"Yes."
He assured himself that both bundles of clothing were secure.
"All ready, then," he said. "Just hold on and let your body float out in the water. Don't hold your head too high, and if you feel your hands slipping call me at once. I don't want to lose you, little comrade!"
"I will remember," she promised, smiling gratefully up at him.
"Then here we go," and he pushed the box slowly out into the stream.
In a moment the water was at his chin.
"All right?" he asked again.
"Yes."
He took another step forward, the current caught him and lifted him off his feet, and he began to swim easily and slowly. He was not sure of his strength, it was a long time since he had done any serious swimming, and he knew that he must husband himself. Then, too, the current was stronger than it had seemed from the shore, and he found that he could make head against it but slowly, for the box was of an awkward shape and the girl's body trailing behind it so much dead weight.
"Slow but sure," he said, reassuringly, resting a moment. "You're quite all right?"