Pretty soon the steamer ran down close to them, lines were thrown out, and they were drawn on board, the girl first, Frank following, with the dog in his arms.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE SMUGGLER’S DAUGHTER.
In the captain’s private room Frank Merriwell stripped off his wet clothes. The captain provided him with a dry suit of underclothes, a pair of trousers, socks and a woolen shirt. His coat, vest, shoes and hat were brought him, and he made a very respectable appearance when he came out.
In the meantime, in another room the girl was making such changes as were possible.
It was nearly an hour later when Frank found her seated on the sunny side of the boat, wrapped in a blanket and holding the little dog in her arms. On her head was a handsome hat, and her hair had been dried and combed. She laughed when she saw him.
“Why,” she exclaimed, “no one would know you had been in the water! As for me, my dress is ruined. It was fortunate I had other dresses aboard and I could get to my trunk. I was so chilled that I came out here and kept this blanket about me at first. I don’t need it now.”
She let the blanket slip from her shoulders, and Merry was amazed to find her dressed in another suit that was quite as stylish and handsome as the first. Again she seemed to read his thoughts, for she said:
“I’m just back from Boston, you know. Father lets me go up twice a year, and I always get a full supply of clothing while I am there. That’s how I happened to have a trunkful on board.