Their way took them up the Virginia side of the river to where the water of the Potomac dashed madly over the rocks in furious eddys and fierce whirlpools, being whipped into froth as it was carried noisily on to the clearer and quieter waters below.
“If it were in Europe or even in New England,” remarked Nan when they had seated themselves on the river’s bank and were contemplating the rushing stream, “this spot would be advertised and made one of the places to which tourists would flock from all parts of the country, but here it is not generally spoken of and one may say is scarcely known.”
“I am glad it is so,” declared Jack. “I like it just naturally wild and the way it has been all these years. I don’t like the cleaned up places, so neat and exact, all walled in and set around by particular foot-paths with ‘Keep off the grass’ signs everywhere, and ‘Admission twenty-five cents’ at the entrance.”
“That’s where we agree, my dear,” Nan told her. “But, Jack, my honey, don’t try any dangerous leaps or adventurous heights as you are so fond of doing. Once you get caught in those rapids there is an end to Jacqueline Corner; we couldn’t possibly get you out.”
Jack peered seriously down into the seething waters. Nan’s words were sufficiently terrifying to keep her away from ticklish places, and she made no random ventures.
“It would be nice to camp up here,” remarked Mary Lee as she munched a jam sandwich.
“Not as nice as some other places,” returned her aunt. “That gives me an idea, girls. I’ll follow it up. Why didn’t I think of it before? Capital! Just the thing! Why, of course it is! How stupid of me.”
“You are so mysteriously disjointed, Aunt Helen,” cried Nan. “What are you talking about?”
“I can’t tell you exactly, myself, but you shall know to-morrow. I’ll go to see Miss Stewart this very evening.”
This only whetted the curiosity of the girls, but their aunt changed the subject and refused utterly to tell them what she had in mind. Therefore they sat contentedly under the trees while they finished eating their lunch, looking across at the shining length of canal, and the tossing tumult of water between them and the verdant heights of Maryland’s shores.