Part 16 (2/2)

It is a big expanse, snugly sheltered; and it shallows so slowly that there are many acres of quiet water in which the little fellows of Ruddy Cove learn to swi wishedwas at sea And the punt was a s punt; it was a shallow little rodney, which Ji about in when the ice and seals were off the coast It was so sht that it could be carried over the pans of ice froht it was cranky It was no rough weather boat; nor was it a boat to move veryheard Jimmie's oars rattle in the row-locks and the blades strike the water The boat th--al his terown tired before he regained it

”Here, Bagg,” said he; ”you have a go at it”

”I'll 'ave a try,” Bagg agreed

Jiheard hiasped

”Steady, yourself!” Jiet around in a rodney?”

It was now so dark, ith night and fog, that Bagg could not see Jimmie But presently he understood that Ji for hig got to his feet, and, with all the caution he could co out his hands as he did so But Bagg had not been born on the coast and was not yet master of himself in a boat He swayed to the left--fairly lurched

”Have a care!” Jimmie scolded

Have you never, in deep darkness, suddenly felt a loss of power to keep your equilibriu is to be seen You have no longer a sense of perpendicularity You sway this way and that, groping for so And that is just what happened to Bagg He was at best shaky on his legs in a boat; and now, in darkness and fear, his whole rasp with his hands

”Is you ready?” asked Jiasped

”Co ain the darkness confused hiain his balance In the pause it struck him with unpleasant force that he could not swim He was sure, moreover, that the boat would sink if she filled He wished he had not thought of that A third half-crawling advance brought hiht Jimmie's outstretched hand and drew himself forward until they were very close

”Look out!” he cried

He had crept too far to the right The boat listed alarht each other about the id, until she had come to an even keel

Presently they were ready to pass each other

”Now,” said Ji made the attempt to pass hi He itation that he ht The water swept over the gunwale Bagg would have fallen bodily from the punt had it not been for Jiht have steadied the back--but too hurriedly, too strongly, too far The side of the boat over which he had alunas sub posture in the bottounwales and frantically tried to right the boat He felt the water slowly curling over

”She's goin' down,” said Ji sobbed

The boat sank very slowly, gently swaying fro, and all they could hear was the gurgle and hissing of the water as it curled over the gunwales and eddied in the bottos--creep to his waist--rise to his chest--and still ascend Through those seconds he was incapable of action He did not think; he just waited