THE MOTOR GIRLS ON CEDAR LAKE

Or

The Hermit of Fern Island

CHAPTER I

PUSHING OFF

"Oh, Cora! Isn't this perfectly splendid!" exclaimed Bess Robinson. 

"Delightful!" chimed in her twin sister, Belle. 

"I'm glad you like it, " said Cora Kimball, the camp hostess. "Ifelt that you would, but one can never be sure--especially of Belle. Jack said she would fall a prey to that clump of white birches overthere, and would want to paint pictures on the bark. But I fanciedshe would take more surely to the pines; they are so strong--and, like the big boys--always to be depended on. But not a word aboutcamp now. Something more important is on. My new motor boat hasjust arrived!"

"Has it really?" This as a duet. 

"And truly, " finished Cora with a smile. "Yes, it has, and there isnot a boy on the premises to show me how to run it. Jack expectedto be here, but he isn't. So now I'm going to try it alone. Inever could wait until evening to start my new boat. And isn't itlovely that you have arrived in time to take the initial run? Iremember you both took the first spin with me in my auto, theWhirlwind, and now here you are all ready for the trial performanceof the motor boat. Now Belle, don't refuse. There is absolutely nodanger. "

"But the water, " objected the timid Belle. 

"We can all swim, " put in her sister, "and you promised, Belle, notto be nervous this trip. Yes, Cora, I'm all ready. I saw the craftas we came up. Wasn't it the boat with the new light oak deck andmahogany gunwale? I am sure it was, "

"Yes, isn't she a beauty? I should have been satisfied with anysort of a good boat, but mother wanted something really reliable, and she and Jack did it all before I had a chance to interfere. "

"I wonder what your mother will next bestow upon you?" asked Bellewith a laugh. "She has such absolute confidence in you. "

"Let us hope it will not be a man; we can't let Cora get married, whatever else she may do, " put in Bess, as she shook the dust fromher motor coat, and prepared to follow Cora, who was already leavingthe camp. Belle, too, started, but one could see that she, thougha motor girl, did not exactly fancy experimenting on the water. Itwas but a short distance to the lake's edge, for the camp had beenchosen especially on account of the water advantage. 

"There she is! See how she stands out in the clear sunshiny water!I tell you it is the very prettiest boat on Cedar Lake, and that issaying something, " exclaimed Cora, the proud possessor of the newmotor craft. 

"Beautiful, " reiterated the Robinson twins. 

"But what do you know about running it?" queried Belle. 

"Why, I have been studying marine motors in general, and have beenshown about this one in particular, " replied Cora. "The man who ranit up from the freight depot for me gave me a few 'pointers, ' as hecalled them. "

She stepped into the trim craft and affectionately patted theshining engine. 

"'It is much simpler to run than a car, and besides, there isn't somuch to get in your way on the water, " Cora went on. 

"My!" exclaimed Bess as she stepped in after her hostess. "This isreally--scrumptious!"

"You take the seat in the stern, Belle, and Bess, you may sit herenear me, " said Cora, "as I suppose you will be interested in seeinghow it works. Oh! There is the steamer from the train. Hurry!Perhaps there are folks aboard we know. Let us act at home, andpretend we have been running motor boats all our lives. "

Cora took her place at the engine and before Bess or Belle hadreally gotten seated she was turning on the gasoline. 

"You see this is the little pipe that feeds the 'gas' from the tankto the carburetor, " she explained. "Now, I just throw in theswitch: that makes the electrical connection: then I have to givethis fly wheel--it's stiff--but I have to swing it around so!There!" and the wheel "flew" around twice slowly and then began torevolve very rapidly. "Now we are ready, " and the engine startedits regular chug chug. 

"How do you steer?" asked Bess anxiously, for the big steamer withits cargo of summer folks seemed rather near. 

"I can steer here, " and Cora turned a wheel amidships, "or one maysteer at the bow. Suppose you take the forward wheel Bess, as Imay, have enough to do to look after the engine. "

"Very well, " acquiesced the girl, "but I hope I make no mistakes. "

"Oh you won't. Just turn the wheel the way you want to go. Nowwe'll hurry. I want to show off my boat. "

Bess took up her place at the steering wheel and turned it so thatthe boat started on a clear course. Everything seemed to workbeautifully, and presently Bess was so interested in the gentleswerving of the craft, as the rudder responded to her slightesttouch, that she, too, thought it very much simpler than motoring onland. 

"There are the Blakes!" suddenly exclaimed Belle. "See, they arewaving to us. "

"Yes, " answered Cora as she snatched off her cap and fluttered aresponse to the folks on the steamer. "Bess, keep clear out. Thelanding is just over there! The steamer makes quite a swell. "

Bess turned, but she did it too suddenly. A wave from the steamercaught them broadside, and drenched the girls before they knew whathad happened. 

"Oh!" screamed Belle, "--we are running right into the steamer!"

"Bess! Bess!" called Cora. "Turn! I can't connect--"

Shouts from the steamer added to their confusion. Would they be rundown on this, their very first attempt at navigation?

"They are the motor girls!" Cora heard some one on the steamershout, and while this much has been told it may be well to acquaintthe reader with further details of the situation. The Motor Girlswere friends whom we have met in the four previous volumes of thisseries entitled respectively: "The Motor Girls, " "The Motor Girls ona Tour, " "The Motor Girls at Lookout Beach, " and "The Motor GirlsThrough New England. " In each of these volumes we have met CoraKimball, the handsome, dashing girl who conquers everything withinreason, but who, herself, is occasionally conquered, both in thefield of sports and in the field of human endeavors. It was she whohad the first automobile, her Whirlwind and while out in it she hadsome very trying experiences. 

In the first volume she managed to unravel the mystery of the road. Bess and Bell, the Robinson twins, were with her, as they were againin the second volume, the story of a strange promise. This promise, odd as it was, all three girls kept, to the delight and happiness oflittle Wren, the crippled child. Next the girls went to LookoutBeach, where they had plenty of good fun, as well as time enough tofind the runaways, two very interesting young girls, who haddecamped from the "Strawberry patch. " It was like a game of hideand seek, but in the end the motor girls did capture the runaways. Then in the story "Through New England, " it was Cora who was hiddenaway by the gypsies, and what she endured, and how she escaped wereassuredly wonderful. There were brothers and friends of course, Jack Kimball being the most important person of the first variety, while Walter Pennington and Ed Foster were friends in need andfriends indeed. 

And now we find these same girls undertaking a new role--that ofrunning a motor boat, the gift of Mrs. Kimball to her daughter, forthat mother, in her days of widowhood, had learned how safe it wasto repose confidence in her two children, Cora and Jack. 

The camp at Cedar Lake had been taken by Cora and her friends for asummer vacation on the water, and now, after a day's run fromChelton, the home town, in their auto, the Flyaway, the Robinsongirls had again joined Cora who had come up the day previous, with amaid to get the camp to rights. 

The steamer was indeed too close! Cora was frantically trying toturn the auxiliary steering wheel, but Bess in her fright wasturning the more powerful bow wheel in the very direction of danger!

"Oh! Mercy!" shrieked Belle. "We are lost!"

Another wave almost submerged them. The passengers on the steamerhad all run to one side of their boat. 

"Turn right!" shouted Cora as she jumped up and fairly jerked fromBess the forward wheel. "Turn to the right!"

CHAPTER II

THE HAUNTED ISLE

For some seconds no one seemed to know just what had happened. Thesteamer was clear, and the motor boat was running safely. Threevery wet girls were thanking their good fortune that the water wastheir only damage--and water in the shape of a shower of spray isnot much of a matter to complain of, after you escape a collision. 

"What happened?" asked Belle, when she had the courage to uncoverher eyes. 

"Bess turned wrong, " said Cora. 

"I couldn't tell which way to go, " put in the frightened girl. "Iwas simply stage-struck. But what saved us?"

"I jerked the wheel just enough to get a little to one side, andthen the steamer had a chance to turn away, " replied Cora. "I tellyou we had a close shave, but that makes our first trip all the moreinteresting. Bess, can I trust you now to take my place while Ilook at that wheel? The rope may have slipped?"

"Oh, don't do anything, " pleaded Belle. "Call to that boat overthere, and let us have help. See, they are coming this way. "

"Why, it's the boys--our boys!" exclaimed Cora. "Why have they goneout without telling me, when they knew I wanted to use my boat?"

In a canoe that looked like a big eel as it slipped over the watercould be seen Jack, Ed and Walter. 

"Well!" called Jack. "I like that! Where did you get the--oceanliner, Cora?"

"Don't say anything about the accident, " she had a chance to whisperto the girls before replying to her brother. "I found my boat tiedup at the dock, " she answered gaily. "Isn't she a beauty?"

"What are you going to call her?" asked Walter. 

"The Whirlpool, I guess, " replied Cora, "that would go nicely withmy Whirlwind, don't you think?"

"Oh, no, don't, " objected Belle. "I should always feel that we weregoing to be--"

"Whirlpooled?" finished Jack. "Better make her the Petrel, Cora, for two reasons. We bought it from Mr. Peters, and she can walk onthe water like the old original sea-fowl. Just see how she doessaunter along. "

"All right. Petrel will do, but it will be Pet for short, " saidCora as now she allowed the boat to drift a little way from besidethe boys' canoe. 

"What was the matter with the steamer folks?" asked Ed. "Thought Iheard something as we passed. "

"Yes, you might have heard them talking about us if your ears had ontheir long distance, " replied Cora quickly. "The Blakes areaboard. "

"I saw their trunks at the station, " said Jack "and they were taggedto The Burrow. "

"That's the hole in the hill, isn't it?" asked Walter. "Well, I'mglad they have come up--the Benny Blakeses. I like a lot of folksaround here. It is apt to have a depressing effect upon me ifcompany is scarce and fishing shy. "

"Or weather wet, " put in Ed. "But say, Cora, I'd like to try thePet. " He remembered he was in a blue bathing suit, ever the mostappropriate costume for a canoe. "But I'll wait until later, thoughI hate to. We have, as a matter of fact, an engagement at FarIsland. Have you heard?"

"No, what?" asked the girls in chorus. 

"Just a suspicion yet, but it may be true. We think--shall we giveit away boys?"

"No; sell it, " suggested Jack. "They sold us on this first trip, why should we give them anything?"

"Oh, Jack! You know I expected you to take me out the first time, "said Cora reproachfully. 

"Yes, and you know all about a boat, and start out without giving afellow the slightest warning. "

"But why didn't you come up when you knew the boat had arrived?"questioned the sister. 

"Because--but that was what Ed was going to give away. It's amysterious secret, and it is situated on Far Island. So long girls, I suppose you know how to land. "

"Oh, yes indeed, " said Cora in spite of the protest that wastrembling on Belle's lips. "We started out, and we will get backall right. Wish you luck in whatever you are after, " and she winkedat Bess, who was now beside her at the engine, as Cora had concludedto guide the boat by the auxiliary steering wheel. 

The boys veered off. 

"I wonder what they are up to?" asked Cora. "As soon as we can doso, without being noticed, I think we will follow them. There musthave been something important on, when Jack did not wait to take meout. "

"Oh, don't let us go farther out on the lake, " begged Belle. "I amnervous yet. "

"Then suppose we take you in? Nettie is at the camp, and then Bessand I can go out to the island. There was really nothing the matterwith the boat, the mistake was all due to our own nervousness. "

"Well, I would feel better not to sail any farther, " admitted the, pretty blond Belle, as she tossed back some of her breeze straycurls. "I am subject to sickness on the water, anyhow. "

"On still water?" asked Bess archly. "Well, we will take you in, Twiny. And we will then go out. I want to redeem myself. "

"Good for you, Bess, " said Cora. "There is nothing like courage, unless it be gasoline, " and after starting the engine, she turnedthe boat toward the shore. "There are the boys heading for theother island!" she exclaimed a moment later. 

"They are trying to fool us. I wonder why?" asked Bess. "See, Belle. There are Nettie and Mary an shore--two of the best maids onthe island. You will be all right with them, won't you, dear?"

"Of course, " replied the twin, rather confusedly. "I don't needattention. "

"But you are tired, " put in Cora, "and those girls have not done athing since lunch time. Just command them. "

"'Very well. But do be careful, you two girls. A bad beginning youknow. "

"Oh, don't you worry about us, " replied Cora confidently. "I feelas if this boat was a top in my hands. It is so much easier tohandle than an auto. No gears, differentials or things like that. Good bye, Belle. Have supper ready when we return, " and she soundedthe small whistle that told of the start again. 

"Good bye. Be careful, " cautioned Belle. Then the two girls headedthe craft for the little island around which they had just seen theboys disappear. 

"I thought the boys looked very serious, " said Bess, as she put herhand on the wheel Beside Cora's. "I wonder what is wrong?"

"Jack certainly had something very important on when he neglectedme, " said his sister. "I hope there is nothing really wrong. Thereare no people on that island, I believe. "

"Then perhaps we had better not land?" suggested Bess. "It might behorribly lonely and we might not be able to find the boys. "

"Well, when we get there we will be able to judge of all that, "replied Cora. "Doesn't the Petrel motor beautifully?"

"And this lake, " added Bess. "I never saw anything like it. Whysome of those islands are big enough to inhabit. "

"Yes, there is one island over there, " answered Cora, pointing tothe extreme eastern shore of the water, "and since I have seen it Iam just dying to explore it. They call it Fern Island, and thestore man tells the most wonderful tales about it. But we will haveto wait until we all assemble. When did Hazel say she would come?"

"Tomorrow or next day. She has to take some special 'exams. ' I amsorry that girl is so ambitious. It always interferes with hervacation. "

"Hazel will make her mark some day, if she does not spoil it all byhaving someone make it for her--on a flat stone. But honestly Bess, I do hope she will come up before the others. Next to you and BelleI count more on Hazel Hastings than on anyone else in our party. "

"And not a little on her brother Paul?" and Bess laughed in herteasing way. "Now Cora, Paul Hastings is acknowledged to be themost useful boy in all the Chelton set. He can fix an auto, fix anelectric bell, fix an alarm clock--"

"And no doubt could overhaul a motor boat, " finished Cora, as sheturned the Petrel toward land. "Well, this is Far Island, and I amsure the boys headed this way. Let's shout. "

Putting her hands to her mouth, funnel fashion, Cora sent out theshrill yodel known to all of the motor girls and motor boys. Besstook up the refrain; but there was no answer. 

"If they were ashore wouldn't their boat be about?" asked Bess. "Wecan see all this side of the island, but you said it was too rockyto land on the other shore. "

Cora looked about. Yes, one edge was all sandy and the other rocks. If the boys had come ashore they must have done so from the northside. 

"My, what a lot of boats!" exclaimed Bess. "Cora, just see thatflock, " and she pointed to a distant flotilla of various craftacross the lake. 

"Yes, and so many canoes, we could hardly tell the boys in thatthrong. Do you suppose they are in that parade?"

"Oh, no. They had only bathing suits on, and that really looks likesome fleet, " replied Bess. "Yes, see there is their club banner. My! I had no idea that Cedar Lake boasted of such style. "

"We may expect water picnics every day now, " said Cora. "But justsee that old man in the rowboat towing that pretty canoe. Do yousuppose he has it for hire?"

"Likely. But how would anyone hire it out here? Why not fromshore?" questioned Bess. 

"Well, perhaps he is taking it to the dock, " and Cora allowed herboat to touch the island shore. "At any rate if we are to find theboys we had better be at it, for I want to start back before thatthrong of boats gets in my way. I feel sure enough, but I likeroom. "

Both girls stepped ashore as Cora caught the boat hook in the strongroot of a tree and pulled the craft in. Then she shouted again. 

"Jack! Jack!" she called. "Isn't it lonely here, " she saidsuddenly, realizing that while she had expected the boys to be onthe island, they might have gone to any of the other bits of land. 

"Yes, " said Bess. "I never felt so far away from everything before. On an island it is so different from being on real shore!"

"Yes, it is farther out, " and Cora laughed at the description. "Bess, I guess I was mistaken. The boys do not seem to be here. "

"Then do let's go back, " pleaded Bess. "I am actually afraid. "

"Of what? Not those 'jug-er-umms. ' Just hear them. You wouldthink the frogs were trying to drive us away from their territory. "

"I always did hate the noise they make, " declared Bess. "It soundslike a dead, dark night. Why do they croak in the daytime?"

"Night is coming, " Cora explained, "and besides, it is so quiet herethey do not have to wait for nightfall. But listen! Didn't youhear those dry leaves rustle?"

"Oh Cora, come!" and Bess pulled at her friend's skirt. "It may bea great--snake. "

Cora stood and listened. "No, " she said, "that was no snake. Itsounded like something running. "

"Come on, Cora dear, " begged Bess, so that Cora was obliged toagree. "See, all the boats have gone the other way. And ifanything happened we might just as well be on this desert island ason that desert water. "

They had not ventured far into the wood, so that it was but a fewsteps back to the boat. Cora loosened the bow line and presentlythe engine was chugging away. 

"Oh, " sighed Bess, "I felt as if something dreadful was going tohappen. Ever since those gypsies took you, Cora, I am actuallyafraid of everything in the country. It did seem safe on the water, but in those woods--"

"Now, Bess dear, you are to forget all about the gypsies. I havealmost done so--that is, I have forgotten all the unpleasant part. Of course, I occasionally hear from Helka. Do you want to steer, Bess?"

"I would rather not, " confessed Bess, "for I am actually trembling. Where do you suppose the boys could have gone?"

"Haven't the least idea, and we have no more time to speculate. There! Didn't you hear a strange noise on the island? I declare, that store man must be right. Those islands are haunted!"

"Wasn't that a queer noise! Oh! I am so glad we are safe in ourboat, " and Bess breathed a sigh of relief. "I would have died ifthat noise happened while we were there. "

"But I should like to know what it is, and I will never be satisfieduntil I find out, " declared Cora. "That was neither bird norbeast--it was human. "

But the motor boat, girls headed straight for shore--the sun seemedfalling into the lake as they reached the camp to be welcomed byBelle. The story of the trip to the island and the disappearance ofthe boys was quickly told. 

CHAPTER III

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BOYS

"What can have happened to the boys?" murmured Belle. "I am afraidthey are drowned. "

"All of them?" and Cora could not repress a smile. "It would take avery large sized whale to gobble them all at once, and surely theycould not all have been seized with swimming cramps at the samemoment. No, Belle, I have no such fear. But I am going right outto investigate. I know Jack would never stay away if he could gethere, especially when he knew this would be your first evening atthe lake. Why, the boys were just wild to try my boat, " and shethrew her motor cape over her shoulders. "Come on girls, down tothe steamer landing. There may have been some accident. "

Belle and Bess were ready instantly. Indeed the twins seemed morealarmed than did Cora, but then they were not used to brothers, anddid not realize how many things may happen and may not happen, todetain young men on a summer day or even a summer night. 

"Oh dear!" sighed Belle, "I have always dreaded the water. I didpromise mamma and Bess to conquer my nervousness and not make folksmiserable, but now just see how things happen to upset me, " and shewas almost in tears. 

"Nothing has happened yet, Belle dear, " said Cora kindly, "and wehope nothing will happen. You see your great mistake comes fromwhat Jack calls the 'sympathy bug. ' You worry about people beforeyou know they are in trouble. I feel certain the boys will be foundsafe and sound, but at the same time I would not be so foolhardy asto trust to dumb luck. "

"You are a philosopher, Cora, " answered the nervous girl, her toneshowing that she meant to compliment her chum. 

"No, merely logical, " corrected Cora, as they walked along. "Youknow what marks I always get in logic. "

"But it all comes from health, " put in Bess. "Mother says Bellewould be just as sensible as I am if she were as strong. "

"Sensible as you are?" and Cora laughed. Bess had such a candid wayof acknowledging her own good points. "Why, we have never noticedit, Bess. "

"Oh, you know what I mean. I simply mean that I do not fuss, " andBess let her cheeks glow at least two shades deeper. 

"Well it is sensible not to fuss, Bess, so we will grant yourpoint, " finished Cora as they stepped on the boardwalk that led tothe boat landing. "Why, I didn't suppose they would light up withthat moon, " she said. "That's the old watchman over there. "

A man was swinging a lantern from the landing. He held it above hishead, then lowered it, and it was plain he was showing the light tosignal someone on the water. 

Cora's heart did give a quickened response to her nerves as she sawthat something must be wrong. But she said not a word to hercompanions. 

"What are they after?" asked Belle timidly. 

"Probably some fishermen casting their nets for bait, " Cora answeredevasively. "You stay here, while I speak with old Ben. "

Bess and Belle complied, although Bess felt she should have been theone to ask questions. What if anything had really happened to theboys! Jack was Cora's brother. 

"Have you seen anything of some boys in a canoe?" Cora asked of theman with the lantern. "They set out this afternoon, and have notyet returned. "

"Boys in a canoe?" repeated Ben, in that tantalizing way countryfolk have of delaying their answers. 

"Yes, my brother and two of his friends went out toward FarIsland--"

"Fern Island?" interrupted the man. 

"No, when we last saw them they were going away from Fern and towardFar Island, " said Cora. 

"Well, if they're on Fern Island at night I pity them. There ain'tnever been anyone who put up there after dark who wasn't ready todie of fright, 'ceptin' Jim Peters. And the old boy hisselfcouldn't scare Jim. Guess he's too chununy with him, " and thewaterman chuckled at his joke. 

"But you have not heard of any accident?" pressed Cora. 

"I saw them young fellers myself. They was in a green canoe; wasn'tthey?"

"Yes, " answered Cora eagerly. 

"Well, I asked Jim Peters if he had sawed 'em, and he said--but thenyou can't never believe Jim. "

"What did he say?" excitedly demanded Cora, as Bess and Bellestepped up to where she was talking. 

"He said they had tied their boat up at the far dock, and had goneon the shore train to the merry-go-'round. "

"But they were in their bathing suits!" exclaimed Cora. 

"There! Didn't I tell you not to take any stock in Jim's news! Iknowed he was fibbin'. But--say miss. There's this about Jim. Hedon't ever take the trouble to make up a yam unless he has a motive. Now I'll bet Jim knows something about them lads. "

"Where does this man live?" asked Cora. 

"He don't live no place in particular, but in general he stays atthe shanty, when he ain't on the water. But he's a regular fish. The young 'uns calls him a fish hawk. "

"How could we get to his place? Do you think he is at the shantynow?" went on Cora, determined to find out something of the man, forshe had reason to believe that the dock-hand knew what he wastalking about. 

"Bless you, child! It ain't no place for young girls like you to goto any time, much less at night. But I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll jest take a look around myself. I sort of like a girl whoknows how to talk to old Ben without being sassy. "

"Thank you very much, Ben, but I really must hurry to trace theboys. I suppose you have no police around the island?"

"Wall, there's Constable Hannon. He is all right to trace a thingwhen you tell him where it is, but Tom Hannon hates to think. " Benraised the lantern above his head and then, as if satisfied that thesignaling was all finished, he placed the lantern on a hook thathung over the edge of the dock. 

"Oh, Cora, " put in Bess, "it is almost eight O'clock. We must hurryalong. "

"I know, Bess dear, but I had to find out all this man knew. Now Iam satisfied to start for the other end of the lake. "

Cora's voice betrayed the emotion she was feeling in spite of heroutward calm. The matter was now assuming a very serious aspect. 

"One thing seems certain, " she said to all who were listening, "theycould not all have been drowned. They were all expert swimmers. Nor would they go to any merry-go-'round and leave us waiting forthem. The question now is, what could have detained them?"

"Well, here comes Jim now, " said Ben. "Just you keep quiet, andI'll pump him. "

A man came slouching along the dock. He had the way of seeming muchyounger than he pretended to be--that is he walked with his headdown although his shoulders were straight and broad as those of anywell trained athlete. The three girls instantly decided that thisman had some strange motive in his manner. He was shamming, theythought. 

"Hello there, Ben, " he called to the dock hand jokingly. "How's thetide?"

"Not much tide on this here lake, " replied Ben sharply. "Neverknowed much about them tides, as I've lived at this hole most all myborn days. But how was business to-day? That was quite a fleet. How'd you make out?"

"Oh, same as usual, " and Jim Peters looked from under his big hat atthe girls. "Got company?"

"Yes, a couple friends of the old lady's. They're camping here. "

"Oh, " half-growled the man understandingly as he made his way to thewater's edge. 

"Where're you goin' now?" asked Ben. 

"Up the lake, " replied the man. 

"Oh, say, " spoke Ben as if the thought had just occurred to him, "where did you say them young fellers went? The ones who startedout in a canoe?"

Now Cora saw that this was the man who had come down the lake withthe canoe trailing behind his rowboat. He stepped into thelantern's light, and both Bess and Belle must also have recognizedhim, for they shot a meaning glance at Cora. 

"What fellows?" drawled the man in answer to Ben's question. 

"The ones I asked you about. You said they went to themerry-go-'round. Did they?"

"Yep, " replied the man sententiously. 

"Where is that?" asked Cora, unable to restrain herself longer. 

"At the Peak, " he said vaguely. Then he stepped into his rowboatand before anyone could question him further he was pulling up thelake. 

"Well, I'll be hung! Excuse me ladies, but I am that surprised, "said Ben apologetically. "Say, that fellow knows about the kids, and we've got to follow him. But how?"

"In my motor boat, " proposed Cora quickly. "We could overtake himin that before he had any idea we were following him!"

"Have you a motor boat? Good! Where is it? Here, I'll call Dan. He kin run faster than a deer. Dan! Dan! Dan!" shouted the oldman, and from a nearby rowboat, where, evidently, some boys werehaving some sort of a harmless game, Dan appeared. He was a tallyouth, the sort that seems to grow near the water. "Hey Dan, I wantyou to go where this girl tells you, and fetch her boat, " said Ben. "Quick now, we've got something to do. "

"It's up at the new camp, " said Cora. "It's the new boat you musthave seen come up this afternoon. "

"Oh, yes'm, I know it, and I know where it is, " replied the lad, andthen he was off, his bare feet making no sound. He called backthrough the darkness "Got any oil or gas?"

"Yes, " replied Cora, and away he ran. 

"Ain't he a regular dock rat, " said Ben with something like pride inhis voice. 

"I hope we do not lose sight of that man, " remarked Cora. 

"Oh Jim can't pull as hard as he thinks, especially on a lazy daywhen he has been out some, " affirmed Ben. "Now suppose you girlsjust sit on this plank while you wait? 'Twon't cost you nothin'. "

He dusted off the big plank with his handkerchief, and upon theboard, Cora, Bess and Belle seated themselves. 

"I suppose Dan will haul the boat down, " said Cora. "It isn'tlocked, but he may not want to start the motor. "

"Oh, you can trust to Dan to get her here. When he isn't a dock rathe's a canal mule. There! Ain't that him? Yep, there he comes andhe's got her all right, " said old Ben proudly. 

The boy could now be seen walking along the water's edge, as hepulled the motor boat by the bow rope. The girls were quick tofollow Ben to the landing, and there all three, with Ben, gotaboard. 

The girls helped Cora light the port, starboard and aft-lights; thenthey were ready to start. 

"Better let me run her, " said the man, "as I know all the spots inthis here lake. Besides, " and he touched the engine almost fondly, "there ain't nothin' I like better than a boat, unless it's a fishline. "

"This is a very simple motor, " explained Cora, showing how readilythe gas could be turned on and how promptly the engine responded tothe spark. 

"It's a beauty, " agreed Ben, as the "chugchug" answered the firstturn of the flywheel. 

Belle and Bess sat in the stem and Cora went forward. It was adelightful evening and, but for the urgency of their quest, thefirst night sail of the Petrel on Cedar Lake would have been aperfect success. 

"Isn't that a light?" asked Belle, loud enough for Cora to hear. 

"Yes. Ben see, there is a light. Do you suppose that is on Jim'sboat?" asked Cora. 

"Never, " replied Ben, "he's too stingy to light up on a moonlightnight when the water's clear. Of course the law says he must, butwho's goin' to back up the law?"

"Which way are you going?" she questioned further. 

"See that track of foam over yonder? That's Jim's course. We'lljust pick his trail, " said Ben. "Now there! Watch him turn! He'sheadin' for Far Island!"

At this Ben throttled down, and, a few minutes later he turned offthe gas and cut out the switch. 

"We'll just drift a little to give him a chance to settle, " he said. "We don't want to get too close--it might spoil the game. "

Belle and Bess were both too nervous to talk. It seemed like somepirate story, that they should be following a strange fisherman to awild island in the night, in hopes of finding the boys--possiblycaptured boys!

Cora listened eagerly. She, too, was losing courage--it was soslight a hope that this man would lead them to where the boys mightbe. 

"There! See that!" exclaimed Ben. "He's talking to some one onland. "

"Yes, I heard Jack's voice, " exclaimed Cora. "Oh, I am so glad theyare safe!"

"But how do we know?" asked Belle, her voice trembling. 

"Jack's voice told me, " replied Cora, "for if they were in distresshe would not have shouted like that!"

