The raft was moored to the shore with a line tied to a stake stuck in the mud. Nancy pulled it toward her and clambered aboard, scrambling awkwardly over a small heap of supplies and equipment stowed in the middle of the raft. The raft bobbed violently under her weight, and she grabbed for a handhold. She could feel the current tugging against the mooring line as if it were trying to tear the raft free.
Suddenly the line gave, jolting her to her knees as the raft swept away. The turbulent current of Lost River was pulling Nancy directly toward the falls!
Chapter Five
“Nancy! Hang on!” she heard Ned shout.
The roar of the falls was growing louder. Grabbing for the oars, Nancy figured she had only fifty yards or so before she went over, and Paula had said that the falls were too dangerous for the raft to negotiate.
So, Nancy told herself, she’d have to hurry—do something so she wouldn’t be dashed to death on the rocks.
Glancing up, she saw Ned racing along the riverbank. Max and George were running hard behind him. Ned carried a coil of rope. “Row!” he called. “You’ve got to get out of the current!”
Nancy swallowed nervously. The ten-foot oars felt heavy and awkward, and her knuckles were white from gripping them so hard.
“Swing the raft toward the left!” Max yelled, coming up behind Ned. “Push on the right oar and pull on the left!”
Bracing her feet, Nancy followed Max’s instructions. The oars cut into the water. After a moment, the raft swung left, responding like a huge, sluggish whale. She began to row forward, toward the bank. But the current was much too strong.
“She’ll never make it!” Bess yelled.
“Maybe we can get a line to you,” Ned shouted. “Row to the left. The current’s not so bad closer to the shore.”
Mustering all her strength, Nancy pulled hard on both oars, trying to keep the bow of the boat moving left. She frantically looked for a life vest, but couldn’t see one on the raft. If she fell in the water, she couldn’t fight the current.
“Closer!” Ned ran along the bank to keep up with the raft. “The rope’s too short. I can’t reach you!”
Then Nancy remembered the sluice. Hadn’t Paula said something about avoiding the falls by taking it? She peered downriver. There, near the left shore, was the natural waterslide, tunneling the river along safely in a milky white froth, neatly avoiding the falls. “I’m heading for the sluice!” Nancy shouted to Ned. She was still rowing energetically, but her endurance was fading.
Despite her aching shoulders, Nancy held on. She focused every ounce of will on getting away from the pull of the falls.
Finally, the swifter current seemed to yield to her power. Almost magically, the raft swung toward the sluice, and now, at least, she had a chance.
On shore, Ned vaulted over a fallen tree, still trying to keep pace. “There’s a sandbar ahead,” he called. “Beach the raft on it!”
For an instant the raft was balanced on the lip of the long slide. Nancy raised the oars and lay far back, icy water spraying her face. With a giant whoosh! the raft dropped over the edge. Nancy squeezed her eyes shut and prayed. It was like being on the giant waterslide at the amusement park—but without any guarantee of safety.
The raft was completely out of control. It hit the turbulent water at the foot of the sluice with a giant splash, completely drenching Nancy. Then it bobbed along more quietly as she grabbed for the oars again and began to steer toward the sandbar. There was Ned, with George and Bess. He still had the rope in his hand.
“Here,” he shouted, tossing the end of the rope to her. She grabbed it and let him pull her ashore.
When the raft was safely beached, Nancy stumbled out. Ned caught her in his arms and held her for a minute, shivering.
“Well,” Max said with a grin as he caught up to them, “that wasn’t exactly the way we planned to get started. But now you know what rafting is all about.”