How he repressed the yell of terror that rose in his throat he never knew; but he did repress it somehow, and creeping with horror, pushed the box quickly to one side. But the bloated body, caught in the swirl of his wake, turned and followed, with an appearance of malignant purpose which sent a chill up Stewart’s spine. Kicking frenziedly, he held the box back against the current, and for an instant fancied that his hideous pursuer was holding back also. But, after what seemed like a moment’s hesitation, it drifted on down the stream and vanished in the darkness.
For a moment longer, Stewart stared after it, half-expecting it to reappear and bear down upon him. Then, with an anguished breath of relief, he stopped swimming and looked down at the face upon his arm. So that was the horror which had beset her. She had felt it nuzzling against her, had turned as he had done! No wonder she had screamed!
He felt her bosom rise and fall with a quick gasp; then her eyes opened and gazed up at him. For an instant they gazed vacantly and wildly, then a flood of crimson swept from chin to brow, and she struggled to free herself from his encircling arm.
“Easy now!” Stewart protested. “Are you sure you’re all right? Are you sure you’re strong enough to hold on?”
“Yes, yes!” she panted. “Let me go!”
He guided her fingers to the handles, assured himself that she grasped them firmly, then released her and swam to his old position on the other side of the box. For a moment they floated on in silence.
“How foolish of me!” she said, at last, in a choking voice. “I suppose you saved my life!”
“Oh, I just grabbed you by the arm and held on to you till you came to.”
“Did I scream?”
“I should rather think so! Scared me nearly to death!”