OCR Text |
Show 90 over the edge of the raft. I lunged at her like a wild beast. "Get off!" I yelled. "Shut up and get off my raft!" I stomped over to a corner of the raft and turned my back on her. We were quarreling like adults, except this quarrel was not funny. I heard a splash, not much louder than a fish makes. And I knew Tip was in the water. I was sorry immediately, but that did not help. Tip could not swim. And I could not stop the raft, "Grab the pole!" I yelled, holding it out to her. She missed it. I was frantic. I wanted to jump in and save her. But I could not swim either, "Help!" I cried, looking around for other boats. Lake Laberge was a large lake and no boats were in sight. Quickly I untied a rope from the supplies and threw it. "Grab it! Grab it!" I yelled. Her arms were flailing above the water, thin and fragile as flower stems in the wind. As the rope skimmed the water, I prayed to God for her life. Then I saw her go under. I pulled the rope, and she was holding on. After that, we never quarreled again. |