She saw him lean forward, raise the bundle quickly and dash it into the river, turn rapidly, and break into a quick run in the opposite direction.
The bundle did not quite reach the water's edge, she saw; he had missed his aim.
Dorothy stopped short and peered over the rails at it, wondering what it could contain.
As she did so she observed that there was motion within the small, dark bundle. It contained some living thing, she felt quite sure.
Dare she go and examine it? she asked herself. Perhaps it was some poor animal doomed to death that was bound up in that unsightly bundle.
Her heart stirred with pity at the thought, and at that moment a cry, faint and muffled, broke the stillness of the night.
It emanated from the dark bundle. Quick as a flash Dorothy retraced her steps until she reached the bank, and down this she clambered with alacrity.
But when she was almost within reach of the bundle it rolled down into the water with a splash, and the mad waves covered it.
With a cry Dorothy sprang forward just in time, and caught it as the undertow was bearing it out into the deep water.
Again there was a quick cry and struggle within the bundle. In a twinkling Dorothy had torn off the wrappings.