The party got under weigh on the Go-Ahead and were some miles down the lake ere it was discovered that Professor Skillings had forgotten both his shoes and his hat, for he had paddled over to the girls’ camp barefoot as usual. It was too late to go back then, for the baggage had all been put aboard the bateau.
So the professor went home with a handkerchief tied around his head and a pair of moccasins on his feet–the latter borrowed from Dr. Shelton, at whose dock they stopped for luncheon.
The bluff doctor insisted that the whole party come ashore and lunch with him. He had arranged for Polly’s tuition at the Denton Academy, had bought her text-books, and when the party left for home that day he thrust into Polly Jolly’s hand a silver chain purse with more money in it than the boatman’s daughter had ever possessed before.
Polly Jolly was beginning to live up to the loving name that Wyn Mallory had given to her. She was the very gayest of the gay as the Go-Ahead proceeded down the lake and then down the Wintinooski to Denton.
The last of the journey was taken after they had had a picnic supper, and under the brilliant light of the September moon. The boys and girls sang and told stories, and otherwise enjoyed themselves. But as they drew near home they quieted down.
The summer was behind them. For more than two months they had skylarked, and enjoyed themselves to the full on the lake and in the woods. They “were going back to civilization,” as Frankie said, and it made them a bit thoughtful.
“I expect,” said Mina Everett, “that we have had just the best time that we will ever have in all our lives.”
“Why so?” demanded Bess. “Can’t we go camping again?”
“Sure we will!” declared Dave Shepard.
“I see what Mina means–and I guess she is right,” Wyn remarked, earnestly. “We may go camping again; but it will never be just like this first time. For the girls, I mean. We had never done such a thing before. And then–if we go next summer–we’ll be a whole year older. And a year is a long, long time.”