"Come on, fellows!" Allen shouted. "We can't let two girls get the best of us like that."
Mrs. Irving, who was at home in the water, entered and swam out boldly.
"Are you going to stay there?" Frank shouted to Amy and Grace, who stood uncertainly on the bank, undecided whether to advance or retreat. "Come on in—the water's fine."
Thus encouraged, the two girls threw caution to the winds, and waded in till the warm water was up to their shoulders.
"Oh, it is wonderful!" cried Amy. "Look how far we are behind. Let's see if we can't catch up with them." And they started off with a will after their deserting comrades.
It was not long before the powerful strokes of the boys brought them up beside Mollie and Betty who were swimming easily.
"Hello, runaways," was Frank's greeting, turning over on his back and propelling himself by a whirlpool motion of his arms. "Thought you'd give us the slip, did you? Well, we shall see."
Betty followed Frank's example, floating lazily on the still surface of the water.
"We weren't running away," she said; "we just wanted to show you we weren't afraid, that's all."
"I'll give you a race to that floating log out there, Betty."