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.
The party broke up about ten o'clock. The boys went home singing "Good night ladies" to the accompaniment of Larry's banjo. The girls stood on the upper deck watching the lads until a shout from the shore told the watchers that their guests had arrived at the camp.
"Now, what are your plans for to-morrow, girls?" asked Miss Elting when they had gone below. "Do you wish to go into retirement?"
"No. The boys have invited us for a ride in the launch to-morrow," answered Harriet. "What troubles me is the matter of leaving the 'Red Rover' alone so long. I think perhaps it would be better for me to remain here to look after the boat while the rest of you go on the motor boat trip."
The girls declared they would not go at all unless Harriet went with them.
"That matter already has been settled," replied Miss Elting. "I am the one who will remain aboard the 'Red Rover.' Harriet, you will chaperon the girls on the motor boat ride. That will settle the objections, and you will be every bit as good a chaperon as myself."
The arrangement did not wholly satisfy the Meadow-Brook Girls. All were very fond of their guardian, and they wished her to have a part in all their enjoyments. They had not fully decided upon going when they retired.
"I wonder if those boys are planning anything for to-night?" mused Miss Elting, a moment after turning out the lights.
"Yes," answered Harriet confidently, as if she had been consulted.
"What?" demanded a chorus of voices.
"They are planning to go to bed. I saw them fixing the fire, just before I got into bed."
"Oh, fudge!" groaned Margery.
"Thave me!" wailed Tommy.
Jane suggested that Harriet ought to have a ducking, then one by one the girls dropped off to sleep.
The clock that Harriet consulted showed the hour to be ten minutes after midnight. She had awakened suddenly, and with a feeling that something were not as it should be. The girl rose softly, peering through the window. The "Red Rover" was lying very quietly, there being little movement of the water. No one was about, nor was there a boat in sight. She stepped out on the deck, glancing about in all directions, her eyes finally fixing themselves on the camp of the Tramp Club.
"Those boys are up and moving about," she mused. "They have stirred up the fire." Just then the girl heard the rattle of an oar in a rowboat. The sound seemed to come from the camp. Harriet watched a few minutes. Then turning quickly she went inside.
"What is it?" demanded Miss Elting sharply. "Who is it?"
"Harriet. Those boys are awake, and, I think, getting ready to come out on the lake. I believe they are up to something."
"What do you suspect?"
"I don't know. Would it not be wise to awaken the girls and all get dressed? We don't want to be caught napping, you know."
"I should say not," agreed the guardian. She got up and went to the window. Their conversation had been carried on in so low a tone that none of the others had been awakened. Miss Elting gazed keenly; then, bringing her glasses, peered through them at the camp of the tramps. "Yes, they are up to mischief of some sort," she decided, lowering the glasses and laying them aside. "Girls!"
"Wha—wha-at?" cried Jane, her feet landing on the floor almost ere the words were out of her mouth.
Tommy hopped out of bed a few seconds behind Crazy Jane, but instead of landing on her feet, the little girl went sprawling on the floor on her face.
"Thave me! Are we thinking?" she cried.
"No, you foolish girl. We aren't sinking," answered Harriet laughing.
Margery stood shivering in the middle of the cabin. Hazel had begun to dress.
"Dress yourselves at once," ordered Miss Elting. "Be quick about it. They may not be coming here, but if they are, they will be here in a very few minutes."
"Who will be here?" demanded Crazy Jane. "Why don't you tell us what all the uproar is about?"
"Yes. You might better tell us than to frighten us half to death in this way," complained Margery.
"It is the boys. We think they are coming here to play a trick on us, and if so, we wish to be ready for them," explained Harriet, who was hurriedly dressing. The girls lost no time in putting on their clothes, each dressing herself completely. Their hair, braided down their backs for the night, was left as it was. There was no time to do anything with that.
"The boys are putting off in the rowboat, or at least getting ready to do so," Miss Elting informed the girls, after another look at the camp through the glasses. "What shall we do?"
"I will fix it," answered Harriet. She rummaged about at the rear of the cabin, then ran out to the after deck. They heard her on the upper deck shortly after that. She soon bustled back into the cabin.
"They have started. All of you get up on the deck overhead. Listen! I will tell you briefly what we will do. We will give the boys a scare that they won't soon forget."
There were hurried preparations within the cabin of the "Red Rover," following Harriet Burrell's quick orders, which were approved of by Miss Elting. The girls then crept to the upper deck, where they crouched down, peering across the water that lay between the houseboat and the island.
"There they come! Not a word from now on, girls," warned Miss Elting.