boat gliding downstream
faster than I seemed to be able to swim, while I knew that I should
never be able to overtake it, and that I was getting deeper in the
water.

"Oh, if I could only make him understand!--if I could only make him
understand!" I kept thinking, as I shouted again hoarsely; and this
time he did seem to comprehend that something was wrong, for I saw him
jump up and begin making signs to me. Then he shouted something, and I
saw that he was about to jump in again as if to come to me.

But he stopped, and took up one of the oars, to begin rowing, but of
course only to send the boat round. Then, as if puzzled, he put the oar
over the other side, and rowed hard like that, to send the boat's head
in the other direction, repeating this again and again, and now standing
up to shout to me.

I could not shout in return, only stare at him wildly, as he kept on
making ineffective efforts to row to me, till all seemed to be over; the
bright water and the beautiful green banks began to grow misty; and I
knew that though I might keep struggling on for a few minutes, I should
never reach the boat, and that he would never be able to row it to me.

I did not feel in much trouble nor get in any great alarm, for I suppose
the severe exertion dulled everything, and robbed my sufferings of their
poignancy as I still swam on more and more slowly, with my starting eyes
fixed upon the boat still many yards away from me, and growing more and
more dim as the water began to bubble about my lips.

All at once in front of me I saw the boy's black figure rise up in the
boat like a shadow. Then there was a splash and the water flashed up,
and I knew he must be swimming toward me to help me; but I could not see
that he had taken the rope in his teeth, after finding himself unable to
row in my direction, and had essayed to swim to me and tug the boat in
his wake.

This in so swift a stream was impossible, but his brave act saved my
life, for he was able to hold his own by swimming hard till the current
bore me down to him just as I was sinking; and my next recollection is
of feeling myself clutched and my hand being raised to the edge of the
boat, while one arm was about my waist.

The feeling of comparative security brought back my fleeting senses, and
I made a convulsive clutch with the other hand at the gunwale; while the
next thing I remember is feeling myself helped over the side by the boy,
who had climbed in, and lyi