ed to stand by Madge, "I saw
Flora----"

Mrs. Curtis laid her hand on her son's arm. With one appealing glance
at his mother Tom subsided. "I am sorry this error has occurred," she
announced to the assembled guests. "I am sure that, if an error in the
race were committed, it was not intentional. I insist on Miss Harris
and Miss Paine accepting this cup. Madge should not have made her
accusation at such a time and place. I think that she owes her
opponents an apology."

Mrs. Curtis was gazing at Madge with more disfavor than she had ever
before shown her favorite.

The little captain felt that she would like to put her arms about some
one's neck and cry her heart out. She was sorry she had spoken, she was
ashamed to have made such a scene and to have spoiled the boys' party,
but she was not ready to apologize for having told the truth. Now her
eyes were flashing ominously and her red lips were curled in scorn. She
had never looked prettier or more obstinate.

"Any apology I have to offer will have to be made to you, Mrs. Curtis,"
she answered between her teeth. "I can not apologize to Miss Harris or
Miss Paine for having told the truth. Of course, I accept the umpire's
decision. I know that we should have entered our protest before we left
our boat."

Madge walked proudly away from the group. Her arms were full of
flowers, but her heart was full of woe. Why did she always seem to be
in the wrong where Flora Harris was concerned? What a bad-tempered girl
everyone must think her!

Phyllis turned to follow Madge, nor would she desert her chum for a
moment until the houseboat party left the camping grounds. Mrs. Curtis
did not notice Madge. She was thoroughly incensed. Tom had only a
chance to whisper: "Course you were right, dear girl. Flora Harris and
Alice cheated abominably. It was my fault too. I should have spoken up
at first. I let things go only because Mother was set on it, and I
didn't wish to see our party break up in a quarrel. All the fellows in
the race are with you. They saw what happened. They were cowards, just
as I was. They didn't want to raise a fuss with the girls."

The rest of the day did not pass very pleasantly for Madge. Mrs. Curtis
could not forgive the little captain for what she considered her lack
of diplomacy, and, knowing herself to be under the ban of her friend's
displeasure, Madge was singularly uncomfortable and ill at ease. Miss
Jenny Ann and the three "Merry Maid" girls could no