g, I coo-eed long and well. My voice had been trained. I
coo-eed three times, allowing an interval to elapse, and then settled
into the bottom of the boat to await developments. Soon I was
disturbed by the plunk! plunk! of a swimmer, and saw a young man
approaching by strong rapid strokes. It is strange how hard it is to
recognise any one when only their face is above water and one meets
them in an unexpected place, and though this face seemed familiar
there was nothing unusual in that, as I knew so many theatre patrons'
faces in a half fashion. My rescuer having ascertained the simple
nature of my dilemma, and easily gaining the boat by reason of the
log, exclaimed--

"Why, it's never you! What on earth are you doing here?" and I
responded--

"Ernest Breslaw! It's never you! What are _you_ doing here? _I'm_
stuck on this log."

"And I've come to get you off it," he laughed.

"Yes, but otherwise? This may be a suitable cove for a damaged hull,
but what can a newly-launched cruiser like you be doing here?"

"I'm in training, and was just taking a plunge; it's first-class!" he
said enthusiastically, and looking at his splendid muscles, enough to
delight the eye of even such a connoisseur in physique as myself, and
well displayed by a neat bathing-suit, there was no need to inquire
for what he was in training. 'Twas no drivelling pen-and-ink
examination such as I could have passed myself, but something needing
a Greek statue's strength of thew.

"Are you feeling ill?" he considerately inquired, and as I assured him
to the contrary, though I was feeling far from normal, he put me out
on the bank while he rowed up stream for his clothes and returned to
take me home. Having encased himself in some serviceable tweeds and a
blue guernsey, he rolled me in his coat ere beginning to demolish the
homeward mile--an infinitesimal bagatelle to such a magnificent pair
of arms. I enjoyed the play of the broad shoulders and ruddy cheeks,
and did not talk, neither did he. He was an athlete, not a
conversationalist, while I was a conversationalist lacking sufficient
athletic strength to keep up my reputation just then.

"It was very silly of you to come out alone or attempt to row in your
state of health! It might have been your death," he presently remarked
in a grandfatherly style. "Where are you putting up?"

"At Clay's."

"I know; the old place with the boats," he replied as the _Alice_
whizzed along.

"I was aching for d