"She's safe, mother! She has not sunk," replied Lawry.
"Where is she? I don't see her anywhere," added Mrs. Wilford, scanning the lake in every direction.
"Over on the other side," replied Lawry.
"What's the reason she didn't sink?" continued his mother.
"The casks kept her up, of course. We want something for breakfast and for dinner, mother, for she is so far off we can't come home till we have pumped her out, and I won't leave her again till I am sure she's all right."
"What shall I do about the ferry, mother?" asked Lawry. "Will Ben run the boat to-day?"
"Don't trouble yourself about the ferry, Lawry. If Benjamin won't take care of it, I will."
"I don't want you to do it, mother."
"I think your brother will run the boat; at any rate, you needn't give it a thought."
Mrs. Wilford was quite as happy as the boys to find that the steamer was not at the bottom of the lake again; and she returned to the cottage with a light heart, when she had seen the wherry leave the shore.