Page:Zodiac stories by Blanche Mary Channing.pdf/283

266 the pretty path to the river. And then, in another minute, he heard a scream, and made haste. There were more screams. He hurried in the direction they came from, and pushing through the young trees which grew thickly along the bank,—saw, first a naked, shivering boy, just come ashore, and then a second boy, tossing his arms as the current bore him down and away.

Dilâl took no time to think. In an instant he was in the water, and swimming after the drowning lad. Poor Jack, seeing help arrive, stopped screaming, and watched Dilâl's wide strokes carrying him to Bobby's side. Now Bobby sank—now he rose; Dilâl had him—No, he had n't! Jack shut his eyes. Then he heard a cry, and saw Dilâl swimming back, slowly, but surely, with the figure of his playmate.

It took a long while, even for the strong man, and when he got to shore, he was