He threw off his basket and coat. Another moment, and he would have
jumped from the bank; but before he had jumped he heard the elder girl
groaning as if in desperate fear, and saw that mother and daughter were
grappled together, their figures swaying backwards and forwards in
convulsive struggle. He did not doubt that the mother was trying to
drown this child also. Another low wild groan from the girl, and Caius
flung himself upon them both. His strength released the girl, who drew
away a few paces; but the woman struggled terribly to get to her again.
Both the girl and little boy stood stupidly within reach.
"Run--run--to the road, and call for help!" gasped Caius to the
children, but they only stood still.
He was himself shouting with all his strength, and holding the desperate
woman upon the ground, where he had thrown her.
Every moment he was watching the dark water, where he thought he saw a
little heap of light clothes rise and sink again further off.
"Run with your brother out of the way, so that I can leave her," he
called to the girl. He tried with a frantic gesture to frighten them
into getting out of the mother's reach. He continued to shout for aid as
he held down the woman, who with the strength of insanity was struggling
to get hold of the children.
A man's voice gave answering shout. Caius saw someone climbing the
fence.
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