THE RESCUE AT HOBSON'S MILL-POND The two boys covered the short distance in an incredibly brief space of time.

As they rounded the bend just beside the mill-pond and saw the whole scene spread out before them, their eyes were immediately fastened on a stirring picture close by.
Two little colored girls were running up and down the shore doing most of the screaming, and acting as though half frightened to death.

The reason for their alarm was not hard to see, for at some little distance out from the bank a small boy, as black as the ace of spades, was having a terrible time trying to keep his footing on a plank that had been a part of a rude raft, doubtless fashioned by his own hands.
He had wished to "show-off" before his little playmates, and after rudely fastening several boards taken from the tumble-down old mill into a crude attempt at a raft, had boldly launched the same.

With a pole he had stepped aboard, and then proceeded to "cut capers." Encouraged by the admiration of the other children, he must have become more and more reckless, so that he soon reached a point far enough distant from land to prevent him from touching bottom with his pole.
This sudden discovery may have alarmed him, and in his endeavor to paddle, he had caused his raft to part in sections.

So there he was now clinging to one plank, and in immediate danger of falling into the water, which out there was doubtless many times over his head.
"Keep steady, there, boy!" shouted Thad.