Page:Adrift in the Pacific, Sampson Low, 1889.djvu/70

 The bigger ones, armed with poles and spars, took up their places ready to steer it, for a rudder would have been no use in going with the stream.

A little before nine o'clock the tide began to make itself felt, and the framework began to creak and groan.

"Attention!" shouted Briant.

"Ready!" said Baxter.

These were at the ropes which moored the raft fore and aft by the river-bank.

"We are all ready!" said Donagan, who with Wilcox was in the front of the raft.

Soon the raft was afloat.

"Cast off!" said Briant.

Away went the ropes and the heavily-loaded mass began to drift up stream, towing the yawl astern. Every one was pleased when the raft began to move. If the boys had built a sea-going ship they could not have been more satisfied with themselves! And their little sentiment of vanity may be forgiven them!

The right bank of the river was bordered with trees, and higher than the left, which ran along by the marsh. Briant, Baxter, Donagan, Wilcox, and Moko used every effort to keep the raft away from the banks, for it would never do to run aground, but at the same time they did not cross the stream, for the tide was stronger along the right bank, and the height of the bank gave better holding to their poles.

Two hours after their departure they had floated about a mile. They had not grounded once or run ashore. But according to Briant' s estimate the river was quite six miles long, and as they could not hope to advance more than two miles with each tide, it would take them several tides to reach their destination.

In fact, about eleven o'clock, the ebb began to declare itself, and the boys had to bestir themselves to get the raft moored so that it did not drift back to the sea.

Evidently the raft would make a fresh start in the evneing, but to venture with it then would be dangerous.

"I think it would be unwise," said Gordon. "We