house, saying he would not be gone more than five minutes.
The two boys waited for him to return, and during the interval Jerry caught sight of the Cutwater up the lake and watched her progress with interest. The wind was getting stronger and the sloop carried more sail than was good for her. Soon she again disappeared, and Jerry turned toward the house, wondering what kept Harry so long.
“Must have been invited to lunch,” was Blumpo’s comment. “Pity he didn’t ask us in, too.”
“No, he wouldn’t stay and leave us here,” replied Jerry, “Most likely – hullo!”
Jerry sprang up in the row-boat in amazement. Down the garden path leading from the front of the house to the dock came a beautiful black horse on a gallop. On the animal’s back sat a little girl not more than eight years of age. The horse was running away with her, and she was clingling tightly to his mane.
“Oh, John, stop him!” she screamed.
“Whoa, Banker, whoa!” shouted a man who came running after the animal.
But the horse, a nervous creature, was frightened over something and would not stop.
He clattered on the dock, and the next instant went over into the lake with a loud splash, carrying the little girl with him.
CHAPTER III.
JERRY’S BRAVERY
Blumpo was so scared by the accident that he uttered a short yell.
“Fo’ the lan’ sake,” he moaned, in a shaking voice.
The horse disappeared from sight for a brief space of time and then came up and began to churn the water madly in an endeavor to save himself from drowning.
The little girl was nowhere to be seen.
“She’ll be drowned,” thought Jerry, with rising horror.
At that moment a lady rushed from the house, followed by Harry. It was Mrs. Fleming.
“My child! my child!” she shrieked. “Save my Cora!”
Jerry waited to hear no more. At that moment the head of the little girl appeared directly by the horse’s side, and he made a clever dive from the row-boat and came up close to the child.
The girl was so bewildered that she simply beat the water in a helpless fashion, and this frightened the horse still more. Swimming up behind the little one, Jerry caught her under the arms. It was a perilous thing to do, for Jerry was in great danger of having his brains dashed out by one of the horse’s hoofs.
“Good for you, Jerry!” shouted Harry.
“Look out for the hoss!” shouted the man. “He’ll kick you if he can!”
As rapidly as he could, Jerry swam out of the mad animal’s reach. It was difficult with the struggling girl in his arms, but at last he accomplished it, and willing hands helped him to the dock.
“My Cora! my Cora! is she dead?” cried Mrs. Fleming.
“No, she is more frightened than hurt,” returned Jerry. “Let us take her to the house.”
But before he could go a step, Mrs. Fleming clasped her girl in her arms and led the way.
Anxious to be of assistance, Jerry followed the lady, while Harry, Blumpo, and the hired man tried to rescue the horse, who was very valuable despite his nervousness.
A noose was made at the end of a rope, and this was thrown over the animal’s neck. Then the horse got one foot through the noose, and in this fashion they towed him to a spot where it was easy for him to wade out without assistance.
The hired man was very much put out, for it was his fault that the horse had run away. He led the animal around to the barn and gave him a good rubbing down.
Harry started for the house and met Jerry coming out.
“How is Cora?”
“She’s all right. Come on,” and Jerry brushed on toward the row-boat.
“Why, what’s your hurry, Jerry?”
The young oarsman blushed.
“Oh, I hate to stand around and receive thanks,” he said. “Mrs. Fleming wants to make a first-class hero of me and I – ”
“And that’s just what you are,” cried Harry.
“Indeed he is,” added Blumpo.
“Nonsense!” Jerry brushed them to one side. “Come on!” and he made a run for the row-boat, and the others were compelled to follow.
“But your clothing is all wet,” insisted Harry, when they were seated in the craft.
“So is Blumpo’s,” returned Jerry.
“I’se most dry, the sun is that warm,” remarked the homeless youth.
“I don’t mind the wetting a bit,” said Jerry. “Rowing will keep me warm and the sun will dry me off quick enough.”
“You’re a regular water dog, anyway,” laughed Harry. He could not help but admire Jerry’s modesty in running away from Mrs. Fleming as soon as it was ascertained that little Cora was all right. On and on up the lake the boys went. Inside of half an hour they came to a sheltered nook on one of the numerous islands.
“I move we take a swim,” said Harry.
“Second de emotion,” said Blumpo, and before Jerry could say a word the homeless youth was running about as if in the savage wilds.
It did not take Jerry and Harry long to disrobe. The plunge into the water was very pleasant, and they remained in bathing until Jerry’s clothing, spread out on the top of a number of bushes, was thoroughly dry.
In the meanwhile Jerry and Harry raced to another island and back. Jerry came out first, with Harry four yards behind.
The swim over, they dressed, and, after picking several handfuls of berries, which grew on the island in profusion, they once more embarked in the row-boat.
“Time to get back, boys,” said Jerry. “I promised to be home before dark.”
“So did I,” said Harry, “and we have several miles to go.”
“It don’t make no difference to me when I git back,” remarked Blumpo, dolefully.
“Don’t worry, Blumpo. Think of the good time we are going to have when we go camping,” said Jerry.
“And I must ask father for a regular situation for you when we come back from our outing,” added Harry.
“Will you?” and the homeless boy’s face brightened.
The wind had been increasing steadily, and now it blew so strongly that the whitecaps were to be seen in every direction.
“We’re going to have no easy time getting back,” said Jerry, with an anxious look on his manly face. “Maybe we may be caught
