"No, that is our only hope," Oswald said. "Quick, girls, there is no time to lose." The river was but some fifty yards from the road, and they ran down to it. "Now, girls," Oswald said when they reached it, "you must take off your cloaks, and all upper garments. Were you to get these wet you would, before morning, die of cold. Don't lose a moment. Undress under the shelter of these bushes. "Now, Roger, let us move a few yards away, and then take off our doublets and shirts, and swim across, holding them above the water. By the time that we are back, the girls will be ready." "I will carry them across, master. It is of no use two of us going, with so light a burden. I shall make nothing of it." Oswald made no opposition and, a minute later, the shirts and doublets were made into a bundle, and bound on Roger's head. He waded into the water until it reached his chin, and then swam out. The distance to be traversed was but some fifteen yards, and a few strokes of his brawny arms brought him to the opposite bank. Having laid down his bundle there, he swam quickly back again. "Are you ready, girls?" Oswald asked. "Yes," Janet replied, and two white figures came out from the bushes, each carrying a bundle. "Do you go into the bushes again, for a minute. We cannot take you and the bundles over together; and it is better that you should stand here, in dry things, than wait in wet ones, over there." A minute sufficed to tie the bundles on the heads of the two men. They soon swam across to the other side, left them there, and returned. "The water is bitterly cold for the girls," Oswald said, as they swam across together. "It is, master, but they will only be in it for a minute, and they will soon be warm again." "Now, girls." "We have just heard the sound of horses in the distance, Oswald," Janet said. He listened. "Sound travels far, this still night," he said; "they can only just have started. We shall be across long before they come along. "Now, Jessie, we will take you first. The stream runs strongly, and it were best that you went over separately. All you have to do is to put a hand on a shoulder of each of us. Come along." "I will carry her till we get into deep water," Roger said, catching the girl up in his arms, and running into the stream. Jessie gasped, as the water reached her. "It will be over in a minute," Oswald said encouragingly. "Now, we are going to swim. Put your hands upon our shoulders. That is right." Striking out strongly, they easily carried her until she was in her depth. "Now, dear, get ashore, and stand behind those bushes, and take off your wet things and put on your dry ones. We will have Janet across, in no time." The girl was carried across as easily as her sister had been. "Here is your bundle, dear. Jessie has taken hers. Dress as quickly as you can. Stoop down, as soon as you reach the bushes. They will be here, directly."