The girls groaned dismally. They did not relish the idea of going about
in kimonos for the better part of the next forenoon. Harriet and Jane
paid little attention to their own discomfort, however, for there were
still many things to be done. The cabin had held quite a stock of
supplies. Cans of provisions lay all about the floor. The two girls were
unable to gather up their supplies in the darkness. The water would not
damage the canned goods, so they decided to let these remain where they
were for the time being.

"I'll tell you what!" said Harriet, after pondering over the best course
to follow. "Let's take pails and go to bailing. Of course some water
will still leak in around the bottom cot, but we can bail out down to
that point. The water must come out. We might as well bail now as after
daylight. We won't get any wetter, and we don't mind lame backs, do we?"

"We don't, if you say not," agreed Jane. "What the captain of the 'Red
Rover' orders, is to be done. Where are the pails?"

"I think I remember having carried one outside."

"Here's the other," called Crazy Jane, who, at that moment, fell over
the missing pail and went sprawling in the water. She rose to her feet,
dripping, but in great good humor.

The two plucky girls set to work bailing. They did not wish to call in
their companions to help them, as they believed they could accomplish
more by themselves. Bailing out the boat was back-breaking work, and
there was so much water in the hold of the "Red Rover," that at first
their bailing seemed to have no effect whatever. Now and then they would
go ashore and throw themselves down for a brief rest. Miss Elting begged