Sunny Boy, of course, wanted to sail his boat immediately. Ellen and Ralph—Stephen had gone home—who came over presently thought it was the finest boat they had ever seen. Ralph had one or two boats, but none as large as The Billow.
“You can sail her sometimes,” offered Sunny Boy. “You get your Frolic now and let’s go down to the beach and play with ’em. I’ve got my bathing suit on.”
“If you chickens are going to sail boats, you’ll have to keep away from the bathing beach,” announced Aunt Bessie decidedly. “You can’t sail boats in a surf, anyway. Go over on the other side of the Cove where it is shallow and smoother.”
So the three children, the two boys carrying their boats, marched over to the side of the Cove where a small fleet of rowboats were kept at anchor and where the only house in sight was a small shanty where an old fisherman lived who made his living by selling tackle and bait.
“Guess Mr. Grimes has taken out a fishing party to-day,” said Ralph, noticing that the shanty door was closed. “His boat’s gone, too. Come on now, Sunny, let’s see The Billow race the Frolic.”
The Billow rested lightly on the water, and as there was hardly a breath of wind, Sunny Boy had to tow her instead of letting her sails carry her. But towing your boat on a warm summer’s day when you have your bathing suit on and are not afraid of getting wet, is great fun.
“If there was any wind, I guess your boat could beat mine,” conceded Ralph generously. “But if we can’t sail ’em, let’s play taking fishing parties out.”
“How?” asked Sunny Boy practically.
“Well, we have to have some people—make-believe, of course,” answered Ralph. “An’ then we ought to have something to eat.”
“Ellen’s paper dolls would do for people,” said Sunny Boy. “We’ll ask her if she’ll go an’ get ’em. And I’ll go and ask Harriet for something to eat.”