Books: The Outdoor Girls at Rainbow Lake
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Laura Lee Hope >> The Outdoor Girls at Rainbow Lake
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"Yes."
"It's too bad. But I don't see what we can do."
"Neither do I. I wish I could find Prince. I think that's the queerest
thing about him."
"It certainly is. Say, Will, how is poor little Dodo getting on?"
"Oh, as well as you can expect. They're going to operate soon, I
heard. How is Mollie standing it, Grace?"
"Fairly well. Isn't it strange that we should meet the two autoists?"
"Yes. Have you put them wise yet?"
"Wise? What do you mean? Such slang!"
"I mean told 'em who you are?"
"No, and we're not going to for a while yet. We don't want to make
them feel bad."
"All right, suit yourselves. We're coming up and see you when you get
in camp."
"Yes, do. We'll write when we're settled."
Preparations for the race were going on, and the Gem, as were the
other boats, was being groomed for the contest. She had been converted
into her own self again, and Betty had engaged a man to look over the
motor, and make a few adjustments of which she was not quite capable.
Uncle Amos came to Rainbow Lake to see the girls and the boat. He was
not much impressed with the sheet of water, large as it was, but he
did take considerable interest in the coming race, and insisted on
personally doing a lot of work to the boat to get her "ship-shape."
So that when the Gem was ready to go to the starting line she was
prepared to make the "try of her life," as Betty expressed it.
There were six boats in the class that included the Gem. Some were
about the same size, one was larger and one was smaller. In horse
power they rated about the same, but some handicapping had been done
by the judges. The Gem was to start four minutes after the first boat
got away, and of course she would have to make up this time to win.
"But we can do it!" declared Betty, confidently.
As they were on their way to the starting line the girls noticed two
boys rowing along the shore, looking intently as they proceeded.
"Say, you haven't seen a big green canoe, with an Indian's head
painted in red on each end; have you?" asked one of the lads.
"No; why?" asked Grace.
"Someone took ours last night," spoke the other boy. "We were going in
the races with it, too. It was a dandy canoe!" and he seemed much
depressed.
"That's too bad," spoke Betty sympathetically. "If we see anything of
your canoe we'll let you know."
"Just send word to Tom Cardiff, over at Shaffer's dock!" cried the
elder boy eagerly. "There's a reward of two dollars for anyone who
finds it."
"Poor fellows!" said Betty as they rowed off. "I'd give two dollars of
my own now if we could find their canoe for them. They must be
dreadfully disappointed. Well, shall we start?"
"Yes, let's get it over with," replied Grace, nervously.
Grace and Amy were selected to look after the motor, they having been
"coached" by Uncle Amos for several days. They were to see that it did
not lack for oil, and if anything got out of adjustment they could fix
it. They would be stationed well forward in the cabin, and the
bulkhead being removed, they could easily get at the machinery.
Betty and Mollie would be at the wheel. Aunt Kate declined to take
part in the race, and Uncle Amos was not eligible under the rules,
this being strictly a race for girls and women.
Several events were run off before the Class B race was called. Then
the boats, including the Gem, moved up, and were formally inspected to
make sure that all the rules and regulations had been complied with.
No fault was found.
"Are you all ready?" asked the starter.
"Ready," was the answer, and the first boat shot away. It was nervous
waiting for Betty and her chums-- those four minutes-- but they
finally passed.
"Ready?" asked the starter again.
"Ready," answered Betty, her voice trembling in spite of herself.
There was a sharp crack of the pistol, and the Gem shot ahead, as
Betty let the clutch slip into place. The race was on!
CHAPTER XVI
FIGHTING FIRE
"Betty, do you think we can win?"
It was Mollie who asked this as she stood beside her chum at the wheel
of the Gem. The boat was churning through the water, gradually
creeping up on the craft that had gotten away ahead of her. Behind
came other boats, starting as the crack of the official pistol was
heard.
"Of course we'll win!" exclaimed Betty, as she changed the course
slightly. She wanted to keep it as straight as possible, for well she
knew that the shortest distance between any two points is in a
straight line.
"We wouldn't miss that lovely prize for anything," called Grace from
up forward, where she was helping Amy look after the laboring motor.
A number of prizes had been provided by the regatta committee; the
chief one for this particular race was a handsome cut-glass bowl, that
had been much admired when on exhibition at the club house.
The course was a triangular one of three miles, and now all the craft
that were competing were on the last "leg" of the triangle.
