"Now I will give him a real rousing fright," she said to herself. "After that perhaps he will be my slave, the same as Carter was. Anyhow, I have a crow to pluck with him; and the storm, and my knowledge of the water, and his absolute ignorance will enable me to win the day."
Aloud, she said in a gentle voice, "Perhaps you'd like to take the oars?"
"I will if you like," said Hughie; "but the fact is, I'm not very good at rowing. I have never been much in a boat."
"Ah! I thought as much. But I can teach you. Come and sit here."
They had just entered the stream, which made the lake dangerous even on a calm day. Hughie stumbled to his feet; Irene sat in the stern, took the ropes, and skillfully guided the boat into the centre of the stream. It began to rock tremendously.
"Now pull! Pull hard!" she said to the boy.
Just then a blinding flash of lightning came across their faces.
"Oh!" said Hughie, "the storm is on us. It will rain in a few minutes. Hadn't we better get back?"
"What a coward you are!" said Irene. "It is the most awful fun to be out on the lake in a storm like this. Ah! do you hear that growl?"
"But I can't manage the boat a bit."