Part 40 (2/2)

”I can't talk in--the water.”

”What?”

”Come on back now.”

I had turned, and begun swimming steadily back, for the water hardly flowed here close to the sh.o.r.e; and as I swam I kept on glancing up at the huge trees, which were four or five times the size of any I had ever seen before.

”Don't you want your breakfast, Esau?” I said, after a few minutes'

swim, but he did not answer. ”Esau, come along.” But still there was no answer; and I turned round and looked back, to see that he was still swimming in the other direction, and a long way from me.

”Esau,” I roared, ”come back!” and I had the satisfaction of seeing him turn, and begin to swim in my direction.

Striking out strongly, I was making for the place where I had left my clothes, when I suddenly heard him hail me.

”Hallo!” I shouted.

”Can't seem to get along here.”

I stopped to watch him, and then a cold shudder ran through me, for I could see that though he was swimming with his face toward me, he was slowly gliding away by the trees on the opposite bank.

”He has got into the current,” I thought; and I was going to shout a warning, but I had the good sense not to do so, for I felt that it would alarm him, and beginning to swim back, I cried--

”Turn in for the sh.o.r.e.”

”Eh?”

”Make for the sh.o.r.e.”

”Can't, lad,” came back; and the cold chill I had before felt thrilled me; while feeling as if I dared not speak, I swam towards him, in agony all the time, for fear I should get into the current with which he was struggling.

”Don't get much nearer,” he shouted, coolly enough, for he had not yet realised his clanger; and making an effort to speak as calmly, I raised my voice and shouted--

”Of course you don't. Turn round and swim the other way, sloping for the bank.”

He did not answer, but he had evidently heard my words, for he rose in the water, turned with a bit of a splash, and began to swim in the other direction; while I followed, keeping close in where there was hardly any current.

Then I stopped and uttered a hoa.r.s.e cry, for I saw him suddenly shoot right out toward the centre of the stream, and begin going down at a rate that was terrible. For I could see that any attempt to fight against the stream would be folly; all he could do was to keep himself afloat, and trust to being swept into some other cross current which might take him sh.o.r.eward.

I felt willing enough to go to his help, but I could do nothing, and the feeling of impotence began to rob me of such little power as I possessed.

And now I saw that he realised his peril, for he raised one arm above the water and waved it to me, lowering it again directly, and swimming with the side-stroke, so that it seemed to me that he was drowning, for his head was nearly hidden by the water.

”Now, my lads, breakfast,” came from the bank, and I saw Gunson appear from among the pines. ”Out with you. Where is Dean?”

I rose in the water, and pointed to where the poor fellow was rapidly pa.s.sing out of eye-shot, being now quite three hundred yards away, and rapidly increasing the distance.

”What madness! He'll be--”

I didn't hear him finish the sentence, but I know what he meant to say; and in despair I swam to the shallows, waded out, and stood shading my eyes and watching Esau, who was still afloat, but rapidly being carried away.

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