"He would manage to render all the assistance needed if he saw the boat," replied Dory, with a smile; for he could not conceive of such a thing as his uncle failing in any duty in an emergency. "He could put the sailboat under the lee of the Sylph, and take every person out of her."
"Of course he would do all he could, and he would save the people at all hazards," continued Dick, still straining his vision to get a better idea of the situation of the sailboat. "But how about the tin box in the hollow of the tree, Paul?"
"I shall have time enough to get that before the fellows go to the point to tip the cottage over into the lake," replied Paul. "This boat begins to leap like a greyhound chasing a rabbit."
"The boat will do very well as long as we can keep her end-on to the sea," added Dory, who thought the new pupil might be alarmed when the barge got into the worst of it. "But remember that you are to do nothing without orders from the coxswain. Simply keep your seat and look out for yourself."
"I think I can stand it as long as the rest of you," replied Paul, with a cheerful smile. "I won't meddle with anything till I am told to do so."
"The Gildrock and the Winooski are following us, and the fellows are putting in the heavy strokes," said Dory.
"Are they gaining on us?" asked Dick.
"I think not."
The sea was very heavy ahead of the Marian, but the waves were not like those of the ocean. They were shorter and more "choppy." But the boats made tolerably good weather among them. In a smart sea, speed is desirable; and it is the element in the progress of the boat which insures safety. At such a time there are two forces acting, the propelling power of the boat and the action of the waves. In heavy weather there is a struggle between the two forces. In the case of the sailing craft, the waves had got the better of the boat.