on: Afloat on the Ice.]

There was some doubt whether the people on the bridge understood the
cry, and the other boys repeated it as loud as they could, in the
meantime also trying to manifest their want by signs and gestures.
Some of the spectators upon the bridge, who were now quite numerous,
shouted back in reply; but the boys, being to their windward, could not
understand what they said. Their frail support was now moving rapidly
along, and whirling about in the eddies more alarmingly than ever. It
had sunk so low that they were all standing in the water, and they
expected it would shortly break to pieces and precipitate them all into
the river. There were four of them upon the cake, besides the dog.
The two youngest boys began to cry with fright; but Oscar and Alfred,
though they were as much alarmed as the others, did not manifest it in
this way, but were looking anxiously towards the bridge and the shore
for relief.

The boys were not long kept in this dreadful state of suspense; for
pretty soon they discovered a boat putting out towards them from the
end of the bridge. There were two men in it, each of whom was plying
an oar. They called out to the boys not to be frightened, and in a few
minutes they were alongside the fugitive ice-cake, whose living freight
was safely transferred to the boat. The boatmen then pulled for the
wharf from which they came, and the rescued party had the pleasure of
standing once more upon firm ground. They were so overjoyed at their
escape that they forgot to thank the men who had taken so much trouble
to rescue them. They were not ungrateful however; though it would have
been better if their words as well as their looks had expressed the
sentiment they felt. As soon as they reached the wharf, the men
advised them to run home and dry themselves, which they proceeded to do.

When Oscar reached home, he was so hoarse, from hallooing, that he
could not speak aloud. When his mother heard of his exposure, and saw
how wet he was, she was much concerned for him. She wished him to
change his damp clothing, but he did not think it necessary, and
instead of complying with her desire, he sat down to the fire and dried
himself. He had but little appetite for supper; and a headache coming
on in the evening, he retired to bed early. Before dong so, however,
he took a dose of medicine which his mother had prepared, to "throw
off" his cold.

After a feverish and restless night--in w