However, although they agreed that Deepdale was “the finest place in the world,” change and adventure were what they really hankered after, and Deepdale was too familiar a spot to offer them either.
But there was real adventure in the idea of camping out in the romantic little shack so recently acquired by Amy Blackford’s brother, and they welcomed it eagerly.
“I suppose we ought to run down there and look the place over,” said Grace, cautiously. Grace was the only one of the four Outdoor Girls who really considered comfort where adventure was concerned, and this trait of hers no amount of ridicule or impatience on the part of the other girls could overcome. For Grace, who was tall and slim and graceful, was very fond of her ease. Once she was assured that an outing was to be “comfortable,” then she could start in to enjoy herself.
So at this suggestion that they “run down there and look the place over” the girls exchanged a glance of martyrdom.
“Why, of course,” said Mollie sarcastically, “Grace will have to be sure she has a real hair mattress to sleep on and clean sheets twice a week. Maybe we could manage to get an easy chair aboard the _Gem_--one like the kind Betty’s dad uses.”
“A fine idea,” replied Grace, unabashed. “I never gave you credit for so much thoughtfulness, Mollie dear. Have a chocolate?”
“Keep your old chocolates,” she said. “The next time you offer me one I’ve a good mind to throw the whole box overboard.”
“Just try it,” said Grace, lazily. “You’d have to toss me over, too, you know.”
“Shouldn’t mind in the least,” said Mollie, at which the Little Captain laughed and Amy Blackford chuckled.
“Talk about wild animals,” cried Betty, gayly. “We won’t need any with you and Grace about, Mollie dear. Two wildcats are enough.”
“Did you hear what she called us?” asked Grace, feeling abused, but Mollie was looking the other way.
“We’ve gone a pretty long way down the river,” she said. “Look, Betty, isn’t that the new lake steamer, the _General Pershing_?”
Betty, who had been too absorbed in plans for the summer to notice particularly where she was going, followed the direction of Mollie’s pointing finger.
Suddenly her breath caught in a gasp and a thrill of apprehension swept over her. The steamer was indeed the _General Pershing_, the great shining new boat which plied up and down the lake and the river, and it was coming toward them at what, to the Little Captain, seemed an appalling rate of speed.