He guided her fingers to the handles, assured himself that she grasped them firmly, then released her and swam to his old position on the other side of the box. For a moment they floated on in silence. "How foolish of me!" she said, at last, in a choking voice. "I suppose you saved my life!" "Oh, I just grabbed you by the arm and held on to you till you came to." "Did I scream?" "I should rather think so! Scared me nearly to death!" "I could not help it! I was frightened. It was--it was----" "I know," said Stewart, quickly. "I saw it. Don't think about it--it has gone on downstream." "It--it seemed to be following me!" she gasped. "Yes--I had the same feeling; but it's away ahead of us now. Now, if you're all right, we'll work in toward the bank--it can't be far off. Hullo! What's that?" A shadowy shape emerged from the darkness along the eastern shore, and they caught the rattle of oars in row-locks. "They heard you scream," whispered Stewart. "They've sent out a patrol to investigate," and with all his strength he pushed on toward the farther bank. Suddenly a shaft of light shot from the bow of the boat out across the water, sweeping up and down, dwelling upon this piece of driftwood and upon that. With a gasp of apprehension, Stewart swung the box around so that it screened them from the searchlight, and kept on swimming with all his strength. "If they spot those bundles," he panted, "they'll be down upon us like a load of brick! Ah!" The light was upon them. Above their heads the bundles of clothing stood out as if silhouetted against the midday sky. Stewart cursed his folly in placing them there; surely wet clothes were preferable to capture! He should not have taken the risk--he should have put the clothing inside the box and let it take its chance. But it was too late now. In another moment---- The light swept on. From sheer reaction, Stewart's body dropped limply for an instant through the water, and then rebounded as from an electric shock. "I can touch bottom!" he said, hoarsely. "We'll get there yet. Hold fast!" Setting his teeth, digging his toes into the mud, he dragged the box toward the shore with all his strength. In a moment, the water was only to his shoulders--to his chest--he could see that his comrade was wading, too. He stopped, peering anxiously ahead. There was no light anywhere along the shore, and no sound broke the stillness. "It seems all right," he whispered. "I will go ahead and make sure. If it is safe, you will hear me whistle. Keep behind the box, for fear that searchlight will sweep this way again, and when I whistle, come straight out. You understand?" "Yes." "Good-by, then, for a moment, little comrade!" "Good-by."