But evidently the other girls did not want to think of it. They would rather have thought of anything else just then.
"Which way are you going?" Jack asked the man in the official boat.
"I thought your judge lived on the East side?"
"He does, but we may take some other fellows in yet to-night. This is only one catch," and the inspector laughed unpleasantly.
"They are actually going to tour the lake with us," declared Ed.
"If that isn't nerve!"
"Don't complain," cautioned Cora, "perhaps the longer the run the lighter the fine. And we are just waiting for our next allowance."
"And, being a pretty motor-boat, they will make it a pretty fine," mused Walter. "I would like to dip that fellow."
"Yes, they are going to let us tour the lake hitched on to the police boat! The situation is most unpleasant. But there is no way out of it," said Ed, sullenly.
"Suppose they won't take a fine, and want to lock us up?" asked
Belle.
"If it were only one night in jail, I'd take it just to fool the man who wants the money, but I am afraid it might be ten days and that would be inconvenient," Jack remarked, as the police boat steamed off with the Petrel trailing. "They call this law. It may be the law but not its intention. We were almost landed, and just about to light up. I tell you they just need the money."
When they reached the bungalow, where judge Brown held his court, the three young men entered with the inspector, and when the judge had satisfied himself that he could not ask more than five dollars and costs for this "first offence" the fine was paid and the matter settled. Belle and Bess were greatly relieved when the culprits came back to the Petrel. They had a hidden fear that something else disgraceful might happen; perhaps the judge would detain the boys, or perhaps the girls would have to go in to testify. Cora's mind was pre-occupied however, and when the Petrel started off, and Jack asked her where to, she said back to Fern Island.