I can."

"_No_," screamed Bet to make herself heard. "Just keep still and don't
even speak to me. I need every breath to work with."

The boat tossed and plunged. "It acts like a bucking horse when they
put on a saddle for the first time," thought Kit. The bow of the canoe
was lifted straight up and then lowered on a wave. For a second it
rested only to meet another swell.

Sometimes Bet raised her eyes and looked anxiously down the river. The
squall was coming straight toward them; travelling with the wind, it
was racing over the water.

The little boat rolled and plunged as the blinding sheet of rain
enveloped it, shutting out for a moment the shore on both sides of the
river.

Spray broke over the sides and soaked the girls to the skin.

"There's a can there, Kit. Try to keep the water baled out." It was
all she could do to make Kit hear, even when she screamed with all her
might.

Bet's arms were aching, her eyes strained with the nerve tension and
the strength that she was giving out to keep the boat from being
engulfed.

While Kit would have gladly relieved her, she had never handled a
paddle in her life and now was not the time to experiment.

"It can't be far now," muttered Bet between her clenched teeth. It
seemed to the girl that she had been paddling for hours.

Bet spoke again: "Scream for help, Kit! Someone may hear, but it's not
likely. Scream anyway!"

And Kit shouted until she was hoarse but the wind stopped the sound.
Even Bet, close beside her, could hardly hear and made a sign for her
to stop.

"If I can only get across the channel," thought Bet, as she struggled
to keep the canoe balanced.

But all her efforts seemed not to send the canoe ahead even a foot.
Buffeted by the angry waves, it was all she could do to keep it afloat.

"Hold on to it, Bet! That's it! Keep it up!" cried Kit. "I think I
see a boat coming!"

For a brief moment darkness settled down upon Bet. Her head swam. Her
strength was about gone.

There was a violent jar on the canoe that brought her back to her
senses. If they were to be saved, she must keep on.

Another wave dashed over them, and Kit's arm was kept busy scooping up
the water and throwing it back to the river. Never had she worked so
desperately in her life.

At intervals she glanced up at Bet, but the girl's white face was no
comfort to her.

Her eyes searched the river again. "It is a boat, Bet! Help is
coming!" and as ano