The screams grew more distinct.
"One of 'em's in the water," he said. "Hallo, there!"
He paddled out from the overshadowing tree.
"Ethan!" Val held out her hands in a sudden agony of fear. "It's horribly deep here, and there's a current! It's the most dangerous place on the river!"
"Yes. Bad place for a little chap. Where did he go down?" he shouted.
"It was a lady. Her boat's just behind you."
Ethan turned, and saw dimly, a few yards off, Mr. Otway grasping the side of a row-boat, and looking over into the water in a pitiable paralysis of horror.
"Where? where?" Ethan called, scanning the river on all sides.
Something vague rose up a few yards below the boats, and moved quickly down the current. Ethan was overboard in an instant, striking out in the direction of the dark object.
Val caught up the oars and followed in the boat. It was all over in a few minutes. Ethan had laid hold on the unconscious girl, and swam with her to the bank. Val rowed across, and Ethan and she, between them, dragged Julia into the boat. The boys, who had followed, called back to Mr. Otway that the lady was saved.