"You girls work just like regular sailors," declared Larry admiringly.

"We will see you at noon," called Miss Elting. "You needn't mind to come out for us. We have our rowboat."

"No. We will come for you with the launch," answered Billy.

As agreed, the boys came out with the launch shortly before twelve o'clock and took the Meadow-Brook party ash.o.r.e. George, with an ap.r.o.n tied about his neck, was deep in preparations for dinner. Harriet and Jane immediately put on their own ap.r.o.ns, which they had brought along, and went to work, while Hazel and Margery bustled about a.s.sisting Larry and Sam in getting the table ready. The boys had arranged rustic seats in place of chairs, and the table, set under the spreading foliage, looked very neat and attractive.

[Ill.u.s.tration: George Was Deep in Preparations for Dinner.]

That luncheon was one of the most enjoyable that any member of the party ever recalled having sat down to. No reference was made to the mysterious appearance and disappearance of the Meadow-Brook Girls until near the close of the meal.

"You haven't told us where you have been all the time," said Captain Baker with affected gayety.

"Oh, yes, I have. I told you we had been near here all the time,"

answered Miss Elting, smiling tolerantly.

"But how did you get over to this side of the lake? That is what you haven't told us," spoke up Billy Gordon.

"You mean that that is what you wish to tell us," replied Harriet. "You towed us over of course during the night. You played the first trick and won. But now you must tell us what became of the 'Red Rover,' the next day."

"But we can't," exclaimed George. "We hunted--"

"Of course you did," laughed Harriet. "We were watching you all the time."

The faces of the boys grew crimson. Forks were dropped on plates with a noisy clatter.

"What's the use?" cried George Baker, getting up hurriedly. "Fellows, we've got to confess that we're beaten in the first round by a lot of girls who are a good deal smarter than we think we are, or than we ever shall be."

George sat down again and began mopping the perspiration from his damp forehead.

"And that isn't all," continued Harriet, laughing. "Unless you are prepared to tell us just how we got back into the lake again we shall consider ourselves ent.i.tled to the second honors, too."

CHAPTER XIV

THE MIDNIGHT ALARM

The Meadow-Brook Girls shouted with laughter at this speech. Then, after a few seconds of hesitation, the boys of the Tramp Club joined in the merriment.

"You win," replied George. "We can't answer you. Now tell us how you disappeared so mysteriously, boat and all, and reappeared just as suddenly."

"Excuse me, but I don't propose to reveal our methods of procedure,"

laughed Harriet. "Oh, you can't outwit us. You will find us ready for you every time. We know all about last night, too."

"I'd certainly like to know where you were last night," said Captain Baker.

"We were near you all the time, and you didn't know us," laughed Harriet. "Even when you came out here yesterday you pa.s.sed us by without a single look. You did not see us. Then last night, when you were chasing some one whom you thought was spying on your camp, you pa.s.sed us again, and--"

"So that was you, eh?" jeered Larry.

"Who was I?" answered Harriet innocently.

"The mysterious boat we were pursuing," answered George, eyeing her keenly.

"Harriet ith not a boat," averred Tommy.

"No. She is a mermaid," declared George with emphasis.

"I beg to differ with all of you," said Sam. "The Meadow-Brook Girls are the original will o' the wisps. But you haven't seen the last of the Tramp Club yet. You have won twice but you shan't win again. Hereafter we'll be on the alert."

"You'll have to keep a watch on us night and day then," chuckled Jane.

"This pleasant spirit of rivalry makes matters interesting," interjected Miss Elting. "You have been very kind to us and helped to make our vacation enjoyable. We enjoy harmless fun as well as yourselves. I might add that we haven't fully exhausted our resources, either. And we wish to thank you for warning us of your intentions."

The boys blushed sheepishly.

"Sam, you'd better keep still," suggested George.

"That's what I say," nodded Larry.

"Yeth, he talkth too much," agreed Tommy wisely. "But you ought to have been with uth. We've had an awful time, too."

"How so?" questioned Billy politely.

"I fell in the water and Buthter made cuthtard and had no oven to bake it in, and then--"

"Who is talking now?" demanded Margery.

Tommy subsided at once.

"The question is, are you going to run away from us again?" demanded George.

"We never have. Remember, we followed you over here," suggested Jane.

"We shall be near here for some time in all probability. We have plenty of time. After we get tired of this spot we probably shall move to some other anchorage, but we'll be here for a few days yet."

"Keep your eyes open, or you will miss us again and your last chance will be gone," warned Harriet.

"We shall keep our eyes open," answered George with an emphatic nod.

The luncheon having been finished, Billy suggested that they spend the afternoon in exploring the island. This suited Harriet. She wanted to see how familiar the boys were with their island. So all started out, leaving the dishes to be washed later. The girls shook their heads disapprovingly.

"Oh, we have a patent dish washing machine," announced Larry. "You see, we dump the whole lot of dishes into the lake after having smeared them with sand. We leave the dishes there and the waves wash them. All we have to do is to take them out and lay them in the sun an hour or so afterwards. As soon as the dishes dry off they are ready for another meal to be served on them."

"Ithn't that jutht like a man?" demanded Tommy.

"This is Willow Island," Billy informed them after they had mounted a ridge that commanded a view of about a quarter of the island.