"But he was mad, " said Ben, and in this the old fisherman made nomistake, for the voices of the boys, in angry protest, could beheard, as they argued with some one, who succeeded in keeping hispart of the conversation silent from the anxious listeners. 

CHAPTER IV

GETTING BACK

A few minutes later the rowboat of Jim Peters came out from FarIsland, and in it were the boys!

"If we have to bale her out all the way" Ed was saying, "I can't seewhy we should pay you a quarter a piece. Seems to me we are earningour fare. "

They were now almost alongside the drifting motor boat. 

"Jack! Jack, " called Cora. "We are here, waiting for you. Whatever happened to you?"

"Well, " exclaimed the boys in great surprise. "Glad to see yougirls--never gladder to see anyone in my life. Can you take us on?"

"Of course we can, " replied Cora. "My! We thought you were lost. "

"Not us, but our boat, " answered Walter. "Some one stole our canoeand left us on the island, high and dry. "

"There, " said Ben, "didn't I tell you?"

"Well, you fellows owe me just the same as if you went all the way, "growled Jim Peters. "I've lost my night hire waitin' fer you. "

"How'd you know about them, Jim?" asked Ben, in a joking sort oftone. "Wasn't it luck you happened up this way to-night?"

The other man did not reply. Cora had stepped down to the seat infront of the engine where Ben sat. 

"Do you think that man stole their canoe?" she asked. 

"Hush! 'Taint no use to fight with Jim. He'd get the best of yousure, and besides, then he would be your enemy. Just make a joke ofit, and I'll tell you more later, " and Ben prepared to start as soonas the boys, who were climbing into the motor boat, were ready. 

"I'll pay you when we get to land, " said Jack to the boatman, "Ihave no money in my bathing suit. "

"Well, see that you do, " said the man in a rough voice. "I'm notgoin' to leave my work to tow a couple of sports just for the fun ofit. "

"Oh you'll get paid all right, " Jack assured him, "and so will thefellow who stole our boat--when we catch him. "

"I'll chip in for that, " said Walter. "Never saw such a trick. Hello Bess, also howdy Belle. My, isn't it fine to be rescued froma desert island by three pretty girls?"

"Wallie! Wallie. There's a stranger aboard, " warned Cora. 

"Oh yes, this is Ben--Ben--"

"Just Ben, " interrupted the man at the wheel, with a chuckle. 

"But he has been so kind, " added Cora. "Only for him we shouldnever have found out where you were. "

"If you hadn't taken us off that old sieve, " put in Ed, "I think wewould soon have had to swim back to the island. We never could havemade the shore in that thing, neither could we swim that distance. "

"S'long Jim!" called Ben, as the old rowboat was sent off in thedarkness. 

"See, he isn't balin' her now, " he told the boys. 

"How's that?" all asked in chorus. 

"Oh, that's a great boat--leaks to order, " replied Ben, as he turnedover the fly wheel and Cora's craft shot swiftly away from theisland. 

The boys were too busy talking to the girls, and the latter were toobusy asking questions, to go further into the matter of the leakingboat, but Cora did not fail to notice that the craft must have"leaked to order. " "What could that man have intended doing? Didhe want to sink the boat?" she was wondering. 

"Well, if we haven't had a pretty time of it, " said Ed. "First, wehad to go up trees to get out of the way of something--we are notyet sure whether it was man or beast. Then when we crawled down, and made for the shore the canoe was gone clear out of sight. "

"Haven't you any idea who took it?" Cora asked. 

"Wish we had--I'll wager he would have to sleep out of doorsto-night, " threatened Jack. "It was the meanest trick. "

Cora gave Bess the signal to keep still about having seen a canoe atthe back of Jim Peter's rowboat that afternoon. Cora was convincedthat Ben knew what he was talking about when he warned her to becareful of Jim Peters. 

"But why did you go back to the island?" asked Cora. "I thought youwere going to spend the afternoon with us girls?"

"We were, then again we couldn't, " answered her brother. "We had avery important appointment at Far Island. "

"Ben, don't you want one of us to run her?" asked Ed. "We were tohave had a try--"

"Nope. This here is the best fun I can have, and this boat is abeauty, " replied the old man. "If I had one that could go like thisand carry so many passengers I'd give up the dock. "

"Yes, a boat like this would earn its own living, " agreed Jack. "Run her as long as you like to, Ben. It gives us a chance--ahem--"

"To sit nearer your sisters, " finished Ben, with a sly laugh. 

"All's well that ends well, " quoted Belle to Ed, for she wasscarcely able yet to draw a free breath--her anxiety had been tookeen. "I cannot believe that we are all here together again. "

"Just pinch me, " said Ed laughing, "and if I don't give our warwhoop you may be sure this is not me--I am still on the Robinsonranch--there, that was an unpremeditated pun; I mean the oldRobinson Crusoe and I forgot that he was great-grandfather to thepresent Robinson twins. "

"Say, Ed, " put in Walter, "what do you say if we buy a houseboat?This has the camp beaten to a frazzle. "

"It's all right on such a night, " replied Ed, "but houseboats, Ibelieve, cost money, and our camp is rented to us for the season. Oh fickle Wallie! To fall in love with a motor boat, just becauseher name is Pet. "

Walter was talking to Cora before Ed had finished speaking to him. That was Walter's irresistible way with the girls. 

"No use talking, sis, " said Jack, "this sail was worth beingstranded for. If you are in no hurry, Ben, suppose we prolong it. Take us some place where we haven't been. You know the rounds ofCedar Lake. "

This plan was agreed to, and, though the boys were not dressed asthey would wish to have been, it was evening on the water, and theirjersey suits were not altogether out of place. 

"But what I would like to get at, " began Ed, not being able todismiss the subject, "is who stole our boat?"

"It may have drifted away, " suggested Cora wisely. "There was agreat fleet on the lake to-day, and any small boy might have letyour boat go. "

"Well, if I should lay hold of such a chap, " declared Jack grimly, "he will grow up quickly. He will never be a small boy again. "

"Now I'll tell you, " offered Ben obligingly. "There's a lot ofstrange things likely to happen to you young 'uns while you're atthis here lake. So take my advice an' go slow. Every one here goesslow, and it's the best way. If you suspicion a feller don't go athim. Just wait and he will walk right into your hands, " and Bensounded a warning whistle as he turned a point. 

"He'll eat out of my hands if I get training him, " prophesied Jack. "But all the same, Ben, I think that's first-rate advice. It savesus much trouble and that's the most important consideration. Ittakes time even to polish off such a specimen. "

"And when you're done, you've got dirty hands, " went on Ben in roughphilosophy. "All the same, there is them that can't be otherwisedealt with, and when the time's ripe I'd--help myself. I know aman or two I'd like first-rate to get at, and stay at till I'dfinished. "

"Then, Ben, " spoke Cora, "when you get your man we'll all help you, and when we get ours you can return the compliment. "

Cora had a way of joking that invariably turned out prophetic--andthis case was no exception. 

"Well, if there ain't Dan sailin' around!" ex, claimed Ben suddenly. "He's lookin' fer me. Hey there, Dan! What's up?" he cried as hefaced the boat with the brilliant lamp at the stern. 

"Everything!" yelled back Dan. "Come up to the dock! There'strouble!"

Ben swung around the timer to gain more speed in a spurt of themotor. 

"It's that Jim Peters, I'll bet, " he declared, as they headed forCenter Landing. "He's there ahead of us. He cut through theshallow channel. "

Whether Jim Peters had taken leave of his senses or was simplyunreasonably angry, folks were never able to say with certainty. Atany rate, now, on this evening, the man seemed furious aboutsomething. No sooner had the motor boat come up to the dock toallow Ben to land, than Peters turned upon the young fellows he hadbeen arguing with at the island, and in unmeasured terms spokeagainst all gasoline water craft. He said he couldn't see why thelaw allowed them to use the lake, for they made such a racket, filled the air with vile odors, and scared all the fish. 

"You all ought to be arrested and deported!" he stormed. "The ideaof peaceful folks being bothered with such nuisances! I'm not goingto stand it if there's a law in the land! Why the idea! It's notright! I'll--" He stopped for breath. 

"Now look here, Jim, you just quit!" said Ben quietly, as the fellowstarted off on another tirade, using still stronger language, andalmost boiling over with rage. "Go easy, " advised Ben. "There'sthat friend of yours, Tony Jones, comin'. Take a jab at him for achange. "

As Ben got out, Jones sauntered along, and it was easy to see that, personally, he was quite a contrast to Jim. The situation seemedsomewhat relieved. 

"It's all right now, " spoke Cora in a low voice, and with an easierair. "Let's go. " With pleasant words for Ben and Dan she and herfriends prepared to start off again. Walter gave the flywheel a fewvigorous turns, but there was only a sort of apologetic sigh fromthe motor. 

"Prime it a bit, " suggested Ed. 

With gasoline from a small oil can, Walter injected some of thefluid into the cylinder through the pet cock. 

"Now for it!" he exclaimed. "Cross your fingers everybody, " andonce more he did the street-piano act, as Ed termed it. The engineonly sighed gently. 

Walter gave a quick glance over his shoulder toward the bow. 

"Is that forward switch in?" he asked a bit sharply. 

"Oh!" exclaimed Cora, "I accidentally pulled it out when I removedthe bulkhead to look at the battery connections. There, " she addedafter a quick motion, "it's in, Walter. "

"Now for it! Hold your breaths, " ordered the engineer. There was asudden motion to the wheel, a whizzing buzz, a churning of the waterunder the stern and the boat moved away. 

"We'll have to have a regular schedule--gasoline, switch, ground-wire, pet-cocks primed--oil cups up, and all that sort ofthing, " murmured Cora as they glided swiftly onward. "I'll print iton a card and hang it near the engine. "

"Thanks, " whispered Walter, as he took the wheel. "Where to?" heasked. 

"The bath house, " suggested Ed. "Our togs are there. "

Gracefully the craft approached the group of bath houses, whence theboys had started in their canoe that afternoon. But no lightsgleamed out to welcome the returning ones. 

"My word!" exclaimed Walter a bit dubiously, "our togs are likelylocked up in the safe, and here we are, forty miles from the pile ofready-to wear habiliments that hide behind Jack's trunk! Eh, what?"

"Sure thing!" agreed Ed with a sigh. 

"Oh, never mind, " consoled Cora. "Come over with us for a while, anyhow, if only to report progress. "

CHAPTER V

A MAN IN THE SHADOW

When the engine had been carefully covered, on arrival at the campdock, and the boat securely tied up for the night, the party wereall literally shaking hands in gratitude for the rescue. It wasonly a short distance along the shore path to where the lads"bunked, " but the young men shivered during the trip. The girlsthought of their own coats and promptly offered them, for Walter, Edand Jack were really suffering in their bathing suits. 

"But we have heavy dresses on, " insisted Cora, "and really Jack itis cool. Please take our coats, " for her brother had objected. 

"Well, if you insist, " replied Jack, "but it seems to me we have hadmore than our share of bad luck for one day. First our boat isstolen, then our clothes are locked up. Who would think that thatold boathouse man would go to bed so early. "

"I am sure you are perfectly welcome to our coats, " insisted Belle, as she and her sister divested themselves of their long automobilegarments, "and they will look--"

"Lovely on us, " put in Walter. "Let me have the blue one, please. It is so becoming. "

Jack took Cora's heavy linen, Ed accepted the brown that Bess hadworn, while Walter got the blue. 

"Not so bad, " said Jack, thrusting his hands deep into the patchpockets. "Don't know but what I'll get one like this, Cora. "

"And I rather like the empire effect, " said Ed turning around sothat all, might admire the short-waisted coat he wore. "This is theRoman empire I believe, Bess; is it not?"

"No, the first Empire, " corrected the girl. "My but you do looknice! You have a wonderful--outline. "

"Yes, my nurse always complimented me on my outline. But do beholdWallie! Isn't he a peach?"

"He's a picture girl, " declared Cora laughing. "Well, it is a goodthing that we girls all wore coats when we went on the rescuingexpedition. But say boys, what do you think was the trouble at thewharf? Ben seemed quite excited. "

"I didn't like the looks of the fellow who offered us the boatride, " commented Ed. "And the queer part of it was, how did he knowwe were on the island?"

"And then his boat leaked and stopped. I'll bet his game was tomake us fear drowning, and then save us at so much more per save. Like the philosopher and the ferryman, don't you know?"

"What philosopher?" asked Bess innocently. 

"Oh, that old friend of mine who went to sea with his knowledge. Don't you remember?"

"I never heard of him, " declared Bess falling into the trap. 

"Then let me tell you, " and Ed slipped his arm within hers as theywalked along toward Cora's camp. "There was once a boatman and atthe same time there was a philosopher. The former took the latterto sea, or to cross a small body of water, it doesn't really matter. All the way as they sailed the philosopher would say: 'Did you everstudy astronomy?' The ferryman had not. 'Then half your life isgone, ' said the philosopher. 'Did you ever study philosophy? No?Then another quarter of your life is gone. ' And so on he went, Belle dear, " continued Ed, "until suddenly the boatman interruptedhim with: 'Say, did you ever study swimming?' And the philosopheradmitted that he had not. 'Then, ' said the boatman, 'the whole ofyour life is gone for this boat is sinking!' So you see, Belle, ourboatman might have given us that little fairy story and chargedaccordingly. "

"Yes, indeed!" put in Jack. "I think it was the luckiest thing thatyou girls came along. And Ben! We must give Ben a banquet orsomething fit. "

"Ben is a great friend of mine, " declared Cora. "I feel we wouldall have gone astray but for him. We girls would never have knownenough--"

Then she stopped. She had no idea of telling the boys that they hadfollowed Jim Peters with the hope of finding the missing oneswhither he would lead them. Bess and Belle also had taken pains notto betray their story to the boys, for, as Cora said, Jim Peters wasnot a man to quarrel with, and the stolen boat was not a matter tojoke about. 

"Here comes Nettie!" exclaimed Belle. "I wonder what's her hurry. "

"You've got company, miss, " the maid said as she came up to theparty walking toward the camp. "Miss Hasting and her brother havebeen waiting all evening. "

"Hazel and Paul!" exclaimed Cora, almost running to the bungalow. "Oh, isn't that splendid!"

"And us in these!" wailed Walter. "Do you think Hazel will like mein baby blue?"

The boys really did look funny in the girls' long coats, but it alladded to the merry-making. Paul Hastings was waiting outside thebungalow. He stood where the porch light fell upon him, and thegirls all secretly agreed that he had grown handsomer since they hadlast seen him. Hazel, too, looked very attractive in her plain bluedress, with its turn-over collar and Windsor tie. 

"What a pleasant surprise! We were afraid you would not come forsome days Hazel!" said Cora in greeting. 

"Oh, Paul had to come up here. Of course he has taken a position. "

"What did I tell you!" cried Jack, folding the cloak about him indramatic style. "Paul Hastings for the enterprise. Cedar Lake isthe field; eh, Paul?"

"Well, I had a fine offer, " said Paul modestly. "And I have beenwanting to get out this way. They say there are all sorts of thingsto do in this locality. "

"Looking for work! What do you think of that! Why, Paul dear, weare looking for a camp cook. Wallie nearly poisoned us on pancakestoday, " said Ed, "and if you would accept--"

"Come in doors, " interrupted Cora. "We have had rather a strenuousafternoon, and I am almost tired. How did you get up from thetrain? Or did you come by boat?" she asked the new arrivals. 

"A fellow rowed us up--"

"Yes and charged us fifty cents each, " interrupted Hazel. "Wasn'tthat outrageous!"

"Some one like Jim Peters, I'll bet, " said Ed. "But as Coraadvised, let's go in doors. We really haven't dined!"

"Oh! you poor boys, " cried Belle. "We almost forgot that you werestranded. Let me help Nettie fix up something. "

"Yes, do. Fix up a lot of something, " urged Jack. "That's the wayI feel about it. But do we dine in these?"

By this time Hazel and Paul saw the queer attire of the three youngmen. Then a part of the situation was explained. The bungalow wasone of those roomy affairs, built with a clear idea of affordingevery summer comfort. Cora was to be the hostess, and with her wasthe trusted maid, Nettie. There the girls were to visit as theychose, while the boys had taken a camp for themselves near thefishing grounds of the big lake. 

"Now, make that coffee strong, girls, " called Jack as the odor ofthe beverage came from the kitchen. "We are almost, if not quite, frozen. "

He cuddled up on a big couch and threatened to do damage to Cora'spretty cloak. 

"There's someone on the porch, " suddenly whispered Bess, for a stepsounded, so soft and stealthy, that she imagined someone was tryingto look in the window. 

"Yes, I heard it, " said Ed, getting up and going to the door. A manstood in the shadow, stepping out quickly at the sight of the youth. 

"I came for my money, " he muttered. "You fellers ain't got no rightto try to do me that way. "

"Who tried to do you?" answered Ed, in no pleasant tones. "Seehere, Peters! This is not our camp, and we don't carry money in ourbathing suits as we told you before. If you can't wait untilto-morrow for the seventy-five cents you know what you can do. "

"Oh I'll give it to you, Ed, " said Cora, fearful that the man mightbecome abusive. "I have plenty of small change. "

She went into her room and got her purse. It was a pretty littleaffair, too frail to have been brought to camp, and too good to haveleft in the locked-up Chelton house. As she went back to Ed sheheld out the purse. "Here, " she said, "take it and help yourself. My coffee will boil over. "

Ed and Peters were standing near the edge of the porch. As Ed puthis hand out to take Cora's purse it fell over the rail. 

"Well, " he exclaimed, "that's too bad. I must get a match. "

At this Ed stepped to the door to ask for a box, while Petershurried down the steps to look for the missing trinket. When Edcame back with a light Peters was looking industriously for thepurse, but declared he had not seen it. 

"Now see here, Peters, " cried Ed angrily. "You have picked up thatpurse, and I want you to hand it right over here, " and Ed droppedthe cloak from his shoulders. "If you don't I'll teach you alesson. "

"Oh, you will, eh?" sneered the man. "Well you'd better get at it, kid, " and with that he struck Ed a tantalizing blow on the cheek. 

Ed clutched the man by the arm. By this time the confusion had beenheard within doors, and the other boys hurried out. 

"What's up?" asked Jack, just as Ed, with all his strength, almostbent the older man over backward. 

Jim Peters was fairly roaring now. He was strong, but this younggiant was a surprise to him, and after the way of the cowardlyclass, as soon as he found out he would be bested he "quit, " andbegged off. 

"Hand me back that purse, " demanded Ed. "I know you've got it aswell as if I had seen you take it. "

"What's that over there?" snarled Peters, pointing to somethingbright in the grass. 

Ed picked it up. It was the purse, but it was empty. Ed'sexclamation told them that. 

"My ring, " cried Cora. "I had my ring--oh no. I forgot--that wasnot the purse, " and Cora went in doors, presently returning withsome small coins. "Here, Ed, " she said, her voice trembling. "Dopay that man, and let him go. I--I am so frightened!"

"Cora, " whispered Bess, "was your ring in that purse?"

"Hush, " cautioned the other girl. "Let us try to make thingsbrighter. Since that man sailed down the lake to-day with our boys'canoe we have had nothing but mishaps. Now let him go. I'll manageto reckon with him without endangering the life of anyone. He's toodesperate a character to deal with in the ordinary way. Rememberwhat Ben told us. "

CHAPTER VI

CORA EXPLOITING

There had been three delightful days at Camp Cozy. Cora managedmost of the delight, with the able assistance of Belle and Bess, while Hazel did much toward discovering things that she declared allthe girls ought to know, for Hazel's happiness was ever in obtainingknowledge. 

The boys had almost lost hope of getting back their canoe. They hadsearched the lake from shore to shore, offered rewards and had gonethrough the rest of the lost formula, but the boat was not returned. 

Cora kept to herself her suspicions about Jim Peters. She also saidnothing of the ring that was in the purse when it left her hands, but not in it when the purse was returned to her. 

It was a splendid morning for a trip on Cedar Lake, and althoughBelle and Hazel had planned a trip to the woods, Cora and Bess weregoing out in the Petrel. 

Passing Center Landing, Cora called a pleasant good morning to Ben, who sat on the end string piece, his feet aiming at the water andhis broad brimmed hat caught on halo fashion at the back of hisneck. 

"Oh, I must ask him something, " said Cora, suddenly turning her boattoward the wharf. She drew near enough to speak quietly. 

"Ben, " she said, "where is that shanty you told me about--JimPeter's place?"

"Lands sake miss! you ain't goin' there?" asked the man in somealarm. 

"Why not?" demanded Cora. "Can't I take care of myself in broaddaylight?"

"But you don't know how ugly that feller can be, " insisted Ben. "Itell you miss, I'd give him plenty of room, if I war you. "

"Don't go, " urged Bess. 

"But, Ben, " argued Cora, "I am afraid you have all let Jim Petersbully you. I am going to try him another way. Where does he live?"

"Well a hour ago he went up the lake. He goes up there everymornin' regular. Like as if he had some important business on theisland. When I asked him about it he said there was a fellow whohad some dangerous disease, and was campin' out there, and Jimallowed that he had to fetch him things. "

"Indeed!" exclaimed Cora. "That's a queer story for a man likePeters. But I'm going to his shack first, even if he is not athome. It would suit me just as well to find him out on my firstvisit. "

"But that young feller who lives with him? He's just as sassy asJim, when he's around the shack. Of course he don't stay therealways, as Jim does. "

"Who is he?" questioned Cora. "I hadn't heard of such a person. "

"Oh, he gives the name of Jones but it don't fit him fer a cent. Iwouldn't be surprised if his real name was Macaroni or even Noodles. He's foreign, sure. "

Cora laughed. "And he's young, you say?"

"A lot younger than Jim, but he could be that and yet not be veryyoung, fer I guess Jim has lost track of time, " replied Ben. "Yes, Jones is a swell, all right. "

"But the shack? Where is it? I must be off, " insisted Cora. 

"It's quite a trip down the lake. Then you come to a point. Go tothe left of the point, and when you come to a place where thewillows dip into the lake, get off there. The shack is straightback in the deepest clump of buttonball trees. "

"All right Ben, and thank you, " said Cora as she started up themotor. "I feel like exploring this morning, and your directionssound interesting. I will come back this way to show you that I amsafe and sound, " and with that she sheered off. 

"I hope it will be all right, " faltered Bess. "Cora, are you neverafraid to risk such things?"

"What is there to risk? The land is public, and we have as muchright to follow that track as has Jim Peters or Mr. Jones. I wonderwhat Mr. Jones is like?"

"Maybe he would be very nice--a complete surprise, " ventured Bess, at which remark Cora laughed merrily. 

"You little romancer! Do you imagine that anyone very nice wouldchum in with Jim Peters? Isn't there something in your book aboutbirds of the same quills?"

"It's aigrettes, in my book, " retorted Bess. "But it all applies tothe same sort of birds. Just the same, I am interested in Mr. Jones. "

"I fancy perhaps that we are, " said Cora. "But there is the pointBen spoke of. We are to turn to the left. "

Gracefully as a human thing, the boat curved around and made itspath through the narrow part of the lake. 

"And there are the willows, " announced Bess, as she saw the greatgreen giants dipped into the water's surface. 

"Yes. I thought it would be much farther on. But this is an idealspot for hiding. One could scarcely be found here without amegaphone. "

"Hear our voices echo, " remarked Bess. "An echo always makes mefeel desolate. "

"Don't you like to hear your own voice?" asked Cora lightly. "Irather fancy listening to mine. An echo was always a delight tome. "

"There's a man sitting under that tree!" almost gasped Bess. 

"So there is, and I am glad of it. He will be able to direct us. Ishouldn't be surprised if he were Mr. Jones, " said Cora turning thePetrel to shore. 

Under a big willow, in a sort of natural basket seat, formed by theuncovered roots of the big trees, a man sat, and as the boat grazedthe shore, he looked up from some papers he held in his hands. Coracould see that he was very dark, and had that almost uncomfortablemanner of affecting extreme politeness peculiar to foreigners ofcertain classes, for, as she spoke to him, he arose, slid the paperinto his pocket, and bowed most profusely. 

"I am looking for the cabin of Mr. Peters, " said Cora, steppingashore toward the tree. "Can you direct me to it?"

"The cabin of Mr. Peters?" and when the man spoke the foreignsuspicion was confirmed. "Why, who might Mr. Peters be?"

"Jim Peters; don't you know him?" asked Cora determined not to bethrown off the track. "He lives just in here--I should think inthat grove--"

"Oh, my dear miss no! You are mistaken. No one lives around here. I am simply a rustic, looking about. But Jim Peters?"

"Are you not Mr. Jones?" blurted out Cora. 

In spite of himself the man started. 

"Mr. Jones?" he repeated. "Well, that name will do as well as anyother. But allow me to tie your boat. Then I will take pleasure inshowing you one of the prettiest strips of land this side ofNaples. "

"Oh, thank you. I have secured it, " said Cora. "But I would liketo explore this island. "

Bess tugged at Cora's elbow. "Don't go too far. I am afraid ofthat man, " she said in a whisper. 

"Were you drawing as we came up?" Cora asked the stranger. "This isan ideal spot for sketching. "

"Yes, I was drawing, " he replied. 

"Couldn't we see your picture?" asked Cora. "I do so love anoutline. "

"Oh, indeed it is not worth looking at. I must show you somethingwhen I have what will be worth while. This is only a bare idea. "

"Well, " said Cora starting off through the wood, "I must look for acabin, or something like it. I have particular business with JimPeters. "

"But you will only hurt your feet miss, " objected the man. "Allowme to show you the island, " and he bowed again. "Such wild swampflowers I have never seen. It is the everglades, and well worth theshort journey. "

There was something about his insistent civility that betokened aset purpose, and since Ben (what a wonder Ben was) had told Corathat a man named Jones "hung out" with Jim Peters, Cora instantlyguessed that this was the man, and that he was determined to keepher away from the shack. The situation gave zest to her purpose. Bess was fairly quaking as Cora could see, but what danger couldthere be in insisting upon finding that shack?

"I have only a short time to be out, " objected Cora, "and perhapssome other time I will come to see your everglade. Come, Bess, Isee a path this way, and I fancy if we follow it we will find an endto the path, " she concluded. 

"But may I not have the pleasure of your name?" the man called afterher. "Perhaps we might meet--"

"Don't, " whispered Bess. "Pretend you did not hear him. "

"Oh, just see those flag lilies!" Cora called to Bess, covering theman's question without answering it. "Let us get some. "

"Oh, aren't they beautiful!" replied Bess, in a strained voice. "Icertainly must secure some of those. "

They hurried away from the dark-browed man. He took his hand out ofhis pocket and upon the smallest finger his eyes rested. He sneeredas he looked at a diamond ring that glittered on that slim brownfinger. 

"Foolish maid, " he said aloud, and then the web of a strange forcethrew its invisible yet unbreakable chains over the summer life ofCora Kimball. 

CHAPTER VII

DEEP IN THE DARK WOOD

"Cora, dear, please do not go any farther. Somehow I am afraid thatman will follow us. "

"Why, Bess! I thought you were going to be interested in Mr. Jones, " and Cora stooped to pick up a wonderful clump of flaglilies. 

"Jones! How could he be a Jones? He's a Spaniard. "

"I thought so myself, Bess. But we do not have to plant his familytree. Now don't be a baby, girlie, " and Cora squeezed the plumphand that hung so close to her own. "Let us get to the shack, andsee if the boys' boat is about there. I am determined to run downJim Peters. "

Bess sighed. When Cora was determined! But the man had left thewater's edge. 

"Cora, see!" said Bess. "He is getting into a boat!"

"Yes and the boat belongs to Peters. There! He is surely the onewho helps Jim out in all his affairs. Now we may seek the shack insafety, " said Cora, as she watched the man at the water's edge pushoff. "I know the shack is over there, for I smell smoke in thatdirection. But we will turn the other way until he has clearedoff, " finished Cora as she and Bess stepped lightly over the daintyferns that nestled in the damp earth. 

"He is quite a boatman, " remarked Bess, watching the man ply hisoars, and make rapid progress up the lake. 

"Yes, he must have been brought up near the water, " replied Cora. "They say such skill as that is not accomplished on dry land. Jackalways declared he could tell a fellow at college who had ever beennear the water when a lad. They take to it like a duck. "

"You can easily see that he is a foreigner, " went on Bess with herspeculations. "He must either be an Italian or a Spaniard. "

"Now we may turn up the path. Yes this is a path, for everything istrodden down on it, " declared Cora. "I hope the hut will not be toodeep in the wood. "

"We won't go if it is, " objected Bess. "I don't fancy being takencaptive by any wild woods clan. "

"There, " exclaimed Cora. "I just caught sight--of--it's a woman'sskirt!"

"Yes, and there is a woman in it, " added Bess. "See, here shecomes. "

"No, I don't think she does. I think she is standing still. Wemust have frightened her. "

"What a looking--woman!"

"Great proportions, " described Cora. "I guess wherever she livesthey must feed her well. "

Cora led the way, and Bess timidly followed. 

"Don't go too near, " whispered the latter. 

"Why, she cannot eat us, " replied Cora, smiling over her shoulder tothe timid one. 

