“That’s Betty Nelson—­ all over,” said Amy.

Eel Island proved to be an ideal picnic place, and there were one or two other parties on it when the girls arrived.  They made the Gem secure, and struck off into the woods with their lunch baskets, Betty having removed a certain patented spark plug, without which the motor could not be started.  It was not likely that anyone would be able to duplicate it and make off with the craft in their absence, so they felt it safe to leave the boat unguarded.

“Pass the olives, Grace my dear,” requested Mollie, when they were seated on a grassy knoll under a big oak tree.  “I have the crackers beside me.  Now I am happy,” and she munched the appetizing combination.

“Crackers and olives!” murmured Betty.  “Our old schoolday feast.  I haven’t gotten over my love for them, either.  Let them circulate, Mollie.”

The girls were making merry with quip and jest when Grace, hearing a crackling of under brush, looked back along the path they had come.  She started and exclaimed: 

“Here come those two young men—­ Mr. Stone and Mr. Kennedy.”

“Don’t notice them,” begged Amy, who was not much given to making new acquaintances.

“Too late!  They see us—­ they’re coming right toward us!” cried Grace, in some confusion.

CHAPTER XIV

 The regatta

The two young men came on, apparently with the object of speaking to the girls.  Evidently they had purposely sought them out.

“Oh, it is Miss Nelson, and her friends from the Gem!” exclaimed Mr. Stone, which might indicate that he had expected to meet some other party of picnic lovers.

“I hope we are not intruding,” said Mr. Kennedy, “but we want to borrow some salt, if you have any.”

Betty looked at them curiously.  Was this a subterfuge—­ a means to an acquaintance?  Her manner stiffened a trifle, and she glanced at Aunt Kate.

“You see we came off on a little picnic like yourselves,” explained Mr. Stone, “and Bob, here, forgot the salt.”

“You told me you’d put it in yourself, Harry!” exclaimed the other, “and of course I thought you did.”

“Well, be that as it may,” said his friend, “we have no salt.  We heard your voices over here and decided to be bold enough to ask for some.  Do you remember us, Miss Nelson?”

“Oh, yes.”  Betty’s manner softened.  The explanation was sufficient.  Clearly the young men had not resorted to this trick to scrape an acquaintance with the girls.

“Is there anything else you’d like?” asked impulsive Mollie.  “Grace has plenty of candy, I think, and as for olives——­” she tilted one empty bottle, and smiled.  Mr. Kennedy smiled back in a frank manner.  Betty decided that introductions would be in good form, since they had learned that the young men were “perfectly proper.”

Names were exchanged, and Mr. Kennedy and his friend sat down on the grass.  They did not seem in any special hurry about the salt, now that it was offered.