stern.
Next moment, he fell forward on the deck and crawled to the well. He
had won. He tried to shout, but could not. His heart beat like a
hammer and he choked.

Pulling himself together, he seized the line at the bow, and in a few
moments the anchor was on board and he picked up the pole. The punt
drifted fast up channel while he headed for the bank, but he saw Jake
running along the sand and presently threw the light anchor as far as
he could. Jake caught the line and Jim, springing overboard, ran
through the water and picked up Carrie.

He felt her tremble and kissed her as she put her arms round his neck.
It did not matter it Jake saw or not. After putting her on board he
jumped in and grasped the pole.

"Shove us off," he said to Jake. "I'll come back for you."

They lost the bank in the fog, and soon the pole did not touch bottom
and Jim used the paddle. After a few minutes, he saw an indistinct
figure, apparently in the water; and then his paddle struck sand.
Jumping over, he held out his arms and did not put Carrie down until he
had carried her some distance from the channel. He had afterwards a
hazy notion that he kissed her again. When he turned back Dick was
pushing off the punt.

"I'll bring Jake; you have had enough," he said.

Jim shoved him back. "It's my job; he's my partner. Look after
Carrie. Start for the marsh."

He got on board and when the punt vanished in the fog Dick turned to
Carrie. "They may be ten minutes; the tide's running fast. You are
wet and perhaps we had better get off."

"No," said Carrie. "I won't move until they're safe across."

Dick gave her a quick glance. She looked resolute; her voice had a
strange exultant note. He was anxious to start, since he thought they
might find some water in a gutter between them and land, but it was
obvious that Carrie could not be persuaded. Presently the punt came
across and the others got out.

"Have you been here long?" Jim asked when he had driven the anchor into
the sand.

"No," said Dick. "I fired the gun as soon as I arrived. The punt was
on your side, I imagined you were about, and I can't swim much. I'd
seen the punt before. I went to meet Jake and Carrie, but met the
water. No doubt, they crossed the channel that stopped me, farther up."

Jim nodded. "Looks like that. It was a big relief when we heard you
shoot. But I'm puzzled: the punt was some distance from the bank and
the anchor was covered