“Look at the water,” responded Dave, pointing to the white-caps, which were running rather high for an inland stream.

“Pooh!  You’re not afraid of a little foam on top of the water, are you?” demanded Foss.

“The waves are running pretty high for the inches of freeboard that your boat has,” remarked Darrin quietly.  “And look at the sky to windward.  There’s a bit more blow coming out of those clouds yet.”

“Say, what do they teach you at Annapolis?” grinned Foss.  “To go sailing only in calm weather?”

“Since you ask,” Dave replied as quietly as before, though a slight flush mounted to his face, “one of the things they teach us at the Naval Academy is consideration for women.  Now, if just we four fellows were going out, I wouldn’t say a word.”

“Don’t think we girls are afraid,” broke in Belle with spirit.

“I’m well aware that you’re not afraid,” Darrin replied turning and looking at her.  “But I’m afraid, Belle of what I might think of myself afterwards, if I were a party to taking you out in this boat when the river is running so much to whitecaps.”

“Do you think the boat is one of the kind that will turn turtle and sink the crowd?” demanded Tom Foss, flushing in turn.  “I tell you, Darrin, the craft is as tight and sound, and as manageable, as any boat of her length to be found anywhere on fresh water.”

“She is a fine boat,” Dave assented; “but I don’t feel like being responsible for what may happen to the young lady who is more especially under my escort and care.  There’s too big a chance of danger this afternoon, Foss.”

“Pooh, Mr. Sailor!” laughed Ella Wright.  “I’ll show you that some folks who don’t know what Annapolis looks like are not frightened by toy waves.”

Miss Ella thereupon stepped into the launch and seated herself.  Miss Susie followed.

“Aren’t you people going?” asked Ab Canty.

“I’m not going if Dave considers it so unwise that he’d be worried about our safety,” Belle answered promptly.

“Going, Laura?” called Foss.

“No, though I thank you,” Miss Bentley replied.  “If Mr. Darrin objects on the score of safety I’m not going to torment him by disregarding his opinion.”

“I’m of about the same opinion as Darrin, if anyone cares to know,” broke in Dan Dalzell.

Tom Foss looked at the other half of his party quizzically, then called to Canty.

“Cast off, Ab.  Ha, ha!  I never thought to see United States sailors and embryo Naval officers so much afraid of a little tossing water.”

Chug-chug!  Ella and Susie were laughing a bit teasingly as the motor started and the little craft darted away from the float and took to the waves beyond.

Dave did not answer.  Instead, he gripped Dan’s nearer wrist, muttering: 

“Don’t you say it, Danny!”

“Say what?”

“Whatever hot words were coming to your lips.  As long as we feel that we’re right in not risking Belle and Laura, never mind what the others think and say.”