April 17, 2025 • 9 mins
A Florida vacation becomes an adventurous journey when the Outdoor Girls explore orange groves and trek into the mysterious interior. Sun, surprise, and southern charm await!
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Read by Christine oki Alda. The Outdoor Girls in Florida
by Laura Lee Hope lost Grace burst out crying. She
said she knew it was silly and not at all
what an outdoor girl should do, and very contritely. Afterward,
she told the others how sorry she was that she
(00:22):
had given way, but she just could not seem to
help it. Without reserve, she sobbed on Amy's shoulder for
a moment. Molly and Betty, looking at one another, feared
that Amy too would give way to her feelings and
that they would have two hysterical ones on their hands.
But the little outburst of Grace seemed to act as
(00:42):
a sort of tonic to Amy, who put her arms
around her chum, murmuring comforting words, Oh what what are
we going to do? Sobbed Grace. We're not going to
cry at any rate, snapped Mollie. At least I'm not.
There was an incisiveness, a sharpness to her voice that
(01:03):
made Grace look up a bit angrily. I I'm not crying,
she said, and there was more energy in her voice
than had been noticeable for some time. Well, it's a
very good imitation of it, then went on Mollie. Crying
isn't going to do any good, and it gets on
the nerves of all of us. I'm sorry I couldn't
(01:24):
seem to help it, spoke Grace in a low voice.
I I won't do it again. But oh, what are
we going to do? No one knew what to answer.
Certainly they were in a situation that needed help to
enable them to escape from it. They could not approach
the alligators, at least they did not think they could,
(01:44):
though perhaps the creatures would have fled when the girls
came near, and the snakes, while not aggressive, seemed to
be numerous in the water that offered the only ford
to shore, and moccasins the girls had been told were
deadly poisonous. If Tom would only come, muttered Betty, I
can't see what keeps him, and she looked anxiously toward
(02:05):
where the luncheon was spread, but there was no sign
of the young man. Maybe we could drive the snakes
away by throwing more stones, suggested Grace, who seemed to
have gotten over her little hysterical outburst. Let's try it.
It's worth trying, admitted Betty. At least I don't believe
the snakes would come out to attack us, and we
(02:26):
might be able to drive them away. The girls, glad
of the chance to do something, collected a pile of
stones and showered them into the water. Then, when the
ripples had cleared, they peered anxiously at the sand bar.
They're gone, cried Amy joyously. Now we can wait to shore.
Better wait, advised Molly. There was an anxious pause, and
(02:49):
then Betty said, in a hopeless sort of tone. No,
there they come back again, and she pointed to where
the writhing serpents could be seen. Evidently the sand bar
was a sort of feeding place for them, and though
they might disappear for the moment at some disturbance, they
returned hopelessly. The girls looked at one another. Then they
(03:11):
glanced into the water that seemed fairly swarming with the snakes.
There appeared to be more than ever of them. Then
Amy looked toward the neck of land and gave a
cry of surprise of joy. Look, she exclaimed, they're going
the alligators. At least they're moving. I hope they don't
move toward us, gasped Grace. The saurians indeed seemed waked
(03:35):
into life. Whether they had completed their sun bath, or
whether the call of their appetites moved them. It was
impossible to say. But they were walking about, dragging their ponderous, fat,
squatty bodies and their big tails. Let's tell em we're
in a hurry, suggested Betty, as she caught up a stone.
Running forward. She threw it with such good aim that
(03:57):
it struck one of the saurians on the head with
a sort of surprised grunt. The creature slid off the
narrow neck of sand into the water. The other followed
with a splash. There they go, cried Mollie. Come on now,
before they take a notion to come back. Oh girls,
I'm nearly starved. Betty laughed at this. It was characteristic
(04:18):
of Mollie once the immediate stress was removed, to revert
to the matter that had previously claimed her attention, and
this had been their luncheon. Come on, she cried, and
ran toward the main shore. Betty said afterward that they
had never run so fast, not even at the school games,
where the outdoor girls had made records for themselves on
(04:39):
the cinder track. Just who reached shore first is a
matter of no moment. In fact, it must have been
a dead heat, as Tom Osborne said afterward, As the
girls passed the place where the alligators had been sunning themselves,
they gave one look each into the water where the
saurians had disappeared, one look only, and they did not
(04:59):
pause to do that. But they saw no signs of
the ugly creatures. Safe, cried Betty, and the girls, breathless
from their run, were safe. They gathered about the eatables
on the grass. Oh where can Tom be? Cried Betty anxiously.
