At last Mr. Clarke proposed that they should take a trip with him in the yacht, and as they eagerly hailed the invitation, all, including Mr. and Mrs. Clarke, were soon seated on board. There they sang songs and told stories and commented upon the constantly changing scene of beauty into which they moved. Darting in and out among the islands the fleet little yacht, skilfully handled by the pilot and engineer, daintily seemed to pick its way, as if it too shared in the delight of the company. Beautiful cottages, palaces they seemed to the boys, were passed, and quaint little spots, dotted by tents or rude huts, whither some humble family had come for an outing, were frequently seen. Fishing parties were discovered among the bays, and parties of campers, living much as did our boys in their camp on Pine Tree Island, were passed; and when at last the yacht turned homeward, all were ready to declare that never before had they had so enjoyable an afternoon.
To the proposition of the boys that they should return to their camp, a strong objection was offered by Mrs. Clarke, who declared that they must remain for supper; and we may be sure no great amount of urging was required to make them yield.
“I’ll take you back to camp this evening,” said Mr. Clarke, when they all resumed their seats on the piazza.
“I thought I’d go back in my canoe,” suggested Ben, who was clad in his proper garments now. “I want the practice, you see.”
“No, sir!” said Mr. Clarke, sharply. “You are to go back with us. I’ll not be responsible for your safety in that shell of yours.”
Ben made no reply, and soon was sharing in the enjoyment of the party. The sun was now low in the western sky, and as its departing beams fell across the waters it made them glow like a veritable lake of fire. The wind had all died away, and the surface of the river was almost like glass. A scene of greater beauty or of more indescribable peace and calm they never before had seen.
But the laughter which came from the piazza of Mr. Clarke’s cottage, and the enjoyment of the assembly there, were not to be checked even by the solemn stillness of the river.
“One would never think,” said Mr. Clarke, when a break of a moment came, “that this peaceful river was ever the scene of bloodshed.”
“Bob, here, knows all about that,” said Bert. “He puts us to sleep every night with his stories of the early discoverers. We almost feel as if we were on their trail.”