"I will carry them across, master. It is of no use two of us going, with so light a burden. I shall make nothing of it."
Oswald made no opposition and, a minute later, the shirts and doublets were made into a bundle, and bound on Roger's head. He waded into the water until it reached his chin, and then swam out. The distance to be traversed was but some fifteen yards, and a few strokes of his brawny arms brought him to the opposite bank. Having laid down his bundle there, he swam quickly back again.
"Are you ready, girls?" Oswald asked.
"Yes," Janet replied, and two white figures came out from the bushes, each carrying a bundle.
"Do you go into the bushes again, for a minute. We cannot take you and the bundles over together; and it is better that you should stand here, in dry things, than wait in wet ones, over there."
A minute sufficed to tie the bundles on the heads of the two men. They soon swam across to the other side, left them there, and returned.
"The water is bitterly cold for the girls," Oswald said, as they swam across together.
"It is, master, but they will only be in it for a minute, and they will soon be warm again."
"Now, girls."
"We have just heard the sound of horses in the distance, Oswald," Janet said.