ung round into the eddy
behind the stone almost before his companions could divine what he meant
to do.

Even in that moment of terrible suspense March Marston looked with an
expression of surprise at his friend as he swam up beside him. Bounce
did not waste time or words; he merely raised one hand for a second,
and, pointing to the bank of the river, cried, "Push for it--'tis your
only chance!"

March Marston made no reply, but at once obeyed; yet so exhausted was
he, that, in the effort, he lost strength and sank. Bounce was prepared
for this. He seized him by the hair and struck out with the energy of
despair. A moment more and he was within a foot of the brink of the
fall--but, also, within a foot of the point of rock on which Big Waller
was lying at full length, part of his body overhanging the cataract, his
arms extended, and Gibault and Hawkswing holding him firmly by the legs.
Bounce caught his comrade's hand, and swung close in to the bank, while
with the other hand he continued to grasp March by the hair of the head.
The force of the current was so great, however, that not one of the
party dared move, and it seemed for a moment as if all of them would be
lost, when Bertram rushed forward, and, seizing Bounce by the arm,
dragged him still nearer the bank, and relieved the strain upon the
others. Just then, Redhand came to the rescue, and in another moment
the two men were safe upon the land.

Poor Bertram fell upon his knees, and while he thanked God for the
deliverance of his companions, sobbed liked a little child.

For some time the trappers spoke little. Accustomed though they were to
danger, they were solemnised by the recent narrow escape from sudden
death. Perhaps, too, their minds were more deeply affected than usual
with a sense of their dependence upon the living God, by the example and
the heartfelt, unrestrained thanksgiving of Bertram. But men whose
lives are spent in the midst of alarms are not long seriously affected,
even by the most solemn events. The trappers quickly recurred to their
present circumstances, which were, in truth, of a nature calculated to
fill them with anxiety, and cause them to bend the powers of their quick
wits and iron energies to the simple consideration of how they were to
subsist and how proceed on their journey.

"First of all," said Redhand quickly, "we must try what we can recover
of our odds and ends."

"Right," cried Bounce, who was none the worse f