“All right!” and then the following words were lost as the wind carried them aside.  The youth on shore—­the girls could now see that he was a youth—­began shoving out a boat.  He did not seem very adept in the knowledge of rowing, and took quite a little time to get under way.

“Oh, it’s that Percy Falconer!” cried Betty.  “He’ll never get to us!  Girls, I guess we’ll have to swim for it, after all!”

“Look—­there comes someone else!” suddenly cried Amy.  “Oh, Grace, it’s your brother Will!”

“Thank goodness for that,” murmured Betty.  “Now we have some chance.  If he can only make Percy listen to reason, and put back for him.”

“They seem to be having some argument,” said Grace.  “Oh, if that Percy isn’t the—­”

She did not finish, for they were all vitally interested in what was taking place on shore.  Will and Percy seemed to be having a difference of opinion, and it appeared that Percy wanted to shine as a lone hero in the rescue that must be performed quickly now, if it was to be performed at all.

“Come back with that boat!” Will could be heard to cry.  “You don’t know how to row!”

“I do so!” retorted Percy, the wind now carrying the words to the girls.

“Come back here!” insisted Will, firmly, “or I’ll—­”

“We’ll be too late!” almost whined Percy.  “They said they were sinking!”

“Come back here!” fairly shouted Will.  “I can row twice as fast as you, and we’ll make better time even if you do put back.  Come on, or I’ll jump in and swim out to you, and chuck you overboard!  Come back!”

This argument proved effective.  Possibly Percy was thinking what would happen to his clothes if Will put his threat into execution.  At any rate, he swung the big boat around and a few moments later Will and he, the former pulling vigorously on the oars, were on their way to rescue the now thoroughly frightened girls.

CHAPTER VIII

CLOSING DAYS

“Oh, Will, do hurry!  My dress will be ruined!”

Thus called Grace, as she frantically waved to her brother to hasten his stroke.

“Huh!” he panted.  “Dress!  A nice time to think—­of dresses—­when they’re—­almost sinking!”

“Are they—­do you think they’ll sink—­and be drowned?” faltered Percy.

“They may sink—­they’re not very likely to be drowned, though,” grunted Will, as he glanced over his shoulder to get his course straight.  “They can all swim.  Pull on your left more.  We’ll pass ’em if you don’t!”

“Sink!  I can’t—­I can’t swim.  Oh, dear!” cried Percy.

“I know it.  That’s why I wanted you to come back and get me.  You’d look nice rescuing four girls all alone,” said Will.  “And you not able to swim a stroke!”

“I could do it,” protested Percy, in self-defense.

“Maybe,” agreed Will.  “Anyhow, it’s lucky I happened to come along.”