It was while they were proceeding in this manner, that they all heard the bottom of the canoe grate over something, then tremble for a moment, and suddenly came to a stand still. The stem swung rapidly round and commenced filling.
“Overboard men, all of you! We’re sinking!” commanded Haldidge.
Each sprang into the water which was not more than two feet deep, and the canoe, thus lightened of its load, instantly freed itself and floated off in the darkness.
“Don’t move till I take a few soundings,” said Seth.
He naturally supposed that to reach the shore, he must take a direction at right angles with the current. A few steps showed him that he was not in the river itself, but was walking in that portion which had overflowed its banks.
“Follow on boys; we’re right!” he called out.
Bushes and grass entangled their feet, and the branches overhead brushed their faces as they toiled out of the water. A few moments and they were upon solid land again. The canoe had carried them across the river, so that this troublesome task was finished.
“Now if we only had a fire,” said Haverland.
“Yes; for Ina must be suffering.”
“Oh! don’t think of me!” replied the brave, little girl, cheerfully.