In the Boat.—Page 93.
"Why don't you keep a pullin', boys?" said Johnny, dipping in his useless little paddle.
The boat whirled about like an egg-shell, completely at the mercy of the waves. If your papa and mamma had seen it, they would have said there was the last of Dotty Dimple. But, on second thought, you may be sure it was not the last of her; for if she was going to be drowned in the sixth chapter, I should never have written this book.
It was a wonderful mercy that the five rash children were spared; but life is full of just such mercies; and of course I knew all the while what was coming, or I could not have written so cheerfully.
What was coming?
"I see something," shouted Dotty, "ever so far off! It isn't a gull!"
"It's a sail! a sail!" cried Solly, and took to his oars again.
"A sail! a sail!" thought Freddy Jackson, though he could not say it; and he steered once more, with courage renewed; though, as to that matter, it would have been just as well if they had kept still.
By the time the sail-boat came up to the wherry, the children were thoroughly drenched and sobered. A more subdued set of little sailors the captain had never seen.
"Well, now," said he, patting the little girls on the head, "I had a fine lecture made up for you crazy chickens; but you are all so meek, that I reckon I'll just take you on board, and not scold you till I get you ashore."