"Throw out an oar on the left, and hold her.

I 'll be there in a minute." She heard me and understood, for with one sob of relief plainly audible in the still night, she shipped the oar.

Weighted by sodden clothes even that short distance tested me, yet her efforts, small as they were, halted the boat's drift, and I made it, almost breathless, when I finally gripped the gunwale, and hung on to regain a measure of strength.
"Oh, thank God!" she exclaimed, staring at me, "I--I thought you were lost." "My clothes are like lead," I panted.

"They dragged me down twice.
That's over with now." "But--but what could I have done if you had not come!" "Don't think of it; the danger is all over.

You need n't pull on the oar; just hold it straight out; that will keep the boat's head forward." "Can you get over the side ?" "In a moment---yes; as soon as I get my breath back.