Part 9 (1/2)

”Oily Dave isn't here, but if you will take e one, and had an un of refinement and culture Katherine faced round with such a start of surprise as to nearly send her sprawling again, for the ice was full of pitfalls A youngwhich did duty for a , and her first iave her the clue to his identity He lishht the mail

”Open the door and come out that way,” she said in a tone of sharp authority ”You will never be able to squeeze through that smallunless your shoulders are very narrow indeed”

”Which they are not,” he replied, and disappeared fro at the door, but never a jot did it stir, and after about five ain at theThe water was nearly on a level with the opening now, and risingsounds in Katherine's ice island, which warned her that the rescue must take place in the next few minutes if it was to be effected at all

”The door is jammed What am I to do?” the unknown asked in a calm tone, with no flurry or fuss Indeed, Katherine wondered if he realized how great was his peril and her own

”Break it down, s; only be quick, please,” she said sharply, rave danger

Again he disappeared, and Katherine heard a rain of heavy blows beginning to fall upon the door; then with a cracking, splitting noise the panel gave way, the man inside wrenched off the broken part, and stood revealed up to his waist in water But there was a space of fully three yards between hiround dropped away sharply in front of the house, she knew he

”Get a plank or Oily Dave's long table,” she said, her manner more dictatorial than before, for the unknoas so terribly slow in his

Mrs Jenkin had coain, but Katherine paid no heed to her, for the unknown had appeared with a long, narrow trestle table, which, resting one set of legs on the doorstep, reached to the ice But it was a perilous bridge, and Katherine knew it; only there was no other way, so the peril had to be faced

”Now run, only be ready to spring,” she cried, trying to encourage him

”Easier said than done,” he answered ”I can scarcely walk, much less run”

”Then you must crawl; only please make haste The ice is so rotten that everyon her knees on the ice, regardless of the water which washed over its surface, she tried to hold the edge of the table steady for hi slowly and painfully He was so near to her now that Katherine could hear his panting breath and see the look of gri in a frantic manner, and then Katherine heard a shrill cry froht round the corner of the house But the noise conveyed no rasp that of the unknohen there came a tremendous crash which shot her off the ice and into the water The shock which sent her into the water, however, steadied the rickety bridge over which the stranger was crawling by ja her as she took her plunge, held her fast, then dragged her up beside hith of arm

[Illustration: The rescue of Jarvis Ferrars]

”I aer said in a tone of rueful apology, keeping his clutch on Katherine as she struggled to a kneeling posture

Dashi+ng the wet hair fro that their one way of escape had been cut off A huge fragreat portion Plainly that hy Mrs Jenkin had screa and had tried to warn her There were other ice frag and bowing to the racing current, while they flashed back the rays of the sun with dazzling brilliancy But there was still tiet round the corner of the house to the boat, if only theyfroently: ”Come, come, we have just tiet 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 , 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 hi, splitting ice! Mrs Jenkin had begun screah with ice-cold water, she could feel the perspiration start as she faced their chances of escape An onco round froained proved their salvation With quiet obstinacy the stranger made Katherine enter the boat first; then, as he stuments 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 ashaer had been so iotten for thebreath and set her teeth fir violently now the strain was over, and it was all she could do to keep froer was shi+vering too, and in her care for hiot her own foolish desire for tears

”You are as wet as I a the strength of ar her out of the water

”Yes, and shall be glad to do it You will be safer rowing too,” he answered, then ive place