n scared," said Ted, who
felt a little ashamed of himself for hurrying toward shore. "You
frightened me yelling so, Jan."

"Well, I didn't want to see you get bit by a shark, Teddy. First I
thought it was a shark."

"Well, sharks live in the ocean, where the water is salty," declared
Ted.

"Anyhow maybe a muskrat bites," went on Janet.

"Well, maybe," agreed Ted. "I guess it's a good thing I didn't stay
there when he came swimming in," for the big rat passed right over the
place where Ted had been about to swim. "I'm glad you yelled, Janet."

"So'm I. I'm not going in swimming here any more."

"Oh, he won't come back," Ted said. "Come on!"

But Janet would not go, and as it was no fun for Ted to splash in the
water all alone he stayed near shore and went wading with Trouble and
his sister.

This was fun, and the Curlytops had a good time, while Nora, now that
she knew there was no danger from sharks, sat in the shade and mended
holes in the children's stockings.

"I wish we had a boat," said Ted after a while.

"Why, we have," answered Jan.

"Yes, I know, the big rowboat. But that's too heavy for me and you--I
mean you and me," and Ted quickly corrected himself, for he knew it was
polite always to name oneself last. "But I want a little boat that we
can paddle around in."

Jan thought for a moment and then cried:

"Oh, I know the very thing!"

"What?" asked Ted eagerly.

"One of the boxes grandpa brought the things in from the store. They're
long, and we can make box-boats of them. There's two of 'em!"

"That's what we can!" cried Teddy, as he thought of the boxes his sister
meant. Groceries from the store had been sent to the camp in them. The
boxes were strong, and long; big enough for Jan or Ted to sit down in
them and reach over the sides to paddle, not being too high.

Mother Martin said they might take the boxes and make of them the
play-boats they wanted, and, in great delight, Ted and his sister ran to
get their new playthings.

Grandpa Martin pulled out all the nails that might scratch the children,
and he also fastened strips of wood over the largest cracks in the
boxes.

"That will keep out some of the water, but not all," he said. "Your
box-boats won't float very long. They'll sink as soon as enough water
runs in through the other cracks."

"Oh, well, we'll paddle in them in shallow water," promised Ted. "And
sinking won't hurt, 'cause we've got on our bathing suits. Come on,
Jan!