“Bring the young ladies aboard and let us give them some dry clothes,” called Miss Elting.

“They wish to be put ashore here,” answered Harriet.

“We are very sorry that we have caused you all this trouble.  Our boat doesn’t seem to steer well.  I don’t know what the trouble is,” continued the guardian.

The two girls were very courteous about the matter.  They assured Miss Elting and Harriet that they knew the accident had been unavoidable, and that it had been more their fault than the “Red Rover’s.”  The young man, however, was inclined to grumble.  Harriet put the wet girls ashore, where they were followed by their companion.  The “Red Rover” then moved on, following a zig-zag course, narrowly missing running into other boats, until finally one of the lads in the motor boat put his hands to his lips and shouted: 

“How much farther are you folks going?”

Harriet consulted with Miss Elting.

“If you will be good enough to tow us into that cove just ahead, we shall be very much obliged,” answered Harriet.  The motor boat was instantly headed toward the cove.  Harriet chuckled.  “They are eager to be rid of us, and I don’t blame them at all.”

“They look like nice boys.  I think I will invite them to come aboard,” decided the guardian.  Harriet nodded her approval.  When, finally, the houseboat had been dragged in, Harriet shouted to the boys to cast off.  It was then that Miss Elting asked them to come aboard.  The boy at the wheel said they would come some other time, that they were obliged to get back to their camp farther down the lake.  They would accept no pay for their towing and chugged away, waving their hands, leaving a snowy wake behind them.

Harriet had already climbed down, and, with a long string, at the end of which had been tied the piece of broken poker from the old stove, was taking sounding to get the depth of water.

“Eight feet.  That’s deep enough.  Jane!  Come help me put over the anchor, please,” she called.

The anchor went over with a splash, after which the rope was tied to a heavy hard wood cleat that the carpenter had secured to the forward lower deck.  The “Red Rover” drifted to the end of its anchor rope, then swung to the gentle breeze that was blowing.

“Thank goodness we aren’t at the bottom of the lake,” exclaimed Crazy Jane.

“It’s the other folks who have reason to be thankful,” answered Harriet smilingly.  “Now let’s get supper.  We have a lot to do, and even more to discuss.”

“Had we not better work in closer to shore?” questioned the guardian, regarding the wooded cove critically.

“No, I think not.  I have my reasons for wanting to be away from the shore,” answered Harriet.

It would have perhaps been better had they chosen some other location for their anchorage, for the night in the cove was to be a trying one for the Meadow-Brook Girls and another of those mysterious happenings that had so disturbed them was to overtake them at the very beginning of the cruise of the “Red Rover.”