y a steam tug had not only
broken away, but likewise had broken apart, and the timbers which had
composed it were now floating around over a large area of Clearwater
Lake.

In another minute the two rowboats were in the very midst of the
drifting timbers and in great danger of being upset.

CHAPTER XXI

ASSISTANCE REFUSED

"My gracious! look at the lumber floating around!"

"Be careful, boys! Don't get hit if you can help it!"

"One of those timbers is heavy enough to send us to the bottom!"

"Oh, dear! Do you think we'll be smashed up?"

Such were some of the cries which rent the air as the Rover boys and
the girls with them found themselves in the midst of the wreckage from
the broken-apart lumber raft.

On all sides of them heavy sticks of timber were bobbing up and down on
the whitecaps, and presently one of these bumped into the craft
occupied by Jack and Fred and two of the girls. The rowboat careened so
much that quite a large quantity of water was shipped, which made Ruth
and May scream in fright.

"Stand up in the bow, Fred, and see if you--can--ward--them--off!"
gasped Jack as well as his semi-exhausted condition would permit. "I'll
stick to--the--oars."

He knew he must keep the rowboat headed up into the wind, for the
squall had not yet subsided sufficiently to allow of their taking it
sidewise.

A moment later came a cry from the other rowboat as the craft slipped
up and over several large sticks of timber.

[Illustration: THE CRAFT SLIPPED UP AND OVER SEVERAL LARGE STICKS
OF TIMBER.
_Page_ 207]

"Gosh! that was a narrow escape!" was Andy's comment, as the craft
finally righted itself.

"Oh, dear! if only we were on shore once more!" wailed Annie, for at
least the tenth time.

"I never dreamed that we would have such a dreadful experience as
this!" came from Alice.

Randy said nothing, but continued to row, while Andy did the same as
Fred was doing, both trying their best to ward off the heavy sticks
which came floating towards them every minute or two.

Not far away was a steam tug, and presently two other boats came from
the shore, both bent upon saving all that was possible of the
broken-apart lumber raft.

"We'll pick you up if you have much trouble," cried the captain of the
steam tug, as he ran a course between the two rowboats. "But don't ask
us to do it unless it's necessary, for we want to round up this
floating lumber before it gets away from us, if it can be do