"Doughnut?" called Pee-wee.

"No, I said '_don't_'," called Warde. "You'll have me eating one of
the oarlocks in a minute."

Soon a faint chugging could be heard; it ceased, presumably at the
Skybrow lawn, then started again. Nearer and nearer it came until
presently the racing boat of Dashway Speeder came to a stop alongside
them. Half a dozen girls and as many hungry male guests of the party
were in it clamoring for news.

"This is terrible!" said Minerva. "I never _dreamed_ of such a thing
as this. Why, he's _marooned_!"

"I'm all safe," shouted Pee-wee, "don't you worry."

"_Safe_! I should think he is," said Dora. "If he had the British
navy all around him he couldn't be safer."

"The world is at his feet," said Townsend.

"You mean at his mouth," said Roy.

"I never heard of such a thing in all my born days," said Margaret.

"He's cornered the food market," said another hungry guest.

"For goodness' sake turn your search-light on him, Dashway," said
Minerva, "and let's see what he looks like. This is simply _tragic_."