Dexter did not pause a moment. It did not occur to him that he was
utterly exhausted, and could hardly move his arms. All he realised was
the fact that on the one side was the man whom he had half-killed with
the boat-hook, just about to stretch out his hand to seize him, on the
other, those whom he dreaded far more, and with one quick movement he
stepped on to the thwart of the gig, joined his hands, dived in, and
disappeared from sight, in the muddy water.
For a few moments there was the silence of utter astonishment, and then
the man who had pursued the boys down the river began to take advantage
of the general excitement by keeping hold of the side of the gig and
beginning to draw it away; but Bob set up such a howl of dismay that it
drew Peter's attention, and he too seized the boat from the other end,
caught out the chain, and hooked it on to a ring-bolt of the big boat in
which he sat.
"You drop that there, will yer!" cried the man. "It's my boat."
"How--ow!" cried Bob, in the most canine of yelps; and at the same
moment the gig was literally jerked from the man's hold, for the two
sailors had given a tremendous tug at their oars to force the boat in
the direction that Dexter was likely to take after his rise, and the
next minute a dozen yards were between the tub and the gig.
"For heaven's sake, mind! stop!" cried the doctor excitedly. "Don't
row, men, or you may strike him down."
The men ceased rowing, and every eye began to search the surface of the
water, but no sign of Dexter could be seen.
"He could not sink like that," cried Sir James. "He must rise
somewhere."
But must or no, Dexter did not rise, and the men began to paddle softly
down-stream, while the doctor stood up in the boat gazing wildly round.
"It was all my doing," he said to himself. "Poor boy! poor boy!"
A feeling of horror that was unbearable seemed to be creeping over the
occupants of the great boat. Even Dan'l, who looked upon Dexter as his
mortal enemy, and who had suggested, in the hope of seeing him sent to
prison, that the surest way of capturing the boys was to go down to the
mouth of the river--even Dan'l felt the chill of horror as he mentally
said--
"'Tain't true. Them as is born to be hanged is sometimes drowned."
But just then there was a tremendous splash, and the big boat rocked to
and fro, the captive gig danced, and Bob uttered another of his canine
yelps, for Peter had suddenly stepped on to the gunwale, dived in after
something he had seen touch the surface of the water twenty yards lower
down, where it had been rolled over and over by the rapid tide, and a
minute later, as he swam vigorously, he shouted--"I've got him!"
And he was seen holding the boy's head above the water, as he turned to
try and stem the current, and swim back to the boat.
The task was not long, for the two sailors sent her down with a few
vigorous sweeps of their oars, and Dexter and his rescuer were dragged
over the side, as the man with the tub slowly backed away.
No time was lost in reaching the shore, and the insensible boy was
carried up to the principal hotel in the port, where quite an hour
elapsed before the surgeon whose services were sought was able to pause
from his arduous task, and announce that his patient would live.
For it was a very narrow escape, and the surgeon said, as he shook hands
with Dr Grayson--
"Some men would have given it up in despair, sir. But there he is, safe
and sound, and, I dare say, boy-like, it will not be very long before he
gets into some mischief again."
Sir James Danby coughed, and Doctor Grayson frowned as he met his
friend's peculiar look. But nothing was said then till the surgeon had
been up to see his patient once more, after which he returned, reported
that Dexter had sunk into a sound slumber, and then took his leave.
"I suppose we shall not go back to Coleby to-night?" said Sir James.
"I shall not," said the doctor; "but, my dear Danby, pray don't let me
keep you."
"Oh! you will not keep me," said Sir James quietly. "I've got to make
arrangements about my boat being taken up the river."
"Why not let my men row it back!" said the doctor.
"Because I did not like to impose on your kindness."
"Then they may take it?"
"I shall only be too grateful," said Sir James.
Nothing more was said till they had ordered and sat down to a snug
dinner in the hotel, when Sir James opened the ball.
"Now, Grayson," he said, "I happen to be a magistrate."
"Yes, of course," said the doctor uneasily.
"Well, then, I want to have a few words with you about those two boys."
The doctor nodded.
"Your groom is with your _protege_, and your old gardener has that other
young scoundrel in charge."
"In charge?" said the doctor.
"Yes; you may call it so. I told him not to lose sight of the young
rascal, and I also told your groom to exercise the same supervision over
the other."
"But surely, my dear Danby, you do not mean to--"
"Deal with them as I would with any other offender? Why not?"