As Ward was also at that end, naturally the raft tipped and both boys went into the sea, coming up within a foot of Fred, who was shaking the water from his eyes and staring about him with a bewildered expression.
"Hello!" Artie greeted him rather foolishly.
"Some raft!" said Fred, in disgust. "And we're the dubs not to have worn our bathing suits. Let's go up to the house and get them on now and hang these clothes out to dry."
This was voted a sensible plan, and the boys waded ashore. When they reached the house and donned their bathing suits, hanging their wet clothes on the line strung in the side yard, Ward suggested that they might as well eat their lunch.
"Then we can stay out all the afternoon," he said.
"Don't forget we have to have that fence fixed before Dad gets here," Fred reminded him.
Artie reached the kitchen first and lifted the cloth which was spread over their lunch. Alas, three empty saucers showed that some one had been there before him.
"Ward Larue, you ate the pies!" cried Artie. "Of all the mean tricks!"
"So that's why you were so anxious to come up and get the rope and the oars," Fred said, suddenly understanding.