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!"
"I could not help it! I was frightened. It was—it was——"
"I know," said Stewart, quickly. "I saw it. Don't think about it—it has gone on downstream."