“What’s the trouble?” Joe wanted to know, for the messenger appeared excited.
“You’d better get your craft out of the way,” went on the man. “The river’s started to rise suddenly, and she may be damaged where she is.”
“We’ll get right down to her,” exclaimed Mr. Ringold, and, paying their bill, they hastened to the dock. They found the Clytie pulling and straining at her mooring ropes, for the river had indeed risen and the cables were taut, caused by the elevation of the boat at the dock.
“All aboard!” called Mr. Ringold, and soon they were under way again. There was no need of their assistance at the levee, for all possible was being done by the town inhabitants, and those on the elevated bank of dirt and stones waved a farewell to our friends, as they went on down the raging river.
CHAPTER XI
UPSIDE DOWN
“Say, there’s a lot more stuff coming down the river than has at any time yet,” remarked Blake, as he and his friends sat in the cabin of the Clytie, while she made her way in the flooded stream. “Look at those big logs, and parts of houses!”
“Yes, and we’ve got to be careful,” said Mr. Ringold, who had relinquished the wheel to Joe. “First thing we know we may bump into a log, and have a hole stove into us. Then we will have trouble!”
“Oh, I guess——” began C. C., when there came a bump on the port bow of the craft.
“What’s that?” cried the manager, leaping to his feet.
“Only a little log,” answered Joe. “I didn’t see it until I was right on top of it, or I could have steered out of the way.”