"I am all right, thank you. I haven't time to think about resting. I am
going to try to get our belongings out of the boat. We aren't so badly
off as we might be."

"If I had thome dry clotheth on I gueth I'd be all right," observed a
lisping voice from the darkness. "My kimono is thoaking wet."

"Now, Jane, I'm ready," finally announced Harriet. "Let's get that stove
out first of all. I fear it is ruined."

"Set the girls at it with dry leaves. They can wipe it dry and the
exercise will do them good," suggested Jane McCarthy.

"Fine! Come!"

The stove was carried out to the beach and stood up. Jane and Harriet
gathered leaves from weeds and bushes, together with such dry grass as
they were able to find in the darkness, heaping their plunder on the
canvas and directing the girls to polish the stove, hoping thereby to
keep it from rusting very badly. The occupation did Tommy, Hazel and
Margery good. They almost forgot their troubles for the time being.

The bedding and the clothing were next carried out and spread on the
ground to dry. This, too, gave the girls on shore something to do. They
wrung the water out of the bedding and clothing as thoroughly as
possible. The clothing was then hung on nearby bushes.

"I do not believe your clothing will be dry enough to wear until after
the sun shines on it," decided Miss Elting.