Rescue

A major theme in Crossing to Safety is the idea of rescue, especially as it pertains to friendship. Throughout the story, the Langs and the Morgans rescue one another as they face trials and unexpected tragedies. The first rescue is a literal rescue after the shipwreck on the lake. Sid has led them all into a dangerous situation, and they are all four rescued by an outside source. The Langs feel terribly that they have led their friends into a dangerous situation, so they perform a superhuman feat in getting dry, dressed, and across town very quickly in order to perform another rescue.

Both couples are heartbroken at the loss of Larry's jobs because it means that they probably won't be near each other anymore. But the Langs come up with a plan to keep their friends close while rescuing them financially. They offer their home for the...