This promontory was about fifty feet in height, and its base was thickly lined with rocks, over which the waves were dashing with great violence, throwing the spray high in the air. It was not more than half a mile distant, and the wind was driving the boat toward it with fearful rapidity.
“What lunatics those fellows must be to venture out on this lake when they don’t know how to manage a boat!” exclaimed George. “If they hold that course they will be dashed to pieces on the rocks, as sure as they are living boys.” Then, bringing his hands to his face, and using them as a speaking-trumpet, he shouted with all the power of his lungs, “Haul down your sail and pull for the beach!”
The boy who was holding on to the mast waved his signal of distress over his head, and then the boat sank out of sight again.
When she reappeared, George once more shouted to her crew to haul down the sail, at the same time striving to warn them of their danger by pointing toward the rocks and beckoning to them to come ashore.
But his instructions must have been misunderstood, or else the boat’s crew could not obey them, for their little craft kept driving on toward the rocks, while one of the boys continued to wave his handkerchief, and the other to ply his clumsy paddle.
It was plain that they could not save themselves, and that George was the only one who could render them any assistance. The boy’s face grew pale when this fact flashed upon him, but it wore a very determined look.
“It’s almost certain death,” said he, as he cast off the painter and pushed the scow into the water; “but I can at least make the attempt. If I go under, there is nobody to miss me.”
Pushing his scow through the surf, and wading until the water was nearly up to his waist, George clambered in, shipped the oars, and pulled out into the lake.
When Uncle Ruben was at the cabin, he had shown a disposition to turn up his nose at his nephew’s boat, which was the boy’s own handiwork; but if he could have seen how she behaved now, he would have learned that she was much better than she looked to be. Being broad of beam and light of draught, she seemed to skim over the top of the waves instead of breaking through them, and, heavy as she was, George was able to send her ahead with considerable speed.
He rowed fast enough to intercept the sailboat when she was within less than a quarter of a mile of the threatening rocks and then he found, greatly to his surprise, that she was a canoe, so lightly built, apparently, that a boy of ordinary strength could take her on his back and walk off with her with all ease.