"And I'll be sure to keep away from that sand bar," declared the Little Captain.
Mr. and Mrs. Stonington were quite alarmed when the girls told of their adventure.
"They weren't in any real danger," declared Mr. Hammond, the overseer. "The river isn't deep nor swift, and there are boats going up and down quite often."
"But what about those rough men?" asked Mrs. Stonington.
"Oh, rough is the worst thing you can say against them. They aren't really bad. Belton has the best supply of laborers around here. Probably he was taking those men down to Hanson's grove. We will need pickers ourselves next week, Mr. Stonington, and I don't believe we can do any better than to get them from Belton."
"Very well, Mr. Hammond; whatever you say."
"And that will be a chance to repay him for his kindness to us," added Betty.
"And perhaps we can get some news of my brother," spoke Grace, wistfully, for there had come no word from those who were searching for the missing youth.
"I'd like to go and ask myself," went on Grace.
"Well, there's no reason why you shouldn't," said Mr. Hammond. "I'll be going up the river in a day or so, and if you think we'll hire of Belton I'll tell him so," he said to Mr. Stonington.