Meanwhile the water continued to pour in through the bottom of the boat, setting the boards afloat, and thoroughly wetting the skirts of the girls.  And they were now in the centre of the widest part of the river.

CHAPTER VII

TO THE RESCUE

Rapidly the water rose in the boat.  It had now set the bottom boards more fully afloat, and the girls in vain tried to raise their feet out of the incoming flood.  They stared at the swirling water, fascinated for the moment.

“Girls, we simply must do something!” cried Betty, usually the one to take the initiative.

“Row ashore!  Row ashore!” begged Amy.  “It’s so deep out here.”

“It isn’t much shallower near shore,” remarked Mollie.  “What can have become of that plug?” and, pulling in her oars she began feeling about in the bottom of the boat, moving her hand around under the water.

“Maybe the twins took it to make a cat’s cradle with,” suggested Grace.

“No, it couldn’t have been out when we started or the water would have come in at once,” said Mollie.  “It has come out only a few minutes ago.  We simply must find it!”

“Row ashore—­row ashore!” insisted Amy.

Betty had swung the boat’s head around, but the craft was now badly water-laden, and did not move quickly.  The current of the river was carrying them down the stream.

“Oh, girls!” cried Amy, her voice trembling somewhat, “it’s getting deeper!”

“It certainly isn’t stopping from coming in,” murmured Mollie.  “Where is that plug!”

Desperately she continued to feel about, while the other girls cast anxious eyes toward the shore, that now seemed so far away.

“And there’s not another boat in sight!” exclaimed Betty.  “We must call for help!"’

“I have it!  I have the plug!” suddenly cried Mollie, pulling on something.

“Ouch!  That’s my foot—­my toe!” cried Grace.  “Let go!”

“Oh, dear!” sighed Betty, in disappointed tones.

“I thought I had it!” said Mollie.  “Wait until I catch those twins!”

“We—­we never may see them again,” faltered Amy, whose recent rather tragic experience; had gotten on her nerves.

“Stop that!” commanded Betty, a bit sharply.

“Oh, how fast the water is coming in!” moaned Grace.  “I’m going to faint—­I know I’m going to faint!”

“Don’t you dare!” cried Mollie, quickly.  “If you do I’ll never speak to you again!  There!  Take that!” She reached over on the seat beside Grace, caught up a chocolate from a bag and thrust the confection into the tall girl’s mouth.  “That will keep you from saying such silly things, and also from fainting,” remarked Mollie, practically.  “Now, girls, since we can’t find that plug, we’ve got to do the next best thing.”

“If we could only whittle one!” said Betty.

“If we had a knife we might cut a piece off one of the oars, or the side of the boat,” went on Mollie, “but as we haven’t—­we can’t.  We must arrange to take knives with us on our tour, though!”