"We're creeping up on her!" whispered Amy, as she directed the
attention of Grace to the boat just ahead of them. It was a light,
open affair, with a two-cylinder motor, but speedy, and two girls in
it seemed to be working desperately over their machinery. Something
seemed to have gone wrong with one of the cylinders, for Betty could
detect a "miss" now and then.
"Yes, we're coming up," admitted Grace, as she skillfully put a little
oil on a cam shaft. "If we can only hold out!"
"Oh, trust Betty for that."
"It isn't that-- it's the motor. One never knows when they are not
going to 'mote.' But this one seems to be coming on well," and Grace
glanced critically at the various parts.
They were well out in Rainbow Lake now, and many eyes were watching
the race. One of the last boats to get away had given up, for the
girls in charge could not remedy the ignition trouble that developed
soon after they started. This left five. The Gem was second in line,
but behind her a very powerful boat was gradually creeping up on her,
even as she was overhauling the boat that got away first.
"Can't you turn on a little more gasoline?" asked Mollie.
"I think I can-- now," spoke Betty. "I wanted to give it gradually."
She opened the throttle a little more, and advanced the spark
slightly. The result was at once apparent. The Gem shot ahead, and the
girls in the leading boat looked back nervously.
"One of them is that pretty girl Will danced with so often at the
ball," said Mollie, as she got a glimpse of the rival's face.
"Yes, and the other is her cousin, or something," spoke Betty. "I was
introduced to her. It's mean, perhaps, to beat you, girls," she
whispered, "But I'm going to do it."
The chugging of many motors-- the churning to foam of the blue waters
of the lake-- a haze of acrid smoke hanging over all, as some cylinder
did not properly digest the gasoline vapor and oil fed to it, but sent
it out half consumed-- spray thrown up now and then-- the distant
sound of a band-- eager eyes looking toward the stake buoys-- tense
breathing-- all this went to make up the race in which our outdoor
girls were taking part.
Foot by foot the Gem crept up on the Bug, which was the name of the
foremost boat. Drop by drop Betty fed more gasoline to her striving
motor. The other girls did their duty, if it was only encouragement.
Those in the Bug worked desperately, but it was not to be. The Gem
passed them.
"We're sorry!" called Betty, as she flashed by. The other girls smiled
bravely.
The Gem was now first, but the race was far from won. They were on the
last leg, however, but in the rear, coming on, and overhauling Betty
and her chums as they had just overhauled the others, was the speedy
Eagle. She had been last to get off, but had passed all the others.
"They are after us," spoke Mollie, as she held the wheel a moment
while Betty tucked under her natty yachting cap some wind-tossed locks
of hair.
"But they shan't get us," declared the Little Captain grimly. "We
haven't reached our limit yet."
Once more she gave more gasoline, but the rivals in the rear were
settling down now to win the race for themselves. The Eagle came on
rapidly. The finish line was near at hand, but it seemed that Betty
and her chums had the upper hand.
Suddenly Grace cried:
"One of the wires is broken. It's snapped in two, and it's spouting
sparks!"
There came a noticeable slowing down to the speed of the motor. The
Gem lagged. The Eagle was in hot pursuit. Betty acted quickly.
"Put on those rubber gloves!" she ordered. "Take a pair of pliers, and
hold the ends of that wire together. That will make it as good as
mended until after the race. Amy, you help. But wear rubber gloves,
and then you won't get a shock. Quick, girls!"
The breaking of the wire threw one cylinder out of commission. The Gem
was one third crippled. There came a murmur from the pursuing boat.
There was a commotion in the forward engine compartment of Betty's
boat. This was caused by Grace and Amy seeking to repair the damage.
A moment later the resumption of the staccato exhaust of the motor
told that the break had been repaired-- temporarily, at least. The
boat shot ahead again, at her former speed, and only just in time, for
her rival was now on even terms with her.
"Oh, Betty, we can't do it!" Mollie said, pathetically. "We're going
to lose!"
"We are not! I've got another notch I can slip forward the gasoline
throttle, and here it goes! If that doesn't push us ahead nothing
will-- and---- "
"We don't get that cut glass," finished Mollie.
But just that little fraction was what was needed. The Gem went ahead
almost by inches only, but it was enough. The Eagle's crew of three
girls tried in vain to coax another revolution out of her propeller,
but it was not to be, and the Gem shot over the line a winner. A
winner, but by so narrow a margin that the judges conferred a moment
before making the announcement. But they finally made it. The Gem had
undoubtedly won.
"Oh!" exclaimed Grace as she climbed out into the cabin, and thence to
the deck, followed by Amy. "Oh, my hand is numb holding the ends of
that wire together. I didn't dare let go---- "
"It was brave of you!" exclaimed Betty, patting Grace on the shoulder.
