There was also a voice; but so smothered as to be almost inaudible!
Before either had time to think of it, a mass came splashing down upon the water, between the boat and the horse!
It had struck the tow-rope; and with such force, that the old machiner, tired after a long spell of pulling, was almost dragged backwards into the canal.
And frighted by the sudden jerk, it was as much as Bootle could do to prevent him rushing forward, and going in head foremost.
The difficulty in tranquillising the horse lay in the fact that the tow-rope was still kept taut by some one who appeared to be struggling upon it, and whose smothered cries could be heard coming up from the disturbed surface of the water!
The voice was not so choked, but that Bootle could tell it to be that of a woman!
The boatman’s chivalrous instincts were at once aroused; and, dropping the rein, he ran back a bit, and then sprang with a plunge into the canal.
It was so dark he could see nothing; but the half-stifled cries served to guide him; and swimming towards the tow-rope, he discovered the object of his search!
It was a woman struggling in the water, and still upon its surface.
She was prevented from sinking by her cloak, which had swished over on one side of the tow-rope as her body fell upon the other.