"Well, what do you want?" roared the woman, as soon as she could beheard by the young ladies. 

"We are looking for Jim Peter's shack, " replied Cora bravely. "Ihave been sent here to speak with him. "

"Have, eh? Well go ahead. Speak with me. I'm Mrs. Jim Peters, "said the woman with a sneer. 

"My business is with him, " again spoke Cora, not in the leastfrightened by the voice which she knew was made coarser just toscare her. 

"Well, he don't have no business that ain't mine, " said the woman, "'specially with young 'uns like you, so you kin just clear off herebefore I--"

"Come on Cora, " begged Bess. "I am shaking from head to foot. "

"All right, dear, " replied Cora, in a voice for Bess alone. "But, Mrs. Peters, can you tell me when your husband will be about here?I have some work to do on a boat and I understand he does that sortof thing. "

The woman's face changed. "If that's what you want I'll tell him. You see it is always best to let the woman know first, fer Jim doesdo some foolish things. But just now he's got one boat to do?"

"I wonder if he might have a canoe to sell?" interrupted Cora, asthe thought of thus trapping the woman occurred to her. 

"He will have one in a few days, " the other 'answered. "But it hasto be fixed up. "

"Could I see it?" asked Cora. "I may not be able to get over hereagain. "

"Well, the shack is locked and I couldn't show it to you, but whenJim comes I'll tell him. Who will I say?"

Cora hesitated. "I hardly think it will be worth while really toorder it, " she said, "as I must have my brother look it over. Ihave a motor boat. "

"I heard it chuggin' and I thought that lazy Tony had got a new wayof wastin' his time. Tony is all right at writin' letters but he'sa lazy bones else ways. "

"Who's Tony?" asked Cora as if indifferently. 

"He's Jim's side partner. Say, girl, I'll just tell you. I came uphere a few weeks ago from a newspaper advertisement. I never knowedJim Peters before, but if them two fellers think I'm goin' to cookin that hut and never go no place off this dock they're foolin'themselves. They don't know all about Kate Simpson. "

Both girls were utterly surprised by her change of manner. Cora wasquick to take advantage of it. 

"You are quite right, " she said. "This is no place for a lonewoman, and some day when I have my brother along I will fetch myboat, and show you the big islands about here. It would do you goodto get out in the clear--away from these dense woods. "

"That it would, and I'm obliged to you miss, " said the woman whileBess fairly gasped. "I want to go to one island--Fern Island theycall it. Have you ever been there?"

"I know where it is, " replied Cora, wondering what the woman'sinterest in that place might be. "I have been all around it. "

"They say it's haunted, " and the woman laughed. "It's a great gameto put a haunt on a place to keep others off. "

"Well, some day when you can leave your work, I'll take you overthere, " and Cora meant it, for she had not the slightest fear, either of the woman or her rough ways. 

Besides, she felt instinctively that the woman's help would bevaluable in the possible recovery of her ring and of the lost canoe. 

"I'll be goin' back to the shackt fer if Jim comes along held raisea row fer me talkin' to strangers. You'd think I was looney the wayhe watches me. "

"And is he a stranger to you?"

"Well, to tell the truth my mother and Jim's was cousins, but Inever knowed him to be such a poor character as he is, or I'd neverhave come up here. But I don't have to stay all summer, "' shefinished significantly. 

"Well, good-bye, and I'll see you soon again, " said Cora turningtoward her boat. 

"Good-bye, miss, but say, " and she half whispered, "is that girldumb?"

Cora burst out laughing. Bess a mute!

"No indeed, but she always lets me do the talking, " answered Corawith a sty look at the blushing Bess. 

"She has good sense, fer you know how to do it, " declared KateSimpson. 

They could hear her bend the brush as she passed up the narrow way. 

"What a queer creature, " remarked Bess, when she felt that it wassafe to try her voice. 

"She is queer, but I think she knows a lot about things of interestto us. What did you think of her remark about Fern Island? To thatpretty little spot we will make our next voyage, " declared Cora, pulling on her thick gloves and taking her place in front of themotor. "Turn out into the open lake, " she told Bess as they startedoff. "We will make a quick run and get back to the bungalow beforethe others have done the marketing. I am glad it is not our turn toget the lunch for I want to make a trip to Fern Island directlyafter we have had a bite. Seems to me, " and she increased the speedof the engine a little, "it takes more time to get a meal at campthan it does at home. The simple life certainly has its ownpeculiar complications. "

"Oh, there comes that man back! I am so glad we are away from thatplace, " exclaimed Bess, as the boat of Jim Peters, with the smilingforeigner called "Jones" floated by. 

CHAPTER VIII

THE HAUNT OF FERN ISLAND

The four motor girls started out in the Petrel. Never had the lakeseemed so beautiful, nor had the sky appeared a deeper, truer blue. The pretty Placid lake was dotted all over with summer craft, thesound of the motor boat being almost constant in its echoing, "cut-a-cuta" against the wonderful green hills that banked shoreand, island. 

Hazel was steering, and of course Cora was running the engine. Thepennant waved gaily from the bow of the boat, and of the many colorsafloat it seemed that those chosen by the motor girls shone out mostbrilliantly on the glistening, silvery waters. 

"I'm not a bit afraid now, " admitted Belle, "I do think it is all amatter of getting used to the water. I thought I should neverbreathe again after that first day we went out. "

"Yes, " said Cora, "the water has a peculiar fascination when one isaccustomed to it, and I am sure Belle will want to live on ahouseboat before we break camp. There go the boys! What a finemotor boat!"

"Yes, " said Hazel, "that's one from Paul's garage. Paul promisedJack he would speak to Mr. Breslin, the owner, about letting it outfor the summer, as the Breslin family is not coming out here untillater. It's the Peter-Pan, and the fastest boat on the lake. "

"See them go! I guess they don't see us, "' remarked Belle. 

"I am glad they do not, " Cora said, "for I want to do someexploring, and if the boys came along they would be sure to haveother plans for us. Now, Hazel, run in there. That is FernIsland. "

"Oh, there's a canoe!" exclaimed Belle. "See! and a girl ispaddling. What a queer looking girl!"

"Isn't she!" agreed Bess. "Why she has on a man's hat!"

"She sees that we are watching her. Look how she is hurrying off, "remarked Cora. "I wonder how far this cove goes in?"

"We had better not try to find out, " cautioned Belle. "I think wehave had enough of happenings around here. This is where the boy'sboat was stolen from; isn't it?"

"No, it was over there, but I guess we will put in at the front ofthe island, as there is no telling how deep the cove is, " said Cora. "But see that girl go! Why she's actually gone! Where can she havedisappeared to?"

"This ought to be called the 'disappearing' land, " suggested Hazel. "I was sure that little canoe was directly in front of us, but nowit is out of sight. "

"Maybe that is the 'Haunt Girl of Fern Island, '" ventured Cora witha laugh. "I got a pretty good look at her, and I am willing to sayshe looked neither like a summer girl nor a winter girl--that is, one who might live here the year around. But just what sort of girlshe might be I shouldn't like to speculate. Her hair got loose asshe hurried, and she reminded me of some wild water bird. "

"Be careful getting out, " Belle cautioned Bess. "This new boat isnew to slipperiness. "

"Oh, I will get hold of a tree branch, " Bess replied. "Then, if theboat drifts out, I can swing to safety. "

All were ashore but Bess, and as such things often happen when theyare looked for, the Petrel did careen from the waves of a passinglaunch, and just as Bess grasped an overhead willow branch, the boatswung out and she sprang in. Everybody laughed, but Bess lost herbreath, a condition she disliked because it always added to the deepcolor of her plump cheeks. 

"There!" cried Belle. "Didn't I tell you?"

"I wish that next time, Twin, you would leave me to guess!"exclaimed the other twin, rather pettishly. 

"Isn't this perfectly delightful!" exclaimed Hazel, running over thesoft earth where ferns were matted, and wild flowers grew tangled intheir efforts for freedom. "I never saw such dainty little flowers!Oh! they are sabatial I have seen them in Massachusetts, " and shefell to gathering the small pink blooms that rival the wild rose inshade and perfume. 

"Here are the Maiden Hair ferns, " called Cora. "No wonder they callthis Fern Island. "

"Let us see how many varieties of fern we can gather, " suggestedBelle. "I have ferns pressed since last year, and they look sopretty on picture mats. "

At this the girls became interested in the number of fernsgatherable. Belle went one way, Bess another, and so on, until eachhad to call to make another hear her. 

Cora ran along fearlessly. She was diving very deep into the fernywoods, and she was intent on coming out first, if it were only in arace to get ferns. 

Suddenly she stopped!

What was that sound?

Surely it was some one running, and it was none of the girls!

Standing erect, listening with her nerves as well as with her ears, Cora waited. That running or rustling through the leaves was veryclose by. Should she call the girls?

But before she could answer herself, she saw something dart across abig rock that was caressed by a great maple tree that grew over it. 

"Oh!" she screamed involuntarily. Then she saw what it was. A man, a wild looking man, with long hair and a bushy beard. 

He had stopped just long enough to look in the direction of Cora. She saw him distinctly. Oh! if he should run toward Bess or Belle!Hazel would not be so easily alarmed but surely this was a wild manif ever there was such a creature. 

"That is the ghost of Fern Island, " Cora concluded. "I must getback to the girls. "

She turned and hurried in the direction from which she had heardvoices. "If they have not seen him, " she reflected, "I will not sayanything until we get back to camp. "

"I have ten different kinds of ferns, " suddenly called Belle, in avoice which plainly said that no wild man had crossed her path. 

"I've got eight, " said Hazel. "How many have you, Cora?"

Cora glanced at her empty hands. She had dropped her ferns. 

"I have tossed away mine. I was afraid of black spiders, " she saidevasively. 

"Isn't that too bad, " wailed Bess, "and none of us picked any maidenhair because we thought you had it. Let us go and get some. "

"Oh, I think we had best not this time, " said Cora quickly. "Ireally want to get to the post office landing before the mail goesout. We can come another time when I have something to kill spiderswith. I never saw such huge black fellows as there are aroundhere. " This was no shading of the truth, for indeed the spidersaround Cedar Lake did grow like 'turtles', Jack had declared. 

"Oh, all right, " agreed Belle. "But this is the most delightfulisland and I am coming out here again. I hope the boys will comealong, for there are such great bushes of huckleberries over therethat we simply couldn't climb to them alone. "'

"We will invite them next time, " said Cora, and when she turned overthe fly wheel of her boat her hands that had held the ferns werestill trembling. She looked uneasily at the shore as they dartedoff. 

"What's the matter, Cora?" asked Hazel. "You look as if you hadseen the ghost of Fern Island. "

"I have, " said Cora, but the girls thought she had only agreed withHazel to avoid disagreeing. 

"What boat is that?" asked Bess a moment later, looking at a smallrowing craft just leaving the other side of the island. 

"It's Jim Peters'" replied Cora, "we were lucky to get back intoours before he saw it. I wouldn't wonder but what he might like totake a motor boat ride in the Petrel. "

"Do you suppose he really would steal a boat?" exclaimed Belle. 

"He might like to try a motor, I said, " replied Cora. "They saythat Jim Peters tries everything on Cedar Lake, even to running ashooting gallery. But see! He is reading a letter! Where ever didhe get a letter on this barren island?"

"Maybe he carries the mail for the ghost, " said Hazel, with a laugh. 

CHAPTER IX

JACK AND CORA

"Cora, where is your ring?"

The sister looked at her finger. "Oh Jack, " she replied, "I willget it--but not just now. Why?"

"I thought you always wore that ring when you put on your frills, and I haven't seen you so dressed up since you came to camp. Somehow, Cora, I feared you might have lost it. "

"I did, " she said simply. 

"Your new diamond!"

"Yes, but I feel sure of finding it. Now, Jackie dear, please don'tcross question me. I shouldn't have taken it off, but I did, so andthat is how I came to lose it. But I want to tell you somethingwhile we are alone. I saw the ghost of Fern Island to-day. "

"Nonsense! A ghost?" sneered Jack. "Why, Cora, if the other girlssaid that I should laugh at them. "

"Well I want to tell you. We were on the island-the girls and I--and I got a little away from them when suddenly the wildest lookingman rushed across the path. He had a beard like Rip Van Winkle andlooked a lot like him too. "

"Rip might be summering out this way, though I rather thought he hadtaken a trip in an airship, " said Jack. "But honestly, Cora, whatwas the man like? Paul had a story of that sort. He declares he, too, saw this famous ghost. "

"Do you suppose he might have taken the canoe? The wild man I mean. We saw a strange looking girl in a canoe and somehow she vanished. We could see her boat and then we couldn't, although we could notmake out where she went to. It was the queerest thing. There mustbe some strange curves on those islands. "

"Oh there are, lots of them. They are as curvy as a ball-twirler'sbest pitch. But the ghost. That is what interests me, since--ahem--sincehe has a daughter. Was she pretty?"

"I should say she was rather pretty, " replied Cora, quite seriously, "but she did have a wild look too. I do believe she is a daughterto the wild man, whoever he may be. "

"Well, everyone around here declares that is land is haunted, butfisher-folk are always so superstitious. Yet we must hunt it up. Iwill go out with you the next time you go. Did the other girls seehim?" went on the brother. 

"No, and I decided not to tell them. You know how timid Bess andBelle are, and if they thought there was such a creature about theisland I would never get them to put foot on shore there again, andI do so want to investigate that matter. I believe Jim Peters hassomething to do with it for I saw him coming away from there with aletter. Now what would he be doing with a letter out on a barrenisland?"

"Oh Jim is a foxy one. I wouldn't trust him as far as the end of mynose. But here come the others. Will you go over to the Casinothis evening. "

"Yes, we had planned to go. That is why I am dressed up. Hazel mayhave to go to town to-morrow, and I want her to see something beforeshe goes, " replied Cora, just as the girls, and Walter, Ed and Paulstrode up to the bungalow. 

"Oh! we have had the greatest time, " blurted out Bess. "Cora, youshould have been with us. Ben got angry with Jim Peters, and he andDan threatened to throw Jim overboard, and--"

"Jim seems to have a hankering after fights, " put in Ed. "I haven'tsettled with him yet. "

"Ed, you promised me you would call that off, " Cora reminded him. "You know it was all about me, and you have given me your promisenot to take it up again. That Jim Peters is an ugly man. "

"All the same we heard that you were not afraid of him, " said Walterwith a tug at Cora's elbow. "Didn't you beard the lion in his den?"

"Who said I did?" asked Cora flushing. 

"I promised--crossed my heart not to tell, " said Walter. "But allthe same the folks at the landing are talking about the pretty girlwho went all the way up the cove, and stopped at the place wherePeters and his pal land. I would advise you to be careful. Theysay that tribe is not of the best social standing, " went on Walterquite seriously. 

"I won't go there again, " put in Bess. 

"What! Were you along?" demanded Jack. "Then you must have beenthe pretty girl referred to at the landing. "

"I was a pretty scared girl, " declared Bess. "I tell you, I don'twant to meet any more Peters or Joneses or Kates, " she finished. 

"But what was the trouble between Jim and Ben?" asked Cora. 

"Let me tell it, " Belle exclaimed. "We were just standing by theboathouse, watching some men fish, when Jim Peters, came along. Hestopped and took a paper out of his pocket. The wind suddenly blewup--"

"And took the paper out of his hand, " interrupted Hazel. "It blewacross to where Dan was standing, and what was more natural thanthat Dan should pick it up?"

"And did Jim get angry at that?" inquired Cora. 

"Angry! He fairly fell upon poor Dan, " put in Walter, "and when Bensaw him--I tell you Ben may stand a lot of trouble on his ownaccount, but, when it comes to anyone trying to do Dan, Ben is rightthere to fight for him. Didn't he almost put Jim over the rail?"

"There must have been quite a lively time, " said Jack. "Sorry Imissed it. There is so little excitement around here that we needall we can get. And what was the answer?"

"Jim took his old letter and slunk off, " finished Belle. "And Dansaid he couldn't have read even the name on the out side if he hadtried. He said it must have been written in Greek, " and Bellelaughed at the idea of the classics getting mixed up in any suchsmall affair. 

"Seems to me, " said Cora thoughtfully, "that Jim had some veryimportant reason for fearing that one might see that letter. "

"Yes, " declared Hazel, "that struck me right away. I shouldn't besurprised if it had been addressed to--the ghost!"

"Well, if you young ladies intend to see what is going on at theCasino this evening, " Ed reminded them, "we had better make a start. This is amateur night, I believe. "

"And the Blake girls are going to sing, " announced Jack. "Then Ishall have a chance to clap my hands at pretty Mabel, " and he went, through one of those inimitable boys' pranks, neither funny nortragic, but just descriptive. 

"I think it is awfully nice of the Blake girls to take part, " saidCora, "for in this little summer colony everyone ought to beagreeable. "

"But I notice you are not taking part, " Ed said with a laugh. "Justfancy Cora Kimball on the Casino platform. "

"Don't fancy anything of the kind, " objected Bess. "We are willingto be sociable but we have no ambition to shine. "

"Come along, " called Jack, who was on ahead with Hazel, "and mind, if anything brushes up against you, it is apt to be a coon, not acat, as Belle thought the other night. "

They started off for the path that led to the public pavilion on thelake shore. Cora was with Ed, Walter had Belle on one side and Besson the other, because he declared that the twins should always gotogether to "balance" him. Jack and Hazel led the way. 

At the pavilion the seats were almost all occupied, for campers fromall sides of the lake flocked there on the entertainment evenings. A band was dreaming over some tune, each musician evidently beinghis own leader. 

The elder Miss Blake, Jeannette, who sat on an end seat, arose asthey entered and made room for the Chelton folks to sit beside her, meanwhile gushing over the prospect of the evening's good time, andthe good luck of "meeting girls from home. "

Walter allowed Bess and Belle to pass to the chairs beyond MissBlake and thus placed himself beside the not any too desirablespinster. 

He made a wry face aside to Jack. He liked girls but the elder MissBlake!

"Mabel is going to sing 'Dreams, '" she said sweetly. "I do loveMabel's voice in 'Dreams. '"

"Yes, I think I should too, " said Walter, but the joke was lost onJeannette. "Who is that dark man over there?" he asked. 

"Oh that's a foreigner. They call him Jones, but that's because hisname is so unpronounceable. Isn't he handsome?" asked the lady. 

"Rather odd looking I should say, " returned Walter, "but it seems tome he is attracted in this direction. Why should he stare over thisway so?"

"He knows me, " replied Miss Blake, bowing vigorously to "Jones" whowas almost turned around in his chair in his determination to seethe Chelton party. 

"He's mighty rude, I think, " Walter complained again, leaning overto speak to Cora who was just beyond Bess. "Do you feel the draftfrom that window, Cora?" he asked. 

"Oh I--" then she stopped. Something in Walter's voice told herthat it was not the window draft he was referring to. She glancedacross the room, and her eyes fell upon the man she had met at JimPeter's landing place. 

"I think those seats over there--up near the stage are muchpleasanter, " said Jack, who also saw that something was wrong. "Suppose we change?"

"All right" assented Cora, taking the cue. "There are just four. "

"I will stay here with Hazel, while you and Wallie go over therewith the girls, " suggested Jack. "And say Wallie, " he whispered, "if I catch you fanning that young lady in the row ahead I'll--duckyou on the way home. "

Walter apologized profusely for leaving Miss Blake. She evidentlywas sorry that the window had been open for she was "so enjoyingtalking of dear old Chelton. " The place had only been thusmentioned by herself. 

"Who is that dark man?" Hazel inquired of Jack, for, as if his eyeswere magnets, every girl in the group felt they were riveted uponher. 

"I don't know, " replied Jack, "but he seems to be very muchinterested in someone here. There, he is watching Cora. I wonderwho the fellow is?"

The curtain rising interrupted the speculation. A man cushionedlike a cozy corner laughed at himself while waiting for his audienceto do so. Then he gave a yell and started to sing a ridiculous songabout the milkmaid and the summer boarder. When he had finished oneverse he took another "fit" of laughter, but somehow the audiencedid not see it his way, and when he tried it again, he broke offwith an explanation. He felt sure that the people did not quiteunderstand the joke, and he tried to tell them how very funny itwas. To relieve the situation another person came on. One side ofthe figure was draped in the evening garb of a lady, while the otherwore the full dress suit of a gentleman. The illusion was not atall bad, especially when the "person" waltzed with himself, with hisarms around the other side of the evening dress the effect wasreally funny. 

"That's Spencer, " declared Jack to Hazel. "He did that at college. Isn't it great?"

"Very funny, " admitted Hazel, while the man made in halves bowed onone side first, then on the other, to his applause. 

"Mabel is going to sing now, " announced Miss Blake getting a firmerhold on her chair. "I just love to hear Mabel sing. "

Jack said he did also, then outside the dropped curtain steppedMabel. 

She was pretty, a little thing with brown eyes and brown hair. Shewore the most babyish dress made in empire, and it was evident sheknew something about making up for good effect on the stage. 

Applause instantly greeted Mabel, and Jack was not the one who firsttired of clapping his hands. This pleased Miss Jeannette immensely, and she did not fail to express her pleasure to those about her. 

The dark man in the seat across the aisle glanced first at the stageand then at the seat where the elderly lady sat. Jack was watchinghim, and noted his peculiar glances. Presently Mabel started tosing. Her voice was sweet, and her stage manners attractive. 

"Isn't she lovely!" exclaimed Bess to Ed. "I do believe she isstudying for the stage. "

"Shouldn't wonder, " replied the young man under his breath. Thenthe girl finished the song and bowed with such pretty piquancy thateverybody demanded more of her talent. 

Jack was still watching the dark man. As the girl left the platformthe latter left his seat and went outside of the pavilion. 

Presently a messenger tapped Miss Blake on the shoulder, "Your niecewishes to speak to you, " the boy said, and at that Jeanette Blakealso left her seat and the room. 

"Something mysterious about that, " said Jack to Hazel, "and Ipropose seeing it out if I can. I will take you over to the others, and run outside. "

Just as he said that, a boy appeared on the platform and announced thatowing to an important message Miss Blake was obliged to leave the halland could not accommodate with her second number, but that some oneelse would try to fill her place. 

A murmur of dissent arose from the audience. 

"How could she get an important message here, " Cora asked Ed. "Where in the world could it come from?"

Jack pushed a chair for Hazel in line with the others. 

"I am going outside for a moment, " he said. "Take care of the girlsuntil I come back. "

"All right, " agreed the other young men. 

"But don't run after Mabel, " put in Walter with a laugh. 

But that was exactly what Jack Kimball did. 

CHAPTER X

MYSTERY UPON MYSTERY

Cora, healthy though she was, did not sleep well that night. Jackdid not return to the hall, and had left word with the doorkeeperthat he could not get back in time to see his sister but would runup from his bungalow early the next morning. It was early now, andnext morning, but Jack had not kept his word. 

No one but Cora and Hazel had any idea that this might mean anythingimportant. 

"It was so strange, the way that man acted, " said Hazel to Cora, asthe two made their way to the spring for fresh water. "First hewatched you, then when Mabel Blake appeared he kept his eye on her. And such eyes! I believe he could hypnotize any one. "

"I hope he did not hypnotize Mabel, " replied Cora. 

"Or Jack, " added Hazel. 

"No fear of the latter, " declared the sister. "Jack is toolevel-headed to take any cue in that direction. "

"That's just the way I feel about Paul, " spoke Hazel. "Isn't itlovely to have such splendid brothers?"

"Nothing could be more satisfactory, " declared Cora, "unless itwould be having a sister besides. I have often wondered what Ishould have done if I had not had such splendid girl friends. Doyou feel as if a sister would have made your life more complete?"

"I have never thought of it, " said Hazel. 

"But Cora! Look at that woman!"

Almost creeping through the tall grass the form of a woman could bedistinguished. She had evidently come from a boat that was lyingalong shore--a rowboat. Seeing the girls, the woman stood up. 

"It's Kate Simpson!" exclaimed Cora, "and she seems to be lookingfor our camp!"

"Miss!" called the woman, her voice shaking. "Wait, wait for poorKate! Oh! I'm droppin' down!"

"What is it, Kate?" asked Cora kindly. "You seem exhausted. "

"Oh, indeed I am that, " replied the woman, brushing the stragglinghair from her forehead. "I am all but dead!"

"What has happened?" asked Cora further. 

"I can't tell you here. They might find me, and they'd know theboat. "

"We can hide the boat in the bushes, and you may come up to thecamp, " suggested Cora. "That boat is not hard to lift. "

"If you only could, but I'm too done up to help, " faltered thewoman. 

Cora and Hazel easily shifted the light canoe up into the deepgrass. Kate got on her feet again, and, following the girls, allmade their way to a spot entirely closed in with heavy hemlocktrees. 

"We may talk here, " suggested Cora. "This is what we call ourannex--the annex to our camp. "

"It's better than the shack I've been living in, " murmured thewoman. "I'm done with that. Here, " and she slipped her hand in herdress, carefully taking from a patched place in her skirt a smallarticle. "This is yours--I know it!"

"My ring!"

Cora's eyes sparkled akin to the gem at which she was gazing. Hazellooked on dumbfounded. 

"Yes, it's your ring, but don't ask me how I got it, " said Kate, "though I'm pretty sure you can guess. "

"I knew who had it, and I felt I would get it back, " Cora replied, "but I never dreamed how I might recover it. Mother gave it to meon my last birthday. "

"Well I'll tell you this much, miss, " and Kate Simpson glancedfurtively around her, to make sure that no one might be approaching. "If there ever was two bigger villains than Jim Peters and Tonywhatever-his-other-name-is-if-he's-got one, then I never heard tellof them. They're up to some new trick every day and another new oneevery night. But the worst--"

She seemed afraid to go on. Evidently even a woman so used tohardship as this one could be frightened. 

"The worst?" asked Cora. 

"Is the one that goes on at Fern Island, " almost whispered thestrange creature. 

"Goes on?" exclaimed Hazel, who had hitherto been silent, toointerested to interrupt. 

"Yes, miss, it goes on, and it will go on I'm afraid while themvillains live. "

There was a shout from the camp. The others were looking for Hazeland Cora. The familiar yodel was sent back, then Cora told Hazel:

"You run over, Hazel, and do something to interest them, while Itake Kate up the back way. I want to get her some of those thingsthe last maid left, and I want to refresh her a little. "

"But I couldn't wait, dear, " sighed Kate. "If I don't get a trainor boat away from this place soon, they'll be sure to catch me. "

"But you have done nothing wrong! Why shouldn't you go or come asyou want to?" asked Cora. 

"I can't tell you, miss, but them men seem to have some power and Iwant to get away from it. Where might I find a train or a boat?"

"If you have to go, I'll take you to the landing in my motor boat, "replied Cora. "It has a canopy and you will not be seen on thewater. "

"If you could. I'd be very thankful. You see I'm not much used tothe water, and rowing over from the shack nearly did me up. "

"But I want to give you something for getting me my ring, " insistedCora. "It is quite valuable, you know. "

"I heard them say so, and now that the other girl is gone I'll tellyou this much. Never you go over to that shack again, " and thewoman raised a warning finger. "It was a good thing you met meinstead of Jim Peters the day you did go over. They'll be liketigers when they find I've got the ring. It was last night thatgave me the chance. They had been out very late, and Tony didn'thave any letters to copy so he fell asleep and--and I slipped awaywith it. I slept a bit under a tree, but indeed I was glad to seedaylight. "

"And you have been out all night? You must not think of taking ajourney without first having something to eat. If you are afraid tocome up to camp I'll have something put in the boat for you, "declared Cora. "But let me ask you, did you overhear anything abouta girl named Miss Blake? I saw Jones leave a hall where she wassinging last night, and I suspect he met her as she went out. Mybrother followed, but I have not seen him since. He stops at theboys' camp, " Cora explained. 

"Blake? So that was the pretty girl who sang. Well, she had betterbe careful that she doesn't join the ghosts at Fern Island, " saidthe woman, mysteriously. 

"I know the girl. She's from my home place. And that is why mybrother went to see that nothing happened to her, " Cora said. 

"Well, you are good people, one can see that, " declared Kate. "Butwait. I can't read much, but I picked this up to wrap the ring in. "

She handed Cora a soiled and crumpled telegram blank. Upon it wasmade out, in message form, these words:

"Can place your friend at twenty-five week. Answer at once. " BENEDICT. 

Cora pondered for a moment. "Who could have sent Jones such amessage?" she asked. 

"Sent it?" repeated Kate. "He sends his own messages. He can copyany handwriting. I heard him say the trick worked, " she finished. 

The truth flashed into Cora's mind. That man somehow knew theBlakes. He was pretending to place little vain Mabel with sometheatrical company. When he left the Casino it was to show her thebogus message. And Jack must have been somewhere around withinhearing distance. Surely things were getting complicated andmysterious in the summer colony. But Cora had her ring back, andfor the rest she felt certain that the "ghost" of Fern Island, alsothe wild looking girl of whom they had gotten a glimpse, were insome way being wronged by Jim Peters and his associate, thehandwriting expert. 

