January 07, 2009
In This Issue:
ARTICLE
NEWS
BOOK REVIEW
ADVENTURE STORY: THE CAVE DWELLERS
ADVENTURE STORY: THE GALLANT MYSTERY
ARTICLE
How To Fail Spelling
Scientists say that we never really forget anything that enters our minds. This serves a very useful function, but it can also cause a great deal of trouble each time a false premise is introduced into our thinking. When a false premise is introduced under the guise of truth, the brain accepts it and acts upon it as though it were in fact true. Each week teachers throughout the land inadvertently introduce several false premises into the minds of students as they administer the regular Monday morning pre-test spelling. The pre-test is usually administered before the students are allowed to see the spelling list, which almost invariably contains some words with which the students are not familiar. As they try to spell these unfamiliar words, they often misspell some of them. When a word is spelled incorrectly, the brain's complex data processing center begins to store that spelling as useful information. According to current research, the misspelled words are permanently stored in some remote recess deep within the brain. The practice of administering a pre-test in spelling initiates this process for every word the student misspells. Consequently, a pattern is created within the brain to convey erroneous information to every cell that is involved in memory, thus assuring the perpetuation of the misspelled word. When the correct spelling is introduced later, the brain must first try to override the erroneous spelling before it can be learned correctly. But a faulty pattern has already been established, so the brain is forced to work harder that it would have had it learned the correct spelling initially. So how should spelling be taught? First, before students are asked to spell unfamiliar words such as those on the weekly spelling list, the teacher should write the words on the board or on a handout sheet, separating the word into syllables, and explaining the sound of every letter in each syllable. Point out that some words are partially non-phonetic, such as "Lieu - ten - ant," which has a silent IE in it. Or "one," whose only phonetic component is the N. Point out that all vowels, A, E, I, O, W, and Y, are sometimes silent, as is the A in "boat," E in "ate," I in "sail," O in "people," U in "four," W in "low," and the Y in "day." Also explain that specific letter combinations create their own unique sounds, like the OO in "boot" or the OUGH in "cough." Students need to know that some consonants are also silent, as is the T in "listen" or the H in "honor." The extra P in "hopping" and other such words also needs explanation. When these concepts are thoroughly understood prior to the test, students have a much better chance of establishing useful memory patterns within the brain without cluttering it up with errors." Combine vocabulary development with spelling words will add relevance to the words while also make spelling easier. Teachers who use the method described above will notice a marked improvement in their student's spelling scores and self-esteem, and a significant decrease in their frustration level. Guest article by Academic Associates founder Cliff Ponder.
NEWS/LETTERS
Hello, I recently came across your site while researching reading lists . I read with intrest your recommendations for books according to level of difficulty. I am homeschool Mom in U.K, who has found increasing difficult to find books which do not appear to be either dumbed down or just almost adult content. I have four children the oldest 19, younger attended local elementary school 7 and 10. Both are reading well below what I would consider their ability . I have fought with school since they started school both able to read Dr. Seuss type books. I had started teaching them phonics from age of four. The school's policy is still whole word teaching even when there has been change of heart with the goverment pushing phonics. At the end of the day it is down to principal at school how reading is taught. Although we read at home with them they have been frustrated with reading material at school, which was replicated across all subjects that they were taught. I removed them out of shool at start of September after the Principal complained my children were not team players - since they would complain why they had to read books which they considered too easy to read.Almost two years ago, this led to them becoming disillused with school and reading. They got to the point this summer that neither would bother to read at all.
I did suggested giving my children books more suitable for their ability; but the principal deemed this impossible. Firstly for cost. Even when I offered to purchase the books. Secondly it would make the other children in the class feel inferior. So they would both have to endure this regardless. This was policy, even the school district backed the principal. Even though I pointed out these kids have become totally unintrested as result of this policy. Moving to another school was neither possible or would be allowed.
So when I saw your list it gave the first hope in while. If you could either expand any recommendations in level 2 and level 3. Even point me in direction of similar lists I would be very grateful. Your list has given me something to use to encourage my children back into reading and regain their confidence.
