Part 5 (1/2)

”Our boiler,” said Bess, who knew something about the boat's fitting up. ”We have that for dishwater.”

”Dishwater!” repeated Ed. ”You've got this down to domestic science all right. That rubber hose runs off the hot water from the cylinder jacket, and----”

”Oh, never!” cried Jack. ”They will be making tea with it.”

”Isn't it salty?” innocently asked Marita.

”Likely,” said Belle, for the girls had all taken an interest in the housework-made-easy-plan, and had arranged to use the boiling water as it came from the motor after cooling the cylinder. ”But it won't hurt dishes.”

”Now I call that neat,” commented Ed, ”and to think that mere girls should have thought of it.”

Freda gave Cora a meaning glance. ”Girls ought to think of the housework,” she laughed with a wink at Belle. ”Just look at the linen chest.”

She opened a small box and exhibited a goodly supply of suitable linen. No table cloths; just small pieces, doilies and plenty of neat, pretty towels.

”Let's board here,” suggested Walter. ”Our food was really rude this morning.”

”Do we go out for a sail?” asked Ed, attempting to turn on the gasoline.

”Oh, no indeed!” Cora answered quickly. ”Not a box is unpacked in our place yet, and perhaps, if you boys are all to rights, you wouldn't mind giving us a hand.”

”Oh, of course we're all to rights,” replied Jack. ”I had a bolt of mosquito netting for my blanket last night and Wallie's bathrobe for my pillow.”

”And I made friends with a pretty, little, soft ground mole, Jack,”

put in Ed, ”and if the rest of our boxes do not arrive and unpack themselves in time for your slumber this eve, that mole has agreed to cuddle up under your left ear. I believe you sleep on your left.”

”Thanks,” Jack said, ”but I see no reason why mere household truck should keep us from a cruise. I am aching to try the _Chelton_, Cora.”

Cora and Freda were talking in whispers in the other end of the boat.

It was no ”mere household truck” surely that brought the serious expression to their faces.

”It isn't far,” Freda was heard to say, ”and he promised to wait for us this morning.”

”And I do want to be with you,” Cora answered. ”But I won't let them take the boat out the first time without me. It cost too much to run the risk of damaging it by sky-larking.”

”Now what are you two up to?” demanded Jack. ”Just because Drayton Ward has not arrived, we are held up for his coming. I tell you, Sis, that chap may not put in an appearance at all, here. He knows--sweller places.”

”Oh, don't you mind him, Cora,” Ed interrupted. ”Dray is sure to come.

He had his canoe s.h.i.+pped two days ago, besides sending to the cove for his motor boat. I expect some tall times when he gets here. Our own innocent little _La.s.sie_ won't know how to skip over the waves at all--she'll be that fl.u.s.tered when the swell, gold-railed, mahogany-bound, carpet-floored _Dixie_ gets here.”

”It would take more than a mere _Dixie_ to knock out our _La.s.sie_,”

declared Walter, ”but I should like to know why she is not on the scene yet. Didn't we plainly say Tuesday?”

”We did, plainly and emphatically. But a boat builder, letter or seller has a right to make his own day in delivering the goods. We'll be lucky if we get the barge at all without taking the sheriff up to that s.h.i.+pyard.”

”Meanwhile we have the _Chelton_,” said Ed, tugging at Cora's sleeve.