This was agreed to, except that, instead of Abroo and his clan, Duco was chosen to take charge of the first load.
The next difficulty was in getting the raft started. It lay motionless with its load.
“Wait till the wind rises,” said Koree.
Presently a gust struck them, but it had no effect in starting them.
“Let us push the thing with our clubs,” said Duco, at which all applied themselves vigorously.
The raft was easily moved in this way, and continued to go as long as they could reach bottom; but in deep water it stood still, or floated at the mercy of the waves. Pounder tried to move it by sitting on one log and pushing with his feet against another. Others beat the water, which had a little effect. Duco then discovered that by pushing in the opposite direction against the water they could make it move; and soon they were paddling in the modern fashion. During much of the way the water was shallow enough to permit them to use their clubs as poles, or, to get out and push; so that they were soon far out from land and going in the right direction.
They would now have reached the opposite shore but for Pounder, who kept pushing in the way just described thinking he was forcing along the raft. By reason of his vigorous efforts he snapped the bands which held the logs together. The raft broke in pieces and he was the first to fall through into the water. He went down between the logs which he was pushing apart. Others fell into the water with him, but most remained on one part or other of the raft; for it broke into nearly equal parts. Pounder floundered awhile in the water; but, being accustomed to that, through his previous plunges from the log, he soon got hold of one of the rafts and lifted himself out of the water.
“These things can’t be depended on,” he said, as he regained his place on board.
They had now two rafts instead of one, and they pushed and paddled on each. Pounder, instead of sitting on one log and pushing against another, next took a seat on one log and pushed with his feet against a knot on the same log, and believed he was rendering the principal aid in propelling the raft.
It was easier to proceed with two small rafts than one large one, and accordingly both were soon landed on the opposite shore, but not till several of the passengers had fallen overboard and the craft had been badly damaged.