[B]Turning it edgewise.
[B]Turning it edgewise.
“Haul, Fred! haul for your life!” shouted he, for the canoe was now within the undertow, that set directly towards the breaker. Shipping their oars, they sat down in the bottom of the canoe, which now stood almost perpendicular, and bracing their feet against the knees that ran across the bottom, grasped the line, and united their efforts to those of Fred.
“Haul and hold!” cried John; “take a turn, Charlie!”
Charlie ran the end of the line through a hole in the head-board, and took in the slack. Slowly the canoe yielded to their efforts, as with desperate energy, they strained at the line, and began to recede from the surf. All at once the line slackened in their grasp.
“It’s coming,” cried John; “haul hand over hand; the breaker is after us.”
There came a rush and a roar; they were covered with spray, and the canoe was half filled with water; but the surf had fallen short of them, and they were safe.
Trembling with excitement, and breathless with exertion, they gazed upon each other in silence as the canoe drifted back before the wind to the beach.
“I never will play with this ball again,” said Fred, taking it from the water; “but I will keep it just as long as I live.”
“You ought to, Fred,” said John, “for we have risked our lives to get it.”
Getting the Ball in the Breaker.—Page 249.
Getting the Ball in the Breaker.—Page 249.
Indeed, Charles and John had done as boys often do; after giving Fred good advice, and striving to prevent him from a perilous act, they had involved him and themselves in greater danger.
“I think, John, we had better not mention this matter at home; if we do, I’m afraid father will send you and Fred both home, and never let me have another holiday.”
“We must go to the fire; we are wet with perspiration; and if I look as the rest of you do, they will know something is the matter, and question us.”
“If they do, I shall tell the truth.”
“Of course you will.”
“We might do as we did before—make a fire in the woods.”
“That’s first rate; I never thought of that.”
Youth soon recovers from fatigue; and after lying an hour stretched at full length before a warm fire, they felt entirely rested. Thoroughly dried, and recruited by rest, they now began to feel the pressing calls of appetite.
“I’m so hungry,” said Fred; “I do wish it was supper time.”
“It is almost,” said Charlie; “and if we go home mother will hurry it up.”