f Gentles standing on the bank rubbing
his ear as I dived down again in quite a hopeless way now, and, stopping
down a much shorter time, I had given a kick or two, and was rising,
when my hands touched something which glided away.

This encouraged me, and I just took my breath above water, heard the
cries, and dived again, to have the water thundering in my ears.

For a few moments I could feel nothing; then my left hand touched a
bundle of clothes, and in another moment I was at the surface with the
child's head above water, and swimming with all my might for the side.

There was a wild shriek of excitement to greet me, and then there was
very nearly a terrible catastrophe for finale to the scene, for, as soon
as she saw that I had hold of her child, the frantic mother shook off
her companion, and with a mingling of the tragic and ludicrous reached
out with the broom to drag us both in.

Her excitement was too much for her; she took a step forward to reach
us, slipped into deep water, went under, and the next minute she had
risen, snatched at me, and we were struggling together.

I was quite paralysed, while the poor woman had lost her head
completely, and was blind by trying to save herself--holding on to me
with all her might.

Under the circumstances it is no wonder that I became helpless and
confused, and that we sank together in the deep water close now to the
dam head, and then all was black confusion, for my sensations were very
different to what they were when I made my voluntary dives.

It was matter of moments, though, and then a strong hand gripped me by
the arm, we were dragged to the side, and a dozen hands were ready to
help us out on to the bank.

"Give me the child," said a strange voice. "Which is the house? Here--
the mother and one woman, come. Keep the crowd away."

In a confused way I saw a tall man in black take the child in his arms,
and I thought how wet he would make himself; while Mrs Gentles, panting
and gasping for breath, seized me by the hand; and then they passed on
in the middle of the crowd, augmented by a number of workmen, and
disappeared into the cottage I knew so well.

"What! Was it you, Uncle Jack?" I said, looking up in his grave big
eyes.

"Yes, my boy; and I only just came in time. How are you?"

"Horribly wet," I said grimly and with a shiver. Then forcing a laugh
as he held my hands tightly in his. "Why, you're just as bad."

"Yes, but you--are you all