"No, no, b'y! I'm goin' first. I won't make a fool o' myself. We got t' get across this stream if we can. An' we've got t' get on t' Poor Luck Barrens. But I won't make a fool o' myself, Archie. I promise you that. I'll go jus' as far as I can. I'll go with care—jus' as far as I can. An' if 'tis no use tryin' any more, I'll come back. That's a promise. I'll come back. An' then——"
"Ay, Billy?"
"I'll try somewhere else."
"Billy," said Archie, "I—I—I likes you!"
"Stop your jawin'!" said Billy.
Then Archie said:
"If you fall in the current I'll pull you out, Billy. You trust me."
Billy spoke gravely:
"You'll do no such thing."
"What!" cried Archie. "Not try to save——"