w!" moaned Amy. "We--we'll never
get ashore."

"Nonsense!" cried Betty. "We've got to. If we can't find a plug, or make
one, we'll have to stuff something in the hole. Girls, your
handkerchiefs!" She seemed to have a sudden inspiration.

She began rolling hers into a sort of cylindrical shape as she spoke. The
other girls saw her idea, and passed over their tiny squares of linen,
which Betty rolled with her own.

"That's one of my best ones," sighed Grace, as she parted with hers. "I
got it on my birthday."

"It's in a good cause--never mind," remarked Betty, firmly. "And you'll
get it back, you know--when we get ashore."

"If we ever get ashore, you mean," spoke Amy.

"Stop it!" commanded the Little Captain, sharply. "Of course we'll get
ashore. Now, Billy, where is that hole?"

"Wherever the water seems to be coming in fastest," replied the owner of
the boat. "Oh, be quick, Betty. We can't float much longer!"

"Well, we can swim," coolly replied Betty, as she began feeling about for
the hole in the bottom of the boat. Meanwhile she looked closely at the
surface of the water in the craft, which had now risen until it was close
to the under side of the seats. The girls were quite wet. The boat was
harder than ever to row.

"That plug ought to be floating somewhere hereabouts," she murmured.

"It's probably caught in a crack, or under one of the seats," said
Mollie. "Hurry up, Betty. The hole is right near where you were feeling
that time."

"Yes, you can see the water bubbling up," added Amy. "Oh, do hurry, or
we'll sink!"

"Well, then we can swim," said Betty, coolly. "It's a good thing we all
know how."

"But--in our clothes!" protested Amy.

"Oh, I guess we can do it if we try," went on Betty. "There, I have the
handkerchiefs in the hole!" she exclaimed, as she forced the wadded-up
linens into the aperture. "Now let's row harder!"

"Oh, but I'm soaked!" sighed Grace. Indeed, they were all in no very
comfortable plight.

They succeeded in heading the boat for shore, but they had only rowed a
short distance when Grace cried:

"The water is still coming in!"

There was no doubt about it. They all stared at the place where, under
water, Betty had thrust in the handkerchiefs. There was a string of
small bubbles, showing that the river water was still finding its way
into the boat.

"Help! Help! Help!" suddenly called Amy.

"Why--what's the matter?" demanded Betty, in alarm.

"Oh, there's someo