, starting upon a run for the spot where she thought
that the boat would be most likely to reach the shore.

She reached it first, and the boat being still several yards away floating
upon very deep water, she watched it a moment anxiously.

Enna was sitting still in the bottom, hugging the doll to her bosom and
singing a lullaby to it; but suddenly as Elsie stood waiting and watching
in trembling suspense, she sprang up, tossed the doll from her, leaped
over the side of the boat, and disappeared beneath the water.

Elsie tore off her sash, tied a pebble to one end, and as Enna rose to the
surface, spluttering and struggling, threw it to her crying, "Catch hold
and I will try to pull you out."

"Oh, don't! you will but sacrifice your own life!" cried a manly voice, in
tones of almost agonized entreaty, and Lester Leland came dashing down the
bank.

It was too late; Enna seized the ribbon with a jerk that threw Elsie also
into the water, and they were struggling there together, both in imminent
danger of drowning.

It was but an instant before Lester was there also; death with Elsie would
be far preferable to life without her, and he would save or perish with
her.

It was near being the last; would have been had not Bruno come to his aid,
but with the good help of the faithful dog, he at length succeeded in
rescuing both ladies, dragging them up the bank and laying them on the
grass, both in a state of insensibility.

"Go to the house, Bruno, go and bring help," he said pantingly, for he was
well-nigh overcome by his exertions, and the dog bounded away in the
direction of the house.

"Lord, grant it may come speedily," ejaculated the young man, kneeling
beside the apparently lifeless form of her he loved so well. "Oh, my
darling, have those sweet eyes closed forever?" he cried in anguish,
wiping the water from her face, and chafing her cold hands in his. "Elsie
my love, my life, my all! oh! I would have died to save you!"

Enna had been missed almost immediately, and Calhoun, Arthur and several
servants at once set out in different directions in search of her.

Arthur and Pomp got upon the right scent, followed her to Ion, and joined
by Mr. Travilla, soon traced her through the garden and shrubbery down to
the lake, coming upon the scene of the catastrophe, or rather of the
rescue, but a moment after Bruno left.

"Why, what is this?" exclaimed Mr. Travilla in alarm, "is it Elsie? can
she have been in the wa