Brave enough in dealing with poachers, Angus was not the man to gaze with composure in the face of a sure slow death, against which no assault could be made.

Many a man is courageous because he has not conscience enough to make a coward of him, but Angus had not quite reached that condition, and from the branches of the elder tree showed a pale, terror-stricken visage.
Amidst the many objects on the face of the water, Gibbie, however, did not distinguish it, and plunging in swam round to the front of the cottage to learn what was the matter.

There the wife's gesticulations directed his eyes to her drowning husband.
But what was he to do?
He could swim to the tree well enough, and, he thought, back again, but how was that to be made of service to Angus?
He could not save him by main force--there was not enough of that between them.

If he had a line, and there must be plenty of lines in the cottage, he would carry him the end of it to haul upon--that would do.

If he could send it to him that would be better still, for then he could help at the other end, and would be in the right position, up stream, to help farther, if necessary, for down the current alone was the path of communication open.