In a sense this was welcome, as it told them that the land was near. The solid earth never seemed so precious to them as it did at that moment. They were expert swimmers, and in ordinary circumstances could swim to the shore if they were thrown from the raft.
But these were far from being ordinary circumstances. No swimmer could live long in such a storm, when the waves might easily beat him into unconsciousness. The shore might be steep and slippery, so that they could not get a hold either with hands or feet. And if the raft were hurled on it, some of its occupants might be stunned by the shock or by something against which they might be thrown, and thus lose their chance of safety.
“Stand by, fellows,” shouted Bob, his words barely heard above the shrieking of the storm. “Keep as close together as you can and be ready to help. One for all and all for one. Remember!”
The words had barely left his lips when there was a terrific concussion as the raft was thrown on a group of rocks lining the shore of the lake. The craft hung there impaled, while all of the boys were flung headlong into the cruel, swirling waters.
Those waters beat upon them mercilessly, seeking to drag them back into the lake. But they clung desperately to projecting points of rock until the wave receded. Then they were rejoiced to find that their feet could touch bottom. Before the next roller came in they had got in far enough to be safe, Bob dragging Buck, who had again collapsed, along with them.
They dragged themselves up on the shore, which luckily was sloping at that point, and then threw themselves down, too strained and exhausted to speak, but their hearts filled with an immense gratitude for their deliverance.
For several minutes they lay there panting. Then Bob sat up with a sudden exclamation.
“The radio set!” he cried. “Where is it?”
Without waiting for an answer he hurried to the shore. There at a little distance lay the raft, held fast in shallow water. And on it, to Bob’s great relief, rested the old reliable radio set, whose weight had held it steadfast.
Joe had followed him, and together they measured with their eyes the distance to the raft. It was only a few yards, and they knew that the water there was shallow.