"Yes," Ruth responded thoughtfully. "Can you row, Dick?"
"I should think I can! I have taken an oar many times lately when I've been boating with Uncle Theophilus!"
"Oh, then, do let us borrow Jim Cole's boat and row back to Holton! I'm sure he wouldn't mind lending it to us! Think what fun it would be!"
"I can't row with two oars," Dick was reluctantly obliged to acknowledge.
"You can take one oar, and I'll take the other. I am sure we can manage very well like that. You're not afraid, are you?"
"Oh, no; but—"
"Did Miss Warren or Dr. Warren say you were not to go in a boat?"
"No; but—"
"Oh, Dick, do stop saying 'but!' It's so stupid of you! I'm tired of walking on the sand and climbing over rocks, and we can row back to Holton in no time. Help me to get up the anchor."
It was fixed much more firmly than Ruth had anticipated; but after several futile attempts they succeeded in freeing it from the ground, and placed it in the bottom of the boat, then, the beach sloping towards the sea, they had no difficulty in pushing the boat itself into the water.