“Oh, I’m so glad we entered!” cried Betty, as she stood at the wheel. Because of the cloth side of the “gondola” it appeared that she was merely reclining at her ease, as did the Venetian ladies of old, for a seat with cushions had been arranged near the steering wheel.
“Oh, see that boat—just like an airship!” exclaimed Mollie, as they saw just ahead of them a craft so decorated.
“And here’s one that looks just like a floating island, with trees and bushes,” added Amy. “That ought to take a prize.”
“We ought to take one ourselves!” exclaimed Mollie. “We worked hard enough. My hands are a mass of blisters.”
“And my back aches!” declared Grace. “But it was worth while. I don’t see any boat just like ours,” and she glanced along the line of craft ahead of them, and to those in the rear, as they were making a turn just then.
“Oh, there’s one of the lanterns gone out!” cried Mollie. “I’ll light it,” and she proceeded to do so, taking it into the cabin because of the little breeze that blew over the lake.
There was a band on one of the larger boats, and this played at intervals.
“Let’s sing!” proposed Grace, and, with guitar accompaniment, the girls mingled their voices in one of the many part songs they had practiced at school. Applause followed their rendition, for they had chosen a time when there was comparative quiet.
Around the course went the flotilla of boats, past the judges’ float, and back to the starting point. Then the parade was over, but a number of affairs had been arranged—dances, suppers and the like—by different cottagers. The girls had been invited to the dance at the headquarters of the Rainbow Lake Yacht Club, and they had accepted. They had dressed for the affair, and tying their boat to the club dock they went into the pretty little ballroom with Aunt Kate.
“Congratulations!” exclaimed Mr. Kennedy, stepping up to Betty as she entered with her chums.