One day Beth ran down ahead of the others. Don, for a wonder, was not with her that morning. She thought she would have some fun all by herself.
Her log was in the boat house. She fearlessly jumped into deep water with it, but somehow, she got beyond the range of the walk. In trying to paddle back to it, her log slipped away from her. Then she grew very much frightened.
It was a case of swim or sink. Terrified as she was, she had presence of mind to keep her hands and feet going. To her surprise, she did not sink. She had only a little ways to go and made it without very much effort.
When the other children came, she was all excitement.
"Just see. I can swim, I can swim."
Beth hastened to show off her wonderful accomplishment. She was disgusted when Harvey laughed at her.
"Why, Beth, you swim in regular dog fashion. You claw the water just like Don. You ought to go like this."
She tried striking out with her arms as he bid, but could not swim that way. Whereupon, she declared:
"I like swimming dog fashion best."
One evening Mr. Davenport came home and said: