No, no,--I don't believe it," said Mildred. "They have got up
somewhere,--climbed up something,--that bank or something."

They heard nothing more, amidst the dash of the flood, and they fancied
they could see some figures moving on the ridge of the bank, far out
over the carr. When they were tired of straining their eyes, they
looked about them, and saw, in a smoother piece of water near their
hill, a dog swimming, and seeming to labour very much.

"It has got something fastened to it," cried Mildred;--"something tied
round its neck."

"It is somebody swimming," replied Oliver. "They will get safe here
now. Cannot we help them? I wish I had a rope! A long switch may do.
I will get a long switch."

"Yes, cut a long switch," cried Mildred: and she pulled and tugged at a
long tough thorny bramble, not minding its pricking her fingers and
tearing her frock. She could not help starting at the immense number of
large birds that flew out, and rabbits that ran away between her feet,
while she was about it; but she never left hold, and dragged the long
bramble down to the part of the hill that the dog seemed to be trying to
reach. Oliver was already there, holding a slip of ash, such as he had
sometimes cut for a fishing-rod.

"It is Roger, I do believe; but I see nothing of the others," said he.
"Look at his head, as it bobs up and down. Is it not Roger?"

"O dear! I hope not!" cried Mildred, in a tone of despair. "What shall
we do if he comes?"

"We must see that afterwards: we must save him first. Now for it!"

As Oliver spoke, the dog ducked, and came up again without Roger,
swimming lightly to the bank, and leaping ashore with a bark. Roger was
there, however,--very near, but they supposed, exhausted, for he seemed
to fall back, and sink, on catching hold of Oliver's switch, and by the
jerk twitched it out of the boy's hand.

"Try again!" shouted Oliver, as he laid Mildred's bramble along the
water. "Don't let go, Mildred."

Mildred let the thorns run deep into her fingers without leaving her
hold. Roger grasped the other end: and they pulled, without jerking,
and with all their strength, till he reached the bank, and they could
help him out with their hands.

"Oh, I am so glad you are safe, Roger!" said Oliver.

"You might have found something better than that thorny switch to throw
me," said Roger. "My hands are all blood with the spikes."

"Look at hers!" cried Oliver, intending to show th