pretend we have been running motor boats all our lives."

Cora took her place at the engine and before Bess or Belle had
really gotten seated she was turning on the gasoline.

"You see this is the little pipe that feeds the 'gas' from the tank
to the carburetor," she explained. "Now, I just throw in the
switch: that makes the electrical connection: then I have to give
this fly wheel--it's stiff--but I have to swing it around so!
There!" and the wheel "flew" around twice slowly and then began to
revolve very rapidly. "Now we are ready," and the engine started
its regular chug chug.

"How do you steer?" asked Bess anxiously, for the big steamer with
its cargo of summer folks seemed rather near.

"I can steer here," and Cora turned a wheel amidships, "or one may
steer at the bow. Suppose you take the forward wheel Bess, as I
may, have enough to do to look after the engine."

"Very well," acquiesced the girl, "but I hope I make no mistakes."

"Oh you won't. Just turn the wheel the way you want to go. Now
we'll hurry. I want to show off my boat."

Bess took up her place at the steering wheel and turned it so that
the boat started on a clear course. Everything seemed to work
beautifully, and presently Bess was so interested in the gentle
swerving of the craft, as the rudder responded to her slightest
touch, that she, too, thought it very much simpler than motoring on