And the men acted accordingly.
"Run for it!" bellowed one of them; setting a splendid example by reaching the beached canoe at a single scrambling bound.

The second man was no whit behind him.

Between them, the canoe, at one shove, was launched.

The first man grabbed one of the girls by the arm and propelled her into the wobbling craft; while the other shoved off.

The remaining girl,--she of the azure headgear and the verdant waist,--slipped on the grassy bank, in her flight, and sat down very hard, at the water's edge.