Busy days followed, for they were getting ready for the cruise. Uncle
Amos went out with Betty and the girls several times to offer advice,
and he declared that they were fast becoming good sailors.

"Of course not good enough for deep water," he made haste to qualify,
"but all right for a river and a lake."

The girls were learning to tell time seaman fashion. Betty fairly
lived aboard her new boat, her mother complained, but the Little
Captain was not selfish-- she invited many of her friends and
acquaintances to take short trips with her. Among the girls she asked
were Alice Jallow and Kittie Rossmore, the two who had acted rather
meanly toward our friends just prior to the walking trip. But Alice
was sincerely sorry for the anonymous letter she had written, giving a
hint of the mystery surrounding Amy Stonington, and the girls had
forgiven her.

Betty's Aunt Kate arrived. She was a middle-aged lady, but as fond of
the great out-doors as the girls themselves. She was to chaperone them
for a time.

The final preparations were made, the sailor suits were pronounced
quite "chicken" by Will-- he meant "chic," of course. Trunks had been
packed, some provisions put aboard, and all was in readiness. Uncle
Amos planned to meet the girls later, and see that all was going well.
The boys were to be given a treat some time after Rainbow Lake was
reached, word to be sent to them of this event.

"All aboard!" cried Betty on the morning of the start. It was a