“If it isn’t too cold I will,” cried Dolly, cheerfully.

And so, after the midday meal—­two hours afterward, too, for Eleanor Mercer was too wise a Guardian to allow them to run any risk by going into the water before their food had been thoroughly digested—­bathing suits were brought out, and Margery Burton, or Minnehaha, as the one who had proposed the sport, was unanimously elected a committee of one to try the water, and see if it was warm enough for swimming.

“And no tricks, Margery!” warned Dolly.  “I know you, and if you found it was cold it would be just like you to pretend it was fine so that we’d all get in and be as cold as you were yourself!”

“I’ll be good!  I promise,” laughed Margery, and, without any preliminary hesitation on the water’s edge, she walked to the end of the little dock that was used for the boats and plunged boldly in.  She was a splendid swimmer, a fact that had once, when Bessie had first joined the Camp Fire, nearly cost her her life, for, seeing her upset, no one except Bessie had thought it necessary to jump in after her, and she had actually been slightly stunned, so that she had been unable to swim.

But this time there was no accident.  She disappeared under the water with a beautiful forward dive, and plunged along for many feet before she rose to the surface, laughing, and shaking the water out of her eyes.  Then, treading water, she called to the group on the dock.

“It’s all right for everyone but Dolly, I think,” she cried.  “I’m afraid it would be too cold for her.  I like it; I think it’s great!”

“You can’t fool me,” said Dolly, and, without any more delay, she too plunged in.  But she rose to the surface at once, gasping for breath, and looking about for Margery.

“Why, it’s as cold as ice!” she exclaimed.  “Ugh!  I’m nearly frozen to death!  Margery, why didn’t you tell me it was so cold?”

“I did, stupid!” laughed Margery.  “I said it was warm enough for me, but that I was afraid it would be too cold for you, didn’t I?”

“I—­I thought you were just fooling me; you knew I’d never let the others go in if I didn’t!”

“It’s not my fault if you wouldn’t believe me.  All I promised was to tell you whether it was cold or not!  Come on, you girls!  It is cold, but you won’t mind it after you’ve been in for a minute!”

“Look out!  Give me room for a dive!” cried Eleanor Mercer, suddenly appearing from her tent.  “I know this water; I’ve been in it every year since I was a lot smaller than you.  I’m afraid of it every year the first time I go in, but how I do love it afterward!”

And, running at full speed, she sped down to the edge of the dock, leaped up and turned a somersault, making a beautiful dive that filled the girls who were still dry with envy.  And a moment later they were all in, swimming happily and enjoying themselves immensely.  All, that is, except Zara, who could not swim.