The Ida turned back to her
assistance but Enoch and Milton had to go overboard, along with the
crew of the Na-che, in order to drag and lift her into clear water.
Then for nearly two hours, all thought of rowing must be given up.
Both crews remained in the water, pushing the boats over the rough
bottom.
It was heartbreaking work. For a few moments the boats would float,
plunging the men beyond their depths. They would swim and flounder
perhaps a boat's length, clinging to the gunwale, before the boat would
once more run aground. Again they would drag their clumsy burden a
hundred yards over sand that sucked hungrily at their sodden boots.
This passed, came many yards of smooth rock a few inches below the
surface of the water, which was so muddy that it was impossible to see
the pot holes into which some one of the crew plunged constantly.
Jonas suffered agonies during this period; not for himself, though he
took his full share of falls. His agony was for the Na-che, whose
freshly painted bottom was abraded, scraped, gorged and otherwise
defaced almost beyond Jonas's power of endurance.
"Look out! Don't drag her! Lift her! Lift her!" he would shout.
"Oh, my Lord, see that sharp rock you drag her onto, Mr.
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