Kitty found a goodly-sized basket, and remembering King's appetite, they packed it well.
"Here's some hard-boiled eggs," cried Marjorie, "let's take these." "I 'spect Eliza wants them for salad or something," said Kitty, "but she can boil more.

We must take some milk, Midget." "Yes, here's a big pitcher full.

Let's put it in a tin pail to carry it.
The milkman will be here in time for breakfast." And so when King came softly downstairs, with his shoes in his hand, he found the luncheon basket packed, and the feminine portion of the picnic all ready to start.
"Good work!" he said, approvingly, as he lifted the basket, greatly pleased with its size and weight.
Molly carried the milk pail, Kitty some glasses and Marjorie some napkins and forks, for she was of a housewifely nature, and liked dainty appointments.
"Maybe we ought to leave a note or something," said Kitty, as they started.
"Saying we've eloped," said King, grinning.
"Don't let's bother," said Marjorie; "they'll know we're just out playing somewhere, and we'll be back by breakfast time,--it isn't six o'clock yet." "You won't want any breakfast after all this stuff," said Molly, whose appetite was not as robust as the Maynards'.
"'Deed we will!" declared King; "this little snack is all right for six o'clock, but I have an engagement at eight in the dining-room." They trudged along to the boathouse, and, as they might have expected, found it locked.
"I'll get it," said Molly; "I'm the swiftest runner, and I know where the key hangs in Carter's workshop." King watched Molly admiringly as she flew across the grass, her long, thin, black legs flinging out behind her with incredible quickness.
"Jingo, she can run!" he exclaimed, and indeed it seemed but a moment before Molly flashed back again with the key.
The quartet was soon in the boat, and with a few strokes, King pulled out into mid-stream.
"Let's have the picnic first," he said, shipping his oars.

"I can't row when I'm so hungry.

This morning air gives a fellow an appetite." "It does so," agreed Marjorie; "and we girls have been out 'most an hour.
I'm 'bout starved." So they held a very merry picnic breakfast, while the boat drifted along with the current, and the cold chicken and biscuits rapidly disappeared.
"Now, where do you girls want to go ?" asked King, as, the last crumb finished, Kitty carefully packed the napkins and glasses back in the basket.
"Oh, let's go to Blossom Banks," said Marjorie, "that is, if there's time enough." "We'll go down that way, anyhow," said King, "and if it gets late we'll come back before we get there.