Part 26 (1/2)

”Their rowboat is coming ash.o.r.e,” she cried, pointing toward the bay.

Instantly every girl in the cook tent, without the formality of asking to be excused, pushed back her chair and dashed out. Mrs. Livingston so far overlooked their breach of etiquette as to rush out with the rest of them.

”Come on, darlin's. They've come ash.o.r.e for us at last. First there, first to go out. Go!”

It was a race for the landing place, with Harriet and Jane running side by side, Tommy Thompson following and gradually lessening the distance between them in a series of flying leaps. Tommy could run like a frightened fawn. Harriet heard her coming and increased her speed. Tommy gained no more on Harriet, though she arrived at their objective point by the side of Crazy Jane McCarthy.

”Ready to go out,” announced the man. ”But I can't take more than five at a time. Who goes first?”

Harriet halted sharply at sound of his voice, and gazed at the man perplexedly. His voice was strangely familiar, but, try as she would, she could not think where she had seen him.

CHAPTER XVIII

FIREWORKS FROM THE MASTHEAD

”Wait for Mrs. Livingston,” replied Harriet in answer to the man's question. ”You are not the captain, are you?”

He shook his head. Mrs. Livingston came upon the scene. Harriet a.s.sisted her into the rowboat. The Chief Guardian directed the other Meadow-Brook girls to get in, telling the girls who were left on sh.o.r.e that they would be taken out to the ”Sister Sue” as fast as possible, until there was no more room. The others would have their turn soon afterward.

If the girls had been pleased with the ”Sister Sue” from a sh.o.r.e view, they were enthusiastic at what they saw when they got on board. The decks were white from scouring, the binnacle that held the compa.s.s shone with mirror-like brightness, ropes were neatly coiled and everywhere was the smell of fresh paint and the faint, salty odor of the deep sea.

The ”Sue” was some forty feet in length over all, broad of beam, covered over about half her length amids.h.i.+ps by a raised deck cabin, a cabin that rises above the deck a few inches with narrow windows on the two sides. Two doors from the c.o.c.kpit led into the cabin. Into this the Meadow-Brook Girls hurried, after one quick look over the trim craft. They cried out for Mrs. Livingston to join them. The interior of the cabin was in white with plush seats on each side, the seats being broad and comfortable, affording lounging s.p.a.ce for several persons at one time. A tank holding drinking water, at the forward end of the cabin, was the only other furnis.h.i.+ng.

The ”Sue” was far from palatial, but the Camp Girls thought they had never seen a neater or prettier boat, and as for its ability to sail, they had seen something of that as the sloop came into the bay.

Mrs. Livingston had remained outside to speak with the skipper.

Harriet soon joined them. Captain Billy was a type. His grizzled, red beard was so near the color of his face that it was not easy to determine where the beard left off and the face began. Billy had a habit of avoiding one's eyes when speaking. Either he would be consulting the deck of the ”Sue” or gazing at the sky. He was looking up at the clouds now.

”The captain says he can safely carry ten persons without crowding, Harriet,” the Chief Guardian informed her. Then turning to the captain, ”This young lady has been placed in charge of the boat by Mr. McCarthy; of course, your judgment as to what is best for all concerned must prevail.”

Captain Billy's whiskers bristled. He swept the Meadow-Brook Girl with a quick, measuring glance, then permitted his eyes to gaze upward again.

”I was going to suggest, Mrs. Livingston, that we first take you and the other guardians out for a sail, say to-morrow morning. I don't think the captain will wish to go out in the evening,” said Harriet.

He shook his head.

”Certainly not,” declared Mrs. Livingston. ”And now, sir, what about your meals--the board for yourself and your man?”

”Get my own. He goes away early in the morning. Sleep on board, too.

You needn't worry about me. Got any gear you want to get aboard?”

”Gear?” questioned the Chief Guardian blankly.

”Dunnage?” nodded the skipper. ”Anything you want to bring aboard?” he shouted.

”No, thank you, nothing at present,” answered Harriet.

”Man will fetch it off before he goes away if there is. Don't ask me to do any packing.”

”Our young women are perfectly able to help themselves,” replied Mrs.