“Right you are,” came from Pepper.
“If you want to give them away, I’ll take either,” said Andy, with an innocent look, and this remark caused a general laugh.
The boys found a secluded spot, and tying up the two sloops, went ashore and began to get ready for a swim. Soon Pepper plunged into the clear water and Andy and the others followed. It felt a trifle cold at first, but they soon got used to it, and they dove, splashed, and swam around to their hearts’ content.
“Come on and race!” sang out Pepper, presently.
“Done!” called Dale, and side by side they struck out for a distant rock. The others joined in, and in a few minutes all were some distance away from where they had left the sloops and their clothing.
In the meantime a large gasolene motor boat had come up the shore of the lake. It contained a pleasure party from Pornell Academy, including Roy Bock, Grimes, Gussic, Sedley, and several others. The motor boat was an easy-running affair and under reduced speed made little noise, so the swimmers did not notice its approach.
“Hello, I see two sloops in the Cove,” remarked Roy Bock.
“One of ’em is Fred Century’s boat,” said Grimes.
“Yes, and the other is the boat belonging to Jack Ruddy,” added Gussic. “Nobody on board,” he went on, after a close look.
“They must have gone ashore,” remarked Sedley.