an the Twentieth Century Limited just then. Why, we were fairly
flying. While we were going through I was scared to death, but now I
think I'd like to go out and try it again."

"Not while I'm still in my right mind," protested Lester. "Surf riding
is good sport sometimes, but not when there's the kind of sea running
that there is to-day. It's possible to have too much of a good thing,
you know."

"Oh, I suppose so," said the incorrigible Teddy. "But you fellows didn't
have anything to worry about, anyway. I was in the stern, and if a wave
had come aboard, I'd have been the one to get wet first."

"Yes, by about one-tenth of a second," laughed Bill. "However, all's
well that ends well. I think we all owe a vote of thanks to Teddy for
taking us through the way he did. Nobody could have sat there and
watched others work better than Teddy did. I think he deserves all sorts
of credit."

"Well, you see, I was neutral," explained Teddy. "If I didn't help you,
you'll have to admit that I didn't help the wave, either."

"Ted wins," declared Lester. "Anybody who wants to prove anything
against him has got to get up early."

"If he's ever accused of a crime, he'll be able to argue his way out
without half trying," affirmed Ross.

"He could probably get off by giving the judge and jury a bad attack of
brain fever," sniffed Fred. "But what do you say; shall we bail the boat
out? We shipped quite a good deal of water."

"Not so much, considering what we came through," replied Lester. "Let's
turn the boat over and save the trouble of bailing."

They turned it over on one side and soon had all the water drained out.
Then they left it to dry out in the sun until they should be ready to
return.

"Get a wiggle on now," enjoined Lester. "We've got a lot to do and we'd
better get going at once."

The boys started off at a brisk pace and soon found themselves in the
part of the village where the stores were located. They made the rounds,
Lester making the purchases and having them wrapped up for him and his
friends to call for and carry back later on. They met several of
Lester's friends and the time passed so quickly that they were surprised
when they found that it was past noon.

"Time to eat!" exclaimed Teddy. "Think of me passing up lunch time like
that! I must be sick or something."

"It is rather a bad sign," admitted his brother. "Still I guess you're
not going to die just yet. Only the good die young, and that lets y