This was an old flat-bottomed affair, which had been unused since Uncle Steve bought the new boat.
"Most prob'ly she leaks like a sieve," he muttered, as he untied the boat and pushed it out; "but I've nothing else to bring the young rascals home in.

So they'll have to bail while I row." Carter was soon in the old boat, and pulling it across the river.

As he had expected, it leaked badly, but he was sure he could get the children home in it.
"Come on now!" he cried, as he beached the boat, and jumped out.

"For the land's sake, how did you get so wet?
But don't stop to tell me now! Just pile in the boat, and let me get you home to a fire and some dry clothes.
You'll all have to bail, for she leaks something awful." Not waiting for a second invitation, the damp quartet scrambled into the boat, and Carter pulled off.

The old man had provided tin cans, and the children bailed all the way over, for it was necessary to do so to keep the boat afloat.
As they went, Marjorie told Carter the whole story, "and you see," she concluded, "we didn't do anything wrong, for we're always allowed to go in a boat if King is with us." "Oh, no, Miss Mischief, you didn't do anything wrong! Of course it wasn't wrong to jump about in the boat and carry on until you upset it! It's a marvel you weren't all drowned." "It is so!" said King, who realized more fully than the others the danger they had been in.