way than they
could have made by rowing, for the low hanging branches of the trees
fouled the oars, making rowing a difficult method of travel, as they had
learned when they entered the narrow little waterway.

No person was in sight when they emerged. The two girls bent to their
oars with a will and made rapid progress on their way back toward the
"Red Rover."

Those on the houseboat saw the girls coming.

"Harriet ith in a hurry about thomething," observed Tommy, wrinkling her
forehead into sharp little ridges of perplexity. She did not understand
how any one could be in a hurry on such a hot day as this.

The rowers reached the "Red Rover," and jumping aboard, their faces
flushed and eyes sparkling, proceeded to tell their companions of their
great find.

"And what is your plan?" asked the guardian, smiling good-naturedly.

Harriet told her, whispering part of what she had to say, in the ear of
Miss Elting.

"That will be fine," glowed the guardian, instantly entering into the
spirit of the plan. "We shall at least have a good time there."

"And we'll be hidden from the world so no one will know we are on this
island at all," interjected Jane.

"I am with you, girls. But we must not let people get the idea that
anything has happened to us. That would not be right, you know."

"No one about here knows, or at least cares, what happens to us, unless
it is the Tramp Club," replied Harriet, "Besides, I shall find a way to
let them know we are above water, rather than underneath it."

"All right. I suppose you wish to move into this retreat to-day, Captain
Harriet?"

"Yes. At once."

"Then get under way, Captain, as soon as you wish. Able seaman Tommy
Thompson will heave the anchor for you," averred the guardian merrily.

"Able theaman Tommy will do nothing of the thort," retorted Tommy. "Able
theaman Tommy will heave herthelf overboard if thhe trieth to do any
heaving at all."

"Miss Elting, I think you can steer the boat. I am needed in the rowboat
with Jane," interrupted Harriet.

"Girls, I am afraid it is going to be a pretty hard pull in this heat.
Hadn't we better wait until the evening?" suggested the guardian.

Harriet and Jane protested that they didn't mind the heat at all, and
that they could pull the big boat over to the island without the least
difficulty. Miss Elting offered no further objections. The "Red Rover"
was a scene of activity from that moment on. All hands except Tommy
assiste