"Are you all ready?" asked Cora.

"I guess so," answered Bess. "I guess I won't have to have bromide, after all. I feel better already."

"I thought you would," laughed Cora. "Marita, just straighten out that stern flag, will you? Thank you. You're a dear!"

"Look out!" laughed Belle. "When Cora begins calling names there is no telling when she will stop."

"Don't worry," was Cora's answer, as she stooped over to crank the motor. It started on the first turn and soon the _Chelton_ was chugging a course over the sun-lit waters of Crystal Bay.

"Do you see anything of the boys?" asked Cora, as she turned to the others from her place at the steering wheel.

"No, there's their boat--at least Jack's apology for one--tied to the stake," said Lottie. "Does that boat ever go out two days in succession, Cora?"

"I don't believe it does," answered Jack's sister. "It was a sort of makeshift, anyhow. Jack only got her running because someone said it couldn't be done--it was a sort of dare. But the poor old boat seems to suffer from some intermittent fever. It runs one day and rests the next."

"And the _Dixie_--she's resting, too," went on Bess, as she looked down the bay to where Dray Ward's fine racing craft was moored. "The boys are not around yet."

"Probably sleeping," murmured Belle. "The indolent creatures!"

"Folks who live in gla.s.s houses--and all the rest of it," said Cora.

"It's nearly eleven, and we haven't been long away from the breakfast table ourselves."

"It's a case of carrying coals to Newcastle; isn't it?" asked Lottie, drying with her filmy handkerchief a drop of water on her dress.

"You mean the pot calling the kettle black," laughed Cora. Lottie never could get her proverbs just right.

"Oh, well, it's all the same as long as there's black in it,"

responded Lottie. "I knew I had part of it right."

On went the _Chelton_, and she had that part of the bay all to herself for the time being. A little breeze ruffled the water, and the sun shone brightly. Under these calming influences of nature the girls--even nervous Bess--felt themselves growing calm, and at peace with the world. The trouble of the night before seemed to melt away, and a.s.sume a less sinister aspect. But Cora could not get over the feeling that something akin to a tragedy had nearly happened.

"And it may again," she thought. "I do wish we could help Freda and her mother, but I don't see how. Land troubles are always so complicated."

As Cora turned the wheel and swung the boat about in a wide circle, she was aware of another craft coming toward her. She did not remember having seen it before, and as it drew nearer she noted that it contained but a single occupant--a young man, who, as Lottie said afterward, was not at all bad-looking.

The young fellow guided his boat closer to the _Chelton_, and after she had done making mental notes of the new craft's characteristics, Cora had an idea that the stranger wanted to speak to them. Such evidently was his intention, for he slowed down his engine, so as to m.u.f.fle the noise of the exhaust, and called out:

"On which point is Bayhead, if you please?"

"Over there," answered Cora, pointing to a promontory that jutted out into the bay. "But be careful and go well out when you round it. There are some dangerous rocks at low tide. How much do you draw?"

"Thirty-four inches."

"That's too much to try the short cut."

"Thank you for telling me," went on the young man. He certainly was good-looking. Even Cora, conservative as she always was, had to admit that.

"We are going over that way," went on Cora. "If you like, I will pilot you."

"You are very good," returned the young man. "If it will not be too much trouble, and not take you out of your way, I would like very much to have you show me the course. I'm a stranger here."

Cora and the motor girls had been on so many trips on land and water that they had learned how to meet and accept the advances of strangers, even when they were good-looking young men. There was, too, a sort of comradeship about a motor boat that lent a chaperonage to the effect of girls talking to men to whom they had never been introduced. Cora's chums realized this and thought nothing of her offer.

"Follow me," Cora called, as she opened the throttle a little wider, and the _Chelton_ shot ahead. The other boat came right after, with a promptness that caused Cora to think it had more speed than she at first suspected.

"My nerves are much better--now," said Bess in a whisper to Lottie, as she stole a surrept.i.tious glance at the young man.

CHAPTER XVII

A LITTLE RACE

For some time Cora held the lead in her boat, with the other following in her wake. The girls talked among themselves, speculation being rife as to what the young man wanted in Bayhead.

"It's an awfully swell place," said Lottie. "I spent one Summer there, and it was nothing but dress, dress, dress all the while! Either for motoring, tennis or bridge. Oh, I got so weary of it!"

"But you liked it--especially the dressing," put in Belle.

"I should have, my dear, I don't mind admitting that, if only I had had enough gowns," went on Lottie, with a sigh. "But I didn't have half enough. Papa was dreadfully poor that year. I believe he said there had been a 'slump in the market,' whatever that means.

"Anyhow I know I couldn't begin to dress as those in my set did. So that's how I remember Bayhead. I should like to go there again. It's perfectly stunning."

"That young fellow doesn't look to be any too well dressed," remarked Bess.

"Naturally he wouldn't--going out in a boat," said Cora. "Something seems to be the matter with his engine," she added, for the stranger was bending over it.

Whatever it was did not seem to be serious, for the lone motorboatist straightened up again presently. He increased his speed, and came alongside the _Chelton_.

"We seem to be some distance from the point," he said, with a smile.

"Don't you want a little race? You can call it off before we get near the danger spot."

Cora was rather taken aback by the proposal. It was one thing to direct a stranger, even when he was a youth good to look at, and it was all right, too, to even pilot him on his way in strange waters; but it was quite another matter to have the aforesaid stranger invite himself to a race. It was like having a beggar apply at your front door, and when given a sandwich, calmly ask for soup.

"I don't believe----" began Cora, but Bess slid up to her on the long seat and whispered:

"Oh, do, Cora! It won't do any harm, and it will complete the nerve cure you have begun so well. Besides, we need a little practice in racing. We may take part in the water carnival down here."

"Well, if the rest of you are willing, I'm not going to be the one to object," returned Cora, smilingly.

"Will--will it be dangerous?" faltered timid Marita.

"Not a bit--you dear little goose!" exclaimed Belle, putting her arm about the shrinking one. "We've raced lots of times--and won, too!"

"Against such appealing strangers?" asked Lottie, raising her eyebrows in a rather affected way.