"
But one of the boys said, "Look out on the lake! There's your little
brother in a boat, all alone."
"Oh," cried Marian, "he'll be upset! Where's papa? Can any of you boys
swim?"
"No," said two of the boys, and another said, "I can't either, but I'm
going to try."
"Don't do it," said Patty, who was already flinging off her shoes. "I can
swim, and I'll save the baby."
She remembered how Nan jumped into the water with her ordinary clothes on
that day at the Hurly-Burly, and so she ran into the lake, all dressed as
she was, for there was no time to lose, and struck out for the boat.
She had taken but a few strokes, when she saw the child fall into the
water, and heard Mrs. Elliott give a despairing shriek.
Patty gave one shout of "All right, Aunt Alice, I'll get him!" and then
swam for dear life. This was literally true, for she was determined to save
the dear life of little Gilbert if she possibly could.
And she did, for as the baby rose to the surface, Patty was near enough to
grasp him, and then managed to reach the overturned boat and by its support
she easily kept herself and the child afloat.
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