Two things, however, she had not counted on. The boat was much heavier than that which she had used on the lake, and the swift current of the river was a very different thing to row against, from the quiet waters of a lake. Emma worked sturdily against the stream. She wanted to go out far enough to be in full sight of the ruined castle. She had arranged in her mind a plan for keeping the boat in place while Fani sketched. But she soon began to find herself growing very tired, while yet she made little head-way. “Take the pole, Fani,” she said, “and stick it firmly against the bottom and push.” Fani did so, and the boat made an advance of several feet. “Again, again, Fani.” Fani did his best. “Now I’ll row a bit farther into the middle of the river, then hold fast so that we shall not be carried down; here we are! there is the ruin, Fani! Now, Fani, stick the pole down, and I’ll hold it and you can begin to sketch.” 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 lost! 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.