The _Alice_ was a truly beautiful sloop, with graceful lines. Her hull was finely painted and her sails were of snowy whiteness. The _Ajax_, too, was a good boat, and the youthful owners were justly proud of the two craft. On the Saturday afternoon previous to the time for the encampment Jack and Fred made up their parties for a sail. The young major carried Pepper, Andy and four others, and the _Ajax_ took on an even greater load. It was decided to go up the lake, and the cadets received permission to remain out from two o’clock to six. There was a favorable wind blowing, and a cheer went up when the two sloops spread their canvases and stood up the lake shore. Jack and Fred were at the tillers and each handled his craft with care and skill. “Going to race?” asked one of the cadets, of Fred. “No, we are just out for the pleasure of it,” said Fred. He knew his boat was a good one, but the young major had beaten him before and he did not, just then, wish to risk another defeat. Soon the sloops were well on their way up the lake. Pepper and Andy were in particularly good humor, and neither of them dreamed of the remarkable adventure in store for them. CHAPTER VIII A REMARKABLE ADVENTURE “It looks like rain!” The remark came from Andy, who was in the bow of the boat. He was gazing anxiously at the sky. “Don’t say rain!” cried Stuffer, who was eating a banana, one of a hand purchased at the Cedarville dock. “I don’t like to be out in the rain.” “We’ll not get it right away,” answered Jack. “But it looks as if it would come sooner or later,” he added, as he surveyed the clouds over to the westward. Two hours had been spent in cruising around the lake. A brief stop had been made at Cedarville, where the cadets had purchased some fruit and candy. The _Ajax_ was almost out of sight in the distance. “If you are going near Parberry Point I’d like to do an errand,” said Pepper. “I want to visit that old basket maker and ask him to make a fancy basket for my Aunt Bess. She has a birthday soon, and I know she would like a new hanging basket, with ferns and flowers in it.” “All right, we can pass there,” answered Jack. “We’ll drop you and then pick you up later.” “All right,” answered Pepper. “Anybody want to go to the basket maker’s with me?” he went on, looking around at his chums. “I’ll go,” answered Andy. “I’ve been eating so much fruit and candy I think it will do me good to walk a little.” “The errand won’t take more than half an hour,” said Pepper. “We’ll hurry as fast as we can.” Parberry Point was soon reached and Andy and Pepper leaped ashore. “I’ll be back here in just half an hour,” cried Jack, consulting his watch. “Don’t keep us waiting, for maybe that rain will come quicker than I thought it would.” “I’ll hurry all I can,” answered The Imp. “Come on, Andy.” And the pair disappeared up the road from the lake, while the sloop sheered off for the other shore.