immense masses of
floating ice with convulsive agony; and, being covered with a thick
worsted mitten, for some minutes retained its desperate hold.

Whilst the young people ran shrieking away, and calling for help in all
directions, Josiah, who was an excellent swimmer, never paused to
consider the danger, but plunged boldly into the water, and, with the
timely assistance of Lary, who came with a rope to his aid, he succeeded
in bringing the senseless boy in safety to the land.

Dan Simpson happened to be passing at the very moment George fell into
the pond; and, on Henry West imploring him to come and rescue his
unfortunate young master from a watery grave, he had the brutality to
reply:--

"No! no! Master West, I am not such a fool as to risk my life for any
one, much less for George Hope; but here comes Lary with a rope, who
will do the job much better than I."

"Unfeeling man!" exclaimed Henry, turning indignantly away; "you may one
day know what it is to perish for want of assistance."

[Illustration: _The little Quaker plunges in the water to save George
from drowning._ _p. 52._]

But to return to Josiah Shirley; when he beheld the pale ghastly
countenance of the youth for whose life he had so nobly risked his own,
the first idea that entered his mind was that George had already paid
the debt of nature, and, turning to Lary, in a hurried voice, he said--

"Oh, Patrick! he does not breathe or move! I fear he is quite dead!"

"I doubt, Master Shirley," said Lary, as he raised the body in his arms,
"he is quite gone: his poor father will be distracted at his loss; for,
in spite of his faults, 'tis a fine youth."

"Oh! think not of his errors now," said Josiah; "he has most likely
dearly paid for them. Carry him to our house directly, and let some one
run for Mr. Carter, the surgeon!"

"His own father's mansion is as near, Master Shirley."

"Do not carry him there, Patrick; Mr. Hope is in London; those servants
hate him, and will not take care of him: but my dear Mamma will pay him
every attention."

They had now reached Mrs. Shirley's door, who, hearing the tread of many
feet, came out to inquire the cause, and, though greatly shocked at the
sight which met her eyes, she had courage sufficient to give the
necessary orders for George's recovery, and sent one of her servants
directly for Mr. Carter.

That gentleman soon arrived; and Josiah, anxious to know the fate of
George, was going to follow hi