! Freda!" called Bess. "You have not eaten yet, and I'm to do
the dishes. Hurry this minute and just fill up! I must be finished in
time for a nap, for I am nearly dead."

Freda did eat, though somehow she felt unusually depressed. Even
Cora's encouraging words, given into Freda's ear when no one else was
at hand, did not seem to cheer her.

"Just come down to the bay and go out with me," urged Cora. "I want to
try the boat with the new control, and I don't want to go out alone!"

"Of course I will go with you," assented Freda. "I have only to change
my blouse."

The motor trip was delightful. The _Chelton_ seemed to have missed the
guiding hand of its fair owner, for while the new piece of mechanism
was being put in Cora had not been using the boat.

"How different from the one we rode in this morning," Freda remarked.
"I always feel as if something were going to explode when I sit near a
noise such as that old engine made. I wonder that a big house like the
Laurel can keep such a tub."

"Guests are always glad to get on the water," answered Cora, "and I
suppose they are not particular as long as they do not have to pay
extra for the sail. Most of the hotels down here hire out their
launches, I believe."

They headed straight for the island, and then ran around it to come
back on the east shore. In many of the passing boats were young
friends of Cora, and all sorts of messages were shouted back and
forth.

"I guess I had better go in early," Cora remarked, "as we really have
not decided on this evening's plans. Some want the hop and others want
the sail."

"And I have a lot to do, too," Freda said. "Mother and I have to take
so much time from what we would like to do for you girls."

Cora protested against this, of course, declaring that the girls never
had such help before, and regretting that Freda should take the matter
so seriously.

"I cannot get over the attempt to rob Denny," Cora went on, as they
neared the bungalow. "I am glad they chose a time when he was not
around, for he would certainly fight. He thinks he has the same
strength he enjoyed years ago, and I hate to think what might have
happened had he met those fellows."

"Wasn't it awful?" commented Freda. "And to think that it must have
been on our account, for I am convinced that those men were searching
for papers they believe Denny has."

"No doubt about it," said Cora. "But he has none; has he?"

"He has never mentioned such a thing