“What if it’s an airship?” asked Amy.
“I shall—learn to run it!” declared Betty.
“Never!”
“Yes I shall.”
“Let us hope it is but a rowboat then,” sighed Amy.
They went out on the public dock in the Argono River. At the string piece was tied what the girls saw was one of the neatest motor boats that, as Will said afterward, “ever ate a gasoline sandwich.”
There was a trunk cabin, an ample cockpit at the stern, a little cooking galley, a powerful motor, complete fittings and everything that the most exacting motor boat enthusiast could desire.
“There she is!” cried Mr. Marlin. “There’s the surprise, Bet. I got her for you! I named her the Gem—for she is a gem. Aside from an ocean steamer there’s no better boat built. I saw to it myself. I’ve been planning that for you for years. And there you are. The Gem is yours. I want you girls to take a cruise in her, and if you don’t have a good time it will be your own fault. There’s the Gem for you, Betty. Let’s go aboard and see if that rascally mate has grub ready. There’s the Gem!” and he led the way toward the beautiful boat. The girls simply gasped with delight, and Betty turned pale—at least Grace said so.
CHAPTER VI
READY FOR A CRUISE
“What a pretty cabin!” cried Mollie.