I go on and ketch the boat. But how I'm to pull her back again' this
zwiff stream, back to you, my lad, is more'n I know."

Nic made no reply, but, breathing hard, he swam with Pete to an open
spot at the side, and had just strength to draw himself out by a hanging
branch, and then drop down exhausted, with the water streaming from him.

"No, no; don't leave me, Pete," he cried hoarsely.

"Must, my lad, must;" cried the man, preparing to turn and swim away.
"You stop there, and I can zee you when I come back."

"It is impossible to overtake it. We must try and get down through the
trees. You can't do it, I tell you."

"Must, and will, my lad," cried Pete. "Never zay die."

Nic sank back and watched the brave fellow as he swam away more
vigorously than ever. At every stroke Pete's shoulders rose well above
the surface, and, to all appearance, he was as fresh as when he started.

But there was the boat gliding down the stream, far enough away now, and
beginning to look small between the towering trees rising on either side
of the straight reach along which Nic gazed; and the watcher's agony
grew intense.

"He'll swim till he gives up and sinks," said Nic to himself; "or else
one of those horrid reptiles will drag him down."

He drew breath a little more hopefully, though, as he saw a bright flash
of light glance from where Pete was swimming, for it told that the keen
knife was held ready in the strong man's teeth; and he knew that the arm
was vigorous that would deliver thrust after thrust at any enemy which
attempted to drag him down.

With the cessation of his exertion, Nic's breath began to come more
easily, and he sat up to watch the head of the swimmer getting rapidly
farther away, feeling that he had been a hindrance to the brave fellow,
who had been studying his companion's powers all the time. But how much
farther off the boat seemed still!--far enough to make Nic's heart sink
lower and lower, and the loneliness of his situation to grow so terrible
that it seemed more than he could bear.

For a full half-hour he sat watching the dazzling water, from which the
sun flashed, while he was in the shade. Pete had not reached the boat,
but he seemed now to be getting very near, though Nic knew how deceptive
the distance was, and gazed on, with a pain coming behind his eyes, till
all at once his heart leaped with joy, as now he could just make out
that the boat was very near the shore, apparently touchi