No one saw them glide away, and no one missed them at first, as they were thought to be hunting for spring water. Then when dinner was ready there was no Julie or Joan to be found!
[CHAPTER TEN—JULIE AND JOAN’S PREDICAMENT]
It was all very well to talk about paddling across a quiet little lake, but it was another thing when one got into the swift current that ran past the rocky bluff where the girls wished to land. There was no shallow water anywhere, where they might get out and beach the canoe, so Julie paddled with the current for a distance, leaving the camp site far behind.
Joan kept gazing for a likely spot to anchor in, but there were none such. Then suddenly, the canoe was caught in a swirl of water that was caused by the outpouring of a creek, and Julie discovered that managing a large canoe built for Rocky Mountain waters was far different from steering a light craft across a home lake, or along the canal that ran through the town.
“Why are you going this way, Julie—why not stick to the shore line?” asked Joan, as the canoe was driven along with the current.
“Stick to nothing! How can I help going this way when the current is as mad as a Jehu!” cried Julie, desperately.
“Then let me help in some way.”
“I only wish you could, but we only have one paddle.”
Joan glanced at the water. It was running quite shallow just where they were. An idea flashed into her mind.
“Julie, I’ll get out and pull the canoe upstream while you help with the paddle.”