other girl with us we could, when we go cruising."
"Or a chaperone," added Grace. "We may have to do that, you know."
"Well, we can," admitted Betty. "The question is, shall we go on a cruise?"
"Ask us!" exclaimed Mollie with a laugh. "Just ask us!"
"I do ask you," retorted the little captain of the Gem. "Girls, you are hereby invited to accompany me on a cruise to go—Oh, where can we go?"
"To Rainbow Lake, of course," said Grace, promptly. "We can go down the river into the lake, motor about it, go out into the lower river if we want to, camp on an island or two, if we like, and have a general good time."
"That's the way to talk!" cried Captain Marlin. "And I'll come with you part of the time. There's some extra bunks back here maybe you didn't see," and he showed them three folding ones in the cockpit back of the trunk cabin, where awnings could be stretched in stormy weather, enclosing that part of the craft.
"But what makes the boat go?" asked gentle Amy.
"The motor makes it 'mote,'" spoke Betty. "It's up in front; isn't it, Uncle Amos?"