CHAPTER XI

THE RACES

"Of course we will enter, " declared Cora. "I know my boat and Ithink it is as good as any little motor craft on the water. "

"But suppose we should get stuck away out in the lake, " objectedBess. "Then what would we do?"

The girls and boys were talking together a few days after Cora hadhelped mysterious Kate to get away, and had entered the watercontest. 

"There would be plenty of boats to give us a tow, " replied Cora, "butI have not the slightest idea of getting stuck. My engine workssplendidly. "

She found an opportunity to whisper to her brother: "What about MissBlake?"

"I'll tell you later, sis, " he whispered back. "It isn't veryimportant. Don't ask me now, " and then he went on fussing over theengine and oil cups. 

"If we only had our canoe, " wailed Jack. 

 "That was different from any boat I have seen here. It was builton racing lines. Funny what became of it. "

"Funny?" repeated Ed. "Tragic I think!" and he gave his sleevesanother upward turn just to be doing something. 

"Deplorable, " added Walter. "I think I looked just sweet in thatcanoe. Don't you, Hazel?"

"Well, when I saw you--you did, " she admitted, "but three boys in acanoe are not quite as attractive--"

"As one girl and one boy, " he put in. "Well, that is my ownopinion, but Jack and Ed are so inartistic. I never can get them tosee things my way. "

"We will race in the Peter Pan, " Ed announced. "Of course shecannot be beaten. But it is not half as much fun to depend upon anengine as to rely upon muscle. The canoe for me. "

"But the glory!" exclaimed Belle. "That boat is beautiful. "

"The boat is! Look at us, " and Jack stood almost on his head. "Boats are all right, but in the beauty class we come first. "

"What time do they start?" Cora inquired. "I've forgotten. "

"Motors at three, smaller craft earlier. I am going over to thePoint to see the hand-boats, " said Jack. "Of course everybody isinterested in them. "

"Then girls, " advised Cora, "get ready. We will have an earlylunch, and go out for the afternoon. Perhaps we will bring the cupback. "

"Lucky if you bring your boat back, " Jack cautioned. "Don't youwant me to look the engine over, Cora?"

"No, indeed. That would be a dangerous thing to do, for I now haveevery part clear. I have put on a bigger oil cup, have had thewater circulation increased so the engine can not heat so, I havehad a throttle control put up at the steering wheel so that I canslow down from there, and I tell you, Jackie, I have worked out thesecrets of that engine until there are no more. "

"I should say you had, sis. I never knew there were so manyattachments. Well, I know I can depend upon you to keep up thehonor of the Kimball family. Come along fellows. Let's see thatthe Peter Pan is not done by the 'Peter Petrel. ' I noticed she waspuffing out a lot of oil this morning as we came over. "

"Then, " said Cora, "you want to be careful. Your oil will run outand the best engine made will stop short if that happens. "

"Whew!" exclaimed Ed. "Suppose we get Cora to look over our boat?She seems to know. "

"Better have Paul do it, " suggested Cora. "That boat is worth threethousand dollars, and I wonder they ever allowed you boys to rentit. "

"They would not if Paul had not vouched for them, " Hazel explained. "They have a great regard for Paul's skill. "

"And is he not going in the races?" asked Bess. 

"I haven't heard him say, " replied the sister. 

"Bet he'll be a dark horse, " suggested Ed. "Well, we can't wishPaul any too much good luck, but I do wish he would not stick sodose to his boats and tools. We scarcely see anything of him. "

"Nor do I, " agreed Hazel with a sigh. "I miss him dreadfully. "

"Poor child, " and Walter affected to put his big brown arm aroundthe girl. "Let me make up for Paul. Does he kiss you very often?"and he brushed her cheek. 

"Walter Pennington!" gasped the circumspect Hazel, "Do have sense!"

"That's what Cora taught me--to help the needy, " he floundered. 

"Come now, no more nonsense, " ordered Cora. "If we are to race wehave to get ready. " A few hours later Cedar Lake was alive withcraft. The rowboats and canoes were lined up first and our friendsfrom Chelton, the girls in the Petrel and the boys in the Peter Pan, kept a sharp look out for the lost canoe. Of course they knew itwould be repainted, but the lines being different from those ofother boats they hoped to be able to distinguish it, should itappear for the races. 

The judges had taken their places. The platform at the Point wasgaily decorated for the occasion, and all sorts of banners wereflying. The course was to cover one mile, and it ran clear out intothe open lake so that the delightful view was unobstructed. 

Of all the canoes a bright red craft with a girl in Indian garbattracted most attention. The girl had her hair flying and wasindeed a striking figure in the brilliant bark. 

There were many green boats, all having Indian names, and there werethose of wood in the natural color. Girls vied with boys in pointof numbers, and had it all their own way in point of attractiveness. 

"They are all ready, " Cora told her friends, as the man on the benchwho held the pistol allowed it to glimmer in the sunlight. The nextmoment a crack rent the air and the boats shot off. 

For some moments no one spoke. All attention was riveted on thegraceful canoes that so motionlessly covered the deep blue lake. The dip of the paddles was the only sign of movement although thedainty boats were making good time in covering the courses. Suddenly when all others had left and were off a light canoe shotout from some place, and a girl with her hair flying, and dressedmost peculiarly, started off after them all. 

"She gave them a handicap, " said Cora, then something occurred toher. The same thought came to the others for each held her breath. 

"The ghost girl!" whispered Belle, finally. "However did she getin?"

"It surely is! See her go! And there--there is that man fromPeters', " exclaimed Bess to Cora, "and he, too, is in the race. "

"They can beat anything on the lake, " declared Hazel. "See her go!"

"See him go!"

In a few seconds those who had so mysteriously entered, the racewere far up in the line with those who had first started. The girlwas wonderfully graceful, and the man showed marked skill at thepaddle. He was trying to keep close to her, that was evident, butat a cheer from the shore and from the outlying boats the girl shotahead and was soon out of hearing of the man, who evidently was hercompanion. 

"She will beat him--she will beat them all!" declared Cora, and thiswas the opinion of most of the thousands of spectators. 

"But if she does, " faltered Belle, "do you suppose she will go tothe stand dressed like that to receive the prize?"

"We shall see, " said Cora. "At any rate this combination is farmore interesting than the real race. "

A red canoe was alongside the girl in the light one. For a fewmoments it seemed she would be outdone. Then, with a clever lightdip of her paddle, that scarcely seemed to touch the water, the FernIsland girl was again ahead. 

The first course had been covered and the boats were turned back forthe final run. 

"The man has dropped out, " said Belle, "See there he is justfloating along. "

"He wouldn't be beaten, I suppose, " Cora surmised, "Any one couldsee that the girl would come in first. "

"They are coming back and she has not started, " said Belle, who hadthe marine glasses. 

"But she will, " declared Cora. 

"Yes, there she comes! Oh isn't it exciting! To have the queergirl beat all those who pride themselves on their skill. I wonderwho or what she can be?" queried Hazel. 

"Here come our boys, " said Belle, as the beautiful golden Peter Panmotored over to the smaller Petrel. 

"What do you think of that?" called Jack. "Look at the Wild Duck!"

"Isn't she a--bird!" confirmed the voice of Ed. 

"A Sea Gull, " added the more polite Walter. "I say, girls, do youhappen to know her?"

"Yes, " called back Cora, "We have met her. "

Then there was an exchange of words understandable only to thoseexpressing them, and to those for whom they were expressed, but anyone might have guessed that the boys in the Peter Pan were askingthe girls in the Petrel to let them "meet" the wild bird of thelight canoe. 

"They are almost in, " said Bess, breathlessly. "Oh I hope she doesnot back out. "

"No danger, " said Cora. "One can see that she is making for thefinish line. "

"There are two boys who have been saving themselves, " Hazelremarked. "I shouldn't wonder if they could beat our friend. "

"Oh, I hope not, " exclaimed Belle. "I should be so disappointed. "

"And it would be impolite of them, " added the innocent Bess, whereatevery one laughed. 

The boys had been saving their strength. Now they paddled off andtheir craft, one of brown and one green, seemed equal to any of theothers. 

"Hello there!" called Jack. "Did you notice?"

"What?" asked Cora. 

"The canoe--the Gerkin?"

"He means it has lines like the lost boat, " said Cora. "I have notseen it enough to know, " she finished, but at the same time she tookthe glasses to look at the new rival of the wild girl. 

"Yes it has, I remember, " said Bess. "I had a good look at it theafternoon that they lost it. I was waiting for you to fix up yourboat Cora, and I saw the boys' canoe. "

"Well, I suppose they could never be certain, as there must be morethan one boat built even on those lines, " said Cora. "My! See howclose they are--the girl and the boys!"

"She's ahead!" exclaimed Belle, clapping her hands. "How I hope shewins!"

"We all do!" declared Hazel. 

Then they were silent. The first canoe was almost in, and it wasthe one called the Gerkin, paddled by the boys. 

"Go it girl!" screamed the boys from the Peter Pan. 

"Beat them, girlie!" called the girls from the Petrel. 

For one brief second the wild-looking girl turned in the directionfrom which the voices had come. Hats were waved to her, handkerchiefs flaunted and then she paddled--paddled straight aheadand came into the finish first!

"Hurrah! Hurrah!" went up shout after shout. 

"I knew it!" cried Cora joyously. "Now let us watch her. "

"There's that dark man!" Bess told them. "Oh! I just wish he wouldkeep away from her. "

But he did not. The girl in the light canoe turned from thespectators as if she had been deaf and dumb. And it was the darkman--the fellow called Tony Jones--who went up to the judges to gettheir verdict. 

CHAPTER XII

ONE WAY TO WIN

"We have no time now, " Jack told Cora, "but as soon as the races areover I will ask what that fellow told the judges. Certainly he musthave said that he had a right to, the girl's prize, or they wouldnot have given it to him. "

"But how the poor thing hurried off! Why, she hardly had a chanceto know that she won, " replied the sister. "I think it a shame thatthe creature should be treated like something really wild, " and sheturned to watch the foamy wake that the little canoe was tracing, asthe girl from Fern Island hurried to hide herself again where evershe might go. The signal precluded the possibility of furtherinterest just then in the strange case, but indeed Cora's mind wasnot so readily shifted. She wanted to know about that girl. 

The speed boats were next to be tried out. What a splendid showing!Who would have dreamed that such handsome craft were on the watersof Cedar Lake? Of course they were all private boats, and theirflags flaunted proudly before the spellbound spectators. 

The Peter Pan was among the very finest. In this were our boyfriends from Chelton, and as they lined up the admiration expressedwas unstinted. The Sprint was another splendid speed boat, builtwith torpedo stern and a queer spray hood at the bow. This wasbeing run by a girl--a young lady noted for her skill at any sort ofmotor. 

"Oh, I hope our boys win, " exclaimed Bess, as if that hope needed tobe made known. 

"They have a good chance, " argued Cora. "Of course so many thingsmay happen that there is absolutely no surety of any machinery onthe water. " She looked to see that the oil cup levers of the Petrelwere down to prevent the lubricant flowing before it was needed andalso gave a critical survey of the little wire that connected on thecylinder. It emitted a clear "fat" spark as she touched it to themetal, and this seemed to satisfy her. 

"I guess ours is all right; isn't it?" asked Hazel. "Wouldn't it befine if we won something!"

"I fully intend to, " declared Cora. 

"That means that we will, " responded Belle. "If Cora intends!"

"They're off!" called out Hazel, "look at Jack!"

He was standing over the engine evidently making sure that even atthe start he should not loose a single atom of the power thattwirled the propeller. Ed was at the steering wheel. Walter was atthe side, and with him was Paul Hastings. 

"There's Paul!" exclaimed Bess, when they could make out that thefourth figure in the boat was that of the boy's friend. "I thoughthe would run another boat. "

"He wouldn't want any other to beat the Peter Pan, " explained Hazel, "and at the same time he would not take the glory of it from theboys who have it for the season. That's Paul, " she finishedproudly. 

The first "leg" of the course had been covered, and the three bestboats, the Peter Pan, the Sprint, and the Lady B. Were all in line. A dozen others were trailing, and while they showed less speed itwas not safe to say that they could not catch up with the threestars. From buoy to buoy over the triangular course the boatsfairly shot, and a beautiful sight they made on the green-hilledbasin of Cedar Lake. 

The course was covered once and then the second round was started bythe boats that had qualified. These were only five in number, oneof them being a very queer looking craft, built high on the sideslike a huge box and showing at the bow a double point, like a pairof slippers. This of course attracted considerable attention, andit shot past the Sprint, which was run by the young lady who hadhoped to meet with no rival such as a home-made boat, to say theleast. 

"Can't that go? Look at it!" the spectators were exclaiming. 

"See, Paul is at the Peter Pan's engine!" said Cora, as the colorof that boy's cap made it plain that he had taken Jack's place. "Ihope Jack has not strained his wrist, or done anything like that. "

"Very likely Paul is just seeing if everything is right, " saidHazel. "See, there, Jack has his place again. "

During the second and third trials all interest was centered on thePeter Pan, the Hague, (the home-made boat), and the Sprint. Now thiswould be ahead, and now that, until it seemed that there could bebut little difference in the merits of any of the three. Of coursemost of the sympathy was with the Sprint, because a girl wasstriving to outdo the boys. At the same time, the Hague, being suchan oddity, and the lake folks knowing that this had been built bythe boys who were running it, came in for its share of applause. 

"There is not a boat on the lake that can fairly beat the PeterPan, " Hazel declared almost feverishly, for the others werethreatening to do so. "I have heard Paul say so. "

"He ought to know, " said Cora with a sly wink, "but that big tub, the Hague, is something new. Perhaps it has the power of adestroyer. "

"It is big and clumsy enough to have any sort of power, " remarkedBelle. "I should just be sick if it did win. "

"All's fair, in a fair race, " remarked Cora. "See the Hague isahead!"

One more course was to be made, and every eye and every mind wascentered on this, the final test. 

The Peter Pan shot out bravely and safely. The Sprint made asplendid second! Then the Hague! Something seemed wrong. It was"missing. " That could plainly be heard from the girl's boat. Awaythey flew, yard after yard being made in wonderfully short time. The Sprint was doing well with the Peter Pan. The Hague suddenlyshot forward, passed every thing--passed the Sprint--passed thePeter Pan and won!

"Hurrah for the tub!" yelled the crowd. "Hurrah for home talent!"shouted the throng. But the young lady in the Sprint throttled downand her boat drifted over to the boys. 

"How was that?" she asked breathlessly. 

"I don't know, " replied Paul "but I'm going to find out. We weresecond and you made a splendid run--but I'm going to look into theglories of the Tub!"

So keen was the disappointment of the girls in the Petrel that theyseem to have lost heart for their own race, which came next. Butwhen Ed and Jack called out to them, and Paul waved his cap in hisown quiet way, the encouragement dispelled their lost of interest. 

Cora spun the flywheel, and the boat took its place. She lookedevery inch a girl to win, while Hazel kept close to the steeringwheel and the twins did their part in just looking pretty. Themotor girls' boat was the cynosure of every eye, as it happened tobe the only boat in that class run by girls. 

The signal was given and they started off. 

"Steady!" Jack called. "Go it, sis!"

He should hardly have done this, but his boyish love for the girlsand their boat could not be restrained. Then they waved, and themaroon and white flag stood out tense and defiant like some animatething. 

Not a word was spoken by the girls. It seemed so important to payall attention to the machine upon which depended the loss or gain ofa victory--if we may say that a victory can be lost. 

"Look out!" called Hazel suddenly and a boat crossed their path soclosely that Cora was obliged to throttle down, and Hazel had to runstraight for a buoy to avoid a collision, and the craft hit thecourse marker. Then the Petrel stopped short! It simply wouldn'tmove!

"Oh!" sighed Belle and Bess in one voice, but Cora jumped up andtried for a spark. None came!

She looked at the connections. They seemed all right. 

"Maybe it's in the gas, " she said nervously, while the other boatswere passing them by. 

She yanked down the bulkhead board that hid the gasoline tank. Thenshe saw the cause of the trouble. 

"Short circuited!" she exclaimed. "That happened when we struckthe buoy. It jarred the battery wires together, " and the nextinstant she had adjusted the difficulty and the engine, glad to beoff again, seemed to try to make up for the lost seconds. 

Every one in the Petrel breathed a sigh of relief. The anxiety hadbeen intense. 

"I was certainly afraid we would have to row to shore, " Belle said, taking a more comfortable position. 

"We will make up for it, " declared Cora, throwing on full speed anddirecting Hazel as to the best way to hold the wheel exactlystraight and in doing so to get all possible distance out of eachexplosion of the engine. 

They finished in a tie over the first course. This was encouraging, for the little Mischief, their closest opponent, was acknowledged afine boat. 

Two more courses were to finish the race, unless there was anothertie. The girls scarcely noticed the frantic efforts of the boys inthe Peter Pan who were encouraging and directing at the top of theirlungs. The young men in the Mischief were anxious. They couldnever stand it to be beaten by a couple of country girls! But, onthe second trial Cora's boat won, and then came the final test. 

Up the lake they went again! Now the Petrel was ahead and now theMischief until the closeness of the two became absorbing. 

"The best race of the day!" the judges were declaring. "Neither hasit all her own way!"

"Plucky girls, " said another of the men at the stand. "Whateverhappened when they stopped they must have been well able to handle, from the way they caught up again. I thought they were out of itthat time!"

"We all did, " put in some one else, "but I have seen that littlegirl on the lake before. She knows something about a motor boat. "

"Here they come!" Jack yelled. "Just look at Cora! Isn't shefine!"

"And Hazel!" put in Paul with a smile. 

"How about Bess and Belle?" asked the fickle Walter. "I think theylook just sweet!"

Only two more "legs, " and the Petrel was still ahead!

One was covered, with the Mischief so close that only those in thebest position could tell which one led. 

"Steady, Hazel!" cautioned Cora. Straight as an arrow she directedthe wheel. 

Then there was a splash from a nearby motor boat. A shout andscreams!

"Overboard!" yelled the frantic onlookers. "A child overboard!"

It was just at the side of the Petrel!

"Hazel! The engine! Bess, the wheel!" shouted Cora, and before anyone knew what she was about, she had jumped into the water and wasmaking for the spot were the child had gone under. 

The boys in the Mischief did not stop. Hazel took the engine andBess the wheel, realizing that Cora meant for them to finish. 

Presently she came up with the child in her arms!

"Go it, girls!" she called, "Win! Win!"

The Mischief was close alongside. Cora was clinging to the side ofthe boat from which the child had dropped, while the almost faintingmother was recovering her little one. The others assisted Cora in, and forgot all about her race. 

But Cora stood spellbound in the cockpit, dripping wet. She stoodthere ignoring the thanks poured out on her. 

"Steady, Hazel!" she called. "Win--win for me!"

That was enough. The motor girls, those in the Petrel, realizingthat their leader was safe, now determined to "win for her. "

The Mischief had gained in the time that Cora swung overboard, andnow was just abreast of the Petrel. The slight change of coursealso told in the last few yards, but now Hazel and Bess forgoteverything but the call of Cora to win, and their boat, like aflash, sprang up to its opponent and passed it by the closest recordmade in any of the races. 

"Hurrah! Hurrah!" rang out in their ears. 

"A double victory!" shouted one of the judges. Then the Petrel wasturned back to get Cora who was in the other motor boat. 

The boys in the Peter Pan had not seen Cora dive over for the child, but as quickly as they heard the report, that was now being spreadabout, they made for the boat from which the accident occurred. 

Back with them went the boat of the accident crew, and when Corafinally returned to her own craft she had an escort of honor to thejudges stand. 

"First prize for the Petrel!" announced the head judge. "And thehonor medal for life-saving to Miss Cora Kimball, the leader of ourbrave little crew of motor girls. "

CHAPTER XIII

VICTORS AND SPOILS

"Wasn't it exciting!" Belle was saying to the little party that hadgathered around Cora as she received their praise and congratulationsafter it was all over. "I never dreamed that boat races could furnishso many kinds of excitement. "

"I don't call it all delightful, " objected Bess putting her armsaround the still wet form of the girl who had made the rescue, "andI don't want to see Cora jump overboard that way again. I shallnever forget it. "

"A good way to find out how much folks think of me" replied Cora. "I really didn't mind it a bit, once I knew that I could get thechild before she got under a boat. That was all that worried me. "

"Your cup is a beauty though, sis, " said Jack, who was examining thetrophy. "I think it's prettier than the one we lost. Paul is notsatisfied that we lost fairly though, and he's up there nowdisputing it. "

"What good can that do now?" asked Belle. 

"No telling. Paul knows what he is about, " replied Jack. "But say, did you know that the wild girl in the canoe is deaf and dumb?"

"No!" exclaimed all the girls in one voice. 

"Yes that's what the dark fellow who was trailing her told thejudges, and that is why, I guess, she scampered off so. Too bad!She is pretty too. "

"And did the man take her prize?" asked Cora. 

"Sure thing, " replied the brother. "He said he was her guardian. "

Cora thought for a moment. "Seems to me, " she said finally, "thatshe turned towards us when we shouted to her. "

"Sometimes deaf people know such things by instinct, " Jack offeredas an explanation. "I thought too, that she gave us a knowingglance. "

"Pure conceit, " said Ed. "Wallie claimed the glance, but I saw herhair float in my direction. "

"She's a star canoeist, " declared Jack, "and I should like to bebetter acquainted with her. "

"Can you talk with your fingers?" asked Belle. "I know a little ofthe sign language, but I would not be too sure that I could carry ona conversation. "

"But you could introduce one, " insisted Jack, "and once she knew Iwanted to know her--I might depend upon--true love to make known allthe rest. "

"Here! Here! Jackie!" cautioned Cora, "you are not to talk oflove--until mother comes home. You have promised to look after me. "

"As if Ed and Walter couldn't do that ten times better than I can. But hello! Here comes Paul--the Paul. "

"It's ours, " called Paul, before he was dose enough to talk in theregulation tones. "Come on up! The judges want to see the crew ofthe Peter Pan!"

"Ours!" echoed Jack, Ed and Walter. 

"It certainly is ours. Those fellows had the gasoline doped?"

"What's that?" asked Ed. 

"They had camphor and some other stuff in their gas, " went on Paul, "and the engine nearly kicked out of the boat. "

"Did they admit it?" inquired Ed. 

"Not until I charged them with it, " replied Paul. "I knew there wassomething up when they got ahead on that jump. Then I asked if Imight take a look at that freak engine, and they allowed me to doso. I smelled camphor the minute I stepped aboard. They even hadnot sense enough to hide the bottle, and it's against the presentracing rules on this lake to doctor gas. So I taxed them with it, and they finally admitted it and we went together to the judges. They were pretty decent chaps and did not seem to mind, very much, relinquishing the prize. You know what it is, don't you?"

"Certainly, it's a dandy canoe, " said Jack, "And you really meanthat it is to be ours?"

"If you don't hurry along some one else may claim it, " said Paul. "It isn't mine, it's yours. "

"And to think that we and our boys both got prizes!" exclaimedHazel. "Isn't it too good to be true?"

"And too good to be false, " answered Paul. "Now, boys, let's runalong. I have something to do before evening. "

"And I had better make for camp, " said Cora. "These togs are wet. "

"Of course, " said Belle with sympathy in her voice. "But when doyou get your medal, Cora?"

"I believe it comes from Philadelphia. Some wealthy man has itstored there waiting to be claimed. "

"It's a wonder the mother of that little girl didn't want to adoptyou, Cora, " said Jack, as the boys started off with Paul. "Ithought from the way she hung on to you she had intentions. Well, so long. We will give you first ride in our new canoe, and let ushope we will have better luck with this one than we had with theother, " and then the boys went off for the prize. 

"I can't get over that girl being deaf and dumb, " said Hazel, as thegirls made their way to the camp. "I can scarcely believe it. "

"Well, now we have a double interest on Fern Island, " Cora answered. "If there is really such an unfortunate creature hid or hiding thereshe ought to be rescued. I cannot understand, either, how thatforeigner can be her guardian. "

"That Jones?" asked Bess, as innocently as if she had not seen thegirl race and heard about the man claiming her prize. 

"Why, yes, of course, " replied Cora. "And he says she is deaf anddumb. Who's calling? Didn't you hear some one?"

"Yes, there's Mabel Blake hurrying after us, " said Belle. "Shelooks excited. "

The girl who was running along the path did indeed "look excited. "The motor girls waited. 

"Oh, I thought I would never catch up to you!" Mabel panted. "Youdo walk at such a pace!"

"Why, how are you, Mabel?" asked Cora graciously. "I heard you hadgone back to Chelton. "

"We did intend to--but we haven't, " she faltered. "Jeannette hasbeen ill. "

"Ill!" exclaimed more than one voice. 

"Yes, that's what I want to see you about. I don't know what todo, " and Mabel's pretty brown eyes filled to the lashes. 

"Can we help you?" Cora asked. 

"I would like to speak with you alone, Cora, " she said. "But I knowwhat you did this afternoon, and I see you have still to change yourclothing. "

"They are almost dry now, " Cora replied. "Yet if you could waitfive minutes I could easily change in that time. Here we are. Homeagain. And there! Nettie has heard all about our victories;haven't you Nettie?"

"Indeed yes, Miss Cora. But I was afraid for you, " replied themaid. "The child's father sent a message up here to ask when hemight see you?"

"Oh, they make too much fuss over a trifle, " replied Cora. "Sithere on the porch with the girls, Mabel. I will be out soon. "

Finally Mabel pressed her handkerchief to her eyes and murmuringsome sort of unintelligible excuse she rushed indoors. 

She was met in the hall by Cora. 

"Why, what is it, Mabel?" she asked, putting her arms about thesobbing one. 

"Oh, I cannot stand it, " wailed Mabel. "The disgrace!"

"What disgrace?"

"The--that--man!" she stammered. "But I must go back to Jeannette. I am afraid she is losing her mind. Of course, you could not gowith me, Cora. It would be too much after your hard afternoon. ButJeannette got your letter. "

"Yes? I hope she understood it. "

Mabel tried to dry her eyes. "I suppose she did if any one couldunderstand such a thing, " she replied. "But to think it is in theChelton paper!"

"When was it in?" Cora asked. 

"It will be out to-morrow!" replied the tearful one. 

"To-morrow, " Cora repeated thoughtfully. "Perhaps Jack could stopit. He is well acquainted with the editor. "

"Oh, if he only could, " and Mabel brightened up. "That's what makesJeannette feel so dreadfully. "

"It was very unfortunate, " Cora said. "He is a dangerous man. "

"Dangerous! I think he should he put in jail, " declared Mabelhotly. 

"But it is so difficult to catch such people, " Cora remarked. "Youcould scarcely name your charge against him?"

"Name it? Never!" exclaimed the girl. 

"There you are. One woman who might put him in jail flies off toNew York. You could at least accuse him of fraud and you refuse. Imyself know of one wrong doing that affected me and I prefer to keepquiet--for the present at least. You see what cowards we all arewhere our pride is concerned. 

"You are not a coward, Cora Kimball, " exclaimed Mabel, "and I knowperfectly well you would denounce him if you thought that safest. "

"At any rate, Mabel, I think it will all come out right, " Coraassured her. "Just wait until I have a glass of milk and I will goover and see Jeannette. "

"I can never tell how it all happened, " sighed Mabel, "I reallythink he had me hypnotized. "

"He is a clever rogue, " agreed Cora, and she knew now more about hisroguery than she cared to sum up even to herself. 

CHAPTER XIV

TALKING IT OVER

The interview with Miss Jeannette Blake was not altogethersatisfactory, but Cora was too careful of the sick one's feelings toask deliberate questions. She could not really find out how far theBlakes had gone with Tony Jones in the matter of paying him for thealleged placement of Mabel with a theatrical company, but sheguessed they had either actually paid a large sum, or had givena note that might be equally compelling. 

Also the notices that had been prepared for the press announcing hercoming "debut" were very embarrassing. 

It was the day after the races, and Cora sat with her brother on theporch of their bungalow. She had told him of Mabel's plight and wasasking him to help her clear up some of the shades and shadows. 

"Tell me, Jack, " she asked, "what happened the night you followedMabel out of the pavilion--the night that man gave her the falsemessage?" Jack thrust his hands deep into his pockets, and lookedvery serious--for him. "To tell the truth, Cora, " he began, "I hadto make love to Mabel to get her out of his clutches. "

"Make love to her, Jack!"

"Nothing smaller would do but you know, sis, the love was only asort of sample, the kind a fellow might safely give away to anygirl. "

Cora laughed. "You funny boy, " she said, "to flatter a girl to saveher from--flattery. "

"But didn't you ask me to? Didn't you say to watch Mabel that timeyou whispered as I was leaving? You are the funny one. It was youthat put the wicked plot in my fair young head, " and he sighed inmock sincerity. 

