Part 8 (1/2)
”Well, good-bye then, and good luck. I'll be at the dock ahead of you.”
”Isn't he the quaintest old man?” asked Belle as the little party hurried along. Then she added: ”You and Freda made quite a visit. We began to think you were kidnapped.”
”We did make a stay,” agreed Cora, ”but Denny is a very old friend of Freda's family, and, to tell you the truth, we could hardly break away when he started in to tell sea-yarns. Ouch! The mud is deep. I guess we must be near the Lonely Willow.”
”There it is!” exclaimed Belle, who was somewhat in advance of the others. ”Indeed, it does stand all alone.”
”Isn't it scary here!” whispered Bess. ”See those two men under the Willow.”
All eyes were turned to the big tree. Two men were seated on a branch that made a comfortable seat. As the girls approached one of the men wrapped some papers up and thrust them into his pocket. But the movement was not lost on the girls.
No word was spoken for a few moments. Belle dropped back a little as if to allow the others to face the strangers first. Of course Cora, always being the leader, boldly made her way along.
They had to pa.s.s almost under the tree to reach the path, but there was no halting once the girls started out.
Finally they had pa.s.sed in perfect safety, but as they were almost out of earshot one of the men said:
”I thought she'd be with him--that old Denny!”
The rest of the remark was lost, but this fragment served to put Cora on her guard.
CHAPTER VI
THE ”CHELTON”
”Oh, isn't it exciting?” cried Marita, who had managed to have Jack help her over the dunes on the way to the dock.
”You're right!” replied Jack, surveying her ”nautical” outfit.
”Couldn't beat it.”
”Silly! I mean going for the cruise.”
”Oh, I thought you meant that rig you're wearing. It is most becoming, but I hope it won't get wet.”
”Oh, the water won't hurt it. I got it on that account. I think the girls' maroon sweaters look dandy--they can be seen for such a distance.”
”Yes, I suppose togs have something to do with a good time, although I must say Cora doesn't seem to give much time to hers. Look at Marita in white. She looks like a French doll.”
”Oh, she is the cutest thing!” replied Lottie, in her gus.h.i.+ng way.
”But Cora is simply stunning! Just see how she stands out in the crowd.”
Lottie and Jack strolled through the moss-padded path that led to the white sands of Tangle Turn, talking in this vein as they went. It was indeed a merry crowd, and well worth noticing, as was evinced by the number of curious spectators already a.s.sembled on the dock to which the _Chelton_ was tied.
”Who's the man?” asked Jack, espying a striking figure in the throng.
”Oh, that's Uncle Denny; don't you know him? He is the dearest----”