They rushed through the bushes toward the place whence the alarm came,
the girls following as fast as they could.

"Don't let him know it was I, or that it was your sister who was
hurt!" Grace cautioned her chums. "I am going to write to papa, and he
can make an investigation. Their explanation sounds all right, but
they may have the papers after all. I'm going to write to-day."

"I would," advised Aunt Kate." "It may amount to nothing, but it can
do no harm to let your father know. And I think it wise not to let
these young men know that you were in that runaway. If they really
were not careless, as it seemed at first, you can tell them later,
when you see how the investigation by Mr. Ford turns out."

"That will be best," spoke Betty. "Oh, see, it is a boat on fire!"

They had reached a place where they could see a small motor boat, not
far from shore, wrapped in a pall of black smoke, through which could
be observed flickering flames.

"There-- he's jumped!" cried Mollie, as a figure leaped from the
burning craft. "He's safe, anyhow."

"There go Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Stone in their boat!" exclaimed Grace,
as the slender racing craft shot out from shore.

Whatever may have been the faults of the young men as motorists, they
knew how to act promptly in this case. As they passed the man who had
leaped from the burning boat they tossed him a life preserver.