nfortunate postilion, his eyes glaring round in
search of help, and his mouth wide-open as he shouted to the people on
the bank.
"All right! I'll be with you in a moment," cried Phil, striking out in
his direction. A minute later he was by his side, and, grasping him by
the shoulder, supported him till the overturned boat floated past them.
Both clutched it, and hung on for their lives.
"There he is, there's the other!" shouted a crowd of people on the
bridge, and, hearing them, Phil hoisted himself as high as possible and
searched the water carefully. There was a swirl some fifteen feet away,
and two clutching hands suddenly appeared, to be swallowed up an instant
later.
Leaving the boat Phil struck out with all his might, to find nothing
when he reached the spot; but, plunging beneath the surface, he let the
stream sweep him on, and groped with outstretched hands on either side.
Something touched his fingers, and, grasping it he pulled it to him;
holding tightly with both hands he kicked frantically till his head
appeared above the water. Another second and the head of the
unconscious passenger was reclining on his shoulder, and a burst of
hearty cheering was ringing in his ears. Breathless and exhausted after
the struggle, Phil looked round and caught sight of the boat drifting
down to him. Treading water for a few minutes he supported the figure
in his arms, and at last reached out for and obtained a firm hold of the
keel, to which he clung, unable to make another effort, so much was he
fatigued.
But help was at hand. A boat had been hastily pushed off from the
river-bank, and before long all four had been lifted from the water and
carried up the steps on to terra firma. A doctor was hastily summoned,
and meanwhile the gentleman and the postilion were removed to a cottage.
As for Phil, five minutes' rest upon the ground made him feel himself
again. Then, shaking the water from him, and bashfully exchanging
handshakes with the enthusiastic crowd who surrounded him, and would not
be denied, he slipped away with Tony, and, aided by a waterman, righted
the capsized boat and proceeded to bail the water out.
"Come along, let's get out of this, Tony!" he exclaimed fretfully. "I
never came across such a bother, and I hate a fuss like this."
"But you'll stop and give yer name, Phil? They're certain to want it,
'specially as the cove has summat to do with the castle."
"Oh, they can find out later
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