canoes has broken away, and is floating off," Nyoda
said in a low tone, so as not to disturb Gladys and Migwan, who
were still sleeping. Hinpoha sat up and listened. "I am going
after it in the launch," continued Nyoda, "and will need help.
Put on your bathing suit and come."

"Let me come, too," begged Hinpoha.

"All right," said Nyoda, and the three crept out of the tent and
down the path to the lake. The water had risen at least a foot,
and the floor of the dock was flooded. About half a mile out in
the lake they saw the runaway canoe, now standing on end, now
floating bottom up.

"Wouldn't it float in by itself?" asked Sahwah.

Nyoda shook her head.

"It might float in all right," she said, "but it would be dashed
to pieces on the rocks on the other side. You notice it is being
carried farther away from us all the time. If we want that canoe
for the rest of the summer we'll have to go after it."

That was the most exciting launch ride the two girls had ever
taken. The little boat rode up and down on the waves like an egg
shell, the water going over her constantly, drenching the girls
and threatening to swamp the engine. The wind whirled the rain
against their faces. Nyoda stood up in the bow handling the
wheel as calmly as if she were pouring tea at a reception.
Nyoda's strong point was her composure; it was next thing to
impossible to get her excited. They caught up with the canoe and
Sahwah and Hinpoha managed to right it and fasten it to the
launch with a rope. They got back to the dock without mishap and
pulled the canoe high up where it could not be washed away a
second time. Sahwah and Hinpoha returned to the tent red as
roses from their exposure to the wind and rain and recounted
their early morning adventure to Migwan and Gladys.

At breakfast time they had to put on their ponchos again and pick
their way through the puddles to the shack, where they ate their
breakfast. The "Mess Tent" was leaking merrily in a dozen
places. By noon there was still no let up in the downpour. Rest
hour was spent on the floor in the shack. When Nyoda came in in
the middle of the afternoon from a tour of inspection she
announced that both the Alpha and Omega tents were leaking badly
and the bedding was getting wet. She made the girls bring their
blankets, rolled up in their ponchos, into the shack and spread
them out before the fire.

The shack was pretty well crowded before the afternoon was over.
B