When I taught my eldest with phonics in mid 1990's I was considered just plain crazy. He is at college at present. I thought by sending my children to school able to read it would school proof them from any fads or ideas the teacher would implement. I have just given up with our schools, considering high illiteracy rate which is common it is even more scary. As I stated any recomendations of books for all your levels or anywhere I could access this information on the internet. Thank you for reading this and please keep up good work. Yours sincerelyDoreen
Dear Doreen;
Thank you for your e-mail. I believe you were wise to teach your children to read with phonics. Reading is a vital skill that they will need all their lives and the better they can read the more advantages they will have later in life. It is sad that it has had some negative effects; unfortunately, it is a natural result of refusing to allow your children to be "dumbed down" by the public education system which must always work [at best] for the average student and [at worst] for the lowest student. Personally, I believe in homeschooling or going to a private school which uses an individual instruction method such as the A.C.E. style whenever possible. Coming from the United Kingdom you are probably very familiar with one of my favourite children's authors: Enid Blyton. Most of her books would fall in the level 2-3 range. The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew books [the older ones anyway - I haven't read the new ones] would be a level 2. G.A. Hently has written may historical fiction books which would be a high level 3. They were written in the late 1800's as adventure stories for boys which would also teach history so their reading level is higher than modern stories written for the same age group. In our free newsletter we have a Hently story broken into weekly segments as well as an original science fiction level two story. You may want to subscribe. You can find tons of free books to download to your computer at www.gutenberg.org. Many of these are older - no longer under copyright - books. Although I haven't personally used them there are a couple of book rating companies [which do charge] recommended by Dr. Sally Shaywitz which you might want to check out: www.lexile.com and www.booksinprint.com. Hope this helps. If you have any further questions, please let me know...Sincerely,
Glenn Davis
BOOK REVIEW
Youth Old Granny Fox is an easy-to-read tale by Thornton W. Burgess sure to be enjoyed by younger children. It is a "chapter book" which brings a sense of delightful accomplishment to beginning readers. The chapters are fairly short - 5 - 6 pages - which makes reading 1 or 2 chapters a night easy task. Be sure to help out with unfamiliar words so your child doesn't become discouraged. Follow the adventures of Granny Fox, Reddy Fox, Quacker Duck, Sammy Jay, and, of course, the famous Peter Rabbit. If you are a Prince George client, you are welcome to borrow it from our library at no charge. Adults Power Ideas For A Happy Family by Dr. Robert Schuller is a great motivational book for families. Dr. Schuller is famous for his Hour of Power on TV and his many books on possibility thinking. In this book he focuses on the home with 7 steps to improve your family, 10 principles for making marriage fun, 10 tips for teens and much more. Be encouraged and instructed as you read through this short [128 pages] but powerful book. If you are a Prince George client, you are welcome to borrow it from our library at no charge.
We trust we will see you here next month.
Yours in life building,
Glenn and Diane Davis
Learn To Read Prince George and the World
Held Fast For England
***We are starting a brand new story. Last week we had a short introduction by G.A. Henty and this week the real adventure begins...*** HELD FAST FOR ENGLANDBy G.A. Henty
Chapter 1
"Something Like An Adventure"
Had Mr. Tulloch, the headmaster and proprietor of a large school at Putney, been asked which was the most troublesome boy in his school, he would probably have replied, without hesitation, "Bob Repton."
