All this time the drenched girl was being most carefully looked after by the gallant captain of the Dixie. He was seeing to it that she did not suffer from a chill, for a big coat had been wrapped around her and her pretty white cap that had merrily floated off was now replaced by one marked “Dixie.” Altogether, for a mere Summer dip, Lottie was having a magnificent time, as Ed took pains to observe.
“Oh, I can’t go with you now!” called Lottie. “Mr. Ward has kindly offered to take me home.”
There was a pause after that remark. If Lottie went back to the bungalow it seemed only reasonable that someone should go with her. But who? Everyone wanted to take the trip on the Chelton.
“Let us take you up to the point,” called Cora, “and we can wait for you to change and come back. Our trip would be spoiled with one of the party missing.”
“Let’s shift,” suggested Drayton, with a gracious smile at Cora. “Mine is probably the faster boat. You get in here with us, Miss Cora, and we will run up and down the bay while your friends are working off the oil smoke. That’s a neat little boat you have, a perfect little model,” he finished, coming as close as possible to the Chelton.
“Yours is all right, too, Dray,” replied Jack, “but it looks too good to be true. Doesn’t shoot up on land for a change, does it? I have heard of Dixies doing that stunt.”
“Oh, dear!” exclaimed Lottie. “I am freezing to death. I guess I’ll go change my dress.”
“Good idea,” agreed Cora, who was ready to leave her boat and go back to the bungalow with Lottie. “Come on,” and she jumped to the dock to which her boat had drifted. “I’ll run along with you.”
“Nice way to treat a fellow,” complained Drayton. “Well, fellows, I’ll race you while we are waiting for the ladies to return. What do you say, Jack?”
“I’m willing, as long as Cora has finally condescended to let me touch the wheel. Everybody sit down this time.”