The boy found there was not much water in the boat. With Ethel's assistance he bailed it out and they were soon among the water-lilies. They formed a pretty picture--these two children, Tom in his white flannel shirt adorned with a pretty pink tie, a special Christmas gift of Ethel; she in her pink dress and white sunbonnet, her lap almost covered with luxuriant flowers.
"That's enough, Tom; plenty for to-day," said Ethel.
"All right. Now for a good row around the pond while you cut the stalks."
Tommy had a good voice, and as he rowed he began to sing:
"See our oars with feathered spray Sparkle in the beam of day, As along the lake we glide Swiftly o'er the silent tide."
The pond was large enough to afford the boy a good pull with the oars. He enjoyed it immensely. The boat had glided from shore to shore several times, when Master Tommy Henning began to look for fresh excitement. Stealthily he began to pull stronger on one oar than on the other, and so gradually to near the mill-race.
"Oh, Tom! Tommy! look, look, we are getting near the dam!" shouted Ethel, very much frightened.
"That's nothing. There's no danger here," said the boy. He made a turn, then came nearer than before to the dangerous spot.
"I'm so frightened! Tom, please, Tom, don't go so near," pleaded Ethel.
"That's because you are a girl. If you were a boy you wouldn't be frightened a little bit."
He rowed away for a little space, and soon in a spirit of pure bravado he pulled nearer a few feet. Ethel began screaming with fright.
"That's just like girls. They always scream at something or other," said the ungallant Tommy.
Ethel was very much frightened. She trembled violently, but Tom affected not to see. With another stroke he went still nearer to the mill-race. At this Ethel gave a prolonged, agonizing shriek of fear, which made even her madcap brother feel a little uncomfortable, although he still persisted in teasing her, for he knew his strength and as yet had the boat under complete control.
"I'm going nearer yet, Sis," he said to the greatly frightened little girl, and began to turn the prow of the boat a little.
She began one more wild shriek of terror, but stopped suddenly. She could scream no more. The horror of her perilous position rendered her mute. She could do nothing but shiver and tremble violently. Her eyes were wide and staring.