The boat turned homeward after having encircled the island.  Harriet, as soon as the motor boat had passed on out of sight, hurried back to her companions.

“Girls!  It’s the boys,” she cried.  “They are looking for us.  I could see that.  They were so close to the island that I could almost have hit them with a stone.”

“Provided you could throw straight,” interjected Miss Elting.

“Yes.  I wouldn’t have to be a very good thrower to reach a boat so close as that one was.”

“Shall we go exploring now?” asked Margery.

“I don’t believe it would be prudent.  Those boys are sharp.  They may be on the island at this very moment.  I don’t hear their boat any more,” replied Harriet.

“We will postpone exploring until to-morrow,” announced Miss Elting.  “And now, suppose we get supper?  This is a cosy place.  I never saw a more delightful nook.  To-morrow morning, if the coast be clear, we will look about us.  How about the farmhouse?”

“I am going over there as soon as it gets a little darker.”

Harriet did not go until after supper, which proved to be one of the most enjoyable meals to which the girls had ever sat down.  Their surroundings were so romantic that the situation appealed strongly to each of them.  The Meadow-Brook Girls were in high good humor.  Later in the evening, Harriet, accompanied by Jane and Hazel, paddled the rowboat out from the island and rowed almost straight across to the shore of the mainland.  Hiding their boat in some bushes they made their way to a farmhouse, and there arranged for milk.  Harriet had a confidential chat with the woman of the house, who readily agreed to the girl’s proposition to assist in fooling the boys.  The woman further agreed to provide them with such supplies as they needed.  For such as they took with them the girls paid then and there.  Harriet chuckled all the way back to the island.  She believed that she had planned in such a way as thoroughly to mystify George Baker and his friends, and at the same time convince the latter that the Meadow-Brook Girls were not in trouble.

Reaching the island they found their companions eagerly awaiting them.  To Miss Elting, Harriet confided her plan.  Then, after a happy evening, the houseboat party went to bed, looking forward with keen expectation to what awaited them on the morrow, when Harriet’s new plan was to be tried.

CHAPTER X

THEIR SUSPICIONS AROUSED

That night there was a shower.  The rain, beating down on the foliage and the end of the houseboat that protruded from the cave, served to freshen the air and brought out the fragrance of green leaves and flowers.  When the sun came out next morning every leaf and petal was glistening, birds were singing overhead and the girls uttered exclamations of delight as they ran out in their bathing suits and jumped into the water for their morning baths.