It was his good sense that saved us, his instinct rather, that is
greater than sense. He lost no strength in useless floundering against
steep walls for a landing. He seemed to know instantly. I felt him
moving beneath me down stream while I held Elsie safe. Two, three, four
hundred feet he swam, the great game chap, till we passed the bluff;
then he floundered up and out on the bank like a great dog, shaking
himself.
*CHAPTER III*
*THE AWAKENING*
It was Colonel Goff who met me at the door of The Manor when I called
the next night. Marget and Tammas were both there, silent, and with
awed, sorrowful faces. Two doctors were in the house, for Elsie's life
and mind lay in the balance, and it seemed that a straw would turn them
either way.
It was Marget who spoke first. "Ay, Jackie--Jackie--'tis as I hinted to
you, lad," said she, "it was in the blood of the Carfaxes, and but for
your ride and leap, lad, our lassie had done what two of her grandames,
two of the ladies of Carfax, did before her."
Tammas, tears standing in his eyes, could only hold my hand.
Colonel Goff led me into the library. For a while he was silent, his
stolid face expressionless. Then he said very quietly, "Jack, the
chances are all against her, one way or the other; it looks as if my
little lassie is doomed to go the way of her house. If she survives the
shock I am afraid her mind will not; that is what is hinging now, that
is why we have sent for you again. It is only a chance--one chance in
ten--but the doctors thought--as the shock that unminded her came
through you, that you might--"