"Now isn't this a real adventure?" laughed Miss Miller.
"And we wouldn't have had it if there wasn't a house and a care-taker here to obstruct the trail!" added Zan.
It didn't take the Woodcrafters very long to run back to camp and find their bathing togs, then on down the steep path that seemed to drop sheer from the heights to the river-beach.
The two boats added greatly to the fun of the water-sports. As every girl could swim a little, and the water was shallow near the shore, there was no danger in toppling out of the boat.
There were some glorious battles of "tag" played with a bag of old cork found on the beach. One girl would throw the bag and, if it landed in the other boat, that side was "it" and was supposed to chase the opponent and try to fling the cork into their boat.
When they began to weary of this game, the Guide announced a swimming contest. Then followed a diving contest. Lastly a prize was offered to the girl who could swim under water and bring up from the river bottom the white flour-bag filled with sand which Miss Miller had prepared and was ready to drop from a boat into the clear depths of the river.
The spot designated was about ten feet deep and about ten yards from shore, but only a few girls could swim under water and it transpired that only Elizabeth Remington could swim with her eyes open. Naturally she was the one to bring up the trophy.
"No wonder we couldn't do it when we never tried to keep our eyes open under water--it hurts!" grumbled Zan, who disliked to be outdone by another girl.
Miss Miller silently exulted in the success of her little plan, for she knew Elizabeth could accomplish the deed and wanted the other girls to see her do it, thus imbuing them with the desire to try also.
"Maybe it hurts at first, but I'm going to get that bag!" declared Jane, plunging in and trying to open her eyes while swimming under the water.
Others dared the test also, and soon all were sputtering or laughing at their trials and failures. Finally, however, each one could brag of being able to keep eyes open if but for a few seconds while swimming under water.
As they climbed the cliff again, Miss Miller said: "I think it is as important to know how to swim under water with your eyes open to see what you are meeting, as it is to keep your eyes open when crossing a thoroughfare."