By this time the dawn had begun to break and soon after the sun shone brightly.  The wind had died down and the lake lay smooth and glassy in the morning sunlight.

“I’m going to try to get into that big chest that holds our clothes,” announced Harriet.  “If it really is water tight, then we shall not have to worry long about dry garments.”

“I’ll go with you,” said Miss Elting.

The two women made their way to the cabin of the houseboat, where they were soon joined by Jane.  By their united efforts the barricade was removed from the door, and as the water had almost subsided Harriet had little difficulty in getting at the chest.

“Hurrah!” she exclaimed as she turned the key which had been allowed to stand in the lock, and lifted the lid.  “Everything is all right.  These things are scarcely damp!  Jane will you call the girls?  We ought to dress as quickly as possible.”

Fifteen minutes later the Meadow-Brook Girls and Miss Elting were enjoying the luxury of clean, dry clothing.  Their hasty toilets were scarcely completed, however, when they heard the steady chug! chug of an approaching motor boat.  Harriet climbed to the upper deck and shading her hands with her eyes looked out over the waters.  Suddenly she exclaimed:  “Girls, girls!  Look at that boat!”

CHAPTER VI

CAPTAIN GEORGE MAKES A FIND

“Well, well, if it isn’t the Meadow-Brook Girls.”

“It’s Captain George Baker,” cried Harriet, really overjoyed to meet their old friend whom, last season, they had beaten in a cross country contest of endurance and cleverness.

The girls left the boat and ran down to the shore to welcome the newcomers.  The boys were calling their welcome before they had fairly landed.  With Captain Baker were his friends Dill Dodd and Sam Crocker, and two other lads, whom Captain Baker introduced as Larry Goheen and Billy Gordon.

“Where are the rest of the tramps?” asked Miss Elting laughingly, hurrying down to the beach to greet the boys.

“In camp about two miles below here.”

“I believe we have met Mr. Gordon and Mr. Goheen before,” said the guardian.  “They were good enough to give us a tow.”

“Yes,” answered George.  “They told us about that.  Somehow, I half suspected it to be you folks.  After the storm of last night I wondered how the houseboat with its crew of girls had fared, so we set out to look for you this morning.  We found you.  Well, you are in a mess, aren’t you?”

“Harriet and Jane were bailing water out of the boat nearly all night, Captain Baker,” Miss Elting informed him.

“You certainly must have had a bad night,” returned George Baker sympathetically.

The guardian related briefly the experience of the night.

“Once more I take off my hat to you,” said Captain Baker admiringly.  “And I take off my coat too.  Fellows, all off with your coats!  There’s work to be done here.  How is your boat?”