Ethel was very much frightened. She trembled violently, but Tom affected not to see. With another stroke he went still nearer to the mill-race. At this Ethel gave a prolonged, agonizing shriek of fear, which made even her madcap brother feel a little uncomfortable, although he still persisted in teasing her, for he knew his strength and as yet had the boat under complete control.
“I'm going nearer yet, Sis,” he said to the greatly frightened little girl, and began to turn the prow of the boat a little.
She began one more wild shriek of terror, but stopped suddenly. She could scream no more. The horror of her perilous position rendered her mute. She could do nothing but shiver and tremble violently. Her eyes were wide and staring.
“What do you stop screaming for? You ain't out of danger yet. Girls always scream longer than that in one breath.”
There was no reply. Tom looked around to see his sister burst into a very torrent of tears. This was too much for the boy.
“Oh, come, Ethel. I was only fooling. Don't cry. There's no danger. See,”
He headed the boat in the opposite direction and began to row away from the dangerous locality. Ethel continued to sob convulsively, unable to restrain herself. She had been thoroughly frightened, and now she could not speak. Her eyes were staring wildly; the blue veins on her forehead stood out rigidly. She seemed choking as if half stifled with the horror she had felt. Tom was now heartily ashamed of himself, and heartily wished he had not disobeyed.
“Stop crying, Ethie, and I'll give you my new box of paints,” said he anxiously.
The magnitude of the inducement was the measure of Tom's anxiety. But with even this tempting offer of his greatest wealth, she could not refrain from weeping and sobbing.