A couple of harpoons furnished with seal bladders were to be suspended
alongside.
Chapter 15
At last came the day when Fritz was to make his trial trip with the
cajack. Completely equipped in swimming costume--trousers, and jacket
and cap--it was most ludicrous to see him cower down in the canoe and
puff and blow till he began to swell like the frog in the fable.
All trace of his original figure was speedily lost, and shouts of
laughter greeted his comical appearance. Even his mother could not
resist a smile, although the dress was her own invention.
I got the other boat out, that my wife might see we were ready to go to
his assistance the moment it became necessary.
The cajack was launched from a convenient shelving point, and floated
lightly on the sea-green ocean mirror. Fritz with his paddles then
began to practise all manner of evolutions: darting along with arrowy
swiftness, wheeling to the right, then to the left; and at last,
flinging himself quite on his side, while his mother uttered a shriek
of terror, he showed that the tiny craft would neither capsize nor
sink. Then, recovering his balance, he sped securely on his further
way.
Encouraged by our shouts of approbation, he now boldly ventured into
the strong current of Jackal River, and was rapidly carried out to sea.
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