“Make for the shore,” he heard Bob shout.
Seeing that they would probably have the canoe in to shore before he could reach them and doubting his ability to be of any assistance even should he arrive in time he bent all his energy to getting himself ashore. A half a dozen times he went completely under as his feet slipped on the rocks but finally sputtering and blowing he drew himself out of the water.
“What’s the first thing a fellow does when he falls in the water?”
Rex looked behind him and saw Jack slowly wading ashore just below him.
“I guess he tries to get out,” Rex panted.
“You’re wrong. The first thing he does is to get wet.”
“Then I did the first thing to perfection.”
“And believe me you weren’t the only one who did it either.”
“I believe you would joke if you were going to be hanged,” Rex tried to force a smile but, as Jack told him afterward, the effort was a dismal failure.
Meanwhile Bob and Kernertok had succeeded in getting the canoe to the shore a little way below and when the two reached them they were busy lifting out the bundles of provisions.