I I hope nothing has happened to him. Now, who
is making direful suggestions I'd like to know, asked Grace. Well,
(05:24):
it is queer to have him disappear that way, voiced Molly.
But I'm going to be impolite and eat. She approached
the table, an example followed by the others. Certainly Tom
had done his work exceedingly well. The spread was very inviting.
Betty looked all around the little glade on the edge
of the river where the table was set. There was
(05:46):
no sign of their escort. The gem floated lazily where
she was moored, and the scene was quiet and peaceful enough.
But there was a certain mystery about the disappearance of
Tom Osborne. Well, we may as well side Betty, then
we can look about a bit. There won't be any
alligators inland. I guess even the fright the girls had
(06:08):
experienced had not taken away their appetites, and soon they
were making merry over the meal, which was a bountiful one.
They could well trust Aunt Hannah for that. But between bites,
as it were, Betty and the others looked about for
a sign of the young man. He did not appear, however,
nor were there any sounds of his approach. The woods
(06:31):
back from the river teemed with bird and animal life.
The latter was not so visible as the former, for
the feathered creatures flitted here and there amid the branches,
bursting into various melodious notes. The meal went on, it
was finished. The girls packed up with a little sense
of disappointment. They felt that their outing had been rather spoiled.
(06:52):
They saved enough for Tom and Casey should come back hungry,
which would very likely be the case. While we may
as well put things on, said Betty. At length. We
can't stay here much longer. It's getting late, But can
we ought we go back without Tom, asked Molly. I
don't see what else we can do if he doesn't come,
(07:14):
said Betty. We can't stay here all night. The gem
was made ready for the trip back. Then came a
time of anxious waiting. As the shadows lengthened. Betty as
well as the others, was getting nervous. We simply must go,
said the little captain at length. He will have to
come back as best he can. I don't see what
made him go away. I am quite sure mister Hammond
(07:36):
will not like it. But if we go, can Tom
find his way back? Asked Grace. He'll have to, But
of course we'll tell mister Hammond, and he and some
of the men can come for Tom if they think
it necessary. There seemed nothing else to do, and presently
the girls went aboard, taking the remains of the lunch
(07:56):
with them. We ought to leave some sort of note
for Tom, telling him what happened and that we couldn't
wait any longer, suggested Mollie, as Betty was about to start.
That's so I didn't think of that. We'll do it
and leave him some lunch, too, voiced Amy Good, cried Betty.
Tom has one friend, at least a goodly packet of
(08:18):
lunch was done up and placed in a tree, well
wrapped where it would be sure to be seen. Then
a note was left with a brief account of what
had happened and the information that the girls had gone
back to Orangeade. He ought to see that, remarked Betty,
stepping back to inspect her handiwork. She had pinned a
small square of white paper containing the writing to a
(08:41):
sheet of light brown manila, so that it was visible
for some distance. It looks like a whole book instead
of a note, laughed Mollie. The gem was started and
began dropping down the branch stream toward the main river.
At least the girls hoped it was the main river
when they turned into a larger body of water, But
as they puffed on amid the lengthening shadows, an annoying
(09:04):
doubt began to manifest itself in Betty's mind. She glanced
at the shore from time to time. Girls, she said, finally,
does everything look right? Do you mean your hair? Asked Amy, No,
I mean the scenery? Is it familiar? Have we been
here before? Did we come this way? They all stared
(09:25):
at Betty, What what do you mean? Faltered Grace. Well
I don't seem to remember this place, went on Betty,
I'm afraid we've taken the wrong turn in the river,
and that you don't mean to say that we're lost,
do you, cried Molly. I'm afraid so, was Betty's low
voiced reply, end of chapter nineteen.
