AN EARLY MORNING SURPRISE
Half an hour after Harriet had outlined her scheme to surprise their
friends, the girls were in bed. They were tired, as usual, and went
promptly to sleep.
In the meantime the Tramp Club boys had been busy making camp. They
built up a campfire, and, before going to bed, cooked some fish that had
been caught by one of their number that day.
"I don't believe the Meadow-Brook Girls are in these parts at all,"
declared Larry Goheen.
"It's a lark coming over here for a night's camping out, anyway,"
answered Billy Gordon, "It is like being real Indians."
"We aren't Indians," answered George, "It is those girls who are the
Indians. I'd just like to see any other girls in the state of New
Hampshire make the hike they did that last day we were on the trail.
They may be twenty miles from here by this time. If we don't find them
to-morrow I, for one, shall be in favor of making a trip around the lake
in the launch. We can pretend that we had to go on an errand, or for
some fishing bait or something of the sort. We mustn't let them know we
have been looking for them."
It was after midnight when the boys turned in. They, too, went sound
asleep directly they rolled up in their blankets in their little tent.
Two hours later while the Tramp Club were oblivious to sound and time,
the alarm clock on the "Red Rover" went off with a thrilling whirr. The
girls sprang from their cots, Margery and Tommy protesting over being
awakened at that unseemly hour, as they characterized it. Harriet
lighted the oil stove and put the kettle on. The others went out to the
deck to wash their faces. Harriet, having finished her labors for the
time being, followed them.
The air was chill at that hour. The girls were shivering, Tommy's teeth,
chattered. She stammered as well as lisped when she essayed to speak
now.
"One more night like this, and Tommy won't be able to talk at all,"
chuckled Jane.
"My kingdom for another such a night, then!" returned Margery fervently.
"Buthter ith too fat to feel the cold," observed Tommy Thompson. She
loved to tease Margery, and to mention her weight always annoyed Buster.
Margery was unable to think of anything sufficiently irritating to fit
that particular case, so she tossed her head and remained silent, while
Tommy's twinkling eyes were fixed upon her.
By the time they had washed and dressed the tea kettle was singing
merrily. It was a welcome sound and made the girls feel almost warm.
Miss Elting, being first dressed, made the coffee. Harriet set out some
biscuits, together with the milk and sugar.
"Now, I think we are ready," she announced.
After drinking the hot coffee the girls felt themselves equal to almost
any task. The fire was put out and the light in the cabin extinguished,
then Harriet and Jane stepped noiselessly into the rowboat after
fastening the tow line to the scow.
"All aboard," called Harriet softly.
The "Red Rover" moved to the sound of muffled splashes; then a few
moments later silence settled over the secret channel.
* * * * *
It was early on the following morning that Captain George Baker opened
his eyes sleepily. He yawned, blinked and sat up.
"I guess I'll take an early morning plunge," he decided. "I won't wake
up all day if I don't." Donning his bathing suit he stumbled out to the
lake and permitted himself to fall in. The captain splashed and paddled
about in the cool water for a quarter of an hour. His companions were
still sleeping. George did not awaken them, preferring to take a
solitary swim and rub down before calling them out.
At last the captain of the Tramp Club emerged dripping from the water
and ran quickly for the tent. A few minutes later he appeared dressed
for the day. Walking down to the shore of the lake he gazed across the
water then uttered a sudden yell and began dancing up and down.
"Come out, fellows! Come out!" he howled, "Look! Look!"
Larry Goheen, Billy Gordon and the others came tumbling out, rubbing
their eyes and blinking sleepily.
"What's the row?" cried Billy.
"Mean shame to play pranks on a fellow when he's dead for sleep,"
growled Sam.
"Now, what did you do it for?" demanded Larry. "Explain, or in the lake
you go!"
"I've already been in the lake. I'm dressed for the day. But open your
eyes. You are the sleepiest lot of fellows I ever saw. Why, a baby could
stalk you and you'd never hear it say 'goo.' Come, don't you
sleepy-heads see anything that interests you?"
