Nevertheless, as they swept within the circle of light cast by the flaring torches, Stewart, taking a deep breath, let himself sink below the surface; and not until the blood was singing in his ears did he come up again.
They had passed! They were safe! He drew a deep breath. Then he peered around the box.
"Are you there? Are you all right?"
"Yes," came the soft answer. "Never tell me again that you are not a fighter!"
"Compliments are barred until we are safe in Belgium!" he reminded her gayly. "But it's clear sailing now!"
He struck out again, pushing diagonally forward toward the bank which he could not see, but which could not be far away. This was not going to prove such a desperate adventure, after all. The worst was over, for, once on land, far below the German troops, they had only to push forward to find themselves among friends.
Then his heart stood still as a shrill scream rent the night—a woman's scream of deadly horror—and he jerked his head around to find that his comrade was no longer there.