"Oh, dear, just look how rough the water is getting!" remarked Ruth in alarm.
"And how the wind is blowing!" added May.
In the other boat the girls were even more fearful, and Andy and Randy had all they could do to make them sit still.
"Don't shift," pleaded Randy. "We don't want to ship any water."
"Oh, dear! If only we were safe on shore!" wailed Alice.
"I didn't think it looked like a storm when we left the school," added Annie, in dismay.
"This is only a squall. It may blow itself out in a few minutes," returned Randy, although to himself he admitted that the squall looked as though it might last for some time.
Battling as best they could against the wind and the whitecaps, the Rover boys strove to reach the shore in the vicinity of the girls' school. But the wind was blowing directly down Clearwater Lake and threatened more than once to capsize them.
"Gee, Jack, this is getting serious!" panted Fred, as he looked questioningly at his cousin.
The same thought had come into the minds of each of the boys. Could the girls swim? They wished they knew, but did not dare to ask any questions for fear of further alarming their passengers.