“We ought to take one ourselves!” exclaimed Mollie.  “We worked hard enough.  My hands are a mass of blisters.”

“And my back aches!” declared Grace.  “But it was worth while.  I don’t see any boat just like ours,” and she glanced along the line of craft ahead of them, and to those in the rear, as they were making a turn just then.

“Oh, there’s one of the lanterns gone out!” cried Mollie.  “I’ll light it,” and she proceeded to do so, taking it into the cabin because of the little breeze that blew over the lake.

There was a band on one of the larger boats, and this played at intervals.

“Let’s sing!” proposed Grace, and, with guitar accompaniment, the girls mingled their voices in one of the many part songs they had practiced at school.  Applause followed their rendition, for they had chosen a time when there was comparative quiet.

Around the course went the flotilla of boats, past the judges’ float, and back to the starting point.  Then the parade was over, but a number of affairs had been arranged—­ dances, suppers and the like—­ by different cottagers.  The girls had been invited to the dance at the headquarters of the Rainbow Lake Yacht Club, and they had accepted.  They had dressed for the affair, and tying their boat to the club dock they went into the pretty little ballroom with Aunt Kate.

“Congratulations!” exclaimed Mr. Kennedy, stepping up to Betty as she entered with her chums.

“For what?”

“Your boat won first prize for those of most original design.  It is a beautiful silver cup.”

“Oh, I’m so glad!  Girls, do you hear?  We won first prize in our class!”

“Fine!” cried Mollie.

“Oh, isn’t it nice?” said Amy.

“Did we really?” asked Grace, somewhat incredulously,

“You really did.  I just heard the decision of the judges.  Harry and I are out of it, though.  We tried in the ‘wreck’ class, but the Rabbit, which was rigged out like the Flying Dutchman, beat us.”

“That’s too bad,” said Mollie, sympathetically.

“Never mind, we’ve had our fun,” said Mr. Stone, coming up at this point.  “You girls certainly deserved the prize, if anyone did.  And now I hope your dance cards aren’t filled.”

They were not—­ but they soon were, and the evening passed most delightfully.

“Who said breakfast?” yawned Grace the next morning, as she looked from her bunk down on Betty.

“I ate so much lobster salad last night I don’t want anything but a glass of water on toast,” murmured Mollie.  “Oh, but we had a lovely time!” and she sighed in regret at its departure.

“And those young men were lovely dancers,” said Betty.

“And wasn’t it nice of Will, Frank, and Allen to come?” spoke Amy, for Grace’s brother, and his two friends, had arrived most unexpectedly at the Yacht Club ball.  Will had come to tell his sister certain things in regard to the missing papers, and had met a friend who belonged to the club.