"What do you say, girls ?" "Done!" chorused the girls and their guardian.
"Very well," smiled Harriet.

"The contest begins now, and of course all unfair tricks are to be barred out by both sides." "Of course," agreed George.

"But come along and have a look at the rope." Harriet stepped briskly ashore, followed by Jane and the two boys.

She went directly to where the rope and the anchor lay.

Picking up the former she ran it through her hands until she came to the loop that had been drawn about the cleat on the deck when the boat had been anchored on the previous afternoon.