They were a lazy, idle set, and wrangled over the question of who should row the boat. At last it was decided that all should take a turn, and they started.
The wind was increasing every minute, and no sooner were they out on the lake than the full blast caused the waves to dash over the side.
"Hi! I don't like this!" cried one of the boys, in alarm. "The boat may go over——-"
"Well, we have got to get back to our camp," said Ham, in dismay. He did not like the roughness himself.
To keep the water from coming into the boat they had to row into the wind, and this took them some distance away from their camp. Even as it was, every boy got more or less wet, which put them in an ill humor.
"I didn't calculate on this when I started out," grumbled one, as he surveyed his fancy outing costume. "I'll have to have these pressed again before long," and he sighed.
There was a point of land around which the wind was sweeping at a furious pace, and to avoid this spot, they decided to tie up their boat in a safe cove and walk to their camp through the woods.
"It's blowing up another storm," said one of the boys. "I think it will rain to-night, and rain hard."
"Won't those other fellows enjoy it—-if they can't find their things!"
"The things will get wet."