l
to swim like that. Look, she has caught up to him."

It was so. Betty had used the last ounce of strength in her strong,
young arms and the result was a tie.

She and Frank laid hands upon the log at one and the same instant.

Frank shook the water from his eyes, and regarded his rival in
amazement. "How did you ever do it?" he questioned. "I thought I had you
beat a mile."

"Well, that's where you had another think coming." Betty would not have
been human had she not gloried in this victory--for even a tie with one
of Frank's strength and muscle was a triumph. "I told you I could
swim."

"Hoorah for the cham_peens_!" shouted Will as the others reached the
goal a few moments later. "That's pretty good work, Betty. I have to
hand it to you."

"Don't you think we had better get to the shore and rest a while?" Roy
suggested. "Amy and Grace seem to have gotten there before us, and Mrs.
Irving has gone back to the bungalow."

The others agreed and they all swam lazily toward the mossy bank. Betty
drew herself up and sank upon the grassy knoll with a sigh of utter
relaxation.

"I'd like to give you a longer race," said Frank, whose near defeat at
the hands of a girl was hard to bear. "I bet I could beat you easily on
a long stretch."

Betty sat up suddenly and stared at him. "Frank Haley!" she cried, "I've
a good mind to take you up."

"A race! a race!" cried Mollie, clapping her hands in delight. "Oh, I'd
love to see it."

"Go on, Frank, set the day," Allen urged. "After what you said you are
in honor bound to give Betty a chance."

"I am perfectly willing," said Frank, glancing toward Betty. "What do
you say about it?"

"You can't arrange it too soon to suit me," Betty answered, undaunted.

CHAPTER XV

A SPLENDID CATCH

"Can't anybody think of anything to do?" Mollie queried impatiently.
"I'll go crazy if I have to sit around here for another half hour," and
she dug the toe of her shoe into the soft sward viciously.

"You are not very flattering to our company," said Roy, leaning on one
elbow and smiling up lazily at the straight little figure beside him.

Mrs. Irving was lying down and the rest of the party was gathering about
the camping place of the boys, some roaming about restlessly and others
sitting upon the grass. It was a sultry, scorching day, when not a
breeze came to temper the heat--a day when the slightest movement
produces the effect, as Mollie had said, "of a fire lighted r