“Good for you,” congratulated Mr. Williams.
“That’s the way to do it, Dick,” cried Tom.
“It is going to be slow work,” replied Dick. “But I think I can reach the mainland by noon, anyway.”
Then Dick managed to get across to another tree still farther away from the island, and here he paused a few moments, to get his breath.
He talked to the settlers on the island while resting, then again began work, and by a strenuous effort succeeded in getting to another tree. From this one he reached another. Here he paused and rested again a few moments, after which he started again, and got into another tree, but one that was no farther from the island, but from that one he could reach another tree that was farther away.
“It’s work that takes muscle,” said Dick, stopping to breathe a few moments. “But thank goodness I have plenty of muscle.”
Then he began work again, and was soon in a tree that stood nearly fifty yards from the island.
Here he paused a few moments, and then set out again. When an hour had passed, he was at least a hundred yards from the island.
“Pretty tired?” called Mr. Williams.
“Oh, not so very,” was the reply. “I’ll get to the mainland, all right.”