I."

"And so were we," said Elinor.

"Then this stranger turned out well? A gentleman, a man of honor?"

"Yes, oh, yes! And more than that. He gave his life for mine."

From the look which came into Elinor's face, and from a quiver in the
voice, the sympathetic visitor knew there was a deeper feeling than had
been expressed. She said, gently:

"You are tired now. Tell me the rest of the story later."

"No, no. I will tell you now. One morning, about a month ago, the first
pleasant day after a week of rain, we started off along the bank of the
river to see if the flood had carried away our raft--the new one. Just
out there, in the woods, not far from here, I stepped to the edge of the
bank and looked down at the water. The river was higher than we had ever
seen it,--fuller, swifter, with logs and bushes in it. Even big trees
came along, all rushing to the sea at an awful speed."

"Yes, I know that river in spring. The water is yellow, and with a
frightful current,--fascinating to watch, but it terrifies."

Elinor nodded. "Fascinating to watch, yes. But Pats told me--"

"Pats?"

"My friend. His name was Patrick."

"And Pats is the little name--the familiar--for Patrick?"

"Sometimes."

"Ah, I never knew that! But pardon me. Please go on."

"He told me to come back--that the bank was undermined by the river and
might give way. He said: 'Whoever enters that river to-day leaves hope
behind.' At the very instant I started back the earth under me gave way,
and--and, well, I went down to the river and under the water--an awful
distance. I thought I should never come up again. But I did come up at
last, gasping, half dead, several yards from the shore. The current was
carrying me down the river, but I saw Pats on the bank above, watching
me. His face was pale and he was hurrying along to keep near. Oh, how I
envied him, up there, alive and safe!"

"Poor child! I can well believe it!"

"He cried out, 'Try and swim toward the shore! Try hard!' And I tried,
but was carried along so fast that I seemed to make no headway. Then I
saw him run on ahead, pull off his shoes and outer clothes, slide down
the bank and shoot out into the water toward me."

"Bravo!" exclaimed the listener. "Bravo! That was splendid!" And in her
enthusiasm she rose, and sat down again.

Elinor sank back in her chair. But the Princess was leaning forward with
wide open eyes and parted lips.

"Then what happened?"

"He reached me, caugh