Betty presented her friends in turn, and Mr. Martin had something odd to say to each as he shook hands heartily.

“Uncle Amos has brought the—­ surprise,” said Betty.  “But even yet he won’t tell me what it is.”

“If I did it wouldn’t be a surprise!” he protested.  “But I’m all prepared to pilot you down to where she is.  She’s in the offing, all fitted for a cruise.  All she needs is a captain and crew, and I think Bet here will be the one, and you girls the other.  I may ship as cook or cabin boy, if you’ll have me, but that is as may be.  Now, if you’re ready we’ll go down to the dock and see how the tide is.”

“But we have no tide here, Uncle Amos,” spoke Betty.

“What!  No tide!  What sort of a place is it without a tide?  I’m disappointed, lass, disappointed!”

“We’ll try and have one made for you,” said Mollie, with a laugh.

“That’s it!  That’s the way to talk.  Salt water and a tide would make any place, even a desert—­ er—­ er—­ what is it I want to say, Bet?”

“I don’t know, Uncle, unless that it would make the desert blossom like the rose.”

“That’s it—­ a rose.  You luffed just at the right time.  Well, ladies, all hands have been piped to quarters, so we’ll start.  It’s nearly four bells, and I told the mate I’d be there by then.  Let’s start.”

And start they did.  On the way toward the river, whither Mr. Marlin insisted on leading the girls, Betty explained how her uncle had arrived unexpectedly that day, and had talked mysteriously about the surprise.

“It’s a boat—­ I’m sure it is,” said Mollie.

“Oh, he’d talk that same way about an automobile or an airship,” said Betty.  “He calls everything, ‘she,’ and if it was an auto he’d ‘anchor’ it near the river just to be close to the water he loves so much.”

“What if it’s an airship?” asked Amy.

“I shall—­ learn to run it!” declared Betty.

“Never!”

“Yes I shall.”

“Let us hope it is but a rowboat then,” sighed Amy.

They went out on the public dock in the Argono River.  At the string piece was tied what the girls saw was one of the neatest motor boats that, as Will said afterward, “ever ate a gasoline sandwich.”

There was a trunk cabin, an ample cockpit at the stern, a little cooking galley, a powerful motor, complete fittings and everything that the most exacting motor boat enthusiast could desire.

“There she is!” cried Mr. Marlin.  “There’s the surprise, Bet.  I got her for you!  I named her the Gem—­ for she is a gem.  Aside from an ocean steamer there’s no better boat built.  I saw to it myself.  I’ve been planning that for you for years.  And there you are.  The Gem is yours.  I want you girls to take a cruise in her, and if you don’t have a good time it will be your own fault.  There’s the Gem for you, Betty.  Let’s go aboard and see if that rascally mate has grub ready.  There’s the Gem!” and he led the way toward the beautiful boat.  The girls simply gasped with delight, and Betty turned pale—­ at least Grace said so.