adventure.

"Oh, there are Cora and Lottie!" exclaimed Belle. "Can't we go in for
them, and look after Dray's boat afterward?"

"That would be a nice way to treat a ship in distress," said Denny,
"but excuse me," and he showed regret at his remark. "I shouldn't be
thinkin' of a lad when the young girls are needin' help."

"Oh, the girls are all right," Jack assured the old seaman; "but say,
Dray," he called, "what's the matter, anyhow?"

"Just give me a line and tow me in, then we will hold a post mortem,"
replied Dray, good humoredly. "I don't fancy taking her apart out
here."

"Good!" exclaimed Marita, "then we can go for Cora and Lottie."

Promptly the brand new rope of the _Chelton_ was tossed to the
disabled boat and fastened, then the two boats started for shore.

Cora and Lottie were waiting. The latter had shed her wet "garments of
vanity," as Belle described them, for a simple brown linen frock.

"What happened?" called Cora, as the boats neared shore.

"Mis-happened," answered Dray. "It was just fate. We couldn't expect
to beat the motor girls."

"Nice of you," acknowledged Cora, "but I am sorry if there is anything
wrong with your beautiful boat."

"It's the boat and not the boy," remarked Ed. "Well, we'll do as much
for you some day, Cora. Wait until we get our little _Lassie_ out.
She, being a mere girl, may have a show."

"What's the matter, Lottie?" asked Bess, as they landed and the girls
noted that Lottie was remarkably quiet, and even a trifle pale.

"Not a thing," Cora hurriedly answered, while she crushed her fingers
on Lottie's arm. "We were detained at the bungalow, that's all. We'll
tell you all about it later on."

The girls gathered around Cora and Lottie at this remark. But Cora, by
some mysterious signal system, had warned Lottie not to say anything,
and she soon joined the boys, who had already boarded the _Dixie_ to
overhaul her.

They looked at the engine, at the spark plugs, at the cylinder, but
Cora, who happened to have more room at the point where the carbureter
was situated, suddenly exclaimed:

"I've got it! Water in the carbureter!"

"Right-o!" confirmed Dray, in another moment. "The spray mixed with
the gas--dashed over into the air in-take valve. Moral, go slow, for
water sometimes is fatal, even in a good cause!"

"Shame to spoil the race," said Ed; "we were just warming up."

"It's all right," commented Denny, "and a good lesson. I never knew
myself that