tide was on the ebb, you could actually ford the
lake to the islands farther south. It might be worth while trying some
time."

"You bet it will!" said Allen, and his eagerness was not feigned.

"We'll try it the first chance we get," Frank added.

"We're going, too," said Betty. "You needn't think you can leave us
behind when there is anything like that afoot."

"We wouldn't try," said Allen, ruefully. "Especially as you girls say
you can swim."

"However, they will have to prove that point," Roy put in.

"That's easy," said Grace fearlessly. "As we have remarked before, we
haven't been outdoor girls all our lives for nothing."

"If you boys hadn't been so set on our looking at your old camp to-day,"
said Amy with unusual spirit, "we would have proved it to you before
this. But do you really think there are gypsies on the island?" she
added. "Because, if there are, we might be able to find some of their
loot." She voiced this last desire in hushed tones.

The girls laughed even while they drew their chairs still closer to the
fire.

"Such a chance!" gibed Will, but Betty's eyes were shining in the glow
of the fire-light.

"Oh, if we only could!" she whispered softly. "If we could only get the
stuff stolen from Deepdale!"

CHAPTER XIV

A VICTORY FOR BETTY

Breakfast was cleaned away and Betty, with Mollie at her heels, made a
rush for the bedroom.

"I'm willing to wager anything," called the former, gaily, "that I'll be
in my bathing suit before any of the rest of you have started."

"I hope the water isn't too cold," Grace shivered, as she took out her
bathing suit. "If there is anything I hate, it's trying to swim in icy
water. It almost makes my heart stop beating."

"All right, we'll have the weather man heat it for you," said Betty,
slipping into her neat little suit. "I don't know how the water can be
cold, though," she added, "the air is suffocating to-day."

"Now--one, two, three--go!" and they were off like four little black
sprites, down the broad stairway and into the living room where the boys
were already assembled, talking to the chaperon.

The boys wore raincoats over their bathing suits; and, as the girls
entered the room, they shouted a merry greeting.

"So soon?" called Frank in surprise. "Why, we didn't expect to see you
for an hour at least."

"An hour?" said Betty, with feigned indignation--for she was a good
little actress, was Betty. "Why, we thought you were nev