Part 14 (1/2)

As she stood gazing, half lost in dreams, she saw a canoe shoot out from the opposite sh.o.r.e some distance up the river and come toward Keewaydin, keeping in the shadows along the sh.o.r.e. Just before it reached camp it drew in and discharged a pa.s.senger, which Agony could see was a girl.

Then the canoe put off again, and as it crossed a moonlit place Agony saw that it was painted bright red, the color of the canoes belonging to the Boy's Camp located about a half mile down the river. Agony realized what the presence of that canoe meant. One of the girls of Keewaydin had been out canoeing on the sly with some boy from Camp Alamont--a thing forbidden in the Keewaydin code--and was being brought back in this surrept.i.tious manner. Who could the girl be? Agony grimaced with disgust. She waited quietly there in the path where the girl, whoever she was, must pa.s.s in order to go up to her tent. In a few moments the girl came along and nearly stumbled over her in the darkness, crying out in alarm at the unexpected encounter. Agony's swiftly adjusted flashlight fell upon the heavy features and unpleasant eyes of Jane Pratt.

”O Jane,” cried Agony, ”you haven't been over at that boys' camp, have you? You surely know it's forbidden--Dr. Grayson said so distinctly when he read the camp rules.”

”Well, what if I have?” Jane demanded in a tone of asperity. ”Dr.

Grayson makes a lot of rules that are too silly for words. I have a friend over at Camp Altamont that I've known for years and if I choose to go canoeing with him on such a gorgeous night instead of going to bed at nine o'clock like a baby it's n.o.body's business. By the way, what are _you_ doing here?” she demanded suspiciously. ”Why aren't you in bed with the rest of the infants?”

”I came out to get my hat,” replied Agony simply.

”Strange thing that your hat should get lost just in the spot where I happen to come ash.o.r.e,” remarked Jane sarcastically. ”How long have you been spying upon my movements, Miss Virtue?”

”I haven't been spying on you,” declared Agony hotly. ”I hadn't any idea you were out. To tell the truth, I never missed you this evening when we were on the river.”

”Well, I suppose you'll pull Mrs. Grayson out of her bed now to tell her the scandal about Jane Pratt,” continued Jane bitingly, ”and tomorrow morning at five o'clock there'll be another departure from camp.”

”O Jane!” cried Agony, in distress. ”Will she really send you home?”

”She really will,” mocked Jane. ”She sent a girl home last year who did the same thing.”

”O Jane, how dreadful that would be,” said Agony.

”And how sorry you would be to have me go--not,” returned Jane derisively.

”Jane,” said Agony seriously, ”if I promise not to tell Mrs. Grayson this time will you promise never to do this sort of thing again? It would be awful to be sent home from camp in disgrace. If you think it over you'll surely see what a much better time you'll have if you don't break rules--if you work and play honorably. Won't you please try?”

The derisive tone deepened in Jane's voice as she answered, ”No I will _not_. I'll make no such babyish promise--to you of all people--because I wouldn't keep it if I did make it.”

”Then,” said Agony firmly, ”I'll do just as we do in school with the honor system. I'll give you three days to tell Mrs. Grayson yourself, and if you haven't done it by the end of that time I'll tell her myself.

What you are doing is a bad example for the younger girls, and Mrs.

Grayson ought to know about it.”

Jane's only reply was a mocking laugh as she brushed past Agony and went in the direction of her tent.

CHAPTER IX

AN EXPLORING TRIP

”Miss Amesbury wants us to go off on a canoe trip with her,” announced Agony, rus.h.i.+ng up to the Winnebagos after Craft Hour the next morning.

”Wants who to go on a canoe trip with her?” demanded Sahwah in excitement.

”Why, us, the Winnebagos,” replied Agony. ”Just us, and Jo Severance.

She wants to take a canoe trip up the river, but she doesn't want to go with the whole camp when they go because there will be too much noise and excitement. She wants a quieter trip, but she doesn't want to go all alone, so she has asked Dr. Grayson if she may take us girls. He said she might. We're to start this afternoon, right after dinner, and be gone over night; maybe two nights.”

”O Agony!” breathed Migwan in ecstacy, falling upon Agony's neck and hugging her rapturously. ”It's all due to you. If you hadn't done that splendid thing we wouldn't be half as popular as we are. We're sharing your glory with you.” She smiled fondly into Agony's eyes and squeezed her hand heartily. ”Good old Agony,” she murmured.

Agony smiled back mechanically and returned the squeeze with only a slight pressure. ”Nonsense,” she replied with emphasis. ”It isn't on account of what--I--did at all that she has asked you. It's because you serenaded her the other evening. That was _your_ doing, Migwan.”