"Then perhaps I had better take the young ladies ashore," proposed Mr.
Blowitz. "I have a large boat here, and they will be more comfortable
than sitting there waiting for the tide to rise. Besides, you'll heel
over quite a bit, I should judge by the way you're listing now."

There was no doubt of this, as the Ripper was, even now, far from
being on an even keel. The boys did not relish having this man, whom
they disliked, take off the girls, but there was no help for it.

"Say, we ought to go to some kindergarten and learn to run a motor
boat," grumbled Ned in a low voice, as the girls were getting into Mr.
Blowitz's craft. "We're peaches, we are!"

"It was my fault," admitted Jerry, rather embarrassed over the
accident.

"Not in particular," remarked Bob. "Any one of us would have done the
same thing. Lucky the boat isn't damaged any, but I hate to be under
obligations to him," and he nodded toward Mr. Blowitz, who was helping
Nellie into his boat. "I don't like him," he went on in a low voice.
"There's something queer about him."

"We oughtn't to feel that way," said Jerry. "He's doing us a favor."

"Of course," admitted Bob. "I know it, and I suppose I shouldn't feel
that way, but I do, and I can't help it. I don't want any favors from
him. He's the kind, who, if he does something for you, will want you
to do twice as much for him in return."

"Well, I'll be more careful next time I run this motor boat," said