He was
congratulating himself on the success of his trial trip, when all
at once a flaw struck the boat. Not being a skillful boatman he
was wholly unprepared for it, and the boat upset.
Struggling in terror and confusion, John struck out for the
shore. But he was not much of a swimmer, and the suddenness of
the accident had unnerved him, and deprived him of his
self-possession. The current of the river was rapid, and he would
inevitably have drowned but for the opportune assistance of Mr.
Morton.
The young man had no sooner seen the boat capsize, than he flung
off his coat and boots, and, plunging into the river, swam
vigorously toward the imperiled boy.
Luckily for John, Mr. Morton was, though of slight frame,
muscular, and an admirable swimmer. He reached him just as John's
strokes were becoming feebler and feebler; he was about to give
up his unequal struggle with the waves.
"Take hold of me," he said. "Have courage, and I will save you."
John seized him with the firm grip of a drowning person, and
nearly prevented him from striking out.
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