ing to the racing current,
while they flashed back the rays of the sun with dazzling
brilliancy. But there was still time to get round the corner of
the house to the boat, if only they made haste; and, scrambling
from her knees to her feet, Katherine cried urgently: "Come, come,
we have just time; there is a boat round the corner of the house.
If we can get there before the next crash comes we are safe, if not
we may drown!"

"Save yourself. It is no use, I can't hurry; every step is
torture," the unknown said, with a groan, as she fairly dragged him
on to his feet, which were swathed in towels.

But she would not leave him. "Lean on me as heavily as you please.
I am tremendously strong, and I would try carrying you if you were
not so big," she said, with bustling cheerfulness, as, slipping her
arm round him, she hurried him forward.

What a walk it was over that cracking, splitting ice! Mrs. Jenkin
had begun screaming again; and although Katherine was wet through
with ice-cold water, she could feel the perspiration start as she
faced their chances of escape. An oncoming fragment at that moment
fouled with a similar piece swirling round from another direction,
and the moment thus gained proved their salvation. With quiet
obstinacy the stranger made Katherine enter the boat first; then,
as he stumbled in himself, the two fragments dashed into the
island, which smashed into a thousand pieces.

CHAPTER X

The Stranger Proves a Friend in Need

"Just in time!" exclaimed Miles with a sob of relief. He would
have been most horribly ashamed of tears at any other time, but
Katherine's danger had been so imminent that even his natural
desire for manliness was forgotten for the moment.

Katherine drew a long breath and set her teeth firmly. She was
trembling violently now the strain was over, and it was all she
could do to keep from bursting into noisy crying. But the stranger
was shivering too, and in her care for him she forgot her own
foolish desire for tears.

"You are as wet as I am, and as cold. Can you row?" she asked,
remembering the strength of arm he had displayed in dragging her
out of the water.

"Yes, and shall be glad to do it. You will be safer rowing too,"
he answered, then motioned to Miles to give place.

"I'll steer; then we can go ahead," said the boy jerkily. He had
not got over his fright yet, and was trembling almost as badly as
the others.

Slipping into their places, Kathe