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keeping it with his paddle a little farther away from the bank at
which they had embarked。 It was close under the land that the
stream ran the fastest； and in obedience to the directions given to
him he made his course somewhat nearer to the sunken trees。 It was
but one turn of his hand that gave the light boat its direction； but
that turn of the hand was too strong。 Had the anxious master of the
canoes been but a thought less anxious； all might have been well；
but； as it was； the prow of the boat was caught by some slight
hidden branch which impeded its course and turned it round in the
rapid river。 The whole lengths of the canoe was thus brought
against the sunken tree； and in half a minute the five occupants of
the boat were struggling in the stream。
Abel Ring and the German were both standing on the bank close to the
water when this happened； and each for a moment looked into the
other's face。 〃Stand where you are；〃 shouted the German； 〃so that
you may assist them from the shore。 I will go in。〃 And then；
throwing from him his boots and coat； he plunged into the river。
The canoe had been swept round so as to be brought by the force of
the waters absolutely in among the upturned roots and broken stumps
of the trees which impeded the river； and thus； when the party was
upset； they were at first to be seen scrambling among the branches。
But unfortunately there was much more wood below the water than
above it； and the force of the stream was so great； that those who
caught hold of the timber were not able to support themselves by it
above the surface。 Arkwright was soon to be seen some forty yards
down； having been carried clear of the trees； and here he got out of
the river on the farther bank。 The distance to him was not above
forty yards； but from the nature of the ground he could not get up
towards his wife； unless he could have forced his way against the
stream。
The Indian who had had charge of the baby rose quickly to the
surface； was carried once round in the eddy； with his head high
above the water； and then was seen to throw himself among the broken
wood。 He had seen the dress of the poor woman； and made his effort
to save her。 The other two men were so caught by the fragments of
the boughs； that they could not extricate themselves so as to make
any exertions； ultimately； however； they also got out on the further
bank。
Mrs。 Arkwright had sunk at once on being precipitated into the
water； but the buoyancy of her clothes had brought her for a moment
again to the surface。 She had risen for a moment； and then had
again gone down； immediately below the forked trunk of a huge tree；…
…had gone down； alas； alas！ never to rise again with life within her
bosom。 The poor Indian made two attempts to save her； and then came
up himself； incapable of further effort。
It was then that the German； the owner of the canoes； who had fought
his way with great efforts across the violence of the waters； and
indeed up against the stream for some few yards； made his effort to
save the life of that poor frail creature。 He had watched the spot
at which she had gone down； and even while struggling across the
river； had seen how the Indian had followed her and had failed。 It
was now his turn。 His life was in his hand； and he was prepared to
throw it away in that attempt。 Having succeeded in placing himself
a little above the large tree； he turned his face towards the bottom
of the river； and dived down among the branches。 And he also； after
that； was never again seen with the life…blood flowing round his
heart。
When the sun set that night； the two swollen corpses were lying in
the Commandant's hut； and Abel Ring and Arkwright were sitting
beside them。 Arkwright had his baby sleeping in his arms； but he
sat there for hours；into the middle of the long night；without
speaking a word to any one。
〃Harry；〃 said his brother at last； 〃come away and lay down。 It will
be good for you to sleep。〃
〃Nothing ever will be good again for me；〃 said he。
〃You must bear up against your sorrow as other men do；〃 said Ring。
〃Why am I not sleeping with her as the poor German sleeps？ Why did
I let another man take my place in dying for her？〃 And then he
walked away that the other might not see the tears on his face。
It was a sad night；that at the Commandant's hut； and a sad morning
followed upon it。 It must be remembered that they had there none of
those appurtenances which are so necessary to make woe decent and
misfortune comfortable。 They sat through the night in the small
hut； and in the morning they came forth with their clothes still wet
and dirty； with their haggard faces； and weary stiff limbs；
encumbered with the horrid task of burying that loved body among the
forest trees。 And then； to keep life in them till it was done； the
brandy flask passed from hand to hand； and after that； with slow but
resolute efforts； they reformed the litter on which the living woman
had been carried thither； and took her body back to the wild
plantation at Padregal。 There they dug for her her grave； and
repeating over her some portion of the service for the dead； left
her to sleep the sleep of death。 But before they left her； they
erected a pallisade of timber round the grave； so that the beasts of
the forest should not tear the body from its resting…place。
When that was done Arkwright and his brother made their slow journey
back to San Jose。 The widowed husband could not face his darling's
mother with such a tale upon his tongue as that。
End