The Meadow-Brook Girls Afloat | Page 9

tiller and straightened out the scow's course, though
she discovered that the old boat was a most unmanageable craft. It
simply would not keep on any one course for more than thirty seconds
at a time. Jane was shouting her directions, making sarcastic remarks
about Harriet's steering, but the latter merely smiled. She knew she was
doing the best she could, and that was all any one could do. Jane was
making but slow headway. They had not yet rounded the point that hid
the Johnson dock from view. Her strokes became uneven, and jerky.
All at once the rope broke. Crazy Jane McCarthy landed in the bottom
of the rowboat.
"Save me," she screamed.
Harriet, who could not see the small boat, the deck house being in the
way, continued on her course, smiling good-naturedly at Jane's noisy
objections. But all at once a crash and a yell startled Harriet. She threw
the tiller over and leaned far out. The rowboat was bottom-side-up,
with Crazy Jane McCarthy struggling in the water. Her mouth was too
full of water, just at that moment, to allow her to raise an outcry. The
momentum of the houseboat carried it alongside the overturned
rowboat, Harriet leaned over and grasped one of her companion's arms.

"Why, Jane! You shouldn't have stopped rowing to go in for a swim."
"Go in for a swim!" exploded Jane. "And didn't you run me down.
Look at the boat, will you! Now, what are we going to do, will you tell
me?"
"The first thing is to get you on board. After that I don't know."
Crazy Jane was dragged aboard the "Red Rover." She lay clinging to
the gunwale, laughing immoderately.
"It's a fine start we are having, darling isn't it, now!"
"A wet one," amended Harriet. "See! The rowboat is drifting ashore.
You stay on board. I'm going after it. I'm not tired. Keep the houseboat
away from the shore, if you can."
Harriet sprang into the water, swimming leisurely shoreward. Reaching
the rowboat, she took hold of and clung to it, drifting ashore with it.
The houseboat also was coming in. Jane was shouting to her
companion to hurry. Harriet was doing the best she could under the
circumstances, struggling with all her strength to right the rowboat. By
the time she had succeeded in doing so, the "Red Rover" was fairly on
top of her.
"Steer out!" cried Harriet warningly.
"I can't steer in or out," flung back Jane.
Harriet began tugging at the rowboat to get it out of the way of the
oncoming houseboat. The former had grounded in the shallow water.
The houseboat caught the stranded rowboat, turned it over and slowly
ground it under its prow, accompanied by the sound of crushing planks.
Harriet was caught and thrown down, disappearing under the bow of
the "Red Rover."
CHAPTER III

SETTING UP HOUSEKEEPING
Jane, receiving no answer to her calls, ran up on top of the house. A
quick glance about showed her that Harriet was nowhere in sight. Jane
did not dare to dive, knowing that the water was shallow. She jumped,
feet first, instead, landing in the shallow water with great force.
"She's under there!" cried the girl, staggering toward the bow of the
houseboat. Putting her shoulders against it she shoved the heavy boat
back a little. Harriet Burrell came to the surface, then made a feeble
attempt to swim. Jane picked her up and carried her ashore; or, rather,
dragged her there, for, impeded by the water, Jane found Harriet too
heavy a burden.
Harriet was gasping. She had held her breath until she could hold it no
longer. The result was that she had swallowed considerable water.
Crazy Jane was working over her. It was but a few minutes before
Harriet Burrell had wholly recovered from the effects of the recent
catastrophe. She was considerably bruised and was rendered nervous
by her trying experience.
"Is--is the small boat damaged?" she gasped.
"Never mind the small boat. There are more boats where that came
from," answered Jane. "You lie down here while I go for another boat.
Shall I get some one to help us?"
Harriet shook her head.
"If we are going to be fresh water sailors we must learn to do things for
ourselves."
"That's what I say," agreed Jane, nodding with great emphasis. "But are
you sure you are all right?"
"I'm awfully wet, Jane."
"That's nothing. We'll be wet many a time before we get through with

this cruise."
"We shall have to get started first," answered Harriet, chuckling. "Run
along for another boat. I'll try to keep the 'Red Rover' off the shore
while you are gone. Hurry!"
Jane ran toward the landing, still some distance away. There were
several boats tied up there. She