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They were operating smoothly. Scotty walked up the pier and untied the bowline. At Rick's signal, he stepped aboard on the foredeck, bringing the line with him. Rick cast off the stern line, pushed the houseboat away from the pier, then put the motors in gear. The trip to Swamp Creek was a familiar one now.
"We'll talk about it as soon as your father comes home," said Mrs. Bobbsey, for her husband had stopped on the way from the houseboat dock, where the family had lately landed, to go to his lumber office for a little while. "Let Snoop out!" begged little Flossie. "Snoop's tired of being shut up in that box."
The young man raised his cap and, whistling to his dog, strode off down the hill. "What a nice boy," commented Lillian. Madge, however, was not thinking of Tom Curtis; her mind dwelt upon their chaperon, and the long, anxious night she had spent alone on the houseboat. Poor Miss Jones! Her vigil had indeed been a patient one.
The day passed all too quickly. Twilight was upon them almost before they realized it. Supper was late that night, and ere they had finished the dishes the motor boat drew up to them and the Tramp Club swarmed over the side of the houseboat with merry greetings. "It is almost like being boarded by pirates," laughed Harriet. "In this case the pirates are welcome."
The fishes will come and clean it up. It's easy to keep house on a houseboat. We're going to have a fine time this summer. I feel it in my bones." The supper work was cleared away quickly. Jane filled the hanging lamps, while Harriet trimmed and filled the lantern that was to be put out as a night light so that other craft should not run into them during the night.
Presently the girl said: "Where are you going to sleep tonight?" "Oh, that's a long ways off," replied the apt pupil of the happy-go-lucky houseboat show. "I'll find a place, I guess." The girl looked thoughtfully toward the street.
Suddenly his good-natured face took on a startled look as he stared anxiously toward the houseboat. A moment later he was running toward the tent at full speed. "Fellows, come out here!" he shouted. "Hurry up!" "What's the matter?" asked George Baker, hurrying out of the tent, the other members of the Tramp Club at his heels. "Look!" gasped Billy, pointing toward the "Red Rover."
As though frightened, the lad looked furtively from one young woman to the other. Five minutes passed. The deaf and dumb lad made no explanation of his surprising visit. It was impossible to ask him why he had come. The houseboat party stared at him in perplexity. The boy stared back again. He was completely fascinated by the beauty of the room and the circle of pretty girls.
"You don't say so!" ejaculated the speaker on shore. "Tell the Rover boys!" called out Nellie. "Dan Baxter is taking us down the river on the houseboat." "Save us, and we will pay you well," added Dora, and then Baxter's not over cleanly hand was clapped over her mouth, and she could say no more.
'I think Gideon had better leave this dreadful houseboat, and wait among the willows over there. If the piano comes, then he could step out and take it in; and if the police come, he could slip into our houseboat, and there needn't be any more Jimson at all.
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