We've gone ever so far, and the boat doesn't tug at it yet!"
Polly said.
"It will, though!" said Rose.
Still they floated, and for a time they were silent, contented to be out
in the sunshine.
Then suddenly Rose looked up at Polly, quick terror in her eyes.
"Polly, Princess Polly!" she cried, "is there ANY chain on this boat?"
"Why of course!" said Polly, "didn't you see Donald fasten it to that
big iron ring on the post?"
Rose leaned forward and looked into Polly's eyes.
"I saw him fasten ONE END of it, Polly, and so did you, but was the
OTHER end fastened to this boat?'
"Why, yes, I--oh, Rose, you DON'T think we're--DRIFTING?" gasped Polly.
"You can't get up, and turn round," said Rose, "because Uncle John told
us always to keep our seats in a boat, but can't you just twist round
enough to see?"
With great care Polly turned, and saw just what she feared--the ring on
the boat and NO CHAIN CONNECTED!
With a white little face Polly turned, and with parted lips looked at
Rose.
"We ARE drifting--JUST DRIFTING!" she whispered hoarsely.
"Drifting!" cried Rose. "Oh, Polly, what SHALL we do?"
"Sit still," whispered Polly, "and wait--just WAIT!"
"What WILL Uncle John do? And where will he think we are?" said Rose.
"Oh, I don't know!" wailed Polly, "but I'm SURE we ought to do
something. Just look how far we are from the shore, and we're going all
the time!"
They looked in despair toward the beach. No one was in sight, and the
dancing waves glistened in the sunlight, as if they laughed, feeling no
pity for the two frightened children in the boat.
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