“Give you a race,” called Rose, as she had called many times before when Laura or Vi had been in the boat with Billie. However, Edina was neither Laura nor Vi, a fact of which Rose Belser was well and mischievously aware. Edina rowed with a stroke all her own and possessed a positive genius for entangling her oar with that of her stroke mate.
Still Billie could not refuse the challenge.
“All right, race you to the island!” she returned.
“But, Billie!” cried Edina, aghast, “you oughtn’t to’ve said that. I can’t row!”
“Stop talking!” Billie commanded, her jaw set. “Stop talking and row!”
Such rowing! Edina’s oar did everything but stroke the water. It sat upon the top of it, it splashed spray into the boat, it entangled itself with Billie’s. By the time Ray and Rose had reached the island, Billie’s boat had succeeded in turning its nose about and was headed the other way!
That incident was a lesson to Billie. She told Edina firmly:
“You’ve got to learn to row. That’s all there is to it. The sooner we begin the better.”
“All right,” returned Edina resignedly. “Anything you say.”
This was the beginning of much secret practice for Edina in a secluded cove, screened by much bright-colored foliage from both Three Towers and Boxton Academy.