This was an opportunity too good to lose. He drew her carefully into the water, and fastening her to his boat, rowed both off, till a sufficient distance from the shore, when, after anchoring the boat and furling the sails, he prepared to get into the birch. He had heard that it was a very difficult matter to go in one; but he was exceedingly lithe of limb, a proficient in wrestling, accustomed to put himself in all manner of shapes, and used to going in ticklish gunning floats, and considered the notion that he couldn’t manage a birch as simply ridiculous.
He got in, and disdaining the dictates of prudence, which prompted to a sitting posture, began to paddle towards the shore. He was more than three times the length of the canoe from the boat, when, he knew not how or wherefore, the birch in a moment slid from under him, and instantly righting, went gayly off before the wind towards Elm Island.
With a wild, astonished look, he swam to the boat, and, pulling up the anchor, caught the canoe, expecting to find her half full of water; but there was not a drop in her. “That is curious enough,” said Charlie. He was now in a fine plight to go visiting! His new beaver (three-cornered), his ruffled-bosomed shirt (the first he had ever owned), and his new waistcoat and breeches, and steel shoe-buckles—for with some of his venture-money he had treated himself to a go-to-meeting suit—were all soaked in salt water.
He debated the matter some time in his mind, whether he should go home or go on, but at length concluded to go on.
“I can’t be any worse off,” said he. “I’ll master that birch.”
He stripped, and got into her, but sat down, when he found he could keep her on her bottom. After paddling a while in this way, he got upon his knees, and could paddle much better. He then stood up once more, and went on very well for a while. At length she began to wiggle, at first slowly, then faster and faster, till out she went from under him, as though she had been made of quicksilver! Charlie swam up to her, and pushed her before him to the shore, got in, and went out again, till he finally succeeded.
Resuming his wet clothes, he set out for Uncle Isaac’s, and found him at work in his shop.
“You are all wet, Charlie!” said he, after the first greetings had passed. “Where have you been?”