near it; and
then, only a short time afterwards, a cry and a crash startled everyone
near. A daring schoolboy had ventured beyond the rope and crashed
through the ice into deep water. Mr. Allonby was close by with Bobby;
in an instant he had dashed forwards, and after a breathless minute or
two to Bobby, and before others had hardly taken in what was happening,
he had dragged the boy safely up again. But, to Bobby's horror, as his
father was coming back, the ice gave way in a fresh place under his
feet, and he disappeared.

The child raised an agonising cry.

'Father's drowing! Father's drowing!'

Then ensued wild confusion. Ladies shrieked and rushed to the banks,
there were loud cries for a ladder or a rope, but, as is often the case
in private places, none were forthcoming in the spot in which they were
required. In an instant one little figure went to the rescue, strong
in his own willingness to save. He reached his father first. Holding
out Nobbles to him, he cried:

'Catch hold, quick, quick, father! I'll pull you out! Oh, catch hold!'

Mr. Allonby was struggling to raise himself, but the ice kept breaking
under his grip.

'Go back!' he shouted to Bobby. 'Go back!

But for once the child disobeyed.

When he saw his father sink before his eyes he raised a most piercing
cry. In the distance they were bringing a ladder. Men were rushing
frantically back to get it.

'Father! Father! Don't sink! Oh, do catch hold of Nobbles!'

'Hi, you little chap, you'll be going in yourself! Come back! Give me
your stick! Here, Allonby, catch hold!'

Mr. Allonby's head appeared above the surface again, and in an instant
the man behind Bobby had placed Nobbles across the hole in the ice.
Exhausted as he was, Mr. Allonby gripped it, keeping himself afloat
till a few men and boys formed a human ladder, and he was slowly drawn
out of his perilous position. Bobby meanwhile was struggling madly in
the grip of a youth.

'You little fool, keep still! Do you want to drown yourself! You were
within an ace of it a minute ago! Your father will be all right in a
minute. See--that's--the way. Hurrah, Selwyn--he's got him. Now pull
together--hurrah! He's out, and none the worse, I bet!'

Bobby was screaming frantically: 'I wants to save him. Me and Nobbles
can save him!' but when he saw his father rescued he stopped his
screams and struggled to get to him. His little face was white to the
lips. His fa