The Oil Can and the Sand on the Bottom of the Boat

Kerosene was evaporating, as it will do, even off woollen clothes. The first pond i had come out of seemed to be covered up. If i could fill that oil can with air and then putt it under my arm and take in a long breath, if i could drop down on smooth bottom, i might run along toward shore. And perhaps the can would hold air enough for me until i got near enough to shore to wade to dry land. I thought it would be better to try the smooth water passage down there than to stay and be swallowed up by the raging waves on top.