"If you had let go we would have lost. We'll bathe your hand for you
in witch hazel."
"Oh, it is only cramped. It will be all right in a little while."
"What a din they are making!" cried Amy, covering her ears with her
hands.
"They are saluting the winner," said Mollie, as she noted the tooting
of many boat whistles. Betty slowed down her boat, and saluted as she
swept past the boat of the judges.
"Well, I'm glad it's over," sighed Grace. "It was nervous work. I'm
going to make some chocolate, and have it iced. It was warm up there
by the motor."
"And you both need baths," remarked Mollie with a laugh. "You are as
grimy as chimney sweeps."
"Yes, but we don't mind," said Amy. "You won, Betty! I'm so glad!"
"We won, you mean," corrected the Little Captain. "I couldn't have
done it except for you girls,"
Many craft saluted the Gem as she came off the course.
"I wish Uncle Amos could have seen us!" exclaimed Betty. "He would
have been proud." The girls remained as spectators for the remainder
of the carnival, and then, the day being warm, they went to their
dock. Near it was a sandy bathing beach, and soon they were swimming
about in the limpid waters of Rainbow Lake.
"Here goes for a dive!" cried Mollie, as she climbed out on the end of
the pier, and mounted a mooring post. She poised herself gracefully.
"Better not-- you don't know how deep it is," cautioned Betty.
"I'm only going to take a shallow dive," was the answer and then
Mollie's slender body shot through the air in a graceful curve, and
cut down into the water. A second later she bobbed up, shaking her
head to rid her eyes of water.
"That was lovely!" cried Grace.
"Did I splash much?"
"Not at all."
"It's real deep there," said Mollie. "Some day I'm going to try to
touch bottom."
The girls splashed about, refreshing themselves after the race. Then
came calm evening, when they sat on deck and ate supper prepared by
Aunt Kate.
"Now you girls just sit right still and enjoy yourselves," she told
them, when they insisted on helping. "You don't win motor boat races
every day, and you're entitled to a banquet."
That night there was another informal dance at the Yacht Club, and the
girls had a splendid time. Mr. Stone and Mr. Kennedy exerted
themselves to see that our friends did not lack for partners, and
Grace was rather ashamed of the suspicions she had entertained
concerning the twain.
The carnival came to an end with a series of water sports. There were
swimming races for ladies, and Mollie won one of these, but her chums
were less fortunate. The carnival had been a great success and many
congratulations were showered on Messrs. Stone and Kennedy for their
part in it.
"We are glad it is over," said Mr. Stone, as he and his chums sat on
the deck of the Gem one evening, having called to ask the girls to go
to another dance. But Betty and her chums voted for staying aboard,
and proposed a little trip about the lake by moonlight. Soon they were
under way.
It was a perfect night, and the mystic gleam of the moon moved them to
song as they swept slowly along under the influence of the
throttled-down engine.
Suddenly Mr. Kennedy, who was sitting well forward on the trunk cabin
with Grace, sprang to his feet, exclaiming:
"What's that?"
"It looks like a fire," said Grace.
"It is a fire!" cried Mr. Stone. "Say, it's that hay barge we noticed
coming over this evening, tied up at Black's dock. It's got adrift and
caught fire!"
"Look where it's drifting!" exclaimed Betty.
"Right for the Yacht Club boathouse!" added Mollie. "The wind is
taking it there. Look, the fire is increasing!"
"And if it runs against the boat house there'll be no saving it!" said
Mr. Kennedy. "There's no fire-boat up here-- there ought to be!"
"Girls!" cried Betty, "there's just a chance to save the boat house!"
"How?" demanded Amy.
"If we could get on the windward side of that burning barge, throw a
line aboard and tow it out into the middle of the lake, it could burn
there without doing any damage!"
"By Jove! She's hit the nail on the head!" declared Mr. Stone, with
emphasis. "But dare you do it, Miss Nelson?"
"I certainly will dare-- if you'll help!"
"Of course we'll help! Steer over there!"
The burning hay, fanned by a brisk wind, was now sending up a pillar
of fire and a cloud of smoke. And the barge was drifting perilously
near the boathouse. Many whistles of alarm smote the air, but no boat
was as near as the Gem.
CHAPTER XVII
ON ELM ISLAND
"Have you a long rope aboard, Miss Nelson?" asked Mr. Stone, when they
had drawn near to the burning load of hay.
"Yes, you will find it in one of the after lockers," answered Betty,
as she skillfully directed the course of her boat so as to get on the
windward side of the barge.
