He did not relish the prospect of a wetting, for the mere sake of saving from death this atrocious trespasser.

He knew the man could probably keep afloat for at least a minute longer.

And he was not minded to shorten the period of fear by ripping off his own outer garments with any melodramatic haste.
As he undid the first boot-latchet, he felt the Mistress's tense fingers on his shoulder.
"Wait!" she exhorted Astounded at this cold-blooded counsel from his tender-hearted wife, he looked up, and followed the direction of her eagerly pointing hand.
"Look!" she was exulting.

"It'll all solve itself! See if it doesn't.
Look! He can't shoot Laddie, after--after--" The Master was barely in time to see Lad swirl along the dock with express-train speed and spring far out into the lake.
The dog struck water, a bare ten inches from Wefers' madly tossing head.

The constable, in his crazy panic, flung both bony arms about the dog.