ot slow in acting upon this hint. They sprinted their
best without waiting for a starter, and reached the skiff so exactly
together that the question of precedence was still unsettled. The boys
did not wait for an umpire. Ernest untied the boat and both attempted to
fling themselves in with disastrous results. The _Chicken Little_
had not been built for wrestling purposes. She tipped sufficiently to
spill both boys into the creek. The water was shallow, but Sherm was wet
well up to the waist, and Ernest, who had been pitched still farther
out, was soaked from head to foot. They appeared ludicrously surprised
and sheepish.

The girls and the Captain laughed most unfeelingly. But Chicken Little
immediately began to consider the consequences.

"Poor Mother, she'll have to dry that suit out and press it before it
can be packed. It's a blessed thing you didn't wear your new suit as you
wanted to, Ernest Morton."

"My, but you are wet!" exclaimed Katy. "Oughtn't you to go right home
and change?"

"Come with me into the house, boys. I think Wing and I can fix you up."
The Captain cut a laugh in the middle to offer aid.

The lads were so ludicrously crestfallen; they were doubly comical.

Wing, fortunately, had a good fire in the kitchen and soon had their wet
garments steaming before it, while the Captain hunted out dry clothes
for them. Some spirit of mischief prompted him to array Ernest in an old
uniform of his own, with amazing results, for Ernest was considerably
slimmer than the older man, and fully two inches taller. The ample blue
coat with its gold braid hung on him as on a clothes rack. The sleeves
were so short they left a generous expanse of wrist in view, and the
trousers struck him well above the ankle.

The Captain saluted him ceremoniously, chuckling at the boy's absurd
appearance. The girls were openly hilarious.

Chicken Little struck an attitude. "Behold the future admiral! Ladies
and gentlemen, permit me to introduce Admiral Morton, of whose
distinguished exploits you have often heard. His recent feat of
capsizing the enemy's frigate single-handed, has never been equalled in
the annals of our glorious navy."

She was not permitted to finish this speech undisturbed. Ernest had
chased her half way round the house before she got the last words out.

He clapped his hand firmly over her mouth to restrain her from further
eloquence.

Jane struggled helplessly. "Katy--say, Katy, come--help----"

Kat