"And truly," finished Cora with a smile. "Yes, it has, and there is
not a boy on the premises to show me how to run it. Jack expected
to be here, but he isn't. So now I'm going to try it alone. I
never could wait until evening to start my new boat. And isn't it
lovely that you have arrived in time to take the initial run? I
remember you both took the first spin with me in my auto, the
Whirlwind, and now here you are all ready for the trial performance
of the motor boat. Now Belle, don't refuse. There is absolutely no
danger."

"But the water," objected the timid Belle.

"We can all swim," put in her sister, "and you promised, Belle, not
to be nervous this trip. Yes, Cora, I'm all ready. I saw the craft
as we came up. Wasn't it the boat with the new light oak deck and
mahogany gunwale? I am sure it was,"

"Yes, isn't she a beauty? I should have been satisfied with any
sort of a good boat, but mother wanted something really reliable,
and she and Jack did it all before I had a chance to interfere."

"I wonder what your mother will next bestow upon you?" asked Belle
with a laugh. "She has such absolute confidence in you."

"Let us hope it will not be a man; we can't let Cora get married,
whatever else she may do," put in Bess, as she shook the dust from
her motor coat, and prepared to follow Cora, who was already leaving
the camp. Belle, too, started, but one could see that she, though
a motor girl, did not exactly fancy experimenting on the water. It