th the others he sat still and watched.

Now the _schimmel_ struck out bravely, heading for the other bank, but
in the fierce current it was not possible that any horse should reach it
swimming in a straight line, for the weight of the stream was too great.
Sihamba had noted, however, that from the further shore, but two
or three hundred paces lower down the river, a little point of land
projected into it, and this the horse had seen also, or perhaps she told
him of it, at least for that point he swam steadily. In five minutes
they were in the centre of the torrent, and here it ran with a roar
and mighty force so that its waves began to break over the _schimmel's_
head, and they feared that he would drown. So much did Sihamba fear it,
indeed, that she slipped from his back, and leaving Suzanne to cling
to the saddle, caught hold of his mane, floating alongside of him
and protected by his neck from the whirl of the water. Lying thus she
continued to call to the horse and to urge him forward, and ever he
answered to her words, so that although twice he nearly sank, in the
end he set his feet upon a sandbank and, having rested there a while,
plunged forward, half wading and half swimming, to the projecting point
of land, up which he scrambled, still carrying Suzanne and dragging
Sihamba with him, until once more they found themselves safe upon the
solid earth, where he stood shaking himself and snorting.

Suzanne slipped from the saddle and lay flat upon the ground, looking at
the awful water they had passed, and by her lay Sihamba. Presently the
little doctoress spoke.

"It is well to have lived," she said, "if only to have dared that deed,
for no others have ever made the passage across the Red Water in flood,
two of them on one tired horse," and she caught in her arms the muzzle
of the _schimmel_ that hung above her, pressing it to her breast as
though it had been a child, whereon the brute whinnied faintly, knowing
well that she was thanking him for his toil and courage.

"I pray God that I may never be called upon to make it again," answered
Suzanne, staggering to her feet, the water running from her dripping
dress as she turned to look across the river.

Now, when Van Vooren's horse refused to face the stream, he had ridden
up and down shouting like a madman; once even he lifted his gun and
pointed it, then let it fall again, remembering that he could not make
sure of hitting the horse, and that if he did so Suza