You feel that the next step may bring it under your eye or that you may overturn some stones and find it hidden underneath.
I moved along carefully, keeping my eyes intent in their search among the small broken rocks and rounded pebbles. Suddenly my eye caught a clear glitter and I stooped and picked up a beautiful crystal, with its sharp cut sides and water clearness. A little later I picked up a green stone that looked like jade, through it was not so clear. My last specimen was a smoky topaz of mild, dark transparency.
I had been longer in my search than I realized, for I was so intent and interested that I did not note how time was passing.
"All aboard, Jo," Jim yelled. "Hurry or you will be left."
Tom was already pulling up the bow anchor and Jim stood ready to hoist the one at the stern.
"All right," I called back.
Then I stooped to look at a peculiar stone. I heard a cry of alarm and glanced up.
"For heaven's sake, Jo!" was the startled cry that reached my ears.
It was all that Jim could say. I needed no warning. The boat was drifting away from the shore, carried by the current rapidly towards the outer river.
If I could not reach it, I was absolutely lost. The boat could not return and I was shut in by inaccessible cliffs. There was just one thing to do.