But it was only a mile, after all, and they finally landed at Dolan's Point, and guided the bow of their boat up on to the beach in a truly shipshape manner. Fairy sprang out with a bound that landed her on the dry sand; Leicester followed, and then helped the exhausted but victorious galley-slaves to alight.
"Isn't it glorious!" cried Dorothy, panting for breath, but aglow with happiness.
"Fine!" agreed Lilian, but she looked a little ruefully at eight blisters on her pink palms.
"That's all right," said Leicester, cheerfully; "you'll get calloused after a while; blisters always have to come first."
"Oh, pooh, I don't mind them a bit," protested Lilian; for the Dorrances were all of a plucky disposition.
On they went, following the directions given them by Mr. Hickox, and making wonderful explorations at every turn.
Dolan's Point seemed to be occupied principally by a large boathouse. This belonged to a club-house, which was farther up the hill, and whose turrets and gables shining in the morning sunlight, looked like those of an old castle.
Their way lay across the point, and then they were to cross a small arm of the lake by means of a bridge.
Dorothy had hoped for a rustic bridge, and Leicester had told her that it would probably be two foot-planks and a hand-rail.
But when they saw the bridge itself, they were really struck speechless with wonder and delight. It was a floating bridge, built of logs. It was perhaps eight feet wide, and was made by logs laid transversely and close together. They were held in place by immense iron chains which went alternately over and under the logs at their ends. Except at the sides of the bridge, the logs were not visible for they were covered with a deep layer of soil on which grew luxuriant green grass. The thick grass had been mowed and cared for until it resembled a soft velvet carpet.