ten, and wasting no breath in talk.

But more and more frequently her eyes rested wistfully on James, mutely
asking him for help. He watched her minute by minute, often begging
her to let him help her.

"Oh, no, not yet; I can go on nicely, if I just rest a little.
There--thank you."

Once she looked at him with such pain in her eyes that he silently took
her hands, placed them on his shoulder and carried her along with his
stronger stroke. She was reassured by his strength, and presently she
slipped away from him, smiling confidently again as she swam alongside.

"I'm all right now; but I suddenly thought, what if anything should
happen to you, and I be left alone! Or what if I should get panicky
and clutch you and drag you down, the way people do sometimes!"

"But I shan't leave you alone, and you're not going to do that!"

Agatha smiled, but could only say, "I hope not!"

She forged ahead a little, and presently had another moment of fright
on looking round and finding that Jim had disappeared. He had suddenly
dived, without giving her warning. He came up a second later, puffing
and spitting the bitter brine; but his face was radiant.

"Rocks and seaweed!" he cried. "The land is near. Come; I can swim
and take you, too, easily. And now I know certainly just which way to
go. Come, come!"

Agatha heard it all, but this time she was unable to utter a word. Jim
saw her stiff lips move in an effort to smile or speak, but he heard no
voice.

"Keep up, keep up, dear girl!" he cried. "We'll soon be there. Try,
_try_ to keep up! Don't lose for a moment the thought that you are
near land, that you are almost there. We _are_ safe, you _can_ go
on--only a few moments more!"

Poor Agatha strove as Jim bade her, gallantly, hearing his voice as
through a thickening wall; but she had already done her best, and more.
She struggled for a few half-conscious moments; then suddenly her arms
grew limp, her eyes closed, and her weight came upon Jim as that of a
dead person. Then he set his teeth and nerved himself to make the
effort of his life.

It is no easy thing to strain forward, swimming the high seas, bearing
above the surface a load which on land would make a strong man stagger.
One must watch one's burden, to guard against mishap; one must save
breath and muscle, and keep an eye for direction, all in a struggle
against a hostile element.

The goal still seemed incredibly far, farther than his strengt