He looked toward the shore.
There, in plain view, was the humble cabin which he called home. Inside doubtless was his aunt, worrying perhaps about his absence.
“How delighted she will be when I tell her of the money I have found!” thought Robert joyfully. “Come, Bob, brace up now and push out boldly for home.”
With his eyes fixed on the cabin, our young hero used his paddle with such energy that, in the course of half an hour or thereabouts, he was about a mile farther on his way.
He had gone half way, and though he was somewhat fatigued, he was strong and muscular, and the chances were that he would be able to hold out till he reached the boat landing.
But now a new danger threatened itself.
The assaults of the sea had strained heavily the raft, which he had not been able, for want of nails, to make strong and secure.
Robert’s heart beat with quiet alarm as he realized that there was small chance of his frail craft holding together till he reached shore.
The danger was hardly realized before it came.
A strong wave wrenched apart the timbers, and Robert Coverdale found himself, without warning, spilled into the sea, a mile and a half from land.