Page:Moving Picture Boys and the Flood.djvu/161

Rh waters took a new direction, made a new channel, and left the steamer where she is. I've read of such things, but never saw one. We'll go over and find out."

The motor boat was directed to a point nearest the inland steamer, and, taking the camera, Blake and Joe went ashore, followed by the manager and actor.

And, while the boys were taking moving pictures of the men at work digging the trench, to bring the river to the steamer, since the boat refused to go to the water, Mr. Ringold questioned the captain.

"That's about how it happened," the latter said, when the manager had asked about the accident. "I tried a short cut, and we anchored for the night right about here. I s'posed I'd have water enough to go on in the morning, and maybe save about ten miles by this 'cut-off.' But, by George! When we tried to start in the morning we found the waters going down, and, before we knew it, we were high and dry. I don't know as we'll ever get afloat now."

Indeed it did look like a hopeless task, but the men were working hard to take advantage of the high water. Once the flood subsided the steamer might never be floated, until another period of unusually heavy rain set in.

"Well, I guess we've got enough of this," re-