ed into
the water. "Help, help;" he again shouted, and he felt that in another
minute he must go down, for the more he attempted to approach the shore,
the more his legs became entangled by the fatal weeds. He thought that
he recognised the gaunt figure of Ellis.

"Oh, if it had been Bracebridge now! he swims so well, he might have got
me out," he thought to himself; but he had very little confidence that
Ellis would help him. Just then his last cry must have reached the ear
of the person approaching, for he set off running towards the spot as
fast as his legs would carry him. Bouldon began to hope once more that
he might be saved. Then he saw that it was Ellis.

"Keep up, keep up!" shouted Ellis; "I'll be with you." He disencumbered
himself of his basket as he ran, and the moment he reached the spot he
threw off his shoes and his jacket, and, rod in hand, having broken off
the hook from his line, plunged into the water without an instant's
hesitation. All the time, however, he shouted, "Help! help! help!" He
swam out bravely towards Bouldon, poking his rod before him till the end
reached his struggling school-fellow. "Catch hold of this--catch hold
of this!" he sang out lustily. Bouldon heard him, but his senses were
becoming confused, and he could not exert himself to reach the point of
the rod. Ellis swam on still further, but he saw the weeds, and he knew
that, should his legs once become entangled in them, he should be unable
to help his friend, and should probably lose his own life.

"Oh! come nearer, come nearer!" gasped out poor Bouldon, making vain
efforts to get free.

Ellis, against his better judgment, generously made the attempt. He
instantly felt that he, too, was among the weeds. He tried to get back.
His only consolation was to see that Tom had got hold of the end of his
rod. Ellis exerted himself to the utmost. Move forward he dared not;
but throwing himself on his back, he lifted up his legs, and endeavoured
to disentangle them from the weeds which were round them. At last he
felt that he could strike out with them; and paddling with one hand at
the same time, he gently pulled on his rod, so as to tow Bouldon towards
him. The weeds had, however, got so completely round poor Tom's legs,
that Ellis found that he was not moving him.

"I'm sinking, I'm sinking!" Tom cried out.

Ellis struck away with all his might. "Hold on to the rod, whatever
happens, that's all," he cried out, t