“No, you foolish girl.  We aren’t sinking,” answered Harriet laughing.

Margery stood shivering in the middle of the cabin.  Hazel had begun to dress.

“Dress yourselves at once,” ordered Miss Elting.  “Be quick about it.  They may not be coming here, but if they are, they will be here in a very few minutes.”

“Who will be here?” demanded Crazy Jane.  “Why don’t you tell us what all the uproar is about?”

“Yes.  You might better tell us than to frighten us half to death in this way,” complained Margery.

“It is the boys.  We think they are coming here to play a trick on us, and if so, we wish to be ready for them,” explained Harriet, who was hurriedly dressing.  The girls lost no time in putting on their clothes, each dressing herself completely.  Their hair, braided down their backs for the night, was left as it was.  There was no time to do anything with that.

“The boys are putting off in the rowboat, or at least getting ready to do so,” Miss Elting informed the girls, after another look at the camp through the glasses.  “What shall we do?”

“I will fix it,” answered Harriet.  She rummaged about at the rear of the cabin, then ran out to the after deck.  They heard her on the upper deck shortly after that.  She soon bustled back into the cabin.

“They have started.  All of you get up on the deck overhead.  Listen!  I will tell you briefly what we will do.  We will give the boys a scare that they won’t soon forget.”

There were hurried preparations within the cabin of the “Red Rover,” following Harriet Burrell’s quick orders, which were approved of by Miss Elting.  The girls then crept to the upper deck, where they crouched down, peering across the water that lay between the houseboat and the island.

“There they come!  Not a word from now on, girls,” warned Miss Elting.

CHAPTER XV

THE ROUT OF THE PIRATE CREW

“Take your positions, and don’t miss when I give the order to let go,” commanded Captain Harriet.  “Oh, we won’t do a thing to those boys!”

Margery giggled.

“Silence!” The captain’s voice was stern.

“If you cannot keep quiet you will have to go below,” rebuked Miss Elting.  “You will spoil it all.  Now, not another word.”

The silence of sleep settled over the “Red Rover.”  A gentle ripple at the bows gave off a soothing, musical sound, but that was all.  The girls were now able to see a boat approaching them from the island, though unable to make out the forms of the occupants of the craft.  Miss Elting, with glasses in hand, was studying the approaching boat.  Fortunately the night was dark, though the stars were shining brilliantly.