Instead of looking out over the lake they were looking at George.
"Wait, I'll draw a map of the scene and write a directory to the map.
Even then you'd need a private tutor to explain it to you. Look over
there? Do you see anything? Wait, I'll get the telescope."
Following the direction indicated by Captain George's upraised arm the
boys gazed and as they gazed their eyes grew wide with wonder. Then
suddenly an ear-splitting yell rose from the lips of the Tramp Club.
"It's the 'Red Rover'!" shouted Sam.
"We've found them at last, the tramps!" cried Larry Goheen, his shock of
fiery red hair fairly standing on end.
"We've found them?" scoffed George. "Guess again, Reddy. You mean they
have found themselves for us."
"Well, what do you know about that?" wondered Billy. "Where in the world
did they come from?"
"They probably rose from the sea like Neptune," scoffed George.
The "Red Rover" lay idly rising and falling on the slight swell,
standing out a glistening flame in the bright morning sunlight. There
were no signs of life on board. The boat was anchored some distance from
the camp occupied by the boys, but not far out from the shore of the
island. Naturally the houseboat was a little distance from the secret
channel.
"Come on, fellows, let's go out and see them," urged Larry
enthusiastically.
George gave him a withering look.
"The girls are not yet up. Can't you see that? A fine opinion of us they
would have, were we to go out there at this hour. Do you know what time
it is?"
"I can't see well enough in the morning to tell the time of day,"
replied Larry, with a wry twist of his mouth.
"Well, it is a quarter after five."
The boys groaned.
"Fine time to get a party of gentlemen out of bed," growled Sam. "What
are we going to do about it, anyway?"
"You fellows are going to take a cold plunge, then get into your
clothes. We will have breakfast. I will start the fire while you are
bathing."
The boys hurried into their bathing suits, and with many a shout and
yell, plunged into the lake. They were making all the noise they could,
hoping to attract the attention of the girls so as to have the
opportunity to get out to the houseboat as early as possible. But
eagerly as the lads gazed up the lake, the houseboat showed no activity.
"They must be good sleepers over there," said Larry.
Captain George smiled to himself.
"They are only shamming," he muttered under his breath.
Breakfast was served about an hour later. The fire warmed the boys, and
the coffee and food did likewise. After they had finished their
breakfast they were in great good humor. At half past eight, there still
being no signs of life on board the houseboat, Billy declared that he
was going out in the launch to see if he couldn't stir up something.
All hands piled into the launch. It was a matter of only a few moments
to run to the houseboat. The boys circled the scow slowly, talking
loudly. The windows of the house were open, the curtains flapping in the
gentle breeze, but the doors at either end were tightly closed.
Having failed to attract any attention from the "Red Rover" the Tramp
Boys returned to camp, tied up the motor boat and sat down to watch and
wait. Nine o'clock came, then ten, but still no sign of life on board.
Captain George grew a little uneasy. He did not know that the
Meadow-Brook Girls had eaten their breakfast more than an hour before
that, and that the girls were watching the boys, chuckling over the
perplexity of the latter.
Once more the motor boat was taken out. As they neared the houseboat for
a second time they saw Harriet Burrell come out to the after deck, and
stooping over examine the anchor rope.
"Halloo, there!" shouted George.
Harriet paid no attention to the "halloo." Apparently she did not hear
them. George called again, and when Harriet turned and entered the
house, without having once glanced in George's direction, he grew red in
the face.
"She didn't hear you," chuckled Larry. "You didn't yell loudly enough.
Why didn't you let me give them a roar? I'll guarantee to attract the
attention of any one within half a mile of me."
"Run alongside, Billy. I'm going to make somebody notice me."
Billy grinned, then steered the launch up close to the "Red Rover."
George rapped on the deck of the scow with a boathook. He had rapped
several times, and was again getting red in the face when some one
appeared. It was Harriet, who finally opened the door and peered out.
Her face wore an expression of disapproving inquiry.
"Good morning," called George. The boys took off their hats.
"Why, it's George Baker," cried Harriet as though greatly surprised to
see these visitors. "Girls, come out. Here are the boys."
