The tests for life saving were to be conducted on a time basis. From a boat a certain distance out in the lake a boy or girl was to be thrown overboard, and, at the same moment, the compet.i.tor was to leap in after the one who represented the victim and take him or her to sh.o.r.e, the winners being those who did it in the shortest time. Again, as there were to be six compet.i.tors, the first place was to count six points, the second, five, and so on.
First, the boys went out and went through their exercise in fine style. Although the boy who played the part of victim could swim, he made no move to help himself, simply staying perfectly still and letting his "rescuer" take him in.
Then, when the three boys had finished, with only five seconds between the fastest and the slowest, Eleanor and Hastings rowed out with the three who represented the Camp Fire Girls, and, as "victim," Zara!
Zara had insisted.
"I really would be drowned if they didn"t save me," she said, "so it will be a real test."
And, with that added spur, each of the three girls actually managed to beat the fastest time of the boys. Margery was first, Bessie was second, and Dolly third. Hastings, as soon as he discovered that Zara could not swim, was full of admiration.
"That"s the nerviest thing I ever heard of," he said. "Of course they did better. But it"s your "victim" that deserves the credit. She"s certainly plucky."
"So I really did help, didn"t I!" said Zara. "My, I was scared at first. But then I knew the girls wouldn"t let me go down, and, after the first time, it wasn"t so bad."
"Well, you gave us a surprise, and a licking," said Scoutmaster Hastings. "But we"ll be ready for you when we have that field day. How about some day next week!"
"Splendid," said Eleanor. "And we"ll give you a chance to get even."