The Corner House Girls on a Houseboat. Hill Grace Brooks
the stove.
“I’m glad you like it,” said Mr. Howbridge, and Ruth found herself wondering why he said that.
They passed into the sleeping quarters where small bunks, almost like those in Pullman cars, were neatly arranged, even to a white counterpane and pillow shams on each one.
“Oh, how lovely.”
“And how clean and neat!”
“It’s just like a sleeping car on the railroad.”
“Yes, or one of those staterooms on some steamers.”
“A person could sleep as soundly here as in a bed at home,” was Ruth’s comment.
“Yes, unless the houseboat rocked like a ship,” said Agnes.
“I don’t think it could rock much on the canal.”
“No, but it might on a river, or a lake. I guess a houseboat like this can go almost anywhere.”
There were two sets of sleeping rooms, one on either side of a middle hall or passageway. Then came a small bathroom. And back of that was something that made Neale cry out in delight.
“Why, the boat has an engine!” exclaimed the boy. “It runs by motor!”
“Yes, the Bluebird is a motor houseboat,” said Mr. Howbridge, with a smile. “It really belongs on Lake Macopic, but to get it there through the canal mules will have to be used, as this boat has such a big propeller that it would wash away the canal banks. It is not allowed to move it through the canal under its own power.”
“That’s a dandy engine all right!” exclaimed Neale, and he knew something about them for one summer he had operated a small motor craft on the Gentory River, as well as running the Corner House girls’ automobile for them. “I wish I could run this,” he went on with a sigh, “but I don’t suppose there’s any chance.”
“I don’t know about that,” said the lawyer, musingly. “That is what I brought Minerva here to talk about. Let’s go back to the main cabin and sit down.”
“I’m going to sit on one of the lockers!” cried Tess, darting off ahead of the others.
“I want to sit on it, too!” exclaimed Dot.
“There are two lockers on the floor – one for each,” laughed Mr. Howbridge.
As the little party moved into the main cabin, Ruth found herself wondering more and more what Mr. Howbridge wanted her opinion on. She was not long, however, in learning.
“Here is the situation,” began the lawyer, when they were all seated facing him. His tone reminded Ruth of the time he had come to talk to them about their inheritance of the Corner House. “This boat, the Bluebird, belongs to an estate. The estate is being settled up, and the boat is going to be sold. A man living at the upper end of Lake Macopic has offered to buy it at a fair price if it is delivered to him in good condition before the end of summer. As the legal adviser of the estate I have undertaken to get this boat to the purchaser. And what I brought you here for, to-day, Minerva,” he said, smiling at Ruth, “is to ask your opinion about the best way of getting the boat there.”
“Do you really mean that?” asked the girl.
“I certainly do.”
“Well, I should say the best plan would be to start it going, and steer it up the canal to the river, through the river into the lake and up the lake to the place where it is to be delivered,” Ruth answered, smiling.
“But Mr. Howbridge said the boat couldn’t be moved by the motor on the canal,” objected Agnes.
“Well, have mules tow it, then,” advised Ruth. “That is very simple.”
“I am glad you think so,” replied the lawyer. “And the next matter on which I wish your advice is whether to start the boat off alone on her trip, or just in charge of, say, the mule driver.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t want to trust a lovely houseboat like this to only a mule driver!” exclaimed Ruth.
“That’s what I thought,” went on her guardian, with another smile. “It needs some one on board to look after it, doesn’t it?”
“Well, yes, I should say so.”
“Then how would you like to take charge?” came the unexpected question.
“Me?” cried Ruth. “Me?”
“You, and all of you!” went on the lawyer. “Listen. Here is the situation. I have to send this houseboat to Lake Macopic. You dwellers of the Corner House need a vacation. You always have one every summer, and I generally advise you where to go. At least you always ask me, and sometimes you take my advice.
“This time I advise you to take a houseboat trip. And I make this offer. I will provide the boat and all the needful food and supplies, such as gasoline and oil when you reach the river and lake. Everything else is on board, from beds to dishes. I will also hire a mule driver and engage some mules for the canal trip. Now, how does that suit you?”
“Oh! Oh!” exclaimed Agnes, and it seemed to be all she could say for a moment. She just looked at Mr. Howbridge with parted lips and sparkling eyes.
“How wonderful!” murmured Ruth.
“Can we go?” cried Tess.
“The whole family, including Neale,” said Mr. Howbridge.
“Oo-ee!” gasped Dot, wide-eyed.
Agnes and Neale stared entranced at each other, Agnes, for once, speechless.
“Well, now I have made the offer, think it over, and while you are doing that I’ll give a little attention to Neale’s case,” went on Mr. Howbridge. “Now, young man, suppose we go and find this mule driver who seems to know something of your father.”
“Oh, wait! Don’t go away just yet!” begged Ruth. “Let’s talk about the trip some more! Do you really think we can go?”
“I want you to go. It would be doing me a favor,” said the lawyer. “I must get this boat to Lake Macopic somehow, and I don’t know a better way than to have Martha and her family take it,” and he bowed formally to his ward.
“And did you really mean I may go, too?” asked Neale.
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