“I’ve got it!” yelled Nan, exultantly; and the next moment water filled her mouth and she swallowed so much that she felt almost water-logged.
“Hang on!” shouted Walter, encouragingly.
He started the screw again. Grace, who was thoroughly frightened, made out, however, to hold the wheel steady. Walter ran to the stern and drew in the life-buoy, towing the imperiled girls round to leeward of the plunging motor boat.
The rescue was barely in the nick of time. They lifted Bess Harley over the low rail of the Bargain Rush, almost senseless. Nan managed to climb in unaided. They were not much wetter than those already aboard the motor boat.
Linda was very ill, and hung over the rail forward. Grace was crying, amidships, and trying to steer the boat while Walter tinkered with the engine. Bess and Nan lay in the cockpit, recovering from their fight with the sea.
It was a very miserable party, indeed.
CHAPTER XV
THE BOATHOUSE GHOST
Between her throes of sea-sickness, Linda began to be heard.
“I’ll never forgive you, never, Walter Mason! Nor you, either, Grace! You brought me out here to drown me! I’ll tell my father!”