But, being a just and fair-minded man, he would have hastened to qualify this remark, by adding: "Most troublesome, but by no means the worst boy. You must understand that. He is always in scrapes, always in mischief. In all my experience I have never before come across a boy who had such an aptitude for getting into trouble; but I have nothing else to say against him. He is straightforward and manly. I have never known him to tell a lie, to screen himself. He is an example to many others in that way. I like the boy, in spite of the endless trouble he gives, and yet there is scarcely a day passes that I am not obliged to cane him; and even that does him no good, as far as I can see, for he seems to forget it, five minutes after it is over. I wonder, sometimes, if he has really got hardened, and doesn't feel it."He is sharp, and does his lessons well. I have no difficulty with him, on that score; but he is a perfect imp of mischief." With such characteristics, it need hardly be said that Bob Repton was one of the most popular boys at Tulloch's school. School life was, in those days--for it was in August, 1778, that Bob was at Tulloch's--a very different thing to what it is, at present. Learning was thrashed into boys. It was supposed that it could only be instilled in this manner; and although some masters were, of course, more tyrannical and brutal than others, the cane was everywhere in use, and that frequently. Lads, then, had far less liberty and fewer sports than at present; but as boys' spirits cannot be altogether suppressed, even by the use of the cane, they found vent in other ways, and there was much more mischief, and more breaking out of bounds, than now take place. Boys were less trusted, and more harshly treated; in consequence of which there was a kind of warfare between the masters and the boys, in which the masters, in spite of their canes, did not always get the best of it. Bob Repton was nearly fifteen. He was short, rather than tall for his age, but squarely built and strong. His hair could never be got to lie down, but bristled aggressively over his head. His nose was inclined to turn up, his gray eyes had a merry, mischievous expression, and his lips were generally parted in a smile. A casual observer would have said that he was a happy-go-lucky, merry, impudent-looking lad; but he was more than this. He was shrewd, intelligent, and exceptionally plucky; always ready to do a good turn to others, and to take more than his fair share of blame, for every scrape he got into. He had fought many battles, and that with boys older than himself, but he had never been beaten. The opinion, generally, among the boys was that he did not feel pain and, being caned so frequently, such punishment as he got in a fight was a mere trifle to him. He was a thorn in the side of Mr. Purfleet, the usher who was generally in charge of the playground; who had learned by long experience that, whenever Bob Repton was quiet, he was certain to be planning some special piece of mischief. The usher was sitting now on a bench, with a book in his hand; but his attention was, at present, directed to a group of four boys who had drawn together in a corner of the playground. "There is Repton, again," he said to himself. "I wonder what he is plotting, now. That boy will be the death of me. I am quite sure it was he who put that eel in my bed, last week; though of course, I could not prove it." Mr. Purfleet prided himself on his nerve. He had been telling the boys some stories he had read of snakes, in India; among them, one of an officer who, when seated at table, had felt a snake winding itself round his leg, and who sat for several minutes without moving, until some friends brought a saucer of milk and placed it near, when the snake uncurled itself and went to drink. "It must have required a lot of nerve, Mr. Purfleet," Bob Repton had said, "to sit as quiet as that." "Not at all, not at all," the usher replied, confidently. "It was the natural thing to do. A man should always be calm, in case of sudden danger, Bob. The first thought in his mind should be, 'What is this?' the second, 'What had best be done, under the circumstances?' and, these two things being decided, a man of courage will deal coolly with the danger. I should despise myself, if I were to act otherwise." It was two nights later that the usher, having walked down between the two rows of beds in the dormitory, and seeing that all the boys were quiet, and apparently asleep, proceeded to his own bed, which was at the end of the room, and partly screened off from the rest by a curtain. No sooner did he disappear behind this than half a dozen heads were raised. An oil lamp burned at the end of the room, affording light for the usher to undress; and enabling him, as he lay in bed, to command a general, if somewhat faint view of the dormitory. Five minutes after Mr. Purfleet had disappeared behind the curtain, the watching eyes saw the clothes at the end of the bed pulled down, and caught a partial view of Mr. Purfleet as he climbed in. A second later there was a yell of terror, and the usher leapt from the bed. Instantly, the dormitory was in an uproar. "What is it, Mr. Purfleet--what is the matter, sir?" and several