For Betty’s boat was a beauty, and the envy not only of Will and Frank, but of every other boy in Deepdale.  So it is no wonder these two stowed themselves away for the chance of getting a ride in the fine craft.

“Let’s go down as far as one of the lake islands,” suggested Will, who was now at the wheel, his turn having come.

“Can we get back in time?” asked Betty.  “The river is high now, after the rains, and there’s quite a current.”

“Oh, the Gem has speed and power enough to do it in style,” declared Frank.  “We’ll guarantee to get you back in time for supper.”

“All right,” agreed the captain, who had gone into the cabin with the other girls.

“And perhaps we can pick out a good place to go camping,” added Grace.

The boys directed the course of the boat, while the girls looked after Paul.

“We must stop at some place where there is a telephone,” said Mollie, “and I’ll send word to mamma that Paul is with me.  She may be worried.”

“Yes, do,” suggested Betty.  A little later the girls saw that the boys were approaching a dock, the main one of a small town just below Deepdale.

“Where are you going?” asked Grace of her brother.

“Going to tie up for a minute.  Frank and I want to make amends for sneaking aboard, so we thought you’d like some soda.  There’s a grocery store here that keeps pretty good stuff.”

“Oh, yes, I know Mr. Lagg!” exclaimed Mollie.  “Barry Lagg is his name.  He’s real quaint and jolly.”

“Then let’s go ashore for the soda ourselves, and meet him,” suggested Grace.  “I am very thirsty.  What is Mr. Lagg’s special line of jollity?” she asked Mollie.

“Oh, he makes up little verses as he waits on you.  You’ll see,” was Mollie’s answer.  I often stop in for a little something to eat when I am out rowing.  He is a nice old gentleman, very polite, and he has lots of queer stories to tell.”

“Has he dot any tandy?” inquired Paul, eagerly.

“Oh, you dear, of course he has!” cried his sister.  “You are getting as bad as Grace,” and she looked at her chum meaningly.

Will skillfully laid the Gem alongside the dock and soon the little party of young people were trooping up to the store, which was near the river front.

“Ah, good day to you all—­ good day, ladies and gentlemen, every one, and the little shaver too!” cried Mr. Lagg, with a bow as they entered his shop.

  “What will you please to buy to-day? 
   If it’s coffee or tea, just walk this way,”

And, with this charming couplet Mr. Lagg started toward the rear of his store, where the aromatic odor of ground coffee indicated that he had spoken truly.

“We’d like some of your good soda,” spoke Will.

“Ha, soda.  I don’t know that I have anything in the line of soda.”

“No soda?” exclaimed Frank.

“I mean I haven’t made up any poetry about that.  I have about almost everything else in my store.  Let me see—­ soda—­ soda——­ "