"But honestly, did you see that man give her the telegram? It seemsto me you might be a witness should there be trouble. "

Jack jumped up. "Oh, no, you don't, sis!" he declared. "You don'tget me in any further mischief. Mabel is too fond of me now. "

"Jack, don't be silly! I want you to wire the editor of the Cheltonpaper that, owing to the sudden illness of Miss Jeannette Blake, herniece, Miss Mabel Blake, has been compelled to stop her musicalstudies, and postpone her debut as a singer. That is all true andif the other notice does appear you can arrange to have this givenas the latest. "

"Foxy!" declared jack. "'Not a word of fib and not a grain oftruth. Well, you would beat Jones if you went at his game, but I dothink it a good idea to wire Nat Phillips. I'll go and do so atonce, " he added, feeling in his pocket to make sure he had with himchange enough to pay for the message. 

"And Jack, " Cora went on, "since you have been so good, don't youthink it would be lovely for you to sort of keep track of Mabel fora day or two? That man, I am afraid, has her under some sort ofinfluence, and there is no telling what he might not try to do toget some Blake money. "

"Make more love to her? Suppose she takes me up?"

"I really cannot explain it all, Jack, " said Cora gravely, "but theman has frightened more than Mabel. The woman who kept house forhim and Peters was so afraid that he would find out she was leaving, that I could scarcely persuade her to wait while I changed thebatteries in my boat. She kept saying she wanted to get out of hispower. And now Mabel declares he had her hypnotized. Then thatsort of queer girl who won the canoe race--surely he has her somehowin his power, as they express it. "

"Powerful man, " answered Jack, "but how is it, Cora, that you talkedwith him and he did not hoodoo you?"

"Oh I'm immune I suppose, " and she smiled with her handsome faceturning up in becoming hauteur. 

"Guess Ed thinks that, too, " said the brother mischievously. "Hehas been growling to me about it. "

"Ed is a dear, nice boy, " she said simply. 

"That's the sort of compliment a girl always pays the fellow she isgoing to turn down, " Jack declared. 

"I think, brother, making love to Mabel has gone to your head. Buthurry along to the station and send off the message. "

Cora sat there silent for a few moments. There was no one about thecamp but herself, and she would soon go down to the lake for a runin her boat. She was thinking that of all the peculiar cases ofother people's troubles in which she felt she had a right tointerfere that of the girl who was said to be deaf and dumb and whowas probably hidden somewhere on Fern Island was the case mosturgent. If only she could really find her, and find that poordemented old man who had so strangely crossed her path. Cora hadnot the least fear of either of them and suddenly she resolved to goalone to Fern Island and try to find them. 

Ten minutes later, when she had left a note dangling from thehanging lamp in the dining room, saying to the girls that she wouldbe back by supper time, Cora was gliding up Cedar Lake in thePetrel. 

She was glad that she did not meet any of her friends who would, ofcourse, ask where she was going. And now she was too far away tomeet any boats of summer fisher folks or pleasure seekers. 

"I am beginning to believe in the psychic, " she mused, "for I have afeeling that a cry for help comes from that perfectly silentisland. "

Her heart beat quickly as she throttled down her engine, stopped it, and finally stepped ashore. Her landing was made on a differentside of the island than before and she saw instantly that feet hadbeen treading down the ferns from shore to inland. This path servedto guide her along. Then she noticed particles of food. 

"Hardly picnic folks along here, " she thought. "Perhaps the canoegirl is somewhere about--"

But what was her terror when she faced the shore at a dear spot inthe woods and against it saw the boat of the man Peters. 

"Oh!" she gasped. "He must be on the island!"

Then she listened. Yes, there was a step! She sank down behind aclump of thick bushes and while hiding there she saw, not Peters, but Jones saunter down to the water's edge!

How she trembled! A half-fainting sensation overcame her. From acrouching attitude she sank flat on the ground and felt too weak toattempt to raise herself. 

Meanwhile the man had reached his rowboat and pushed off. Heglanced along and saw the motor boat. 

"That girl!" he muttered. "She is interfering with my plans again. This would be an ideal place for a--" Then he stopped. "Bah! I'lljust give her a chance to think over her courage. "

Cora was still under the bush, and did not hear the gentle purr ofher engine as the man started down Cedar Lake in her own preciousmotor boat, dragging his rowboat behind. 

CHAPTER XV

TWO GIRLS ON THE ISLE

"He's gone!" Cora murmured, as creeping out from her hiding place, she could see that the rowboat had left the shore. "Well, I am safeagain, for I have not the slightest fear of any one who may be onthis island--now. "

Cora glanced about her in a dazed way. Then she noticed that thebent grass and fern led toward a hill in a deep part of the wood. 

"Strange, " she was thinking. "I feel so absolutely certain that theyoung girl is about here, and that she needs help. "

The path was so faintly outlined that Cora could scarcely trace it, but she knew if any one was in hiding the place of concealment mustbe at the end of the path. 

Several times she looked back of her to make sure that the man Joneswas not following. Then suddenly she thought she heard a faintmoan!

She listened. Yes, that was a sob and in a girl's weak voice. Coraquickened her steps, and forgetting now to watch the path she wascovering, forgetting all except that a human creature must be inpain, and that she could probably help that person. Cora Kimballalmost ran until she reached the hill, where she saw a sort ofscreen made from the broken branches of trees. 

Another moan! It was behind that screen! Quick as a flash Corajerked down the branches, thrust her head into a cave and therebeheld the one who was sobbing and moaning. 

It was the canoe girl! She lay on a bed of pine needles her prettyface as pale as death, and her lovely hair tangled in the pinepallet. 

As Cora pushed her way into the queer cave, the girl turned, andseeing her, screamed--such a scream as one might expect from theinsane. At the same moment the brush was again pushed from the doorand there stood the wild man! His white hair and his white beardshowed Cora that he was the same person who had so strangely crossedher path in the woods the day she was fern-gathering. 

"I want to help you, " Cora spoke timidly, while the girl on theground moaned pitifully. 

"Help?" whispered the man, and his voice was as gentle and soft as awoman's. "They have killed my girl, " and he knelt down beside theprostrate figure. He kissed her passionately. Then she opened hereyes. 

"Father, dear, " she murmured, "You must go--quick!"

He kissed her again; then he turned to Cora. 

"Young woman, " he said gravely, "you must not harm my darling. Sheis innocent. " Then he left the cave. 

What could she do? What should she do? This girl was neither deafnor dumb, and for that Cora was grateful, but if that dangerous man, who had said she was both, should return, and find Cora with her!

"Dear, " said Cora gently, "try to trust me. Tell me what I can dofor you?"

"Oh, if I could but die!" the girl sobbed, "but there is father!"

Then Cora saw that she was becoming unconscious. Feeling about thehalf-dark cave place Cora came upon a pail of water. Beside it wasa tin cup and this she filled and carried to the sick girl's lips. 

"Try to drink, " she whispered. "Then if you can stand I will takeyou to my house in my boat. "

The girl did sip some of the water. Again she opened thosewonderful eyes and looked at Cora. 

"You are kind, " she said. "He did not send you?"

"No one sent me, dear, and I promise never to betray you. "

"At last, " she murmured, "a friend!"

"Yes, a friend, " Cora assured her, "and I am going to prove it toyou. I saw you one day as we--some girls and myself came to thisisland. Then I saw you win that splendid race, and since then Ihave been determined to find you. "

"'He made me do it, he made me go in the race, " said the girl, "andnow he brings this letter. "

"What has shocked you so?" Cora asked. "Was it the letter?"

"Yes, he says they are coming for father!"

"Who?" Cora asked, but the girl's face went so white that again shepressed the tin cup to her lips. 

"There, " Cora went on, "we will talk of nothing now but of what weshall do to make you well again. Could you walk ever so little adistance? To my motor boat?"

"If I could, what then?" asked the girl. 

"Then loving hands would bring back the color into your checks, andthen the best boys in the world would come to help your father. "

"Help father!" she repeated. "But that can never be done. Fatheris--an outcast!"

"But he has no disease, " Cora said, remembering what Kate, had toldher was Tony's excuse for going to see a victim of some dreadfuldisease, who was on Fern Island. 

"No, thank God, his body is well, but his soul is sick--so verysick. "

"Let me see if you can sit up?" asked Cora. "It will soon be nightand we must try to get away. "

"It will, be much better to leave him, and return, soon, well andstrong enough to comfort him again, " Cora said, "than to stay here, and perhaps die. "

"You are right, " said the stranger getting up on her elbow. "Oh, what it means to speak with a girl again. Heaven must have sentyou. "

"There, you are up now, " spoke Cora quickly, realizing theimportance of urging the girl to get up while she felt so inclined. "See, you can stand! There, now you can walk. "

"But I must say good-bye to father. Oh! should I leave him?" shesobbed. 

"Just for a little while, dear, " Cora again assured her. Then thegirl put her finger to her mouth and gave a queer whistle. 

"I will be outside so he will know that I am better, " said the girl. "Father has been so frightened. "

The next moment the man appeared again. 

"Father, " said the girl, "I am going with this friend some place toget well. Should I go?"

"Friend? Yes, she is all of that. Daughter go!" and the manpressed her to his breast. 

"And you will be all right? No one will come for you?"

A look of horror swept over his face. "They shall not find me, " hefaltered, releasing his daughter from the embrace. 

"Let me tell you, sir, " ventured Cora, "that the man I just sawleave this island is a villain. Don't believe one word he says. "

"Villain? Yes! He is that, for he would have carried off myLaurel!"

"Hush father, you showed him that you had more strength than acoward can have. I feel so much better. I am almost cured sincethis girl has taken my hand. "

"My name is Cora Kimball, " said our heroine, "and I have a camp atthe lower end of the lake. It is there I am taking Laurel. "

"And she may come to see me?" almost sobbed the aged man. "Mylittle wild Laurel. "

"Yes, indeed, and some day I feel that we may take you, too, awayfrom this island. There, I do not mean anything to harm you. Come, dear, it is growing dark. "

"I will leave a branch of laurel to guide you back to me, " the mansaid to his daughter. "When you come, look for it as I shall placeit fresh every day. "

"Go now, before I go, " his daughter urged. "Then I shall feel thatyou are safe. "

He turned, and the girls stood to watch the last of that queer formas it disappeared over the hill. He was going to one of his manywoodland haunts. 

"Now we may go, " said the lonely one. "Poor, dear father!"

"Be brave, " urged Cora, as she led her toward the shore. "I am soglad I found you. "

"If you had not I feel I should have gone insane. That man wasalways terrible, but today he wanted to take me away!"

"Once in my little boat and you will almost forget all thoseterrible things, " said Cora. "I left--it--here!"

Then she stopped in dismay, as she saw that the boat was gone!

CHAPTER XVI

A TERRIBLE NIGHT

"The boat is gone!" Cora almost gasped. Then the girl, the sickfrail creature, did a remarkable thing--she came to the rescue ofthe stronger one. 

"No matter, " she said calmly. "I feel so much better with a girl tospeak to, that if you will put up with my strange life for a night, perhaps it will be all right in the morning. There, " as Corashowed by her change of color that she felt it would be a risk, "lots of people think sleeping, out of doors is the very best sortof life. Don't you want to try it?"' and her arm stole aroundCora's waist. 

"Why, of course we can only try, but I am afraid that you willsuffer, Laurel. You are very weak, " said Cora. 

"No, I was only frightened, " and she made an effort to show that shedid really feel better. "Now, when we go back we must not letfather know that we are still on the island. "

Cora did not question this. That the girl had a good reason forkeeping her presence a secret from her father she felt certain. Butto turn back to those woods! And night so near!

"I suppose there is absolutely no way of getting a boat?" Coraquestioned. 

"Even my canoe is gone. That awful man is to blame, " replied thegirl. 

"Did he take it?" asked Cora. 

"When I refused to go with him, he said I might die here, " repliedLaurel. "That was to get more money from father. Oh, you cannotknow how I have wished to speak with some one!" and her big, browneyes filled with tears. 

"And I am so glad I did come, " Cora assured her, "even if our firstnight must be a lonely one. I am used to queer experiences. "

"Then I will have no fear in showing you how I have lived here. Ofcourse, it was for father. "

They retraced their steps, and in spite of all the assurances thateach pledged to the other it was surely lonely. 

"Shall we go to your little pine cave?" Cora asked. 

"I think it would be better not to, " replied Laurel, "for indeed, one never knows what that man might do. He might come back just tofrighten me. "

"And he saw how ill you were?"

"Oh, most men think girls get ill to order. Very likely he thoughtI was acting, " and the strange girl almost laughed. 

"Our folks will be frightened about me, " Cora said. "Are there nomeans of getting away from here?"

"There is not a person on this island that I know of, " repliedLaurel. "Of course, Brentano took your boat. "

"Brentano?" Cora repeated. 

"Yes. Did you not know his name?"

"He seems to have a collection of names. One calls him Tony, another Jones, and now it is Brentano. "

"But we knew him abroad. That is his name. "

Cora wondered, but did not feel inclined to ask further questionsthen. It was almost dark, and under the pine trees shadows fell ingloomy foreboding. 

"Hark!" exclaimed Cora. "I thought I heard an engine!"

They listened. "Yes it is an engine, " replied Laurel, "but I amafraid it is over at Far Island. "

"Couldn't we shout?"

"I would rather not. You see father wants to stay here, " she saidhesitatingly. 

"You mean if any one came for us they would know we were not alonehere?"

"They might suspect. Or they might just happen to see father. "

Cora was sorry. She wanted so much to call to the possiblepasserby, but she saw that the other girl had some very strongmotive in wishing to leave the island secretly. 

"Do you never go away from here?" she asked. 

"Only when I am forced to, as I was the day of the race. He made merace, threatening to expose father if I did not. "

"And then he said that you were deaf and dumb, " added Coraindignantly. 

"I did not mind that at all. In fact it was the easiest way for meto get out of meeting people. " Laurel sighed heavily. "I do wonderwhen our lives will change, " she said finally. 

"Let us hope very soon, " Cora said. "I, of course, do not know yourstory, but I feel that in some way that man is wronging you. "

"Yes, he has been our evil genius ever since he crossed our path. You see father's mind is not entirely clear, and I do not myselfknow what to believe. "

In the distance they could now see the lights of several boats, andbehind the great hill that made Far Island look like some strangemountain place, the sun was all but lost in the forest blackness. 

"Oh, " sighed Laurel suddenly. "I feel faint again. "

She sank down before Cora could support her. And they were awayfrom the little hut where the water was! Away from every thing butthe pitiless night!

"Oh, how dreadful, " moaned Cora. "What shall I do?"

For a long time Laurel lay there so still that Cora feared she mightreally die. Then at last, she managed to sit up and grasp Cora'shand. 

"I have never been ill in my life, " she said. "It was all from thatshock the day he compelled me to go in the race. "

"Then you have every chance of getting perfectly well again, " Coraassured her. "If that dreadful man had only left my boat. "

"Perhaps in the morning we may be able to go, " Laurel said. "Nowthat I have made up my mind I feel it will be better for father aswell as for me, for if anything happened to me I fear he would die. "

A light in the distance for a time gave them hope that a boat mightbe coming to the island, but, like a number of others, it turnedtoward the pleasure end of the lake. 

"I guess we will have to make the best of it for to-night, " Corasighed. "Shall I try to find the hut and get you some food?"

"And you have not eaten! In my misery I forgot you. Ofcourse--there now--I am better, and we will have to make our way tothe pine hut. But if that man comes back!" and she shuddered. 

"Why does he hold such power over you?" asked Cora, as she put herarm protectingly around her companion. "Does he supply you withyour things out here?"

"We supply him, " replied the girl bitterly. "He is never satisfiedbut always demanding more, until father will soon have nothingleft. "

Cora was mystified but this was no time for the strange story. Shemust help the girl to the pine hut. 

"I believe you are more weak for want of food than from illness, "Cora said. "I hope we find something to eat. "

"Oh, yes, he brought things, but he should have done so before. Iam weak for food. "

It was difficult to find the way back now in the darkness, but thetwo lonely, frightened girls trudged on. At last Laurel was able tofeel the stone on the path that gave the clue to her little hut. 

"Does Brentano know you?" she asked Cora suddenly. 

"I know him. I have been to his shack, and I have heard a lot abouthim from a housekeeper who left Peters. Do you know he is ahandwriting expert?"

"A hand-writing expert!" gasped the girl. "Does that mean he couldcopy a signature?"

"Perfectly, " replied Cora, "but how you tremble? What is it now?"

"Girl! girl!" she gasped. "What that may mean to us! Oh, I mustfind father! He will know. I must signal to him. "

"Please do not to-night, " begged Cora, fearing a new collapse fromthe excitement. "Wait until daylight. Here, now we shall get ourfood. "

They were within the pine hut and had lighted a lantern. A loaf ofbread and some salt meat were easy to find in the rudely-made boxthat served for a closet. 

"I am actually starved, " Cora remarked, with an effort to bepleasant. "I guess your pine trees make one hungry. "

"Hark!" breathed Laurel. "I heard a step!"

The next moment Cora stood at the entrance to the hut, and waited. The step was coming closer and closer! And it was plainly that of aman!

"Oh, what can it be?" gasped Laurel. "Or who is it?"

"I--I don't know, " whispered Cora, her voice trembling in spite ofherself. "But we must be brave, Laurel, brave. "

"Oh, yes, I will be! Oh I how glad I am that some one is with me--that you are here!"

Cora felt the other's frail body trembling as she put her own strongarms around the shrinking girl. Then Cora peered from the door ofthe hut. Still that stealthy footstep till the approach of thatunknown. Cora felt as if she must scream, yet she held her fears incheck--not so much for her own sake as for the other. 

Suddenly there was a crash in the underbrush, the crackling ofbrushes, the breaking of twigs. 

"He--he's fallen!" gasped Laurel. 

"Tripped over something, " added Cora. "Oh, maybe he will turn backnow. "

Them was silence for a moment and then, to the relief of the girls, they heard footsteps in retreat. Their unwelcome visitor was goingaway. 

"Oh, he's gone! He's gone!" gasped Laurel in delight. 

"Maybe it wasn't a man at all, " suggested the practical Cora. "Itmight have been a bear--or--er some animal. "

"There are no bears on this island, " replied her companion with awan smile--no animals bigger than coons, and they couldn't make somuch a noise. Besides, I heard him grunt, or moan, as he fell. Soit must have been a man. "

"Well, he's gone, " rejoined Cora, "and, now that he's left us aloneI'm going to hope that he didn't hurt himself. He interrupted oursupper and now it's time we finished it, " and in the dim light ofthe lantern they ate the coarse food and waited--waited for whatwould happen next. 

CHAPTER XVII

THE SEARCHING PARTY

"I know something has happened to Cora, " Hazel was lamenting, "and Iam afraid we have lost good time in not going with the boys. Let usget ready at once. Here Bess and Belle, you take these lanterns, Nettie carry matches--and take a strong mountain stick, and--"

"Oh, mercy!" exclaimed Belle, in terror, "why should we need astrong stick!"

"To make our way with, " replied the practical Hazel. "It is noteasy to get about in woods on a dark night like this, " and she gavea look at the lights to make sure they were all right. "The boyswere to send word here, or to leave word with Ben if they found her. Now let's hurry. "

It was a sad little party that started off from Camp Cozy. When, that evening, according to the note Cora had left on the hanginglamp, she did not appear, for some little time, there was scarcelyany anxiety. Cora was so reliable, and of course they couldconjecture a dozen things that might have detained her. But when anhour passed, and she then was not to be found, Jack jumped up, Edand Walter followed, and as they hurried off, left the word thatthrough Ben, or by message to camp, they would report to the girls. 

Now another whole hour had passed, and there was no message. 

"Which way shall we go--?" asked tenderhearted Bess. 

"To the landing first, " Hazel replied. She was always leader inCora's absence. 

This was but a short way from the camp. At the landing stood Benwith his faithful lantern. 

"They've got her boat, " he blurted out. 

"Where?" asked the girls in chorus. 

"Just in the cove. But nothin' could hev hurt her there. She ain'tdrownded in that cove. "

"But how could her boat get there?" demanded Hazel. 

"No way but to be run in there, " answered Ben. "I tell you, girls, this is some trick. 'Taint her fault of course, but she's all rightsomewhere. "

The thought of the man Jones flashed through Hazel's mind. And hehad threatened Cora. She had interfered in taking away Kate, thehouse keeper, she had found out about the man and girl on FernIsland, and she had saved little Mabel Blake! Now all that--

"Trick!" repeated Bess. "That could not be called a trick. "

"For want of a better word, " said Ben, with apology in his voice. "But when the boys found the boat they started off in her and leftword you were not to follow. "

"But we must, " insisted Hazel. "We might find her and they mightnot. But how can we go?"

"I could get you another boat if you're set on it, " offered Ben, "but I wouldn't like to displease the young men. "

"Oh, we will answer for that, " Hazel assured him, "just get theboat. We will go up the lake. "

"Yes, you've got it right. Up the lake, fer I saw Tony comin' downthe lake. "

Only Hazel understood him. He, too, suspected the man of manynames. 

It was not more than five minutes later that Dan brought the smallmotor boat from the dock, and scarcely more than another fiveminutes passed before the girls were off. 

There were many small boats dotted about the water, and the girlslooked keenly for the flag of the Petrel which they could havedistinguished even in the darkness for the white head-light alwaysshowed up its maroon and white, but old Ben took no heed of thecraft in the lower end of the cove. He headed straight for eitherFar or Fern Island--the twin spots of land far away. 

Out in the broadest part of the water they suddenly came upon arowboat without a light. 

"Look out there!" shouted Ben. "Where's your light?"

There was no answer. Ben turned as far out of his course as it waspossible to do at the rate his own boat was running. 

"There is no one in that boat, " declared Hazel. "See, it is justdrifting. "

"Might be, " said Ben, throttling down his gasoline so that he mightturn nearer the other craft for inspection. 

"There does not seem to, be any one in it, " declared Bess, who alsolooked over the edge of the smaller boat. 

Ben did not reply. He had recognized the other craft as thatbelonging to Jim Peters, and guessed that the man might be up tosome trick. When he had almost stopped his motor he jumped up andpeered into the rowboat. 

"'Low there!" he called "Sleepin--?"

There was no answer. 

"Hum, " he sniffed, "thought so. It's Jim. Say there Jim, you'renot over friendly. "

Thus taunted the man in the other boat moved to the low seat. Hegrowled rather than spoke, but Ben was not the sort to take offenceat a fellow like Jim. 

"Joy riding?" persisted Ben. 

"Say, you smart 'un, " spoke Peters, "when you want to be funnybetter try it on some 'un else. Leave me alone, " and he picked upthe oars and sculled off. 

"What do you suppose he was hiding for?" asked Belle. 

"Oh he always has somethin' up his sleeve, " replied Ben with a lightlaugh, "and the best we can do is to follow him. "

"But then we cannot look farther for Cora, " Objected Hazel. 

"The best way to find her is to make sure that he does not find herfirst, " said Ben. "She's all right so long as we keep her away fromher enemies, " and he turned the boat down the lake toward thelanding. 

CHAPTER XVIII

FOUND

From the finding of Cora's boat to the landing at Fern Island theboys lost little time. Somehow Jack felt the night's work had to dowith the hermit and his daughter; also he feared that the man Jonesmight know of it, so that he lost no time in hurrying to the far endof the lake in hope of there finding his sister. 

Few words were spoken by the three boys as they landed, took thelanterns from the motor boat, and after detaching the batteries, tomake sure no one would run off with the craft, they sought a path inthe wilderness. 

Good fortune, or kind fate, led them in the right direction. Theycould see that the way had been beaten down. They walked on, oneahead of the other, when Jack, who was in the lead, stopped. 

"What's this?" he exclaimed, stooping to pick up a white thing fromthe ground. "A letter, " he finished, holding out a square envelope. 

The other young men drew nearer to Jack, to examine what might proveto be an unexpected clew. 

"What do you make of it?" asked Ed. 

"It's--er--" Jack paused suddenly. On the envelope he had caught, in the light of a slanting ray from a lantern a girl'sname--"Laurel. " He had been on the point of taking the missive fromits cover, but the glimpse of that name prevented him. Somehow hefelt that it might have to do with the disappearance of Cora--shewas always getting mixed up with girls, he reflected. And it mightnot be just the best thing to publish broadcast what this was Jackdissimulated. 

"I guess it's some shooting license a hunter has dropped, " hecompleted his half-finished sentence. "I'll just stick it in mypocket until we get to a place where I can look at it better. Imight lose something from the envelope in the woods. Come on, boys. "

"I think we're on the right trail, " spoke Walter. 

"But where in the world can Cora be?" asked Jack. He was beginningto be very much disturbed and was under a great mental strain. 

"Let's yell!" suggested Ed. "If Cora is within hearing distanceshe'll hear us. "

"Good!" cried Jack. "All together now!"

They raised their voices in a shrill cry that carried far. 

As the echoes died away there seemed to come, from a distance, anecho of an echo. They all started as they heard it. 

"Hark!" commanded Jack, standing at attention. 

"It's a voice all right--an answer, " declared Walter. 

"Yes, " agreed Cora's brother. "It was over this way. Come on, boys!"

Together they dashed through the bushes, trampling the underbrushbeneath their feet. The lanterns they carried gave but poor lightand more than once they crashed into trees. But they kept on, stopping now and then to call again and listen for the answer. 

"Look! A light!" suddenly cried Jack, pointing off to the left. 

"Come on!" shouted Ed, and they changed their course. Five minutesmore of difficult going, for they had gotten off the path, broughtthem to the pine hut. In the doorway stood two girls with theirarms about each other. 

"Cora!" gasped Walter and Ed in one voice. "And the other maybe--Laurel, " murmured Jack, and then he too cried: "Cora!"

The next instant he had his sister in his arms, and there arose aconfused clamor of joyful voices, each person trying to talk abovethe others. 

"And--and you are really alive!" cried Jack, holding his sister offat arm's length and gazing fondly at her. 

"Yes, Jack, " was the glad response. "You see, Jack dear, it takes agood deal to do away with me. "

"But--but something surely happened!" he insisted. 

"Of course it did, but I'm not going to tell you about it now. "

"Yes, make her, Jack!" insisted Walter and Ed. 

"And your friend, " added Cora's brother in a low voice. 

"Oh, I almost forgot, " she replied. "Boys, this is Laurel--WildLaurel if you like. Laurel, these are the boys, including mybrother. You can easily tell who he is, " she added dryly. "Moreformal introductions can wait. "

"Tell us what happened, " demanded Jack, and then Cora brieflyrelated what had taken place since she came to the island, how shehad discovered the loss of her boat and had found Laurel and the oldhermit. She told of their parting from Laurel's father and how sheand her companion had returned to the hut. 

"And then--then some one came toward the hut after we got here, " shefinished. "And, oh, how frightened we were! But whoever it waswent away again and didn't bother us. Then we ate somethingand--and well, you know the rest. "

"It's all right, " Ed soothed, realizing that both girls had beenterribly frightened. "We just came from the lake by your path. It'ssplendid to find you Cora, " and he went over to press her hand. "And I am sure you and your friend are glad to be found. "

Cora looked up, and in the dim lantern light she could be seen tosmile. "It was all because someone took my boat, " she said in abraver voice. "Laurel and I were just going to the main land. "

"As soon as you feel able we will take you to the boat, " suggestedJack. "It must have been very bad here for you, and with some oneelse loose in the woods. "

"Oh, it was, " said Cora. "Jack, I have been in many dreadfulplaces, but on an island with an enemy prowling about seems to bethe most fearful. "

"An enemy?" repeated Walter. 

"Yes, that man Tony, or Jones, took my boat, " declared Cora, indignantly, "and this time I will not try to make the laws myself. I am sure he took your canoe, and now my boat!"

"Well, we have you anyway, " said Jack giving his sister a great warmembrace, "and now we are going to take you both back tocivilization. Walter, can you care for Miss Laurel?"

And then Jack, seeing a good chance, slipped into Laurel's hand theenvelope he had picked up in the woods. The girl started, stared athim for a moment, and then hid the missive from sight. She did notspeak, but looked her thanks to Jack. 

So happy were the girls to get away and to be in such safe company, that the shock and exhaustion following it were almost forgotten. Cora felt much stronger, and so did Laurel. They looked like twovery much tossed and tousled girls, but the boys were not thinkingof their looks just then. 

"Are we going in my own boat?" asked Cora, showing how the ownershipof that boat had been so dear to her. 

"In the Pet!" replied Ed, "Jack, let me help Cora; you take thelight. "

Walter, waited for Laurel. She seemed to have things to take withher from the hut. "A queer camp, isn't it?" she asked, "but it's agreat little place on a warm clay. "

"Or a dark night, " dared Walter, whereat Ed threatened to take bothgirls and so leave the wily Walter alone--for punishment. 

The girls laughed. "Walter is our champion, " explained Cora. "Ishouldn't wonder if it were he who found us. "

"Never, " contradicted Jack. "I--found you. "

"That's a good, dear, old Jackie, " replied Cora assuming somethingof her old-time lightheartedness. "Of course, Jack, you knew!"

Laurel was fumbling in her blouse. The others noticed the movement. "Just a picture I want to take, " she explained. "You see, this isquite an old camp. "

They saw but they did not understand. Then they started out in thedarkness. 

