When all were seated who were to leave the island, not a spare inch of space remained.
Mr. Hatfield, who had been watching the loading with troubled gaze, stepped to the edge of the dock to speak to Jabowski.
“Why not make another trip?” he suggested. “The raft is overloaded.”
“Mr. Manheim’s orders were to take ’em all in one load,” Jabowski said stubbornly. “I do as he tells me.”
He started the motor and the raft slowly pulled away.
“Hey, wait!” Ross Langdon shouted. “I forgot my cap!”
Before anyone could stop him, he leaped to his feet. The over-weighted raft tilted sharply to the left.
“Sit down!” Jabowski yelled.
The warning came much too late. Other Cubs, their feet under water, were scrambling frantically for safety.
As the raft became even more off-balance, it tilted to a sharper angle, sliding all the Cubs except one into the river. Jabowski, clinging to the motor box, managed to hold on.