ier at their camp than the engines suddenly stopped and the
boat drifted back.

"There's a short circuit somewhere," called Billy. "Hold her. I'll find
it and we'll be going very shortly."

"Hurry, Billy! They're in an awful mess over there," urged George.

It seemed as though the "Red Rover" must be torn to pieces. The boat was
now drifting broadside to the waves. Every large wave would break
against the side, then leap clear over the boat. Every wave seemed
powerful enough to crush in the sides. But they came out dripping,
glistening red after each onslaught. The boatman had succeeded in
patching the rent caused by the collision, but the upper deck was
leaking in many places. The "Red Rover" had been strained almost to the
breaking-up point. It was now fairly wallowing in the foaming sea
dashing against its weather side. Harriet had given up trying to do
anything with the rudder. She could not keep the bow of the boat around
to the seas. It persisted in lying broadside on, where it took the full
force of the waves.

"There comes a boat," cried Jane, who had been on the upper deck, waving
a sheet as a signal that they were in distress. All hands peered toward
the mainland. They saw a launch making slow progress toward them. The
little boat seemed to be standing with her bow in the air most of the
time. First it would rear then plunge. As it neared them they saw that
it was Billy Gordon's boat, bearing himself and George Baker.

"Cast a line! I don't dare get near," shouted Billy when close enough to
make his voice heard.

"We haven't any. Cast your own," answered Harriet.

George did the casting. He failed three times but on the fourth cast
Harriet caught the line and quickly made it fast to a cleat at the
forward end being nearly swept overboard in the effort. The "Red Rover"
straightened out on her course. For a moment the launch seemed to be
losing ground rather than gaining, then slowly it began to pick up and
shortly after that was making slow progress toward shore.

There were many spectators to that battle, none of whom believed that
either launch or houseboat, ever would reach the land. Other boats
refused to venture out in such a gale. Even the big boats remained tied
up. So much water was taken aboard by the launch that George was fully
occupied in bailing. A piece of oilcloth had been thrown over the
engines and battery coils to keep these from getting soaked and thus
causing a stoppage of the engin