e stranger came to the
bank, shipped his sculls, and jumped out with the painter of his
skiff in his hand, which he proceeded to fasten to an old stump,
while he remarked--

"I'm afraid the cap's lost."

"It doesn't matter the least. Thank you for coming to help me; it
was very kind indeed, and more than I expected. Don't they say
that one Oxford man will never save another from drowning unless
they have been introduced?"

"I don't know," replied the other; "are you sure you're not
hurt?"

"Yes, quite," said Tom, foiled in what he considered an artful
plan to get the stranger to introduce himself.

"Then we're very well out of it," said the other, looking at the
steep descent into the lasher, and the rolling tumbling rush of
the water below.

"Indeed we are," said Tom; "but how in the world did you manage
not to upset?"

"I hardly know myself--I had shipped a good deal of water, you
see. Perhaps I ought to have jumped out on the bank and come
across to you, leaving my skiff in the river, for if I had upset
I couldn't have helped you much. However, I followed my instinct,
which was to come the quickest way. I thought, too, that if I
could manage to get down in the boat I should be of more use. I
am very glad I did it," he added after a moment's pause; "I'm
really proud of having come down that place."

"So ain't I," said Tom, with a laugh, in which the other joined.

"But now you're getting chilled," and he turned from the lasher
and looked at Tom's chattering jaws.

"Oh, it's nothing. I'm used to being wet."

"But you may just as well be comfortable if you can. Here's this
rough Jersey which I use instead of a coat; pull off that wet
cotton affair, and put it on, and then we'll get to work, for we
have plenty to do."

After a little persuasion Tom did as he was bid, and got into the
great woolen garment, which was very comforting; and then the two
set about getting their skiffs back into the main stream. This
was comparatively easy as to the lighter skiff, which was soon
baled out and hauled by main force on to the bank, carried across
and launched again. The tub gave them much more trouble, for she
was quite full of water and very heavy; but after twenty minutes
or so of hard work, during which the mutual respect of the
labourers for the strength and willingness of each other was much
increased, she also lay in the main stream, leaking considerably,
but otherwise not much the worse for her adventure.