He listened.
"Sound travels far, this still night," he said; "they can only just have started. We shall be across long before they come along.
"Now, Jessie, we will take you first. The stream runs strongly, and it were best that you went over separately. All you have to do is to put a hand on a shoulder of each of us. Come along."
"I will carry her till we get into deep water," Roger said, catching the girl up in his arms, and running into the stream.
Jessie gasped, as the water reached her.
"It will be over in a minute," Oswald said encouragingly. "Now, we are going to swim. Put your hands upon our shoulders. That is right."
Striking out strongly, they easily carried her until she was in her depth.
"Now, dear, get ashore, and stand behind those bushes, and take off your wet things and put on your dry ones. We will have Janet across, in no time."
The girl was carried across as easily as her sister had been.
"Here is your bundle, dear. Jessie has taken hers. Dress as quickly as you can. Stoop down, as soon as you reach the bushes. They will be here, directly."