The next moment he went down again, and, after what seemed an interminable age, although barely two minutes had elapsed, he came up, and now the limp form of little Gladys was seen in his arms.
The child’s clothing had caught upon a spike in one of the supports of the bridge, and thus she had been held at the bottom of the lake.
Gerald made straight for the boat with his lifeless burden.
“Can you help me, Allison?” he questioned, as he laid hold upon the stern.
She put forth her arms, grasped the child, and with his help soon had her in her lap.
“Now, you——” she gasped, looking anxiously into his white face.
“No—row! row with all your might,” Gerald shouted to the men, “never mind me, but the child must have help.”
They needed no second bidding, and two minutes later they were at the landing, where willing hands were extended to take Allison’s lifeless burden from her.
“Stop!” cried Gerald, as they were about to bear her away to the house.
He seized the child, laid her upon the greensward, fell upon his knees, and began to work upon her as he had once seen a physician try to resuscitate a man who had nearly drowned.