“But how on earth are you going to get ashore if the engine won’t work?” asked Dolly. “It seems to me that we’re stuck out here.”
“Oh, you leave that to us!” said Trenwith, cheerfully. “I’m sorry this has happened, but please believe me when I say that it isn’t a bit serious.”
They soon saw the Columbia was to be rescued from her predicament. She was fairly near the shore, and now Bates dropped an anchor, and she remained still, swinging slowly on the chain.
“He’ll row ashore, you see, hunt up the people, and tell them what he wants,” said Trenwith. “Hurry up, Bates! Remember, we’ve promised to get these young ladies home in good time.”
“Right, sir,” said Bates, as he lowered the dinghy and dropped into her. “Won’t take me long when I find the people on shore–and about five minutes will fix that engine when I get back here again.”
He rowed off into the darkness, making for a point of light that showed on shore, and they settled back to wait as patiently as they could for his return.
“Suppose Charlie turns up at the camp while we’re gone, and wants you for something important?” asked Eleanor. “Oh, I’m afraid we did wrong in coming!”
“Not a bit of it! Old Charlie will understand. And I know his plans pretty well, so there isn’t any danger of this causing any trouble.”
It seemed to take longer for Bates to find help than he had expected. At any rate, the greater part of half an hour slipped away before they heard the sound of oars coming toward them.
“Why, there are two men rowing!” said Dolly, curiously. “And that dinghy only has room for one man with oars.”