Read by Christine oki Alda. The Outdoor Girls in Florida
by Laura Lee Hope lost Grace burst out crying. She
said she knew it was silly and not at all
what an outdoor girl should do, and very contritely. Afterward,
she told the others how sorry she was that she
(00:22):
had given way, but she just could not seem to
help it. Without reserve, she sobbed on Amy's shoulder for
a moment. Molly and Betty, looking at one another, feared
that Amy too would give way to her feelings and
that they would have two hysterical ones on their hands.
But the little outburst of Grace seemed to act as
(00:42):
a sort of tonic to Amy, who put her arms
around her chum, murmuring comforting words, Oh what what are
we going to do? Sobbed Grace. We're not going to
cry at any rate, snapped Mollie. At least I'm not.
There was an incisiveness, a sharpness to her voice that
(01:03):
made Grace look up a bit angrily. I I'm not crying,
she said, and there was more energy in her voice
than had been noticeable for some time. Well, it's a
very good imitation of it, then went on Mollie. Crying
isn't going to do any good, and it gets on
the nerves of all of us. I'm sorry I couldn't
(01:24):
seem to help it, spoke Grace in a low voice.
I I won't do it again. But oh, what are
we going to do? No one knew what to answer.
Certainly they were in a situation that needed help to
enable them to escape from it. They could not approach
the alligators, at least they did not think they could,
(01:44):
though perhaps the creatures would have fled when the girls
came near, and the snakes, while not aggressive, seemed to
be numerous in the water that offered the only ford
to shore, and moccasins the girls had been told were
deadly poisonous. If Tom would only come, muttered Betty, I
can't see what keeps him, and she looked anxiously toward
(02:05):
where the luncheon was spread, but there was no sign
of the young man. Maybe we could drive the snakes
away by throwing more stones, suggested Grace, who seemed to
have gotten over her little hysterical outburst. Let's try it.
It's worth trying, admitted Betty. At least I don't believe
the snakes would come out to attack us, and we
(02:26):
might be able to drive them away. The girls, glad
of the chance to do something, collected a pile of
stones and showered them into the water. Then, when the
ripples had cleared, they peered anxiously at the sand bar.
They're gone, cried Amy joyously. Now we can wait to shore.
Better wait, advised Molly. There was an anxious pause, and
(02:49):
then Betty said, in a hopeless sort of tone. No,
there they come back again, and she pointed to where
the writhing serpents could be seen. Evidently the sand bar
was a sort of feeding place for them, and though
they might disappear for the moment at some disturbance, they
returned hopelessly. The girls looked at one another. Then they
(03:11):
glanced into the water that seemed fairly swarming with the snakes.
There appeared to be more than ever of them. Then
Amy looked toward the neck of land and gave a
cry of surprise of joy. Look, she exclaimed, they're going
the alligators. At least they're moving. I hope they don't
move toward us, gasped Grace. The saurians indeed seemed waked
(03:35):
into life. Whether they had completed their sun bath, or
whether the call of their appetites moved them. It was
impossible to say. But they were walking about, dragging their ponderous, fat,
squatty bodies and their big tails. Let's tell em we're
in a hurry, suggested Betty, as she caught up a stone.
Running forward. She threw it with such good aim that
(03:57):
it struck one of the saurians on the head with
a sort of surprised grunt. The creature slid off the
narrow neck of sand into the water. The other followed
with a splash. There they go, cried Mollie. Come on now,
before they take a notion to come back. Oh girls,
I'm nearly starved. Betty laughed at this. It was characteristic
(04:18):
of Mollie once the immediate stress was removed, to revert
to the matter that had previously claimed her attention, and
this had been their luncheon. Come on, she cried, and
ran toward the main shore. Betty said afterward that they
had never run so fast, not even at the school games,
where the outdoor girls had made records for themselves on
(04:39):
the cinder track. Just who reached shore first is a
matter of no moment. In fact, it must have been
a dead heat, as Tom Osborne said afterward, As the
girls passed the place where the alligators had been sunning themselves,
they gave one look each into the water where the
saurians had disappeared, one look only, and they did not
(04:59):
pause to do that. But they saw no signs of
the ugly creatures. Safe, cried Betty, and the girls, breathless
from their run, were safe. They gathered about the eatables
on the grass. Oh where can Tom be? Cried Betty anxiously.
