ightly. The
paddle went deeper into the water, and the canoe shot around quickly in
a long semicircle.

"Oh, Dave! don't tip us over!"

"Don't fear. The canoe won't go over if you sit perfectly still," he
replied, in a tone that was somewhat unsympathetic.

"Are you going back to the bungalows?"

"Why, certainly. That was what you wanted--to go back; wasn't it?"

"We haven't got to race back, have we?"

"I'm not racing; but I thought you wanted to get out of this hot sun."

"Dave, I think you're angry with me," returned Jessie, reproachfully,
but she did not raise her eyes as before. Instead she kept them fastened
on the bottom of the canoe.

"Angry? What foolishness! What is there for me to be angry about?"

"Oh, you know well enough."

"I don't see why you should feel so cut up over Miss Ford. I can't help
it if she is grateful--as you put it--for my saving her from drowning;
can I?"

"Oh, it isn't that, Dave. Of course she ought to be grateful. But
you--you----" Jessie's voice broke a little and she could not go on.

"Me? I haven't done a thing! Didn't you hear me tell her to quit it?"

"Oh, it wasn't what you said. It was----But never mind, let us get back
to the bungalow." And Jessie kept her eyes on the bottom of the canoe,
refusing to look at her companion.

"And I'm sure I didn't do a thing either. Now please don't be silly
and----"

"Dave! Silly!"

"I didn't mean that exactly, Jessie. But you know----"

"It's not a bit nice for you to call me silly!" retorted the girl, her
face flaming.

"I didn't mean just that, Jessie. I meant----"

"You did mean it! You think I am silly, do you? All right, you can think
so! Please paddle straight for our dock."

"Now, Jessie----" began Dave, entreatingly.

"I don't want to hear another word! Take me straight to the dock,"
retorted the girl.

"Very well, if you won't listen to me you don't have to," answered Dave;
and now he, too, showed that he was completely out of sorts.

He struck the paddle deeper than ever into the water, and with long,
telling strokes the canoe shot forward over the lake in the direction of
Bear Camp.

CHAPTER XV

VISITORS

Several days went by and during that time the coldness that had sprung
up between Dave and Jessie increased, although both did their best to
hide it from the others.

One afternoon while the girl was off with Laura and Belle for a tramp
along a brook that flowed into the lake not far from