The paltry Peter began bellowing with deadly fear as the launch was headed away from him. Frank could not feel very charitable toward a fellow who, in the midst of peril, had left friends, probably relatives, to their fate. However, he started to change the course of the launch, when Pep, swinging one arm over the other in masterly progress like the fine swimmer he always had been, crossed the bow of the craft. “I’ll take care of him,” shouted Pep to Frank, “and here’s Randy in the skiff.” Frank saw Randy making for the spot, and as Pep grasped the side of the floating box the skiff came alongside. “Hold on! Stop that other boat,” blubbered the young fellow. “I want to go ashore in a safe rig; I want to get to my aunt.” “What did you leave her for?” demanded Pep, firing up. “Huh! Think I want to get drowned?” whimpered the other. Pep helped the scared youth into the skiff, drew himself over its edge, and directed just one remark to the rescued lad. “Say!” he observed, indignantly. “I’d just like to kick you.” CHAPTER III—SHORT OF FUNDS Frank drove the motor launch shoreward with accuracy and speed. The stout lady had shrieked and acted as if half mad until she had been assured that Peter was safe. She had to see with her own eyes that Peter had been pulled into the rowboat with Randy and Pep. Then she collapsed again. While she lay limp and exhausted, the young lady with her mopped her head with a handkerchief and fanned her. The engineer of the motor boat had got near to Frank. He looked pale and distressed. He kept his eye fixed on the sinking motor boat for a time. “That’s the last of her,” he remarked, with a sigh. “Yes,” responded Frank, “we couldn’t do anything toward saving her.” “I should think not. I tell you, if you hadn’t known your business I don’t know what would have happened to us. Mrs. Carrington was entirely unmanageable, her companion can’t swim, and of course I wouldn’t leave them to perish.” “The stout lady is Mrs. Carrington, I suppose?” asked Frank. “That’s right.” “And Peter, I suppose, is the brave young man who jumped overboard with the float?” “He is her nephew, and a precious kind of a relative he is!” said the motor boat man, and his face expressed anger and disgust. “He would smoke those nasty cigarettes of his and throw the stubs where he liked. Honestly, I believe it was one of those that started the fire.” “He hasn’t shown himself to be very valiant or courageous,” commented Frank. There was a great crowd at the beach near the shore end of the pier where the launch landed. The skiff holding Randy, Pep and their dripping and shivering companion glided to the same spot as an officer saw that the launch was secured. He stared down in an undecided way at the helpless Mrs. Carrington. Peter, safe and sound now, leaped aboard the launch with the assurance of an admiral. “Hey, officer,” he hailed the man, “get a conveyance for the party as quick as you can.”