Fani stuck his pole manfully into the bottom of the river, but the rushing current seized it and threw it up again as if it had been a reed.

“Oh! oh!” he cried, “we shall be carried away!”

“You take one of the oars and we’ll row back to the shore,” said Emma, anxiously.  “Come, be quick!”

But the stream seized the oar before Fani could take it from her, and it was swept away.

“What shall we do?  There is no one to help us,” cried Emma, beside herself.  “Suppose the boat should upset!”

Faster and faster they were whirled along, the boat tossing like a nut-shell upon the waves.

The children sat still, although frightened almost to death.

“Fani, we are Los! who can help us?” screamed Emma.  “Let us say our prayers.  I have forgotten to say them ever since I came to Rosemount.  I promised mamma not to forget; but I did.  Do you think God will hear me now?  Fani, you pray; you do it every day, I know.”

“No; I thought Elsli would do it for me and for herself,” said the boy hoarsely.

“That is no good; you must do it for yourself or God will not listen.  He will only say, ‘I do not know him,’ when Elsli prays for you.  Oh, if I had not forgotten to pray myself, he would not punish me so now!”

And then she sat silent, looking at the sky and praying from her heart that God would forgive her forgetfulness of him, and save her and Fani from the danger that threatened them.

“A steamboat!  A steamboat!  It is going to run us down!” shrieked Fani; and his fears were well grounded.  With lightning speed, as it seemed, the great boat came rushing toward them like a huge giant, and in a few minutes the little boat would be engulfed in the swelling waves.

The children screamed; the steamer came nearer; it was close upon them; the boat was upset!  At the same instant Emma was seized by a strong hand, lifted into the air, and then set down upon her feet on the deck of the steamer.  Fani was saved, too, by another seaman, and both stood shivering with cold and fright, dripping with water, and soaked to the skin, but safe and sound.  The passengers crowded about them.

Suddenly a tall, black-bearded man with angry eyes came toward them.  It was the captain.

“What madness is this?” he thundered.  “Do you think it is the business of steamboats to look out for little fools of fishermen?  Whose fault would it have been if you had been run down and drowned?”

But as he looked at the two little dripping, miserable figures, his tone softened.

“Bring them below and give them something hot to drink,” he said to one of the gaping by-standers.  It was a mercy to get them away from all those staring eyes; they swallowed the steaming contents of the glass that was given them in the cabin without a word, though it burned their throats.  They did not dare to sit down; they were too wet.