Part 15 (1/2)
”And now we'll make another attempt to get to Camp Surprise,” said Cora, as the anchor was hauled up and the engine set in motion.
”I'm surprised that we didn't get there before,” Jack said.
”Oh, what a miserable pun!” groaned Walter.
Good time was made to the junction where Batter Creek flowed into the Chelton river. It was not much of a junction and the creek was so unimportant a stream that Cora and her friends had never thought of going up it.
”But this time we did it in spite of ourselves,” said Bess.
”It was only because of the mist and darkness that I made the wrong turn,” declared Cora.
They stopped long enough to send rea.s.suring telegrams home, and also one to Mr. and Mrs. Floyd, explaining the delay.
Again they were on their way up the Chelton river, and for a time all seemed to go well. But four miles from their destination, engine trouble developed, and when the cause of it was discovered, it proved to be a break that needed the attention of a machinist.
”We could leave the boat here and go on,” Cora said, ”but we have made arrangements to have it taken care of at Riverhead, and the man I have engaged won't know what to think if we don't come.”
”Oh, let's wait here until it's fixed,” suggested Belle. ”We want to arrive in style. It won't take long, and to go on we'd have either to hire another boat or go by wagon.”
”All right,” Cora agreed.
The repairs took longer than they antic.i.p.ated, and it was not until late afternoon that they were able to go on. This time they arrived safely at Riverhead, shortly before dusk, which was the time they should have been there the previous evening.
The man who was to dock the _Corbelbes_ was on hand and took charge of the craft. He also directed the party to the big waiting buckboard, in charge of a driver, that had been sent by Mr. Floyd to meet the girls and boys.
”You're a little late,” said the man. ”Not that I mind, but we'll have to make a night drive of it.”
”We don't care,” Cora said, ”as long as the roads are safe.”
”Oh, they're safe enough.”
”What about supper?” asked Jack.
”Mrs. Floyd said she'd have it ready for you,” the driver stated.
”I've got some sandwiches and a box of candy,” observed Bess.
”Then we won't starve,” said Jack.
”May blessing be upon thy head!” intoned Walter.
The driver looked at them in a queer sort of way, as though he did not know altogether how to take them, and he was heard to murmur something about ”queer city folks.”
The valises and other belongings they had brought along on the motor boat were put in the big wagon, the driver climbed to his seat, and, with the shadows of night falling, they set off up the mountain for Camp Surprise.
”Some buckboard this!” remarked Jack, as he surveyed the vehicle.
”It sure is,” responded Walter. ”The largest buckboard I ever saw.”
CHAPTER XI-IN CAMP SURPRISE