In the course of a week or so the pump, too, gave out, so that the water had to be patiently taken out by means of pail, bailer, and sponge, which Jamie found to be not nearly as interesting an occupation as pumping, which was certainly more "ship-shape."
"I don't wonder that nobody wants to buy her," he remarked to Marian one very hot afternoon, as she rowed him out to the scene of his daily task. "Look out, now, and don't let her bunk," he added, as his sister brought the boat up alongside the Scud with a swoop that threatened to considerably damage the paint of both, had not Jamie skillfully warded off the blow.
At the same moment there was a sound of wheels on the gravelled driveway leading to the house, and a handsome village cart was seen to stop at the front door.
"Oh, it's Mamie Henley!" cried Marian, clapping her hands. "Hurry out, Jamie; here's your pail and things;" and quickly catching up her oars again, the little girl shoved off, and was nearly back at the dock before her brother could shout after her:
"But how am I going to get ashore? Come on out here again and take me in; then I can leave you and keep the boat;" and Jamie beckoned violently with the pail, as if to add emphasis to his words.
"Oh, I can't stop now," Marian screamed in reply, as she nimbly slipped the painter over a post, and scrambled out on the dock. "There's Mamie beckoning to me now. I'll run up and see her first, and when I come back you'll be all through;" and throwing out the last sentence as she ran, Jamie's twin flew on her way to the house. Jamie himself took up his bailer and went to work, hoping that Mamie Henley's call would be a very formal and consequently short one.
As it happened, it was not a call at all, for she had simply come to take Marian out riding with her old pony in his new cart.
"But there's Jamie out there in the Scud," began Marian, when she had been hugged and told that if she could not go at once she couldn't go at all, as the coachman must be at home in time to meet the train.
"Oh, I'll see to your brother," returned Mamie, "and I know your mother will let you go, for we met her on the road, and I asked her if you might. Now hurry and put on your other hat," and as Marian vanished on the instant, her friend walked to the bank and called to Jamie to know how long it would take him to finish his work.
"About ten minutes," he shouted back.