"Not any one in sight now," replied Louise. "We spent more time than we imagined. See, it is sun down."
"But what made him go like that?" Margaret whispered. "He had only been in the water a few minutes."
"Maybe the fright," said Cleo, noticing how high the lad's forehead was, and with what evident care he had been dressed. His glasses were still on, and the sunset made ghostly shadows on his face.
"I'm so glad he didn't topple over when I touched his boat," said Louise. "I should have thought it all my fault, if he had."
"Nonsense," replied Grace. "He was bound to fall overboard. He did not seem to know he was on the water. But isn't it too bad there is no one around to call? Every one is gone now."
They rowed as vigorously as their young arms could serve the strokes, and it took but a few moments to get out in a straight line for the pier.
As the girls came within hailing distance of the dock the captain there, seeing something was wrong, hurried to the steps to meet them.
"What's this? What happened?" he asked.
"He fell overboard. Oh, please hurry to revive him," pleaded Julia. "He looks so death-like."
Leaning over the boat the man picked the frail boy up in his arms and carried him up the pier as quickly as it was possible to do so.