“Say, we are in a fast current!” he agreed.
Brad paddled again, and after another miscalculation, managed to rescue the truant paddle.
“A nice exhibition!” he grinned. “I hope that teaches me a lesson.”
Brad did not chide his friend for carelessness. In fact, he was thinking more about the current than he was of the manner in which the paddle had been lost.
“Wonder what causes such a fast movement in this particular part of the river?” he speculated. “It gives me the idea—”
What the idea was, Dan never learned. For just then, Mr. Hatfield yelled across the water, motioning for the boys to come in.
“He saw me drop that paddle all right,” Dan said ruefully.
Mr. Hatfield did not scold the two boys, merely reminding them again that safety rules must be observed at all times.
“You’re both swimmers,” he said, “but even so, you can’t afford to take chances. Besides, you must set examples for the other Cubs.”
“It won’t happen again, Mr. Hatfield,” Dan promised. “I just had a mental lapse, that’s all.”