“I should like to know how you are going to get them here?” wondered Jane.

“Oh, that is easy.  One doesn’t even need to think to know how to do that,” laughed Harriet Burrell.

Jane regarded her admiringly.

“You sure are a wonderful girl.  My daddy says he’d give a million if you were his daughter.”

“I’m worth much less than that,” smiled Harriet.  “Now let’s go back.  We haven’t any time to spare.  When we get out into the lake both of us will row, but let’s be certain that there is no one in sight.  We don’t want to be seen coming from this place or our plans will be spoiled before we have had a chance to carry them out.”

They shoved the rowboat back through the foliage by placing the oars on the bottom and pushing.  They made better progress this way than they could have made by rowing, for the low hanging branches of the trees fouled the oars, making rowing a difficult method of travel, as they had learned when they entered the narrow little waterway.

No person was in sight when they emerged.  The two girls bent to their oars with a will and made rapid progress on their way back toward the “Red Rover.”

Those on the houseboat saw the girls coming.

“Harriet ith in a hurry about thomething,” observed Tommy, wrinkling her forehead into sharp little ridges of perplexity.  She did not understand how any one could be in a hurry on such a hot day as this.

The rowers reached the “Red Rover,” and jumping aboard, their faces flushed and eyes sparkling, proceeded to tell their companions of their great find.

“And what is your plan?” asked the guardian, smiling good-naturedly.

Harriet told her, whispering part of what she had to say, in the ear of Miss Elting.

“That will be fine,” glowed the guardian, instantly entering into the spirit of the plan.  “We shall at least have a good time there.”

“And we’ll be hidden from the world so no one will know we are on this island at all,” interjected Jane.

“I am with you, girls.  But we must not let people get the idea that anything has happened to us.  That would not be right, you know.”

“No one about here knows, or at least cares, what happens to us, unless it is the Tramp Club,” replied Harriet, “Besides, I shall find a way to let them know we are above water, rather than underneath it.”

“All right.  I suppose you wish to move into this retreat to-day, Captain Harriet?”

“Yes.  At once.”

“Then get under way, Captain, as soon as you wish.  Able seaman Tommy Thompson will heave the anchor for you,” averred the guardian merrily.

“Able theaman Tommy will do nothing of the thort,” retorted Tommy.  “Able theaman Tommy will heave herthelf overboard if thhe trieth to do any heaving at all.”

“Miss Elting, I think you can steer the boat.  I am needed in the rowboat with Jane,” interrupted Harriet.