The Motor Girls on Cedar Lake | Page 4

how to land."
"Oh, yes indeed," said Cora in spite of the protest that was trembling on
Belle's lips. "We started out, and we will get back all right. Wish you
luck in whatever you are after," and she winked at Bess, who was now
beside her at the engine, as Cora had concluded to guide the boat by the
auxiliary steering wheel.
The boys veered off.
"I wonder what they are up to?" asked Cora. "As soon as we can do so,
without being noticed, I think we will follow them. There must have
been something important on, when Jack did not wait to take me out."
"Oh, don't let us go farther out on the lake," begged Belle. "I am
nervous yet."
"Then suppose we take you in? Nettie is at the camp, and then Bess and
I can go out to the island. There was really nothing the matter with the
boat, the mistake was all due to our own nervousness."
"Well, I would feel better not to sail any farther," admitted the, pretty

blond Belle, as she tossed back some of her breeze stray curls. "I am
subject to sickness on the water, anyhow."
"On still water?" asked Bess archly. "Well, we will take you in, Twiny.
And we will then go out. I want to redeem myself."
"Good for you, Bess," said Cora. "There is nothing like courage, unless
it be gasoline," and after starting the engine, she turned the boat toward
the shore. "There are the boys heading for the other island!" she
exclaimed a moment later.
"They are trying to fool us. I wonder why?" asked Bess. "See, Belle.
There are Nettie and Mary an shore--two of the best maids on the island.
You will be all right with them, won't you, dear?"
"Of course," replied the twin, rather confusedly. "I don't need
attention."
"But you are tired," put in Cora, "and those girls have not done a thing
since lunch time. Just command them."
"'Very well. But do be careful, you two girls. A bad beginning you
know."
"Oh, don't you worry about us," replied Cora confidently. "I feel as if
this boat was a top in my hands. It is so much easier to handle than an
auto. No gears, differentials or things like that. Good bye, Belle. Have
supper ready when we return," and she sounded the small whistle that
told of the start again.
"Good bye. Be careful," cautioned Belle. Then the two girls headed the
craft for the little island around which they had just seen the boys
disappear.
"I thought the boys looked very serious," said Bess, as she put her hand
on the wheel Beside Cora's. "I wonder what is wrong?"
"Jack certainly had something very important on when he neglected

me," said his sister. "I hope there is nothing really wrong. There are no
people on that island, I believe."
"Then perhaps we had better not land?" suggested Bess. "It might be
horribly lonely and we might not be able to find the boys."
"Well, when we get there we will be able to judge of all that," replied
Cora. "Doesn't the Petrel motor beautifully?"
"And this lake," added Bess. "I never saw anything like it. Why some
of those islands are big enough to inhabit."
"Yes, there is one island over there," answered Cora, pointing to the
extreme eastern shore of the water, "and since I have seen it I am just
dying to explore it. They call it Fern Island, and the store man tells the
most wonderful tales about it. But we will have to wait until we all
assemble. When did Hazel say she would come?"
"Tomorrow or next day. She has to take some special 'exams.' I am
sorry that girl is so ambitious. It always interferes with her vacation."
"Hazel will make her mark some day, if she does not spoil it all by
having someone make it for her--on a flat stone. But honestly Bess, I
do hope she will come up before the others. Next to you and Belle I
count more on Hazel Hastings than on anyone else in our party."
"And not a little on her brother Paul?" and Bess laughed in her teasing
way. "Now Cora, Paul Hastings is acknowledged to be the most useful
boy in all the Chelton set. He can fix an auto, fix an electric bell, fix an
alarm clock--"
"And no doubt could overhaul a motor boat," finished Cora, as she
turned the Petrel toward land. "Well, this is Far Island, and I am sure
the boys headed this way. Let's shout."
Putting her hands to her mouth, funnel fashion, Cora sent out the shrill
yodel known to all of the motor girls and motor boys. Bess took up the
refrain;