Harper's Young People, August 29, 1882 An Illustrated Weekly

A summer outing turns into a tense rescue when Charley finds himself stranded in water while his canoe club’s fleet drifts a mile from shore. The boys scramble to save the sunken Midnight, wrestling with heavy canvas, a stubborn leak, and the urge to abandon the effort. Charley’s quick thinking—ducking under the surface to pull the painter through the stern and coordinating a careful lift—keeps the mission alive even as the canoe threatens to sink again.

With limited tools, the friends improvise a patch from resin, tallow and spare canvas, sealing a one‑inch hole that had flooded the vessel. Their cooperation, stubborn determination, and a touch of ingenuity let them right the canoe, bail out the water, and make it back to the sand‑spit before nightfall. The episode captures the spirit of youthful teamwork, the thrill of a daring outdoor challenge, and the satisfaction of solving a tricky problem together.