This was true; just as when you want a boat to go straight you must row with two oars, one on each side, and you must pull evenly on each oar.
Putting her shoes and stockings with Ted’s, up in the bow of the boat, Janet began paddling with her hands on one side, while her brother paddled on the other side. In this way they managed to send the boat back a little way, even though the wind was blowing in the opposite direction.
“We’re getting nearer to the poles,” cried Teddy. “I think I can reach one now. Stop paddling, Janet!”
She stopped and Teddy leaned over the side of the boat. He stretched his hands out as far as he could reach, but as soon as the paddling stopped the boat began to drift back again, blown by the wind. Wider and wider became the space between Ted’s outstretched hands and the floating poles.
“Look out!” cried Janet. “You’ll fall over!”
And Ted came very nearly doing this. Just in time he leaned back and sat down in the bottom of the boat.
“You can’t get those poles!” sighed Janet.
“Yes, I can!” declared Teddy. He was not a boy to give up easily. He started paddling with his hands again, as did Janet. Once more they were almost within reach of the poles, but the wind blew them back.
“I—I guess I can’t do it,” Teddy had to admit, rather out of breath.
“Let’s drift over to the other shore, and then we can get out of the boat and walk home,” suggested Janet.