of the boys sprang from their beds, and ran towards him; the only exceptions to the general excitement being the four or five who were in the secret. These lay shaking with suppressed laughter, with the bedclothes or the corner of a pillow thrust into their mouths, to prevent them from breaking out into screams of delight. "What is it, sir?" It was some time before the usher could recover himself sufficiently to explain. "There is a snake in my bed," he said. "A snake!" the boys repeated, in astonishment, several of the more timid at once making off to their beds. "Certainly, a snake," Mr. Purfleet panted. "I put my legs down, and they came against something cold, and it began to twist about. In a moment, if I had not leapt out, I should no doubt have received a fatal wound." "Where did it come from?" "What is to be done?" And a variety of other questions burst from the boys. "I will run down and get three or four hockey sticks, Mr. Purfleet," one of the elder boys said. "That will be the best plan, Mason. Quick, quick! There, do you see it moving, under the clothes?" There was certainly something wriggling, so there was a general movement back from the bed. "We had better hold the clothes down, Mr. Purfleet," Bob Repton said, pushing himself forward. "If it were to crawl out at the top, and get on to the floor, it might bite a dozen of us. I will hold the clothes down tight, on one side, if someone will hold them on the other." One of the other boys came forward, and the clothes were stretched tightly across the bed, by the pillow. In a minute or two, Mason ran up with four hockey sticks. "Now, you must be careful," Mr. Purfleet said, "because if it should get out, the consequences might be terrible. Now, then, four of you take the sticks, and all hit together, as hard as you can--now." The sticks descended together. There was a violent writhing and contortion beneath the clothes, but the blows rained down fast and, in a very short time, all movement ceased. "It must be dead, now," Bob Repton said. "I think we can look at it now, sir." "Well, draw the clothes down very gently; boys, and be ready to strike again, if you see the least movement." The clothes were drawn down, till the creature was visible. "It must be a cobra," the usher said, looking at it from a distance. "It is thick and short. It must have escaped from somewhere. Be very careful, all of you." Mason approached cautiously, to get a nearer view; and then exclaimed: "Why, sir, it is an eel!" There was a moment's silence, and then a perfect yell of laughter from the boys. For a moment the usher was dumbfounded, then he rallied. "You will all go to your beds, at once," he said. "I shall report the matter to Mr. Tulloch, in the morning." The boys retired, laughing, to their beds; but above the din the usher heard the words, in a muffled voice: "A man should always be calm, in sudden danger." Another voice, equally disguised, said, "Yes, he should first ask himself 'What is this?' then 'What had best be done, under the circumstances?'" A third voice then took it up: "It follows that a man of courage will deal coolly with the danger." Then there was a chorus of half a dozen voices: "I should despise myself, if I were to act otherwise." "Silence!" the usher shouted, rushing down the line between the beds. "I will thrash the first boy who speaks." As Mr. Purfleet had one of the hockey sticks in his hand, the threat was sufficient to ensure silence. To the relief of the two or three boys engaged in the affair, Mr. Purfleet made no report in the morning. Mr. Tulloch by no means spared the cane, but he always inquired before he flogged and, as the usher felt sure that the snake story would be brought forward, by way of excuse for the trick played upon him, he thought it better to drop it; making a mental note, however, that he would get even with Bob Repton, another time--for he made sure that he was at the bottom of the matter, especially as he had been one of those who had listened to the snake story. Mr. Purfleet was held in but light respect by the boys. He was a pale young man, and looked as if he had been poorly fed, as a boy. He took the junior classes, and the belief was that he knew nothing of Latin. Moffat, who took the upper classes, was much more severe, and sent up many more boys to be caned than did the junior usher; but the boys did not dislike him. Caning they considered their natural portion, and felt no ill will on that account; while they knew that Mr. Moffat was a capital scholar and, though strict, was always scrupulously just. Above all, he was not a sneak. If he reported them, he reported them openly, but brought no accusation against them behind their back; while Mr. Purfleet was always carrying tittle tattle to the headmaster. There was, therefore, little gratitude towards him for holding his tongue as to the eel; for the boys guessed the real reason of his silence, and put it down to dread of ridicule, and not to any kindliness of feeling. "Purfleet would give sixpence to know what we are talking about, Bob," one of the group talking in the corner of the playground said. "It is worth more than that, Jim; still, we shall have to be extra careful. He suspects it was our lot who played