Part 34 (1/2)

Bart was a good swih encu the bank somewhere lower down; and, confident in this respect, he looked round as he rose to the surface for the body of him he had tried to save, for as he struck the water he had loosened his hold

There was just a gli a couple of sturdy strokes, Bart reached it before it sank lower, caught hold, and then guiding his burden, struck out for the shore

The rocks from which he had come were already a hundred yards above the them doith incredible swiftness, and Bart knew that it would be folly to do uide his course towards so rocks upon the bank There was the possibility, too, of finding so hard to get a hold upon a piece of smooth stone that promised well, but fro water, Bart found himself in a deep, still pool, round which he ept twice, and, to his horror, nearer each ti, he felt that hethis, he e of the great, cal pool just as the bushes on the bank were parted with a loud rush, and the Beaver literally bounded into the water, to render such help that when, faint and exhausted, they all reached a shallow, rocky portion of the streae, the chief was ready to lift out the object the lad had tried to save, and then hold out his hand and help the lad ashore

The nextall they knew to try and resuscitate hi to save, the interpreter joining the the plan adopted by the Indians in such a case, the new-comer told Bart how the accident had occurred

His words amounted to the state sticks for a fire to roast a salmon they had speared with a sharp, forked stick, they had seen the Doctor busily rinsing the sand in a shallow pool of the rocks, well out, where the streaer, and were busy over their preparations, when looking up all at once, they found the Doctor was gone

Even then they did not think there was anything wrong, believing that while they were busy their leader had gone to solance down the streaht of the bright tin bohich the Doctor had been using to rinse the sand in his hunt for gold, floating on the surface a hundred yards below, and slowly sailing round and round in an eddy

This started the man, with the result that they reached Bart in ti and arduous task the Doctor began to show signs of returning life, and at last opened his eyes and stared about him like one who had just awakened from a dream

”What--what has happened?” he asked ”Did--did I slip from the rocks, or have I been asleep?”

He shuddered, and struggled into a sitting position, then thoroughly co after a few minutes what had passed:

”Who saved me?” he asked quickly

The Beaver seemed to understand the drift of the question, for he pointed with a smile to Bart

”You?” exclai,” said Bartdoardswhich, you pulled ot near the shore, and then I could do no more It was the Beaver there who saved us”

The Doctor rose and grasped the chief's hand, wringing it warmly

”Where's Joses?” he said sharply

No one knew

”Let us go back,” said the Doctor; ”perhaps we shallfaint and utterly exhausted, he followed the two Indians as they chose the , the Doctor's words proving to be right, for they ca to the plain with six heavy fish hanging froills

They reached the chimney, as Bart christened it, just about the saht of the saturated clothes

”What! been in after the fish?” he said with a chuckle ”I gotwet”

”We've had a narrow escape fro, Joses,” said the Doctor, hoarsely

”That's bad,away and leaving you and Master Bart, there; but I thought a few o' these sal, so I went and snared 'em out with a bit o' wire and a pole”

”I shall soon be better, Joses,” replied the Doctor ”The accident would have happened all the saet back to the ca to leave theht and cooked?” asked Joses, regretfully

”No,” said the Doctor, sinking down upon a stone, ”let us rest and eat theht sunshi+ne, Bart, and we'll wring soht to carry”