"That's Betty Nelson-- all over," said Amy.

Eel Island proved to be an ideal picnic place, and there were one or
two other parties on it when the girls arrived. They made the Gem
secure, and struck off into the woods with their lunch baskets, Betty
having removed a certain patented spark plug, without which the motor
could not be started. It was not likely that anyone would be able to
duplicate it and make off with the craft in their absence, so they
felt it safe to leave the boat unguarded.

"Pass the olives, Grace my dear," requested Mollie, when they were
seated on a grassy knoll under a big oak tree. "I have the crackers
beside me. Now I am happy," and she munched the appetizing
combination.

"Crackers and olives!" murmured Betty. "Our old schoolday feast. I
haven't gotten over my love for them, either. Let them circulate,
Mollie."

The girls were making merry with quip and jest when Grace, hearing a
crackling of under brush, looked back along the path they had come.
She started and exclaimed:

"Here come those two young men-- Mr. Stone and Mr. Kennedy."

"Don't notice them," begged Amy, who was not much given to making new
acquaintances.

"Too late! They see us-- they're coming right toward us!" cried Grace,
in some confusion.