Part 8 (2/2)

”Now, Lottie, I can see his bald head under his cap at this distance without marine gla.s.ses, and it's a rule of the club that 'dears' have special advantages in the matter of healthy heads of hair. But, of course, if you wish to call him 'dear'----”

”Jack, you are the greatest tease,” she pouted.

Bess, Belle and Cora had already reached the motor boat. Denny was proudly ”looking her over,” pipe in mouth and hands in pockets. The girls were bustling about, all enthusiasm, while the boys, a.s.suming an air of importance, found many points to investigate.

”Now take seats,” called Cora, ”we are ready to push off. Lottie, don't lean overboard.”

”Oh, I am watching the cutest little fish. See, Bess,” she exclaimed.

Ed was on the dock with the rope loose from the cleat. Cora was at the steering wheel, while Denny insisted on turning the fly wheel, as that seemed about the most difficult thing to do. The gasoline was turned on, Jack attending to that, and as Denny gave the fly wheel a vigorous turn, Ed pushed off and jumped into the boat. The ”push” sent the _Chelton_ out in the water, but the motor failed to do its duty. Again Denny tried, but still no response. As this is not unusual with any motor, whether new or old, all hands waited patiently.

”Oh, there's the _Dixie_!” called Lottie, jumping up and waving to an approaching boat.

At that instant the _Chelton_ started with a jerk, and there was a chorus of screams.

”Lottie's overboard!” cried the girls.

”Overboard!” repeated the boys.

”Quick!” begged Cora. ”She may sink!”

To bring the boat to a sudden stop was not an easy matter, and there were some moments of suspense before the _Chelton_ pa.s.sed safely to the other side of the spot where Lottie was struggling.

The water was not so deep but that she was able to scramble to her feet, but the wash of the boat forced her to work violently to keep her head above water.

”The rope!” called Cora, who had dashed from her position at the steering wheel to the side of the boat where the mooring rope had been dropped. In the excitement, of course, all crowded to one side of the small craft, which caused it to careen alarmingly.

”There! There!” shouted Ed. ”Lottie, grab the rope!”

”Oh, I can't,” came the rather weak and shaky reply. ”I can't reach it.”

By this time the _Dixie_, the innocent cause of the accident, was alongside. Drayton Ward, the wealthy young fellow who could boast of a motor boat that would have aroused comment even at Newport, leaned over the side and grasped the arm of the girl in the water. The rest was a simple matter, for soon Lottie was a.s.sisted over the rail of the _Dixie_, and was in the finest boat on Crystal Bay.

”What do you think of that?” gasped Bess into Cora's ear.

”Clever!” replied Cora, simply.

”But the togs?” queried Jack, to whom the accident had seemed something of a joke.

”What a pity,” returned Belle, ”and she did look so sweet!”

All this time the drenched girl was being most carefully looked after by the gallant captain of the _Dixie_. He was seeing to it that she did not suffer from a chill, for a big coat had been wrapped around her and her pretty white cap that had merrily floated off was now replaced by one marked ”Dixie.” Altogether, for a mere Summer dip, Lottie was having a magnificent time, as Ed took pains to observe.

”Oh, I can't go with you now!” called Lottie. ”Mr. Ward has kindly offered to take me home.”

There was a pause after that remark. If Lottie went back to the bungalow it seemed only reasonable that someone should go with her.

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