"Gee, these are the clothes I am supposed to wear home this afternoon," Joe sighed crossly. "My others are packed."
"You'd better come on back to the house and get dried off," suggested Albert, whose teeth were chattering. He seldom went bathing in the ocean because the water was too cold for him.
Joe slid off the raft and tramped moodily ashore. He was inclined to blame Fred and Artie for what had happened, but even Albert declared that it was not their fault. "But it isn't much of a raft," Albert added.
"Now let me on," urged Ward, as the two boys disappeared up the beach. "I'm glad Joe is going home to-day—perhaps we can have a little peace."
Ward gingerly took his place on the raft, though he had to be pulled by Artie and pushed by Fred, before he could gain a foothold, and then, as the craft did not sink, Fred himself came aboard. The raft remained afloat, though it could not be said to be absolutely dry.
"I'll try poling," said Fred, who had brought one of the oars with him.
He meant to pole toward the piling, but either because he was excited or did not think, he began to propel the raft away from the anchorage, and the first thing he knew his oar had stuck in the sand. It broke off with a loud crack and Fred pitched into the water, head over heels.
IT BROKE OFF AND FRED PITCHED INTO THE WATER.
The Riddle Club at Sunrise Beach. Page 141
"Did he land on his head?" cried Artie in alarm, running to the end of the raft where Fred had disappeared.