o; it would be no use."

"Yes; I'll dive down."

"But there are old posts and big stones, I daren't let you go."

"Ah!" shouted Vane wildly; "look--look!"

He shook himself free and plunged in as Gilmore caught sight of
something close up to the old piece of blackened oak upon which Macey
had so cleverly steered the boat. It was only a glimpse of something
floating, and then it was gone; and he followed Vane, who was swimming
out to the old post. This he reached before Gilmore was half-way, swam
round for a few moments, and then paddled like a dog, rose as high as he
could, turned over and dived down into the deep black hole.

In a few moments he was up again to take a long breath and dive once
more.

This time he was down longer, and Gilmore held on by the slimy post,
gazing about with staring eyes, and prepared himself to dive down after
his friend, when all at once, Vane's white face appeared, and one arm
was thrust forth to give a vigorous blow upon the surface.

"Got him," he cried in a half-choked voice, "Gil, help!"

Gilmore made for him directly, and as he reached his companion's side
the back of Distin's head came to the surface, and Gilmore seized him by
his long black hair.

Their efforts had taken them out of the eddy into the swift stream once
more, and they began floating down; Vane so confused and weak from his
efforts that he could do nothing but swim feebly, while his companion
made some effort to keep Distin's face above water and direct him toward
the side.

An easy enough task at another time, for it only meant a swim of some
fifty yards, but with the inert body of Distin, and Vane so utterly
helpless that he could barely keep himself afloat, Gilmore had hard
work, and, swim his best, he could scarcely gain a yard toward the
shore. Very soon he found that he was exhausting himself by his efforts
and that it would be far better to go down the stream, and trust to
getting ashore far lower down, though, at the same time, a chilly
feeling of despair began to dull his energies, and it seemed hopeless to
think of getting his comrade ashore alive.

All the same, though, forced as the words sounded, he told Vane hoarsely
that it was all right, and that they would soon get to the side.

Vane only answered with a look--a heavy, weary, despairing look--which
told how thoroughly he could weigh his friend's remark, as he held on
firmly by Distin and struck out slowly and heavily with the arm at