Little By Little | Page 6

of baling, in which he had been engaged for the last hour.
"What do I think?" replied Paul, coolly, as he wiped the spray from his eyes; "I think it blows tremendous hard."
"So do I."
"Then we shan't quarrel about that, anyhow."
"Do you think you can make the Point?"
"Certainly I do; I'm in for it, at any rate."
"We don't make much headway."
"That's true."
"I shan't get to the picnic in any kind of season," continued Thomas, crouching down under the weather rail, as a huge wave gave the boat a slap that made her quiver like a leaf.
"I can't help that, Tom; I didn't want you to come this way."
"Don't you think we had better run for the shore, and give it up?"
"I don't think any such thing. If the old boat will only hold together long enough, I'll put you ashore on Tenean Point."
"I'm afraid she won't hold together much longer."
"No matter; we will go it while she does hold together. Can you swim, Tom?"
"You know very well I can swim, Paul."
"Better get your boots off, then."
"Who do you suppose could swim ashore in such a sea as this? Besides, it is over a half a mile, and the surf on the beach would tear a fellow all to pieces."
"You ought to have thought of these things before you came out here."
"It is a great deal worse than I had any idea of," answered Thomas, who had proceeded far enough to be willing to yield a point. "For my part, I am willing to be landed here;" and he pointed to a little cove on the Tenean shore.
"You don't say you have got enough of it, Tom," said Paul, with a smile.
"Enough of it! I want to get to the picnic some time to-day. I hope you don't think I am frightened."
"Of course I don't; you daresn't be frightened after all your big talk before we came out."
"I'll give up on that, Paul. You are the spunkiest fellow with a boat I ever saw. I am willing to say that and stick to it."
"That's saying a good deal."
"But you mustn't suppose I am afraid."
"Of course not; you're only in a hurry to get to the picnic; that's the idea."
"That's just it, and if you will put me ashore at the cove, I will be just as much obliged to you as though you carried me all the way to the Point."
"Let's not back out, Tom."
"I don't back out; and I'm sure you don't."
"It looks a little like backing out to give up the chase."
"You ought to be satisfied, if I am."
"I shan't be satisfied till I land you at the Point."
"Come, come, Paul, don't carry the joke too far. The sea is getting heavier and heavier, and the wind blows a young hurricane."
"O, well, if you really want to back out, I'm willing."
"I don't want to do anything of the sort. If you think I can't stand it as long as you can, you are mistaken," replied Thomas, proudly; and taking the dipper, he continued to bale out the water, whistling an air to indicate his indifference to the perils that surrounded them.
"Put her through, then; we shan't be much longer if we don't get swamped."
The boat was now standing out from the shore, and while Thomas was still busy, whistling off his fears, a violent gust of wind struck the sail, causing the boat to heel over so far that she drank up several buckets of water, and would have filled if the sprit had not broken, thus removing the pressure.
"Come, Paul, I have got enough of this," cried Thomas, uneasily.
"I don't think you will be able to get any more of it, for the sprit has snapped, and we can't carry sail any longer," replied Paul, apparently unmoved by the accident. "Bale her out as fast as you can, and I will take an oar, and keep her head up to the sea".
"What will you do now?" asked Thomas, whose courage was sorely tried by the perilous situation of the boat.
"Get the water out, and we will see what can be done," answered Paul, who, though he had already decided this important question, would not permit his passenger to enter into his counsels, preferring to tantalize him by his mysterious manner.
"Let us get ashore, Paul, as soon as possible."
"Going to back out?"
"No; what's the use of talking in that way, about backing out, when you can't carry sail?" replied Thomas, whose pride was still unconquered, though his courage was rapidly failing him.
"I shall rig a new sprit; there's the boat-hook, which will make a very good one; it is just the right length."
"I'll give up then, and back out," said Thomas, despairing of any relief from the misfortunes that had befallen the boat.
"Don't back out on my account; I will