Part 16 (1/2)
This was agreed to, and the captain and Dr Barwaithe took one line to the left shore and Foster Portney and Randy another to the right, leaving Earl to steer or use the rudder, asthe lake shores, had partly choked the stream, but there was a clear place near the centre, and into this the _Wild Goose_ drifted It was not long before she was caught in the strong current, which sent the ice cakes crunching and banging along her sides and the spray flying up into Earl's face He had started to use the rudder, but no this was useless, and sprang forith the long oar
”Steady to the left! Not to the right! Swing her around a bit, you fellows over there! Easy now, easy! Shove off from that rock, Earl! Now then, let her down a few feet! That was a narrow shave, boys! There you go again! Steady now! steady! steady!”
So the cries and directions ran on, as the boat proceeded on her perilous voyage The water was boiling on every side, and the lines which held the craft were as tight as whipcords Considerable water had been shi+pped, and Earl et from head to foot But he kept his place and shoved off, this way and that, with ht and main
”Hold hard!” suddenly shouted Foster Portney ”Look out, Earl; the line is going to break!”
The words were hardly spoken when snap! went the line, the boat end hitting Earl a sharp crack in the neck Thus released, the _Wild Goose_ swung around andhard to avoid Should she strike she would become a total wreck, beyond a doubt, and all their outfits would be lost
CHAPTER XVI
AN EXCITING NIGHT IN CAMP
When the line parted, Foster Portney and Randy were thrown flat on their backs in the six inches of slush and water in which they had been wading along the edge of the rapids But they did not care for this, the one thought of both was of Earl and how the boat would fare now that there was only one line by which to guide her
As for Earl, the shock also caused him to lose his balance, and he went down heavily on one of the packs hich the _Wild Goose_ was freighted But he recovered instantly, and sprang to the bow, oar in hand The craft had swung around, as has been related, and was on the point of s on the rocks when he put out the oar and tried to sheer off
”Hold her! hold her!” roared Captain Zoss to Earl ”Take the line, but don't pull!” he added to the doctor, and the next instant he was in the icy water up to his waist He could not reach the bow of the boat, but he gained the stern, and catching hold of the rudder he swung the _Wild Goose_ in toward a rock and held her there
”Throw the broken line to Earl and let him tie it, quick!” he shouted to Foster Portney; but the broken line was floating amid the loose ice, and it was several seconds before it could be secured In that tiht the boat fro the rocks in front, the craftthe captain in her wake
”Earl will be killed!” groaned Randy, and his heart leaped into his throat as the _Wild Goose_ see waters below them His uncle did not reply, but darted out of the water and down the bank of the river as fast as his feet could carry hio the line in order to save hi, and now Randy likewise took to his heels
Fortunately for Earl he kept his wits about hireat peril he was in In previous years he had helped raft lu freshets, so that the situation was not such a novel one But there was a vast difference between steering logs which could not be har a boat loaded with all their possessions, and he felt the responsibility He clung to the long oar and used it as best he could, whenever the opportunity offered, which was not often
In less than ten minutes the ride was over and the _Wild Goose_ shot with a swish into Lake Bennett By this tiive Earl a helping hand The craft had struck a dozen ti on one side and a slight crack in the bohich was speedily caulked up, she escaped injury The two on board ran to one shore, to take Dr Barwaithe on board, and then stood over to where Mr Portney and Randy awaited them
”That was a providential escape!” were Foster Portney's words, when he saw that Earl was safe ”I wouldn't have you run such a risk again for a fortune!”
”And I don't want to run such a risk again,” replied Earl, with rather a sickly s while before he felt like hi his brother because of the escape
”It was a foolplainly, for the icy bath had not i the river and let the boat take care of herself, with plenty of lines to guide her I won't stand fer any such ht, captain,” said Foster Portney, gravely ”We'll be more cautious in the future”
”Yes! yes!” broke in the doctor ”What should we have done had this young man been killed and all our traps been lost? It would have been better to have carried boat and all around from one lake to the next”
It was a sober party which went into caht on the rather rocky shore of Lake Bennett, sober and rather out of sorts in the bargain The captain insisted on building an i hi which came into view Later on the others of the crowd found that the captain got these moods every once in a while and never meant all he said, but now they did not know this and it ht have knowed it,” gru but growed-up men as know their business The next time I jine a crowd it will be o' those as has at least voted, eh?”
”I can't agree with you that it was the boys' fault,” replied Dr