ed down, and ran to a gate, crept through, and then, leading the
way, he walked fast along by the side of a hedge till we had crossed one
field, and then began to trot, seeming to get stronger every minute,
while I followed, with my wet trousers clinging to my legs, and the
water going "suck suck" in my boots.

We crossed two or three fields, and then Mercer drew up, panting, and
with the natural colour coming back into his face.

"We'll walk now," he said, "and go right round, and slip in through the
garden. Perhaps we can get in and up to our room without being seen."

"Yes, do," I said, looking dolefully at my wet legs, and my jacket all
covered with green from the penstock. "Feel better now?"

"Yes, I'm getting all right. I say, didn't I seem like a horrid
coward?"

"I don't think so," I said. "It was enough to frighten anybody."

Mercer was silent for a few minutes. Then he began again.

"I never felt like that before. I was going to swim, but the eel had
gone about my legs, and as soon as I felt the line round them, and that
horrid great thing twining it all over me, I tried hard to kick it off;
but you haven't got much strength in the water, and then, as I felt that
I couldn't get my legs clear, I came over all queer, and so horribly
frightened that I couldn't do anything. It was just like having a dream
in the night, after eating too much cake."

"It was very horrible," I said, with a shiver at the recollection,
though I was beginning to feel warm.

"Yes, wasn't it? I say, don't go and think me a coward, there's a good
chap."

"I was not going to think you a coward," I said. "It isn't likely."

"But I must have seemed like one, because I can swim ever so far, but
when I found myself like that, all the strength went out of me.--I say!"

"Yes?" I said, for he remained silent, and trudged on, looking hard at
the ground.

"I did like you for paying at Polly Hopley's, and I said I'd do anything
for you, but I can't tell you what I feel now, for your helping me."

"Don't wish you to tell me," I replied. "Come along. I want to get on
some dry things."

"But--"

"Hold your tongue," I said. "There's some one coming."

He looked sharply in the indicated direction, and a shout saluted us.

"It's some of the boys," he whispered. "Come on." He led the way to a
hedge, forced his way through, and I followed, and once more he led me
along at a trot, with the great house right before us among