Page:Dangerous Business (1927).pdf/241

 while Ellen held to Ann's other hand and together the three of them splashed into the water.

His body was like her picture of him at his oar, only now he showed no strain at all; he was laughing and he swung Ann high. He liked Ann; he liked the other two girls and the boys; he liked—oh, yes, Ellen knew that he liked her.

They left Ann in the shallow water and swam out, he and she, side by side to the catboat, upon which he clambered ahead of her and gave her a hand, pulling her up. Side by side she sat with him, barelegged and wet.

She had had an idea, when undressing, of keeping Ann with her, but her shyness was gone. It was only pleasant to be with him; pleasant and very exciting. He waited for her to dive and she poised, for a half second, in a bit of a panic. How she wanted to dive well!

She did it; she took the water perfectly, her little brown hands first and her little brown feet last disappearing, so that he praised her when she came up. And he dived in after her.

Dinner at late noonday.

How long could he let himself stay? He phoned to Mackinac and was told, "A telegram."

After it was read to him, he talked with Lyman Howarth. "Our crew is motoring back," he said to Ellen, when he went on a walk with her. "They're leaving the boat for repairs. Couple of men drive down this way to-night. I'll go to the main road at ten to meet them. Can I stay here till then?"