The Sikh was to take hold a yard or two below him, and aid him as he swam.

Then they stepped into the water, and struck out.
They had swum only twenty yards, when the Sikh cried out, "I have cramp, sahib! I can swim no longer!" and he let go his hold of the wire.
Rapidly, Lisle thought over the position.

It was very important to get the wire across.

Now that the Sikh had gone, he felt that it would pull him under; on the other hand, the brave fellow had volunteered to go with him, and he could not see him drown before his eyes.

He accordingly slipped the loop of the wire over his head, and struck out with the stream.
So rapid had been the course of his thoughts that the man was still within some fifteen yards of him.