ather
violently along the rub-streak, and careening the sloop and herself as
well. But no real harm was done save the removal of considerable paint
and varnish. Jack had succeeded in his design.

"Well, what were you trying to do?" demanded the owner of the sloop,
rather angrily.

"Trying to save your boat from harm," answered Jack quickly. "Throw me a
line, will you? and I'll come aboard. I don't want to get in the motor
boat, all wet as I am."

"Sure thing!" the man exclaimed. "That was a neat trick you worked. Mighty
clever!"

He flung Jack a rope's end, the two boats now having drifted apart. Jack
pulled himself to the deck of the sloop, letting go his hold on the _Pet_,
but Walter and Ed were now coming out to get her in a small boat. Soon
she was tied safely at the float, and Jack returned to shore.

"How--how did it all happen?" asked Eline.

"Well," said Jack, rather pantingly, for his breath was somewhat spent, "I
had an idea that I gave a fairly good imitation, a la the moving picture
performance, of how it happened. But if you'd prefer to have me play
a return engagement, I might----"

"Don't you dare!" cried Cora, as Jack made a motion as though to plunge
into the water again. "Was that man very mad, Jack?"

"Oh, only so-so. Say, I am some wet!"

"Yes, you'd better go up to the bung, and change," suggested Ed--"bung,"
I may explain, being a short cut for bungalow.

"Guess I'd better," agreed the damp one. "Say, but she's leaking some!"
and he looked into the cockpit of the motor craft.

"It will stop when the seams swell," was Walter's opinion. "Come on,
fellows, we'll look over the engine."

"Yes, and please get some gasoline," suggested Cora. "We may be able to go
for a spin this afternoon. Come on, girls. Now that the _Pet_ is in her
element we'll take a stroll around, and look at--well, at whatever there
is to look at," she concluded.

"Let's go over to the lighthouse," suggested Belle.

"Not now!" exclaimed Cora, quickly. "We'll go some other time. Come on,"
and leaving the boys to go over the intricacies of the motor boat, the
girls strolled along the sand.

Jack hurried on the bungalow.

"Why didn't you want to go to the lighthouse?" asked Eline of Cora, as
they walked on, arm in arm. "I think they are so romantic. And perhaps
that mermaid's father might show us through it in return for our rescue."

"Doubtless he would, and probably he will--later," said Cora. "But, Eline,
I wan