A DANGEROUS PREDICAMENT 79 



water. My case was becoming desperate 

 and alarming, so I was forced to let the geese 

 go too. To make the matter more serious, 

 the tide was rising fast. My companion was 

 on the shore, nearly crazy, and I was still 

 fully 100 yards away from him. He kept 

 encouraging me to persevere, or I should 

 have given up before. At last I found I was 

 getting so weak that I could not, without 

 help, reach the shore. I called to him that I 

 could go no further, so then, with a stick, he 

 started to my assistance, and when I had 

 his shoulder to lean upon, I was encouraged, 

 and could help myself more ; besides, he had 

 taken a course in getting to me where the 

 mud was more solid, and when we got to 

 that I could step better, and finally got on 

 to firm ground. It was some little time 

 after I sat down to rest before I could get 

 strength enough to stand again, my com- 

 panion rubbing my limbs all the while to 

 induce circulation. Then after an hour's 

 walk, leaning on his shoulder, we reached the 

 hut the most delightful spot my eyes ever 

 rested upon. Pat (my companion) was not 

 long in getting a roasting fire on, and getting 



