Ben rested a moment as the great vessel came abreast of him and then, quickly dipping his paddle deep into the water, sent the light canoe straight for the tossing waves. No one on the bank spoke as they breathlessly watched their companion, and it was evident that they all expected to see him overturned in the boisterous water.
Soon Ben could be seen as he entered the wake of the steamer, the canoe was lifted high for a moment and then disappeared from sight. Again it rose and seemed almost to stand upright, but it rode the wave successfully and again went down into the trough of the sea. So up and down, tossed like a leaf on the stream, the little canoe held to its course, and it soon became apparent that Ben was master of the situation.
“He done it,” remarked Ethan, forcefully if not grammatically, and a sigh of relief escaped from his companions as they perceived that Ben was safe.
Jock quickly turned, and the brass cannon belched forth its salute to the passing vessel. The delight of the boys was great when they saw a little cloud of steam shoot upward from the steamer and the heavy whistle acknowledged the salutation. Some of the passengers on the deck waved their handkerchiefs, and not to be outdone Bert seized the tablecloth from the table, from which the dishes already had been cleared, and waved it in response to the salutes from the deck.
There was another cloud of fluttering handkerchiefs waved at them from the deck, and then the great steamer passed on its way to the largest of Canadian cities.
Ben by this time had returned to the camp, and as he landed and lifted the canoe to its place on the bank, Ethan said sharply to him:—
“That was a foolish risk to take, boy. What did ye do it for?”
“Oh, I wanted to see how it seemed to take those breakers,” was the reply. “Besides, I thought it was a good time to put my ability to the test.”
“Ye haven’t got no ability,” replied Ethan, gruffly. “It was a foolish trick; and if ye’d been spilled and got drowned, I’d had the blame of it.”
“I knew you were close by, Ethan,” protested Ben. “I couldn’t drown when you were in camp. I just had to do it, you see, for I wasn’t going to let that canoe get the better of me. I’m going to learn how to manage one while I’m here if I get tipped over a dozen times.”