CHAPTER VIII.
WHAT AN EXPERT CAN DO "I don't say that I can surely raise the canoe," Mr.Driggs made haste to state, "or that it will be worth the trouble if we do raise it.

That canoe may have sunk on river-bottom rocks, and she may be badly staved by this time.

But I've sent one of my men to fire the scow engine, and I'm going out to see what can be done in the matter." "And may we wait here ?" asked Laura Bentley, full of eagerness.
"Certainly, young ladies." "Oh, that's just fine of you, Mr.Driggs," cried Belle Meade.
Smoke soon began to pour out of the short funnel of the working engine on the boatyard scow.

It was a clumsy-looking craft---a mere floating platform, with engine, propeller, tiller and a derrick arrangement, but it had done a lot of good work at and about the boatyard.
"You want to get aboard the scow now, boys," called Mr.Driggs.
"If we do anything real out yonder I'll have need of some willing muscle." "Can't some of the girls go, too ?" called a feminine voice.

"We're all dreadfully anxious, you know." Hiram pursed up his mouth, as though reluctant.