the gunwale, and he
disappeared under the waves.

"He's Rose's brother, and for his own sake I must save him!" exclaimed
Alick, and without considering the fearful danger he was running of
losing his own life, he threw himself over the stern, and swam towards
the spot where Martin had disappeared.

Robin, who was sitting next to him, seizing the steering-paddle, with
great presence of mind brought the canoe with her bow down the stream.

"Back, both of you!" he shouted out to Pat and me.

We did as he advised, but the strong current drove the canoe downwards.
Just below us a dark rock of some extent rose above the water, and we
had to exert ourselves to the utmost to avoid drifting against it.

With the deepest interest we watched Alick's progress. Presently down
he dived, and to our joy returned holding Martin in one hand, and
energetically treading water, while with the other hand he released him
from the line which had got round his leg. The current was rapidly
bearing them down towards the rock.

I should have said that there was another rock, just above where the
accident happened, and though it scarcely rose above the surface, it had
the effect of deflecting the current, thus causing it to run with less
violence than would otherwise have been the case against the larger
rock. Lower down, a powerful swimmer such as Alick was could alone have
borne up another person, and that person almost senseless, and at the
same time have contrived to direct his course amid those furious waters.
We were using all our efforts to get up to him.

"Keep off!" he shouted. "You will upset the canoe if you attempt to
take us on board. I'll make for the rock."

That he would be able to do so, however, seemed very doubtful, and we
trembled for his and Martin's safety, while we still plied our paddles
to stem the current and at the same time to avoid the rock.

"Go to the other side," shouted Alick; "and, Pat, you get on the rock
and help me."

Understanding his intentions, and seeing that it was the best course to
pursue, we obeyed his order, and turning round into our usual position
when paddling, we directed the canoe so as to round the southern end of
the rock, and then, though drifted down some yards, we once more paddled
up to it on its eastern or lower side. Here we could approach it
without difficulty, and finding bottom with our paddles, Pat, as
directed, stepped out, and clambered up to the top of the rock.

A