“All aboard!” called Mr. Martin, on the morning when a fresh start was to be made in the touring plans of the Curlytops. “All aboard!”
The lumbermen and the movie people had said good-by, wishing the Curlytops and their family all sorts of good luck. Mr. Teeter arranged for the Martins to come back in the boat and leave it at the camp when they had cruised as much as they wished.
“By that time I’ll have a new wheel on your auto,” he told Mr. Martin, “and you can drive home in the car.”
“That’s a good idea,” said the father of the Curlytops.
You can imagine how delighted Ted, Janet and Trouble were as they sat on the little deck of the Pine Tree and looked at the scenery along the Rockaway River, up which they were puffing their way to reach Crystal Lake. Mr. Martin knew how to run and steer a motor boat. In quiet stretches of the river he allowed Ted and Janet to hold the wheel for a time.
“It’s just lovely here,” said Mrs. Martin with a happy sigh as she leaned back against a cushion. “It’s much nicer than the auto.”
Mr. Martin thought so, too, and while of course he did not like to have wheels smashed, still some good came out of it. Up the winding river went the Pine Tree, new scenes presenting themselves every minute.
They did not have to go ashore to spend the night, nor even stop for meals, which were cooked on board. Mrs. Martin took charge in the galley, and Ted and Janet gave whoops of delight when she blew a whistle which meant that the first lunch was ready.
They did not speed along, for, as before, Mr. Martin was in no hurry, but they took their time, and that afternoon, as they were passing a large town, they tied up at a wharf and went ashore, as Mrs. Martin wanted to buy some food which they had not been able to put on board at the lumber camp.
“We aren’t going to travel in the night, are we?” asked Ted of his father, as they puffed along late that afternoon, the cupboard having been well stocked at the last stopping place.