“It’s always more fun to start early,” Betty had declared, adding: “And you never know what trouble we may run into. If anything should happen to the engine it might take some time to get it going again.”
“And we want to get to camp while it’s light enough to do plenty of exploring,” Mollie had finished, resolutely.
Just the same, Betty, excited and flushed with a sense of adventure, standing on her front porch waiting for Allen the next morning, was not at all sure that Grace would be true to her promise.
“If she keeps us waiting this morning——” she began, to break off as she saw Allen coming at a swift pace up the street.
“Hello,” he called, his eyes lighting up as he spied Betty. “Where did you get the new togs? My, but you look great!”
“Thanks,” said the Little Captain, demurely, glancing down at the trim tweed of the knicker suit she had bought in Kayford. “I rather like me, myself.”
And then they laughed together, merrily and for no particular reason except that it was the kind of day which seems just made for laughing.
On the way down to the dock where the Gem lay rocking in the gentle swell from the river, they were still gay. But when they reached the pier and found that they were the first to arrive, Allen became suddenly grave.
“Somehow I don’t like the idea of your going to this lonely cabin all alone,” he said, as, under Betty’s instructions, he disposed of the small blanket roll in the stern of the Gem. “There may be tramps up there.”
“Yes,” retorted Betty gayly. “And there may be wild elephants too, and cyclones or maybe an earthquake. Anything may happen, but I’ve a strong hunch it isn’t going to.”