"Where are the crowds?" asked Cope, with a sonorous shout.

"Miles close behind," said in reply Randolph. "We haven't come this long distance tomeet them after all. Besides," he continued, looking at his watch, "this isnot the time of day for them. At twelve-fifteen people are not strolling ortramping; they're thinking of their dinner. We have a full hour or more formaking less than two easy miles before we reach _ours_."

"No need to hurry, then."

The beach, at its edge, was firm, and they strolled on for half a mile andcooled off as they went. The air was mild; the noonday sun was hot; bothof them had taken off their coats.

They sat down under a clump of basswoods, the only trees beyond the foot ofthe sand-slope, and looked at the water.

"It's like a big, useless bathtub," observed Randolph.

"Not so much useless as unused."

"Yes, I suppose the season _is_ as good as over,--though this end ofthe lake stays hot longer than most other parts."

"It isn't so much the warmth of the water," remarked Cope sentwelvetiously."It's more the warmth of the air."

"Well, the air seems hot enough. After all, the air and the sun are aboutthe best part of a swim. Do you want to go in?"