A NIGHT AMONGST THE SAND EELS. 71 



Iield her upright beside me. Some water 

 came from her mouth, and then a low gasping 

 sigh ; I fancied the eyelid moved. 



" You are saved/' I said. " You are saved," 

 I repeated louder ; another sigh. I kept her 

 in the same position as well as I could. Her 

 head had fallen on my shoulder, and all was so 

 still that I thought she was dead after all. 



" Poor child," I murmured, " here is a melan- 

 choly termination to your fishing and flirta- 

 tions/' 



But let me carry her up to the highest part 

 of the rock, for the tide is fast mounting. What 

 is that I feel against my chest ? Regular 

 breathing, as I live. Oh, that I had only some- 

 thing to cover her with. But covering there was 

 none obtainable, for I had stripped off every- 

 thing for my swim except my light summer 

 trousers, and thus we remained whilst day broke, 

 cold, with a bit of a breeze, I strained my eyes 

 to catch sight of the boat, which I knew would 

 come. At last I saw her four oars dashing her 

 along, old Falle standing in the stern sheets 

 steering, and his white locks streaming out 

 behind him. 



