They trudged along to the boathouse, and, as they might have expected, found it locked.
"I'll get it," said Molly; "I'm the swiftest runner, and I know where the key hangs in Carter's workshop."
King watched Molly admiringly as she flew across the grass, her long, thin, black legs flinging out behind her with incredible quickness.
"Jingo, she can run!" he exclaimed, and indeed it seemed but a moment before Molly flashed back again with the key.
The quartet was soon in the boat, and with a few strokes, King pulled out into mid-stream.
"Let's have the picnic first," he said, shipping his oars. "I can't row when I'm so hungry. This morning air gives a fellow an appetite."
"It does so," agreed Marjorie; "and we girls have been out 'most an hour.
I'm 'bout starved."
So they held a very merry picnic breakfast, while the boat drifted along with the current, and the cold chicken and biscuits rapidly disappeared.
"Now, where do you girls want to go?" asked King, as, the last crumb finished, Kitty carefully packed the napkins and glasses back in the basket.
"Oh, let's go to Blossom Banks," said Marjorie, "that is, if there's time enough."