Lying on his face--for we were still in great danger--the man extended his arm.

We could not reach it; and worse, suddenly the staff was torn from him; we were being swept away.
Then it was that the woman did a noble thing, for springing into the water--yes, up to her armpits--and holding fast to the old man by her left hand, with the right she seized Leo's hair and dragged him shorewards.

Now he found his feet for a moment, and throwing one arm about her slender form, steadied himself thus, while with the other he supported me.

Next followed a long confused struggle, but the end of it was that three of us, the old man, Leo and I, rolled in a heap upon the bank and lay there gasping.
Presently I looked up.

The woman stood over us, water streaming from her garments, staring like one in a dream at Leo's face, smothered as it was with blood running from a deep cut in his head.