was holding him in some way, as he stood upon a stone,
while the water kept on dragging and striving to bear him away.

"Oh, she's cot the puir laddie richt. You come here and tak' a grip o'
the gaff handle, Master Kenneth, an' she'll have her oot."

The confusion was passing over, and Max could see more clearly, as
Kenneth came wading out through the rushing water to the stone upon
which Tavish stood.

"He's all right, Tav," cried Kenneth, whose serious face gradually grew
mirthful. "Give us hold."

The forester passed the gaff handle, and, as soon as Kenneth had it
tightly, stepped down into the torrent up to his waist, and began to
wade.

"Keep a tight haud," he cried.

"I've got him," said Kenneth. "Look here, Scood, here's a fish."

"Ye canna see the fush," said Tavish excitedly. "She wouldna lose that
saumon now for twa pun'."

Max was thoroughly awake now to the fact that the gaff hook was through
the collar of his jacket, and that the stream seemed to keep on tugging
at him, to get him free.

Perilous as was his position, seeming as it did to him that his life
depended on the secure hold of the hook in the cloth of his jacket, he
could not help feeling some annoyance that Kenneth and the forester
should talk laughingly about him, as if he were a fish.

But he had no time to think of self, for Tavish had waded below him, and
passed his arm about his waist.

"Got the line, Tav?" cried Kenneth.

"Ay, she's cot ta line, and ta fush is on, but what a sorry tangle she's
in, wrapped roond and roond the laddie, and ta most peautiful rod we've
cot proke in twa. Here, Scood, come and tak' haud o' ta rod, while we
ket him on ta stane."

Scood came wading toward them, holding on by the rocks, for the pressure
of the water was sufficient to have taken him off his legs; and now, for
the first time, Max awoke to the fact that he was holding tightly to the
rod, which had snapped in two just above the bottom joint, and that the
stout salmon line was about his body, while the top portion of the rod
was some distance away along the line, kept in place by the rings.

"Hae a care, laddie--hae a care!" cried Tavish. "Cot ta rod, Scood?"

"Yes; but ta line's all about him."

"Never mind tat. Noo I'll help ye. Let's ket her on to ta rock."

Max made some effort to help himself, but he was tied up, and he had to
submit while the forester lifted and Kenneth pulled him out.

"Noo she's richt," cried Tavish.