Page:Leah Reed--Brenda's summer at Rockley.djvu/123

Rh it contained two people, one of whom, a girl, was rowing vigorously.

In a minute or two it was alongside. “Steamboat in distress!” exclaimed Philip; and the boy responded with  a hearty “Aye, aye, sir!”

Brenda, in the mean time, was looking intently at the other occupant of the boat.

“Why, it’s Amy!” she exclaimed, turning to Julia.

Amy herself, a trifle embarrassed, soon brought her boat alongside the launch. She bowed pleasantly to Brenda. “What can we do for you?” she asked.

For a moment Philip was at a loss what to answer.

“Well, if we had your oars,” he said, “if you would lend them to us—”

“But what would she do?” exclaimed Julia.

“Oh, I could tie my boat on, and you could tow us.”

As Amy spoke, she uncoiled a rope from the end of her boat, and, with Philip’s aid, pushed her little craft  toward his stern. The row-boat was soon made fast to the launch, and Amy prepared to hand her oars to Philip.

“But you must come in here with us; there’s plenty of room for both of you.” At first Amy hesitated. But, on second thoughts, she saw that this was the best thing that  she could do for herself. With a little crowding, a seat was found for her, and Fritz remained in the boat.

“Let me take one oar,” she said, as Philip prepared to ply them both. “With so many passengers, two rowers will be better.”

The little launch now sped along rapidly, and although