"Don't think of it any more, honey. It turned out all right, in the end. Do you know that Sally is around as well as ever, now, and came up to the hotel to inquire for you this morning? She's as strong as a little ox, that child!" "But where is Miss Camilla?" suddenly inquired Doris. "She hurt her foot, didn't she?" "She certainly did, but she insisted on remaining in her own home, and Sally begged her mother to be allowed to stay also with the un-detachable Genevieve, of course, and take care of her and wait on her. So there they are, and there you will proceed in the automobile, this afternoon, if you feel well enough to make the visit." "But what about the treasure?" demanded Doris, her eyes beginning to sparkle. "If you refer to the trunks and chests full of articles that Miss Camilla insisted that we continue to excavate from that interesting hole in her garden, you do well to speak of it as 'treasure'!" answered her father laughingly. "For beside some valuable old family silver and quite rare articles of antique jewelry, she had there a collection of china and porcelain that would send a specialist on that subject into an absolute spasm of joy. I really would not care to predict what it would be worth to any one interested in the subject. "And you can tell your friend, Sally, of the adventurous spirit, that she's got 'Treasure Island' licked a mile (to use a very inelegant expression) and right here on her own native territory, too. I take off my hat to you both. You've done better than a couple of boys who have been playing at and hunting for pirates all their youthful days. Henceforth, when I yearn for blood-curdling adventures and hair-breadth escapes, I'll come to you two to lead the way!" But, under all his banter, Doris knew that her father was serious in the deep interest he entertained in her strange adventure and all that it had led to. CHAPTER XV THE SUMMER'S END [Illustration: They sat together in the canoe] They sat together in the canoe, each facing the other, Doris in the bow and Sally in the stern. A full, mid-September moon painted its rippling path on the water and picked out in silver every detail of shore and river. The air was full of the heavy scent of the pines, and the only sound was the ceaseless lap-lap of the lazy ripples at the water's edge. Doris had laid aside her paddle. Chin in hands, she was drinking in the radiance of the lovely scene. "I simply cannot realize I am going home tomorrow and must leave all this!" she sighed at last. Sally dipped her paddle disconsolately and answered with almost a groan: "If it bothers _you_, how do you suppose it makes _me_ feel?" "We have grown close to each other, haven't we?" mused Doris, "Do you know, I never dreamed I could make so dear a friend in so short a time. I have plenty of acquaintances and good comrades, but usually it takes me years to make a real _friend_. How did you manage to make me care so much for you, Sally?"