At length they reached an inlet that seemed to bar their farther progress, but looking about they spied an old boat stranded by yesterday’s tide a little higher up the inlet, and were of course instantly seized with a great desire to get her into the water and set sail in her.

“Wouldn’t it be jolly fun?” cried Bob Masters, the eldest of the trio.  “Come on, boys.”

Max was a rather heedless fellow, and never stopping to consider the right or wrong of the thing, or whether he were running into danger or not, went with the others.

They found the boat, as they thought, in fair condition; there were two oars in her, and both Max and John Cox, the other lad, thought they knew pretty well how to use them, while Masters was sure he could steer.

With a good deal of exertion they set the little craft afloat; then climbing in they pushed boldly out into deep water and bore down toward the ocean.

Max had thought they were only going to cross to the farther side of the inlet and continue their walk; but almost before he knew it, they were out upon the sea, and the boat was rocking upon the waves in a way that seemed to him decidedly alarming.

“Boys,” he said, “let’s put back as fast as we can.  We don’t know anything about managing a boat out here, and see how big the waves are!”

“That’s because the tide’s coming in,” laughed Masters, “so if we should upset it’ll wash us ashore.”

“I don’t know,” said Max, “I’d rather not risk it; there’s the undertow to carry us out again.”

“Oh, you’re a coward!” sneered Cox.

“I’m not going to turn back yet,” said Masters; “so stick to your oar, Raymond, and if the sight of the big waves frightens you, just turn your back to ’em.”

At that moment a hail came from a fishing-smack not far away.  “Halloo! boys, you’d better put back as fast as you can; that boat’s not safe, especially in the hands of such green-horns as you.”

At the same moment a big incoming wave washed over them, carrying away their hats and Max’s coat, which he had pulled off when taking the oar.

Masters and Cox were now sufficiently frightened to be willing to turn back; they made the attempt at once, but found it far more difficult than they had anticipated.  They struggled hard, and several times nearly gave themselves up for lost; but at last, after many narrow escapes, a huge wave carried them high on to the beach, and left them there with barely strength to crawl up out of the way of the next.

It was a good while before they were able to do anything but lie panting and gasping on the sand.

Max had not been long gone when Zoe ran into the cottage of the Raymonds, to tell of a plan just set on foot in the other house to get up a party to visit some points of interest several miles distant.

They were to go in carriages, take a lunch with them, and not return till late in the afternoon, when all would dine together at Mrs. Dinsmore’s table.