“What a whopping big sheet of water it is!” exclaimed Elmer Jones. “It must be a whole lot of miles across there to the further shore that looks so dim in the distance.”
“And that island about a mile from this side must be the one we’re to camp on—Bass Island,” suggested Peg, his voice filled with delight.
“Dick says we’d better be hurrying along!” called out Leslie. “You understand we’ll have our hands full ferrying all this stuff across there; and from the clouds gathering along the horizon Mr. Bartlett seems to think we may have a thunder-storm before many hours pass by.”
“Get a move on, everybody!” cried Clint.
In due time the boys and the two teams reached the shore of the lake. Here the loads were hurriedly taken off, after which the drivers were paid and the teams started back, for neither of the men liked the looks of the clouds, and both prophesied rain before long.
“Where are the two boats we were to use when up here?” asked Mr. Rowland, who was a fine specimen of physical manhood.
“Dick and Elmer have gone to get them,” replied Leslie. “Dick knows where they are hidden away from one summer to another. I only hope they don’t leak too much, that’s all. It’d be pretty rough to have one of them sink under us when half-way over.”
Leslie said this aloud so that Humbert might hear it, his object being to give that “mother’s darling,” as Dan called Humbert, cause for alarm. He accomplished his intention, for Humbert was seen to look long and anxiously out across the waters of the lake, and then heave a tremendous sigh.
The two boats were soon brought around, having been easily found. They were not, as Fred Bonnicastle said, “things of beauty and a joy forever.” In fact, the boys considered them very rough looking, being rudely made, and old in the bargain. They leaked a little, but that defect could no doubt be remedied when Dick and some of the others found time to get to work on them.
By adjusting the loads properly and doing a little bailing occasionally, the boats could be safely ferried across to the island.