In the afternoon there came more rain and heavier. Puddles stood in the grass. Little streams ran down the paths and joined in larger ones. Water poured from the dining hall roof and beat a tattoo upon the umbrellas of the returning girls, for again entertainment was planned with the big hall as headquarters. This time the good old-fashioned games were used. And there were some little city girls that had not played “drop the handkerchief”! The “farmer in the dell” was kept going for some time. Musical chairs was played without chairs, girls in a line crooking right and left arms alternately to be grasped when the music stopped by the girls who marched around them. London Bridge was called for, and the question asked by the leaders was, “Which would you rather be, the best swimmer in camp, or the best tennis player?” Girls in the line passing under the bridge wondered why Frances had so many behind her, till their turn came to hear the question. Lilian, Cathalina and some others took their places behind Marion in favor of tennis, but most of the girls desired to excel in swimming, and their long line easily won in the tug of war which followed.
“O, look, girls, the sun!”
While they were absorbed in the games it had stopped raining. The bell by the club house rang and the athletic director announced swimming. “Into your bathing suits,” she cried, “and don’t forget to gather up your rain coats and other things to take with you!”
“We’ll not get wet after all, Izzy,” said Virgie, teasing, as they paddled down from their klondikes to the shore through puddles, sand and mud. “Do you dare me to do a somersault and dive from the high board?”
“What is the use of daring? You’ll do it anyhow if you feel like it. I am practicing on the ‘crawl’ stroke, but it is so easy to drop into the one you are used to using. Doesn’t Cathalina look sweet with that pretty cape or cloak to match her suit? Here’s for the rolling deep!”—with which Isabel threw herself from the dock into deep water, came up to breathe and shake the water from her rosy face, and made for the float, from which she and Virginia expected to dive. Even the girls who had not been swimmers were growing accustomed to the watery element, gaining both in confidence and ability.
“The bell will ring for a boat ride at four o’clock,” was the announcement after the whistle blew for all to come out of the water. “Come now, everybody out! Go up and get thoroughly dry and take sweaters for the trip.”
By the time the Aeolus had started with its happy company, a fresh breeze and bright sun were already drying off the walks and grass. It seemed a different world. The blue water was dancing and the tide favorable to their ride up Merrymeeting Bay. Past “Marshmallow Point”, past the swimming cove, past gulls posing on fishing weirs, the Aeolus glided.
“There’s the hunters’ cabin, Hilary. See how it looks from the bay.”
“Not very far from shore, June; suppose the old pirate sank his treasure chest with chain and anchor?”
“What if he had!”