“Yes, father,” I said, despondently; and I heard him draw a deep, catching breath.
But he knew that on him lay the task of saving us all, and he said cheerfully—
“You can easily swim that, Hannibal?”
“Yes, sah,” said the black, quietly.
“And you, Pompey?”
“Eh, massa? Swim dat? Yes, Pomp swim all dat, sah.”
“We shall be forced to start directly,” said my father. “Do you hear, Morgan? We must not wait to be floated off.”
“No, sir,” replied Morgan; and his voice sounded sad and grave, and a low sigh came from by his side. Then arose in a low voice—
“Master George, dear, could you get here?”
“Yes,” I said, trying to stir myself; and, catching hold of my father’s hand, I stood up with a foot on each side of the ridge, stiff, cramped, and with the water streaming from me.