But the veteran had seen it. Not an inch did he swerve from his course. For a moment the boat hung on the edge, poised for a dive. Then it leaped.
Straight into the heart of that silver-lined, foaming vortex it shot.
“Right” Pop yelled, and Bug Eye shifted again.
There was a space of time, seemingly interminable, when the boat appeared to stand still while the waters whirled beneath it. Then a quick lurch—and the whirlpool was left behind.
Stunned by the suddenness of it, Teddy jerked his head around. The whirlpool was far in the rear. They had been in and out in less than a second.
“Pop!” the boy called above the roaring, “what happened?”
“Nothin’ much,” Pop chuckled. “We just took it at the right time, that’s all. It tossed us out. Like it?”
“Certainly did!” Teddy cried enthusiastically. “Hit ’em again, Pop!”
They came now to a place where the stream undulated like a huge white snake. There were hills and valleys of water; smooth, shining water. It seemed that the rocks over which the river was flowing were just beneath the surface—that they must surely crush them to pieces. Teddy saw that Pop’s face lost none of its calmness, so he settled himself once more with an attempt at serenity which deceived no one. Just what in thunder was keeping them from all going to the bottom?
The craft was tossing like a ship on the ocean. First the bow would almost bury itself in a smother of foam, then it would lift until it seemed that it must turn over backward. Bug Eye wrapped his legs firmly about the seat.