ed, for what was a common-place happening for one
was in the nature of an adventure for the other.

"After lunch we'll go out in the canoe!" declared Bet. "I'll be mighty
proud to give you your first boat ride."

Kit looked at the brightly-painted little canoe many times before the
lunch was finished and Bet declared herself ready to go.

The egg sandwiches and stuffed olives were eaten without much thought
by Kit. Apple turnovers and fudge slipped down as if she were in a
dream, for Kit's mind was racing ahead to the thrill of getting out on
the Hudson in a boat.

The girls helped Bet to drag the canoe out of the boat house and to the
edge of the water. Joy and Shirley decided not to go. Shirley was
trying to get some good pictures of the gulls today and Joy wasn't in
the mood.

"Anyway," laughed Joy, "in a canoe, two is company, three's a crowd.
Trot along and enjoy yourselves."

Kit took her place in the boat and Bet shoved it off the sandy beach
with her paddle, and in a moment Kit felt it bobbing on the water.
Living up to its name, "_The Arrow_," it shot gracefully out to the
stream, guided by Bet's capable hands.

Kit held on to both sides of the boat at first. She felt quivery and
half frightened.

Bet was using the paddle vigorously. She wore no hat and her blond
hair was tousled as usual. It seemed impossible for Bet to keep her
unruly locks in order at any time, but now as the breeze ruffled it,
she looked like some half-wild elfin creature.

She was tall for her age but slender and her pink and white coloring
gave her an appearance of frailty, but when she used her paddle, Kit
was fascinated to watch the swelling of the muscles of her arms. She
seemed made of springs as she plied the paddle first at one side then
the other, with quick, sure, strokes.

"Have you ever been across the Hudson?" asked Kit. "Across the Hudson!
Doesn't that sound romantic? It's a long way, isn't it?"

"Only about a mile, I think."

"And have you ever paddled over there?"

"Heaps of times! We've been everywhere on this river. We used to go
out and get in the wash of the river steamers. That was lots of fun.
Once we almost got upset and Dad made me promise I'd never do that
again."

"Well, if you don't mind, Bet, you can dispense with all the extra
thrills today. For this is giving me heart trouble as it is."

"Why, what's the matter? You're not frightened, are you?"

"Of course I'm frightened. Sc