"Oh, we'll never get over that!" declared Mollie, who was
industriously putting hairpins where they would be more serviceable.
"And we couldn't imagine, for the longest time, why the house should
be left all alone that way."

"Now I'm going to begin my lesson," announced Grace, who, having
gotten herself ready for breakfast, took up the book showing how
various sailor knots should be made. With a piece of twine she tied
"figure-eights," now and then slipping into the "grannie" class; she
made half-hitches, clove hitches, a running bowline, and various other
combinations, until Amy declared that it made her head ache to look
on.

The girls had breakfast, strolled about on shore for a little while,
and then started off, intending to stop in Dunkirk, which town lay a
little below them, to get some supplies, and replenish the oil and
gasoline.

It was while Betty was bargaining for the latter necessaries for her
motor in a garage near the river that she heard a hearty voice outside
asking:

"Have you men seen anything of a trim little craft, manned by four
pretty girls, in the offing? She'd be about two tons register, a
rakish little motor boat, sailing under the name Gem and looking every
inch of it. She ought to be here about high tide, stopping for sealed
orders, and---- "

"Uncle Amos!" cried Betty, hurrying to the garage door, as she
recognized his voice. "Are you looking for us?"