"Sounds like a riddle," commented Amy. "Let's see who can guess the
answer."

"White-- and rattles," murmured Betty. "I have it-- it's a pan full of
white dishes. Some lone camper goes down to wash his dishes in the
lake every night, and that accounts for it."

"Then we'll ask the lone camper-- to scamper!" cried Grace with a
laugh. "We want peace and quietness."

"And you are really going to camp on Elm Island?" asked Mr. Lagg, as
he put the purchases aboard.

"We are," said Betty, solenmly. "And if you hear us call for help in
the middle of the night---- "

"Betty Nelson!" protested Amy.

"And if for help you call on I--
I'll come exceeding quick and spry!"

Thus spouted Mr. Lagg.

"I am painfully aware," he said, quickly, "that my poem on this
occasion needs much polishing, but I sometimes make them that way,
just to show what can be done-- on the spur of the moment. Howsomever,
I wish you luck. And if you do need help, just holler, or light a fire
on shore, or fire a gun. I can see you or hear you from the end of my
dock." Indeed, Elm Island was in sight.