Such was the hysterical excitement under which all were laboring that regardless of what might still be awaiting them in the near future the boys began to yell, in order to relieve their pent-up feelings.
They soon stopped that sort of thing, however, when their first exultation had passed, for, as Bumpus remarked, “it was just to begin over again, and perhaps get upset after all.”
“Better keep that till we’re safe ashore,” Giraffe went on to remark. “You know the old saying in pioneer days used to be that an Indian never ought to yell till he was in the woods; and a white man till he was out of the woods. So we’ll keep our breath a while. It’s all going to come out right, see if it ain’t.”
Giraffe undoubtedly added these concluding reassuring words for the particular benefit of Bumpus, who was looking, as the tall scout privately informed Step Hen back of his hand, “just as limp as a dish rag, so to speak.”
“I hope so, Giraffe; I surely hope so,” the fat scout told him. “Why, I believe I could face being burned up in a forest fire better than being drowned. It’s always been an awful idea to me to float along on the water, and have the little fishes and turtles nibbling at you all the while. Thank you for saying we’ve still got a fighting chance, Giraffe. It was kind of you, and I won’t forget it, either.”
When Giraffe looked up he saw Thad nodding his head toward him, and he knew the explanation of the encouraging smile on the patrol leader’s face. It meant that Thad understood why he had taken the trouble to say what he did, and wished to encourage all such efforts to the limit, as being worthy of the best traditions of scoutcraft.
“Giraffe, will you do me a favor?” asked Davy, after another period of alternate hope and fear had passed by.
“To be sure I will, Davy, if it’s in my power; only I hope you won’t ask me to jump overboard, and try to tow the old tub ashore, or anything like that.”
“Just take a look at my head, please,” suggested the other, bending forward as he spoke.
“Well, I don’t see that it’s swelled any since the last time,” remarked Giraffe; “and, besides, strikes me you haven’t been doing any great stunts lately that’d be apt to make you have the big head. Whatever do you want me to do, Davy?”