The Meadow-Brook Girls uttered a cheer, as the “Red Rover” slowly drifted sideways clear of the dock.  The dock was thronged with people, all of whom were now observing the houseboat.  The latter’s upper deck held the girls, with the exception of Jane, who was at the helm to steer as soon as their craft had been turned about and headed in the right direction.  The houseboat came about slowly; then, as the motor boat chugged away the line grew taut and the “Red Rover” began to move.

“You give me steering directions, Harriet,” cried Jane.

“I will wave to you.  That will be better than shouting.”

“Whatever you say.”

“Look out!”

A heavy shock, following Harriet’s warning, caused Jane to shove the tiller hard over.  The girls were piled in a heap on the upper deck and it seemed as though the front part of the houseboat must have been crushed.

Loud, threatening voices forward brought Crazy Jane to the upper deck instantly.  Then she saw what had occurred.  The “Red Rover” had taken a sudden dive to the left, colliding with an anchored sailboat.

“If you don’t know how to steer, keep off the lake!” raged the owner, shaking both fists at the red terror.

“If you don’t know how to keep out of the way, then you ought to get pushed off the lake,” flung back Jane McCarthy defiantly.

Harriet laid a hand on her arm.

“Don’t argue with them, Jane.  It isn’t well-bred to do a thing like that.”

The launch was sputtering away trying to extricate the “Red Rover” from its position, which, by this time, was broadside against the sailboat.  The “Red Rover” was rising and falling, each time rubbing off some red paint onto the white sides of the yacht.  With each blotch of paint, so acquired, the anger of the owner of the yacht increased.  It was fortunate for the Meadow-Brook Girls that they succeeded in getting away promptly.  Jane was getting more and more angry, and Harriet had all she could do to restrain her companion.

But their troubles were not yet ended.  The “Red Rover” plunged through the fleet, smash-into a sailboat here, nearly sinking a rowboat there, grazing the side of a steamer, rubbing off some more paint in the operation, and continuing her voyage of destruction by smashing in the gunwale of a launch that was unfortunate enough to be anchored within range of the “Red Rover’s” tow line.  Jane’s steering was anything but skilful.  She steered too much, not giving the boat half a chance to respond to one turn of the tiller, before she turned it the other way.  But Harriet Burrell offered no suggestions.  At least, she remained silent until after the “Red Rover” had upset a canoe, spilling a young man and two girls into the lake.  It was then that Harriet sprang down and casting off the rowboat pulled to their rescue.  It was well that she did so, for neither of the girls could swim.

The motor boat that was towing the “Red Rover” had stopped instantly but the “Red Rover” was still drifting, managing to collide with two more small boats before finally coming to a stop.  In the meantime, Harriet had hauled the dripping girls aboard her rowboat, and assisted the young man to right his canoe.  The girls refused to get into it again.