She rolled over on the greensward in a swoon.
“Now or never!” I murmured to myself.
In quicker time than it takes to tell it, aided by my faithful Bulger, I emptied the bed of its contents, set my shoulder to one end of it, while Bulger fastened his teeth in some fringe that hung from the other, and then, he pulling with might and main, and I pushing with all the desperation of a battle for freedom, the wooden structure was slowly brought to the bank of the river.
It was a hard task for us!
But we did it.
Now down the slippery bank it glided with a rush, striking the water and floating like a duck.
In an instant Bulger and I sprang on board of the little craft.
To rig up one of the sheets as a square sail and set it on the pole which had held the curtains was only the work of a few seconds.
A stout long-handled fan served me for a rudder.
Away! Away! I was off at last!