space,
the links of the chain remaining unbroken; but even the greatest
training could not hold it together for long at such a time, and the
non-swimmers were the first to go under and quit their hold, rolling
over with the tremendous rush of the stream, and rising again, to snatch
wildly at the nearest object, and in two cases to hamper the unfortunate
who was within reach.

"_Sauve qui peut_," muttered Bracy a's he glided along, with his sword
hanging from his wrist by the knot; but his actions contradicted his
thoughts, for instead of trying to save himself he turned to the help of
Drummond, to whom one of the men was clinging desperately, and the very
next minute he felt a hand clutch at his collar and grip him fast.

The rattle of firing was in his ears, and then the thundering of the
water, as he was forced below the surface into the darkness; but he did
not lose his presence of mind. He let himself go under, and then, with
a few vigorous strokes, rose to the surface, with the man clinging to
him behind, and wrenched himself round in his effort to get free. He
was only partially successful, though; and, panting heavily, he swam
with his burden, just catching sight of Drummond in a similar position
to himself, many yards lower down the stream.

"Let go," he shouted to the man. "Let go, and I'll save you."

But the man's nerve was gone, and he only clung the tighter and made a
drowning-man's effort to throw his legs about his officer's.

"Help! help!" he gasped, and a desperate struggle ensued, during which
both went beneath the surface again, only to rise with Bracy completely
crippled, for the poor drowning wretch had been completely mastered by
his intense desire for life, and arms and legs were now round his
officer in the death-grip.

Bracy cast a wild, despairing look round as he was borne rapidly along,
and all seemed over, when a head suddenly came into sight from behind
them, an arm rose above the surface, and the swimmer to whom it belonged
drove his fist with a dull smack right on the drowning-man's ear, and
with strange effect.

It was as if the whole muscular power had been instantaneously
discharged like so much electricity at the touch of a rod, the horrible
clinging grasp ceased, and with a feeble effort Bracy shook himself free
and began to swim.

"A jolly idgit!" panted a voice; "a-holding on to yer orficer like that!
Want to drown him? Can you keep up, sir?"

"Yes, I think so," said