de of the river."

"What did I tell you? But it's only fair to let you know the river runs
a bit just here, and it's too deep to pole, so you have to hit the
opposite bank when you can."

"Is there any danger?"

"Nothing to speak of."

"I'd love to cross."

"Jump in, then."

"You don't mind if I leave you on the other side?"

"Yes, I do. You hang on to Jill."

Mavis enticed Jill into the punt, where the dog sat in the stern in her
usual self-possessed manner. Perigal struggled with the rope by which
the punt was moored to the stump of a tree. Very soon, they were all
adrift on the stream. They made little progress at first, merely
scraping along the overhanging branches of pollard willows; now and
again, the punt would disturb long-forgotten night lines, which, more
often than not, had hooked eels that had been dead for many days. Mavis
began to wonder if they would ever get across.

"Stand by!" cried Perigal suddenly, at which Mavis gripped both sides
of the punt.

It was well she did so, for the next moment the punt swerved violently,
to blunder quickly down stream as it felt the strength of the current.

"Are you frightened?" asked Perigal.

"Not a bit."

"Hold tight to the bank if your end strikes first."

"Right you are."

Perigal did his best to steer the punt, but without much success.
Presently, the bows hit the side, at which Perigal clutched at the
growth on the bank.

"Step ashore quickly," he cried. "It's beginning to let in water."

"How exciting!" remarked Mavis, as she stepped on to the bank.

"Just wait till I tie her up."

"Where's Jill?" asked Mavis suddenly.

"Isn't she with you?"

"See if she's in the river."

"If she is, the punt striking the bank must have knocked her overboard."

They looked, but no sign could be seen of the dog. Mavis called her
name loudly, frantically, but no Jill appeared.

"What shall I do? Oh, what shall I do?" she cried helplessly.

"Look!" cried Perigal suddenly. "Look, those weeds!"

Mavis looked in the direction indicated. About six feet from the bank
was a growth of menacing-looking weeds under the water, which just now
were violently agitated.

"I'll bet anything it's Jill. She's caught in the weeds," said Perigal.

"Let me come. Let me come," cried Mavis.

"It's ten feet deep. You're surely not going in?"

"I can't let her drown."

"Let me--"

"But--"

"I'm going in. I can swim."

Perigal had thrown off his coat, kicked o