The sun was declining in the west, amid a bank of golden, olive and purple clouds, and a little breeze ruffled the water of the river. The stream was widening out now, and Betty remarked: “We’ll soon be in the lake now.” “The boat—not us, I hope,” murmured Grace. “Of course,” assented Betty, “Won’t you stay with us to-night, Uncle Amos?” she asked, as she opened the throttle a little wider, to get more speed. “You can have one of the rear—I mean after, bunks,” she corrected, quickly. “That’s better,” and he smiled. “No, I’ll berth ashore, I guess. I’ve got to get back to town, anyhow. I just wanted to see how you girls were getting along.” The _Gem_ was speeding up. They rounded a turn, and then the girls exclaimed: “Rainbow Lake!” In all its beauty this wide sheet of water lay before them. It was dotted with many pleasure craft, for vacation life was pulsing and throbbing in its summer heydey now. As the _Gem_ came out on the broad expanse a natty little motor boat, long and slender, evidently built for speed, came racing straight toward the craft of the girls. “Gracious, I hope we haven’t violated any rules,” murmured Betty, as she slowed down, for she caught a motion that indicated that the two young men in the boat wished to speak to her. As they came nearer Grace uttered an exclamation. “What is it?” asked Mollie. “Those young men—in the boat. I’m sure they’re the same two who were in the auto that made Prince run away! Oh, what shall I do?” CHAPTER XIII CRACKERS AND OLIVES Betty grasped the situation, and acted quickly, as she always did in an emergency. “Are you sure, Grace?” she asked. She could speak without fear of the men in the racing boat overhearing her, for they had thrown out their clutch, a moment later letting it slip into reverse, and the churning propeller, and the throb of the motor, made it impossible for them to hear what was said aboard the _Gem_. “Are you sure, Grace?” repeated Betty. “Well, almost. Of course I only had a glimpse of them, but I have good cause to remember them.” “Don’t say anything now, then,” suggested Betty. “We will wait and see what they say. Later we may be able to make sure.” “All right,” Grace agreed, looking intently at the two young men. They seemed nice enough, and were smiling in a pleasant, frank manner at the outdoor girls and Aunt Kate. The two boats were now slowly drifting side by side on Rainbow Lake, the motors of both stilled. “I beg your pardon,” said the darker complexioned of the two men, “my name is Stone, and this is my friend, Mr. Kennedy. We are on the regatta committee and we’d like to get as many entries for the water pageant as we can. Is your boat entered yet?” He gazed from one girl to another, as though to ascertain who was in command of the newly arrived craft, which seemed to have attracted considerable attention, for a number of other boats were centering about her.