oming
behind, but after a time they began to get deeper in the water, and to
be swimming with more effort, fighting so fiercely at last that if it
had not been for Hannibal lending them a helping hand, they would have
been swept away.

I could not understand the reason for some time, but at last made out
that they had drifted into a spot where two little currents met, and
were striving against a force which I had not encountered, and were
being carried away.

At last, by making a desperate effort, they swam on up the swift little
current, and were nearing the tree fast, getting well toward the bough
on which we two boys were seated, when all at once they stopped and
began struggling again.

They were so near the end of the bough, that had we been there I could
almost have reached them, and yet, so close to safety, they were, as I
at last realised, completely helpless.

"What is it? What's the matter, father?" I cried, excitedly.

"Caught--caught among the boughs underneath," he panted, hoarsely; and I
knew now that they had swum into and become entangled among the
submerged boughs.

Just then I heard Sarah say piteously--

"It's of no use. Try and save yourselves."

I looked at Pomp, and he nodded his head, as if he fully comprehended
me, beginning at once to creep along the bough we were on, like a
monkey, and I followed as well as I could, pretty quickly, but not with
his agility.

The bough was thick where we sat, about a couple of feet above the
water, and rose up at the end to about ten feet above. But as I hoped,
when we were some distance along, it began to bend more and more, and
the thinner branch we now reached bent so rapidly that we were soon only
five feet, after climbing to six, then four, three--two--then one, and
then touching the water into which we sank now, going along hand over
hand, making the rough bough act as a natural rope, till Pomp was at the
full extent of the thinnest twigs and nearly within reach of the
helpless group.

"Now, Mass' George, come," he said.

I grasped his meaning and passed on abreast of him, took a good hold
with one hand grasping quite a bunch of twigs, while the boy took the
other and reached out toward where Morgan was just able to keep himself
afloat, with the others beyond him, and all growing weaker minute by
minute.

Pomp got out as far as he could and stretched out his hand, but he was a
full yard off still, and in a despairing way I looked at Mo