"Gosh all whittaker! put in now, and do your pootiest!" Tom adopted this friendly advice, and "put in" with all his might; but the more he "put in," the more he put out--from the shore, whither the inauspicious eddies were sweeping him.

If Tom had not been born in Pinchbrook, and had a home by the sea, where boating is an appreciated accomplishment, he would probably have been borne into the arms of the expectant rebel, or received in his vitals the ounce of cold lead which that gentleman's musket contained.

As it was, he had the skill to do what he seemed not to be doing.

Mr.Johnny Reb evidently did not suspect that Tom was "playing 'possum," as the Tennessee sharpshooters would have expressed it.

The voyager's efforts appeared to be made in good faith; and certainly he applied himself with a degree of zeal and energy which ought to have overcome the inertia of a small gunboat.
The bateau approached the point not more than a rod from the waiting arms of the sympathizing grayback.