ar more human and companionable.

As the automobile carried them away. Bet turned to her father:

"Did you ever see anyone who could choose such good friends as I can?"

"Never in this world, Bet!" laughed the Colonel as he pinched her cheek.

CHAPTER V

ACROSS THE HUDSON

Before saying goodnight to her chums, Bet had made a plan for them to
come back early on Monday for another picnic.

"When we get to studying, we just drop swimming and everything else."

"I'll be most afraid to swim in a big river like the Hudson," said Kit
with a shiver. "I learned to swim in a water hole in Indian Creek, and
it wasn't much more than just deep enough to cover me."

"You'll love the Hudson!" declared Joy. "At high tide it's great!"

"I didn't know that a river had a tide."

"Close to the sea they do. The Hudson has, as you'll soon learn. It
has a tide and even a good strong undertow in places. --Well, you just
have to know the Hudson to appreciate all its fine points," Bet
exclaimed with enthusiasm.

"Be sure and bring your camera, Miss Fixit, and take that picture of
the queen's fan. I'll be home all morning." Because Shirley was
always tinkering with her camera, the Colonel had playfully given her
the name of Miss Fixit.

So the girls had agreed to come early and have a long day at the beach
that belonged to the Merriweather estate.

"I don't hear any invitations for us to come along. Don't you think
boys enjoy picnics as well as girls?" protested Bob Evans.

"Boys spoil all the fun," said Joy contemptuously, but with mischief in
her eyes.

"No, they don't, Joy!" Bet disagreed. "Sometimes they are very useful.
--To build picnic fires and keep them going."

"Oh, yes, you're always glad to make use of us. But you never invite
us to any of your good times. Never!"

"If big brothers wouldn't tease so much, they might get invited once in
a while," laughed Joy as she looked up at her tall brother, who had
always been her protector and hero as long as she could remember.

"Do come," shouted Bet as they got into the car. "Even if we didn't
think to invite you, we'll be mighty glad to see you when you get
there." As she turned and linked her arm in her father's, she little
dreamed that her last remark would be remembered by all four girls as a
strange prophecy.

The girls saw each other only for a moment at church the next day. Bet
left immediately after the service, as the Colonel was expecting g