"Well, well," said Solly, his "stiff upper lip" very white, "we're coming round to it after a while: you just sit still."
"Yes," said Johnny, puffing very hard, and churning the foam with his paddle, as if he were whipping eggs with a beater, "yes, girls, we shall row round to it after a while, if you'll only keep still!"
I dare say Johnny thought the most of this commotion was made by his paddle. He was quite as consequential, in his way, as the fly who sat on a wagon-wheel, and said to the wagon, as it rattled down hill, "What a noise we make!"
"We wouldn't put for the shore at all," continued Johnny, "if it wasn't for you girls."
At that moment a remarkably high wave leaped over the side of the boat, and wet Johnny to the skin.
"Just enough wind to make it pleasant!" gasped the little fellow.
"O, dear! O, dear!" sighed the girls, in despair.
"Ugh! how my arms ache!" groaned Johnny, stopping to rub them. "Guess I wouldn't say much if I was nothing but a girl, and didn't have to paddle!"
"O, you needn't fuss with that paddle any longer, Johnny Eastman," said Solly, who had hitherto paid no heed to the little boy's vigorous but useless struggles; "you just drop it; it doesn't amount to anything."
"What! what!" cried Johnny, looking very much insulted. "How are you ever going to get ashore without ME, I'd like to know?"