shrill, instantly smothered, and then I
sank, struggling hard to keep above water, yet borne down by the
weight of the canoe. I came up again, choking and half strangled, and
sought to grip the boat as it whirled past. My fingers found nothing
to cling to, slipping along the wet keel, until I went down again, but
this time holding my breath. My water-soaked garments, and heavy shoes
made swimming almost impossible, yet I struggled to keep face above
water. Two men had reached the canoe, and had somehow found hold. One
of these was an Indian, but they were already too far away to aid me,
and in another moment had vanished in the white crested waves. Not
another of our boat's crew was visible, nor could I be sure of where
the shore lay.

Twice I went down, waves breaking over me, and flinging me about like
a cork. Yet I was conscious, though strangely dazed and hopeless. I
struggled, but more as if in a dream than in reality. Something black,
shapeless, seemed to sweep past me through the water; it was borne
high on a wave, and I flung up my hands in protection; I felt myself
gripped, lifted partially, then the grasp failed, and I dropped back
into the churning water. The canoe, or whatever else it was, was gone,
swept remorselessly past by the raging wind, but as I came up again to
the surface a hand clasped me, drew me close until I had grip on a
broad shoulder.

CHAPTER XVIII

ALONE WITH DE ARTIGNY

Beyond this I knew nothing; with the coming of help, the sense that I
was no longer struggling unaided for life in those treacherous waters,
all strength and consciousness left me. When I again awoke, dazed,
trembling, a strange blur before my eyes, I was lying upon a sandy
beach, with a cliff towering above me, its crest tree-lined, and I
could hear the dash of waves breaking not far distant. I endeavored to
raise myself to look about, but sank back helpless, fairly struggling
for breath. An arm lifted my head from the sand, and I stared into a
face bending above me, at first without recollection.

"Lie still a moment," said a voice gently. "You will breathe easier
shortly, and regain strength."

I knew my fingers closed on the man's hand convulsively, but the water
yet blinded my eyes. He must have perceived this for he wiped my face
with a cloth, and it was then I perceived his face clearly, and
remembered.

"The Sieur de Artigny!" I exclaimed.

"Of course," he answered. "Who else should it be, Madame?