Bracy weakly.

"That's right, sir. You'll do it. I'll give yer a 'and if yer can't.
It's easy enough if yer swim with the stream."

"Can you keep him up?" said Bracy more vigorously.

"Oh yus, sir; I can manage to keep him on his back and his nose out o'
the water. Knocked him silly."

"Where are the others?"

"There they are, sir, ever so far along. The Captain's got old Parry,
and Mr Drummond's swimming to his side to help him. You'll _do_ it
now, sir. Slow strokes wins. Feel better?"

"Yes. I was half-strangled."

"Then it's all right, sir."

"But the enemy?" panted Bracy, trying to look round.

"Never you mind them, sir. They're far enough off now, and can only get
a shot now and then. River windles so. We're going ever so much faster
than they can get through the woods. Ain't this jolly, sir? Done my
ankle a sight o' good. I allus did like the water, on'y sojers' togs
ain't made to swim in."

"I can't see any one in pursuit," said Bracy at the end of a minute.

"Don't you keep trying to look, sir. You've got enough to do to swim."

"I'm getting right again now, Gedge, and I think I can help you."

"What! to keep him up, sir? I don't want no help while he's like this;
but if he comes to again and begins his games you might ketch him one in
the ear. Chaps as thinks they're drowning is the silliest old idgits
there is. 'Stead o' keeping still and their pads under water, they
shoves them right up to try and ketch hold o' the wind or anything else
as is near. 'Spose they can't help it, though. Hullo! look yonder,
sir. Rocks and shaller water. Think we could get right across now?"

For a shout now reached them from fifty yards or so lower down, where
their three companions in misfortune were standing knee-deep in
mid-stream, and a rugged mass of rocks rose to divide the river and
towered up twenty or thirty feet, forming a little rugged island about
twice as long. Bracy's spirits, which were very low, rose now at the
sight of Roberts and Drummond helping the other private up into safety,
and turning directly to offer them the same aid if they could manage to
get within reach.

"Keep it up, sir," cried Gedge, who was swimming hard, "or we shall be
swep' one way or t'other. It'll be nigh as a touch, for the water
shoots off jolly swift."

Bracy had needed no telling, and he exerted all his strength to keep so
that they might strike the shallows where the island was worn by the
f