attention from the "Red Rover" the Tramp Boys returned to camp, tied up the motor boat and sat down to watch and wait. Nine o'clock came, then ten, but still no sign of life on board.

Captain George grew a little uneasy. He did not know that the Meadow-Brook Girls had eaten their breakfast more than an hour before that, and that the girls were watching the boys, chuckling over the perplexity of the latter.

Once more the motor boat was taken out. As they neared the houseboat for a second time they saw Harriet Burrell come out to the after deck, and stooping over examine the anchor rope.

"Halloo, there!" shouted George.

Harriet paid no attention to the "halloo." Apparently she did not hear them. George called again, and when Harriet turned and entered the house, without having once glanced in George's direction, he grew red in the face.

"She didn't hear you," chuckled Larry. "You didn't yell loudly enough. Why didn't you let me give them a roar? I'll guarantee to attract the attention of any one within half a mile of me."

"Run alongside, Billy. I'm going to make somebody notice me."

Billy grinned, then steered the launch up close to the "Red Rover." George rapped on the deck of the scow with a boathook. He had rapped several times, and was again getting red in the face when some one appeared. It was Harriet, who finally opened the door and peered out. Her face wore an expression of disapproving inquiry.

"Good morning," called George. The boys took off their hats.

"Why, it's George Baker," cried Harriet as though greatly surprised to see these visitors. "Girls, come out. Here are the boys."

The Meadow-Brook Girls hurried on deck.

"Where have you been?" questioned Miss Elting. "We did not think you would desert us in this fashion. We have been expecting you ever since we last saw you."

George blinked rapidly. The boys glanced at each other and looked perplexed and uneasy. Somehow, they had a feeling that they were being placed in an unenviable light.

"The question is, where have you been?" asked George in as gruff a tone as he could assume.

"Where have we been?" repeated Harriet wonderingly. "Are you joking, Mr. Baker?"

"No, I'm not joking. We have been worried about you. Where have you been?"

"Why, we have been not far from here all the time. And you mean to tell me that you didn't know where we were?"

George shook his head. His companions looked sheepish.

"Did you sail over here so early in the morning to call on us?" questioned Harriet innocently.

"No, we are camping over there."

"Oh! Then you came over to be near us? Isn't that fine?" laughed Crazy Jane.

"We—we thought may—maybe the fishing was better over here," replied George lamely.

"Oh, thave me!" muttered Tommy, then fled into the cabin that they might not observe her laughter.

"May we come aboard?" asked Billy.

"Not yet, boys," returned Miss Elting in reply. "Our house is not set to rights for company. Come over later. We should be pleased to have you."

"Say. It's hot out here. Suppose we tow you in nearer to our camp. There will be more shade there too," suggested Larry.

"Thank you. That will be nice."

"Come over and have luncheon with us to-day noon," urged George.

Miss Elting also accepted this invitation, rather to the surprise of the boys. Billy, without loss of time, fastened a line to the houseboat attaching the other end of the line to a cleat on the after deck of the launch. In the meantime Larry had jumped aboard the "Red Rover" and hauled in the anchor for them. The launch then towed the scow up to the camp of the tramps. Miss Elting motioned for them to draw the boat a little beyond the camp, which was done.

"Cast off," shouted Captain Harriet.

Jane slipped the tow line then let the anchor go over with a splash.

"You girls work just like regular sailors," declared Larry admiringly.

"We will see you at noon," called Miss Elting. "You needn't mind to come out for us. We have our rowboat."

"No. We will come for you with the launch," answered Billy.

As agreed, the boys came out with the launch shortly before twelve o'clock and took the Meadow-Brook party ashore. George, with an apron tied about his neck, was deep in preparations for dinner. Harriet and Jane immediately put on their own aprons, which they had brought along, and went to work, while Hazel and Margery bustled about assisting Larry and Sam in getting the table ready. The boys had arranged rustic seats in place of chairs, and the table, set under the spreading foliage, looked very neat and attractive.



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."



CHAPTER XIV

THE MIDNIGHT ALARM

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.