.

"Hook on the other end and tow us back if you want to. Don't you know
better than to turn us around in all this storm?" she yelled.

The boatman ran up to the stern where Harriet was doing her best to keep
the boat's head to the wind, but was slowly losing ground. She motioned
to him to keep off and beckoned to him to cast the tow line to her so
she could make it fast at that end. Harriet had forgotten that there was
no rudder at the other end. But the boatman persisted in getting up
close to the houseboat. All at once what Harriet had feared did happen.
The launch was picked up on a heavy swell and hurled against the
houseboat. There followed the sound of crunching woodwork. The launch
began to fill with water.

"Jump!" shouted Captain Harriet. "You're sinking."

The boatman clung to his craft a moment longer, then leaped into the
lake. He was not a good swimmer, but fortunately the waves were rolling
toward the houseboat, carrying him in that direction. Harriet had
dropped the tiller and was watching him narrowly. There was no rope
ready, the one that usually lay at hand having been lost with the
launch, which slowly settled in the water, then disappeared.

The girl saw that the man was likely to be hurled against the side of
the houseboat. She snatched up a boathook and when he came within reach
thrust it out to him.

"Hold steady until that wave passes, then I'll pull you in," she called.
The blow from the waves took nearly all the breath out of the man, but
as soon as it had passed, Harriet hauled him quickly aboard.

Miss Elting reported that the "Red Rover" was leaking, that the launch
had crushed in a plank on the side.

"Stuff clothing in the hole," ordered Jane. "Here you, Mr. Man, please
go in there and see if you can't nail up the broken place. You've got
to do something or you'll never set foot on land again."

Off in the camp of the Tramp Club there was great excitement. The boys
had discovered the craft laboring in the heavy sea, and as it drew
nearer to their side of the lake, they discovered that it was none other
than the "Red Rover."

"They're in trouble, boys. Billy, will your boat stand it?" asked
George.

"As long as we can keep the water out of her."

"Then let's get aboard. No, you fellows stay here. There's a load of
them out there to fetch back if we ever get close enough to take them
off."

The motors were working, but no sooner had the two boys gotten clear of
the little p