Probably the manatee wants to get rid of us
as much as you girls want to get rid of it."
"I hope it doesn't get away for a few minutes!" called out Russ. "This
will make a dandy film!"
Much reassured now by the gentle movements of the manatee, Ruth lost
nearly all of her fear. Alice really had felt very little.
"I thought it surely was an alligator," the latter said, as the boat
continued to be towed by the manatee.
"Nebber knowed one ob dem t'ings t' come so far up de ribber," declared
one of the colored men. "He's a big one, too!" he added, as his eyes
bulged.
"How large is it, Russ?" asked Paul. "You can see better than we can."
"Oh, about twelve feet long, I guess. There, I got a good view of him
then!" he cried, as the manatee, probably in an effort to get rid of the
rope, rose partly from the water.
"Oh, what a horrid looking thing!" cried Ruth.
"I don't think so at all," Alice said. "I wish I could see it from in
front."
She had her wish a moment later, and it was rather more than she
bargained for since the sea cow, in an effort to get rid of the rope that
was twisted about its flipper, turned about with a swirl in the water,
not unlike that made by the propeller of a motor boat, and came head-on
for the craft it was unwittingly towing.
"Oh, it will upset us!" cried Ruth.
Pages:
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126