"Did you ever see such a black night?" asked Cora, "I had no ideaCedar lake was so--so threatening!"

"Never!" replied Ed. 

"But the water is just as friendly as ever, " declared Jack. "Nowlet us try it. " He untied the boat, and the party stepped in. Corapressed Laurel's hand in silent encouragement for she saw herturning her eyes toward Fern Island. 

"A lovely boat, " Laurel remarked too quietly for the young men tohear her. 

"Shall I speed her?" asked Jack opening the gas valve. 

"Oh, yes, let us get home, " begged Cora. "The girls must befrightened to death. "

"They are, " Walter assured her. "Belle was smelling kerosene tokeep up, when we left, " he went on superciliously. 

"And Hazel was looking for a club, " Jack announced. 

"What about Bess, Ed?" asked Cora. 

"Bess--oh Bess, she was puffing--for breath. Bess had the puffs, "he volunteered in a weak attempt at nonsense. 

They were running down the lake. It seemed as if the boat knewexactly where to go, and also that her own mistress was aboard. 

"Why, there's the landing!" exclaimed Cora, "how quickly we gothere. "

"And there is a crowd around. I'll wager they are there to welcomeus, " said Jack happily. 

For a few moments all waited to see how the crowd would take thenews of the finding of Cora. 

"There are a lot of lights, " remarked Ed in puzzled tones. 

"And boats, " added Walter. 

They were looking intently at the center of the crowd on the water. 

"What's going on over there?" asked Jack, looking up from the enginewhich he was slowing down. 

"Something must have happened, " answered Cora. "Hark! There's alot of excited talk. "

Across the water floated the murmur of voices, some of them raisedhigh in discussion. 

"What's going on?" called Jack to a man who slipped past the side ofthe Petrel in a rowboat. 

"Fight!" was the quick answer. "Jim Peters and a fellow they callTony. They had a quarrel about some papers and a girl, and I don'tknow what not. "

"A girl?" gasped Cora, wondering if she could be involved in theunpleasantness. 

"Well, that's what some say. I don't rightly know. Guess it didn'tamount to much. Anyhow they've got Peters over there in his boat. They're bringing him to a doctor. It seems Tony whacked him with aboat hook, and then, thinking he'd done serious damage, he leapedoverboard and swam for it. They can't find him. "

"And I don't believe they ever will, " put in another voice, and as asecond boat came up Cora recognized old Ben. "Ah, it's Miss Kimballand her friends, " he added as he saw Cora and those in the Petrel. "Now here's a chance for you to use your brains, Miss Cora. Can'tyou find Tony for us?"

"No, why should I, " she answered somewhat coolly. 

She did not quite like this familiarity. 

"Oh, I didn't know, " laughed Ben genially. "I just thought youalways like to be doing things. "

"Not that kind, " put in Jack. 

"Is Peters much hurt?" asked Ed. 

"It's hard to say, " answered Ben. "He's pretty tough and I guessit's hard to do him much damage. I'm going over to see about it. "

He rowed over toward where the other boats were congregated and thePetrel with the slow progress of which he had been keeping pace, swung on to the dock. Cora and the others could see the return ofthe little flotilla about the boat in which was Jim Peters. 

CHAPTER XIX

IN BRIGHTER MOOD

It takes but a small happening to furnish excitement for a smallplace, and the fact that Jim and Tony had quarreled, and that nearthe landing, created quite a buzz. Of course, much disliked as Jimwas, he was one of the regular fishermen, while Tony was acomparative stranger. This caused the latter to disappear when hesaw that he had knocked Jim down and had perhaps seriously injuredhim. 

The landing of Cora and the meeting with her friends was almostunnoticed. It was the fight, and the possible hope of more of it, that occupied the morbid crowd. 

"Cora! Cora!" the girls were exclaiming, each evidently trying tobe the most exclamatory. 

"Where have you been?" asked the ever-wise Hazel. 

"Why, just getting Laurel, " replied Cora as Belle loosed her hold onCora's neck. "Belle dear, be careful, " she begged, "my neck isawfully sunburned. "

"We were scared to death, " declared Bess, fanning herself with herhandkerchief. "We thought you had been kidnapped. "

"No, it was the boat that was kidnapped, " replied Cora, "A boat ismore useful than--"

"Now, Cora, " interrupted Ed, "just be careful. Didn't we go afteryou? And didn't we carry you off?"

Laurel had taken Jack's advice and was resting on an old beam thatlay alongside the dock. She was very pale, as one could see even inthe uncertain light. Yet her sudden restoration to something likestrength might be accounted for by the fact that she had eaten somefood in the hut, the previous fast having weakened her greatly. Orwas it the letter Jack gave her?

"It's wonderful to be back again, " remarked Cora. "You have no ideahow far away Fern Island is at night. "

"Oh, dreadful!" exclaimed Belle. "I would have died. "

"Poor place for dying, " put in Ed. "'Twould be like the babes inthe wood, and the birdies and the leaves and all that sort of thing. Even to die, Belle, one may do it up in style. "

"I don't think you should make a joke of death, " objected Belle, pouting. 

"Oh, I didn't, " declared Ed. "I was only trying to make a joke outof the idea of you being able to die--any place. You never will, Belle. You will go on being nice forever, like the brook. "

The crowd had now scattered, so that the girls might make their wayalong to camp without brushing through the throng. They had lefttheir boat at the landing, in order to see the girls, who, Jackdeclared, were waiting there. They could now go aboard again andfinish the journey. 

"Say folks, " said Ed in a merry voice, "I propose that we make forthe camp. We are starved, every one of us. 

"And Laurel must be actually weak, " added Cora, "for all sorts ofadventures interfered with our supper. "

Seeing the canoe girl, the others drew up to her. Whispered remarkswere politely passed, but Jack kept winking and making queer signstoward Walter. Cora joined in the mirth as well as she could butwas still nervous. As Cora's boat was setting out, Ben leaned overand whispered:

"Don't listen to word from any one, and what's more, if you knowanything about the cause for this fight keep it close-to yourself. I told your brother the rest, " and he covered her small white handwith his own brown rough palm. 

"Thank you, Ben, and yes, I will remember, " said Cora, with morestress in her voice than in her words. Then the Petrel puffed up toCamp Cozy. 

There all attention was bestowed upon Laurel. The girl had gonefrom shock to shock until she was really in need of rest andnourishment. Of course Cora made light of her own predicament. Sheadmitted she had been frightened when she found the boat gone, andLaurel sick, but tried to laugh and call it just one moreexperience, that would add to her general knowledge. But her facewas white, and even Belle and Bess who had risen from prostration toover-joy could not be deceived. 

"It's about that man Peters, " Bess whispered to Belle. "You knowshe had some interest in him because she felt he knew about thehermit and the girl. But the girl is here now, " she finished, unable further to explain Cora's agitation. 

It was Jack who made the opportunity for Cora to talk privately withhim, and the sister was not averse to seizing it. 

Jack called her to the side porch directly after she had had somerefreshments. 

"What's worrying you, sis?" he asked kindly, putting his arm aroundher. 

"Oh, Jack, I don't know. If you hadn't come!" and she shivered asshe thought of that dire possibility. 

"Oh, but we did come. We found you much sooner than we thought wewould, and I must say you weren't half so frightened as you had aright to be under the circumstances. You are one of the bravestgirls I ever saw--that's right and so is that Wild Laurel. "

"Oh, I just love her Jack, " said Cora warmly, "and if only thisother thing about her father comes right, I shall not in the leastregret the experience that brought us together. It is a greatstory, Jack. You know we have still to rescue her father. "

"The hermit?" he asked. 

"Yes, an outcast, for some mysterious reason. But we shall soonclear that up when Laurel is strong enough to be questioned. I feelso much better, " and she kissed him as if he and she were just thebabies they felt themselves to be on such occasions. 

"Jack, " she whispered, a little later, "I am just going to think itis all right. You can count on me. I am not going to have nervousprostration from so small a thing as to-night's happenings. "

"Good, sis, " and his second kiss was applause for her own. "Ofcourse, you are the brickiest kind of brick. And so is Laurel, aRusset brick. Isn't she that?"

"Exactly that, " and Cora started toward the room. "She will be aperfectly dear girl when she gets back to civilized ways. Hush, here she comes?"

"Cora, " breathed Laurel, who now had on a robe that Belle insistedhad been made for her, though her own mother had ordered it forBelle, "Cora, who was the man in the boat that was hurt?"

Wondering how the girl could have escaped overhearing the namePeters, Cora replied:

"A fisherman I believe, but he may not have been much hurt. Folksin such places as these cling to every sensation, and fix it up tosuit themselves. "

"But how will they find his assailant?" asked the girl, interestedfor some unknown reason. 

Cora glanced at Jack. "They will look for him of course, " Jackreplied for his sister. 

"Where was he hurt?" Laurel persisted. 

"We have no reason to think he was hurt at all, " said Jackdecidedly. "It's only rumor, and if you don't mind my dictation, Ishould suggest that this be a forbidden subject. It is about theworst thing either of you can think of. "

"Right brother, always right!" said Cora. "Now let us go in and tryto make the girls happy with a little part of our story. You cantrust me, Laurel, " she said aside. "I know just what they want toknow. "

"Oh, " breathed Bess, as Cora and Laurel entered the pretty, bright, little sitting room, "is it possible that our troubles are over forone night?"

"No, I see more kinds of trouble ahead, " and of course she looked atthe irresistible and irrisisting Walter. "Don't they match?" asideto Belle, whose ideas of color schemes and whose regard for thebeautiful were blamed for the inflection of nerves. 

"They do, " she agreed. "Her hair is just russet-brown, and her eyeshazel. Oh, I have always loved that sort of face when it goes withthe olive skin. "

"How did you know that I had named her Russet?" asked Jack, touchingwith mock concern one stray yellow curl that threatened Belle'ssight. 

"I did not, " she replied, "but I think it suits her exactly. AndWalter is all of a shade. "

"Oh, Belle. I am going to tell him? Wallie shady!"

"You know perfectly well, Jack Kimball, I said shade--in color. "

"Oh, yes. Color blind. Poor, afflicted Wallie. I have oftenwondered about his neckties. But doesn't Laurel take to him? Andisn't she a beaut in that bag?"

"Bag! My best kimono! Look what teeth she has when she laughs. "

"And you not jealous? Belle I think, after all, I shall have toreturn to my first love, " and he slipped his arm all the way back ofher steamer chair, for Jack dearly loved to tease either Bess orBelle, declaring what happened to one twin would react on the other. 

"Hazel cannot take her eyes off of Cora. I might be jealous there, "reported the blonde twin. 

"You may 'jell' all you like on that score, " Jack consented. "Buthello! Here's Paul!"

The tall, dark boy, Paul Hastings, Hazel's brother, had just enteredthe door. Instantly he was overcome with the welcome, for while theboys fell to kissing him and smoothing his hair in the most approvedlover-like way, the girls crowded around and offered him emptyplates and glasses of flowers, to say nothing of Bess, with theJapanese parasol, who stood over his chair while Cora fanned him. 

Laurel looked on like one who enjoys a play. There seemed in hereyes something to indicate that such a scene was not entirely new toher, but was for some time forgotten. Presently Cora rememberedthat Laurel had not met Paul before, and so introduced them. Shemerely said Laurel in mentioning names, but the omission of anythingso unimportant as a last title would never be noticed among theseyoung folks. 

"Say now, let a fellow breathe" begged Paul, "and also let him puffout a little. There! I feel better! And I just want to remarkthat I have found the lost canoe!"

At the words "lost canoe" Laurel started. Cora saw her, and slippedover to her side. 

"You need not worry, dear. Everything is safe with us, " whisperedCora, pressing the other's hand. 

"Our old original! You don't mean it?" exclaimed Ed. 

"None other, " declared Paul. "And I wonder you did not find itbefore. "

"Where was it?" asked Walter. 

"Tied up to your own dock. I just spied it as I landed. "

"Oh, you go on, " threatened Jack. "Do you think we are teething?"

"No, jollying, " vowed Paul. "I just this minute guessed it. "

Without more comment the entire party hurried out the door, and madefor the dock. Jack won first place and so held the lantern. 

"She's red, " he declared. "While ours was green. "

"Just a matter of time, " said Paul in his delightfully easy way. "Most girls are green when they come up here, and--"

Ed's hand was over Paul's mouth so he could not complete the joke. Jack was looking for the tell-tale piece of wood that had beeninserted in the end of the canoe to mend a slight break. 

"Yep, sure it's her, " he declared. 

"SHE!"' yelled the girls. "Jack!" Cora's voice came, "how can youso shock our English?"

"Pardon me, ladies, " he murmured. "But this is it. "

"Painted red, " Belle was trying to realize out loud. 

"Yes, and it's right becoming, " agreed Ed, "but where did she getthe sun-burn?"

"The Mystery of her Complexion, or, the Shade of Her Pretty Nose, "quoth Jack. "Well, I don't mind. But I would like to get hold ofThe Silent Artist of Cedar Lake, " he finished, in crude eloquence. 

Paul was looking carefully inside the canoe. Presently he stood upstraight, and held a note in his hand. "Let's have the light Jack?"he asked. "I have something. "

Jack held the lantern so that it's gleam fell on the paper. "MissCora Kimball, " they both read, then they handed the paper to Cora. 

It was enclosed in an envelope of very fine linen; Cora saw thisinstantly, for she felt, as well as saw, the texture. Just as shewas about to tear open the missive a thought occurred to her. 

"I had best wait until I get indoors, " she said. "I might dropsomething out of it here and break the charm. "

A murmur of disapproval followed this remark. But Cora won out, andwith much apprehension carried the strange letter inside. Under thelight she looked first at the signature. It was Brentano!

CHAPTER XX

LAUREL'S FLIGHT

"What is it? What is it?" demanded the girls in chorus. 

Cora made light of her actions as she hid the note, but in realityshe had no idea of reading it before any one. What might it notcontain?

"I get so few love letters, " she remarked, "that I want a chance toenjoy them. "

"Then as that's the case, " said Ed, "it's us for the Bungle. Comeon, boys, " and he pretended offence, "Us is hurt. "

"Now Ed, I said letters--not lovers, " corrected Cora. 

"The pen and ink!" demanded Ed. "I will to thee a letter indite, "and he opened the small desk in the darkest corner of the room. 

This was a signal for every boy to pretend to write a love letter toevery girl. Jack could get nothing better than a feather from theIndian headpiece that hung on the wall. This he dipped in Belle'sshoe dressing, and wrote a note on the back of Cora's best piece ofsheet music. Walter sat on the floor poking his whittled stickinto the dead embers in the fire-place, and managed to scratchsomething on a fan--it belonged to Bess. Paul did not much care fornonsense, but appropriately made Indian characters on the woodenbowl with his pen knife. The whole turned out more fun than wasexpected. 

Walter proffered his love letter to Laurel, and she surprised themall by reading this:

"My Mountain Laurel:

Meet me when the buds come and we will wait for the blossoms. 

Your Bending Bough. "

The cue that Laurel furnished was taken up by the others and whenJack offered his "note" to Hazel she read. 

"My Dear Burr:

Be patient and you will loose the green, Hazelnuts are never soft!

Yours, The Fellow Who Fell Down Hill with Jill. "

Cora read what Ed did not write:

"My Reef:

When stranded I know what to grab--Your larder is ever my rock ofrefuge. 

Yours, Co-Ed. "

Belle and Bess both partook of Paul's note, and as Paul wasacknowledged the artist of them all the double missive was gladlyaccepted by the twins--as doubles. 

Belle pretended to read:

"Two to one, or two in one, Double the wish and double the fun. "

The merry making that followed this little farce was of too varied acharacter to describe. Some of the boys insisted on standing ontheir heads while others took up a low mournful dirge that mighthave done credit to the days of the red men and wigwams. 

Finally, Cora insisted that it was late--disgracefully late--forcampers to have lights burning, and the boys were obliged to leavefor their own quarters. Going out, Jack whispered to Cora:

"Ben told Paul to say to you that under no circumstances were you togo down to the landing to-morrow. I know he has some good reasonfor the warning. The row between Peters and Brentano may not haveended there, " and he kissed her good night. "We have had a jollytime and to-morrow when I come you must let me see the mysteriouslove letter. "

Cora promised, and then the lights were turned out. 

Making sure that all, even Laurel, were sleeping Cora slipped outinto the sitting room, relighted the lamp and unfolded the note thathad been found in the canoe. 

She felt her heart quicken. Why did she fear and yet long to knowwhat that man had to tell her? She read:

"YOUNG LADY:

When you receive this I shall be too far away to further meet yourdaring, baffling challenge of my plans. What I intend to do I cannot even tell myself, for everything seemed so easy of evil untilyou crossed my path. So easy was it that there was even no victoryin the spoils. But first you came boldly to the den of poor Peters. Then you deliberately took from us that simple-minded, harmless oldwoman, Kate; next you did not call out when she gave you back yourring--not call out against us. All this to me was incomprehensible. Why should a young girl not fear us? Why should she not denounceus? Then you saved that little doll, Mabel Blake, until finally Ibegan to wonder why I, a talented high-born Italian, should pretendto love crime when a mere girl could be a noble defender?

The difference made me feel like a coward, and I decided finally togo away. Before I left I had trouble with Peters. This hurried meand I have not time to write more now. I know you got back from theisland--boys of your kin do not wait long to find their sisters. Byto-morrow noon, if all goes well with me on the journey, I shall beable to write that to poor little Laurel which will release her fromher bondage. I will send the letter care of you. Thank the boysfor use of their canoe. 

BRENTANO. "

For some moments Cora sat looking blankly at that fine foreignpaper. What a splendid hand! What direct diction!

And her conduct had influenced him to turn away from his evil ways. She had done nothing more than others, except perhaps she had morecourage, born of better and more complete experience. She sighed asigh of satisfaction as she again hid the paper in her gown. Thenwith one great heart-beat of prayerful thanksgiving, she, too, sought "tired nature's sweet restorer. "

It was the sound of dishes and the tinkle of pans that awoke Coranext morning. Day so soon! And all the others up!

"Now, we have fooled you, " said Belle with a light laugh. "You haveslept longest!"

Cora had been dreaming very heavily, and her sleep seemed but areflection of the previous day's troubles. Now she was awake andinstantly she remembered it all about Ben telling her not to go nearthe landing; then about the letter. 

"Is Laurel up?" she asked. 

"No, we let her sleep to keep you company, " said Hazel, "and we aregoing to give you such a surprise for breakfast! Don't tell, girls. "

Cora slipped into a robe and stepped across the room to peer intothe little corner where Laurel had gone to her rest. 

"Laurel is up, " she declared. "She is not here!"

"Not there! Not in bed! Laurel--she has not gotten up yet, "declared Belle, who with frying pan in hand had hurried from thekitchen when Cora spoke. 

"She certainly is not in bed, " again declared Cora. "You may seefor yourselves. "

"Laurel gone!" exclaimed more than one of the astonished girls. 

"She may have gone out, " suggested Hazel. "I thought I heard someoneabout very early. "

Following this thought the girls looked around called, and againreturned to the empty room. 

"What is this?" asked Bess, seeing a piece of ribbon-tied paperfloating from the night lamp. 

Hazel was first to handle it. She saw that it was a note addressedto Cora. 

"It's for you, Cora, " she said as she snapped the fragile ribbonfrom its fastening. 

Cora read aloud:

"Forgive me for going this way but I could not wait longer to knowabout my father. I will return before dark and bring with me thecanoe I have borrowed. You may, trust me and need not be anxious. 

Gratefully, LAUREL STARR. "

"Gone in the canoe!"

"I know why, girls, " Cora admitted, "and if you will all come inhere together I will tell you as much, as I myself know. The realstory I have not yet been able to learn, but must do so very soon. "

Then she told of the first discovery of the man on Fern Island, following with the account of her second and third visits there, andfinally of how she found poor Laurel in such distress the night ofher own exile. The loss of her boat they all knew about, and thatpart was a certain kind of clear mystery. 

"Laurel has gone back to see about her father, " she finished. "Itis only natural, and I should have thought it strange had she notdone so. "

"Of course, " added Bess, brushing away a tear. "Poor little wildLaurel had to go back, it was almost as cruel to keep her as to penup a brown bunny. "

In spite of the seriousness of the moment every one smiled. FirstLaurel was russet, now compared to a little brown rabbit. 

"We had just gotten acquainted with her, " murmured Belle. "Ithought her so romantic. "

"And I thought her so intelligent, " put in the ever-studious Hazel. "Even Paul took the trouble to notice her. "

"Well, we will have her back again, " promised Cora. "I am positiveshe will keep her word. I think her a splendid girl. All she needsis the chance to get over the state of chronic fright she has beenliving in. Then she will be just as normal as any of us. "

"Then, that being the case, " said Hazel, with a jump, "I propose wekeep normal by eating our breakfast. I am famished, and those boysalmost emptied the ice-box. "

"Nettie had to go away into town for eggs, " Bess orated, "andtherefore we had to do all the cooking. "

"It smells all right, " Cora said, as they pulled the chairs to thetable. "Let us hope we will get through one meal withoutinterruption. My appetite is positively canned. "

"And I took the trouble to gather those morning glories, " Belleannounced. "I thought Laurel would like them. "

"They are beautiful, Belle, " said Cora, looking with admiration atthe dainty green vines with their freshly-blown, colored bells thattrailed from the glass bowl in the center of the table. "Nothingcould be more artistic, and we enjoy them even if Laurel has missedthem, " Cora finished. 

"But the food, " demanded Hazel. "It is of that we sing. Food, food! Isn't it good; a girl is a loon who can't eat what shecould, " sang Hazel, with more mirth than English. 

"Eggs, eggs, bacon and eggs. "

"She eats all she can, then sits up and begs, " sang Cora helpingherself to that portion of the fare, and keeping time with thehumming toast. 

Bess was taking her third slice of bread. That inspired Belle. 

"Bread, bread, Nettie's good bread--"

"When Bess took the loaf, we nearly fell dead, " sang out Belle, rescuing the much-worn loaf from which Bess was trying to get aslice. 

"The toasts are very well as far as they go, " commented Cora, "but Inotice that the food stuffs go farther. "

"And the boys are coming at ten, " remarked Hazel. "I'm glad Icooked. I don't have to wash the dishes. "

"But the boys were going out in the canoe and now it's gone, " Bellereminded them. "They were going to take the prize canoe, and thered one, and we would all then have a chance to float out together. Now, of course, we won't be able to go. "

"We can go in our own boat, " Cora said, "and really the lake isquite rough for canoeing this morning. When Laurel comes back shewill likely bring her own boat and then we will have three in ourfleet. "

"Why couldn't you, and she come home in her canoe when you foundyour boat gone, Cora?" asked Bess suddenly. 

"Hers was not at the dock--someone had borrowed it, " Cora explainedwithout explaining. 

They had about finished their meal. Belle was already snatching thedishes, in spite of protests that there was some perfectly goodeating which had not yet been eaten. 

"There come the boys now, " announced Hazel. "They look sortof-gloomy. "

Cora glanced out of the window and saw Ed, Jack and Walter strollingalong the path. She, too, thought they looked "gloomy, " but it wasnot her practice to anticipate trouble. 

The "hellos" were exchanged before the young men had time to enterthe camp. Then Belle asked:

"Aren't we going canoeing?"

"Guess not to-day, " replied Ed, his handsome black hair almostsparkling in the sunshine as he tossed his head in nonchalance. "Weare still too cramped up. Had to sleep on the roof last night. "

"Why?" demanded Cora. 

"Choosin' that. My little joke, " he replied, "Girls, I'm cuttin'up, " and he tried to hide a serious air with a ridiculous remark. "But we'll do something. We'll go fishin"' he declared. 

"We thought it best to keep out in the cove this morning, " Jack wasexplaining to Cora. "There is so much going on around the landing. "

"What is going on?" she asked rather nervously. 

"Oh, that Peter's affair, " replied her brother with assumedindifference. "They are looking him over to-day to see how muchhe's hurt. "

"Oh!" said Cora vaguely. Then she went indoors from the porch toprepare for the fishing trip. 

CHAPTER XXI

MOTOR TROUBLES

"It is strange Laurel does not come back, " remarked Bess, as thegirls sat on the porch after a most unsuccessful fishing trip (asfar as fish were concerned), "Somehow I feel she would if shecould. "

"That's it exactly, " Cora corroborated. "If she could get back herethis afternoon, we would have seen her. But then her father mayhave been too lonely without her, or any of many other things mayhave detained her. "

Cora jumped up suddenly, and skipped down the path to where hermotor boat was fastened. She would look over the engine. The wireconnections had slipped, and she would tighten them, and make someother minor adjustments. 

Cora found more to do on her boat than she had expected. The boyshad had the craft out latest and had neglected to put down the oilcup levers. This caused the cylinder to be flooded with lubricant, and if there was one thing Cora disliked more than another it was torun an oil puffing boat, and "inhale the fumes. "

She pulled on her heavy gloves and got to work to drain out the oilthrough the base cock. Bending over her task she did not see, neither did she hear, an approaching person. It was Ben. 

"Busy, eh?" he said in his splendid, candid way. Cora was so gladit was only Ben. 

"Oh yes, " she replied, "the boys never seem to know how to leave aboat. This is thoroughly oil-soaked. "

"They're careless that way, " admitted Ben, stepping into the boat tosee what the trouble was. "If I were you I would make some rules andtack 'em down by the license card. "

"They would never read them, " Cora declared. "There--just look atthat oil, " as she collected some in a funnel. "This would have madethe muffler smoke like a locomotive. "

Ben looked at the oil cups. "There isn't any thing meaner thanrunning a boat that throws out soft coal smoke, " he admitted. "Those boys left the plungers up. But I say, girl, where's your newfriend?"

"Laurel?" asked Cora as she put the wrench in the tool box. 

"Yes. I thought she had come down here to stay. "

"Well, we thought so too, but then she could not be expected toleave the island--all at once, " and Cora wondered if she were sayingtoo much. 

"It's queer to me, " went on Ben. "Them fellows have something to dowith that, " and he nodded his head toward the landing. 

"You mean--Peters and Tony?"

"Yes. And what I want to say, Miss, is this. You had best keepclear of them. The row at the landing isn't exactly fixed up. Ithink it had to do with something at Fern Island. "

"About Laurel?"

"Yes. I have suspected for a long time that the little runs thatPeters makes up there must have paid him pretty well. Now that hehas fallen out with Tony, likely it'll all come to Jim. Best thingwe can do, miss, is to keep a sharp look out for the girl. If youcan get her to come to camp with you I fancy all the rest will soonstraighten itself. "

Cora wondered just how much Ben knew of the mystery of that island. She felt obliged to withhold Laurel's secret, yet she felt, too, that Ben would do everything to help her get the girl and the hermitaway from their place of exile. 

"I'll tell you, Ben, " she said finally. "I'll come to you foradvice just as soon as I find it is time to act. Depend upon it weare not going to leave Cedar Lake until the mystery of Fern Islandis cleared up. "

This seemed to satisfy Ben, for beneath the deep brown of his cheeksthere showed the glow of color that came with pleasure. 

"All right, little girl, " he said, "if you want me before I comeagain, just let me know. Ben will be only too glad to stick by youand all the rest of them, " meaning the campers at Camp Cozy andthose who bungalowed at the Bungle. 

He went off, shambling along with his face turned toward the sky andhis feet taking care of themselves. Cora looked after him. 

"Dear old Ben, " Cora mused, "everything seems worth while when ittakes 'everything' to make such a friend as you can be. " Then shewent back to her engine. She must tighten the wires, and leave thecraft in readiness for a quick run. 

"Oh, Cora!" came the voice of Bess suddenly, "you've missed it. Wehave had the most glorious time. "

Bess approached, her cheeks as red as the sumac she carried, and hereyes as bright as the very ragged sailors that hung ratherdangerously from her belt. "Hasn't Laurel come yet?"

"No, not yet, " replied Cora, intent upon her task at the wires. "Iam afraid she will hardly come to-night. "

"Then we have got to go after her, " declared Bess. "Jack said so. He said she could not stay alone on that island all night. "

"Oh, did he?" Cora replied in an absent-minded way. "I have hadsuch--a time--with this boat, " and she pulled on the wires to makethem taut, breaking one and necessitating a splice. 

"Can't we take the boat to look for Laurel?" persisted Bess, withmore concern than she usually showed. 

"Why, of course, I suppose so, " said Cora. "There, I guess thatwill do, " and she straightened up with a sigh, for the use of thepliers made her hands ache. 

"Why, Cora!" exclaimed Bess, "you look actually pale. You must beawfully tired. "

"Me pale, " and she laughed. "Now, Bess, don't get romantic. Justfancy me being pale!"

"Well, you are, and I insist that you come back to camp at once andget a drink of warm milk. Cora Kimball, you--look--scared!"

"Oh, I am. Think what it would mean if the boys had knocked myengine out. And it did seem for a time that there was no 'if' init. " Cora jumped lightly out of the boat and was ready to greet theother girls. Soon a discussion of color and its causes was inprogress, Cora maintaining that her cause of anxiety had been thatawful engine and its troubles. 

