a strong current which swept inshore, and
this current caught rescuer and rescued and brought them up at a point
where Dick was in reach of Chippy's patrol staff. Chippy, who had seen
his comrade's idea, had followed, and was now ready to lend a hand.

'Here, Dick!' he shouted, and stretched out his strong stick. Dick
seized it, and Chippy drew both inshore.

'Take her first,' gasped Dick. 'There's no bottom; the bank goes
straight down.'

He seized a tuft of rushes springing at the edge of the water and
supported himself, while Chippy lifted the little girl out of the
water, and laid her on the bank. In a second Dick was beside him.
Relieved of the weight of the child, Dick swung himself up and
scrambled out nimbly.

As he shook himself, an elderly man in white dusty clothes ran across
the bridge and down the bank towards them. It was the miller. The
shouts of the boys had called him to the mill-door, and he had seen the
plucky rescue. He ran up trembling and white-faced, too shaken for the
moment to speak. The little girl was his grand-daughter, the child of
his only son.

Chippy looked up sharply as he came.

'Wheer's the nearest place wi' a fire an' a woman in it?' cried the
Raven.

The miller pointed to his house, a little behind the mill, and shaded
by a grove of chestnut-trees.

'Ah! I didn't see it at fust,' said Chippy, and he caught up the
little girl in his wiry arms, and hurried for the bridge. He crossed
it with speedy foot, and Dick and the miller followed. The door of the
house was open, and Chippy marched straight in and laid his burden on
the hearth in front of a blazing wood-fire. The miller's wife came
downstairs at that moment, and uttered a cry of alarm.

'What's come to Gracie?' she said.

'Your little gell, eh?' said the Raven. 'She tumbled into the race,
an' my mate fetched her out. She's more frightened nor hurt, I
shouldn't wonder. She worn't in above a minnit.'

He left the child to her grandmother's care, and went out to meet Dick
and the miller. The old man was thanking Dick with a voice which still
quavered, for he had received a great shook.

'Don't worry,' said Chippy cheerfully; 'she'll soon be all right. Th'
old lady's lookin' arter her. Now, Dick, wheer are ye goin' to dry
yerself?'

'Come into the mill,' cried the old man. 'There's a good fire in the
drying-kiln.'

'That'll do,' said the Raven, 'an' if ye'll kindly oblige wi' a blanket
or suthin