If you kick out hard enough, I think we can get the old thing ashore." It wasn't an easy task, nor a quick one, but after a while, by vigorous kicking, in accordance with King's continued directions, they did succeed in reaching shallow water.
"Now we can walk," said King, "but we may as well hang on to the boat and not let her drift away." So half scrambling, half crawling, the children pushed through the shallow water and up on to the shore, dragging the upturned boat with them.

The shore just here was shelving and sandy, otherwise it is doubtful if they could have reached it at all.

But at last four shivering, dripping children stood on solid ground, and looked at each other.
"You're an old trump, King," cried Marjorie, flinging her arms around her brother's neck, and kissing his wet cheeks; "you're a hero, and a life-saver, and a Victoria Cross, and everything!" "There, there, Midget, come off! I didn't do anything much; Molly here did the most, but, thank goodness, we all got out alive! Now what shall we do next ?" Kitty had recovered entirely from her dazed and stunned feeling, and was again her practical and helpful self.
"We must run," she said, "we must run like sixty! That's the only way to keep from catching cold in these wet clothes!" "Can't we build a fire, and dry ourselves ?" asked Molly, who was shivering with cold.
"No, of course not," said Kitty, "for we haven't any matches, and if we had they'd be soaked.

No, we must run as hard as we can tear along this bank until we get opposite Grandma's house, and then they'll have to come over and get us somehow." "How'll they know we're there ?" asked Molly.
"I'll yell," said Marjorie, quite confident of her powers in this direction.

"I'll yell,--and I just _know_ I can make Carter hear me!" "I'll bet you can!" said King.