"No, don't. It mightn't be safe. The whole boat might slip into the water."
So Sammy tossed the three straps, fastened together as they were, to Jed, who caught them. The next moment, holding firmly to one end, Jed swung the other to Hank. Hank grasped it and carefully began to pull himself forward so he could reach the edge of the ice-boat. A very little help, from a person on a solid place, will allow a person in the water to lift himself up. The water buoys him, so to speak. You boys who have been in swimming know that if you keep low in the water you can support yourself by merely placing one finger on the edge of a pier or a boat.
Sammy tossed the three straps, fastened together.
It was so with Hank. Slowly, by means of the straps, he was pulled up until he could grasp the ice-boat.
"I—I'm all right now," he panted. "Get after Jim!"
He released his hold of the strap, and it was tossed to Jim. And not any too soon, either, for Jim could not hold on much longer. He was weak from the cold.
But he, too, was soon safely towed to a place where he could grasp the half-submerged ice-boat. All three was now comparatively safe.
"Now look out!" called Jed, as he threw back to Tommy the buckled straps. "I'm going to work my way to the solid ice, and you two fellows follow. Can you do it?"
"We've got to!" cried Jim, desperately.