CHAPTER X
TOO MUCH JOY
Far out in the pretty bay the _Chelton_ was anchored. It was arrangedthat the luncheon should be given too far from land to get anything insupplies that might have been forgotten. In fact, it was to be a testmeal, such as might be a necessity in case of "shipwreck" or accident.
It was such a day as sometimes makes early Summer copy Spring, whenthe mists of morning mingle with the sun's rays, and send up shafts ofhaze to pillar the sky from land or water.
There had been great preparations for this salt water lunch. Thegirls, enthusiastic over the possibilities, had vied with one anotherin arranging the affair.
Dray ran his boat, the _Dixie_, alongside, and together the fleet oftwo comprised what the boys termed a "White House Lunch." The cookingwas all done on the _Chelton_ and the eatables were handed over thebrass rail to Lottie and Marita, who served as waitresses on the_Dixie_. First there were lettuce sandwiches, rolled. Any girl who cansuccessfully roll bread and lettuce is termed proficient by thecooking teachers, and it was a tie between Belle and Cora as to whodid the most and best of the rolling.
With the lettuce came the greatest treat to the boys--homemade crabsalad--home caught crabs and handmade dressing thereon.
"I caught the biggest crab," declared Lottie, handing the wooden plateto Belle. "Isn't that fine!"
"Finest!" she repeated, enthusiastically. "But say! Why don't the boyscatch crabs?"
The boys did not waste time asking questions. Lettuce sandwiches! Crabsalad! They would be serving frappe next!
"Eat plenty of salad," Cora ordered. "We spent all yesterday eveningcrabbing."
"Will--we--eat--it?" exclaimed Walter. "I won't dare look at a fryingpan again this week, and my term ends with the week," he said, betweenbites.
Next came baked potatoes. These had been done on the electric toaster,right aboard the _Chelton_, and while scarcely a correct following forsalad, the first was given as an appetizer, and the potatoes as food.
The latter were served on the smallest of wooden plates, with the mostextravagant little butter plates--really sauce or cream "thimbles,"all fluted and shaped from white paper.
A dozen of these cups had been Belle's contribution to the feast. Shespied them at the news stand, over at the point, and could not leavethem.
Dried beef went with the potatoes, also dill pickles, and while Corakept the electric toaster going, and saw to it that the "kitchen" didnot run out of hot water from a reserve tank, the other girls tookturns eating their own lunches. Of course, as the boys were guests, itwas important their wants should be first supplied, a matter noteasily managed, as the girls soon found out.
"More! More!" called Ed, who was eating the browned potato skin, orbark, with unmistakable relish. "Potatoes are good for the nerves!"
"Robber!" shouted Jack, grabbing a second supply that had just beenadjusted on Ed's plate. "Potatoes are good for the lungs, and Iam--winded."
"I should like just a tiny bit more crab," simpered Dray. "Fish isgood for----"
"We have something more," Cora announced, "don't each too much solidstuff."
"We couldn't," declared Belle, "not if we kept eating for the rest ofour mortal lives, it wouldn't be too much."
"There are the 'Likes'!" announced Lottie, indicating a canoe glidingup the bay, in which were two members of the "We-like-it" camp. "Nowwe will have to hide things."
"Hide things!" Belle tossed her sweater over her plate as she saw thecanoe. "We are lost!"
"Oh, let us invite them alongside," suggested Lottie, who, up to thatmoment had been so busy with setting out plates that she had scarcelyspoken to the visitors. "We have plenty of stuff."
"Nix, nary, not much!" cried Ed, in protest. "That's 'Dainty' there,the stroke, and if he gets in here he'll eat the dish pan and thecooker. I say, young ladies should be most careful what sort offellows they associate with."
But in spite of this the "Likes" were invited. Possibly they smelledthe eatables, for they came up to the side of the _Chelton_ as nicelyas if they had set out from shore with that intention.
"Thanks," called Dainty, the fat one, "we would be pleased to,"although no one had asked him to do anything.
"Delighted," affirmed Kent, the other of the party. "We sent our cardsby messenger."
The canoe bobbed up and down, until Cora took an extra rope from the_Chelton_ and threw it to Dainty, who in turn tied it to a small hookin the green _Snake_. This served to keep the canoe from capsizing asDainty and Kent crept into the _Chelton_.
Just what saved all three boats from being turned upside down in theracket that followed only Neptune knows, for in their delight atseeing real food the boys from the "Likes" grew so impetuous that the"Couldn'ts" felt called upon to interfere.
