that!" Thad replied, also, at the top of his strong, young voice.

"But it may be too deep!" objected Giraffe; though at the same time
fumbling with the rope that fastened one of the push-poles in question
to the deck alongside the cabin roof.

"We've got to take the chances of that," Thad went on; "and besides, you
know it always shallows where the sand is washed around the point of an
island. Hurry, fellows, because we must be nearly there!"

He lent a hand himself, for he saw that Giraffe was meeting with more or
less difficulty in releasing the pole toward which he had turned his
attention; though had the conditions been different, the boy might not
have had the slightest trouble about getting it free. The boat was
pitching so furiously, that he could only use one hand, because it was
necessary for him to grasp some hold, lest he be tossed overboard, as a
bucking bronco hurls an unsuspecting rider from the saddle by a quick
upward movement.

Hardly had they secured possession of the two long and stout poles than
the end of the island hove in sight. They were very close to it now;
indeed, it almost seemed as though an agile fellow might have made a
flying leap, and with half-way decent luck manage to alight on the
sentinel rock that guarded this point.

But no one tried that desperate game; in fact, it was doubtful whether
it even occurred to Davy or Step Hen before they had been carried past,
and the widening gulf rendered such a movement impossible of
accomplishment.