I could look at by the expression of the very aged man's face that my wordshad hurt him; but I noticed that he didn't offer to get in himself,and so I felt less contrition than I might otherwise.

When we cut the ropes and removed the blocks that held the Sari inplace she started for the water with a lunge. Before she hit itshe was going at a reckless speed, for we had laid our tracks quitedown to the water, greased them, and at intervals placed rollersall ready to receive the ship as she moved forward with statelydignity. But there was no dignity in the Sari.

When she touched the surface of the river she must have been goingtwenty or thirty miles an hour. Her momentum carried her well outinto the stream, until she came to a sudden halt at the end of thelong line which we had had the foresight to attach to her bow andfasten to a large tree upon the bank.

The moment her progress was checked she promptly capsized. Perrywas overwhelmed. I didn't upbraid him, nor remind him that I had"told him so."

His grief was so genuine and so apparent that I didn't have theheart to reproach him, even were I inclined to that particular sortof meanness.

"Come, come, very aged man!" I cried. "It's not as bad as it looks.Give me a arm with this rope, and we'll drag her up as far as wecan; and then when the tide goes out we'll try another scheme. Ithink we can make a go of her yet."