It's the safest thing to
do," cried Jack. And then, raising his voice to be heard above the
whistling of the elements, he added: "Head up! Don't take those waves
sideways! Head up!"

The others understood, and in a minute more both of the boats were
heading directly into the wind. This prevented either of the craft from
swamping, but caused the spray to hit the bow more than once, sending a
shower of water over everybody.

"Oh, dear! I'm getting wet!" wailed May.

"Do you think you can reach shore?" questioned Ruth of Jack; and her
wide-open eyes showed her terror.

"We can't head for the school just now," he answered. "We'll have to
keep pulling up against the wind until it lets up a little."

"Oh, but we sha'n't upset, shall we?" came from Spouter Powell's
cousin.

"I don't think so. Anyway, we are going to do our best to prevent it,"
answered Fred.

Keeping as close together as they dared, the two rowboats continued to
head up into the wind, which still blew as hard as ever. In the sky the
clouds were shifting, and Jack and his cousins had great hopes that ere
long the sudden squall would blow itself out.

"Here comes a motor boat up behind us!" cried Ruth, presently.

All looked in that direction and saw a fair-sized craft coming up the
lake. She was making good speed in spite of the whitecaps, and was
sending the spray flying in all directions.

"I think that is the boat Jennie Mason was going out in," remarked
Annie to Randy. "Yes; I am sure it is," she added a minute later, as
the motor boat came closer. "There is Mr. Martell at the wheel now."

The discovery that Nappy Martell was running the oncoming motor boat
had also been made by those occupying the other rowboat.

"It's Martell! And there is Slugger Brown with him!" cried Fred.

"Isn't one of those girls Miss Mason?" questioned Jack.

"Yes. And Ida Brierley, one of our girls, is with her," answered Ruth.
Her manner indicated that the discovery did not altogether please her.

"Maybe we can get that motor boat to pull us in," suggested May. "They
could do it easily enough."

"So they could," answered Fred. "But I doubt if those two fellows who
are running it would like to undertake the job. They go to Colby Hall,
but they are no friends of ours."

"Yes, but they ought not to let their enmity stand between us in a time
like this," said Jack. "If they were in the rowboats and I was in the
motor boat, I'd give them help quick enough."

As