Peggy and Polly were close beside him. Captain Stewart and Captain Boynton stood a little behind watching the girls, whose eager eyes noted every turn of the wheel. An odd light came into Captain Boynton's eyes as he watched them. Presently he asked Peggy:
"Do you think you could handle a launch, little girl?"
"Why—perhaps I could—a little," answered Peggy modestly.
"Why, Peggy Stewart, there isn't a girl in Annapolis who can handle a launch or a sailboat as YOU do," cried Polly, aroused to emphatic protest.
Peggy blushed, and laughingly replied: "Only Polly Howland, the
Annapolis Co-Ed."
"Eh? What's that?" asked Captain Boynton.
"Oh, Polly has had a regular course in seamanship, Captain Boynton, and knows just everything."
"Any more than YOU do, miss?" demanded Polly.
"Yes, lots," insisted Peggy.
"Well, I'll wager anything you could take this launch up the river as easily as the coxswain is doing it," was Polly's excited statement.