“But not with so much wreckage in the river,” added Tom. “Look at those big logs. If one of them even hit the barge it would smash a hole in it.”
“There’s part of a chicken-coop!” cried Sid, pointing to the object floating down the river.
“Yes, and there’s half a cow-shed, if I’m any judge,” went on Frank.
“The river sure is high,” conceded Phil. “I did want to take a run down to Fairview, and see Sis, but——”
“See your sister!” jeered Sid. “I know who you want to see down there all right,” for while Phil’s sister, Ruth, attended the co-educational institution, so did Madge Tyler, of whom Phil was very fond, and also Mabel Harrison, in whom Sid was more than ordinarily interested. Besides, there were “others.”
“I was going to row down,” declared Phil, stoutly. “But I can go by trolley.”
“Oh, let’s try a little row,” suggested Tom. “If we find the current is too strong, we can come back and take a car. I’d like to see the girls.”
“Brave youth! To admit that!” exclaimed Frank. “I fancy we all would. Well, let’s get out the boat.”
But they found the flood too much for them. Venturing only a little way out from shore they were gripped in the current with such force that they saw it would be folly to proceed. Accordingly, they put back, as did their companions in other boats.