The Meadow-Brook Girls hurried on deck.
"Where have you been?" questioned Miss Elting. "We did not think you
would desert us in this fashion. We have been expecting you ever since
we last saw you."
George blinked rapidly. The boys glanced at each other and looked
perplexed and uneasy. Somehow, they had a feeling that they were being
placed in an unenviable light.
"The question is, where have you been?" asked George in as gruff a tone
as he could assume.
"Where have we been?" repeated Harriet wonderingly. "Are you joking, Mr.
Baker?"
"No, I'm not joking. We have been worried about you. Where have you
been?"
"Why, we have been not far from here all the time. And you mean to tell
me that you didn't know where we were?"
George shook his head. His companions looked sheepish.
"Did you sail over here so early in the morning to call on us?"
questioned Harriet innocently.
"No, we are camping over there."
"Oh! Then you came over to be near us? Isn't that fine?" laughed Crazy
Jane.
"We--we thought may--maybe the fishing was better over here," replied
George lamely.
"Oh, thave me!" muttered Tommy, then fled into the cabin that they might
not observe her laughter.
"May we come aboard?" asked Billy.
"Not yet, boys," returned Miss Elting in reply. "Our house is not set to
rights for company. Come over later. We should be pleased to have you."
"Say. It's hot out here. Suppose we tow you in nearer to our camp.
There will be more shade there too," suggested Larry.
"Thank you. That will be nice."
"Come over and have luncheon with us to-day noon," urged George.
Miss Elting also accepted this invitation, rather to the surprise of the
boys. Billy, without loss of time, fastened a line to the houseboat
attaching the other end of the line to a cleat on the after deck of the
launch. In the meantime Larry had jumped aboard the "Red Rover" and
hauled in the anchor for them. The launch then towed the scow up to the
camp of the tramps. Miss Elting motioned for them to draw the boat a
little beyond the camp, which was done.
"Cast off," shouted Captain Harriet.
Jane slipped the tow line then let the anchor go over with a splash.
"You girls work just like regular sailors," declared Larry admiringly.
"We will see you at noon," called Miss Elting. "You needn't mind to come
out for us. We have our rowboat."
"No. We will come for you with the launch," answered Billy.
As agreed, the boys came out with the launch shortly before twelve
o'clock and took the Meadow-Brook party ashore. George, with an apron
tied about his neck, was deep in preparations for dinner. Harriet and
Jane immediately put on their own aprons, which they had brought along,
and went to work, while Hazel and Margery bustled about assisting Larry
and Sam in getting the table ready. The boys had arranged rustic seats
in place of chairs, and the table, set under the spreading foliage,
looked very neat and attractive.
[Illustration: George Was Deep in Preparations for Dinner.]
That luncheon was one of the most enjoyable that any member of the party
ever recalled having sat down to. No reference was made to the
mysterious appearance and disappearance of the Meadow-Brook Girls until
near the close of the meal.
"You haven't told us where you have been all the time," said Captain
Baker with affected gayety.
"Oh, yes, I have. I told you we had been near here all the time,"
answered Miss Elting, smiling tolerantly.
"But how did you get over to this side of the lake? That is what you
haven't told us," spoke up Billy Gordon.
"You mean that that is what you wish to tell us," replied Harriet. "You
towed us over of course during the night. You played the first trick and
won. But now you must tell us what became of the 'Red Rover,' the next
day."
"But we can't," exclaimed George. "We hunted--"
"Of course you did," laughed Harriet. "We were watching you all the
time."
The faces of the boys grew crimson. Forks were dropped on plates with a
noisy clatter.
"What's the use?" cried George Baker, getting up hurriedly. "Fellows,
we've got to confess that we're beaten in the first round by a lot of
girls who are a good deal smarter than we think we are, or than we ever
shall be."
George sat down again and began mopping the perspiration from his damp
forehead.
"And that isn't all," continued Harriet, laughing. "Unless you are
prepared to tell us just how we got back into the lake again we shall
consider ourselves entitled to the second honors, too."