Jerry scanned the river a moment before replying: “She’s not in sight.”
“Sunk, do you think?” anxiously queried Bob. “Seems to me I remember hitting a rock just an instant before—before I did my parachute act.”
“I don’t know. Come on and let’s see if it has gone around the bend. At that we’ll never be able to catch up with it unless it’s grounded somewheres.”
Without the boat, they would have no provisions. The nature of the country didn’t promise much in the way of forage, and even if they succeeded in climbing the canyon walls, they would probably starve before they reached civilization. It was a terrifying prospect and each boy realized it fully. But neither would show to the other the fear that gripped him. Stumbling and weak they made their way over the rocks until they could see around the bend.
“Hurray!” called Bob, who was in the lead. “There she is.”
When Jerry came up he saw what had called forth his comrade’s shout. The boat was lying wedged between two rocks on the opposite shore, one end entirely submerged by the rushing stream.
“Can you make it?” asked Bob. “We’ll have to swim.”
“I guess so,” answered the other. “It’s got to be done.”
Without hesitating, Bob slipped into the water and struck out. The current carried him far down the river from the point he was making for, but he reached the other side in safety. Jerry followed and strove manfully, but the accident had taken a good deal of his strength and he was thankful when Bob waded out and gave him a hand to shore.
Their boat was a wreck, they found when they came up to it. The after water-tight compartment was completely stove in. This had caused the stern to sink. Two things, however, were in their favor. The front compartment, in which they had stowed their blankets, extra clothing, matches and the transit, was still intact. Also, as the after compartment had held only their canned eatables, the ducking had not hurt them. Few of the cans had fallen out.