ecured the gun before she was out of
the water, and dashed into the thick bushes with it. Meanwhile Stonor
dragged the struggling Imbrie into deeper water. They lost their footing
and went under again. The woman, after a pause of agonized indecision,
ran to the dug-out, and, righting it, pushed it into the water.

Stonor, striking out as he could, carried his burden out beyond a man's
depth. The current carried them slowly down. They were as much under the
water as on top, but Stonor cannily held his breath, while Imbrie
struggled insanely. Stonor, with his knee against the other's chest,
broke his strangle-hold, and got him turned over on his back. Imbrie's
struggles began to weaken.

Meanwhile the dug-out was bearing down on them. Stonor waited until it
came abreast and the woman swung her paddle to strike. Then letting go
of Imbrie, he sank, and swimming under water, rose to the surface some
yards distant. He saw that the woman had Imbrie by the hair. In this
position it was impossible for her to wield her paddle, and the current
was carrying her down. Stonor turned about and swam blithely back to the
island.

Clare, still carrying the gun, came out of the bushes to meet him. They
clasped hands.

"I knew there was only one bullet," she said. "I was afraid to fire at
the woman for fear of missing her."

"You did right," he said.

Stonor found the gun that Imbrie had dropped in the water. From the
beach they watched to see what the breed woman would do.

"When she gets near the rapids she'll either have to let go Imbrie or be
carried over," Stonor said grimly.

But the woman proved to be not without her resources. Still with one
hand clutched in Imbrie's hair, she contrived to wriggle out of the
upper part of her dress. Out of this she made a sling, passing it under
the unconscious man's arms, and tying it to the thwart of the dug-out.
She then paddled ashore and dragged the man out on the beach. There they
saw her stand looking at him helplessly. Save for the dug-out she was
absolutely empty-handed, without so much as a match to start a fire
with.

Presently she loaded the inert body in the dug-out, and, getting in
herself, came paddling back towards the island. Stonor grimly awaited
her, with the gun over his arm. The dusk was thickening, and Clare built
up the fire.

When she came near, Stonor said, raising the gun: "Come no closer till I
give you leave."

She raised her hands. "I give up," she said a