Ed, Walter and Jack had joined the others. 

"I say, " began Ed, "where do we, go to look for the wild Olive orwas it the mountain Laurel? Jack is in a fit, and Walter can't beheld. What do you say if we all start out in a searching party? Noone has been lost for twenty-four hours, and this state of affairsis getting monotonous. "

Without waiting for an answer the girls and boys clambered into thePetrel while Bess went to the camp with Cora who insisted uponwashing her hands before making the trip. 

"Did anything happen, Cora, while we were away?" asked Bess kindly. 

"Not a thing, Bess. I only wish something real would happen; wehave so many imitations of excitement. "

CHAPTER XXII

THE LAW AND THE LIGHTS

"I want to find her this time, " insisted Jack. "Cora, please letme? I promise not to frighten her, and not even to speak to her ifyou object, but I do so want to find her. "

"Seems to me you found her last time, " objected Walter who waslooking particularly well to-night, for his suit of Khaki and hisbrown skin seemed all of a piece. "You nearly knocked me down inyour haste to find the hut first. "

"But, " Cora said seriously, "Laurel may not want you boys to findher. She may not even want me to do so. I am just taking chances. Suppose you allow Bess and me or Hazel or any two of us to go up tothe hut first? Please do be reasonable, and not silly, " Corafinished in a voice she seldom assumed. 

"You may come along as dose as you like, until we are just up to thehut, " Bess consented, with marked good sense, "as the woods are sothick and black, but when we get to the hut--"

"We can 'hut' it I suppose, " snapped Jack. "All right, girls; all Ican say is I hope a couple of Brownies, or a mountain lion pay theirrespects to you both for being so daring. "

The boat was running beautifully. The cleaning out that Cora gavethe base, and the regulating of the oil cups together with adjustingthe wires, helped to make the mechanism run more smoothly, and sheglided along without "missing, " which means, of course that everyexplosion was in perfect rhythm to every other explosion. There wasa "hot fat" spark as Cora explained. 

"There's a big steamer, " remarked Hazel, as a large boat glidedalong. 

Cora swung so that the red light of the Petrel showed she was goingto the right. The steamer gave two whistles indicating a leftcourse. Cora answered with one blast which meant right. Thesteamer insisted on left and gave one more signal. 

"What's the matter with them?" Jack demanded, taking the steeringwheel from Cora. "They seem to own the lake. "

No sooner had he said this than the big boat came so close to thesmaller craft that a huge wave swept over the small forward deck andinstantly the colored lights went out, being drenched. For a momentevery one seemed stunned! The shock to the Petrel was as if she hadbeen suddenly dipped into the depths of the lake. But as quickly asit happened just as quickly was it righted, and the offending boatsteamed off majestically, as if it had merely bowed to an oldacquaintance. 

"What do you think of that!" exclaimed Walter, indignantly. 

"I think a lot of it, " replied Ed, "but the captain of that steamerwould not likely want to see my thoughts. "

"Small trick, " declared Jack, "Even if he had the right to pass usso close, common lake manners obliged him to give in to the smallerboat. "

"The lights are both out, " Cora said anxiously. 

"Well, we are almost to shore, " Jack replied, "and it won't be worthwhile to stop here. We can light up again when we get in. "

This seemed reasonable enough and so they sailed along. 

"Hello!" exclaimed Walter, "is this another boat trying the sametrick?"

A launch was steering very dose to the Petrel. The lights wereconspicuously bright, and the engine ran almost noiselessly. 

"What is it?" asked Jack, seeing that the captain wanted to speakwith some one. 

 "I want you, " replied a voice of authority. "You have no lights. "

"Oh, you're the inspector, " said Jack candidly. "Well, that steamerthat just passed doused our lights, and we are going to land here torelight. "

"Sorry, but that's against the law, " replied the officer. "Youfellows always have an excuse ready, and I can't accept it. Youwill have to come along with me. "

"Arrested!" exclaimed Belle aghast. 

"That's about what it amounts to, " replied the man coolly. "Can youget in here?"

"Who?" asked Jack. 

"The captain, " replied the officer grimly. 

"Where does he go?" Jack further questioned. 

"See here, young man, " spoke the inspector rather sharply. "Do youthink I've got all night to bother with you?"

"I don't know as I do, " replied Jack in the same voice, "but if youwill just explain what you want us to do we will give you no furthertrouble. " Jack knew one thing--to refuse to comply with the requestof an officer is about the last thing to do if one values eithermoney or liberty. 

"That's the way to talk, " replied the inspector. "So just supposeyou take this rope and I'll tow, you along. I fancy the partywould, rather come than let one go alone. "

"Of course we would, " declared Cora. "In fact I am the captain ofthis boat. "

Jack gave her a meaning bump on the arm--it meant, "let me do thetalking, " and Cora understood perfectly. 

"But where are we going?" wailed Belle, as the man threw the towlineto Ed. 

"Not far, " answered the man. "I just have to take you in, and thenyou have to do the rest. "

"What's the rest?" inquired Walter. 

"Oh, pay a fine, " said the man carelessly. 

"How much?" inquired Ed. 

"From five to twenty-five; as the judge sees fit. There, are youfast?"

"Guess so, " growled Jack, to whom the arrest seemed like a case of"Captain Kidding. "

"And we can't go to Laurel?" Hazel inquired with a sigh. 

"Shame, " commented Walter under his breath, "but Jack knows the bestthing to do with the law is to jolly it. "

"Law nothing, " muttered Ed, as he took the steering wheel, Jackbeing busy with the towing line. 

"Never mind, " Cora suggested. "It will give us a new experience. Ihad the fool-hardiness to wish for some real excitement this veryafternoon. "

"But to be arrested!" gasped Bess with a frightened look. 

"A distinctly new sensation, " said Hazel with an attempt to laugh. "Just think of going before a real, live judge!"

But evidently the other girls did not want to think of it. Theywould rather have thought of anything else just then. 

"Which way are you going?" Jack asked the man in the official boat. "I thought your judge lived on the East side?"

"He does, but we may take some other fellows in yet to-night. Thisis only one catch, " and the inspector laughed unpleasantly. 

"They are actually going to tour the lake with us, " declared Ed. "If that isn't nerve!"

"Don't complain, " cautioned Cora, "perhaps the longer the run thelighter the fine. And we are just waiting for our next allowance. "

"And, being a pretty motor-boat, they will make it a pretty fine, "mused Walter. "I would like to dip that fellow. "

"Yes, they are going to let us tour the lake hitched on to thepolice boat! The situation is most unpleasant. But there is no wayout of it, " said Ed, sullenly. 

"Suppose they won't take a fine, and want to lock us up?" askedBelle. 

"If it were only one night in jail, I'd take it just to fool the manwho wants the money, but I am afraid it might be ten days and thatwould be inconvenient, " Jack remarked, as the police boat steamedoff with the Petrel trailing. "They call this law. It may be thelaw but not its intention. We were almost landed, and just about tolight up. I tell you they just need the money. "

When they reached the bungalow, where judge Brown held his court, the three young men entered with the inspector, and when the judgehad satisfied himself that he could not ask more than five dollarsand costs for this "first offence" the fine was paid and the mattersettled. Belle and Bess were greatly relieved when the culpritscame back to the Petrel. They had a hidden fear that something elsedisgraceful might happen; perhaps the judge would detain the boys, or perhaps the girls would have to go in to testify. Cora's mindwas pre-occupied however, and when the Petrel started off, and Jackasked her where to, she said back to Fern Island. 

CHAPTER XXIII

A NIGHT ON THE ISLE

It was too late now for Cora to think of making her way to the pinehut without the boys, too dark, too late and too uncertain, so sheagreed to allow Ed and Jack to go with her while Walter and thegirls followed at some distance. 

"There's a light, " announced Jack, when they had covered the firsthill. 

"Yes, that's in the hut, " Cora said. 

Hurrying before her brother, Cora reached the thatched doorway. Shepushed back the screen and saw Laurel leaning over the bed on thefloor. As she entered Laurel motioned her not to speak. Then Corasaw that the girl was bending over her father. 

"They shall not take me, " he murmured. "I am innocent!"

"Hush, father dear, " his daughter soothed. "'There is no one here, just your own Laurel, " and she bathed his head with her wethandkerchief. 

Cora instantly withdrew. She whispered to Jack, and he turned tomeet the others, to prevent them coming nearer. Laurel followed herto the open air. 

"Father is so changed!" she said under her breath, "while he seemsworse, his mind is clearer, and I almost hope he will soon remembereverything of the past. "

"If his mind is clearer there is every hope for him, " Cora replied. "I do hope, Laurel dear, that your exile and his will soon end. "

Laurel put her hand to her head as if to check its throbbing. Yes, if it only would soon end!

"What happened?" asked Cora. 

"He fell and struck his head on a rock, " answered Laurel. "It wasthat night we were in the hut. It was he who came walking along inthe darkness, and we thought it was some one else. He came to lookfor me after I signaled that time. It was my father!"

"He slipped and fell, " she resumed in a moment. "We heard him, youremember, and then--then he went away--my poor father!"

Cora gasped in surprise. "Is he badly hurt?" she managed to ask. 

"No, hardly at all. It was only a slight cut on his head, but theshock of it brought him to him self--restored his reason that wastottering. When he got up and staggered off his mind was nearlyclear, but he did not dare come to the hut where we were for fear itmight contain some of his enemies. He went looking for me, but Ihad gone with you. 

"Since then he has talked of matters he has not mentioned in yearsand years. But he is not altogether better. Oh, Cora, if his mindwould only become strong again, so he could dear up all themystery!"

'The girls clung lovingly to each other. Then a moan from the hutsuddenly called Laurel away, Cora knew Jack was waiting for her inthe woods, and she hastened to him. 

One whispered sentence to her brother was enough to explain it allto him. 

"We must arrange to get him away from here--Laurel's father, " hesaid, as he put his arms about Cora. "Do you think he is strongenough to be moved?"

"I'll ask Laurel, " replied Cora joyfully. If only now both thehermit and his daughter could leave that awful island. The othergirls stepped to the door in answer to Cora's signal. 

"Oh, I am afraid he is too weak for that now, " Laurel whispered. "But when he is able I will have him taken to a hospital. That mankept us in terror. Now he is gone and I feel almost free. "

"You have heard that he is gone?" questioned Cora. 

"I had a letter, " replied the other simply, and this answer onlyserved to make a new matter of query for Cora. But she could notask it now. 

"He is sleeping, " said Laurel. "Look!"

Cora went over to the pallet and looked down at the man who laythere. Yes, he was noble looking in spite of the growth of his hairand beard, and Cora could see wherein his daughter resembled him. There seemed something like a benediction in that hut, and as thethought stole over her, Cora breathed a prayer that it should notcome in the shape of death. 

"He's lovely, " Cora said to Laurel. "Let us go out and not disturbhim. "

Jack and the others were waiting silently outside. Cora spoke toher brother. He understood. 

"You girls had better go back, " he said, "Ed and I will stay here tohelp Laurel. "

"Oh, no, I must stay too. Perhaps in the morning we can take himaway, " insisted Cora. 

Bess and Belle clung together. They had a fear of "the wild man"and it had not yet been dispelled. Hazel tried to induce Laurel togo back to camp and allow her and Cora to care for the father, butof course such an appeal was useless. Laurel would not think ofleaving the sick man. It was finally arranged that Cora and Jackshould remain, and then reluctantly the others started off with thepromise of returning very early the next morning. 

"I have some things to eat, " Laurel told them. "I thought poorfather would like a change, and I got them when I was at the Point. "

"Oh, you save them, " Jack said. "We had a good supper, and willmake out all right until morning. But now tell me where I can getyou fresh water. "

Cora knew, and she took the extra lantern and started off with herbrother. They talked of many things as they stumbled on through thewoods. 

"There's the spring. Look out! Don't fall in. My isn't that waterclear even in the lantern light!" exclaimed Cora suddenly. 

Jack filled the pail easily and then they turned back. 

"But Jack, " Cora began again, "you know there is some mystery aboutMr. Starr. That must be his name, for Laurel signed hers so in thenote she left. "

"Whatever the mystery is, I feet certain it is nothing disgraceful, "Jack assured her. "Very likely it was some plot to injure them, concocted by that fellow Jones. "

The unfailing reason of this astonished Cora. How could Jack haveguessed so near the facts?

"At any rate I think the poor man will be able to be moved in themorning, " she finished, as they made their way up the hill. "Itwill be a wonderful thing if, after all, it comes out all right;that he is a free man, and that his slight injury may restore hisscattered faculties. "

"Let us hope so, " said Jack fervently. 

Cora wanted to tell him about the letter from Jones otherwiseBrentano, but there was not time to do so before they reached thehut, so she reasoned it would be best to postpone it. 

Laurel was sitting, holding her father's injured head when theyentered the hut. He was awake now, and looking with such great, hungry eyes into his daughter's face. 

"Now we have fresh water, father, " she said. "Do you know myfriends?"

"The girl, yes, " he said 'feebly. "But the boy?"

"Her brother, " said Laurel quickly, delight showing in her voice. "Isn't it good to have friends, father?"

"Good, very good, " he said. Then he dosed his eyes again, andneither Cora nor Jack ventured to speak. 

"It does not seem possible that he can talk so rationally, " Laurelwhispered. "Oh, I have now such hopes that he will get well. "

"Of course he will, " Jack assured her. "But you girls had betterget some rest. I will sit up and watch. "

Cora added her entreaties to those of her brother, and Laurelfinally agreed to throw herself down on the straw bed in the farcorner of the hut. Cora found room at the other end of the samebed, and presently their young natures gave in to the urgent demandsof rest. Jack sat alone watching the white faced man who tossed andturned, muttering incoherent words. 

"I did not do it, " he would say. "I never saw the note. "

"There, you want a drink, " said Jack kindly, pressing the tin cup tothe trembling lips. 

"But Breslin knows! Oh, if I could only find Breslin!"

"Breslin, " Jack repeated, astonished. 

"Yes, Brendon Breslin. He knows!"

"Brendon Breslin!" Jack said again. This was the name of thewealthy man for whom Paul Hastings ran the fast steam launch. 

"Oh, my head!" moaned the man, closing his eyes in pain. 

Jack realized that this remark about the millionaire might mean asudden return of memory, and he resolved to test it further, even atthe risk of giving the aching head more pain. For if the memorylapsed again it might never be awakened. 

"What does Breslin know?" he asked, leaning very dose to the sickman. 

To his surprise the hermit sat bolt upright. "He knows that I neverforged the note. It was that sneaking office boy. "

That was the story! This man had been made to believe he had forgeda note. His exile on the island was because of the supposed crime!

"Of course he knows, " Jack soothed. "And to-morrow he will come tosee you. "

But the sick man was either unconscious, or sleeping. He did notreply. 

CHAPTER XXIV

THE UNEXPECTED

"I heard a boat, " Cora whispered to Jack, as on the followingmorning, he rubbed his eyes endeavoring to put sight into them. 

"Well, what of it?" he asked. 

"It seemed to stop at this landing, " replied the sister. 

"The girls most likely, " and he got to his feet. "How is the oldgentleman?"

"Much stronger, and his mind, Laurel thinks, is clearing. "

"I think so too. It is an outrage that he has been allowed tosuffer here without help. That scoundrel Jones must have fixed thisup. "

"Did you sleep any, Jack dear?" Cora asked. "I'm afraid you had alonely vigil. "

"Oh, I got a wink or two, and my patient was no trouble. Is thatLaurel talking to him?"

"Yes, she seems overjoyed that he can talk rationally to her. Butlisten Jack! There are voices. "

Brother and sister hurried to the door. Strangers were approaching--twomen. 

"Is--er--Miss Cora Kimball here?" asked one of them, in rather ahesitating voice. 

"Yes, what is it?" asked Jack, suspiciously for somehow he did notlike the appearance of the strangers. 

"We'll do business with her, " put in the taller of the two men. 

Cora gave a gasp. Somehow she felt as if something unpleasant wasabout to happen. 

"No, you won't do any business with her!" exclaimed Jack, "that is, not until you tell me first. What is it? Out with it!"

"Say, you're quite high and mighty for a young fellow, " sneered theshort man. "Who be you, anyhow, a lawyer? Because if you are youought to have sense enough to know that we're detectives, afterinformation, and if we can't get it peaceable we'll get itotherwise. How about that?"

"It doesn't worry me a particle, " declared Jack easily. "Now, Cora, leave this to me, " for he saw that his sister was much affected. "I'm her brother, " he went on, turning to the men, "and not alawyer, but I guess I can do just as well in this case. Now, whatdo you want?"

"Well, it's this way, " began the tall one. "We heard that MissKimball might know something about the quarrel between Peters andTony, or whatever his name was, and she might be able to put us onhis track. Peters is hurt worse than we thought he was at first, and we want Tony. Does she know where he is?"

"No, she doesn't!" exclaimed Jack, before his sister could speak. 

"Well, we have a tip about her and another girl being in a hut onFern Island and being scared by a man, " persisted the tall man. "Nooffense you know, only we thought she could help us out. The manwho scared her and her friend may have been Tony. "

"I--I didn't see any one--it was dark, " explained Cora, before Jackcould speak. "Some one approached, fell down and went away again. "

"That may have been Tom!" excitedly said the short detective. 

"'No, it was--" began Cora. 

"Wait a minute, " cried Jack. "Before she answers I want to know ifyou really have a right to the information. How do I know but youmay be some one seeking to get evidence for a civil suit for Petersor Tony, and will drag us in as witnesses?"

"Oh, we're not, " said the tall man hastily. 

"Here's my court-house badge, " and he displayed it. "This hasnothing to do with a lawsuit. We just want to find Tony. If thatwasn't him on the island who scared the girls, who was it? Surelyshe can't object to telling; it can't hurt her. Who was it?"

Before Cora could answer there was a sound at the door of the hutand a voice exclaimed:

"It was my father!"

There stood Laurel, and the officers shifted their gaze from Cora toher. They started eagerly forward, hoping to get the informationthey sought from the new witness. 

"Tell us about it, " urged the short man. 

"No, let me, Laurel dear, " interrupted Cora. "I can explain, Jack, and have it all over with. Really it's very simple. "

Then, without at all going into the details of the mystery of thehermit, which information Cora felt the detectives had no right topossess, she told how she and Laurel had been in the hut and how theunknown man who so frightened, them had turned out to be Laurel'sfather, and that even now he was under care because of the injury hereceived. 

"And he lived on Fern Island all this while?" asked one of theofficers. "Why did he do that?"

"For his health I guess, " said Jack sharply. "That doesn't concernyour case against Tony, or whatever his name was, and this Peters. You've found out that my sister doesn't know anything to help youin your hunt, and you might as well skip out. This is privateground, you know. "

"That doesn't make any difference to the law, " growled the shortman. 

"Oh, yes it does, " said Jack sweetly. "You're trespassers as muchas any one else if you haven't a warrant, and I don't believe youhave. "

"No, I guess you're right, " admitted the tall man, with as goodgrace as possible. "Come on, " this to his companion, "we can'tlearn anything here. Let's go see old Ben. "

Cora and Laurel had gone into the house. Jack did not want themannoyed again, and he wondered how the men had come to think thatCora might know something of the quarrel between Peters and Tony. 

"It was probably just a guess, " decided Jack. "There is certainlysomething like a mystery about the hermit, and--"

He interrupted his thoughts as he saw one of the men coming back. 

"Hang it all! I wonder what he wants now?" thought Jack. The mansoon informed him. 

"I say, do you think the hermit, as you call him, would be wellenough to testify in court about this case?" the detective asked. 

"What case?" inquired Jack, wondering if the man suspected thereason for the hermit's exile. 

"The Peters case. "

"No, I don't think he would, " was the young man's answer, and oncemore the man went to his boat. 

As he and his companion started off, Jack saw the Petrel containingBess, Hazel, Walter and Ed swinging up to the small dock. Theyoung, folks looked closely at the two detectives. 

"He may have to testify whether he wants to or not!" called theshort officer back to Jack who was still watching them. "The lawgets what it wants you know. This isn't the only case against Tony. He is an old offender. "

"All right, have your own way about it, " responded Jack easily, andhe noted that the occupants of the Petrel seemed rather alarmed. Then they hastened to disembark as the police boat chugged away, andJack ran down to meet them. 

CHAPTER XXV

AWAKENED MEMORIES

"Oh, where is Cora!" gasped Bess, as she landed at the island rock, and almost fell fainting into Jack's arms. 

"Why, she is with Laurel--in the hut. What ever is the matter, Bess?"

"We thought--thought they had taken you all to jail! Oh, thosehorrible men! Those detectives!"

"You silly, " exclaimed Jack, seeing that the poor girl was reallyexhausted from fright. "Don't you know better than that?"

"But they would not believe us! They made us tell them where youwere, and Belle is sick in bed. Their boat passed ours as we werecoming in. We had a delay. Oh, we've been so alarmed!"

"Poor Belle, " Jack murmured. "Now, Bess, just step up here and makesure for yourself that Cora is just as intact as when you last sawher. I am here to speak for myself. If anything she is better fora night's rest in the open. We expect to start a camp on this plan. It can't be beat. "

Ed motioned Jack aside. "Wasn't that the police boat?" he asked. 

"Yes, and Cora and I gave them all the clues they wanted. None atall in other words. They're after Tony. "

"Oh! and Cora, is she all right?" Ed questioned further. 

"Splendid. Did you hear the latest?"

"Which?" asked Ed, significantly. 

"Laurel's father is almost better. The hermit, you know. "

"You don't say! Can he testify?" asked Ed. 

"He may be able to if they require it. But the queer part is itseems to have been the shock that awakened his brain. I have readof such cases. "

Ed was silent, for the girls were returning. Hazel had her brownarms around Cora while Bess looked at Laurel as if she expectedevery moment her chum might evaporate. Walter towed on behind thelittle party. 

"I must go down to the landing, Jack, " Cora said. "I expect aregistered letter, and it is most important that I get it at once. "

Now this was the very thing that Jack did not want her to do--to getinto the crowd of curious ones that would be sure to be congregatedabout the landing. 

"Could I not fetch it? You don't want to leave the girls when theyhave just come up, " Jack interposed. 

"I am afraid this time I will have to get my own mail, " said Corawith a smile. "Ed can run me down and we will come straight back. "

This was finally agreed upon, although Jack did not like thearrangements. He called Ed aside and warned him not to let Coraleave the boat, not to let her speak to anyone, and not to let anyone intercept her. "You can tell about those lawyer fellows, " hefinished. "They might think it their legal duty to interview her, for they know she has been let into the hermit's secret. "

Ed readily promised all Jack said, punctuating his remarks with adisplay of arm muscle which meant that anyone would have to passpretty close to it to reach Cora while she was in his company. Thenthey left. 

Jack sat down on the ledge near the water. He was not given to the"glooms" but surely he had had more than his share of seriousbusiness lately. How it would end was his cause for anxiety. So hewas pondering when Laurel touched his arm. 

"Father would like to speak to you, " she said in a faint voice. "Heseems to think he knows you. "

Jack jumped up suddenly. "He spoke to me very rationally lastnight, " he said; "perhaps that is what he means. "

He followed Laurel into the hut. The old man had gotten up and wasas nicely washed and fixed as a sick person is usually when lovinghands hover around. 

"Good morning, sir, " Jack said pleasantly, taking the seat beneaththe opening in the boughs that served as a window. 

"Good morning, good morning, and a really good morning it is, " saidthe older man. "I wanted to speak with you. Laurel dear, is therenot water to fetch?"

Laurel took the cue and hurried out, leaving Jack alone with thehermit. 

"Young man, " he began, "something has happened to clear my brain. Ashock some fifteen years ago, if I have not lost all track of time, almost, if not altogether, deprived me of my reason. " He paused andput his hand to his brown forehead, in a motion that seemed more amatter of habit than of necessity. "Then I came here, or he broughtme here. I was all alone. Little Laurel must have been a baby, when one morning I found her at my side. Dear, sweet little cherub. He told me since that her mother had died!"

Jack did not venture an interruption. It all seemed too sacred forthe lips of strangers to break in upon. 

"Then we lived here. That man--!" He clenched his fist and Jackfeared the excitement might be bad for his weakened head. 

"Don't let us talk of him, " Jack advised. "Let us consider what isbest to do now. "

"My brave boy!" and the hermit put his arm on Jack's shoulder. "That is always the mighty question for right; what is best to donow?"

A flush had stolen into his sunken cheeks, but Jack could see thatit was not years, but trouble, that had marred his handsome face. 

"He said I would be convicted--of that. .. Crime!" The words seemedto burn his throat, for he put, his hand up as if to, choke furtherutterance. 

"A crime you never committed, " Jack ventured, without having theslightest knowledge of what it might mean to his listener. 

"Can you prove it? Can you prove it!" gasped the man and for themoment Jack was frightened. He felt he was again in the presence ofthe mad hermit of Fern Island. 

"Of course we can prove it. My sister has gone now for the absoluteproof!" Jack was daring more and more each second. "But you spokeof Breslin. You said you knew him. "

"I do! Where is he! Breslin always believed in me, and he couldsave me now, " replied the man. 

"Well, listen and try to be calm, or Laurel will not let me talkfurther to you, " Jack cautioned. "Last night you mentioned the nameof a wealthy banker, for whom my best friend works. This friend isa mechanical genius and he runs a racer boat for Brendon Breslin, the banker!"

"Where? Here? On these shores?" and the man was panting. 

"Only a short distance off. But I tell you, Mr. --?"

"Starr, " volunteered the man. 

"Mr. Starr, if you will only get strong enough you can do a, greatdeal for yourself and Laurel. _ The night that you fell a man was onthis Island. Did you know Jim Peters?"

"Jim Peters!" repeated the hermit. "Yes, he was here the nightLaurel went away with that nice young lady who looks like you. "

Jack started at that. The night Laurel went away was the night JimPeters had quarreled with Tony and been hurt. 

"Did he come to the hunt?" asked Jack. 

"No, but the other man did. Brentano and he quarreled, and he droveJim Peters down to his boat. I saw them for I was wandering aboutwishing for Laurel, and I remember it all. "

"If that man, Brentano, you call him, chased Peters into the boatdid he get in with him?" Jack asked anxiously. 

"Yes, I saw them shove off, but Peters was ugly and wanted to comeback. "

"Did he?"

"I had to hide then, as they might have injured me if they caughtme. I did not see the boat go out or come back. I went to one of mymany hiding places, " finished the old man with evident effort. 

"Well, Mr. Starr, you have relieved my mind greatly, and I hope Ihave not taxed your brain too strongly. But the fact is thedetectives are trying to find out about those men and every bit ofinformation helps. The police, you know, like to clear things up tosuit themselves, " Jack said. 

At the word "police, " the man winced. Jack noticed the change ofmanner, and at once turned the subject to that of the health of hislistener. He urged him to get up enough strength to leave theisland, for Laurel's sake, as well as for his own. 

"But I have lived here like a wild man, " argued Mr. Starr, "in factI fear I have grown to be one in ways and manners. Solitude may begood for some, but for those in distress--"

"Exactly. But you are not going to have any more solitude. You seewe have invaded your camp, and when my sister Cora makes a discoveryshe always insists upon developing it. I never did see the beat ofCora for finding things out, " and the pride in Jack's voice matchedthe toss of his handsome head. 

"And my little girl will have a friend, " mused the elder man. "Well, in moments when I could think, that torturing thought of mydragging her down with me was too much. It drove me back always tothe old, old despair. " The look of terror, that Jack noticed beforecame back into the haggard face. It was as if he feared to hope. 

Laurel was at the door. Her face was a picture of happiness as shestood there gazing at her father. Her skin was as dark as theleaves that outlined the entrance to the hut; her eyes lighted upthe rude archway: and her lithe figure completed the bronzestatuette. 

Jack's eyes fell upon her in unstinted admiration. Generations ofculture are not easily undone even by the wild life of a forest. 

"You are better every minute, father, " she said simply, "I think thecure you need comes from pleasant company. "

"None could be more pleasant than your own, my dear, " he answered, "but now I want to go and see my birds. And I must feed thatcripple rabbit. He was shot, " to Jack, "but the leg is mendingnicely. I missed him so, for he knew us so well and would eat fromour hands. You see we established a little kingdom here. Laurelwas queen and we, the birds and other life creatures, were all hersubjects. "

Laurel blushed through her tan. "Yes, he had to do something, " shesaid, "else the days would have been too long. "

The chug of a motor-boat interrupted them. "That's Cora, " saidJack, and so it was. 

CHAPTER XXVI

IN SEARCH OF HONOR

Cora brought back with her the letter promised by Brentano in hisnote of mystery. This time she confided in Laurel her scheme forunraveling the tangled skein in the web of dishonor that had beenwoven about the strange girl's father. 

Ben had spoken to Cora at the Landing. He seemed to think that Coramight know more about the trouble between Peters and Tony than hehad expected at first. 

"But I don't, Ben, " she insisted, while Ed was absent getting mail. "You give me credit for being better able to solve mysteries than Iam. Is he worse hurt than they thought, Ben?"

