But almost immediately it became apparent the force of the river current had been underestimated. So strong was the downstream drag that all soon found themselves working as if for their very lives to make headway. Moreover, the rope drawn as taut as a violin string by the force of their weight upon it began to screech with a dry sound.
“We better turn back, Jack,” panted Frank, from his position at the rear end of the raft where he was battling valiantly with a pole. “In a minute we won’t be able to touch bottom any longer, and then our unsupported weight is going to be too much for that rope.”
Hardly had the words been uttered than there came a sudden sharp report. The rope had parted at a weak spot. The two ends fell into the water, out of reach. And at once, seized in the hungry clutch of the swift current, the raft was whirled into midstream and started down river.
Fortunately, Matse was of the number aboard. And when Jack shouted an order to the bearers not to use their poles lest they be snatched from their grasp, as the river was running too strongly at this point, Matse translated his command. At that, however, Jack’s forethought came a moment too late to prevent one of the blacks from losing his pole. It was sucked from his grasp as the raft whirled along, when he attempted to strike bottom with it to arrest their progress. Only through the fact that Bob throwing an arm about his waist at the crucial moment tugged him inward did the black escape following his pole.
“Tell the men to sit down and pull in their poles,” Jack ordered Matse. “Pretty soon the current will swing in toward one shore or another as we round a bend, and then we may stand a chance to strike bottom and pole ashore. Try to make them see that it is necessary to save the raft and equipment, Matse, so that they won’t jump off and swim ashore.”
The intelligent young Kikuyu nodded his comprehension and then began to lay down the law to his comrades in their own tongue.
In the meantime, Mr. Hampton could be seen starting the bearers on shore down stream. And Jack knew his father’s thought was his, namely that some turn of the current might throw the raft toward the river bank and thus afford those on land a chance to be of aid.
“If we only had a rope,” he groaned.
“What’s that your father is shouting, Jack? Can you understand him?” asked Bob.
Jack shook his head.