She tested their frail hope tentatively, then gave a cry of joy.
"Girls, the other end of it is on solid ground. I think we can make it!"
Here was good news. Jo had at least found where solid ground was.
Steadying herself by the board, Jo gradually managed to get one foot free. Gingerly she rested it upon the board. The board sank deep into the mud, even beneath that light weight.
"Suppose it should break!" cried Sadie, and Nan turned upon her in exasperation.
"Stop supposing!" she cried. "We can't afford it!"
Working as carefully and quickly as she could, Jo managed to get a foothold on the board before it became too deeply mired. She ran lightly up it toward the part that rested on solid ground. The other girls watched her breathlessly.
If the board should break!
But it held! A moment more and Jo felt the blessed surety of solid earth beneath her feet.
"Hooray!" cried Nan. "Now you'd better run back and get that piece of rope in the boat. Something tells me we're going to need it."