"You'll stay on top this time, little missie," said good-natured old Captain Kane, smiling at Fairy. "This boat ain't no submarine to dive down into the lake."
"But you dived up into the lake," insisted Fairy.
"That was the only way to get here, miss. But any day you would like to go back and dive down, here's the man that will take you. The Mamie Mead is always glad of passengers. She don't get none too many nowadays."
"Why doesn't she?" asked Leicester, with interest.
"Well, you see, sir, since the hotel's been empty, they ain't no call for Mamie much. So whenever you kids wants a free ride, just come down to the dock and wave something. If so be's I'm goin' by, I'll stop and take you on. Is the place you're goin' near the hotel?"
"Near the hotel!" cried Dorothy; "why we're going to the hotel."
"You can't. 'Tain't open."
"I know it," said Dorothy; "but it will be when we get there. We have all the keys."
"For the land's sake! And what are you goin' to do there?"
"We're going to live there," exclaimed Leicester; "we own the place,—that is, my grandmother does."