of rest that poor mud-coated wretch must have
before taking any more risks, so she said cheerfully: "Now, stay as
you are for five or ten minutes, just to get your strength back a
little, and I will shift my cargo to accommodate you, for you will
need a reserved seat, I fancy. Phil, take your handkerchief and
wipe the poor man's face. I'm afraid it is rather a dirty one.
Your handkerchiefs are never fit to be seen, but it is better than
nothing."

Phil took a grimy blue-and-yellow cotton rag from the pocket of his
serge nether garments, and proceeded to wipe the rescued man's face
with as much force and energy as if he had been polishing tin pans
with a view to making them shine.

"Softly, softly! How would you like to have your own face rubbed
in that fashion?" admonished Katherine; and then, finishing her
preparations, she stood up in the boat in readiness to help the
poor man through his last stage to safety. "Please throw me that
oar," she said.

Phil took up the oar, and pitched it with great dexterity, so that
it fell close to the boat.

Katherine picked it up, making a little grimace of disgust at its
filthiness; then, wiping the worst of the mud off on the nearest
clump of rushes, she proceeded to lash both oars together with the
other end of the rope that was tied to Phil.

"Are you ready?" she asked sharply, for the man still knelt gasping
and panting, and seemed to have no power to help himself.

Aided by Phil he rose slowly to his feet, then said in a hoarse
voice: "I don't think I can walk that bridge."

"You will have to do it, or stay where you are until we can row
round to Seal Cove to bring assistance for you. Even then it may
be hours before help can reach you, for the fishermen are all out
to-day, and Mr. Ferrars is away also, as he has had to go to
Akimiski to-day with Mr. Selincourt and his daughter."

There was contempt in Katherine's tone now, and she meant it to be
so. If the man had a scrap of courage in him, she must fan it into
active life, but if he were a poltroon, pure and simple, then she
must do the best she could and leave the result.

To her delight, however, he lifted his head with an angry jerk. "I
will come, of course, but I shall sink in and you will have to pull
me out again," he said.

"Oh, you won't sink very far, and I have you well roped!" she said
cheerfully. "But if you are able to spare him, let Phil dance
across first, then he will be here to help me