He rowed close to a short pile that was near the shore and in very shallow water. There was a huge iron ring attached to the pile, used for mooring small boats.
Donald, who had been watching the shore very closely, now, to hide his interest, bent all his energy in fastening the chain of the boat to the ring.
"There!" he said, "that's fast, an' you girls are safe if you sit still till I come back."
He sprang from the boat, and waded through the shallow water, then ran up on the beach, shouting:
"Jock! Jock! Wait a minute!"
"Donald! Don't stay long!" cried Rose, and Polly echoed her words, but
Donald either did not, or would not hear!
They watched the two boys as they stood for a moment talking, then ran down the beach.
"I don't think he was very nice to go off and leave us here while he does errands," said Polly.
"He wasn't nice at all," said Rose, "and I'll tell Uncle John, if he gets here first."
"Is this chain VERY long?" Polly asked a moment later.