During the trip George had drawn out the story of their previous disaster when they had drifted ashore, though Harriet refrained from mentioning the fact that their anchor rope had been cut on that occasion.  From George’s questions it was plain that he suspected something was wrong, though Harriet failed to gratify his suspicions by direct answers to direct questions.

George explained, during the trip to the town, that the Tramp Club had been invited by Billy Gordon, who owned the launch, to spend a few weeks with him on the lake.  He was to furnish the launch for their cruises, while the boys supplied the camp equipment.  Billy knew the lake and they knew how to camp, and now that they had renewed acquaintance with their old rivals, the Meadow-Brook Girls, the Tramp Club were glad they had accepted Gordon’s invitation.

The trip to town was quickly made, and the two girls completed their purchases with little loss of time, and were back on board the launch within an hour from the time they had started.

“Now,” said George, after they had started on their return voyage, “is there any place you wish to go?”

“I want as soon as possible to get back to the boat and discuss with the girls what is to be done,” answered Harriet.

“Well, can we help you?  Is there anywhere you wish us to tow your houseboat?”

“Let me see,” pondered Captain Burrell, “I think I should like to get out of that cove.  We haven’t made any plans.”

“Then suppose we tow you over in front of our camp?  We’ll be handy, then, in case you need us again.”

Harriet shook her head.

“I don’t think that would be best.  You see, we wish to go it alone.  We don’t wish to have to depend upon any one.”

“You don’t have to do so.  You are able to take care of yourselves.  I’d back the Meadow-Brook Girls against the world,” declared George, confidently, which aroused a laugh from the other occupants of the boat.  “We helped you this morning, did we not?”

“Indeed, you did.”

“But they would have gotten out of the scrape without us,” nodded Billy.

“Surely we would,” chuckled Crazy Jane.  “We always do get out of our scrapes, somehow.  But we thank you just the same.”

“Indeed, we do,” agreed Harriet earnestly.  “I was about to say, when you asked me if there were any place we wished to go, that we do wish to go over to the other side of the lake some day soon, and—­”

“Any time,” interrupted Billy.  “I’ll take you over to-day, if you say the word.”

Harriet shook her head.

“Boys, we’ve got business on hand to-day,” said Jane briskly.  “There is plenty to be done.  It will take us two days to get well settled again.  You will look us up occasionally, I am sure.  We can then let you know where and when we wish to go, can’t we?”

“Surely you can,” agreed George enthusiastically.  “But I’m sorry you won’t come to anchor near our camp.”