Part 20 (1/2)

”What would you do?”

”If we had a boat--even a canoe--we could follow that motor-launch and see if those pirates make a landing.”

”Pirates!” repeated Ruth.

”Smugglers, then. Your own Chess Copley says they may be smugglers, you know.”

”I wish you would not speak in that way, Helen,” objected Ruth. ”He is not my Chess Copley----or anything else.”

”Well, he certainly isn't mine,” retorted Helen, with more gaiety. ”I can't say I approve of him--and I long since told you why.”

”I believe you are unfair, Helen,” said Ruth seriously.

”Dear me! if you don't care anything about him, why are you so anxious to have me change my opinion of 'La.s.ses?”

”For your own sake,” said her friend shortly.

”I wonder! For _my_ sake?”

”Yes. Because you are not naturally unfair--and Chess feels it.”

”Oh, he does, does he?” snapped Helen. ”I hope he does. Let him feel!”

This heartless observation closed Ruth's lips on the subject. The two girls watched the other island. They did not see the boat again. Nor did they see anybody on the island or hear any other cry from there.

They both began to grow anxious. No boat appeared from the direction of the camp, and it was past the hour now when Willie was to have called for them with the _Gem_. Why didn't he come?

”Of course, Mr. Hammond doesn't expect us to swim home,” complained Helen.

”Something must have occurred. Totantora's being sent off so suddenly really worries me. Perhaps Mr. Hammond himself was obliged to leave the camp and perhaps he went in the _Gem_, and Willie cannot return for us until later.”

”But where is Tom? Surely he must know all about this sudden trouble.”

”What was Tom going to do to-day?” asked Ruth quietly.

”Oh, that's so! I had forgotten,” said Tom's sister, in despair. ”He was going around to Oak Point with some of the men. That's down the river, beyond Chippewa Point, and they could scarcely get back in the other motor-boat before dark.”

”That's the answer, I guess,” sighed Ruth.

”Then we are marooned!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Helen. ”I do think it is too mean--and my goodness! we ate every crumb of lunch.”

”The two 'Robinson Crusoesses,' then, may have to go on short rations,”

but Ruth said it with a smile. ”I guess we are not in any real danger of starvation, however.”

”Just the same, a joke can easily become serious when one is deserted on a desert island.”

”But you were looking for adventure,” retorted Ruth.

”Well!”