then two-thirds of the distance between the mainland and the
island, in the full sweep of the raging current. It struck us
sidelong, with such force as to require all our combined strength to
afford the laboring boat headway. Suddenly Eloise startled us with an
outcry.

"What is that yonder?" she questioned excitedly, pointing directly
up-stream. "It looks the strangest red thing ever I saw on water. I
believed it moved but now, as if alive."

Keeping my oar in motion, lest we should drift backward, I made shift
to glance across my shoulder in the direction indicated. The river had
us completely in its grasp, tossing the light boat in a majestic flood
of angry water, whitened by foam, and beaten into waves, where it
rounded the rocky edge of the island. Across this tumbling surge
streamed the glorious sunlight, gilding each billow into beauty, while
in the midst of it, bearing swiftly down toward us, came that strange
thing that had so startled Madame. What in the name of nature it might
prove to be, I could not hazard--it had the appearance of some queer,
shaggy animal, rolled tight into the form of a ball, having fur so
radiantly red as to flash and burn in the sunshine. It bobbed crazily
about, barely above the surface of the river, like some living
creature, while now and then I marked a glimmer of light behind, as if
the water was being vigorously churned by some species of swimming
apparatus in the monster's tail.

"Stand by with your small sword, De Noyan," I commanded uneasily, "for,
hang me if I ever before set eyes on such a creature! Move, quick, and
pass me over your oar so you may have both hands free for the onset."

The beast was being swept along rapidly, now appearing to my eyes
somewhat whiter on top, although the surrounding red was so glaringly
prominent as to obscure everything else. Suddenly the creature gave a
kick and whirled over, turning the white expanse directly toward us.
At the same moment De Noyan dropped the point of his rapier against the
side of the boat, with a loud guffaw.

"May the saints absolve me," he grinned, choking from merriment, "if
it's not the red-headedest man ever my eyes looked upon."

Forcing back his laughter, he hailed the swimmer, who, perceiving us
for the first time, began sheering off, as if frightened by our
presence, and intent upon escape.

"Hold there a moment, Master Red-Cap! If in truth you are not a fish,
come on board."

The fellow he