ACROSS THE HUDSON
Before saying goodnight to her chums, Bet had made a plan for them to come back early on Monday for another picnic.
"When we get to studying, we just drop swimming and everything else."
"I'll be most afraid to swim in a big river like the Hudson," said Kit with a shiver. "I learned to swim in a water hole in Indian Creek, and it wasn't much more than just deep enough to cover me."
"You'll love the Hudson!" declared Joy. "At high tide it's great!"
"I didn't know that a river had a tide."
"Close to the sea they do. The Hudson has, as you'll soon learn. It has a tide and even a good strong undertow in places. —Well, you just have to know the Hudson to appreciate all its fine points," Bet exclaimed with enthusiasm.
"Be sure and bring your camera, Miss Fixit, and take that picture of the queen's fan. I'll be home all morning." Because Shirley was always tinkering with her camera, the Colonel had playfully given her the name of Miss Fixit.
So the girls had agreed to come early and have a long day at the beach that belonged to the Merriweather estate.
"I don't hear any invitations for us to come along. Don't you think boys enjoy picnics as well as girls?" protested Bob Evans.