"And have you a boathook? I want to fasten it to the rope, and see if
I can cast it aboard the barge."
"There is something better than that," went on the Little Captain. "I
have a small anchor-- a kedge, I think my Uncle Amos called it."
"Fine, that will be just the thing to cast! Where is it?"
"In the same locker with the rope. Uncle insisted that I carry it,
though we've never used it."
"Well, it will come in mighty handy now," declared Mr. Kennedy, as he
prepared to assist his chum. "You girls had better get in the cabin,"
he added, "for there is no telling when the wind may shift, and blow
sparks on your dresses. They're too nice to have holes burned in
them," and he gazed, not without proper admiration, at Betty and her
chums. Even in this hour of stress and no little danger he could do
that.
"We'll put on our raincoats," suggested Mollie. "The little sparks
from the hay won't burn them. Or, if they do, we can have a pail of
water ready."
"That's a good idea," commented Mr. Stone, who was making the kedge
anchor fast to the long rope. "Have several pails ready if you can. No
telling when the sparks may come aboard too fast for us."
"And we have fire extinguishers, too," said Betty. "Grace, you know
where they are in the cabin. Get them out."
"And I'll draw the water," said Mr. Kennedy.
"I can help at that," added Aunt Kate, bravely. "I know where the
scrubbing pail is." She had insisted on making it one of her duties to
scrub the deck every day, and for this purpose she kept in readiness a
pail to which a rope was attached, that it might be dropped overboard
into the lake and hauled up full. This was soon in use. Aunt Kate
insisted on having several large pots and pans also filled.
"You can't have too much water at a fire," she said, practically.
The burning hay barge was rapidly being blown down toward the
boathouse. At the latter structure quite a throng of club members, and
others, had gathered in readiness to act when the time came.
In the moonlight they could be seen getting pails and tubs of water in
readiness, and one small line of hose, used to water the lawn, was
laid. But it would be of small service against such a blaze as now
enveloped the barge. Many boats were hastening to the scene, whistling
frantically-- as though that helped.
"Have you got a pump aboard?" some one hailed those on the Gem.
"No, we're going to haul the barge away," answered Betty.
"Good idea, but don't go too close!" came the warning.
"It is going to be pretty warm," remarked Mr. Stone. He had the anchor
made fast, and with the rope coiled so that it would not foul as he
made the cast, he took his place on one of the after lockers. Betty's
plan was to go as close to the burning craft as she could, to allow
the cast to be made, As soon as the prongs of the anchor caught, she
would head her motor and out toward the middle of the lake, towing the
barge where it could be anchored and allowed to burn to the water's
edge.
"But what are you going to anchor it with?" asked Mr. Kennedy, when
this last feature had been discussed.
"That's so," spoke his chum, reflectively.
"There's a heavy piece of iron under the middle board of the cabin,"
said Betty. "Uncle Amos said it was there for ballast in case we
wanted to use a sail, but I don't see that we need it."
"We'll use it temporarily, anyhow, for an anchor," decided Mr. Stone.
He and his companion soon had it out, and made fast to the other end
of the rope.
"Get ready now!" warned Betty, when this had been done. "I'm going as
close as I can."
She steered her boat toward the burning barge. There came whistles of
encouragement from the surrounding craft. The heat was intense, and on
the suggestion of Mr. Kennedy the motor boat's decks were kept wet
from the water in the pails. The girls felt their hands and faces grow
warm. Those on the boathouse float and pier were all anxiety. The
flames, blown by the wind, seemed to leap across the intervening space
as if to reach the boat shelter.
"Here she goes!" cried Mr. Stone, as he cast the anchor. It was
skillfully done, and the prongs caught on some part of the barge, low
enough down so that the hempen strands would not burn. Mr. Stone
pulled on the rope to see if it would hold. It did, and he called:
"Let her go, Miss Nelson! Gradually though; don't put too much strain
on the rope at first! After you get the barge started the other way,
it will be all right."
Betty sent the Gem ahead. The rope paid out over the stern-- taunted--
became tight. There was a heavy strain on it. Would it hold? It did,
and slowly the hay barge began to move out into the lake.
"Hurray!" cried Mr. Kennedy. "That solved the problem."
"You girls certainly know how to do things," said Mr. Stone,
admiringly.
Cheers from those in surrounding boats seemed to emphasize this
sentiment. There was now no danger to the Yacht Club boathouse.
A little later, when the flames in the hay were at their height, the
piece of iron was dropped overboard from the Gem. This, with the rope
and the kedge anchor, served to hold the barge in place. There it
could burn without doing any harm.
