e.

For two hours did launch and houseboat labor through the seas, fighting
every inch of the way. Harriet's arms ached from handling the tiller.
She was wet to the skin but clung steadily to her work. The boatman was
kept inside to watch for and stop leaks, of which there were many before
the voyage came to an end. At last the "Red Rover" slipped into
comparatively calm water, amid a chorus of yells from the boys on shore.
George got up and waved his cap to the girls. They answered the salute
with three cheers, then Billy pulled the scow up to her former
anchorage, and in a few moments she lay rolling easily in a moderate
swell, safe, though considerably strained from her wild voyage across a
lake that many larger and more seaworthy boats would have hesitated to
brave.

CHAPTER XXIV

CONCLUSION

It was late in the evening when some sort of order had been restored in
the cabin of the "Red Rover." The boys had turned to and worked like
Trojans, helping to get the water out of the boat, to mend broken places
and throw the broken dishes overboard.

When all was done Miss Elting served a luncheon to them, mostly canned
stuff, all the other food having been ruined in the voyage across the
lake. It was during the luncheon that she made a confession for herself
and companions. She told the Tramp Club how they had dressed up in white
sheets and chased the boys from the island; how they had hidden in the
cave with their boat; how Jane had discovered the half-breed and
narrowly missed a double discovery herself.

"And now," concluded Miss Elting, "that is the way we played our tricks.
Perhaps we won the contest but after your bravery to-day we feel that
far greater honors are due to you boys."

The boys, whose faces had flushed during the recital, now broke into a
hearty laugh.

"That's the best joke ever played on a bunch of fellows," cried Billy.
"And you've won the wager fairly enough. You don't need to apologize for
the ghosts. The trouble is we tried to play worse jokes on you, but you
turned them on us every time. If we got you out of the lake it was by
good luck, not because we were so awfully brave. I'll never brag about
bravery after last night. And now good night. You folks are tired and
want to go to bed. We'll see that you aren't disturbed this evening. You
don't think of working your disappearing act to-night, do you?"

"No. We have had sufficient excitement for one day," answered Miss
Elting laug