"Why, there's Uncle Steve on the dock, and Father, too; I wonder if they heard Midget scream." "If they were within a mile and not stone deaf they couldn't help hearing her," declared Carter.

He rowed as fast as he could, and he made the children keep hard at work bailing, not only to get the water out of the boat, but because he feared if they sat still they'd take cold.
At last they reached the dock, and Uncle Steve and Mr.Maynard assisted them out of the boat.
It was no time then for questions or comments, and Uncle Steve simply issued commands.
"Molly," he said, "you scamper home as fast as you can fly! We have enough to attend to with our own brood.

Scoot, now, and don't stop until you reach your own kitchen fire, and tell your mother what has happened.
As for you Maynards, you fly to Grandma's kitchen, and see what Eliza can do for you." Molly flew off across the lawns to her own house, running so swiftly that she was out of sight in a moment.

Then the Maynards, obeying Uncle Steve's command, ran to the kitchen door, and burst in upon Eliza as she was just finishing the breakfast preparations.
"Howly saints!" she cried.

"If it wasn't that I always ixpict yees to come in drownded, I'd be sheared to death! But if yees weren't in this mess, ye'd be in some other.