the motor boat drew nearer, it prepared to pass close to the craft
manned by Jack and Fred. As it came closer, Jennie Mason gave a cry of
surprise.

"Oh, look! look! There are those Rover boys, and some of our girls are
with them!"

"I'm glad I am not out in a rowboat," said Ida Brierley. "I'd be afraid
of getting a good ducking."

"Ahoy there, on the motor boat!" sang out Fred, as the craft came
alongside. "Can't you fellows give us a tow? We have plenty of rope."

"This motor boat wasn't built for towing," answered Nappy Martell,
roughly.

"We're having a terrible time of it against this wind," put in Jack. He
would not have asked for assistance on his own account, but he was
thinking of the girls. He knew that all of them were badly frightened.

"Oh, yes! please tow us in!" came from May.

"Yes! please do!" added Ruth.

"It's so far to the shore!" came from Annie.

"And we're afraid we'll get wet through and through!" cried Alice.

"You ought to do something for them," declared Jennie Mason, who had
herself become frightened over the roughness of the lake.

"I'm not going to tow those Rovers in," muttered Nappy Martell. "You
wouldn't do it, would you, Slugger?"

"Not much! Let 'em take care of themselves," was the heartless answer.

"Oh! but they may be drowned!" gasped Jennie.

"Nothing of the sort. This is only a little wind, and it will soon die
down. If those Rovers have to break their backs rowing, it will do 'em
good!"

"If you don't tow us in, you'll be the meanest fellow on earth," sang
out Andy.

"I wouldn't have your disposition for a million dollars," added his
twin.

"Aw! go chase yourselves!" retorted Slugger Brown, heartlessly.

"We're not helping fellows like you," came from Nappy Martell. Then the
motor boat passed on and was soon all but lost in the distance.

"Of all the mean people!" cried Ruth.

"I shouldn't think Jennie Mason would stand for such meanness,"
declared May. "Nor Ida Brierley, either."

The motor boat having gone on and left them to their fate, the Rover
boys continued pulling on the oars. It was hard, laborious work, and
soon Andy and Fred were all but exhausted. Jack and Randy, however, had
now gotten their second wind, so to speak, and they continued their
efforts with unabated vigor.

"It was as mean as dirt for them to leave us out here when they could
have towed us in with ease," panted Fred. "Just you wait--I'll let the
whole school know of this!"