, but it soon
began to rise higher and higher, until it reached his knees; and as we
saw it foaming round him, we feared every instant that he would be
carried off his legs.

Though he stepped directly across the stream he kept looking upwards, so
that, should he have to swim, he might strike out at once in the right
direction. More than half the passage had been accomplished. There was
ample length of rope, which we allowed occasionally to run out as it was
required. Still the water got deeper.

Alick stopped for a moment, as if hesitating whether he should proceed.
Then again he stepped out, and the water surged up almost to his waist,
as it seemed to us at that distance.

A cry escaped us. We thought he had gone, but he recovered himself and
sprang to a higher level. Again the water reached no higher than his
knees. He went on with more confidence, till he stood safe on the rock
for which he was making.

"Hold on tightly to the rope," he shouted.--"Robin, you come next.
Don't let go your grasp, though you may find yourself carried off your
legs."

"Ay, ay!" answered Robin. "I'll not do that; the rope is what I'm going
to trust to." And without more ado he plunged in, not walking steadily
as Alick had been compelled to do, but leaping like a dog in shallow
water, so that he got across in much less time with apparently less
risk.

Martin followed his example, and was twice nearly carried off his legs.

It was now my turn. The rope, should it not break, would haul me back
should I lose my footing; but the danger was that it might break, as it
would have to bear my weight with the current pressing against it, as
also that of the articles I carried.

There was a piece of rope to spare. I put the end into Bouncer's mouth,
and patting him on the head told him to hold on and swim after me. He
understood perfectly what was to be done. I did not for a moment
hesitate, as there was no time to be lost; and springing in, instead of
going directly across I waded diagonally up the stream, Bouncer holding
tight on to the rope, and bravely breasting the current. By this means
I found, as I expected, that I was in shallower water, and was able to
get across almost as fast as the others had done with the aid of the
rope.

The next passage we had to make was shorter, but was quite as deep, and
for a few seconds Alick was in great danger of being carried down the
stream. Two other watery spaces had still to be c