CHAPTER XXIV
NATALIE IS GONE
Camp Fire Girls and camping boys gathered in a little group on the edge of the lake, standing about Jack, who was mutely pointing to a stake in the water.
“There’s where she was tied,” he said. “And now she’s gone!”
“Maybe she floated away,” suggested Blake.
“Not much!” cried Jack. “I haven’t learned to tie all sorts of sailor knots now to slip up and make a grannie-hitch at this day. That canoe couldn’t come untied unless some one did it.”
“And it’s out of sight now,” remarked Phil, as he swept his eyes over the surface of the lake. “Hadn’t we better get after it in the motor-boat? Have we any gas?”
“I forgot to look. When I saw the canoe gone I got all worked up.”
“Did it belong to you boys?” asked Natalie.
“No, and that’s the worst of it. We hired it over at Glen’s dock,” said Jack, “and he’s sure to charge us double what it was worth if we don’t return it at the end of the season.”