“Go up the river! Go down the stream! Come ashore! Turn around! Go ahead!” shouted Bert, encouragingly.
But poor Ben was too much occupied with his own efforts to heed the confusing calls of his companions. Twice the little canoe had almost capsized, but somehow Ben had managed to keep it afloat, though he had abandoned all efforts to paddle and was only striving to keep his craft above the water.
“I say, you fellows!” he called in despair. “I can’t manage this—Hi!” he added, as the canoe gave a lurch and almost went over. “Throw me’ a rope! Come out and help me!”
“‘I can’t, my dear, though much I wish,
For, oh, you’ve tied my hands,”
sang Bob, mockingly.
“Oh, come ashore, Ben, if you can’t go ahead,” called Bert, soothingly. “You won’t tip over. I’ll risk it! I’ll risk it!”
“You risk noth—” began Ben, desperately; but his exclamation was not completed, for as the canoe gave a sudden lurch to one side the unfortunate lad leaned to the other to assist it in righting itself. He leaned too far, however, and then strove to reverse the weight. His actions were frantic now, and it seemed as if there could be but one result, and that must come soon.
“It’s going!” shouted Ben, in despair.
“So I see,” called Bob, encouragingly. “Keep it up, Ben! what you need is practice. Practice makes perfect, you know. Keep it up! Keep it up!”