Chuck complied with this request. He evidently regarded this suggestion as a favor; and, without saying a word, he untied the rope that secured Dory's arms. He had hardly done so before the boat shipped a sea, and rolled over.
CHAPTER IX.
UNDER THE LEE OF GARDINER'S ISLAND.
The boat dipped herself half full of water as soon as the two burglars ceased to pull, and this weight of movable fluid increased her capacity for rolling. At the next wave she went over, and the four persons in her were spilled into the lake. All of them hung on to the overturned tender, though, in the commotion of the waves, it was not an easy thing to do so.
Two of the party hung on at each side, and the water-logged boat was steadied a little by their weight. Angy, in spite of the difficulties of the situation, opened in a savage assault upon his companions, with his flippant tongue, for their disobedience of orders, declaring that their conduct had produced the disaster, which was quite true.
"We are no worse off than we were in the boat, and it isn't any wetter in the water than it was on board of her," replied Mack, who had caused the mischief. "I had rather be here than in the boat off that point, where you were trying to take us."
"I shall fine you both for disobedience of orders," growled Angy.
"That will make two fines saddled on me; and I suppose you mean to rob me wholly of my share," added Chuck, as he emptied his mouth of the lake-water, which had dashed in when he opened it.
"I don't submit to any fine because I wouldn't let you drown me," added Mack.
"I think it is more comfortable here than it was in the boat," said Chuck. "The wind is driving us to the shore, and we shall be on the land in a few minutes."
"How did that fellow get loose?" demanded Angy, when he discovered that Dory was holding on at the boat, like the rest of them.