"I learned when a boy," said Harry.

"All right. I don't believe the style has changed much since then. I
wouldn't go with you unless you could swim. It would be too great a
responsibility."

Harry thought to himself that he would be willing to swim ashore with
such a "responsibility" in his arms.

Maude turned to the Captain: "Can you swim, Captain Hornaby?"

"Of course, Miss Maude. We Englishmen are all sea dogs, don't you
know?"

"But Englishmen are drowned sometimes," said Maude. "How about
Admiral Kempenfelt and the Royal George? See Fourth Class Reader for
full particulars in verse."

The three couples were soon afloat--Quincy and Alice, Captain Hornaby
and Florence, Harry and Maude.

"Let's have a race," cried Maude. "To that big white rock down
there," and she pointed to the farther end of the pond. Harry took
the lead with short, swift strokes, but the long, steady paddling of
Captain Hornaby gained on him steadily, and to Maude's disgust the
Captain reached the rock first, Harry being a close second, and
Quincy a late third.

Maude was excited. "Let's race back to the boat house. A prize for
the first one who reaches it."