Chapter VDown the RiverChapter 5 header
Chapter 5 header
Theytraveled on for several days, close to the river, until Nibbles suggested that it would be more fun and easier to sail than to walk.
They at once began to make a little raft with willow twigs and bits of birch bark, and to prevent the water coming through, they filled up the cracks with clay. The big bandanna handkerchief they used as asail, and with his jack-knife Nibbles whittled out a nice little rudder.
One warm, sunny day, they hoisted their sail and were just starting off, when they heard some one shouting. Looking around, they saw, on the bank above them, a big gray Rat, waving his hat and calling: “Wait a minute, and take me with you.”
“I am very sorry,” answered Nibbles, “but the raft is small and there is not room enough.”
“But Iwillgo,” shouted the Water Rat very rudely, “and I am in a hurry too.”
Poor Teenie Weenie was frightened, for she knew that Water Rats sometimes ate mice, especially if they were cross or very hungry, so she begged Nibbles not to go near the shore.
As they sailed away, the Water Rat, I regret to say, danced with rage, making frightful faces at Nibbles and Teenie Weenie, and saying things which were not at all polite.
Raft and rat
Day after day they sailed down the winding river, sometimes landing for dinner, and at night always tying their raft to a tree or bush in some sheltered cove, where theycould find a comfortable nest to sleep in.
Raft and alligator
One afternoon they came to a pretty wood, where they decided to spend the night. Near the bank was a dark, gravelly point, which seemed an excellent place to land. Nibbles got out, and was just beginning to pull the raft up high and dry, when suddenly the whole point began to move, and then something struck poor Nibbles, and sent him whizzing far out into the river.
Down down, down he sank, until he felt sure that he was going through to China. His head was buried in thesoft sand at the bottom of the river, and he had to struggle hard to free himself. Finally he came up to the surface of the water, and was able to swim to the raft, where little Teenie Weenie still sat, too terrified to move.
Nibbles in water