Perhaps it was because Thad had been up against hard knocks more than his friends, but one thing was evident—­when trouble of this kind came he seemed able to show a better and more hopeful spirit than Maurice.

Another short space of time passed.

“Say, this is working our passage all right!” came from Maurice.

“But so long as we hold our own we ain’t got a thing to say.  And I think we’re doing that, don’t you, Maurice?”

“I did a minute ago, but just now it strikes me the trees kind of look further away.”

“That’s a fact, they do; but mebbe it’s only a little bay before we strike that point, you know,” continued the other lad.

They dared not halt a single minute in their labor, for fear lest the boat be carried further out on the raging river.

“How are you—­feel cold?” asked Thad, a little later.

“Not much—­I’m as warm as toast, all but my hands, and they’re freezing.  But where’s the land, Thad?  Can you see anything of those bully old trees, partner?”

“Mighty little just now; but I’m hoping they ain’t going to give us the shake just yet.  That would be mighty mean, when we think so much of ’em!” said the second willing worker, as he tugged and strained with all his power.

It really looked more perilous than ever around the bobbing shanty-boat, which was now being tossed about on the water very much after the style of a cork.

And if the waves ran so high close to the shore what must they be far, far out yonder toward the middle of the mighty stream?

Neither of the tugging lads wanted to picture the scene; indeed, they had all they could manage in considering how the wabbly craft might be piloted so as to once more hug the friendly shore.

Presently a shout from Maurice, rather feeble it must be confessed, for he was short of breath just then, announced that he had made some sort of happy discovery.

“Land! land!” he exclaimed, hoarsely, just as a shipwrecked sailor on a floating raft might cry as an island hove in sight.

And Thad could easily see the tree-tops again, outlined against the gray heavens; yes, they were closer than for some time, and to his excited imagination seemed to be even looming up more and more positively.

“We’re getting there, old chap; give her another good dig, and follow it up with yet another!” he managed to cry.

“Hurrah! that’s the way to do it!  Again, my hearty, and all together with a will!  She moves in, Thad; we’re going to make the ripple!”

“Wait!” said the more cautious Thad; “don’t shout till you’re out of the woods.”

But nevertheless he too seemed to feel that more than half the battle was won, since they had passed over a wide bayou without any accident, and were now once again close to the land.

How eagerly their young eyes hung upon those shifting tree-tops, as they hurried by; never before had the dry land seemed quite so glorious as at that particular moment; and they felt that it would be a happy event if they could but plant their feet again on it.