o, as acting captain, pulled the slender rope,
while the girls stood at attention and in salute.

"You may float the boat flag now," said Captain Mae. "Be sure you adjust
it right side up."

Grace leaned over the stern to affix the little marine emblem in its
place, and soon the sail swung out on its halyard, and when the mate,
Eugenia, cut loose from shore, the Blowell lost no time in demonstrating
the power of its name.

"Oh, how delightful," gasped Margaret. "And we thought canoeing was
fun."

"It's just glorious," exhaled Julia. "Now, aren't you glad I changed our
plans?"

"Tickled to pieces," declared Cleo. "I think this is the only worthwhile
sort of airship because it combines the beauty of air and water."

They were seated in the trunk cabin watching with deep interest Captain
Mae as she set the sail, letting it out gradually as it took the wind,
but being careful not to throw too much canvass in the face of the stiff
breeze that seemed to sweep from the deep azure sky, as if glad of its
own release after the long spell of hateful weather.

Mae was at the tiller guiding the steering gear to fix the vessel in its
course, on the smooth, blue waters.

For some time the handling of the craft occupied the visitors' entire
attention, but presently they undertook to move around.

"This is where the Blowell beats your Indian Queen canoe, Louise," said
Cleo. "You can move here without upsetting."

"But we _could_ really upset in this boat," Louise reminded them.
"Although, I am not fearing any such catastrophe."

"Isn't it invigorating," Margaret added to the continuous praise song.
"I like the life of this motion, yet it hasn't the least spilly effect."

Thus they enthused until shore points of interest broke in on the marine
eulogy.

"Just see us leave Weasle Point behind," remarked Cleo, with a rather
prolonged look at the green speck as it drifted away.

"Wonder if Kitty is over there?" said Grace.

"And Bentley," added Julia, not to deprive her chums of their usual joke
that she never forgot Bentley.

"And my Uncle Pete," insisted Grace. "Do you know, girls, Captain Dave
says he was seriously stunned by that storm?"

"Poor old man! And to think we can't even bring him a thermos of chicken
broth," deplored Louise.

The sail boat was gliding over the water, proudly as the clouds
themselves drifted overhead. The Westbrook girls were allowing their
visitors full scope of the graceful craft, but ob