The cooling effects of this inundation were immediately perceptible. Tom had been thrown down by the skipper, and the wave had nearly drowned him. All the others were wet through, and the sloop was rolling as though she intended to do the same thing again. Ash was boatman enough to understand the situation. He had put the helm up when he was attacked, for the boat had a tendency to broach to; and she had fallen off till she presented the broad side of her mainsail to the stiff breeze.
The boat had come up headed the other way. With the water splashing about in the standing-room, the skipper came about again, and headed the sloop on her former course. The cold water had cooled off Tom, and just now he was wringing out his coat. He appeared to submit to the situation for the present. Sam desired to return, but Ash wanted to fight the battle out if it was renewed again.
The Goldwing had dipped up the water when she was off the mouth of Porter's Bay. Ash set his companions to baling out the standing-room, and with all the vessels on board, the work was soon finished. Before she was up with the point beyond the bay, the sun had dried the floor and seats, and she was the cleaner for her bath.
"Boat ahoy!" shouted some one from the point, which was covered with trees.
A glance in the direction from which the hail came informed the boys that there was a picnic on the point.
CHAPTER VII.
AN UNEXPECTED APPEARANCE.
"On shore!" replied Ash Burton, to the hail.
"We should like to hire your boat for a while: can we do it if we pay well for her?" continued the speaker on the point.
"She is not to let," replied the skipper.