ment above the surface, and then go down, weighted as he was by the
shackles on his ankles; and, as I gazed, I nearly went after him, the
boat gave such a lunge, but I saved myself, and found that it was caused
by Morgan leaping back rope in hand, after unfastening the moorings, and
it was well he did so, sending the boat well off into the stream,
floating after our purchase.

"See him?" cried my father, eagerly, as he threw off hat and coat ready
to dive in.

"Not yet, sir," said Morgan, standing ready with the boat-hook.

"I would not have him drowned for five hundred pounds," cried my father.
"No, no, George, my boy, you must not go after him; his struggles would
drown you both."

"Don't see him, sir. Big alligator hasn't got him, has it?"

"Don't talk like that, man," cried my father, with a shudder; "but you
ought to be able to see him in this clear water."

"I see him!" I cried, excitedly; "give me the boat-hook."

It was passed to me, and after a couple of misses, I felt the hook take
hold, drew up gently, and as I hauled in, we found that the boy was
coming up feet first, the iron having passed between the ring of the
shackle and the boy's ankle.

"Steady, my lad, steady!" cried Morgan, as I drew the boy nearer, and
the next minute he was seized and drawn into the boat, feeble and
helpless now, half dead, and making no further attempt to escape as the
boat was paddled back toward the landing-place.

"That's quieted him a bit anyhow, sir," said Morgan. "Won't take his
clothes long to dry, Master George, will it?"

"Poor fellow! He has been so ill-used," said my father, "that he thinks
we mean to do him harm."

"Oh, we'll soon teach him better, sir," replied Morgan, as I laid my
hand on the boy's side to feel if his heart was beating. "Oh, he arn't
drowned, sir, and the wash 'll do him no end of good. Here we are!"

He leaped out, made the boat fast, and then, coming back, was about to
carry the boy ashore; but my father had forestalled him, and stepped out
with the boy in his arms, laying him gently down on the grass, and then
looking wonderingly at Morgan, who had followed, and knelt down to pass
a rope through the shackle and make it fast to a ring-bolt used for
mooring the boat, and driven into one of the tree-trunks close to the
water.

"Not necessary," said my father.

"Begging your pardon, sir, he'll come to and be off while we're busy
perhaps. Now about the man; I'm rather 'fraid ab