The Upsidedownians. 149

he found that a very strong current was carrying
the boat directly upon them |

In vain did he try to turn it, while the children
sat silently with white faces, clasping each others
hands, and expecting every moment to be dashed
to pieces. ‘If we can but reach the quiet water
beyond,” thought Uncle Jack, ‘we shall be all
right,” and to his unutterable relief, the waves, in-
stead of dashing them against the cruel rocks,
carried them right between two tall ones, into the
still water. But when the boat got there, it im-
mediately turned upside down, breaking the mast,
and throwing them and everything else out. For-
tunately, being near the shore, the water was not
more than two feet deep, so the spill did not in-
jure them in any way, except to give them a
ducking. Taking the rope which was on the bow
of the Dragon-/ly, they all waded ashore, and Uncle
Jack fastened the rope to the stump of a tree.

“Now come, children,’ said he, ‘let us
look about; there may be people on this island,
who will help us. We must dry our clothes, and
mend our boat before we can go home.”