Have you a rope ?" The man made no answer whatever.

He did not even look up until Grace shook him by the shoulder.
"There is no time to lose," she cried.

"They may drown at any moment.
Come! Come quickly, and help me save them." The man looked at her with a strange, far-away expression in his eyes.
"Don't you hear me ?" cried Grace in an agony of impatience.

"Are you deaf ?" He shook his head stupidly, touching his ears and mouth.
"Deaf and dumb!" she exclaimed in despair.
Holding up two fingers, Grace pointed toward the water.

Then she made a swimming motion.