Page:On to Pekin.djvu/207

Rh fashion, as if the tide was sending it one way and some unknown agency another.

"Something is under or behind it," he answered at last, in a voice which Carl could scarcely hear. "Perhaps the log is hollow."

"Chust vot I vos dinkin'," replied the regular. "Und I vos dink der vos von Chink under dot log, hey?"

"I shouldn't be much surprised. Have you a bit of rope handy?"

"Rope?"

"Yes; a piece about thirty feet long?"

"Yes, dare vos a rope up der stream, vere da stharted to but town dot pondoon pridge."

"I will get it, and we'll soon see if that is only a log or not."

Running to where the engiaeering corps had been at work, the young lieutenant quickly procured the rope Carl had described, and also a bit of an iron bar with a ring at one end. Through the ring Gilbert shoved an end of the rope, and made it fast.

"Here goes," he said, as he rejoined Carl. "If that is nothing but a log, it will come in easily enough."