The Meadow-Brook Girls Afloat | Page 6

rope and an anchor, the latter a piece of an old
mowing machine; a rowboat, which Jane rented, and heavy green
shades at the windows so that they should have greater seclusion; also a
cask to hold drinking water.
When the girls finished their work that night Crazy Jane McCarthy had
spent quite a sum of money, but the equipment for the "Red Rover"
was as nearly complete as they were able to make it. Just before sunset
they went out to watch Miss Elting paint the name on the side of the
boat. In large, neat letters she painted the name in white. The letters
stood out in bold relief against the brilliant red of the boat.
"I propose three cheers for the artist," cried Harriet.
"Wait a minute," called Tommy.
"Well, what is it?" demanded Margery.

"The job ith not finithhed yet. Mith Elting hathn't painted the name on
the other thide."
"That is true, but to do so I should have to stand in the water," laughed
the guardian.
"If you must paint the other side, of course we can turn the boat
around," said Harriet. "I think a name on one side will answer our
purpose for the present. Later on we can finish the job, if we think
best."
"Yes," agreed Jane. "We've done enough for the present. Don't forget
that we've got to settle the house in the morning. I want you all to think
hard to-night, to see if we have forgotten anything."
"The only thing we have forgotten is our dinner. We haven't had a bite
to eat since morning," Margery Brown reminded her friends.
"Margery can't think of anything but thomething to eat," laughed
Tommy. "You mutht learn to eat atmothphere when you're hungry.
That ith the way I do."
"I fear you will never grow fat on that sort of diet," laughed the
guardian.
"I don't want to get fat, like Buthter," replied Tommy scornfully.
In the meantime Harriet and Jane had drawn away from the others and
were engaged in a whispered conversation. Then the two girls got into
the rowboat dragged the houseboat out into the lake, a few rods, and
anchored it. They did not explain their action. The other girls laughed
at them, and Miss Elting questioned them with her eyes but said
nothing. She knew the two girls had some good reason for anchoring
the "Red Rover" a little distance from the shore.
Early on the following morning, Jane and Harriet were out, loading the
automobile with the supplies that had been delivered at the hotel the
previous night. The car was piled high with bundles of various shapes

and sizes. There was room for Jane and Harriet in front, but none for
their companions elsewhere.
"We will go down to the dock with the stuff," explained Harriet, "then
come back in time to take breakfast with you girls. We shan't try to put
the supplies on board. We'll just dump them on the pier."
"You can put them on the boat if you want to. I don't care," answered
Grace.
"Tommy is trying to get out of working to-day," scoffed Margery.
"I'm not," protested the little lisping girl indignantly. "If I were ath fat
ath you, I might. I'll work after breakfatht, but I won't work before
breakfatht."
"Nobody wants you to," flung back Jane, as she started her car ahead.
"We'll do all the before-breakfast work, and we'll have the real
appetites when we get to the food. You watch us."
They watched her skid around a sharp corner and heard her car for
some few moments thereafter, but that was all. They were too well used
to Crazy Jane McCarthy, by this time, to be surprised at anything she
might do or say.
The drive to Johnson's dock was a short one. The two girls made it in a
few moments. As they turned into the street that led down to the river
they opened their eyes a little wider, but neither spoke. Nor was there a
word said until they had driven out on the pier and halted the car. Then
both girls burst out in exclamations of amazement at the same instant.
That which they discovered filled the hearts of the Meadow-Brook
Girls with alarm. The "Red Rover" was nowhere in sight. The shore
end of the rope, with which it had been secured to the dock when they
anchored it out in the lake, was still securely tied to the string piece at
the outer side of the dock.
"What is it, darlin'?" questioned Jane, with eyes wide and wondering.

"It looks to me very much as though our 'Red Rover' were at the bottom
of the lake, Jane. Oh, what shall we do if she has sunk? Something has
been going