At that time a squall on the lake and an encounter with a log raft had placed all of the young people in great peril, from which Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell had refused to rescue them. It had been decided that the boys should row from Colby Hall down the lake to the dock at Clearwater Hall and there take the girls on board. They had three boats, one containing Jack and Fred, another the twins, and a third Gif and Spouter. "It's certainly one grand day for this outing," remarked Fred, as they set off. All were good oarsmen, so the rowboats made rapid progress in the direction of the girls' school. "I had the day made to order," sang out Andy. And then he added, with a grin: "It never rains when I go out unless the water happens to be coming down." The cadets had informed Martha and the others when they would arrive, and when they reached the dock they found six girls waiting for them, each with a carefully-tied-up shoebox under her arm. "Yum, yum! I smell something good to eat!" exclaimed Andy, on catching sight of the boxes. "Got any mustard pie?" added Randy. "Excuse me, I mean custard pie." "No, we've got straw pie for you, Mr. Smarty," called out Alice Strobell. Jack noticed that Martha and Mary looked rather thoughtful when they got into the rowboat manned by Spouter and Gif. "Anything wrong?" he asked anxiously. "Not much, Jack," answered his sister. "I'll tell you just as soon as we get to the island and we have a chance." "Didn't you boys bring anything?" questioned Mary of the other Rovers. "Sure we did! But that's a surprise," answered Fred. They had brought fruit and candy. "We brought two yeast cakes and a fried-onion sandwich," broke in Andy gaily, and at this all the girls giggled. Ruth and May were made comfortable in the boat rowed by Jack and Fred, and they at once set off in the direction of Bluebell Island. The others shortly followed, and all made good time across the placid bosom of Clearwater Lake. "I hope we don't encounter such a squall as we did before," remarked Ruth presently. "Oh, I'm sure it will stay clear," Jack hastened to reassure her. In less than half an hour the young folks found themselves safe on the island, which was about thirty acres in extent, with a grassy slope on one side and rocks, trees and brushwood on the other. They tied their boats securely, and then proceeded to walk across the island to where they might take it easy under the trees or hunt for the ferns the girls desired to get. "Now then, what is it that is troubling you?" asked Jack of his sister as soon as he could speak to Martha without the others noticing. "Oh, Jack, I don't know whether it ought to trouble me or not," answered Martha. "It was such a surprise. I didn't dream that those two fellows would show themselves around Clearwater Hall." "Who are you talking about, Martha?" "Bill Glutts and Gabe Werner." "When did you see them?" "I saw them yesterday, and Mary saw them early this morning."