Harriet told him they should be moving frequently; that they hoped to be able to make a complete circuit of the lake before they had finished their vacation.  George said that the boys, too, were going to move their camp now and then.  He told the girls the Tramp Club had planned to spend a week on one of the islands in the lake, and that they would so arrange the time as to do so when the Meadow-Brook party was in that vicinity.

By the time they had reached the cove where the “Red Rover” lay the boys who had remained behind had gotten nearly all the belongings aboard.  Miss Elting and the girls were helping them, Tommy taking it upon herself to “boss” the whole job.

As soon as the motor boat party had landed, Harriet said she must look for the anchor rope, which had not been seen that morning.

“I’ll do that,” offered Larry Goheen.  “You ought to make it secure, so that the boat can’t get away,” he added.

“I thought I secured it last night.  I made a stout loop and slipped it over the cleat on the deck.  I don’t see how the boat could have gotten away unless the rope broke, which it undoubtedly did.”

George said he would see about that.  The rowboat had drifted ashore unharmed.  Captain George launched the boat and rowed out, paddling about until finally they saw him stop and raise the end of a rope from the water.

“Bring the launch out here, Bill,” he called.  “Yes, I’ve found it, and I’ve found something else too.  There’s been some crooked work here!”

“What do you mean?” called Harriet.

“I’ll tell you when I come in.  I’ve made a find, all right!”

The captain had indeed made a find—­one that more than confirmed the suspicions he had formed earlier in the morning.

CHAPTER VII

A MYSTERIOUS NIGHT JOURNEY

Billy Gordon got aboard the launch and paddled it out to where Captain Baker sat examining the rope, the end of which he had picked up from the water.

“What have you found?  More mystery?” shouted Crazy Jane.

“Yes.  I’ll tell you when I get ashore.  What kind of an anchor have you down here?”

“Just an anchor, that’s all,” answered Harriet.  “Why?”

“Nothing.  I was just wondering.”

George climbed over into the launch, tying the rowboat behind it.  Then the two lads hauled the anchor aboard the power boat.  After examining the anchor, they paddled the launch ashore, towing the smaller boat behind them.

“We have the old anchor.  It’s a good one too,” announced Billy, stepping ashore.  “I take back all I said.  George has some questions to ask you.”

“Yes,” nodded young Baker.  “Was the anchor rope in good condition when you put out the anchor, Miss Burrell?”

“So far as I know.  Did it break?”

“It broke, all right.  Will you show me where you made it fast last night?”