n to circle slowly round among
the flecks of foam. Then he plunged, swam out with powerful strokes,
and quickly returned to the shore with Dan in his grasp.

Soon they were surrounded by the other voyageurs, who had left La Certe
to look after himself,--not caring much, in the excitement of the
moment, whether he escaped or not.

"He is dead," said one; "he breathes not; and see how his face is
bruised and cut."

"And his chest, too," said another. "I think his ribs have been broken.
Poor fellow! It was a wild, a reckless jump!"

"Keep back, and let him have air," said the chief, who was doing his
best, according to his knowledge, to resuscitate Dan.

Presently La Certe arrived, panting.

"O! he is gone! My comrade, my friend, is dead!" he exclaimed,
clenching his hands, and gazing at the pale, bruised face.

"You are wrong," exclaimed the chief, testily. "Out of the way, man!
See! his eyelids quiver."

And so they did; and so also quivered his lips, and then a sigh came--
faint and feeble--then stronger, and at last Dan opened his eyes and
thanked God that his life had been spared. But when he recovered
sufficiently to realise his true position as being again a captive, the
feeling of despair returned.

That night they encamped a mile above the upper end of the portage. At
supper the two prisoners were allowed to sit by the camp-fire and eat
with their hands free.

"Monsieur," said the guide to Dan, respectfully, "you see it is
impossible to escape. Why compel us to bind you? Give me your word of
honour that you will not try, and your limbs may then remain as free as
mine."

"I give you my word of honour," answered Dan, with a sardonic smile,
"that till after breakfast to-morrow I will not try, for I need rest and
food; but after that, I give you my word that I will never cease to
try."

With this promise the guide was fain to rest content, and that night Dan
and his friend were allowed to sleep untethered, which they did soundly.

Next morning they were roused in gentler tones than usual, and not
required to work--as had been the case hitherto--before breakfast. In
short, there was an evident change in the feelings of their captors
towards them, founded largely, no doubt, on admiration of Dan's reckless
courage; but that did not induce them in the least degree to relax their
vigilance, for the moment the hour of truce had passed, the chief
advanced towards Dan with the thongs to bind him.