As soon as the ship's company were all on board of the steamer, or the scow, the captain gave the word to go ahead. The tow-lines had been adjusted before. The end of the gundalow, which was aground, grated a little on the sand, but it came off without difficulty, and the Sylph with her tow headed down the lake.
The officers of the steamer were so well accustomed to handling the gundalow that no difficulty was experienced in getting the cottage to its destination, which was to be at Hornet Point, near the outlet of the creek into Beechwater. The location had been suggested by Dory, and agreed to by Captain Gildrock. It was quite as pleasant a spot as the former site of the cottage, and was but a short distance from the new boat-house.
The plank and timber ways were laid down as they had been on the other side of the lake, and the building was moved to the shore as readily as it had been put on board of the gundalow. By two o'clock in the morning it was in position on the posts upon which it had rested at Sandy Point. The materials were all conveyed to the quarry, and the gundalow was left at its usual moorings.
By this time most of the students were gaping fearfully, and were very tired. Paul remained at the cottage and went to bed after the departure of the Sylph. The ship's company were dismissed at the wharf, and before half past two they were all asleep in the dormitory. Mrs. Bristol and Lily were up early in the morning, and went out to walk by six o'clock.
After the departure of the students the night before in the steamer, they had not heard a word about the cottage. They walked over to the boat-house, where they found the principal, who was an early riser. The cottage could not be seen from the boat-house, though it could from the wharf. Bates was bringing up a boat in which the captain was going out to inspect the operations of the night.
"Good morning, Mrs. Bristol; good morning, Miss Lily. You are up early," said the principal.
"But I don't see anything of the cottage," replied Mrs. Bristol, after they had returned the pleasant salutations of the captain. "I did not hear a sound in the night, and I suppose Dory was not able to carry out the plans we talked about."
"They certainly did not make any noise about it; but if you and Miss Lily will take a seat in this boat, we shall soon ascertain what has been done," said the captain, as Bates brought one of the four-oar boats to the landing steps.
The ladies seated themselves in the stern-sheets of the boat, and the boatman pulled out into the lake. But he kept near the shore, and the overhanging trees obstructed the view of Hornet Point. In a few minutes, however, the boat was out far enough to afford its occupants a view of the mouth of the creek.
"Why, there's the cottage!" exclaimed Lily. "It looks as though it had stood there since it was built."