"Oh, there is no harm in wishing," returned Pepper. "You might just
as well wish for a big thing as a little one."

"Just look at the wave following her," interrupted Jack. "It must
be more than five feet higher than the level of the river. We will
have to keep head on if we don't want to be swamped."

"See that canoe over there," broke in Pepper, and pointing to
another boat. "They will be in trouble pretty soon if they don't
watch out."

"Where away?" asked Rand.

"Over there by the other shore," replied Pepper. "They will turn
turtle sure, if that wave catches them sideways."

The boys were resting on their oars, watching the rapidly-approaching
boat.

"Maybe we had better row over that way," suggested Donald. "There
are a couple of girls in the canoe and they may need some help."

"That chap is all right," concluded Rand, after he had watched the
canoe for a little while. "He knows how to handle it. He is doing
fine. See, he is just touching the water with his paddle, so as to
keep it head-on. Maybe he thinks we will need some help."

Nevertheless, the boys kept on a course that would bring them near
enough to the canoe to aid its occupants if they should need it.