're worth," he roared
to Hugh, as he made a grab with his right hand. His legs began to lose
their grip under the violent contortions of the pike. The boat tilted
madly. Hugh reached forward to help him. There was a frantic effort, and
it capsized.

"Bad luck," said Doll, coming up spluttering, shaking his head like a
spaniel. "But we shall get him yet. He's bleeding like a pig. He'll
come up directly. Good Lord! the water's like ice. We must be over one
of the springs. I suppose you are all right, Scarlett."

Hugh had come up, but in very different fashion.

"Yes," he said, faintly, clutching the upturned boat.

"I'm not sure," said Doll, keeping going with one hand, "that we had not
better get ashore and fetch the other boat. The water's enough to freeze
one."

"I can't swim," said Hugh, his teeth chattering.

He was a delicate man at the best of times, and the cold was laying hold
of him.

Doll looked at his blue lips and shaking hands, and his face became
grave. He measured the distance to the shore with his eye. It had
receded in a treacherous manner.

"I'm not much of a performer myself," he said, "since I broke my arm
last winter, but I can get to the shore. The question is, can you hold
on while I go back and bring the other boat, or shall we have a try at
getting back together?"

"I can hold on all right," said Hugh, instantly aware that Doll did not
think he could tow him to land, but was politely ready to risk his
existence in the attempt.

"Back directly," said Doll, and without a second's delay he was gone.
Hugh put out his whole strength in the endeavor to raise himself
somewhat out of the ice-cold water. But the upturned boat sidled away
from him like a skittish horse, and after grappling with it he only
slipped back again exhausted, and had to clutch it as best he could.

As he clung to the gunwale he heard a faint coughing and gasping close
to his ear. Some one was drowning. Hugh realized that it must be Crack,
under the boat. He called to him; he chirruped, as if all were well. He
stretched one hand as far as he could under the boat feeling for him.
But he could not reach him. Presently the faint, difficult sound ceased,
began again, stopped, and was heard no more.

A great silence seemed to rush in on the extinction of that small sound.
It stooped down and enveloped Hugh in it. Everything was very calm, very
still. The boat kept turning slowly round and round, the only thing that
moved