"Well, we're not!" cried Marjorie, gayly. "So cheer up, Stella,
and come along."

Leaving the two girls, as they were already seated, in the stern
of the boat, Carter carefully tucked Stella into the bow seat, and
then took his own place on the middle thwart. This arrangement
enabled him to keep his eye on the two mischievous madcaps, and he
had no fear that Stella would cut up any tricks behind his back.

He could not reprove the mischief-makers, for they had done
nothing really wrong, but he looked at them grimly as he rowed out
into the stream.

"Oh," exclaimed Marjorie, "isn't this just too lovely for
anything! Please, Carter, mayn't we just put our hands in the
water if we keep our feet in the boat?"

"No," growled Carter; "you'll be wantin' to put your heads in
next. Now do set still, like the nice young lady behind me."

Anxious to be good, Marjorie gave a little sigh and folded her
hands in her lap, while Molly did likewise.

Carter's eyes twinkled as he looked at the two little martyrs, and
his heart relented.

"Ye may just dangle your fingers in the water, if ye want to," he
said, "but ye must be careful not to wobble the boat."