are protected," read the message. It was Dee
Dickinson who had spoken to her that moment.

Dee had made a distinctly unfavorable impression on Miss Elting, the
guardian and companion of the Meadow-Brook Girls. Her brother's fishing
boat had been left in the care of this man by her brother Bert, who had
now turned it over to his sister and the Meadow-Brook Girls for their
summer vacation.

"Why not?" questioned the young woman in answer to his words of warning.
"Isn't the boat in good condition?"

"Oh, yes. That is, it isn't by any means in a sinking condition."

"Then why do you advise us not to use it?"

"The lake gets rather rough at times, you know," he replied evasively.

"My brother wrote you that we were coming up here, did he not?"

"Oh, yes. But you see it's been a year since he used the old scow. She
is a year older, now, and--"

"I am quite sure that my brother would not have permitted us to take the
houseboat were it not perfectly safe for us to do so. Please tell me
what is the matter with it?"

"There's nothing the matter with it, I tell you, except that it's an old
fishing scow with a roof over it. It isn't a fit place for a party of
young ladies," Dee replied, with a shrug of his shoulders. "Of course,
if you are set on taking the boat, I'll have to get it ready for you;
but, if anything happens to it, remember that I warned you."

"We shall not forget," answered the guardian dryly. "If it stays on top
of the lake we surely cannot expect anything more. Where is the boat?"

"A couple of miles down the lake."

"Kindly direct us so that we may find it, and--"

"No, no," interposed Dickinson hastily. "I'll have it brought up here to
the dock, so you can get at it more easily. There'll be some things you
will wish to do to it. Having it here at Wantagh will be much more
convenient for you. I'll try to have it here for you by to-night, or
early in the morning. But you'll be sick of your bargain, I promise you
that."

"Do you mean us to infer that the boat is not safe?" interjected Harriet
Burrell.

"I haven't said so," answered the man rather sharply, turning to her.
"I've told you that it isn't the kind of craft for young women to live
on all summer."

"We shall decide that matter ourselves," returned Miss Elting coldly.

"Very good. Suit yourselves."

"I think you had better take us to the boat now before anything further
is done in the matter."

"No. You had better have it brought her