“Come on, girls; this isn’t hard.”
“O, no, Jenkie, not with Mistah Clahk to do the wuhk!” replied Evelyn.
For the first long pull it promised to be a hard one. But after the launches had reached the island and delivered passengers and cargo, the Truant returned to pick up girls that were too tired and tow their canoes to port.
The picnic went on as picnics do, but not all picnickers breathe the exhilarating air furnished by the Maine breezes. The girls were soon quite rested, though arms and shoulders might ache a little. Bathing suits and towels had been brought along for a good swim. The lunch was pronounced wonderful and good appetites made quick work of disposing of it. “Seconds” and “Thirds” were permitted for sandwiches and fruit. Some of the girls had brought books or magazines. Others had fancy work. Some looked for new birds or new flowers to add to their number of points. As all the common flowers had been brought in, each new flower counted a point. All the girls had helped gather wood for the fire. Ah, how much better bacon tastes cooked outdoors! Besides the fun, the consciousness of being able to paddle one’s own canoe, both literally and figuratively, was the chief result of this picnic, and every trip in this beautiful country made the girls love it more.
The paddle home was almost as hard as that to the island, for a wind came up, blew in their faces, and made the bay choppy. Tide again was against them. In the waves made by the wind and those from passing steamers all the skill of the paddlers was called into requisition. But the presence of the launches gave confidence to any of the girls who needed it, and the canoes rode the little white-capped waves most prettily.
“Send for Edna, Cathalina, to rub my back,” exclaimed Hilary stretched at length on her cot. “Bring on your Sloan’s liniment, Absorbine Junior and St. Jacob’s oil! Look out, Betty!”—as Betty plumped herself down by Hilary and began to rub a shoulder. “Deal gently, Elizabeth; how are your own arms?”
“There were so many to paddle in the war canoe; we hardly got tired a bit. But I’m just as hungry as if I hadn’t eaten three sandwiches and other things in proportion at the island.”
“So’m I. Dot has a birthday tonight, so we’ll have ice cream and cake. Maybe you will be asked to the birthday table, Hilary.”
“No, I don’t think so, too many little folks that Dot will want.”
“But she is so crazy about June.”