logs
he could not get it away, and as he had greedily swallowed the gold hook
at the first bite he could not get rid of that, either.

When they reached the place where the current had before changed, the
fish was still swimming ahead in its wild attempt to escape. The raft
slowed down, yet it did not stop, because the fish would not let it. It
continued to move in the same direction it had been going. As the
current reversed and rushed backward on its course it failed to drag the
raft with it. Slowly, inch by inch, they floated on, and the fish tugged
and tugged and kept them going.

"I hope he won't give up," said Ojo anxiously. "If the fish can hold out
until the current changes again, we'll be all right."

The fish did not give up, but held the raft bravely on its course, till
at last the water in the river shifted again and floated them the way
they wanted to go. But now the captive fish found its strength failing.
Seeking a refuge, it began to drag the raft toward the shore. As they
did not wish to land in this place the boy cut the rope with his
pocket-knife and set the fish free, just in time to prevent the raft
from grounding.

[Illustration]

The next time the river backed up the Scarecrow managed to seize the
branch of a tree that overhung the water and they all assisted him to
hold fast and prevent the raft from being carried backward. While they
waited here, Ojo spied a long broken branch lying upon the bank, so he
leaped ashore and got it. When he had stripped off the side shoots he
believed he could use the branch as a pole, to guide the raft in case of
emergency.

They clung to the tree until they found the water flowing the right way,
when they let go and permitted the raft to resume its voyage. In spite
of these pauses they were really making good progress toward the Winkie
Country and having found a way to conquer the adverse current their
spirits rose considerably. They could see little of the country through
which they were passing, because of the high banks, and they met with no
boats or other craft upon the surface of the river.

Once more the trick river reversed its current, but this time the
Scarecrow was on guard and used the pole to push the raft toward a big
rock which lay in the water. He believed the rock would prevent their
floating backward with the current, and so it did. They clung to this
anchorage until the water resumed its proper direction, when they
allowed the raft to dr