"And it looks as if we were going to stay there," replied Ned, straining and pushing at his work. "This deep part must be very narrow, and you'll soon be over it." "That's the trouble," said his friend, with a laugh, "I am over it, and don't see that there is much prospect of my getting anywhere else." Still he worked and toiled at the greatest possible disadvantage, the swaying of the boat frequently causing it to baffle all his efforts to move onward. Several times, when he braced his shoulders, the craft would sag against the pole with such force as almost to wrench it from his grasp. "Keep heart," called out Jo. "I think you are gaining." "In which way?" "We're a few inches nearer the southern shore than we were--" "When we started," interrupted Ned, showing a very modest estimate of his own abilities in the way of managing the craft. Jo rose and went to the side of his friend, hoping that he might be of assistance, for he clearly needed something of the kind. "Let me take hold," said he, "or we are stuck, as sure as you live." "I don't see how you can be of any help to me," answered Ned, who would have been glad enough to receive it, if there was any direction in which it could be applied. "You notice the trouble is that it so deep just here, and the current so strong, that it bothers a fellow amazingly. Now, if you will get overboard and push the stern you will do some good, but I don't see that you are going to amount to anything in any other way." "Then I rather calculate that I won't amount to anything at all," was the sensible conclusion of the other, as he returned to his place beside his sister and the Mohawk. There was reason to believe that the labors of Ned Clinton were not entirely in vain, even though they were not encouraging. The boat was certainly progressing, and the height of the pole above the water showed that the depth was less by a few inches than before. It must continue to diminish, and as it did so, the boatman would gain, in a corresponding degree, his control of the craft. A few minutes after this the truth became apparent to Ned himself, and he toiled all the harder, until he regained, in a great degree, his mastery over the scow. "Whew!" he exclaimed, as he paused a moment to catch breath. "I feel like giving a hurrah for me!" "You deserve a great deal of credit," said Rosa, "I thought several times you had undertaken something more than you could accomplish. But you stuck to it bravely, and if it was only safe, I should like to hear a cheer for you." "Very well; we'll consider it given." "If you wait much longer with that pole doing nothing," added Rosa, looking down stream as she spoke, "I think we'll arrive opposite the fort, where some of the Iroquois will be sure to see us." Once more the pole was thrust against the bottom, and immediately the craft responded to the impulse, and all felt high hopes of making the other bank in a few minutes.