Crabs, sandwiches, potatoes--each in turn were hailed with gales ofglee, until the girls fell back exhausted with the strain of providingand cooking.
"Let me, let me," begged Dray, "I know exactly how to handle electricappliances. I press my neckties--with an electric iron."
He was over into the _Chelton_, and piling more potatoes under thelittle tin cover on the toaster, before anyone had time to answer.
"Turned or unturned?" he asked, surveying a smoking potato critically.
"Both or neither," answered the famished Dainty between gasps.
"I'll take my coffee now," announced Jack, sitting back in thecushions, and flicking an imaginary speck from his sweater.
"Now, you must wait," Cora ordered. "We have not caught up to you yet.We are only at the entree."
Lottie declared she never had such a splendid time in her life, andthe brightness of her cheeks catching the flame from her eyes bore outthis statement. Marita, too, seemed to have "shook her cocoon," Jacksaid, his economy of language scarcely making up for the littledifference in "shook" and "shaken." Certainly she managed to climbfrom one boat to another with remarkable alertness, while Bess, Belleand Cora acted like up-to-date society maidens, only they acted alittle in advance of the "date" usually adhered to.
"And do we have to leave these shores?" wailed Ed, sipping a real goodcup of coffee. "Why not anchor here for now and for eternity!"
"I thought you liked camping," said Belle. "Surely you are not tiredof housekeeping. Doesn't it run smoothly?"
"Sure," replied Ed, "but the grub is the trouble. I wonder why mammas,with good moral intentions, train little boys to eat?"
"Do you see those clouds," remarked Cora, "they are just swooping downon us, and we are miles from home. My, but it is going to be a quickshower!"
The young people had been enjoying themselves so much that not untilCora spoke did they realize that the sky had become overcast.
"Oh, I'm scared to death," cried Marita. "Those clouds are sonear--you would think they would touch the water!"
"Oh, aren't they black!" gasped Belle.
"Come, get everything under cover," called Jack, thinking first of thedanger to the girls and their boat. "Dray can get his awning upquickly enough, but this one has not been opened yet."
"You boys just tie your canoe tight to us," Cora said, as the twovisitors were about to climb into their frail skiff. "You would bewashed out during the storm that's coming. Here, Bess, hold this,"handing Bess one end of the awning tie. "Belle, can you keep that ropetaut?"
It was astonishing how quickly the scene of enjoyment turned to one ofalarm. Those of the girls who were active and eager to assist inmaking things safe, did not suffer so much from fright as did they whotook time to watch the clouds. The first severe storm of Summerusually has a more terrifying effect upon the timid ones than thosethat may follow, and this one certainly was a "star" for a starter.
The lightning soon began to flash intermittently and the thunder torumble. The clear expanse of horizon afforded such a wide view of thestorm that it was small wonder those out in the bay feared for theirsafety.
"Oh!" wailed Marita, as one flash of lightning seemed to dart directlyat the brass rail of Dra
y's boat. "I thought I was struck!"
Her words had not been uttered before the clap of thunder followed.This had that queer, deep sound peculiar to the water, and certainlythe heart of the storm seemed to hover over the little fleet.
All over the bay sail boats, canoes, motor boats, row boats and everysort of craft were making for shore, but in most of these there werelittle or no goods that might be damaged by rain or waves, while boththe _Dixie_ and the _Chelton_ would have suffered severely had theyencountered a down-pour uncovered.
The awnings were up at last, and Jack had started the _Chelton_.Directly after that the chug of the _Dixie_ was heard.
Then it was all storm! Raging! Roaring! Which way could two smallmotor boats hope to plough their way in such a fury of wind, rain andlightning?
The waves had assumed the proportions of billows, and every time aboat lifted with the crest, a huge bank of water would break over it.
Jack clung to the steering wheel, and Cora never took her eyes off theengine. But how they whirled and twirled! There was the _Dixie!_ Itwas keeping near--one good thing. The canoe had broken loose and wassoon lost to sight. No one bewailed it; there was too serious work athand for that.
"Let me look after the gas!" begged Kent of Cora. He was at her elbow,but she had insisted on personally attending to the machine.
"I know it better, perhaps," she shrieked back, "but stay close. If Icannot manage I will let you know!"
One terrific clap, then a roar sounded in the ears of all, but seemedto paralyze Lottie.
She fell in a heap and lay speechless. Up to this time she had beenhalf sitting in the bottom of the boat.
"She's struck!" shrieked Belle. Then Cora left the engine to Kent andtook charge of the senseless girl.