“Gum, gum; chewing gum,
   One and two is a small sum,”

Mr. Lagg thus quoted as he opened the showcase.

The girls made several purchases, and were treated to more of the storekeeper’s amusing couplets.  Then they started off again, having inquired for a good place at which to tie up for the night.

Dunkirk, on the western shore, was recommended by Mr. Lagg in a little rhyme, and then he waved to them from the end of his dock as the Gem was once more under way.

“Look out for that big steamer,” cautioned Betty a little later, to Grace, who was steering.

“Why, I’m far enough off,” answered Grace.

“You never can tell,” responded the Little Captain, “for there is often a strong attraction between vessels on a body of water.  Give it a wide berth, as Uncle Amos would say.”

That Betty’s advice was needed was made manifest a moment later, for the large steamer whistled sharply, which was an intimation to the smaller craft to veer off, and Grace shifted the wheel.

They reached Dunkirk without further incident, except that about a mile from it the motor developed some trouble.  In vain Betty and the others poked about in the forward compartment trying to locate it, and they might not have succeeded had not a man, passing in a little one-cylindered boat, kindly stopped and discovered that one of the spark plug wires was loose.  It was soon adjusted and the Gem proceeded.

“I’ll always be on the lookout for that first, when there is any trouble after this,” said Betty, as she thanked the stranger.

“Oh, that isn’t the only kind of trouble that can develop in a motor,” he assured her.  But Betty well knew this herself.

They had passed Elm Island soon after leaving Mr. Lagg’s store, but saw no sign of life on it.  They intended to come back later on in their cruise and camp there, if they decided to carry out their original plans of living in a tent or bungalow.

“That is, if the ghost doesn’t make it too unpleasant,” remarked Betty.

They ate supper aboard the boat, cooking on the little galley stove.  Then the work of getting ready for the night, washing the dishes, preparing the bunks, and so on, was divided among the five, though Aunt Kate wanted the girls to go ashore and let her attend to everything.

“We’ll take a little walk ashore after we have everything ready,” suggested Betty.  The stroll along the river bank in the cool of the evening, while the colors of the glorious sunset were still in the sky, was most enjoyable.

“Gracious!  A mosquito bit me!” exclaimed Grace, as she rubbed the back of her slim, white hand.

“That isn’t a capital crime,” laughed Mollie.

“No, but if there are mosquitoes here they will make life miserable for us to-night,” Grace went on.

“I have citronella, and there are mosquito nettings over the bunks,” said Betty.  “Don’t worry.”