The words were hardly out of his mouth when over went the boat, and they were all thrown into the water.

To our indignation and horror, O'Leary and Colemore made not the slightest attempt to assist the poor girl, but deliberately left her to take care of herself, whilst they struck out towards our boat.

'Well, I'm hanged!' cried Bankes. The miserable curs !'

'Now to distinguish myself,' muttered Pat Hughes, kicking off his boots.

RENSHAM POND is a large sheet of water, and the spot where the boat had capsized was quite six hundred yards from the landingplace near the inn, and perhaps a hundred and fifty from the opposite bank; we were anchored about half-way between the bank and the overturned boat.

Deserted by her cowardly companions, the poor girl gave a despairing cry, and appeared to lose all presence of mind; for although their boat was floating bottom uppermost, and the sculls were well within her reach, she made no attempt to support herself by clinging to either one or the other.

'Catch hold of an oar!' I shouted; and, throwing off my coat, I jumped overboard, and swam to her assistance.

Reaching the terrified girl just as she was sinking, I seized the two sculls, and pushed them under her arms, and so easily kept her above water.

'Don't be frightened,' said I, wishing to reassure her ; 'all danger is over, and here comes our boat!'

Seeing that help was close at hand, the girl kept perfectly quiet, much to my satisfaction, for had she struggled, it might have been a more difficult job to save her.

'Is my brother safe?' was her first inquiry, for she never lost consciousness.

'Do you mean Colemore?' I asked.

'Yes.'

'Oh, he's safe enough! don't be alarmed on his account. See, here is our boat! Keep perfectly still.'

Immediately I went overboard, Bankes wrenched out the staple that held our anchor chain, and let it go by the run; then, having 'slipped their cable,' he and Denison out oars and pulled after me. With some little difficulty-for our boat was rather crank-we got Miss Colemore in board, and I clambered over the stern.

We were making for the landing-place when a loud shout attracted our attention, and some twenty yards to our right we caught sight of Pat Hughes struggling in the water with O'Leary.

Turning the boat, we pulled towards them. In the excitement we had quite forgotten that Pat too had jumped overboard.

Fifteen years have elapsed since that day, but even now

more.

I laugh when I think of Pat's extraordinary behaviour. Pat was a very ordinary swimmer, but without the slightest hesitation he had followed me into the water with the intention of helping me to rescue Miss ColeNot being able to keep up with me, he turned his attention to O'Leary, who was close by swimming to the bank, which Colemore had nearly reached. and blowing like a grampus, Pat swam up to him. 'Do-o-n't be-e af-fraid!' spluttered he, seizing O'Leary's arm. 'I—I'll save you !'

Puffing

O'Leary, who was quite at home in the water, tried to shake Pat off, but the latter clung to him like a leech.

'Leave go, confound you!' O'Leary cried; 'hang it all! you'll drown us both; don't be a fool!'

'Do-on't stru-u-uggle!' gasped Pat; 'you're all right! trust yourself to me!'

'I tell you I can save myself! I don't want your help; let me loose!'

'A-ah! would you?' ejaculated Pat, as O'Leary fought hard to release himself. But Pat was strong as a bull, and deliberately ducked his victim's head under water (to 'keep him quiet,' as he afterwards explained), and did his best to hold it there.

With a violent effort, which must have nearly dislocated his neck, O'Leary managed to get his head above water again. 'Help! help!' screamed he, terrified out of his wits; 'this madman's trying to drown me!'

'Phew!' gasped Pat, tightening his grasp, 'how the beggar kicks!'