At our signal Peg brought the boat quickly to shore, as tickled to see us as we were to see him.
I was a bit backward about showing myself in front of the girl in my ridiculous gown. I didn’t want her to think that I was foolish.
Scoop read my embarrassment in my actions.
“Miss Garber,” he introduced in mock gravity, dragging me into sight, “allow me to present to you my charming friend, Miss Pansy Blossom.”
Red forgot all about his hollow stomach in my confusion.
“ ‘Miss Pansy Blossom!’ ” he hooted. “Haw! haw! haw!”
Joining Scoop in the fun of the nonsensical introduction, the girl gave me her hand in a sort of stylish-like way, telling me the while that it was indeed a great pleasure for her to make the acquaintance of “Miss Pansy Blossom.” [[189]]
The joke was on me, all right. And I decided on the instant that the best way out of the embarrassing situation would be to pretend as much hilarity and fun in my crazy appearance as the others.
Well, in getting down to business, we told our chums the story of our spectacular flight from the lock tender’s house with the piano leg. There was amazement in their eyes, and in the girl’s eyes, at sight of our money.
Then Peg told us of his and Red’s movements since their escape down the rope. They had waited for us in the underbrush. When we had failed to appear, and they had been made to realize from the vanished rope that we had been shut off in our intended escape, they had held guarded counsel, thus deciding to go to the island to learn if the girl were still there. It had been their further plan to return to the lock at dusk to help us to possible freedom.