“Of course,” was the answer. It seemed to Gerald that Harry might as well have asked him if he could breathe. All his summers had been spent at Sound View, and looking back he could scarcely remember a time when he hadn’t been able to swim.
“Well, can you paddle?” was Harry’s next question.
“Paddle? Oh, you mean in a canoe? No, I guess not. I never was in a canoe. It doesn’t look hard, though.”
“It isn’t—very,” answered Harry. “It’s lots of fun, though. I was wondering why you and I couldn’t have a canoe, Gerald.”
“That would be dandy!” cried Gerald. “Could we?”
“Yes, we could rent one. It only costs three dollars a month. You have to be able to swim, though, or Faculty won’t let you have one. What I thought was that—”
“What?” asked Gerald, as the younger boy hesitated.
“Well, you see, I haven’t much money. I thought perhaps you’d be willing to pay the three dollars if I’d show you how to paddle.”
“Of course I will,” said Gerald. “That’s fair enough. I’d like mighty well to know how. Can we get a canoe at the boathouse?”