But just when the snow-shoes were growing so heavy that he could hardly lift them, he saw sand and gravel mingling with the ooze. A little farther, and a rippling line of water washed over his feet. He splashed into it. In two or three steps he went knee-deep, then to his hips. He heard a splashing in the water, and dimly saw the outline of an approaching boat.
He flung himself forward to meet it, went over his head, and came up trying to swim with one hand and to support the child with the other. The muddy snow-shoes encumbered him; he dipped under again, half-choked; then a hand gripped him by the collar, and he was hauled up to the gunwale of the boat.
“Bob!” he spluttered.
But it was not his brother. It was Larue’s dark face that met his, streaked with black now and looking wild with anxiety.
“Rosalie! Ma petite! T’es sauve!” he ejaculated and lifted the little girl into the boat. The next instant Carl himself got aboard, half scrambling and half hauled up by the half-breed. Just then another boat rushed up out of the smoke, and he heard Alice calling, “Carl!”
“Here he is! Bo’—bot’ safe!” sang out the squatter. “He fin’ her! Here he come, crossing ze marsh on my ole raquettes. It is wonderful. Mister Harman, zis is w’at I nevaire forget!”
Carl stuttered something, unable to speak articulately. He felt weak and dizzy and full of mingled smoke and water. He saw the faces of Alice and Bob looking anxiously at him, but they seemed to waver, and everything went round dizzily when he lay back in the boat and shut his smarting eyes.
He was vaguely aware of the movement of the boat through the water and of talking voices. He thought some one was dashing spray over him and he made a confused attempt to get up.
“Restez!” said Larue, and Carl “rested.”
The bump of the boat against the bank brought him to himself. Water was really falling on his face. Looking up, he was amazed to find that it was raining. The two boats had come to land at the temporary camp where Larue had removed his family. A bark lean-to shed was built against a tree; smoke curled up from a little fire; there was a shriek as Mrs. Larue rushed forward to the boat and seized upon her rescued child.