"Yes," answered George. "They told us about that. Somehow, I half
suspected it to be you folks. After the storm of last night I wondered
how the houseboat with its crew of girls had fared, so we set out to
look for you this morning. We found you. Well, you are in a mess, aren't
you?"

"Harriet and Jane were bailing water out of the boat nearly all night,
Captain Baker," Miss Elting informed him.

"You certainly must have had a bad night," returned George Baker
sympathetically.

The guardian related briefly the experience of the night.

"Once more I take off my hat to you," said Captain Baker admiringly.
"And I take off my coat too. Fellows, all off with your coats! There's
work to be done here. How is your boat?"

At this juncture Billy Gordon, who had been looking about the deck of
the houseboat, stepped ashore.

"I don't think the hull is damaged at all. One door is smashed in and
things are pretty well soaked up. If you will permit it, we fellows will
clean up. There's a ton or more of sand and gravel in the after cockpit.
Have you a shovel?"

The girls shook their heads.

"We have a dutht pan," Tommy answered.