Two or three pieces were speedily produced, and the boys proceeded deliberately to tie Bertie’s hands and feet firmly together. His terrified struggles only served to strengthen their purpose and to draw the knots tighter, whilst the sight of his obvious fear convinced them that they were doing the best thing possible in teaching him how foolish it was.
Queenie and Phil took no part in the matter. They were rather sorry for Bertie, but both thought their own brothers perfectly right in their estimate of the case; and when Walter and Bernard took the captive up bodily, carried him down to the water’s edge, and deposited him in the boat, they could not help joining in the triumphant laugh that was raised, and they thought Bertie quite stupid and bad-tempered not to enjoy the joke himself.
Uncle Fred had not as yet appeared, and some instinct warned the boys that Bertie’s “lesson” had better be concluded before his arrival. David was just coming from the hut with his load, and the boys ran to meet him and took the oars from him, for they were not quite certain what he might do if Bertie appealed to him for help.
Bertie, however, lay quite still, his face as white as death, his eyes fixed with terrified intensity upon the dancing water that was ruffled to-day by a fresh breeze. When the boys pushed out into deep water, he only shivered convulsively, but did not utter a sound.
The big lads were rather disappointed. They expected more of a “scene,” and betrayed the nature of their true feelings by trying to add to the child’s silent yet visible terror; for, had they only been actuated by the wish to benefit him, they might surely have dispensed with any such unnecessary demonstration.
Queenie and Phil had remained on shore, and the big boys felt themselves entire masters of the situation.
“Can you swim, Bertie?” asked Walter.
The child shook his head, but said nothing.
“Because, you know, you should learn. It would help you better than anything to overcome your foolish terror. Now I’ve heard that there’s nothing like being pitched into deep water at once to teach a fellow to swim, especially when he’s small.”
“To be sure that’s the way!” cried Ralph. “I know I read in a book that little niggers were always taught that way. I don’t believe it ever fails.”