e made the woman's shoulder
roll up above the surface, then her face appeared, and, knowing the
imminent danger, I tried to swerve aside to avoid the clutch of the poor
creature's hand.

I was too late. The fingers seized me with a death-grip, and as I was
thrown off my balance, I struggled to free myself, went under, made a
desperate effort which brought me up again, and recovering myself a
little, I tried hard to swim now and keep both afloat.

It was a time of confused effort and excitement I don't know that I felt
much fear, only that I was getting weaker and weaker, and in a dull,
half-stupefied fashion, I thought that if help did not come soon I
should not be able to save the poor woman.

Then all was black again; there was a thundering in my ears, a scalding
sensation in my throat, and my arms seemed to be turning to lead. But I
was striving hard all the time, and once more in a dim way I saw the
light, and struck out blindly enough, my only aim being to keep afloat.

I was conscious of shouting. Some one close by cried, "Hold her!" but
the water was rising over my eyes again as I felt a sharp shock; hands
clutched me directly after, and I was hauled into a boat, where I lay
panting, my heart throbbing, and a sensation at the back of my neck as
if I had received a sharp blow.

"Oh, he's all right," said a familiar voice. "Give way, my lads, and
let's land her. I dare say they'll bring her to. Better chance than we
shall have."

In a dreamy way I saw the dock wall above me, and people looking down;
then we reached some steps, and the dripping figure of the woman was
lifted out of the boat, and taken by other hands.

"Get her into a room, and fetch a doctor directly," said a voice close
to me, which I now recognised as that of the officer I had run against.
"Now, my lads, give way.--I say, how are you?"

I looked up, feeling dull and confused, and saw the officer was bending
down over me. "That's better," he said. "We'll soon have you on board,
and the surgeon will put you right in no time."

In a few minutes the great stern of the _Jumna_ was looming over us, and
a tremendous burst of cheering rose as we were pulled alongside; but it
did not strike me then what it all meant. I looked up, and could see
white faces looking down at us, and handkerchiefs were being waved
because the woman was saved, I supposed, but I was too weak and
exhausted to trouble much. I was conscious of the hooks being mad