y. Under these calming influences of nature the
girls--even nervous Bess--felt themselves growing calm, and at peace
with the world. The trouble of the night before seemed to melt away,
and assume a less sinister aspect. But Cora could not get over the
feeling that something akin to a tragedy had nearly happened.

"And it may again," she thought. "I do wish we could help Freda and
her mother, but I don't see how. Land troubles are always so
complicated."

As Cora turned the wheel and swung the boat about in a wide circle,
she was aware of another craft coming toward her. She did not remember
having seen it before, and as it drew nearer she noted that it
contained but a single occupant--a young man, who, as Lottie said
afterward, was not at all bad-looking.

The young fellow guided his boat closer to the _Chelton_, and after
she had done making mental notes of the new craft's characteristics,
Cora had an idea that the stranger wanted to speak to them. Such
evidently was his intention, for he slowed down his engine, so as to
muffle the noise of the exhaust, and called out:

"On which point is Bayhead, if you please?"

"Over there," answered Cora, pointing to a promontory that jutted out
into the bay. "But be careful and go well out when you round it. There
are some dangerous rocks at low tide. How much do you draw?"

"Thirty-four inches."

"That's too much to try the short cut."

"Thank you for telling me," went on the young man. He certainly was
good-looking. Even Cora, conservative as she always was, had to admit
that.

"We are going over that way," went on Cora. "If you like, I will pilot
you."

"You are very good," returned the young man. "If it will not be too
much trouble, and not take you out of your way, I would like very much
to have you show me the course. I'm a stranger here."

Cora and the motor girls had been on so many trips on land and water
that they had learned how to meet and accept the advances of
strangers, even when they were good-looking young men. There was, too,
a sort of comradeship about a motor boat that lent a chaperonage to
the effect of girls talking to men to whom they had never been
introduced. Cora's chums realized this and thought nothing of her
offer.

"Follow me," Cora called, as she opened the throttle a little wider,
and the _Chelton_ shot ahead. The other boat came right after, with a
promptness that caused Cora to think it had more speed than she at
first suspected.