The boat rocked, wheeled slowly away from the awful danger, then plunged forward with a shock that brought a sharp cry from Caroline's white lips.
"Do not be afraid. The danger is over."
She turned her pallid face, and over it came a flash of recognition. It was the man who had listened to her first lesson in Florence. He recognized her, pale as she was, and slackened his oars—they were out of danger now.
"Am I so fortunate? My pupil! This is a great happiness."
Caroline leaned forward and held out her trembling hands. Words of gratitude were on her lips, but they only trembled there, without utterance. He leaned over the little hands, as they came quivering toward him, but could not touch them, his own being sufficiently occupied with the oars.
"There is nothing to fear now sweet lady," he said, in Italian, which never sounded so sweet to her before. "The danger is wholly past—but it was danger!"
Caroline shuddered; she almost felt those curling waters sweep over her. The sensation was terrible.
"And you saved me?—you, whose face I have seen before so often, so often. It seems like that of a friend."
"Once—only once. I wish it had been a thousand times, if that could lessen your fright."
"Tell me how it was," said Caroline, beginning to recover herself. "I cannot realize it."