“But how did it get there?” insisted Fred.
“It floated,” said Grant quietly, “and I’ll tell you how. You know we pulled it up on the shore, but I’m afraid we didn’t pull it far enough. While we were away, the tide must have come in and floated it off. There it goes, and here we stay, I guess.”
“Don’t be so sure of that,” exclaimed George, and he began to divest himself of his few remaining clothes as rapidly as possible.
“What do you think you’re going to do, Pop?” demanded Grant.
“I’m going after that boat.”
“By swimming?”
“Of course. How else could I reach it?” and by this time George was almost stripped to his skin.
“Don’t be silly, Pop,” exclaimed Fred. “That boat is at least a half-mile from shore and you couldn’t possibly catch it. It’s getting farther away all the time.”
“It’s worth a try, isn’t it?” demanded George. “You don’t want to stay here the rest of your life, do you?” He was a splendid swimmer and had won many prizes in this line of sport. At the same time what he proposed to attempt now was most ambitious.
“You’re crazy, Pop,” said Grant earnestly. “You can’t possibly make it.”