Soon the fire began to die down, and a little later it was but a
smouldering mass, not even interesting as a spectacle. Betty Nelson's
plan had worked well, and later she received the thanks of the Yacht
Club, she and her chums being elected honorary life members in
recognition of the service they had rendered.
Summer days passed-- delicious, lazy summer days-- during which the
girls motored, canoed or rowed as they fancied, went on picnics in the
woods, or on some of the islands of Rainbow Lake, or took long walks.
Mr. Stone and Mr. Kennedy, sometimes one, often both, went with the
girls. Occasionally Will and his friends ran out for a day or two,
taking cruises with Betty, and her chums.
Aunt Kate remained as chaperone, others who had been invited finding
it impossible to come. The girls' mothers made up a party and paid
them a visit one day, being royally entertained at the time.
"Yes, you girls certainly know how to do things," said Mr. Stone one
day; after Betty had skillfully avoided a collision, due to the
carelessness of another skipper.
"I wish we could do something to get those papers for father," thought
Grace. Not a trace had been found of Prince or the missing documents.
It was very strange. Mr. Ford and his lawyer friends could not
understand it. The interests opposed to him were preparing to take
action, it was rumored, and if the papers were found this would be
stopped. Even a detective agency that made a specialty of tracing lost
articles had no success. Prince and the papers seemed to have vanished
into thin air.
One day as Betty and her chums were motoring about the lake, having
gone to the store for some supplies, they saw the two boys who had
been searching for their canoe.
"Did you find it?" asked Grace.
"No, not a trace of it, Too, bad, too, for we saved up our money--
four dollars, now," said the taller of the two lads. "If you find her
we'll give you that money; won't we?" and he appealed to his
companion.
"We sure will!"
"Well, if we see, or hear, anything of it we'll let you know,"
promised Betty. "Poor fellows," she murmured, as they rowed away. They
had made a circuit of the lake, going in many coves, but without
success.
"It's about time to be thinking of camp, if we're going in for that
sort of thing," announced Betty one day. "Shall we try it, girl?"
"I'd like it," said Mollie. "We can use the boat, too; can't we?"
"Of course," replied Betty.
"And sleep aboard?" asked Grace.
"No, let's sleep in a tent," proposed Amy. "It will be lots of fun."
"But the bugs, and mosquitoes-- not to mention frogs and snakes," came
protestingly from Grace.
"Oh, we've done it before, and we can use our mosquito nets," said
Betty. "I heard of a nice tent, and a well-fitted up camp over on Elm
Island we can hire for a week or so."
"But the ghost-- the one Mr. Lagg told about?" asked Mollie.
"We'll 'lay' the ghost!" laughed Betty. "Seriously, I don't believe
there is anything more than a fisherman's story to account for it.
Still, if you girls are afraid---- "
"Afraid!" they protested in chorus.
"Then we'll go to Elm Island," decided Betty, and they did. The camp,
near a little dock where the Gem could be tied, was well suited to
their needs.
"Oh, we'll have a good time here!" declared Betty as they took
possession. "But we must get in plenty of supplies. Let's go over and
call on Mr. Lagg," and they headed for the mainland in the motor boat.
CHAPTER XVIII
IN CAMP
"Well, well, young ladies, I certainly am glad to see you again!
Indeed I am."
"Ladies, ladies, one and all,
I'm very glad to have you call!"
Thus Mr. Lagg made our friends welcome as they entered his "emporium,"
as the sign over the door had it.
"What will it be to-day?" he went on.
"I've prunes and peaches, pies and pills,
To feed you well, and cure your ills."
"Thank you, but we haven't any ills!" cried "Brown Betty," as her
friends were beginning to call her, for certainly she was tanned most
becomingly. "However, we do want the lottest lot of things. Where is
that list, Mollie?"
"You have it."
"No, I gave it to you."
"Grace had it last," volunteered Amy. "She said she did not want to
forget---- "
"Oh, we know what Grace doesn't want to forget," interrupted Mollie
with a laugh. "Produce that list, Grace," and it was forthcoming.
"You see we have let our supplies run low," remarked Betty as she gave
her order,
"Are you going on a long cruise?" Mr. Lagg, wanted to know.
"To sail and sail the bounding main,
And then come back to port again?
"Of course I know that isn't very good," he apologized. "When I make
'em up on the spur of the moment that way I don't take time to polish
'em off. And of course Rainbow Lake isn't exactly the bounding main,
but it will answer as well."
"Certainly," agreed Betty, with a laugh. "I think that is all," she
went on, looking at her list. "Oh, I almost forgot, we want some more
of your lovely olives-- those large ones."
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