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!"