“I never could stay under water long enough to get out even one stone,” declared Grace.

“Nor I,” added Amy.

“I’ll try,” spoke Betty—­ she was always willing to try—­ “but I’m afraid I can’t be of much help, Mollie.  And I’m sure I don’t want you to do it all.”

“Well, wait until I make another inspection,” said the diving girl.  “It may be more than I bargained for.  I’ll hold my breath longer this time.”

“Do be careful!” cautioned Aunt Kate, coming out from the tent.

“We will,” promised Betty.

Again Mollie dived.  She had practiced the trick of opening her eyes under water, and this time she looked carefully over the sunken canoe.  She stayed under her full limit, and when she came up she was panting for breath.

“You must not stay under so long,” warned Betty.

“There—­ are—­ a—­ lot—­ of—­ stones,” gasped Mollie.  “But I think we can do it,” she added a moment later.

“I’ll see what I can do,” spoke Betty.  She was a good swimmer and diver, perhaps not so brilliant a performer as Mollie, but with more staying qualities.  Down went Betty in a clean dive, and when she came up, panting and shaking the water from her eyes, she called: 

“I lifted out two, but I think we had better let the boys do it, Mollie.”

“Perhaps,” was the reply.

“I’m sorry you can’t count on me,” sail Grace, “but really I’d have nervous prostration if I went down there, even though it’s only ten feet deep, as you say.”

“Well, getting nervous prostration under water would be a very bad idea,” commented Betty.

“And I’m sure I never could do it,” remarked Amy.  “Do let the boys manage it, Bet.  The lads who own the canoe will be glad of the chance.”

“I’m going to move out a couple of stones, so Betty won’t beat my record,” laughed Mollie, diving again.  She bobbed up a moment later.

“Oh, dear!” she cried.  “An eel slid right over me.  Ugh!  I’m not going down again!” and she shivered.  Even the fearless Mollie had had enough of the under-water work.

By means of a cord and a float the position of the sunken canoe was marked, so that the boys could locate it, and when they returned from a rather unsuccessful fishing trip, they readily agreed to raise the boat.  It did not take them long to remove the stones, for Will, Frank and Allen were all expert swimmers, and could remain under water much longer than can most persons.

Then a rope was made fast to the canoe, which would not rise completely because of being filled with water.  It was pulled ashore and word sent to the young owners.  That they were delighted goes without saying.  They proffered the reward they had offered, but of course our friends would not take it.  Later it was learned that the canoe had been taken by an unscrupulous fisherman, who was not above the suspicion of making a practice of such tricks.  It was thought he intended to let it remain where it was until fall, when he would raise it, paint it a different color, and sell it.  But Mollie’s fortunate dive frustrated his plans.