"It's no use," said Alfy, crouching down in the tub, "we are floating away. We cannot get to the house. What shall we do now?"
CHAPTER II.
TO THE LABURNUM TREE.
hat shall we do now?"
It was Mansy who echoed Alfy's cry. "Can't we stop it somehow, Master Alfy?" she added. "Tie it with the rope to the top of some tree or something. Look there, could we not catch the line on there?" and she pointed to the shrubby top of a big bush or tree. Alfy could not exactly see what it was, but he saw something jutting up above the water.
The boy hastily took up his ladles, and endeavoured to steer the strange bark to the point indicated. It was a weary, troublesome task. Then Mansy threw the line, trying to catch it in the branches, and nearly overbalanced herself into the water.
"The rockety thing!" she exclaimed, half in alarm and half in contempt. "I feared it 'ud go over."
"It's all right, Mansy, if you sit still," said Alfy; "but try and paddle it with the umbrella to the tree."