“Maybe I can coax him out,” said one of the men.
After some urging, Spot was induced to leave the cabin, where he had been cowering under a bunk. He whined and seemed still afraid, but when the Curlytops had coaxed him ashore and romped about with him, he regained his spirits and began to bark and leap about.
“Don’t put that tube on the ground again after you get it mended,” said Mrs. Martin to her husband, with a laugh, as she saw him at work, cementing another patch on the place where Spot’s sharp teeth had gone through the rubber.
“No, indeed!” he agreed.
And when the tube had been mended again Mr. Martin hung it over the rear of the car to dry. It held the air when he tested it, and, slipping it inside the shoe, he pumped it up fully and soon had the rim and tire back on the car.
By this time the raft had been worked out from shore and was ready to go on again.
“Here, Spot!” called the steersman.
The dog seemed to want to remain on shore and have fun with the Curlytops, but he knew his master’s voice and, with a little whine and bark of farewell, he jumped on the moving raft and went on down the river.
“Good-by!” called Trouble, waving his hand to the dog. And Spot waved his tail in answer.
“Where did the raft come from?” asked Ted, for he had seen his father talking to the men while waiting for the second tire patch to dry.