ly, and those meadow lots of mine,
they'll make me rich. Amanda, would you marry me? Would you love an
old duffer like me? Would you like a nice little home, and an
occasional silk dress, and no more teaching, and some one to love
you--always? Would you, Amanda, would you?"

"Yes, I would," replied Amanda.

CHAPTER XXV

Lane was returning from a restless wandering in the woods. As he
neared the flooded river he thought he heard a shout for help. He
hurried down to the bank, and looked around him, but saw no living
thing. Then he was brought up sharply by a cry, the unmistakable
scream of a human being in distress. It seemed to come from behind a
boathouse. Running as far round the building as the water would permit
he peered up and down the river in both directions.

At first he saw only the half-submerged float, the sunken hull of a
launch, the fast-running river, and across the wide expanse of muddy
water the outline of the levee. Suddenly he spied out in the river a
piece of driftwood to which a man was clinging.

"Help! Help!" came faintly over the water.

Lane glanced quickly about him. Several boats were pulled up on the
shore, one of which evidently had been used by a boatman collecting
driftwood that morning, for it contained oars and a long pike-pole.
The boat was long, wide of beam, and flat of bottom, with a sharp bow
and a blunt stern, a craft such as experienced rivermen used for heavy
work. Without a moment's hesitation Lane shoved it into the water and
sprang aboard.

Meanwhile, short though the time had been, the log with its human
freight had disappeared beyond the open space in the willows.

Although Lane pulled a powerful stroke, when he got out of the slack
water into the current, so swift was it that the boat sheered abruptly
and went down stream with a sweep. Marking the piece of driftwood and
aided by the swiftly running stream Lane soon overhauled it.

The log which the man appeared to be clutching was a square piece of
timber, probably a beam of a bridge, for it was long and full of
spikes. When near enough Lane saw that the fellow was not holding on
but was helpless and fast on the spikes. His head and arms were above
water.

Lane steered the boat alongside and shouted to the man. As he made no
outcry or movement, Lane, after shipping the oars, reached over and
grasped his collar. Steadying himself, so as not to overturn the boat,
Lane pulled him half-way over the gunwale,