"Much worse, miss. Of course, he's not dangerous, but the officerswant Tony the worst way. Now if you could tell where to find him--"

"But I can't, " she explained. "They came to me--"

And then she stopped suddenly. If Ben did not know of the visit ofthe detectives she was not going to tell him. She had had a faintsuspicion that Ben might have sent them to her. But he evidentlyhad not. 

"Yes--yes, " he said eagerly. "You were sayin', Miss Cora, that--"

"Oh, nothing, Ben, " she answered quickly. "I think I am really sohappy at having helped Laurel, that I don't know what I am saying. "

"Yes, indeed you can well be, Miss, " and Ben looked at her with whatCora thought a strange gaze. Still, she might be mistaken. Thenshe made some excuse to stroll away. 

Walter had rambled off with Hazel and Bess. The day was now one ofthose so wonderful in August, when nature seems tired of heranxieties, and rests in a perfect ocean of content. The haze hadcleared from the water, the hills were shimmering in the rivalhonors of sunlight and shadows, and Cedar Lake from far and near wasglorious. Not a breeze broke the spell:

"No brisk fairy feet, bend the air, strangely sweet, For nature is wedding her lover!"

This line prompted Cora. Somehow the joy of relief was the onething that had ever overcome her, and now, although nothing in all, the strange things that had happened around her, or had warped thelife of Laurel and her father seemed really cleared away, stillthere was that odd look on old Ben's face, there was a new light inLaurel's eyes, and something like vigor in the voice of Mr. Starr. Oh, if he could and would only tell about that note! Theneverything else might await time for adjustment. 

Cora took Jack and Laurel down under the broken chestnut tree totell them about the letter. It was best, she concluded not tomention it yet to Mr. Starr. 

"You know, " she began, "that Brentano, that is the man of manynames, " she explained to Jack, "promised to send me information thatwould clear Mr. Starr of his supposed crime. "

Laurel drew a deep breath. The word crime made her almost shudder. 

"And this is to-day's letter. " She opened the bulky envelope. "Hesays so much about a girl's power of influence, " Cora explained, asif not wanting to read that part of the letter. Then he says this:

"'I have some excuse for my folly. When I was a very little childmy mother died. My farther was an expert mathematician employed bythe Mexican government. From a tiny lad I watched him make thosefascinating rows of figures, and I always wanted to know what theymeant. He told me money, riches, gold, and I got to believe thatthe way to acquire money was to make figures, and do wonderfulthings with pen and ink. When I was twelve years old my fatherdied, and I was left, with considerable money, in the care of an oldnurse who idolized me. Poor old Maximina! She meant no wrong, butwho was to guide me? Then the money was gone and the nurse was alsogone. I had to follow some occupation, and a friend coming toAmerica brought me with him. At fifteen I was a bank runner. Itwas there I met Mr. Starr, the respected first clerk of the bank. He liked me, talked to me and was my friend. Then I got in with aset of so called scientific cranks. I knew something about the waysof hypnotism, and when I wanted money the temptation came. "

Cora stopped, for Laurel had clutched at Jack's arm. Her face was afaded yellow and her eyes were twitching. 

"Shall we wait for the rest, Laurel?" Cora asked. "Perhaps itis--too painful for you now!"

 "Oh, no! It is not pain, it is agony. This boy whom my fatherbefriended!"

"But you see he was not born a scoundrel, " Jack interrupted. "He isnow trying to make amends. "

"Yes, " sighed Laurel, "please go on, Cora. "

Cora read: "I have kept proofs of everything, but if the authoritiesrefuse to accept these proofs I am willing to come back to Americaand give myself up. You will find the papers marked 'bank records'in a chest in the back kitchen of Peters shack. They are sealed ina big tin can marked 'red paint. ' What are they saying aboutPeters? That must be a hard nut for the Lake people to crack, butsince they know so much, or they think they know, it might be a goodthing to let them find out how little they really do know. I amsorry for poor Peters. He got ugly, however, and it was his ownfault?"

As Cora read these last few words her, eyes left the paper. Whatdid he mean? Why did he not say more? He knew Peters' shack heldthe needed proofs of that forgery case. It would take many days towrite to and hear from Mexico. All this was dashing before Cora'sconfused mind. 

"The thing to do, " spoke Jack, "is to go to the shack at once. Whenwe find those papers we may believe the man. "

"I believe him now, " said Laurel, "for all that he says of my fatherI have heard in his ravings. Poor, dear father! And to think I wastoo young to help him!"

"It was evidently not a question of age, " said Jack, "when one ishypnotized into the belief that he has committed a crime it wouldtake scientific treatment to restore him to his correct view of thecase. To remove you from the possibility of this, I suppose, is thevery reason that Brentano brought you here. "

"We cannot go for the papers to-day, " Cora said, "for we must, ifpossible, get Mr. Starr either to the boys' bungalow, or to ourcamp. Which do you think, Jack?"

"We will take him to our bungalow, certainly. And it seems to me heis smart and bright enough for the trip now. If we wait later hemight have some reaction, " Jack replied. 

Laurel agreed with him, and presently they broached the matter toMr. Starr. 

"But I cannot go just now, " the hermit argued. "I have that littlelame rabbit--"

"Why, father, " and Laurel folded her arms around him, "don't youthink it would be dreadful to disappoint our friends when they havewaited the whole night? And they must want to get back to theircomfortable quarters. "

"Looking at it that way, " he faltered, "I suppose I ought to. Buthow can a man leave the woods when he has been in them for tenyears?"

"It must be hard, " Cora agreed, "and if you want to come back wecould arrange to build you a real camp out here, one in which Laurelmight have some comforts. But first you must get strong. Justthink of beef tea-broth--can't you smell it?"

"Girl! Girl!" he exclaimed with a real smile brightening hisbenevolent face, "you have a way! Laurel, we have no trunks topack, " he said, half grimly, "have we?"

"But we have things to take with us, " 'and she jumped up so pleased, believing that he had almost, if not entirely, consented to go. 

"Where's that rabbit?" asked Jack. 

Walter and the girls were coming the other way. 

"It's in a mossy bed just back of where Bess stands, " said Laurel. 

"Then he's the first thing to be packed, " said Jack, walkingstraight for the path where the others stood. 

From that time until the Petrel landed at the lower end of CedarLake Mr. Starr, the hermit, felt that he was in a dream. At thesame time he allowed himself to be guided and managed with thesimplicity of a child, for his awakened memory seemed stunned bythis new turn of affairs. He was weak, of course, but with all thehands that now crowded around him his every need was well lookedafter. 

"I'll get Dr. Rand, " Ed volunteered. "They say he is wonderful onmental cases. "

"But he needs rest first, " insisted the busy Cora, for she andLaurel had gone directly to the boys' bungalow with Mr. Starr. 

Between them all the illness seemed overwhelmed. In fact, the man'seyes, the safest signal of the brain, were as dear as those of theyoung persons who so eagerly watched his every move. 

Dr. Rand came at once. He diagnosed the case as one of mentalshock, and called the patient convalescent. A nurse however wascalled in to hurry the recovery, and this necessitated the rentingof another bungalow for the boys. 

There had never been more excitement around the wood camp. The boysran this way and that, each anxious to outdo the other in theaccomplishment of something important. Finally Cora suggested thatthey all go away to make sure that Mr. Starr would have real quiet. 

"Can't we go for the papers? To the shack?" Laurel ventured. 

"We might, " Jack replied. "I see no reason why we should not. "

"Let us three go, " proposed Cora, "I mean you and Laurel and I, Jack. It might be best not to attract attention. "

Once more the Petrel sailed up the lake, this time toward theEverglades. Cora thought of that day when she and Bess dared takethe same journey, when the strange man sat at the willowed shoreostensibly making sketches. She thought now that his work then musthave been the forging of a letter to hand the poor demented hermitof Fern Island. 

"The shack is just over there, Jack, " she said, pointing out thewillows. 

"There's another boat anchored there, " Jack said. "It looks like animportant craft too. "

He had seen it before. It was the very boat in which the detectiveand the police officer sailed up to the far island the morning theycame searching for evidence in the Jones' case. 

"The path is narrow, " Cora said, "but I happen to know it. " She ledthe way. 

"There are men!" exclaimed Laurel as they neared the shack. 

Two men were trying to force open the low window. Cora drew back, for one of the men was in uniform. 

"I suppose they have not finished the case, " Jack ventured, and atthat very moment he would have given a great deal to have had hissister and Laurel back at camp. 

The men had not yet seen them. They forced open the window, andwere now inside. 

"Let us turn back, " Jack suggested. "They may ask us questions--"

"But the papers, " begged Laurel. "They mean so much to father. Andwhat if those men should take them?"

"They will likely take everything they can lay their hands on, " Jackanswered, "and I suppose it will be best for us to go on. "

"Certainly, " Cora said, knowing well that it was on her account thatJack hesitated. "They cannot do more than ask questions. "

But scarcely had she uttered the words than they saw the two menwalk out of the shack, and one of them had the can marked "redpaint!"

CHAPTER XXVII

A BOLD RESOLVE

Seeing their precious papers, or the receptacle that was said tocontain them, in the hands of the detective, Cora and Laurel bothdrew back. They could not now demand them, was the thought thatflashed to the mind of each, and yet to leave them in possession ofthe officers, was the very worst thing that could have happened, forthere was always the danger of the old story coming up and then therisk to Mr. Starr, after all his years of evading the law!

"They have no right to them, " Jack said under his breath. 

"Hush!" Cora whispered, "they are going the other way!"

The two men were talking. Suddenly one of them said loudly enoughfor the listeners to hear:

"It might be dynamite. Not for me! Here goes!" and he carefullyset the can down under a bush. 

"Yes, " said the other man. "You are right. Those two fellows wereup to most anything. We will get Mulligan. He could smelldynamite, " and with that they turned, took a new path toward theshore, and were soon sailing off in their boat. 

For a few moments neither of the three, who were standing therewatching, spoke. Then Cora's face brightened. 

"They are ours, Laurel's, " she said, "and we have a right to takethem. "

"But the law is queer on such points, " Jack argued. "I have knownmen to be put in jail for what they call interfering with an officerwhen the officer could not do just what he wanted to with somespunky citizen. I should not like to touch the can of red paint. "

"But my father, " said Laurel, in the most pleading of tones. "Thinkwhat it means! How we have suffered; and now, when this is at ourvery hands!"

"But suppose it were something other than the papers, " cautionedJack. "Those men had a pretty bad reputation. "

"I will take all the risks, " declared Cora, and before Jack coulddetain her she ran to the bush, pushed it aside, and grasped thecan. 

Jack hurried to take it from her. "Let me have it, Cora; if thereis a risk it must be mine. "

"All right, Jack dear, " she replied, "I am sure there is nothing init heavier than papers. Wouldn't you think those men could haveguessed that?"

"Perhaps they did not want to, " said Jack. "You can never tell whatthey want or mean. They have a system even the country fellows, andit covers a multitude of failures. " He shook the can, put it to hisear, rolled it a few feet, picked it up again and laughed. "Mr. Mulligan won't find this can, " he said, "Somehow it is attractive, and I am anxious as you girls to see what is in it. If we get introuble for taking it--well, we'll see, " and he led the way down tothe Petrel. 

On the water they passed the police boat, but the can of "redpaint, " was snugly resting under Laurel's skirts in the bottom ofthe boat. 

"Will you tell your father at once, Laurel?" Cora asked. 

"If he is well enough. Oh, I can scarcely wait. Coral, whatwonderful good luck you brought to us, " and she reached out her handto press Cora's. 

"Don't be too sure, " cautioned the other, "it is not all cleared upyet. "

"But I feel sure, " she insisted. "Brentano was too clever to doanything half way. "

"He certainly was a star, " Jack admitted. "But I hope he will notinsist upon keeping up the correspondence with Cora. He might giveus the hoo-doo. "

They were soon at their dock. The Peter Pan was tied, there, andthat meant that Paul Hastings was at the bungalow. Jack thoughtinstantly of Paul's employer, the banker, whose name Mr. Starr hadmentioned. It did seem now that things were shaping themselves totell all the story. 

"Who is the stranger?" Cora asked, noticing a man in a dressing robesitting on the little rustic porch. 

"I--wonder--" Jack said. 

"It's father, " almost screamed Laurel, "and he has had his hair cutand his beard taken off! Doesn't he look lovely!"

"It can't be, " Cora said hesitatingly. "That man is so young!"

"He's my dear father, just the same, " declared the delighted girl, hurrying from the boat up to the bungalow. 

The man did not turn his head to greet her, but she was not to bedeceived by his little ruse. "What a surprise!" she exclaimed. "Iscarcely knew you. "

"But you did know me, " he replied, with a happy smile. "I feelyears and years younger, my dear. "

"Indeed you look it, " Cora said. "I wonder how you ever hid suchgood looks. "

The nurse was fetching the beef tea, Paul took the cup from herhand. Jack made a wry face at Laurel, indicating that they wouldhave to watch Paul and the pretty new nurse. Then he took the chairnearest Mr. Starr. The can of "red paint" had been safely hidden ina locker of the Petrel. 

"Your friend has been telling me the wonders of his fast boat, "began Mr. Starr to Jack, speaking of Paul. 

"Yes. This is the young man who is employed by Brendon Breslin, "Jack replied. 

"Employed by Brendon Breslin!" exclaimed Mr. Starr. "Is Mr. Breslinaround here?"

"Gone to the city to-day, " replied Paul, "but I take him home everynight in the Peter Pan. That's what he wants the best boat on thelake for. "

"He always believed me, and never wanted me to go away, " Mr. Starrsaid. "And now if I could see him--"

"I don't see why you cannot, " put in Jack. "He often rides by here, doesn't he Paul?"

"He thinks this the prettiest end of the lake, " Paul replied. "Butif you ever knew him and he was your friend I am sure he would beonly too glad to make a special trip to see you, for he boasts henever forgets an old friend, " Paul said. 

"That's him--that's Brendon, " exclaimed Mr. Starr, moving uneasilyin his chair. "I feel I must be dreaming. "

There was a general pause--for realization. Everyone felt indeed itwas like a dream, and almost beyond human power to grasp. Mr. Starrswept his hand over his forehead. 

"Laurel, " he called, "I wonder if I couldn't take a ride in thePeter Pan. Ask the nurse, please--?"

"Oh, no, " objected that young lady. "It would not be wise for youto take another boat ride to-day. We will ask the doctor about ittomorrow. "

"Don't be impatient, father, " pleaded Laurel. "You must not forgethow weak your head has been. "

"All right, child. But I want it cleared up, " he murmured. "I feelthere is no safety for me until I'm vindicated. "

"Come on, Jack, " whispered Cora. "We must open that can. "

Paul was leaving. Cora and Jack walked to the dock with him. Heassured them both that Mr. Breslin would call very soon, and alsopromised to be on hand on the following Wednesday evening when thegirls and boys were planning to have a celebration. 

"They will never know but that it is really paint, " Cora remarked, as she and Jack walked boldly up the path with the precious tin can. "Just take it around to the back, and be careful opening it. "

"Dynamite?" asked Jack with a smile. 

"No, but you might damage something, " she replied. 

"No worry about damaging myself?" he persisted. "Well, Cora, I hopeit contains--some jewels. Wouldn't that be nice?"

There was no chance for further conversation. Cora went to theporch while her brother carried out her instructions. Presently shemade some excuse, and left Laurel alone, talking with her father. 

She found Jack sitting on the wash bench with the can opened and inhis hands. 

"Didn't go off?" she asked, peering into the tin. 

"Not a go, " replied Jack, "but look! What did I tell you! There'san envelope marked for Laurel, and feel! Are they not stones?Diamonds or pearls?"

"You romancer!" exclaimed Cora, as she felt the bulky envelope. "Iadmit they do feel like stones, but they may be merely corals. Butoh, Jack! Do let me see!"

"Lets call Laurel, " he suggested. "We cannot read any of thosepapers. They are for her, or her father, to open. "

"Oh, of course, " and Cora looked rebuked. "I had no idea of readinganything, but I thought we should make sure of what was in the canbefore we got Laurel excited over it, " and she slipped around theside of the bungalow to beckon to Laurel. 

The girl's face turned white when she saw why she was wanted. "I amso afraid of disappointment, " she murmured with a sigh. 

"Well, there's something in here, " Jack told her. "Look at this, "and he handed her the heavy envelope. 

She read her name--then she tore open the paper. A necklace fellout on her lap!

"Mother's!" she exclaimed, pressing the golden chain to her lipsreverently. "Darling mother's!"

"And the stones are amethysts!" Cora exclaimed as Laurel held up thegems. 

"Yes, it was father's wedding present to mother, " Laurel told them. "Oh, I scarcely know how to tell him all this. "

"Tony was a pretty decent robber after all, " remarked Jack. "Hekept them for you, at any rate. "

"Yes, poor man. Perhaps, as he said, his one temptation was to doclever things with a pen. Let us look over the papers. "

"Perhaps your father had best see you do that, " Jack suggested. 

"Oh no. I think I had better know first, " Laurel insisted. "Let meopen this, " and she carefully broke a large red seal on a packet ofdocuments yellow with age. 

Paper after paper she took out. Finally what she was looking forshe found. It was a check that had been cashed and cancelled! Itbore the marks also of "forgery!"

"That's it, " she exclaimed. "That is the ten thousand dollarcheck!"

CHAPTER XXVIII

ALL ENDS WELL-CONCLUSION

"I remember it all--it's like a book open before me!"

Laurel had insisted upon her father reclining in the hammock, andshe was now fussing with his pillows, that he might nestle deeper intheir softness. It was he who was speaking. On the porch satBrendon Breslin, looking into Peter Starr's face like one enchanted. There was Cora moving a big fan so that apparently without her doingit, the breeze reached the man in the hammock. Jack was there andEd was inside the bungalow teasing Walter who had "discovered" thenew nurse. Hazel, Bess and Belle were busy--there was to be"something doing. "

A day had passed since the opening of the can of "red paint. " Infact it was the evening following that eventful performance. Paulhad only to say "Peter Starr"' to Mr. Breslin, and the latter wasready to be at the bungaloafers' camp. So the story was unwinding. 

"Do you really feel able to talk?" asked the millionaire banker. "Iwill insist now--you got, the better of me once, Peter. "

"Yes, Mr. Starr, " Cora added to the request. "Do be careful. "

"And she asks me to be careful!" He actually seized Cora in histrembling arms. "She! Why she risked her life for us. It was shewho found my Laurel! She who came to us at night to be sure wewould not repel her! She who followed up that--"

"Oh, please, hush!" Cora begged, "or it will be she who causes yourrelapse, " she insisted. 

"Indeed no, " and the man held in his hands before him the flushedface of Cora. "What you have done cannot be told of in this rudeway. "

"Father, I'll be jealous, " said Laurel, trying to relieve thetension. 

Cora slipped away. It was Mr. Breslin who spoke next. 

"And you really remember?" he asked of Mr. Starr. "How was it thatyou ran away?"

"The bank president's name had been forged to a check for tenthousand dollars!"

"Yes, I know that well, " said Mr. Breslin. 

"And they traced the forgery to me!"

"But you knew you were innocent!"

"I knew it, but I was frightened by the accusation, and they hadfound trials of the signature in my desk!"

"I have a letter that explains that, " Cora imparted, and then shetold how Brentano had confessed to the forgery, and to his almosthypnotic influence over Mr. Starr. 

"And then?" inquired Mr. Breslin. 

"Brentano told me I must go. He fixed everything. I have been onthe island ten years, " and the hermit sighed heavily. 

"How did you live?" asked the banker. 

"He fixed that, " and there was bitterness in his tone. "He broughtme letters regularly. These were alleged to come from those whowould prosecute me if I did not keep on paying money!"

At this statement the banker dashed up from his seat. "Thescoundrel!" he almost hissed. "He ought to be jailed! If I had himhere I'd do it too. I'm mayor of this borough. "

"Oh, Mr. Breslin!" exclaimed Laurel. "He must not have beenentirely bad. See how he saved the papers--the proofs--and how hekept for me my mother's jewels. "

"That's the sentimental mire that foreign criminals wallow in, " hereplied with irony. "I cannot see that it mitigates the crime. "

 "And yet, " interrupted Mr. Starr, "see how the influence of a meregirl turned him to right? I did like that boy!"

Cora and Laurel had crept away to the far end of the porch. Two mencame up the path. 

"Hello!" said Mr. Breslin. "Officers!"

There was surprise on the officers' faces when they saw Mr. Breslin, their superior officer, the mayor of Cedar Lake, sitting on theporch. Greetings were exchanged and finally they ventured to makeknown their mission. 

They had heard that someone saw Cora Kimball take the state'sevidence--the can of "red paint!"

"But what was a can of paint?" asked the mayor. "As if a girl wouldwant that, " and his voice was almost mocking. 

"Well, it might have been dynamite, " and the man who wore brassbuttons shook his head sagely. 

"A girl steal a can of dynamite, " repeated Mr. Breslin mockingly. 

The officers were trying to see who was in the hammock. But the mantherein sank back into the cushions, while Jack carelessly slippedhis chair directly in front of him. 

"Why didn't you take it when you saw it?" asked the town's mayor. 

"Well, " explained the other man, "we didn't fancy the blow-up. Wewent for Mulligan who knows about such things, and when we came backit was gone. "

"You had better tell that story before the jury, " and the sarcasm inMr. Breslin's tone was unmistakable. "Suppose you tell them that agirl took what you were afraid to touch!"

Seeing that it was useless to argue with the mayor, they turned toleave. 

"Wait, " he said good naturedly, "I have my boat here. Take a ridewith me. It's better than walking the dusty roads. Good evening, "he said. "Mr. Fennelly, " (to Mr. Starr, ) "I hope you will regainyour health by the time your son has to return to college!"

"Fennelly, " said one officer to the other. "That's not the name, itwas Starr! We're on the wrong trail. " And they hurried away. Thushad Mr. Breslin saved the hermit from having to testify. 

"Laurel, " Cora said wearily, "let us go for a little walk. Mynerves are all snarled up, and only a walk will unravel them. Wewill have time to go as far as the hemlocks before those girls andboys make up their minds to disband. "

"But it is dark, " objected Laurel. 

"All the better; the quiet will be more effective. Come on, Laurel. Surely you do not mind a dark evening. "

"Oh, no indeed, Cora, " she replied, winding her arm, about herfriend's waist, "but I was thinking it might shower. "

"Oh, we could beat any shower, " insisted, Laurel, "Come let us getaway before they miss us. "

It was getting very dark indeed, but they heeded it not, sointerested were they in their chat. 

They talked of many things, as girls will, and Laurel told much ofher half-wild life, on Fern Island, while Cora related some of herown experiences. Then they returned to the house, where they foundthe others assembled. 

"Let's have some fun, " suggested Walter. 

"I vote for charades, " said Jack. "I'll be a fish. "

"All right!" exclaimed the nurse, entering into the spirit of thefun, "here's where you swim!" and she poured a glass of water downJack's back. He accepted the challenge and made exaggerated motionsas if he were struggling in deep water. There was a gale oflaughter, and that was the beginning of a gay time. The troubles ofthe past seemed all forgotten. 

The now happy party remained together for several days and in themeanwhile there were many developments. 

Through the efforts of Mr. Breslin everything regarding the formerhermit was cleared up, and his name was once more restored to itsuntarnished honor. There was absolutely no charge against him, andon learning this, his health took a big change for the better. Asfor Laurel, she was happier than she had been in many years. 

The injury to Jim Peters did not amount to as much as had beenfeared at first and he gradually recovered. There was no trace of"Tony, " as everyone called Brentano. The search for him was givenup, but the officers who had been fooled by the can of "red paint"had a hard time living down the joke against them. Cora destroyedall the correspondence she had received. It was like a bad dream, all but that part about helping Laurel and her father, and shewanted to forget it. Laurel also destroyed the letter Jack hadpicked up the night of the search. It was one from Brentano, andshe, too, wanted no remembrance of him. This epistle had a slightconnection with the mystery. 

Old Ben proved a good friend and Cora was sorry for the momentaryfeeling she had had against him. He showed the boys many woodlandhaunts and took them to secret fishin' "holes" unknown to thegeneral public. The lads voted him a "brick. "

It was a bright, beautiful day and every one was happy--happybecause of the fine weather and because everything had turned out sowell. 

"I feel just like doing something!" exclaimed Cora, who, came infrom a walk in the woods. 

"What, sis?" asked Jack, making a grab for her which she adroitlyavoided. 

"Oh--almost anything. Since so much of our summer was spoiled inexploring and in solving mysteries, suppose we dispel the gloom witha spell of reckless gaiety. "

"Suppose, " agreed Hazel. "What shall it be? I vote for water fun. We can have parties and that sort of stuff all winter. "

"Fishing! The very thing!" exclaimed Cora, "and give prizes forfish, near fish, and no fish. "

"Oh, the boys would be sure to win on the fish number, " said Hazel, "but let's try it. We have to have live bait, I suppose. "

"And we can haul the bait nets. Did you ever see them cast one ofthose thirty feet ones?" asked Cora. 

"Never, " replied Hazel. "But when shall we start, and what do westart? I'll dig for worms. "

"To-night we will go for the bait, and you can go out with a lanternin the darkest parts of the woods to dig for worms, " Cora said, knowing, that this would put an end to Hazel's offer. 

"In the woods? In our own back yard. I know how to turn stonesover. I have often helped Paul, " Hazel attested. 

But it was casting the big thirty foot net that really furnished thebest sport. It was dropped from a rowboat by Bess and Cora whileLaurel and Belle rowed. Then when it was all spread out they had torow very quickly in a circle to close the bottom and to drag in theunsuspecting little fishes that were to make the live bait. 

The first trial resulted in Belle resigning as oarsman. She hadlost a gold-rimmed side-comb overboard, besides getting very wetwhen the boat turned suddenly and "took a wave. "

"I can row alone, " insisted Laurel. "Cora and Hazel must manage thenet. "

This time they did bring up some fish--a whole drove of wiggling, frightened little minnies. 

"How do we get them out?" asked Bess, more frightened than the fish. 

"Pick them out and put them in the bait box, " Cora explained, whileBess made a negative face. 

"It seems a shame to use them for bait, " Laurel said, as on the pierthey opened the net carefully and saw the pretty silvery things sliparound. "Couldn't we put them some place to grow up?"

"The fish-orphans' home, " suggested Cora. "But I must have a few. You know, girls, fish have no brains. That's the reason I supposethey go into the brain business when they get a chance at humans. "

The very next afternoon the girl's fishing party rowed out fromCenter Landing. Walter went along to take the fish off the hooks ofBelle and Bess who declared they would never be able to do that. The other boy's composed a rival party. 

Ben was at the landing, and he wished them all sorts of luck besidestelling them the secret spots where fish dwelt. They went deep intothe cove, as Ben said the pickerel loved to lay in the grassesthere. 

Bess and Belle insisted upon following the directions on the box ofa patent "plug" they had purchased and cast near a lily pond, reeling in so slowly that Hazel and Cora had both had "strikes"before the twins saw their white make believe fish come to thesurface. This sort of casting was for bass of course. 

"I've got one! I've got one!" shouted Cora, as she pulled in ahandsome big, black bass. 

This won the first and last prize, for it was an exceptionally finespecimen. 

"We knew you would have the best luck, Cora, " Hazel said withoutmalice, as she dragged up a very small, scared sunny. "We knew it. You always do. "

"It isn't luck, " added Laurel, "It's skill. She knew that she mustpull up as soon as the fish struck. I lost something. It mighthave been a snake but it got away because I was not quick enough. "

There was quite a laugh when Jack, after a hard struggle, duringwhich he protested that he must have the biggest pickerel in thelake, pulled in a large mud turtle. Later, however, he redeemedhimself by catching one of the long fish which gave him quite abattle of the line. The other boys did well, and the girls were notfar behind them. 

"Well, " remarked Cora, during a lull in the proceedings when theyhad gone ashore to eat the lunch they had brought along, "we reallyhaven't had so much fun as this since we came to the lake. Therewas so much excitement. "

"There are other vacations coming, " predicted Ed. "There is notelling what may happen since she has learned to adjust a sparkplug, and regulate a timer. "

Ed was right; there were other adventures in store for the motorgirls, and what they consisted of will be related in the next volumeof this series to be entitled "The Motor Girls on the Coast or TheWaif from the Sea. "

The afternoon waned. No one felt like going fishing after lunch. Besides, as Cora said, they, had enough, and they were all cleanedup from the "mess" of baiting hooks. 

And now, for a time we will take leave of the girls, as they aresitting on the shady shores of Cedar Lake, talking--talking--and theboys listening, with occasional remarks. 

"And I'm so glad it all came out right, " Cora murmured. "You are togo to school with me, Laurel--mother has planned about that. "

"And it was so good of Mr. Breslin to arrange to have father doclerical work for him, " added the woodland maid. "Oh, how lovelyeverything is!"

And the sun, sinking to rest, cast a rosy glow over the peacefulwaters of the lake. 

THE END