“Why, they might have taken Freda away!”
“Who would?”
“Those persons—men or women—or both—who are trying to get possession of the Lewis property. And, in a way, we might have been involved,” went on Bess.
“I don’t see how,” observed Cora.
“Why, we’ve given advice to Freda and her mother, and if things went wrong some persons might say we had an object in it.”
“Nonsense!” exclaimed Belle. “You’ve surely got a case of nerves, all right. Come on, let’s do as Cora says and take a trip on the water.” She got out of the hammock—Belle could accomplish this difficult feat more gracefully than anyone else, Cora always said.
Then they all went down to the little dock where the Chelton was tied, and Cora, with a quickness born of long experience, ascertained that there was plenty of gasoline and oil in the craft. She tested the vibrator and found the current good, though at times, when not suffering from a fit of stubbornness, the engine had been known to start with the magneto. But it was not safe to depend on it.
“Are you all ready?” asked Cora.
“I guess so,” answered Bess. “I guess I won’t have to have bromide, after all. I feel better already.”
“I thought you would,” laughed Cora. “Marita, just straighten out that stern flag, will you? Thank you. You’re a dear!”