him the trick about the eel, and he will do his best to catch us out, in something. "Well, as I was saying, Johnny Gibson has got a first-rate dog for rabbits, and he says there are lots of them up on the Common. I told him that I would come, and I expected two or three more; and we would meet him at the top of the hill, at four o'clock tomorrow morning. It will be getting light by that time. Of course, we shall get out in the usual way, and we can be back by half past six, and no one will be any the wiser. Old Thomas never comes down till a quarter to seven. I have heard him a dozen times. He just comes down in time to ring the bell for us to get up." "Oh, I ain't afraid of Thomas," one of the others said, "but I am afraid of Purfleet." "There need be no fear about him. He never wakes till the bell rings, and sleeps like a top. Why, he didn't wake, the other morning, when we had a scrimmage and you tumbled out of bed. Besides, we all sleep at the other end of the room and, even if he did wake up in the night, he wouldn't notice that we had gone; especially if we shoved something in the bed, to make a lump. "My only fear is that we shan't wake. We ought to keep watch till it's time to get up, but I am sure we shouldn't keep awake. We must all make up our minds to wake at three, then one of us will be sure to do it. And mind, if one wakes, he must promise not to go to sleep again before he hears the hall clock strike, and knows what time it is. If it is before three, he can go off to sleep again. That way, one of us is sure to be awake, when it strikes three." "I say, shan't we just be licked, if we are found out, Bob?" "Of course we shall; but as we get licked pretty well every day, that won't make much difference, and we shall have had awful fun. Still, if any of you fellows don't like it, don't you go. I am going, but I don't want to persuade any of you." "Of course we are going, if you are going, Bob. What are we going to do with the rabbits?" "Oh, I settled Johnny Gibson should keep them. He is going to bring his dog, you know; besides, what could we do with them? We can't cook them, can we?" As it was clear to all the party that this could not be managed, no objection was raised to this disposal of their game. Bob Repton slept but little that night. They went to bed at eight, and he heard every hour strike after nine; dozing off occasionally, and waking up, each time, convinced that the clock would strike three next time. At last he heard the three welcome strokes, and at once got up and went to the beds of the other three boys. They were all sound asleep, and required some shaking before they could be convinced that it was time to get up. Then each boy put his bolster in his bed, rolled up his night shirt into a ball and laid it on the pillow, and then partly covered it up with the clothes. Then they slipped on their shirts, breeches, and stockings and, taking their jackets and shoes in their hand, stole out of the door at their end of the room, and closed it behind them. They then crept downstairs to the room where their caps were kept, put on these and their jackets, and each boy got a hockey stick out of the cupboard in the corner in which they were kept. Then they very cautiously unfastened the shutter, raised the window, and slipped out. They pulled the shutter to behind them, closed the window, and then put on their shoes. "That is managed first rate," Bob said. "There wasn't the least noise. I made sure Wharton would have dropped his shoes." "Why should I drop them, more than anyone else?" Wharton asked in an aggrieved voice. "I don't know, Billy. The idea occurred to me. I didn't think anyone else would do it, but I quite made up my mind that you would." "Well, I wish you wouldn't be so fast about making up your mind, then," Wharton grumbled. "I ain't more clumsy than other people." "You are all right," Jim Sankey put in. "Bob's only joking." "Well, he might as well joke with somebody else, Jim. I don't see any joke in it." "No, that is where the joke is, Billy," Bob said. "If you did see the joke, there wouldn't be any joke in it.” "Well, never mind, here is the walnut tree. Now, who will get over first?" The walnut tree stood in the playground near the wall, and had often proved useful as a ladder to boys at Tulloch's. One of its branches extended over the wall and, from this, it was easy to drop down beyond it. The return was more difficult, and was only to be accomplished by means of an old ivy, which grew against the wall at some distance off. By its aid the wall could be scaled without much difficulty, and there was then the choice of dropping twelve feet into the playground, or of walking on the top of the wall until the walnut tree was reached. Tulloch's stood some little distance along the Lower Richmond Road. There were but one or two houses, standing back from the road between it and the main road up the hill, and there was little fear of anyone being abroad at that time in the morning. There was, as yet, but a faint gleam of daylight in the sky; and it was dark in the road up the hill, as the trees growing in the grounds of the houses, on either side, stretched far over it. "I say," Jim Sankey said, "won't it be a go, if Johnny Gibson