I I hope nothing has happened to him. Now, who
is making direful suggestions I'd like to know, asked Grace. Well,
(05:24):
it is queer to have him disappear that way, voiced Molly.
But I'm going to be impolite and eat. She approached
the table, an example followed by the others. Certainly Tom
had done his work exceedingly well. The spread was very inviting.
Betty looked all around the little glade on the edge
of the river where the table was set. There was
(05:46):
no sign of their escort. The gem floated lazily where
she was moored, and the scene was quiet and peaceful enough.
But there was a certain mystery about the disappearance of
Tom Osborne. Well, we may as well side Betty, then
we can look about a bit. There won't be any
alligators inland. I guess even the fright the girls had
(06:08):
experienced had not taken away their appetites, and soon they
were making merry over the meal, which was a bountiful one.
They could well trust Aunt Hannah for that. But between bites,
as it were, Betty and the others looked about for
a sign of the young man. He did not appear, however,
nor were there any sounds of his approach. The woods
(06:31):
back from the river teemed with bird and animal life.
The latter was not so visible as the former, for
the feathered creatures flitted here and there amid the branches,
bursting into various melodious notes. The meal went on, it
was finished. The girls packed up with a little sense
of disappointment. They felt that their outing had been rather spoiled.
(06:52):
They saved enough for Tom and Casey should come back hungry,
which would very likely be the case. While we may
as well put things on, said Betty. At length. We
can't stay here much longer. It's getting late, But can
we ought we go back without Tom, asked Molly. I
don't see what else we can do if he doesn't come,
(07:14):
said Betty. We can't stay here all night. The gem
was made ready for the trip back. Then came a
time of anxious waiting. As the shadows lengthened. Betty as
well as the others, was getting nervous. We simply must go,
said the little captain at length. He will have to
come back as best he can. I don't see what
made him go away. I am quite sure mister Hammond
(07:36):
will not like it. But if we go, can Tom
find his way back? Asked Grace. He'll have to, But
of course we'll tell mister Hammond, and he and some
of the men can come for Tom if they think
it necessary. There seemed nothing else to do, and presently
the girls went aboard, taking the remains of the lunch
(07:56):
with them. We ought to leave some sort of note
for Tom, telling him what happened and that we couldn't
wait any longer, suggested Mollie, as Betty was about to start.
That's so I didn't think of that. We'll do it
and leave him some lunch, too, voiced Amy Good, cried Betty.
Tom has one friend, at least a goodly packet of
(08:18):
lunch was done up and placed in a tree, well
wrapped where it would be sure to be seen. Then
a note was left with a brief account of what
had happened and the information that the girls had gone
back to Orangeade. He ought to see that, remarked Betty,
stepping back to inspect her handiwork. She had pinned a
small square of white paper containing the writing to a
(08:41):
sheet of light brown manila, so that it was visible
for some distance. It looks like a whole book instead
of a note, laughed Mollie. The gem was started and
began dropping down the branch stream toward the main river.
At least the girls hoped it was the main river
when they turned into a larger body of water, But
as they puffed on amid the lengthening shadows, an annoying
(09:04):
doubt began to manifest itself in Betty's mind. She glanced
at the shore from time to time. Girls, she said, finally,
does everything look right? Do you mean your hair? Asked Amy, No,
I mean the scenery? Is it familiar? Have we been
here before? Did we come this way? They all stared
(09:25):
at Betty, What what do you mean? Faltered Grace. Well
I don't seem to remember this place, went on Betty,
I'm afraid we've taken the wrong turn in the river,
and that you don't mean to say that we're lost,
do you, cried Molly. I'm afraid so, was Betty's low
voiced reply, end of chapter nineteen.
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