It really
did not last long, though it seemed hours to us who were watching from
the bank.
Just as Ramrod thought he had made sure of the moose this time, and
dropping his paddle would seize the halter to throw over the head of the
animal, the latter would make a sudden turn, and before the baffled
hunter could regain command of his boat, would be well on his way down
stream again.
All this time the crowd collected on the bank were greatly concerned
about Ramrod's safety.
They saw, what he did not, that the affair would end in his getting a
ducking at the very least. But worse than that was feared, as, once
overturned, the miserable conception of a boat would be beyond the power
of any one in the water to right it again. And, moreover, the water was
still intensely cold, and a very few minutes would have sufficed to give
the cramp to a much stronger man than Ramrod.
Perceiving all this, some of the more energetic had from the first
bestirred themselves in preparations for launching a boat.
But this occupied some time, for, as I have said, the boats usually to
be seen fringing the bank during the summer months had not yet made
their appearance. Oars also and tholepins had to be hunted up, and by
the time all this was accomplished the need of help out there on the
river was very urgent indeed.
Plenty of pluck had Ramrod, or he would have given up the chase when he
found himself becoming so exhausted, by the tremendous exertion
necessary to keep control of his cranky craft, that he had scarcely
sufficient strength left to follow the deer in its many dodges and
turnings.
Pages:
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378