"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 shipped 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 shipyard."

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

"And we must get back to the bungalow," she observed. "Freda and I have an important appointment for eleven, and if you all promise not to follow us or attempt to go out in the _Chelton_, perhaps we will have some interesting news for you this evening."

The boys strolled away, talking about the motor boat they had hired.

Money, for some reason, was not plentiful that Summer with Jack and his chums, and they had to be content with a second-hand craft, that had been patched and re-patched until there was little of the original left. They were not even sure the _La.s.sie_ would run, but they were anxious to try her.

CHAPTER IV

THE RED OAR

"This way, Cora. The sand is so heavy out there it is better to keep near the edge," said Freda, as the two girls tramped along in the deep sand of the seash.o.r.e that banded Crystal Bay.

"But isn't it perfectly beautiful along here?" exclaimed Cora, in rapt delight. "I had no idea the little place could be so charming."

"Oh, yes," returned Freda, with a suspicion of a sigh. "Over there, just in that splendid green stretch is, or was, grandfather's place.

It runs all along to the island, and on the other side there is a stream that has been used for a mill race."

"Over there!" Cora repeated. "Why, that looks like the very best part of the bay. And that house on the hill?"

"Grandfather's own home and--mother's," finished Freda.

"Is it rented now?"

"Yes, we have rented it for three years, and it has brought us quite a little income," said Freda.

"But you see that is cut off now. I am sure I do not know who collects the rents."

"What a shame!" cried Cora. "And all because there is some technical proof of ownership missing. I should think that when your family had undisputed possession for years it ought to be sufficient to establish your rights."

"Yes, we never dreamed we could lose it," Freda explained. "Mother and I have lived there in the Winter since father died, and we have rented it in Summer, as I said. Of course the Summer is the desirable time here. And we had some of the loveliest old furniture. But when we had to break up we sold most of it."

"Look out! There's a hole there," Cora warned just in time, for in the heavy sand little rivulets were creeping from some rollers tossed in by a pa.s.sing boat. The bay was dotted with many craft, and the picture it presented gave Cora keen delight, for it forecasted a merry Summer for the motor girls.

"We only have a little farther to go," Freda said. "I hope old Denny has kept his word and stayed in. He is the queerest old fellow--you will be amused at him, I am sure. But he was always such a staunch friend of grandfather."

"I am anxious to meet him," rejoined Cora. "Somehow I feel we girls ought to get at the bottom of this. Wouldn't it be fine if we could?"

"More than fine, it would be glorious!" Freda replied. "If we lose it all now, I will have to look for work. Not that I mind that," she added, "but I intend to take a course in nursing. I have always longed to be a nurse."

"And that would be a splendid profession for you," Cora agreed. "I do hope you will not have to go to work in some office."

"Oh, there's Denny! Denny!" called Freda, leaving Cora without further ceremony, and hurrying ahead as fast as the soft sand would allow.

"See, there he is! Just going out in his fishing boat."

Cora ran after her, and soon they overtook the old fisherman, who was deaf. Freda didn't mind getting her shoes wet in order to approach the water's edge.

"Good morning, Denny," she called, "come in here. We want to talk to you."