"We were, then again we couldn't," answered her brother. "We had a
very important appointment at Far Island."

"Ben, don't you want one of us to run her?" asked Ed. "We were to
have had a try--"

"Nope. This here is the best fun I can have, and this boat is a
beauty," replied the old man. "If I had one that could go like this
and carry so many passengers I'd give up the dock."

"Yes, a boat like this would earn its own living," agreed Jack.
"Run her as long as you like to, Ben. It gives us a chance--ahem--"

"To sit nearer your sisters," finished Ben, with a sly laugh.

"All's well that ends well," quoted Belle to Ed, for she was
scarcely able yet to draw a free breath--her anxiety had been too
keen. "I cannot believe that we are all here together again."

"Just pinch me," said Ed laughing, "and if I don't give our war
whoop you may be sure this is not me--I am still on the Robinson
ranch--there, that was an unpremeditated pun; I mean the old
Robinson Crusoe and I forgot that he was great-grandfather to the
present Robinson twins."

"Say, Ed," put in Walter, "what do you say if we buy a houseboat?
This has the camp beaten to a frazzle."

"It's all right on such a night," replied Ed, "but houseboats, I
believe, cost money, and our camp is rented to us for the season.