“We’ll remember,” promised Betty, with a smile that showed her white, even teeth. All was in readiness. Good-byes had been said to relatives and friends, and Mrs. Billette, holding Paul by the hand, had come down to the dock to bid farewell to her daughter and chums. “Have a good time!” she wished them. A maid hurried up to her, and said something in French. “Oh, the doctor has come!” exclaimed Mollie’s mother. “The doctor who is to look at Dodo—the specialist. Oh, I am so glad!” “Shall I stay, mother?” cried Mollie, making a move as though to come ashore. “No, dear; no! Go with your friends. I can send you word. You may call me by the telephone. Good-bye—good-bye!” The _Gem_ slowly dropped down the stream under the influence of the current and her own power, Betty having throttled down the motor that the farewell calls might be better heard. Mrs. Billette, waving her hand, hastened toward the house, the maid taking care of little Paul, whose last request was: “Brin’ me some tandy!” CHAPTER X ADRIFT “Well, Captain Betty, what are your orders?” asked Amy, as the four girls, and Aunt Kate, stood grouped in the space aft of the trunk cabin, Betty being at the wheel, while the _Gem_ moved slowly down the Argono River. “Just make yourselves perfectly at home,” answered Betty. “This trip is for fun and pleasure, and, as far as possible, we are to do just as we please. You don’t mind; do you, Aunt Kate?” “Not in the least, my dear, as long as you don’t sink,” and the chaperone smiled indulgently. “This boat won’t sink,” declared Betty, with confidence. “It has water-tight compartments. Uncle Amos had them built purposely.” “It certainly is a beautiful boat—beautiful,” murmured Mollie, looking about as she pulled and straightened her middy blouse. “And it was so good of you, Bet, to ask us on this cruise.” “Why, that’s what the boat is for—for one’s friends. We are all shipmates now.” “‘Strike up a song, here comes a sailor,’” chanted Grace, rather indistinctly, for she was, as usual, eating a chocolate. The girls, standing there on the little depressed deck, their hair tastefully arranged, topped by natty little caps, with their sailor suits of blue and white, presented a picture that more than one turned to look at. The _Gem_ was near the shore, along which ran a main-traveled highway, and there seemed to be plenty of traffic this morning. Also, a number of boats were going up or down stream, some large, some small, and often the occupants turned to take a second look at the Outdoor Girls. Certainly they had every appearance of living the life of the open, for they had been well tanned by the long walk they took, and that “berry-brown” was being added to now by the summer sun reflecting from the river. “Is this as fast as you can go?” asked Mollie, as she looked over the side and noted that they were not much exceeding the current of the river.