Page:Moving Picture Boys and the Flood.djvu/117

Rh over. But she was a well balanced craft, and, after a bit, rode on an even keel once more.

"Narrow escape, that," said Mr. Ringold, solemnly, as he tried to comfort Charlie. The little lad was sobbing:

"I wants my mamma, I does! I wants my mamma! I want to go home!"

"We'll take you home, and to your mamma, as soon as we can," promised the manager, soothingly. "But don't you want to sleep in this nice boat, to-night? And see, I'll make the choo-choo engine go for you. Won't that be nice?"

"Yes," answered Charlie, now, smiling through his tears.

The motor was set going, and, as the house drifted on down stream, upright once more, and freed from the sandbar on which it had stranded, the motor boat was steered toward the big oak tree, where she was to be tied for the night.

Charlie House was so interested now, in the working of the machinery, and the various novel sights aboard the motor craft, that he forgot his loneliness. Blake spread him some bread and jam, and this completed the temporary happiness of the poor little waif.

Later he was given more supper, which he ate with a fine appetite, showing that he must