“And thingth,” finished Tommy.

“Yes, and things,” agreed Harriet.

“Perhaps there is another phase of this game of hide and seek that you have not thought of, Harriet,” pondered Miss Elting.  “How are we to get fresh supplies?”

“There are several farmhouses within half an hour’s row of us.  By going to them early in the evening we shall not be discovered.”

Miss Elting nodded.  Margery wanted to know how long they were going to stay in that hole in the ground.

“Until you girls get tired of it,” answered Harriet good-naturedly.  “As I understand our arrangement, we have the privilege of expressing our choice in all matters that come up, Miss Elting’s decision being final.  What a glorious place this is!”

“Aren’t we going to explore our Island of Delight now?” demanded Jane.

“It is your discovery—­yours and Harriet’s,” was Miss Elting’s smiling reply.  “Suit yourselves as to exploring it.”

“We have time to look about a little before night,” answered Harriet.  “It won’t be dark for a little while yet.”

They were about to start out when the distant chug of a motor boat was heard.  “I guess we will not go just yet,” she added.  “Wait.  I’ll row down to the mouth and see if it is the Tramp Club’s boat.”

Harriet paddled part way to the lake edge, then finding the bank accessible, sprang out and crept the rest of the way on shore.  She was in time to see a power boat moving slowly past.  It was close to the shore of the island.  Several young men were aboard.  One was standing up, gazing toward the island, one hand shading his eyes.  Harriet chuckled when she recognized the standing boy as George Baker.  There could be no doubt that the boys were looking for the Meadow-Brook Girls.  The watching girl chuckled with delight.  Then the thought occurred to her that some way must be found to communicate with the boys soon, so that the latter might know they were safe.  Just how that was to be accomplished Harriet did not know.  The launch soon passed on out of sight.

As a matter of fact, Captain George Baker and his companions were a little disturbed over not finding the “Red Rover.”  Sam said he had seen the boat that afternoon, and unless it had picked up a tow the houseboat could not be far away.  They moved along the shore, peering into each cove on that side of the lake until twilight fell and it was no longer light enough to see into the shadows.

“It’s my opinion that those girls will win the wager unless we do some hustling,” declared Larry Goheen, when they had once more returned to their camp on the other side of the lake.

“Harriet Burrell is very clever,” answered George.  “I wish we had gone ashore over there near where we last saw the ‘Red Rover.’  I’ll tell you what we’ll do.  We’ll run over there to-morrow and make inquiries of the farmers nearby.  We ought at least to get some trace of them.”