Bevis Part 59

"Not yet."

Bevis had got his catamaran in and ran out with it some way, as the water was shallow, till it deepened, when he sat astride and paddled.

"Come on," he shouted. Splash! "I'm coming."

Mark ran in with his in the same manner, and sitting astride paddled about ten yards behind.

"Weeds," said Bevis, feeling the long rough stalks like string dragging against his feet. "Where? I can't see."

"Under water. They will not hurt."

"There goes a flapper," (a young wild duck). "I hope we shan't see the magic wave."

"Pooh!"

"My bundle is slipping."

"Pull it up again."

"It's all right now."

"Holloa! Land," said Bevis, suddenly standing up.

He had reached a shallow where the water was no deeper than his knees.

"A jack struck. There," said Mark, as he too stood up, and drew his catamaran along with his hand.

Splash!

Bevis was off again, paddling in deeper water. Mark was now close behind.

"There's a coot; he's gone into the sedges."

"Parrots," said Mark, as two wood-pigeons pa.s.sed over.

"Which is the right channel?" said Bevis, pausing.

They had now reached the great ma.s.s of weeds which came to the surface, and through which it was impossible to move. There were two channels, one appeared to lead straight to the island, the other wound about to the right.

"Which did we come down in the Pinta, when we hid the catamarans?" said Mark.

"Stupe, that's just what I want to know."

"Go straight on," said Mark; "that looks clearest."

So it did, and Bevis went straight on; but when they had paddled fifty yards they both saw at once that they could not go much farther that way, for the channel curved sharply, and was blocked with weeds.

"We must go back," said Mark.

"We can't turn round."

"We can't paddle backwards. There I'm in the weeds."

"Turn round on the plank."

"Perhaps I shall fall off."

"Sit sideways first."

"The plank tips."

"Very well, I'll do it first," said Bevis.

He turned sideways to try and get astride, looking the other way. The plank immediately tipped and pitched him into the water, bundle and all.

"Ah!" said Mark. "Thought you could do it so easy; didn't you?"

Bevis threw his right arm over the plank, and tried to get on it; but every time he attempted to lift his knee over, the catamaran gave way under him. His paddle floated away. The bundle of clothes on his back, soaked and heavy, kept him down.

Mark paddled towards him, and tried to lift him with one hand, but nearly upset himself. Bevis struggled hard to get on, and so pushed the plank sideways to the edge of the weeds. He felt the rough strings again winding round his feet.

"You'll be in the weeds," said Mark, growing alarmed. "Come on my plank. Try. I'll throw my bundle off." He began to take it from his back. "Then it will just keep you up. O!"

Bevis put his hands up, and immediately sank under the surface, but he had done it purposely, to free himself from his bundle. The bundle floated, and the cord slipped over his head. Bringing his hands down Bevis as instantly rose to the surface, b.u.mping his head against the catamaran.

"Now I can do it," he said, blowing the water from his nostrils.

He seized the plank, and laid almost all along in the water, so as to press very lightly on it, his weight being supported by the water, then he got his knee over and sat up.

"Hurrah!"

The bundle was slowly settling down when Mark seized it.

"Never mind about the things being wet," he said. "Sit still; I'll fetch your paddle."

Dragging the bundle in the water by the cord, Mark went after, and recovered Bevis's paddle. To come back he had to back water, and found it very awkward even for so short a distance. The catamaran would not go straight.

"O! what a stupe I was," said Bevis. "I've got on the same way again."

In his hurry he had forgotten his object, and got astride facing the island as before.

"Well, I never," said Mark. "Stop--don't."

Bevis slipped off his catamaran again, but this time not being enc.u.mbered with the bundle he was up on it again in half a minute, and faced the mainland.

"There," said he. "Now you can come close. That's it. Now give me your bundle."

Mark did so. Afterwards Bevis took the cord of his own bundle, which being in the water was not at all heavy. "Now you can turn."