d on a trolley they were loosing off. But we had better
change our clothes."

"Come to my shack," said Festing. "Signal them to send a trolley, boys."

CHAPTER XXI

CHARNOCK TRIES HIS STRENGTH

The skip that crossed the river was loaded, and Charnock and Festing
were forced to wait until it came back. They climbed to a platform on
the bridge-pier and stood for some minutes, shivering in the wind. The
skip would only carry one, and when it arrived Charnock made Festing get
in.

"You were in the water longest," he said. "Get aboard as quick as you
can!"

Festing was swung across the river, but waited until Charnock arrived,
when they ran up the hill to the former's shack. The fire was out and
Festing's face was blue, while Charnock's teeth chattered as he threw
off his clothes. Festing gave him another suit.

"I'm afraid they're not very dry, but they're the best I've got," he
said. "You did a plucky thing, Bob."

"Not at all, and you would, no doubt, have landed if I hadn't come. You
see, the skip was starting and I didn't stop to think. But it's horribly
cold. Where's your towel?"

He put on the half-dry clothes and went to the door. "I'm not often in
such a hurry to get back to work, but if I don't move I'll freeze. See
you later!"

"Stop a moment," Festing called. "Do you find the bunk-house
comfortable?"

"It's not luxurious, but doesn't leak very much unless it rains
unusually hard."

"Then why not come up here at night? I haven't another bunk or I'd have
suggested it before, but a carload of ship-lap has arrived and I dare
say Kerr will let me have a few boards."

"Thanks; I'd like that," said Charnock, who hurried away.

Soon afterwards Festing resumed his work. Kerr allowed him to take the
boards, and when he had finished his supper Charnock came in. Sitting
down by the fire, he filled his pipe.

"There's more room here and you can dry your clothes," he remarked,
stretching out his legs to the blaze.

"We're going to talk about what happened this morning," Festing replied.
"I was getting exhausted when you jumped off the skip."

"After all, I only gave you a push now and then. I was fresh, and
imagine I swim better than you."

"It's possible. I don't swim very well."

"Then why did you go into the rapid? I call it a blamed silly thing!"

"I felt I had to recover the skip."

"Not at all," said Charnock, with a grin. "The skip could have stopped
where it was. For a man who thinks mu