At last after taking his time in fastening the craft to a dock post, he allowed the boys to disembark. Quickly they joined the Cubs from Den 2.
Nearly thirty Cubs and their parents already had arrived at the island. Mr. Manheim went here and there, shaking hands with the grownups and joking with the boys. The music was excellent, the food plentiful. Yet despite the efforts of everyone to have a good time, the party soon began to go a trifle flat.
At that point Mr. Hatfield and Midge’s father took a hand, introducing various games. The fun revived. However, everyone appeared relieved when the gathering began to break up at nine-thirty.
Mr. Manheim took two boatloads of Cubs and their parents to shore and returned for the third. Meanwhile, Jabowski had made one trip in the much slower raft.
“One more trip will wind it up,” the island owner estimated, counting the Cubs who were to remain overnight at their camp. “I can take five, and the others all can get on the raft.”
“Seven on the raft?” Mr. Hatfield interposed in disapproval. “Isn’t that loading it rather heavily?”
“Not at all,” Mr. Manheim returned, annoyed to have his judgment questioned. “The raft was built to carry a much heavier load.”
“It seems sturdy enough, but there are no rails—”
“Jabowski will keep his eye on the boys.”
Dismissing the matter, the island owner filled his speedboat to capacity and pulled away. Following orders, Jabowski herded the remaining Cubs aboard the raft.