eam
set right into it, while from the others it glided out in the opposite
way. Soon afterwards, with a little clever scheming, the boat was
guided into an eddy where the water swirled round comparatively slack;
and here her head was turned and she resumed her strange journey onward
in the normal way.

The men's labour too now had pretty well ceased, only a dip or two of
the oars being required occasionally to keep the boat's head straight
and make her answer her helm.

And now conversation became more general. The danger being evidently
over, one man hazarded a joke, something about a near shave, while
another said it was a pity because they would have all this 'ere work to
go over again.

Joe Cross heard the remark, and this started him talking, as he laid
down his boat-hook and wiped his streaming face.

"Yes, Mr Rodd," he said, "you wanted to come farther up the river, and
here you have had it. Well, I suppose when the flood's spread all over
it will do same as they always does, begin to drain off again and carry
us back. But I am afraid, Dr Robson, sir, that I must give up what I
undertook to do."

"What?" cried the doctor.

"Ride back'ards, sir, and find the way out of this wet cat's-cradle of a
place. I am very sorry, sir."

"Sorry!" cried the doctor cheerily. "My good fellow, what you have done
during the last few hours has earned the lasting gratitude of us all."

"Has it, sir?" said the man, staring. "Why?"

"Haven't you saved all our lives," cried the doctor, "by your clever
management of the boat?"

"Oh, that's what you mean, sir! But you must play fair, sir. You
mustn't blame me for that. Part on it's my being on board a man-of-war;
part on it's due to Captain Chubb. So you must thank him."

The doctor smiled, and noting this absence of anxiety, Rodd broke out
with--

"I say, uncle, Morny's starving. Isn't it time we had something to
eat?"

"Oh, Rodd!" cried Morny.

"Yes, of course," replied the doctor. "See what you can do, cook, at
once. But surely, Cross, some of the men might lay in their oars?"

"Yes, sir, and if it goes on like this I don't see that we need let this
flood keep on carrying us farther away. There's a nice wind, and not so
much washed-out wood afloat. I am thinking I might have the sail
hoisted and begin to sail back. But my word, look here: how we are
widening out, sir! Look ahead yonder. It's getting 'most like a lake.
Perhaps it is one."

"No,