" By fixing his eyes on a tree or a bush a
step or two ahead and concentrating only upon passing that one, and then
that, and that, he got through without disgracing himself.
At the bayou at last, they wriggled Jeems awkwardly into the boat. Val
had no doubt that a woodsman might have done the whole job better in
much less time and without a tenth of the effort they had expended. But
all he ever wondered afterward was how they ever did it at all.
[Illustration: _At the bayou at last, they wriggled Jeems awkwardly into
the boat._]
It was when Ricky had made their passenger as comfortable as she could
in the bottom of the boat, steadying his head across her knees, that her
brother partially relaxed.
"Val, you run the engine," she said without looking up.
He dragged himself toward the stern of the boat, remembering too late,
when he had cast off, that he had not taken the canoe in tow. The engine
coughed, sputtered, and then settled down to a steady _putt-putt_. They
were off.
"Val, do you--do you think he is badly hurt?"
He dared not look down; it required all his powers of concentration on
what lay before them to keep his hand steady.
"No. We'll get a doctor when we get back. He'll come around again in no
time--Jeems, I mean."
But would he? Head injuries were sometimes more serious than they
seemed, Val remembered dismally.
It was not until they came out into the main bayou that Jeems roused
again.
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