The boat was now some distance out. The breeze had stiffened to a slow
strong wind and the dull-grey level of the sea was whipped into
white-caps.

Agnes bent towards Ethel. "It's getting too rough. I think we'd better
go back. I'm afraid we're in for a thunder squall. Look at the
clouds."

A long, sullen muttering verified her words.

"Little Ev," she shouted, "we want to go in."

Little Ev, thus recalled to things about him, looked around in alarm.
The girls questioned each other with glances of dismay. The sky had
grown very black, and the peals of thunder came louder and more
continuously. A jagged bolt of lightning hurtled over the horizon.
Over land and sea was "the green, malignant light of coming storm."

Little Ev brought the boat's head abruptly round as a few heavy drops
of rain fell.

"Ev, the boat is leaking!" shrieked Agnes, above the wind. "The
water's coming in!"

"Bail her out then," shouted Ev, struggling with the sail. "There's
two cans under the seat. I've got to lower this sail. Bail her out."

"I'll help you," said Ethel.

She was very pale, but her manner was calm. Both girls bailed
energetically.

Young Si, watching through the glass, saw them. He dropped it and ran
to his boat, white and resolute.

"They've sprung a leak. Here, Curtis, launch the boat. We've got to go
out or Ev will drown them."

They shot out from the shore just as the downpour came, blotting out
sea and land in one driving sheet of white rain.

"Young Si is coming off for us," said Agnes. "We'll be all right if he
gets here in time. This boat is going to sink, sure."

Little Ev was completely demoralized by fear. The girls bailed
unceasingly, but the water gained every minute. Young Si was none too
soon.

"Jump, Ev!" he shouted as his boat shot alongside. "Jump for your
life!"

He dragged Ethel Lennox in as he spoke. Agnes sprang from one boat to
the other like a cat, and Little Ev jumped just as a thunderous crash
seemed to burst above them and air and sky were filled with blue
flame.

The danger was past, for the squall had few difficulties for Si and
Snuffy. When they reached the shore, Agnes, who had quite recovered
from her fright, tucked her dripping skirts about her and announced
her determination to go straight home with Snuffy.

"I can't get any wetter than I am," she said cheerfully. "I'll send Pa
down in the buggy for Miss Lennox. Light the fire in your shanty, Si,
and let her get dry. I'll