In another moment the Pet shot alongside the other craft, sliding rather violently along the rub-streak, and careening the sloop and herself as well. But no real harm was done save the removal of considerable paint and varnish. Jack had succeeded in his design.
“Well, what were you trying to do?” demanded the owner of the sloop, rather angrily.
“Trying to save your boat from harm,” answered Jack quickly. “Throw me a line, will you? and I’ll come aboard. I don’t want to get in the motor boat, all wet as I am.”
“Sure thing!” the man exclaimed. “That was a neat trick you worked. Mighty clever!”
He flung Jack a rope’s end, the two boats now having drifted apart. Jack pulled himself to the deck of the sloop, letting go his hold on the Pet, but Walter and Ed were now coming out to get her in a small boat. Soon she was tied safely at the float, and Jack returned to shore.
“How–how did it all happen?” asked Eline.
“Well,” said Jack, rather pantingly, for his breath was somewhat spent, “I had an idea that I gave a fairly good imitation, a la the moving picture performance, of how it happened. But if you’d prefer to have me play a return engagement, I might—”
“Don’t you dare!” cried Cora, as Jack made a motion as though to plunge into the water again. “Was that man very mad, Jack?”
“Oh, only so-so. Say, I am some wet!”
“Yes, you’d better go up to the bung, and change,” suggested Ed–“bung,” I may explain, being a short cut for bungalow.