"Why didn't you tell us, so we could look?" grumbled the crowd.
"I didn't want you to break your necks. It was bad enough to have two fellows down in that trap, without letting the rest of the party tumble down on them. Kramer drove me back, but I went and peeped once afterwards. Dave knew I was going. I couldn't stand it a minute longer; I knew the men had gone in the boat, and was afraid you two would drown before it could get around there, or afraid the boat would swamp if you tried to get in. I prayed hard for a minute."
"Did you?" asked Walter, looking quickly at Joe. "So did I--harder than I ever did before in all my life."
Ned said nothing, but lay with his eyes closed; and the other boys were unusually quiet.
"Wasn't I glad to hear you say, 'It's twelve o'clock, and we are safe!'"
"Is my hair gray, Joe?" asked Walter, half laughing, and half in earnest, as he took off his round cap, and revealed a crop of short black curls.
"Not much that I can see."
"I have heard of hair turning gray from fright, and I thought perhaps I might be needing hair-dye."
"When shall we go back to camp, boys?" asked Dave.
"It depends on whether you are going to tell about our scrape, whether I go back at all," replied Walter, laughing, and yet half in earnest. "You fellows promise not to say anything about it, won't you?"