Will began to think it was a pretty
bad case.

[Illustration: THE BOYS WITH THEIR BOATS.]

"What a beauty!" "Isn't it just lovely!" "Pretty! pretty! pretty!"

These exclamations came respectively from Greta, Hildegarde, and
Minchen, and had reference to the "Columbus," which was gliding up
to the bank where the boys stood, with its sails gleaming in the
sunshine, while it dipped and courtesied on the little waves. The
girls were coming around the bend. Greta and Minchen had their
canal-boats, and Hildegarde carried a great square of gingerbread.

"That's the most beautiful thing I ever saw!" cried Greta. In her
admiration of the vessel, she had forgotten her wounded dignity. For
she had arranged with Hildegarde that, after giving the boys their
share of gingerbread, they should walk proudly and silently away.

As Greta had broken the compact by speaking, Hildegarde entered upon
an explanation: "We have been down the stream looking for you--"
But here she was interrupted by a frown from Greta, who suddenly
recollected the slight that had been put upon them.

"Naughty boys to run away!" said little Minchen. "You sha'n't see my
boat sail!"

"My ship is aground on that island," said Will, willing to change the
subject. "I have no way of getting her off. I wonder if the boat we
came in is too large to be got up here."

"The boat was taken back to Zaandam," said Hildegarde, "and our boat
is away, too."

"The 'America' will have to stay where she is, then," said Will,
trying to speak cheerfully.

"Pretty ship is lost! Too bad!" said Minchen, pityingly. Then
brightly: "I'll give you mine!-_may be_," she added in a doubtful
tone, as her glance fell lovingly upon the boat she was hugging under
her arm.

Meantime, Greta had been studying the situation. She now turned to
Will. "I can get your ship off," she said. "Take care of my boat till
I come back, and don't sail her on any account. I wont be gone long."

She handed her boat to Will, and was around the bend in an instant;
and it was not very long before the anxious group heard the sound of
her rapid footsteps returning. Will thought she had gone to the mill
to get some one to help them, but she came back alone, and all she
brought with her was a large ball of cord.

Martin and Minchen asked her twenty questions while she made her
preparations, but she would not reveal her plans, although it was
evident from the way she went to work that she had a very clear ide