“I’m going to make some hot chocolate,” Amy answered. “I think we need it.” “I’ll help,” spoke Aunt Kate. “That’s a very sensible idea.” “I think that is the dock light,” remarked Betty a little later, when the boat was headed up stream. “Anyhow, we can’t be very far from it,” observed Grace. “Try that one,” and she pointed to a gleam that came across the waters. “Then there’s another just above.” The first light did not prove to be the one on the private dock where they had been tied up, but the second attempt to locate it was successful, and soon they were back where they had been before. Betty laid the _Gem_ alongside the stringpiece, and Grace and Mollie, leaping out, soon had the boat fast. The ends of the ropes, which had been trailing from the deck cleats in the water, were found unfrayed. “They must have come untied!” said Grace. “Oh, it was my fault. I thought I had mastered those knots, but I must have tied the wrong kind.” “Never mind,” said Betty, gently. CHAPTER XII AT RAINBOW LAKE Once the _Gem_ was securely tied—and Betty now made sure of this—the tired and rather chilly girls adjourned to the cabin, and under the lights had the hot chocolate Aunt Kate and Amy had made. “It’s delicious,” spoke Betty. “I feel so much better now.” “We must never let on to the boys that we came near running down a steamer,” said Grace. “We’d never hear the last of it.” “But we didn’t nearly run down a steamer—she came toward us,” insisted Betty, not willing to have her seamanship brought into question. “If it had been any other boat, not drawing so much water, she could have steered out of the way. As it was we, not being under control, had the right of way.” “It wouldn’t have done any good to have insisted on it,” remarked Grace, drawlingly. “No, especially as we couldn’t hoist the signal to show that,” went on Betty. “Uncle Amos told me there are signals for nearly everything that can happen at sea, but of course I never thought of such a thing as that we’d get adrift. I must be prepared next time.” “I can’t understand about those knots,” spoke Grace. “Where is that book?” “What book?” “The one showing how to tie different kinds of knots. I’m going to study up on the subject.” “Not to-night,” objected Aunt Kate. “It’s nearly morning as it is.” “Well, the first thing to-morrow, then,” declared Grace. “I’m going to make up for my blunder.” “Oh, don’t be distressed,” consoled Betty. “Any of us might have made the same mistake. It was only an accident, Grace dear.” “Well, I seem fated to have accidents lately. There was poor little Dodo——” “Not your fault at all!” exclaimed Mollie, promptly. “I’ll not allow you to blame yourself for her accident. It was those motorists, if any-one, and I’m not sure they were altogether to blame. Anyhow, I’m sure Dodo will be cured after the operation.” “I hope so,” murmured Grace.