other furnishing.

The "Sue" was far from palatial, but the Camp Girls thought they had
never seen a neater or prettier boat, and as for its ability to sail,
they had seen something of that as the sloop came into the bay.

Mrs. Livingston had remained outside to speak with the skipper.
Harriet soon joined them. Captain Billy was a type. His grizzled, red
beard was so near the color of his face that it was not easy to
determine where the beard left off and the face began. Billy had a
habit of avoiding one's eyes when speaking. Either he would be
consulting the deck of the "Sue" or gazing at the sky. He was looking
up at the clouds now.

"The captain says he can safely carry ten persons without crowding,
Harriet," the Chief Guardian informed her. Then turning to the
captain, "This young lady has been placed in charge of the boat by
Mr. McCarthy; of course, your judgment as to what is best for all
concerned must prevail."

Captain Billy's whiskers bristled. He swept the Meadow-Brook Girl with
a quick, measuring glance, then permitted his eyes to gaze upward
again.

"I was going to suggest, Mrs. Livingston, that we first take you and
the other guardians out for a sail, say to-morrow morning. I don't
think the captain will wish to go out in the evening," said Harriet.

He shook his head.

"Certainly not," declared Mrs. Livingston. "And now, sir, what about
your meals--the board for yourself and your man?"

"Get my own. He goes away early in the morning. Sleep on board, too.
You needn't worry about me. Got any gear you want to get aboard?"

"Gear?" questioned the Chief Guardian blankly.

"Dunnage?" nodded the skipper. "Anything you want to bring aboard?" he
shouted.

"No, thank you, nothing at present," answered Harriet.

"Man will fetch it off before he goes away if there is. Don't ask me
to do any packing."

"Our young women are perfectly able to help themselves," replied Mrs.
Livingston with dignity. "I suppose, however, that having only one
rowboat you will come ashore for us whenever we wish to go out?" she
added.

The captain shook his head. He was the most ungracious person they
ever had known. But when Harriet said they had better get word to Mr.
McCarthy at once, the captain changed his mind quickly. He said he
would come for them whenever they gave him the word. He told them,
further, that they would have to bring their own provisions when they
went out for a sail, but that he could show them how