isn't there, after all?" "He will be up there by four," Bob said, confidently. "He said his father would be going out in his boat to fish, as soon as it began to be daylight--because the tide served at that hour--and that he would start, as soon as his father shoved off the boat. "My eye, Jim, what is that ahead of us? It looks to me like a coach." "It is a coach, or a carriage, or something of that sort." "No, it isn't, it is a light cart. What can it be doing here, at this hour? Let us walk the other side of the road." They crossed to the left, as they got abreast of the cart. A man, whom they had not noticed before, said sharply: "You are about early." "Yes, we are off to work," Bob replied, and they walked steadily on. "He couldn't see what we were like," Jim Sankey said, when they had got a hundred yards further. "Not he," Bob said. "I could not make out his figure at all, and it is darker on this side of the road than it is on the other. "I say, you fellows, I think he is up to no good." "What do you mean, Bob?" "Well, what should a cart be standing on the hill for, at this time in the morning? That's Admiral Langton's, I know; the door is just where the cart was stopping." "Well, what has that got to do with it, Bob? The cart won't do him any harm." "No, but there may be some fellows with it, who may be breaking into his house." "Do you think so, Bob?" "Well, it seems likely to me it may be his house, or one of the others." "Well, what are we to do, Bob?" "I vote we see about it, Jim. We have pretty nearly half an hour to spare, now, before Johnny Gibson will come along. We have got our hockey sticks, you know." "But suppose there shouldn't be any men there, Bob, and we should be caught in the grounds; They would think we were going to steal something." "That would be a go," Bob said, "but there isn't likely to be anyone about, at half past three; and if there were, I don't suppose he would be able to catch us. But we must risk something, anyhow. It will be a bit of fun, and it will be better than waiting at the top of the hill, with nothing to do till, Johnny Gibson comes." They were now past the wall in front of Admiral Langton's, and far out of sight of the man in the cart. "There is some ivy on this wall," Bob said. "We can climb over it, by that. Then we will make our way along, until we can find some place where we can climb over into the admiral's garden." "Perhaps there are some dogs about," Wharton objected. "Well, if there are, they are most likely chained up. We must risk something. "Well, here goes. If you don't like it, Wharton, you can stay behind." So saying, he put his hockey stick between his teeth, and then proceeded to climb up the wall, by means of the ivy. The wall was but nine feet high and, as soon as he gained the top, Bob said: "Come on, you fellows. I am going to drop down." In two minutes he was joined by the other three. "There is a path, just beyond," Bob said; "let us go by that. Don't you fellows say a word. As Wharton says, there may be some dogs about." Quietly they stole along the path, which ran parallel to the road, until it turned off at right angles. "Now, the first tree that grows against the wall we will get over by," Bob whispered. After going twenty yards, he stopped. "This tree will do." "But what are you going to do, if there should be some men?" Wharton asked, in a tone that showed he objected, altogether, to the proceeding. "It depends upon how many of them there are," Bob replied. "Of course, the admiral has got some men in the house; and they will wake up, and help us, if we give the alarm. Anyhow, we ought to be able to be a match for two men, with these sticks, especially if we take them by surprise. "What do you say, Jim?" "I should think so," Jim replied. "Anyhow, if you are game to go on, I am. "What do you say, Fullarton?" "Oh, I am ready," Fullarton, who was a boy of few words, replied. "Only, if there is anyone, Bob, and we get into a row with them, of course it will all come out about us; and then shan't we get it, just!" "I suppose we shall," Bob admitted, "but I don't see we can help that.
"Well, we are in for it, now," and he began to climb the tree and, working along a limb which extended over the wall, he dropped down into the garden. The others soon joined, Wharton being more afraid of staying behind, by himself, than of going with the rest. "Now, what are we to do next?" "I should say we ought to find out whether anyone has got into the house. That is the first thing. Then, if they have, we have got to try to wake up the people, and to frighten the men inside. "Have you got some string in your pockets?" "I have got some." They all had string. "What do you want string for, Bob?" "String is always useful, Jim. We may want to tie their hands. But what I was thinking was, we might fasten it across the stairs, or some of the passages; and then set up a sudden shout, and they would think the watchmen had come, and would make a bolt; and when they got to the string over they would go, and then we would drop on them with these hockey sticks, before they could get up. "Well, come on. There mayn't be anyone here, after all. Now we will go up to the house, and creep round." To be continued next week...
