Little By Little | Page 6

eyes away
from her; but he could not help stealing an occasional glance at her,
though his conscience reproached him for the pain and terror he was
giving her. But he felt that his courage and his reputation as a boatman
were at stake, and that, if he failed to achieve the purpose before him,
he would be the derision of Thomas Nettle and all his companions.
For two hours the boat labored heavily in the rough sea, and had
accomplished about two thirds of the distance to Tenean Point. The
young adventurers were now in the worst place in the bay, and the boat
was exposed to the full force of the wind and the sea, from which they
had before been partially protected by an island.
"What do you think, Paul?" said Thomas, suspending for a moment the
work 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,"