104 ^-^^ ^^^^ Oiarlotte. 



not ten yards from him was her owner, labouring towards 

 him with quick splashing strokes, and evidently in a very 

 exhausted state. His face was purple-red, his eyes half 

 starting out of his head, and Christopher could hear his 

 hard breathing as he slowly bore down upon him. 



" She's all right, Lambert ! " Christopher cried out, 

 though his heart belied the words. " I've got her ! Hold 

 hard ; the yacht will be down on us in a minute." 



Whether Lambert heard the words or no was not ap- 

 parent. He came struggling on, and as soon as he got 

 within reach, made a snatch at Francie's dress. Chris- 

 topher had contrived to get his left arm round her waist, 

 and to prop her chin on his shoulder, so that her face 

 should be above the water, and, as Lambert's weight swung 

 on him, it was all he could do to keep her in this position. 



*' You'll drown us all if you don't let go ! " Uttermost 

 exertion and want of breath made Christopher's voice wild 

 and spasmodic. " Can't you tread water till the boat gets 

 to us ? " 



Lambert still speechlessly and convulsively dragged at 

 ner, his breath breaking from him in loud gasps, and his 

 face working. 



" Good God, he's gone mad ! " thought Christopher ; 

 " we're all done for if he won't let go." In desperation he 

 clenched his fist, with the intention of hitting Lambert on 

 the head, but just as he gathered his forces for this extreme 

 measure something struck him softly in the back. Lam- 

 bert's weight had twisted him round so that he was no 

 longer facing the yacht, and he did not know how near 

 help was. It was the boom of the Daphne that had touched 

 him like a friendly hand, and he turned and caught at it 

 with a feeling of more intense thankfulness than he had 

 known in all his life. 



The yacht was lying over on her side, half full of water, 

 but kept afloat by the air-tight compartments that Mrs. 

 Lambert's terrors had insisted on, and that her money had 

 paid for, when her husband had first taken to sailing on the 

 lake. Christopher was able with a desperate effort to get 

 one knee on to the submerged coaming of the cockpit, and 

 catching at its upper side with his right hand, he recovered 

 himself and prepared to draw Francie up after him. 



