At this moment they were in a rapid, whirling current, caused by the stream rushing round the projection of an island. At once the desperate poacher and murderer cast a furious glance on one boat and then on the other, from which several hands were already straining to seize him; and throwing aloft his arms over his head, with a savage, half-drowned exclamation, “Damnation!” he went down perpendicularly like a stone. There was a burst of horror from all in the boats. “Keep a sharp look-out!” cried Sir Henry; “steady your boats!—don’t let them drift, if you can help it!” All eyes were strained to catch a sight of the black head again emerging, but it was nowhere to be seen. “Mark something on the shore,” said Sir Henry, “to determine the spot he went down at.” “I have done it,” said Boddily. “That ivied tree on the island.” Still all were watching for a reappearance of Scammel. Seconds, minutes—five, ten minutes—went over, when Sir Henry said, “The wretch has escaped us and the gallows. He will not rise again alive. He did not mean it when he went down. Go for the drags to the Hall. Remember, Boddily’s ivied tree. The corpse will be washed more or less downwards from that mark. The water here is very deep.” There was an awed silence amongst the men in the other boat. The sudden violent death of a human being even of the worst and most ruffianly of our race, falls with a strange sensation on the mind. Sir Henry bade the other boat remain on the look-out. Boddily should put him on shore, and the drags should be quickly brought off. By this time, every inhabitant of the Hall and parsonage, except Mr. Thomas Clavering, had made their way down to the bank of the river, at the bottom of the park, and some of the house and farm-servants had crossed to the island, and appeared on its shore, all in breathless inquiry. As the boat drew near the shore, Sir Henry saw Lady Clavering in great anxiety and agitation, surrounded by her maids, and with his uncle and Mr. Degge. “Have you got him?” inquired Mr. Degge. “No,” replied Sir Henry. “What! has he escaped, then?” “Yes,” said Sir Henry; “beyond our pursuit. He is drowned.” “Drowned!” exclaimed a score of voices; “drowned?” “Yes,” said Sir Henry, as he stepped on shore; “he is drowned, sure enough; he preferred drowning to the gallows. I can understand his feelings.” “Poor fellow!” said Lady Clavering, with tears starting to her eyes. “Poor fellow!” said Sir Henry. “My dear Ann, do you recollect what he was?” “Yes, yes!” said Lady Clavering; “but he was a man, and to know that he has rushed into eternity with all his crimes on his soul, one cannot help deeply feeling such a thing. But I know what a wretch he was.” Sir Henry made no answer, but gave his arm to his wife; and they began their way homeward, talking of the singularity of this event as they ascended.