While he was gone the others began their preparations for spending the night on board. The girls would occupy the main cabin, where there were four berths. The after part of the boat had been enclosed in heavy curtains when the rain set in, and here the boys could sleep on the locker cushions spread on the floor. They had done it on one or two other occasions.
There were a few blankets, besides those for the bunks, but the boys said they would not need many coverings, as the night was warm.
Cora put the kettle on the gasoline stove, and as soon as it boiled, tea was made. There was condensed milk in the larder, and sugar for those who wished it, though Bess bewailed the lack of lemon, for she wanted to “reduce” she said, and some one had told her lemon juice in tea was helpful.
Cora was setting out what remained of the sandwiches and cake, and Jack was eyeing, rather dubiously, the apology for a meal, when they heard a hail:
“And may he come well-laden!” ejaculated Jack.
“You poor boy!” exclaimed Cora, sympathetically, as Walter came dripping into the after cabin. “Are you soaked?”
“Not quite so bad as that,” he answered, laying down some brown-paper-wrapped bundles.
“Never mind how _he_ is, what about the eats?” asked Jack.
“You are heartless,” said Hazel, and then she wished she had not spoken, for Jack flashed a look at her, and whispered:
“Can you blame me for being heart-_less_ where _you_ are?”
“Found a store about half a mile down the—well, I wouldn’t call it a road,” and Walter looked at his mud-splashed feet. “Say, rather, down the swamp. Found a store there, and I got a few things.”
“I should say you did!” exclaimed Bess, who, with Belle, had opened the packages. “This will be fine,” for Walter had purchased jellies, jams, some tinned meat, bacon, eggs and enough canned food, together with some rather doubtful oranges, to make a substantial meal.
“That looks good to me!” declared Jack, while Walter divested himself of his rubbers, and put the umbrella where it would not flood the cabin.
“Olives for Olivia,” crooned Walter. “Say, Jack, s’pose those overalls you went bathing in would be dry enough for me?”
“Sure! Try ’em on. You’ll look sweet in ’em.”
“I don’t care whether I look sweet as long as I feel dry,” retorted Walter.