half-finished world, into which man might only venture at his peril.

The river had fallen and its turbid green had faded, for the frost had
touched the glaciers that fed it on the heights, but the stream ran
fast, swirling round the island and breaking into eddies. In one place,
a white streak marked a rebound of the current from an obstacle below,
and it was across this spot the men dragged the pulley. A chain and hook
hung from the latter, and they were fishing for the skip that was lost
when the log broke the rope.

Festing had spent the most part of the previous day trying different
plans for grappling the skip, but the fast currents and smooth side
of the big steel bucket had baffled him. His efforts had cost time and
money, and he began to realize that he must give it up or try dangerous
means. The chain stopped and tightened as the hook struck something
below the surface, but next moment it moved on again, and when this had
happened a number of times Festing raised his hand.

"You can quit, boys," he said, and turned to a man close by. "She must
have fallen with the shackles where the hook can't get hold, but I think
she's only about three feet under water."

The other studied the broken surface. The water was not transparent, but
here and there a darker patch indicated a rock below. The eddies made
a revolving slack along the bank, but near the skip joined the main
current in its downstream rush.

"I've a notion there's a gully between her and us," he remarked.
"Anyhow, we'll try to wade, if you like."

Festing threw off his jacket and plunged in. When he had gone a few feet
he was up to his waist and it cost him an effort to keep his feet. After
two or three more steps, the bottom fell away and, floundering savagely,
he sank to his shoulders. Then his companion pulled him back.

"The gully's there all right," the man remarked when they clambered out.
"Say, that water's surely cold."

"It will be colder soon when the ice comes down, and if the skip's to be
got out, we must get her now. I think I could reach her by swimming."

The other looked doubtful, but Festing took off his heavy boots, and
picking up the end of the rope they had used to move the pulley, walked
to the edge of the island. He was now a short distance above the skip,
and hoped the eddies would help him to reach the ledge it rested on
before he was swept past; but he must avoid being drawn into the main
stream, since there was not much