THE GALLANT MYSTERY
SCOTT AND SANDY inTHE GALLANT MYSTERY
CHAPTER 10
A RIVER RIDE [part 2]
copyright 2008 by Glenn Davis
***Last week Scott and the others had found the river but were being threatened with a wild, angry animal.***
"It's an Onder," said Dick, who had come across it in his research on Vaug IV. "They are deadly when they think someone is trespassing on their territory."
"Skip the lecture..." began Janna.
The Onder continued advancing at its slow pace."
Scott stepped between it and the rest of them waving the long stick he was holding. "Quick!" he said over his shoulder, "Into the river. Maybe he won't follow us there."
Dick, Janna, and Sandy dashed fully clothed into the river. Scott backed into the shallow part and then turned and ran into the deeper water. Their clothes clung to them uncomfortably and while their shoes protected their feet from the rocks on the bottom they were definitely not designed as swimwear.
As they pushed into the water up to their waists they found they had a hard time keeping their feet on the bottom. Sandy lost her balance and began to be swept downstream. Scott quickly swung his stick over to her and grasped it just in time. Even then she almost made Scott lose his balance before she could recover hers.
Apparently the Onder did not think his prey worth a wetting or perhaps he considered the river out of his territory, because he simply stood on the shore roaring.
You know," said Sandy," it's almost impossible to sink. If we went much deeper we would not be able to stand."
Dick immediately had to test it by trying to sink to the bottom. He popped up like a cork and had to struggle to regain his footing as the current pushed him downstream. As he fought he way against he current back to the others he exclaimed, "Of course, why didn't I think of it before?"
"Because you are a slow-brain." responded Janna.
"Well, Miss No-Brain, you didn't think of it at all. It's all clear now, because of Vaug IV's lighter gravity we will float like logs. We don't need a raft, we are the raft!"
"Good point," said Scott. "Let's all hold on to this stick and swim out into the center of the river."
"Why hold on to the stick?" asked Dick.
"It will keep us from getting separated."
Each one grabbed a section of the stick and then they swam toward the center of the river. The swift current rushed them downstream but they had no problem floating. It was like Sandy had said, it was almost impossible to sink.
"So this is what it feels like to be a motorboat," said Dick.
"Don't be childish."
Their shoes, which normally would have weighed them down, bobbed up and down behind him. Clinging to their skin, their clothes felt uncomfortable but there was nothing that could be done about it. In fact, they began to enjoy travelling down the river...except for Janna complaining every time water splashed in her face.
The scenery did not change much as they rushed down the river. Just trees and more trees. Scott kept a sharp watch for even the slightest sign of intelligent life. He saw none. They did see many beautifully coloured birds and an occasional animal at the river's edge.
After a while Sandy asked, "What happens if we hit rapids?"
"Look at the water," replied Scott.
Sandy looked down. She could see the beautifully coloured rocks on the bottom. Rainbow painted fish darted here and there. It looked a long way down.
"As long as the river is deep we won't have to worry about rapids."
For hours and hours they continued on. The son rose and then began to set. Their hands were tired from holding onto the stick and hunger gnawed at their stomachs. Scott was beginning to think it was time to head to the shore for the night."I'm starving," whined Janna.
"At least we aren't thirsty," said Sandy trying to be cheerful.
By now the sun had almost disappeared behind the distant mountains. The banks of the river had grown closer together and the river had become shallower, although no one noticed. Scott was beginning to worry about how fast the current was...it seemed to be getting even faster. Everyone else was concerned about their next meal.
A faint sound reached their ears. At first they ignored it but it grew. All at once, as they rounded a bend in the river,, they saw they were heading for a waterfall. They were too close to it and moving too fast to have any hope of getting to shore.
"Elniyn help us!" screamed Sandy as they shot toward the edge.
Don't miss next week's episode!