Jones at last sent Eleanor and Lillian to the kitchen to drive nails
along the wall and to hang up their limited display of kitchen
utensils, while Phil and Madge helped with the unpacking. There was
one steamer chair, bought in honor of the chaperon, and a great many
sofa cushions, borrowed from their rooms at school, to be used as deck
furniture. A barrel of apples, a barrel of potatoes and two Virginia
hams were donations from the farm in Virginia. Mrs. Seldon, Lillian's
mother, had also sent a store of pickles and preserves.

Phil, too, had brought a big box from home, while Madge's own purchases
for the houseboat included a small table, five chairs, besides the
necessary china and some of the bedding. The rest of the outfit the
girls managed to secure from their own homes.

Miss Jones, Phil and Madge were industriously turning the berths into
beds when a sharp scream from Lillian, who was working in the kitchen,
filled them with terror. Miss Jones arrived first at the kitchen door,
with her heart in her mouth. Had some horrible disaster overtaken
them, just as they were about to start on their adventures? There
stood the two girls, Lillian and Eleanor, their faces, instead of
showing fright, apparently shining with delight. The men who had been
setting up the little stove, which they had bought for a trifling sum
after all, had disappeared. The girls were now in full possession of
their domain.

"What is it, children? What has happened?" implored Miss Jones, with a
white, scared face. Lillian pointed ahead of her, but only the kitchen
stove was to be seen. Madge and Phil, who had followed close behind
their chaperon, were equally mystified.