er this eve, that mole has agreed to
cuddle up under your left ear. I believe you sleep on your left."

"Thanks," Jack said, "but I see no reason why mere household truck
should keep us from a cruise. I am aching to try the _Chelton_, Cora."

Cora and Freda were talking in whispers in the other end of the boat.
It was no "mere household truck" surely that brought the serious
expression to their faces.

"It isn't far," Freda was heard to say, "and he promised to wait for
us this morning."

"And I do want to be with you," Cora answered. "But I won't let them
take the boat out the first time without me. It cost too much to run
the risk of damaging it by sky-larking."

"Now what are you two up to?" demanded Jack. "Just because Drayton
Ward has not arrived, we are held up for his coming. I tell you, Sis,
that chap may not put in an appearance at all, here. He knows--sweller
places."

"Oh, don't you mind him, Cora," Ed interrupted. "Dray is sure to come.
He had his canoe shipped two days ago, besides sending to the cove
for his motor boat. I expect some tall times when he gets here. Our
own innocent little _Lassie_ won't know how to skip over the waves
at all--she'll be that flustered when the swell, gold-railed,
mahogany-bound, carpet-floored _Dixie_ gets here."

"It would take more than a mere _Dixie_ to knock out our _Lassie_,"
declared Walter, "but I should like to know why she is not on the
scene yet. Didn't we plainly say Tuesday?"

"We did, plainly and emphatically. But a boat builder, letter or
seller has a right to make his own day in delivering the goods. We'll
be lucky if we get the barge at all without taking the sheriff up to
that shipyard."

"Meanwhile we have the _Chelton_," said Ed, tugging at Cora's sleeve.

"And we must get back to the bungalow," she observed. "Freda and I
have an important appointment for eleven, and if you all promise not
to follow us or attempt to go out in the _Chelton_, perhaps we will
have some interesting news for you this evening."

The boys strolled away, talking about the motor boat they had hired.
Money, for some reason, was not plentiful that Summer with Jack and
his chums, and they had to be content with a second-hand craft, that
had been patched and re-patched until there was little of the original
left. They were not even sure the _Lassie_ would run, but they were
anxious to try her.

CHAPTER IV

THE RED OAR

"This way, Cora. The sand is so heavy out